October 28, 2006

Politicos

I haven't said much about politics in awhile--a long while, actually--perhaps because it depresses me. I've been politically aware for a long time now (since the mid 90's) and I've never been more "aware" of the futility of caring about politics than I am right now.

I don't mean that politics doesn't matter; in fact, just the opposite. I think when you look at all the things people can obsess over (celebrity, sports, social life) politics is one of the only things that can and will actually change the world. The people we elect are directly responsible for how our society, and our planet, will end up, and yet those who do the electing are so incomprehensibly stupid that it makes me wonder how anything works at all.

Take obsession over celebrities, or sports. I know a number of people (myself include, but to a lesser degree, I hope) who know the latest about every Hollywood person out there. They "vote" with their wallets, but at the end of the day, Hollywood has only an indirect effect, at best, on how people live their lives. Sports is the same; I'm quite disappointed that the Tigers got beat out of the Series like they did (that's a whole 'nother post, even) but does it change the world? It barely changes Detroit.

Then there's politics, where there seems to be no real accountability, and no real thought behind any one particular voter's choices while in the voting booth. People spend hours learning about what stupid-ass thing Paris Hilton did last week, but 5 minutes of actual thought about the Iraq war, or the environment, or just the corruption in general, is apparently too much to ask.

I'm just frustrated, and this is a rant. I've been depressed, politically, since the 2004 election, and I don't want to see the same thing happen here. But I'm smart enough to know that even if my "wildest dreams" come true and the Dems pick up both the house and senate, they're probably too inept to do anything with them.

I'm just one vote, unfortunately. And I can curse and bemoan the voting majority in this country that wants to keep electing the Republican party, but I can't do a single thing about it. None of them even read this blog.

Okay, just in case they do, I'll say this: don't be an asshole. The Republicans have screwed up pretty much every facet of government, and while the Democrats may screw up as well, any of you who put the GOP in power in 2000 and 2004 owe the rest of us the chance to let our own people fix it. If it doesn't work, I'll join you in voting Whig in 2008.

October 24, 2006

If My Life Were a Movie, It Would Be an Alan Smithee Film

Saw this at BU's, and figured why not; I like thinking of my life as a soundtrack. It's the same theory as the 20 first-lines (sister just did it here) but with an associated purpose. Some pretty funny results, but no real evidence that iTunes knows what the hell it's talking about.

Opening Credits--One of These Things First - Nick Drake
I'm fairly neutral on this one. Minus points for already being in a major motion picture soundtrack.

Waking Up--Wild Thing - Tone Loc
Actually it was a clip from the Simpsons. But I discounted that for artistic integrity reasons. This one is much cooler, and much cooler than I generally feel when waking up.

First Day of School--Out of Town - Zero 7
Sort of 70s detective show-ish. Strange first day, man.

Prom--Connection - Elastica
Well, this might actually have been played at my Prom, so it's not a bad pick.

Life's Okay--Mission: Impossible Theme (1996 version)
Life is not, apparently, very okay. Mission: Impossible? That's a depressing thought.

Driving--I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
Can't see this one very well. Came in just slightly too soon...

Falling in Love--Free Until They Cut Me Down - Iron & Wine
Also doesn't quite fit, as it isn't sappy enough. Stupid iTunes knows I have better for this category.

Breaking Up--The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Theme
Wow. I can't blame her for breaking up with me, what with the tense stand-off and ensuing gun battle. This is probably the best song so far.

Mental Breakdown--November Rain - Guns 'n Roses
From what I remember from the video, this would be better for the Wedding, but only if I want her to get hit by lightning or something. Still, not bad for a reality-detachment montage. At nearly 9 minutes long, my mental is really getting a good breakdown. "Everybody needs some time on their own."

Reconciliation--Runaround Sue - Dion
I don't want to reconciliate with runaround Sue, thanks very much. Whore.

Wedding--Unforgettable - Nat & Natalie Cole
Egads. Amazing pick, I guess, but iTunes sure isn't very original. Every damn wedding in the early 90s played this.

Sex Scene--Magic Man - Heart
Hmmm. Makes me feel like a pederast. At least it wasn't "Magic Carpet Ride".

Birth of Child--No One Knows - Queens of the Stone Age
Sounds like a rough birth. Sorry, dear.

Dance Sequence--Transformers: The Movie - Main Theme
This is not the song from the television show, but rather the completely deranged rock-out song, complete with wailing guitars, that started the movie. It does have a beat, though. Extra points for managing to sneak in the words "Unicron" and "Decepticons" despite the intensely silly result. Seriously, if you haven't had the auditory pleasure of experiencing this song, let me know and I'll send it to you.

Flashback--Nights in White Satin - The Moody Blues
I'm gonna pretend it's not the extended version, just because the creepy monologue messes it up completely. The song itself works ("letters I've written, never meaning to send" etc.) Incidentally, this was my favorite song at some point in my youth. Not something by Bette Midler, as some would have you believe.

Final Battle--Whatcha Want - Beastie Boys
I'm seeing some sort of police raid gone bad. But that's just me.

Death Scene--Airwolf - Main Theme
Now this is just weird. Somehow I always suspected my death would involve Jan Michael-Vincent. I'm probably not alone on that.

Funeral Song--Short Skirt, Long Jacket - Cake
A little late for establishing dating priorities, isn't it? If any of my potential female funeral attendees would do me the honor of attending in a short skirt (long jacket optional), I'm sure I could put in a word for you with the big man upstairs. That is, if I'm upstairs.

Closing Credits--Only Fools Rush In - Elvis Presley
iTunes would have you believe there will be a great deal of second-guessing and whatnot when I shuffle off this mortal coil. Although, "only fools rush in" will probably turn out to be a great explanation of my inevitable ending.

This is actually my second attempt. The first run-through was nonsensical and pretty dumb (aside from putting You're My First, My Last, My Everything by Barry White as the Prom theme; if only my actual Prom had been that awesome) so I tossed it and tried again. This is still nonsensical, but in much funnier ways.

October 7, 2006

Cubs Tigers Win! Cubs Tigers Win!

Hey GOP, here's your "October surprise". The Tigers took the Yankees in 4!

So this is what it's like to be truly proud of one's chosen team. Next up is the A's, and I'm actually gonna try and see about some tickets, since I live here. But even if they go 4 and out, they beat the NY Yankees.

My semi-atheistic worldview has been challenged.

October 6, 2006

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Holy christ they might actually win this thing.

I'm shocked and elated. As a long-standing Tigers fan (15+ years) I'm not sure exactly how I'm supposed to react to... what's the word... "success". But here we are, 1 game away from beating the New York Goddamn Yankees in the playoffs.

"I feel so full of... what's the opposite of shame?
Pride?
No, not that far from shame.
Less shame?
Yeah!"

*Please note: eventually I will stop writing useless little posts about baseball. I swear. This is just so weird for me.

October 5, 2006

Ha!

Take that, you sweep-predicting jerks.

If I had money to bet, I wouldn't put it on the Tigers to win the World Series. The "new organization" is too young. But they certainly show promise, and by God I do hate the Yankees.

October 1, 2006

Interim

Salutations,

Busy with life for a bit. Nothing big or bad, just lots of it. I felt I should mention it now that we're in a new month and all. Happy October!

More posts coming soon.