Anyone who has ever talked politics with me for more than five minutes has probably realized a couple of things. First, I'm a political junkie - the theatre of politics is unceasingly interesting to me, definitely to a geek level. Second, my own politics fall well beyond any of the political parties in mainstream America (sorry, the two parties) and I hold about equal contempt for both, it just depends on the day and who is in power. When I say I have libertarian-socialist-via-capitalism leanings, I'm not kidding, it's just hard to fit in a box. If only I ruled the world ...
That said, I like to follow both the liberal and conservative opinion of whatever is going on in my country. I read The Weekly Standard, The New Republic, and Salon.com to try to keep up. Yesterday, I read a fascinating profile by Matt LaBash over at the conservative Standard about Roger Stone , a political operative in the most cunning (or sleazy, depending on your political affiliation) o
f sorts. The man worked behind the scenes in virtually every election from Nixon-Humphrey to Bush-Gore (LaBash credits him for stopping the recount in Dade County, Florida). He's the kind of political consultant that poli sci students like me drool over, idolize and worship as a god (Karl Rove is also a god, by the way). The stories told (if you can believe them all, that is -- deniability is one of the best assets to a behind the scenes consultant) are the stuff of political thriller movies. It's lengthy, but definitely worth a look.
The fact that I worship men like Roger Stone and view politics as he does (basically as performance art, only you screw as many people as necessary with whatever tactics to win) is why I've scared myself away from seriously considering politics as a career. But I'd be one helluva man to have on your campaign - just don't ask questions.
Today, over at The New Republic is an article about Utah's favorite presidential candidate Mitt (The Biggest Massachussets Flip-Flopper Since John Kerry) Romney and why the Mormon issue is an issue for him unlike it was for John Kennedy in 1960. It's short, concise
, insightful analysis. I'm not a big Mitt fan, he's got a track record as a good leader, but after changing many social stances about the same time he decided to run for president, he's lost my trust. Either he's telling social conservative primary voters what they want to hear, or he truly had some sort of epiphanous moment of realization that has affected his views concerning women's rights, homosexual rights and health care (including advancements that stem-cell research could bring). Both reasons for his morph rub me wrong.
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Now on to the congratulations: Thanks to the Boston Red Sox for providing a great season for their fans and winning the World Series for the second time in four years. Curse? What 86 year-old curse? This year baseball actually had the best team throughout the season win the title, which seems to be rare since the wild-card was thrown in. The Colorado Rockies just couldn't catch a break in the 4 games, while Boston's bats where stinging balls down the lines for double after double, the Sox starting pitchers all had excellent outings and perhaps the strangest guy in baseball, (and baseball is full of weirdos and freaks, more than any other American sport, I think) Jonathan Papelbon, was unstoppable when he came in to close the games.
Ever since I was eight years old and watched the official videotape of the 1988 World Series L.A. Dodgers season, I've wanted to participate in a locker-room champagne free for all. Maybe I can scam my way into a general manager job somewhere ...
**********************************************************
And now onto the best stuff. The music, of course. Sigur Rós is on my mind today, I'm not sure why, I think I just needed some beauty to accompiny contemplation earlier on. For those who haven't heard the band,
they are a foursome from Iceland, guitarist/vocalist Jónsi Birgisson sings in a made-up language, and they produce some of the most unique, graceful, gorgeous, enlivening music to ever pleasure your ears. If someone were to ask me what one concert they should see, if they only got one in their life, I would not choose Radiohead or Bob Dylan or Wilco or any of my other faves I've had the chance to see live. I would direct them to Sigur Rós.
I bought the band's American debut, ágætis byrjun in the winter of 2000/2001. I was living in St. George, Utah for school at the time. That winter, I remember driving the 300 miles north to my home one weekend during a white-out blizzard that stretched from about Cedar City to Scipio in my 1974 Mercedes, travelling into nothing but pure white as the music floated my car through the storm. It was one of the most beautiful music-to-driving moments I've ever had.
When I saw them in the summer of 2006, I had, no shit, a couple of minutes that are among the most spiritual, trascendent of space and time as I've ever had in my life. (And just for you naysayers out there wondering about chemically psychedelic influence
, I was completely sober.) It was during "Hoppipolla", I closed my eyes, and I just was. A pure moment of being. I was not physical, I was spiritual, I was energy. It was absolutely amazing. They've got a really cool looking DVD coming out soon of interviews and performences in some unique places in Iceland, so keep on the lookout.
And for life's sake, if you ever get the chance, see the band live. Best 30 bucks I've ever spent on a concert and definitely worth planning a trip around to see.
Download entire Sigur Rós playlist
Hoppipolla (from Takk)
Untitled #4 [from ()]
Svefn-G-Englar (from Agætis Byrjun)
Staralfur [acoustic live]
Nýja Lagið [Live] (from Svefn-G-Englar EP)
Syndir Guðs [Live] (from Svefn-G-Englar EP)
Vaka (Untitled #1) [Live]
That said, I like to follow both the liberal and conservative opinion of whatever is going on in my country. I read The Weekly Standard, The New Republic, and Salon.com to try to keep up. Yesterday, I read a fascinating profile by Matt LaBash over at the conservative Standard about Roger Stone , a political operative in the most cunning (or sleazy, depending on your political affiliation) o
f sorts. The man worked behind the scenes in virtually every election from Nixon-Humphrey to Bush-Gore (LaBash credits him for stopping the recount in Dade County, Florida). He's the kind of political consultant that poli sci students like me drool over, idolize and worship as a god (Karl Rove is also a god, by the way). The stories told (if you can believe them all, that is -- deniability is one of the best assets to a behind the scenes consultant) are the stuff of political thriller movies. It's lengthy, but definitely worth a look.The fact that I worship men like Roger Stone and view politics as he does (basically as performance art, only you screw as many people as necessary with whatever tactics to win) is why I've scared myself away from seriously considering politics as a career. But I'd be one helluva man to have on your campaign - just don't ask questions.
Today, over at The New Republic is an article about Utah's favorite presidential candidate Mitt (The Biggest Massachussets Flip-Flopper Since John Kerry) Romney and why the Mormon issue is an issue for him unlike it was for John Kennedy in 1960. It's short, concise
, insightful analysis. I'm not a big Mitt fan, he's got a track record as a good leader, but after changing many social stances about the same time he decided to run for president, he's lost my trust. Either he's telling social conservative primary voters what they want to hear, or he truly had some sort of epiphanous moment of realization that has affected his views concerning women's rights, homosexual rights and health care (including advancements that stem-cell research could bring). Both reasons for his morph rub me wrong.**********************************************************
Now on to the congratulations: Thanks to the Boston Red Sox for providing a great season for their fans and winning the World Series for the second time in four years. Curse? What 86 year-old curse? This year baseball actually had the best team throughout the season win the title, which seems to be rare since the wild-card was thrown in. The Colorado Rockies just couldn't catch a break in the 4 games, while Boston's bats where stinging balls down the lines for double after double, the Sox starting pitchers all had excellent outings and perhaps the strangest guy in baseball, (and baseball is full of weirdos and freaks, more than any other American sport, I think) Jonathan Papelbon, was unstoppable when he came in to close the games.
Ever since I was eight years old and watched the official videotape of the 1988 World Series L.A. Dodgers season, I've wanted to participate in a locker-room champagne free for all. Maybe I can scam my way into a general manager job somewhere ...**********************************************************
And now onto the best stuff. The music, of course. Sigur Rós is on my mind today, I'm not sure why, I think I just needed some beauty to accompiny contemplation earlier on. For those who haven't heard the band,
they are a foursome from Iceland, guitarist/vocalist Jónsi Birgisson sings in a made-up language, and they produce some of the most unique, graceful, gorgeous, enlivening music to ever pleasure your ears. If someone were to ask me what one concert they should see, if they only got one in their life, I would not choose Radiohead or Bob Dylan or Wilco or any of my other faves I've had the chance to see live. I would direct them to Sigur Rós.I bought the band's American debut, ágætis byrjun in the winter of 2000/2001. I was living in St. George, Utah for school at the time. That winter, I remember driving the 300 miles north to my home one weekend during a white-out blizzard that stretched from about Cedar City to Scipio in my 1974 Mercedes, travelling into nothing but pure white as the music floated my car through the storm. It was one of the most beautiful music-to-driving moments I've ever had.
When I saw them in the summer of 2006, I had, no shit, a couple of minutes that are among the most spiritual, trascendent of space and time as I've ever had in my life. (And just for you naysayers out there wondering about chemically psychedelic influence
, I was completely sober.) It was during "Hoppipolla", I closed my eyes, and I just was. A pure moment of being. I was not physical, I was spiritual, I was energy. It was absolutely amazing. They've got a really cool looking DVD coming out soon of interviews and performences in some unique places in Iceland, so keep on the lookout.And for life's sake, if you ever get the chance, see the band live. Best 30 bucks I've ever spent on a concert and definitely worth planning a trip around to see.
Download entire Sigur Rós playlist
Hoppipolla (from Takk)
Untitled #4 [from ()]
Svefn-G-Englar (from Agætis Byrjun)
Staralfur [acoustic live]
Nýja Lagið [Live] (from Svefn-G-Englar EP)
Syndir Guðs [Live] (from Svefn-G-Englar EP)
Vaka (Untitled #1) [Live]
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stunning
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