My Socks Are on Fire!
Saturday, October 29, 2005
La vie Boheme
The RENT, the movie musical comes out on November, 23, and today I decided to listen to the entire original broadway cast recording in one setting. I had listened to all of at one time or another, but never all at once. TYpically when i get a new musical i listen to the whole thing but there have been, until today, three shows that i never managed to do this with. Rent being the first and the others being "Into the Woods" and "Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (Of course I had to put in the whole title.) A while ago, before i bought the album, i was reading reviews of it on amazon(dot)com, and i came across a very interesting one. I always read the worst reviews of something i want to buy, because they usually have the most information on why i might not like it and what to expect if i do buy it. Anyway i was reading the worst reviews of the OBCR and came across this gem, reprinted in it's entirety:
RENT is the quintessential rock opera of today - its grating edge, witty lyric and colorful cast of characters beat wildly and convincingly into the listener's mind. What is apparent at first glance, is that the music is stunning and genius. Never before has a rock opera had such energy, such vitality (set RENT next to "Phantom of the Opera" - the supposed rock opera of the 80s). RENT takes its cue from the Who's Tommy, rather than the tired Andrew Lloyd Weber genre of "rock" opera (which is only "rock" if you qualify '80s soft hits as fitting into the genre).
What is not apparent at first glance, is that this is an opera which expresses a dangerous philosophy - that of relativism. In a theme that repeats throughout the opera, characters sing, "No day but today" - which, one would assume, means live life to the fullest - carpe diem - don't miss out by fear!
They would be assuming incorrectly. What composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson is actually suggesting, is a world without consequences, without morals, and without standards. It is not that his characters defy traditional morals - it is that they cry out against the existence of morals. In the world of RENT, anything goes not because of tolerance, but because everything is relative - who's to cast the first stone? Who's to say what's right? What works for one person, may not for another, but they're both right, aren't they?
No. It is somewhat horrifying that a previous reviewer - a twelve year old, no less - says, "I have always been a huge RENT fan." That a twelve year old child has been exposed, already to the mantra of non-absolutism, should give us pause.
If you value absolutes - if you believe in standards - if you consider that the world is a rational, logical place that is understandable and that man is a reasonable creature that lives by his mind - then you will find RENT standing as the screaming voice which cries out for the destruction of everything you hold dear.
If you do not believe in absolutes - and are not disturbed by the contradiction of the preceding statement - then it is too late. RENT is your show; it is your life anthem.
RENT's horror lies not in the lifestyles of its characters - but in the words they sing. The bohemia they envision is a world of the anti-rational, where a is not a, and where you can have your cake and eat it too.
Those who would instead live in the real world, will have to choose another way of life than Jonathan Larson preaches in this opera.
This review struck me as funny, because i'm pretty sure that Larson meant what the reviewr first implies, that it was more of a carpe diem situation, but what do i know i never met the guy. Of course neither did this reviewer. On the other hand i find it downright funny to think that this reviewer was so moved that he(i just picked a pronoun, it could easily be she,) found it neccesary to inform the world by joining the 527 other people who reviewed RENT. A two star review wont last very long on the fron page,especially when only 2 out of 15 people found it helpful. my response is, "It's a MUSICAL! A modernized version of a really old opera for that matter. people listen to it because it was well written and performed, not because of some underlying political agenda. People do not let MUSICALS decide their politics for them."
in other news, i saw Stomp today. it was pretty cool.
How do you stay on your feet
When on every street
It's 'trick or treat'
(And tonight it's 'trick')
'Welcome back to town'
Oh, I should lie down
Everything's brown
And uh -- oh
I feel sick
The RENT, the movie musical comes out on November, 23, and today I decided to listen to the entire original broadway cast recording in one setting. I had listened to all of at one time or another, but never all at once. TYpically when i get a new musical i listen to the whole thing but there have been, until today, three shows that i never managed to do this with. Rent being the first and the others being "Into the Woods" and "Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (Of course I had to put in the whole title.) A while ago, before i bought the album, i was reading reviews of it on amazon(dot)com, and i came across a very interesting one. I always read the worst reviews of something i want to buy, because they usually have the most information on why i might not like it and what to expect if i do buy it. Anyway i was reading the worst reviews of the OBCR and came across this gem, reprinted in it's entirety:
RENT is the quintessential rock opera of today - its grating edge, witty lyric and colorful cast of characters beat wildly and convincingly into the listener's mind. What is apparent at first glance, is that the music is stunning and genius. Never before has a rock opera had such energy, such vitality (set RENT next to "Phantom of the Opera" - the supposed rock opera of the 80s). RENT takes its cue from the Who's Tommy, rather than the tired Andrew Lloyd Weber genre of "rock" opera (which is only "rock" if you qualify '80s soft hits as fitting into the genre).
What is not apparent at first glance, is that this is an opera which expresses a dangerous philosophy - that of relativism. In a theme that repeats throughout the opera, characters sing, "No day but today" - which, one would assume, means live life to the fullest - carpe diem - don't miss out by fear!
They would be assuming incorrectly. What composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson is actually suggesting, is a world without consequences, without morals, and without standards. It is not that his characters defy traditional morals - it is that they cry out against the existence of morals. In the world of RENT, anything goes not because of tolerance, but because everything is relative - who's to cast the first stone? Who's to say what's right? What works for one person, may not for another, but they're both right, aren't they?
No. It is somewhat horrifying that a previous reviewer - a twelve year old, no less - says, "I have always been a huge RENT fan." That a twelve year old child has been exposed, already to the mantra of non-absolutism, should give us pause.
If you value absolutes - if you believe in standards - if you consider that the world is a rational, logical place that is understandable and that man is a reasonable creature that lives by his mind - then you will find RENT standing as the screaming voice which cries out for the destruction of everything you hold dear.
If you do not believe in absolutes - and are not disturbed by the contradiction of the preceding statement - then it is too late. RENT is your show; it is your life anthem.
RENT's horror lies not in the lifestyles of its characters - but in the words they sing. The bohemia they envision is a world of the anti-rational, where a is not a, and where you can have your cake and eat it too.
Those who would instead live in the real world, will have to choose another way of life than Jonathan Larson preaches in this opera.
This review struck me as funny, because i'm pretty sure that Larson meant what the reviewr first implies, that it was more of a carpe diem situation, but what do i know i never met the guy. Of course neither did this reviewer. On the other hand i find it downright funny to think that this reviewer was so moved that he(i just picked a pronoun, it could easily be she,) found it neccesary to inform the world by joining the 527 other people who reviewed RENT. A two star review wont last very long on the fron page,especially when only 2 out of 15 people found it helpful. my response is, "It's a MUSICAL! A modernized version of a really old opera for that matter. people listen to it because it was well written and performed, not because of some underlying political agenda. People do not let MUSICALS decide their politics for them."
in other news, i saw Stomp today. it was pretty cool.
How do you stay on your feet
When on every street
It's 'trick or treat'
(And tonight it's 'trick')
'Welcome back to town'
Oh, I should lie down
Everything's brown
And uh -- oh
I feel sick
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Things i've done instead of homework:
1. slept
2. watched the cowboys game
3. read "Hard Rain" by Barry Eisler
4. drank a quart of water
5. checked email
6. took a shower
7. went to CVS for Claritin and some shaving cream
8. went to Sam's Place and got a beef qesadilla and some choclate milk
9. listened to music
10. watched "Guerra de los Sexos" on Telefutura
11. checked other email
12. read every new news item on Digg.com
13. read Sluggy Frelance
14. watched "Kathy Griffen is not Nicole Kidman"
15. wrote this post
16. checked the international totals for "Serenity"
17. read the Tv Guide listings for tonight
18. Put towel day 2006 into my phone's calander. (May 26)
19. checked email
20. checked normal mail (it's Sunday, that's just desperate)
21. checked everybody on my budylists' away message
22. checked facebook for anything cool
Things i did that could actually be considered homework:
1. wrote my cultural event write up for "Crazy for You"
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl.
1. slept
2. watched the cowboys game
3. read "Hard Rain" by Barry Eisler
4. drank a quart of water
5. checked email
6. took a shower
7. went to CVS for Claritin and some shaving cream
8. went to Sam's Place and got a beef qesadilla and some choclate milk
9. listened to music
10. watched "Guerra de los Sexos" on Telefutura
11. checked other email
12. read every new news item on Digg.com
13. read Sluggy Frelance
14. watched "Kathy Griffen is not Nicole Kidman"
15. wrote this post
16. checked the international totals for "Serenity"
17. read the Tv Guide listings for tonight
18. Put towel day 2006 into my phone's calander. (May 26)
19. checked email
20. checked normal mail (it's Sunday, that's just desperate)
21. checked everybody on my budylists' away message
22. checked facebook for anything cool
Things i did that could actually be considered homework:
1. wrote my cultural event write up for "Crazy for You"
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl,
You my brown eyed girl.
Friday, October 14, 2005
That new sock smell...
a couple weeks ago, Kels and my family joined in a conspiracy against my socks. I wear wool socks. I wear wool socks made by smart wool and I like them a lot. I started wearing them for hiking/backpacking purposes but found that I enjoy the warmth and comfort they provide my feet. All of my socks are from smart wool and either green or grey, I cant usually tell the two colors apart until I'm wearing them and so I often go about with different, but similar, colored socks. Now as these socks were originally intended for use in hiking they have pretty big tops that when pulled up fully come up to just below my calf. Since I'm not a complete dork(don't argue, it's rude,) I push the tops down so they are just bunched up around my shoes if I am wearing shorts. Now because I am a partial dork, I find this works just fine. however my parents, girlfriend and possibly my sister (I'm not sure as to how much she contributed,) decided that they would rectify my partial dorkieness by purchasing me some apparently expensive low cut wool socks online and have them shipped to me. I first learned of the socks existence when my family came to visit and asked if I had received any packages lately. I told them I hadn't but I had received an email saying there was a package in the office, but I hadn't gotten a pick up slip in my mail box. They told me what it was and I was surprised, but amused that m,y parents would send me socks in the mail. I didn't pick up the package and when Kels came this weekend I found out that she was aware of the socks as well and had helped in their purchase. I felt the situation was just getting silly and didn't pick up the package until today. Inside there were (surprise!) two pairs of black/gray wool socks. I read the card that they were attached to explaining that the company that made them was super environmentally friendly, which is cool, and I tried the socks on. It's very weird wearing socks where my ankle is bare and the hair isn't used to being free as of yet. I haven't made any judgments about them and I will hold out on doing so until I've worn them for a while. I took some pictures but I don't want to upload them right now, maybe later.
the answer is 17.4 roads.
a couple weeks ago, Kels and my family joined in a conspiracy against my socks. I wear wool socks. I wear wool socks made by smart wool and I like them a lot. I started wearing them for hiking/backpacking purposes but found that I enjoy the warmth and comfort they provide my feet. All of my socks are from smart wool and either green or grey, I cant usually tell the two colors apart until I'm wearing them and so I often go about with different, but similar, colored socks. Now as these socks were originally intended for use in hiking they have pretty big tops that when pulled up fully come up to just below my calf. Since I'm not a complete dork(don't argue, it's rude,) I push the tops down so they are just bunched up around my shoes if I am wearing shorts. Now because I am a partial dork, I find this works just fine. however my parents, girlfriend and possibly my sister (I'm not sure as to how much she contributed,) decided that they would rectify my partial dorkieness by purchasing me some apparently expensive low cut wool socks online and have them shipped to me. I first learned of the socks existence when my family came to visit and asked if I had received any packages lately. I told them I hadn't but I had received an email saying there was a package in the office, but I hadn't gotten a pick up slip in my mail box. They told me what it was and I was surprised, but amused that m,y parents would send me socks in the mail. I didn't pick up the package and when Kels came this weekend I found out that she was aware of the socks as well and had helped in their purchase. I felt the situation was just getting silly and didn't pick up the package until today. Inside there were (surprise!) two pairs of black/gray wool socks. I read the card that they were attached to explaining that the company that made them was super environmentally friendly, which is cool, and I tried the socks on. It's very weird wearing socks where my ankle is bare and the hair isn't used to being free as of yet. I haven't made any judgments about them and I will hold out on doing so until I've worn them for a while. I took some pictures but I don't want to upload them right now, maybe later.
the answer is 17.4 roads.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Smooth as a baby's... for those of you who don't know, I've been growing a beard since I came to college. Just over six weeks of growth and I had this nice little puppy of a beard. Not to bad if I do say so myself. (BTW that's my "I am Arthur Anderson" t-shirt I'm wearing, look it up.) But even though I was super manly with my great hair-below-my-eyes, Kels is coming in tonight with her mama y mi madre, and she isn't a fan of the beard, so I was responsible for reducing the growth to none. Now in the past I used an electric razor, because sharp things next to my face make me squeamish. So I whip out my electric this morning and turn it on. I get about half way through my pseudostache when it gets much slower and doesn't cut as well as it should. Not a problem I say to myself, it just needs to be charged, so I plug it in and work on homework for a few hours. I come back at around 5 o'clock and try again. Still no charge. Ok this is kind of less cool because kels and company should be here relatively soon. I try using the electric anyway, but all I manage to do is finish off my pseudo stache. At this point I remember the box 'o free stuff I got when I bought my textbooks. Contained within is a condom that will never be used, a tiny can of Tag body spray, and a brand new schick Quatro, with four crazy sharp blades for quadruple your fun! This is good news but I've never used a regular razor before, and the only time I even imitated it was back in elementary school using a popsicle stick. I decide to go through with it any way and just try to remember the lessons I learned from "queer eye for the straight guy," namely "don't shave fast" and "go with the grain"(also a helpful lesson when cutting wood.) I steal some of my roommate's shaving cream and lather up. Needless to say I look pretty goofy, but I press onward. The quatro works very well thankfully but I had so much hair that I had to wash it out after every inch-and-a-half of shaving. But I now am as the title indicates, smooth and clean. Here's a pic to prove it
. Because on and off,
the clouds have fought
their control over the sky
And lately the weather
has been so Bi-polar
And consequently so have I
And now I'm sunny with a high of 75
Since you took my heavy heart
And its funny how you find
You enjoy your life
When you're happy to be alive
Also Tech beat Nebraska 34-31 w()0+
