On Rubicon
So, let’s talk about Rubicon. I like it, a lot. It’s not the typical conspiracy movie or tv show we’ve seen in the last few years. There aren’t non-stop explosions and Bourne Identity like car-chases. There are no possible metaphors for heaven, hell, and purgatory here. It’s behind-the-scenes scheming, def. focused on the man behind the curtain, or men in this case. It’s about language and code, things hidden in plain sight but also in between the actual document lines, in archives, in history, in crossword puzzles and innocuous symbols like four-leaf clovers. It’s about never really knowing the truth about the people we think we know. And while I probably do love it for feeding my already paranoid state of mind, I think I love it more because it is so clearly a slow burn and build. Some people have complained it’s not “clever enough,” but I disagree. I personally think it’s more clever to do something in quietly, in secret, with everyday objects than “Oh, hey, secret code in a DaVinci painting!”
I mean, to each their own, but I personally prefer AMC’s general take of slower storytelling seen in shows like Mad Men than the whole “let us solve a crime in 45 mins.”
I'm also watching the first night of Shark Week and freaking myself out. THIS IS WHY I DON'T GO INTO THE OCEAN.
I just found out Dierks Bentley did a bluegrass tinged cover of "Pride (In the Name of Love)" with Del McCoury and The Punch Brothers. I'm not the biggest fan of covers in general, esp. when it's one of my favorite U2 songs, but they all did a great job. Not quite Bono-level vocals, but the music itself is great. Sadly, no video for it yet. As popular country musicians go, Dierks Bentley is one of my favorites, and I'm glad that he's expanding his sound on his new album, Up on the Ridge which has bluegrass influences all over it. Granted, he's still using drums and electric guitars, but that is part of his signature sound. With the ever increasing number of Nashville darlings going for more instrumental driven songs and albums, maybe, just maybe, Bluegrass will find a place on Country Radio again. There's really only so many times you can listen to the same round of Shania-Reba-Faith-Martina-Taylor-Carrie-Garth-Sugarland etc.
In job search news: No calls, no e-mails, no interviews. I just. Ugh. I have a good bit of clerical and office experience and A/R skills. I have a friggin Master's Degree. Granted, it's in History, but still. I have great references. Why can't I just get an interview with someone? I've only been doing this for two weeks, I can't imagine the people who have been in this same boat for years. I really didn't want to, but I am going to have to start applying to the banks for teller jobs. I mean, it's Charlotte, there's a bank every five feet. Out of BoA, BB&T, Wachovia, Suntrust and RBC Centura, someone has to be hiring.
Now, back to the Band of Brothers re-watch as I try to document the name of every Easy Company man mentioned in the mini-series vs. the actual men of Easy Company. The things I do for research.