we need the eggs

I just watched Annie Hall for the first time in, I don't know, a couple years or so at least. Possibly one of the best films about the contradictory nature of relationships. "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." Woody Allen quotes a joke by Groucho Marx to define his life in terms of his relationships with women. I think of all of the writers and directors I admire, I would most like to sit and have lunch with Woody Allen.  We would not talk about film at all.

Alvy, played by Allen, struggles to figure out where things went wrong with his ex girlfriend, Annie. He sifts through the pieces, their relationship, their differences, and their insecurities. Only the audience, it seems, can see how truly wrong for each other they are. Or are they? They do still try. How could they not? The two have such an attractive chemistry. Do they know something we don't? They appear to try long after each of them knows it isn't going to work. Essentially, in an effort to somehow "measure up," Annie becomes a reflection of Alvy. Though, Alvy is so neurotic and self loathing, how could he possibly love a reflection of himself? 

My question to you is this: How many times have you ended a relationship feeling confused, only to later realize that perhaps you had been sabotaging it all along?

impossible impossible impossible

Been in kind of a funk lately, thus the lack of posts. Well, that, and I've been working on a top 5 albums list for the first half of 2008. Saw Man on Wire with Sterling tonight. On the way to the theater I expressed to him hopes that this movie would incite in me some kind of desire to take responsibility for my emotions. This led to a discussion on whether or not that is possible. 

Seeing someone do the impossible with such a striking combination of passion and nonchalance made me squirm a little in my seat. Why don't more people live their lives like that? I can't seem to conquer even the most run-of-the-mill challenges.  Shoot, I decided I want an office job on campus and need a resume to send out. I've been putting off writing this thing like it's an epitaph.  How the hell are any of my dreams going to ever take shape? 

So this french guy, Philippe Petit sneaks up to the top of the World Trade Center shortly after the towers are built, rigs a cable, and tightrope walks between the things. The highlight, for me, is watching the expression on his face turn from intense focus to a confident, youthful smile as he steps out on the wire and begins to dance. He is so comfortable out there, on the edge of the world. Maybe thats the way life is meant to be lived and he is just one of the few who have been able to figure that out. He pointed out that it was so American for everyone to want to know "why." "Why? There is no why." 

My dreams (whatever that's supposed to refer to) aren't going to "take shape." Thats terrifying and liberating to realize. Here goes nothing.

top 5 so far for 2008

5. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

As far as I know, this is the third pay-what-you-want download to be released. Some say it is because the album, self produced by Greg Gillis, is made entirely from samples of music that already exists. Raises a question of ownership. Is all art subject to a similar kind of "recycling?" Is "recycled" art as valid as "original" art? 

4. Wolf Parade - On Mount Zoomer

Probably the most frequently played album in my car this summer. Saw them with Nicole in Tucson too. This one took a little bit to grow on me but seeing these guys live really solidified it. Funny how that works sometimes.

3. Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago

By far the most emotionally cathartic album for me this year, blending bitter and sweet with painful nostalgia. I can listen to this thing over and over and over and over and it still makes me feel, which is not always the easiest thing to do.

2. Why - Alopecia

These genre benders dazzled my ear palate the first listen. Unfortunately, I found this album like 2 days after they played here in the Grand Canyon State. This album rocks like 3 or 4 really catchy songs and leaves the rest to challenge the listener to decipher the lyrics.

1. M83 - Summer=Youth

Of all of the music taking us back to the 80's these days, this french artist takes on everyone's favorite decade with the most convincing and unassuming of genres. Easily the catchiest shoegaze I've heard in a while. The title of the album says it all; reckless and wistful, this album vividly brings back memories of adolecence with wisdom and hindsight.

swingin' that hammer fool, out on tha city block

I decided that this would be a good place for me to get some opinions flowing about downloading. The subject of intellectual property rights always seems to produce interesting conversation, everyone's got something to say about it. I have mixed feelings on the subject and can see multiple sides. Feedback would be appreciated. The following are questions that I feel have been raised by our generation's advances in technology; keeping in mind that recorded media is, in a historical perspective, a relatively new thing.  

What responsibility, if any, do consumers have towards artists? 

What responsibility do artists have towards consumers? 

What is the difference between an artist and a consumer? 

Do artists have a responsibility towards society, to make it a better place?

Why is recorded media something that costs money? Is it because of the work it takes? The thought put into it? The cost of the actual printing of a record or tape or CD? 

Should the party who ultimately receives the profit be the deciding factor in whether or not a piece of media warrants paying for? (independent VS major record labels)

With that, I will say that I download music. I download films. I do it frequently. I also buy records and DVDs, but not near the quantity that I download. Sometimes I feel bad, sometimes I don't. My justifications have changed over time and at this point, when I do it, I just try not to think about it. I don't know if that's right either though. The truth is, that on this subject I am not sure what's right. There are some artists whose albums I always purchase legitimately, and these days I don't really download movies that are either easy to find or not out on DVD yet. 

I plan to discuss this more in the future but for now, if you would, please post comments about your opinions regarding the subject.

Do you download?

If so, how? Itunes? emusic? torrents?

What would make you purchase a piece of recorded media rather than download it?

Thank you!

...and I'll look down and whisper "No."

Today has been surprisingly NOT boring. Went climbing, met with a couple of interesting new people. Separate people, separate meetings. It really is funny to notice how little age sometimes has to do with maturity. Full days make empty nights ok sometimes. If I don't go out tonight I will probably read Watchmen. You may have seen the trailer for the movie they are coming out with while waiting to view The Dark Knight. I am about two thirds through it. I picked it up at the recommendation of my friend Julian, the one person I know who still reads comics. Excuse me, graphic novels. This thing is pretty good though. I am just excited to be at the point in it where I now recognize all the stuff going on in the trailer. Should be interesting to see what they do with the movie. The story jumps between so many character perspectives and the definitions of good and evil melt together so that is hard to recognize a clear protagonist at this point in the story, much less where it is going. At least it keeps me reading. 

fly like paper

Saw Pineapple Express tonight with Joey. After watching some Olympic festivities and pushing down some Chinese (food, no pun intended) we picked up some purple guava Rockstars and hit the 11:05 showing. Still slightly buzzed from the caffeine, obviously. So, Pineapple Express. The day of the action comedy may be upon us once again. Well, maybe I shouldn't go quite that far but daaaang that shizz was funny. Could it be that the fact that I was on the one drug I have ever used for strictly recreational purposes made me feel slightly on the inside of the jokes. Obviously, the film had a necessary share of contraband; but, the bulk of the humor was either slap stick or non-sequitur in nature. In other words, the humor wasn't based completely around ganja, or doobie smack or whatever the kids are calling it these days. I found this rather delightful and I think others will also. Lots of death for a comedy, kind of graphic death. In fact, there were a couple scenes where I felt like I was the only one laughing and wondered weather or not I was emitting the appropriate response. Oh well.

this is lake directory calling party barge

The summer has been fairly slow as far as album releases go. Usually when this happens I satiate my hunger for new sounds by either downloading albums by artists I have heard about but never listened to or going off of suggestions from friends. Two recent satisfying finds came from friends. After some prodding, Sean got me to check out Working for a Nuclear Free City which he described to me as a shoegazy Chemical Brothers. I love it. From Shane came the suggestion to check out Silver Jews. They took a few listens to warm up to but I think I am there now. I think I remember him comparing them to Why?. I see the comparison. 

In other news, my screenwriting workshop ended today. Not that excited about it being over. It would be nice if the class could be long enough to help me get through my entire script. The class being only 5 weeks, I was able to, as with the other class members, finish the first 30 pages and my treatment. This makes two scripts that I have the first 30 pages and a treatment for: "Silent Stones" (I hate that title but haven't been able to think of something better.) and "Out of Touch" (The song references my favorite song by the 80's pop duo Hall and Oates.) I was thinking of making it my goal to finish at least one of them by the end of the year and to have them both done by the end of next spring semester. 

This marks the beginning of the end of summer for me. These next two weeks will wrap things up. I have no job, I might get one. I have no fun plans, I might make some. More than likely though, I will just kind of hang out and wait for the insanity to begin.

 

Summer

Summer is almost over. What I mean by summer is the beginning of full time school, and the end of the full time pursuit of leisure; as opposed to the date September 21 or the actual cooling of the weather. While others spent their time traveling abroad, flipping burgers and falling in love, I have only a couple of stories and a lot of time on my butt to show. Here are a few of the audio visual delights which have been the salt and pepper to my summer. (Below used to be images. they are gone now, sorry.)

eeeeeew I just stepped in some blog...

Here goes nothing.