Lately some of my intelligent political friends and family have been chatting up this chick from Alaska who I guess could potentially be our next vice-president. Lately I've heard lots of talk about her experience, stance on issues, level of conservatism, etc. Now, we all know that I'm really not very political at all. Nevertheless, I think it's important to share my thoughts as one of the uninformed.
I just said I'm ignorant in this regard, but I can't help but ask: am I the only one who feels that her experience and issues make absolutely no difference in this whole thing?
The way I see it, 95% of the McCain for President Committee's decision was very simple demographics. What she believes is unimportant, but the fact that she's a youngish woman is very, very important.
Like I said, I don't get into politics too much, but one thing I do know is that the Democrats just finished a fevered battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Our neighbor across the street still has her "Hillary for President" sign in the front yard. Political people will tell you that anyone who would have voted for Clinton would never, ever vote for McCain no matter how girly he gets. Sensible thinking if you believe that everyone in the country is as sensible as you are. In the show 30 Rock the character Jenna claims that she hopes Clinton will win because she wants a woman president. Superficial, sure, but I don't blame her too much (plus she's a fictional character). Jenna merely admits something that we don't readily admit: we want "our people" to succeed. It's a very basic psychology. That's not to say we're racist or sexist in that we don't want other people to succeed, but we do tend to form an attachment demographically. Hey, it's a tendency. It's not necessarily the rule, and it doesn't affect everybody, but it happens A LOT. Mormons did it with gusto with Mitt Romney even though he didn't necessarily espouse the traditional Utah County-type platform.
With that in mind, I honestly think that the women of this nation were way more tickled about the Clinton candidacy than was obvious. For example, most of my friendgirls are intelligenter than I am. Even though they're wicked conservative, I'd be surprised if a part of them didn't feel that it was about damn time that the office of the President of the United States could possibly be occupied by one of their own. The girl power pride only increases if there's less of a political factor getting in the way.
With all this in mind, McCain and his campaign knew that his best shot at getting some of the spoils of the defeated Clinton would not be to entice them politically, but genderly. Adamant Clinton supporters (and McCain supporters) would be aghast at such a concept. Keep in mind, however, that most people who would have voted for her probably weren't adamant.
Another factor in all this is McCain's age. Not only did he need someone to collect the estrogenical votes, but he also needed someone to offset the fact that the guy's a billion years old. Well, he's not too old, and it's obvious he's not extremely senile or anything, but if you're a guy like me who doesn't get into this political thing very much, McCain's age is all you hear about. As a side note of the whole age thing, McCain's health is also a considerable factor. I don't think the guy wants to die, but he knows he's trying to get into just about the closest job to actually bearing the weight of the world. Here comes a heart attack. McCain knows everybody's thinking it, so he turns it to his advantage. Obama could be the first black president, while a victory for McCain could very likely usher in the first female president. Hillary is seething right now.
But perhaps the biggest reason I think Palin's opinions don't matter is simply because she's going for the vice-presidency here. Are we really going to believe that her policies will have any effect on McCain's policies? If McCain wins then she becomes the vice-president. I don't even really know what the vice-president does. One joke from Saturday Night Live from a while ago is that the VP's job is to "attend funerals." I know the VP casts the tying vote in the Senate. How often does that happen? And when it does happen, when is the vote a result of the VP's personal choice and not the presidential cabinet as a whole?
I hope you political people comment and tell me I'm wrong. You know I don't know what I'm talking about. Just remember, I think this country is composed of more people like me than people like you. The McCain campaign is well aware of that and they want to win. I'm sorry, but I guess it's my fault that the General Election of this country is moving closer and closer to a high school student body presidential election.
I can't wait for Tina Fey to make an appearance on Saturday Night Live impersonating Sarah Palin.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
the psalm of trek
A while back I was a somewhat active member of The Church of Trek. My conversion was actually a slow one. It started with the movies. They may have been Trek movies, but at least I was getting out. Slowly, the movies weren't enough. Eventually I partook in every television series. Soon I knew more about Trek than anyone I knew (and I used to know some pretty heavy-duty geeks).
For a long while I lapsed, but it was for the best possible reason: to be cool.
Lately, my friends (most of whom are very very cool) have been concerned about my coolness. They fear I'm once again joining the faith and with it the pariahship of Trekism. Their fears are valid. I've been called back into The Church of Trek. Strangely, it wasn't my choice. For those unfamiliar with my unusual circumstances, go here.
Peter (a fellow disciple) and I made our pilgrimage to the holiest of Trek cities (Las Vegas) this last weekend. Our hajj was one of the last of its kind. The Star Trek Experience is being torn down on Labor Day. Soon after, our kind will be hunted and destroyed and the mocking will cease. Well, maybe the J.J. Abrams movie will help (or possibly hinder).
Here. Watch the 7-minute record of our journey. I've never had so much fun at being so uncool.
Btw, make sure you check out Pete's account of the fun.
Monday, August 25, 2008
i tole you so!
Hey, you know how I always joke about being illiterate? Well, how funny is it that I misspelled 'accomplishment' in the entry two down from this one? I totally just noticed barely, like just now. It's in an entry about reading!
Friday, August 22, 2008
nightshooting deserves a quiet night
It's been a while since I've posted. Aren't those new blogroll things cool? I view other peoples' blogs and realize that I haven't posted in a while because my blog isn't at the top of the list anymore. I like it there.
Anyways, how about a game?
The following pictures were taken a few days ago from a specific street corner in Salt Lake. Figure out which street corner by going there or using Streetview or whatever. Then in the comments section post the googlemap coordinates in the comments. First right answer gets a prize from my trip to Vegas!
Btw, I'm going to Vegas right now. If anybody wants anything, let me know.
Anyways, how about a game?
The following pictures were taken a few days ago from a specific street corner in Salt Lake. Figure out which street corner by going there or using Streetview or whatever. Then in the comments section post the googlemap coordinates in the comments. First right answer gets a prize from my trip to Vegas!
Btw, I'm going to Vegas right now. If anybody wants anything, let me know.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
a great accompishment (for me)
I read a book!
If you don't know, I'm borderline illiterate and reading is a pretty big deal. Books, anyway.
So as mentioned before, I've been reading (among other things) the Phil Jackson book The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. It's done.
Pretty good at the beginning because he dished A LOT on Kobe Bryant. After that though, I got a bit bogged down with him complaining about how his players couldn't do his beloved triangle offense. I really would have liked fun stuff like diagrams on the triangle offense because as much as he talked about it like it was a child of his, I still could never really figure out what it was exactly. Yeah, so I guess I'm asking for more pictures in a book. I say that a lot.
One of the last things Jackson said is that he and Shaq would probably be in touch for the rest of their lives. He makes no bones about it: he loved Shaq and hated Bryant. He really didn't say it in those words though. He also had nothing but kind things to say about Karl Malone, which gives me an obvious sense of relief as a Utah native. Seriously, though, if you want to get most of the good parts of the book, just read the Sports Guy article on it. You'll have to find it yourself since a cursory look just now yielded nothing.
Anyway, the biggest thing I remember is thinking that even though Phil Jackson is like the most celebrated NBA coach ever, he never really seemed to have any control.
I've hit a couple of stutters in my other reading titles. The library forced me to return The Neverending Story, which is really sad. I tried to renew it a bunch of times, but it was on hold for someone else, so it may be a while before I get my hands on Salt Lake's lone copy of that book again. I should've invested more time into that one so I could finish it before something like that happened. The title though, really sucked the hope away of ever finishing it.
Anyway, I'm also in another reading quandary. Should I devote myself to Shelfari or Goodreads?
If you don't know, I'm borderline illiterate and reading is a pretty big deal. Books, anyway.
So as mentioned before, I've been reading (among other things) the Phil Jackson book The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. It's done.
Pretty good at the beginning because he dished A LOT on Kobe Bryant. After that though, I got a bit bogged down with him complaining about how his players couldn't do his beloved triangle offense. I really would have liked fun stuff like diagrams on the triangle offense because as much as he talked about it like it was a child of his, I still could never really figure out what it was exactly. Yeah, so I guess I'm asking for more pictures in a book. I say that a lot.
One of the last things Jackson said is that he and Shaq would probably be in touch for the rest of their lives. He makes no bones about it: he loved Shaq and hated Bryant. He really didn't say it in those words though. He also had nothing but kind things to say about Karl Malone, which gives me an obvious sense of relief as a Utah native. Seriously, though, if you want to get most of the good parts of the book, just read the Sports Guy article on it. You'll have to find it yourself since a cursory look just now yielded nothing.
Anyway, the biggest thing I remember is thinking that even though Phil Jackson is like the most celebrated NBA coach ever, he never really seemed to have any control.
I've hit a couple of stutters in my other reading titles. The library forced me to return The Neverending Story, which is really sad. I tried to renew it a bunch of times, but it was on hold for someone else, so it may be a while before I get my hands on Salt Lake's lone copy of that book again. I should've invested more time into that one so I could finish it before something like that happened. The title though, really sucked the hope away of ever finishing it.
Anyway, I'm also in another reading quandary. Should I devote myself to Shelfari or Goodreads?
Friday, August 15, 2008
first name ain't baby... ms. liukin if you're nastia
So Nastia totally got me in the spirit of the glory of gymnastics. Right after I saw her win the gold I was inspired to take up gymnastics and take it all the way to the Olympics. It's actually super hard! Way harder than I thought. Here's my vid:
And here's the vid of me just practicing! I got like 30 concussions!
And here's the vid of me just practicing! I got like 30 concussions!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
factory? more like fictionory!
Today something happened to me for the first time. I got something I totally hated at The Cheesecake Factory.
I know a lot of you out there don't like Thai food yet. I hope that description hasn't turned you off completely. Just know that the next Thai dish you try CAN'T BE THE THAI CHICKEN PASTA AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!
THAI CHICKEN PASTA
Linguini Tossed with Sauteed Chicken, Julienne Carrots,
Green Onion, Roasted Peanuts and a Spicy Hot Peanut Sauce.
Topped with Fresh Bean Sprouts
This dish sounded pretty good. I'm totally into Thai peanut sauce. I figured it would be like Rumbi's and have a light, but delicious sauce. Nope. The noodles were drowning in peanut sauce. It was like filling my mouth with peanut flavored toothpaste. I built up a week's worth of throat mucous.
I know a lot of you out there don't like Thai food yet. I hope that description hasn't turned you off completely. Just know that the next Thai dish you try CAN'T BE THE THAI CHICKEN PASTA AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
everything happens for a reason...
Next time someone tells you that "everything happens for a reason," punch them in the face as hard as you can. Then immediately ask them, "Based on what you just told me, do you really have any reason to be mad at me?"
I've done a quick check. I can't find any scriptural or other type of evidence that the phrase has any truth to it, at least in the way it's usually used. The fact is, we have individual freedom. We can make our own choices, good or bad. These choices affect others for good or bad. That's why it's so important that we make good choices. What we do has weight on others. Brushing off every event in life as simply good and necessary and hopeful actually diminishes the whole concept of choice.
That's not to say many things don't happen for a higher reason. Many many many things do -- at least I believe they do. And literally speaking, everything does happen for a reason. Usually the reason is because somebody was a jerk. Actions affect people. Humanity has more control over the universe than it realizes.
Please be nice if you possibly can.
I've done a quick check. I can't find any scriptural or other type of evidence that the phrase has any truth to it, at least in the way it's usually used. The fact is, we have individual freedom. We can make our own choices, good or bad. These choices affect others for good or bad. That's why it's so important that we make good choices. What we do has weight on others. Brushing off every event in life as simply good and necessary and hopeful actually diminishes the whole concept of choice.
That's not to say many things don't happen for a higher reason. Many many many things do -- at least I believe they do. And literally speaking, everything does happen for a reason. Usually the reason is because somebody was a jerk. Actions affect people. Humanity has more control over the universe than it realizes.
Please be nice if you possibly can.
Friday, August 08, 2008
embed party
Well, it's been a week. So far the "Assistants Are Me" video has received 75 views. That's sort of impressive, since I don't know 75 people, but I'm sure it can go higher. Here it is again.
Now I know I have a lot of viewers to this blog. I also know that a ton of you have your own blogs that you have a hard time filling with content. In that case, here's some free multi-media content of the embed code for the "Assistants Are Me" video.
EDIT: It has come to my attention that if you view this in Reader, it just shows the video a couple of times. If that's the case please go to the blog itself for the code.
Please, embed it to your blog. You've got a lot of viewers that I don't have.
Now I know I have a lot of viewers to this blog. I also know that a ton of you have your own blogs that you have a hard time filling with content. In that case, here's some free multi-media content of the embed code for the "Assistants Are Me" video.
EDIT: It has come to my attention that if you view this in Reader, it just shows the video a couple of times. If that's the case please go to the blog itself for the code.
Please, embed it to your blog. You've got a lot of viewers that I don't have.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
abbalutely fabbalous
WARNING: This is a big long post about ABBA.
Those of you who read my blog without the aid of Google Reader may have noticed recently that the song of the moment has been plenty ABBA heavy lately. This can obviously be blamed on the recent release of the Streep/Bond movie Mamma-Mia!
I've said this before and I'll say it again: I didn't really care too much for the movie. I'm only a little surprised that I saw it, which is weird considering I didn't really care too much for the play when I saw it. I knew I wouldn't enjoy it, but the fact remains that the movie contains ABBA songs and I just had to see how they were performed (three of them were pretty good). I would have changed the story a lot. Perhaps half of it should have been a flashback. Maybe mix in a few more story elements of people meeting for the first time, since that seems to be what plenty of ABBA songs are actually about. Anyway, the fact is, I can't officially recommend the movie because I just don't feel I could get invested in the story that they shoe-horned around the songs.
Yeah, so my complaints were complaints I already knew for certainty I'd have. But I just had to see the songs performed. The Hollywood geniuses opened Mamma-Mia! opposite The Dark Knight in an astounding move of counter-programming. I'm one of few people who had to see both. After our Mamma-Mia! run, our movie group discussed our favorite numbers. They were surprised to learn that "The Winner Takes it All" wasn't actually my third favorite song in the movie, it's my third favorite song period (although elsewhere in the blog I've referred to it as my second-favorite). Strangely, it may have also been only my third favorite in the movie as well.
Anyway, the point is, the movie got me ABBA-pumped. I wasn't fulfilled with what I got from the film, so I got my cravings in by Netflixing ABBA: The Definitive Collection. It was a smart move on my part. Other Netflixers recommended this particular title because it contains more videos than the other ABBA dvds. They're all in order too, so I was able to see the band unfold and then crumple up. Ultimately, the story contained on ABBA: The Definitive Collection is a more interesting story than the one in Mamma-Mia!
From the very beginning they wrote perfect pop songs. Lots of people my age don't take pop songs very seriously, especially considering how inauthentic pop tends to be. That's understandable. It's hard to create pop song with mass-appeal and heart like I feel ABBA did constantly. I maintain that it's harder to do than create a rock song with the same parameters (and even harder for a ballad).
ABBA began in Sweden near start of the '70s and was composed of two couples: Björn Ulvaeus & Agnetha Fältskog, and Benny Andersson & Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad. I've always gotten confused about who's who in the band. All four of them seem to not discriminate with whom they frolic with in the videos, so I've also had a hard time figuring out who belongs with whom. Because of all the confusion, I composed this little explanatory picture.
Björn Ulvaeus is the smiley guitary guy who is sometimes a dead-ringer for Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap. His buddy, Benny Andersson is usually seen hitting the awesome keyboard riffs of songs like "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" and "Money Money Money." He's a jolly bearded guy who reminds me of a cool college professor you may have had. Anni-Frid Lyngstad seems like a woman that James Bond may have loved only to have her betray him. My favorite of the bunch is the other singer, Agnetha Fältskog. Unappealing name, aside, she's nothing short of radiant in the videos. I think she knew English less than the rest of the band, but by the way she eyes and smiles at the camera, I'd never guess that she's ever had a problem communicating.
The songs started innocently enough. Maybe innocent isn't a very good word. "Waterloo," their first super hit is only about the intense blossoming of a new romance, but with lyrics like
"Ring Ring" is another innocent, almost teen-agery song about flirting really. "Mamma Mia" the actual song continues in the "submitting to love" vein (even if it is in the midst of infidelity).
If you own ABBA: Gold You've probably never heard "Bang-A-Boomerang," which is mediocre ABBA, but still new ABBA.
By song six on the collection, ABBA completes their gushy phase with the treacly "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do I Do."
Then the band switches it up. Suddenly love isn't as important. "Money, Money, Money" contemplates on the idea that relationships are simply about financial security. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is the band's first big breakup song. This is a huge moment. Watch in the video how the girls show off unflattering still frames of their non-plussed faces rather than exuberant ones. They'll do the same thing in future videos (see "When All is Said and Done" nearly at the end of the collection).
It's important to note that both ABBA couples eventually fell apart. They continued the band even after the heartbreaking happened.
I think it's around this time that things really got to be problematic. Songs from this period such as "Take A Chance On Me" take on a new meaning when they may be about saving what's nearly lost instead of trying something new.
From there it gets weird. They seem to go through a country phase with "Eagle" and "One Man, One Woman" (man, there are a lot of commas in ABBA's song titles) as if country music is an essential part of failed relationships.
From there they go to the disco nightlife scene. The songs are still about being out and having a good time (as the videos show), but there's less of a sense of intimacy (Summer Night City"). Songs here also include "Does Your Mother Know," a tune opposite of "Waterloo" in which the guy actually avoids statutory charges.
Finally there's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)." What could be a more obvious declaration of unfulfillment?
After all of this... the concession. "The Winner Takes It All" is pretty much a song about giving up. After all the happiness and sunshine and pure pop delight, ABBA puts out one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. The great Agnetha belts this particular one.
At the end of it all, we get to the current Song of the Moment: "The Day Before You Came," which sounds absolutely numb if anything. The song is about thinking back to before a major relationship. The melancholy sound may be because of sadness, or it may be that it's just hard to remember what life was like for the band members before ABBA. They'd spent half their lives in relationships that were successful only professionally.
So anyway, after "The Day Before You Came," ABBA understandably broke up in every sense. Since they were so successful, some hotshot investors actually cobbled together ONE BILLION DOLLARS to offer the band to tour again. Apparently, the band politely declined. You'd think everybody had their price and a billion dollars would be hundreds of millions beyond that price. I used to think ABBA were way too cool to go out again and they wanted to be remembered at the top rather than a bunch of old touring has-beens. Now I think there are some things that may be just too painful to revisit, no matter how much money is involved.
Frida went on to some mild solo stuff. The boys worked on a couple of musicals together, one of them being Chess which has the song "One Night in Bangkok." Agnetha did a little bit of solo stuff, then removed herself completely from the public for 15 years.
So yeah. Mamma-Mia! wasn't as good as the story on ABBA: The Definitive Collection. If you want to watch another ABBA movie, I recommend the Toni Collette movie Muriel's Wedding. It's a great movie about friendship lasting even past failed relationships and has the great line: "Since I've met you... my life is as good as an ABBA song. It's as good as 'Dancing Queen.'"
Still, I'm soooo glad Mamma-Mia! happened. Otherwise I wouldn't have read the following line on Wikipedia just now:
In July 2008, Fältskog arrived at the Swedish premiere of the film version of Mamma Mia! with former colleague Anni-frid Lyngstad and movie star Meryl Streep. The three danced in front of thousands of fans before joining the film's other stars and Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus on the Hotel balcony for the first photograph of all four ABBA members together in 22 years.
Those of you who read my blog without the aid of Google Reader may have noticed recently that the song of the moment has been plenty ABBA heavy lately. This can obviously be blamed on the recent release of the Streep/Bond movie Mamma-Mia!
I've said this before and I'll say it again: I didn't really care too much for the movie. I'm only a little surprised that I saw it, which is weird considering I didn't really care too much for the play when I saw it. I knew I wouldn't enjoy it, but the fact remains that the movie contains ABBA songs and I just had to see how they were performed (three of them were pretty good). I would have changed the story a lot. Perhaps half of it should have been a flashback. Maybe mix in a few more story elements of people meeting for the first time, since that seems to be what plenty of ABBA songs are actually about. Anyway, the fact is, I can't officially recommend the movie because I just don't feel I could get invested in the story that they shoe-horned around the songs.
Yeah, so my complaints were complaints I already knew for certainty I'd have. But I just had to see the songs performed. The Hollywood geniuses opened Mamma-Mia! opposite The Dark Knight in an astounding move of counter-programming. I'm one of few people who had to see both. After our Mamma-Mia! run, our movie group discussed our favorite numbers. They were surprised to learn that "The Winner Takes it All" wasn't actually my third favorite song in the movie, it's my third favorite song period (although elsewhere in the blog I've referred to it as my second-favorite). Strangely, it may have also been only my third favorite in the movie as well.
Anyway, the point is, the movie got me ABBA-pumped. I wasn't fulfilled with what I got from the film, so I got my cravings in by Netflixing ABBA: The Definitive Collection. It was a smart move on my part. Other Netflixers recommended this particular title because it contains more videos than the other ABBA dvds. They're all in order too, so I was able to see the band unfold and then crumple up. Ultimately, the story contained on ABBA: The Definitive Collection is a more interesting story than the one in Mamma-Mia!
From the very beginning they wrote perfect pop songs. Lots of people my age don't take pop songs very seriously, especially considering how inauthentic pop tends to be. That's understandable. It's hard to create pop song with mass-appeal and heart like I feel ABBA did constantly. I maintain that it's harder to do than create a rock song with the same parameters (and even harder for a ballad).
ABBA began in Sweden near start of the '70s and was composed of two couples: Björn Ulvaeus & Agnetha Fältskog, and Benny Andersson & Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad. I've always gotten confused about who's who in the band. All four of them seem to not discriminate with whom they frolic with in the videos, so I've also had a hard time figuring out who belongs with whom. Because of all the confusion, I composed this little explanatory picture.
Björn Ulvaeus is the smiley guitary guy who is sometimes a dead-ringer for Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap. His buddy, Benny Andersson is usually seen hitting the awesome keyboard riffs of songs like "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" and "Money Money Money." He's a jolly bearded guy who reminds me of a cool college professor you may have had. Anni-Frid Lyngstad seems like a woman that James Bond may have loved only to have her betray him. My favorite of the bunch is the other singer, Agnetha Fältskog. Unappealing name, aside, she's nothing short of radiant in the videos. I think she knew English less than the rest of the band, but by the way she eyes and smiles at the camera, I'd never guess that she's ever had a problem communicating.
The songs started innocently enough. Maybe innocent isn't a very good word. "Waterloo," their first super hit is only about the intense blossoming of a new romance, but with lyrics like
I tried to hold you back but you were strongerIt's a wonder the song wasn't banned for being a little "too friendly."
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only hope is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
"Ring Ring" is another innocent, almost teen-agery song about flirting really. "Mamma Mia" the actual song continues in the "submitting to love" vein (even if it is in the midst of infidelity).
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
If you own ABBA: Gold You've probably never heard "Bang-A-Boomerang," which is mediocre ABBA, but still new ABBA.
By song six on the collection, ABBA completes their gushy phase with the treacly "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do I Do."
Then the band switches it up. Suddenly love isn't as important. "Money, Money, Money" contemplates on the idea that relationships are simply about financial security. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is the band's first big breakup song. This is a huge moment. Watch in the video how the girls show off unflattering still frames of their non-plussed faces rather than exuberant ones. They'll do the same thing in future videos (see "When All is Said and Done" nearly at the end of the collection).
It's important to note that both ABBA couples eventually fell apart. They continued the band even after the heartbreaking happened.
I think it's around this time that things really got to be problematic. Songs from this period such as "Take A Chance On Me" take on a new meaning when they may be about saving what's nearly lost instead of trying something new.
From there it gets weird. They seem to go through a country phase with "Eagle" and "One Man, One Woman" (man, there are a lot of commas in ABBA's song titles) as if country music is an essential part of failed relationships.
From there they go to the disco nightlife scene. The songs are still about being out and having a good time (as the videos show), but there's less of a sense of intimacy (Summer Night City"). Songs here also include "Does Your Mother Know," a tune opposite of "Waterloo" in which the guy actually avoids statutory charges.
I can see what you wantThen there's "Voulez-Vous." No idea what that one's about.
But you seem pretty young to be searching for that kind of fun
So maybe I'm not the one
Now you're so cute, I like your style
And I know what you mean when you give me a flash of that smile
But girl you're only a child
Finally there's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)." What could be a more obvious declaration of unfulfillment?
After all of this... the concession. "The Winner Takes It All" is pretty much a song about giving up. After all the happiness and sunshine and pure pop delight, ABBA puts out one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. The great Agnetha belts this particular one.
At the end of it all, we get to the current Song of the Moment: "The Day Before You Came," which sounds absolutely numb if anything. The song is about thinking back to before a major relationship. The melancholy sound may be because of sadness, or it may be that it's just hard to remember what life was like for the band members before ABBA. They'd spent half their lives in relationships that were successful only professionally.
So anyway, after "The Day Before You Came," ABBA understandably broke up in every sense. Since they were so successful, some hotshot investors actually cobbled together ONE BILLION DOLLARS to offer the band to tour again. Apparently, the band politely declined. You'd think everybody had their price and a billion dollars would be hundreds of millions beyond that price. I used to think ABBA were way too cool to go out again and they wanted to be remembered at the top rather than a bunch of old touring has-beens. Now I think there are some things that may be just too painful to revisit, no matter how much money is involved.
Frida went on to some mild solo stuff. The boys worked on a couple of musicals together, one of them being Chess which has the song "One Night in Bangkok." Agnetha did a little bit of solo stuff, then removed herself completely from the public for 15 years.
So yeah. Mamma-Mia! wasn't as good as the story on ABBA: The Definitive Collection. If you want to watch another ABBA movie, I recommend the Toni Collette movie Muriel's Wedding. It's a great movie about friendship lasting even past failed relationships and has the great line: "Since I've met you... my life is as good as an ABBA song. It's as good as 'Dancing Queen.'"
Still, I'm soooo glad Mamma-Mia! happened. Otherwise I wouldn't have read the following line on Wikipedia just now:
In July 2008, Fältskog arrived at the Swedish premiere of the film version of Mamma Mia! with former colleague Anni-frid Lyngstad and movie star Meryl Streep. The three danced in front of thousands of fans before joining the film's other stars and Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus on the Hotel balcony for the first photograph of all four ABBA members together in 22 years.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Friday, August 01, 2008
assistants are me
So a few weeks ago when Joe and I were traveling down to St. George we got talking about my idea that I had a few years ago about where everyone I know would give me 50 bucks a month if I ran their errands for them while they were at work. By the end of the conversation Joe totally convinced me to try it out now that I have the time. What the heck. Let's give it a month or so.
So instead of researching the market, or developing a web site or setting up a paypal account; I spent the past few days working on a silly commercial. I figured people I know could show it to their bosses and other people they work with or something. Then they can explain to the people they showed it to that this concept could go far beyond bar mitzvahs. I can actually save people money because I'll organize coupons for once (who does that?) and if volume happens, I can get some sweet bulk rates on things.
Of course if this works there are still dozens of things that still must happen. I gotta set up a payment system, possibly set up a collateral system, set up a web site probably and totally lay out available services. That's the fun stuff. It all depends on how wet my foot gets when I dip it in the water. If I sense a positive reaction from this, I'll concentrate hard on solidifying all these things and also figuring out how to get more word out.
In the meantime, share this video. Please.
EDIT: When I first published this, I forgot to include the YouTube URL. It's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOr6QxaoNeU
Yeah, I know. You probably hate the name "Assistants Are Me." It's play on the word "army" in case you somehow didn't realize. The name is subject to change.
Oh, and this is my first foray into blue screen film making. It's pretty lame. Thanks to Pete for helping me shoot and providing the blue sheet. Next time I'm bringing in a big blue piece of sheetrock or something. The video is supposed to be cheesy, but cleaning up that background island scene as much as it is cleaned up was a total mess. I pretty much had to re-draw the palm trees pixel by pixel and then frame by frame. It's so embarrassing how long it took.
So instead of researching the market, or developing a web site or setting up a paypal account; I spent the past few days working on a silly commercial. I figured people I know could show it to their bosses and other people they work with or something. Then they can explain to the people they showed it to that this concept could go far beyond bar mitzvahs. I can actually save people money because I'll organize coupons for once (who does that?) and if volume happens, I can get some sweet bulk rates on things.
Of course if this works there are still dozens of things that still must happen. I gotta set up a payment system, possibly set up a collateral system, set up a web site probably and totally lay out available services. That's the fun stuff. It all depends on how wet my foot gets when I dip it in the water. If I sense a positive reaction from this, I'll concentrate hard on solidifying all these things and also figuring out how to get more word out.
In the meantime, share this video. Please.
EDIT: When I first published this, I forgot to include the YouTube URL. It's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOr6QxaoNeU
Yeah, I know. You probably hate the name "Assistants Are Me." It's play on the word "army" in case you somehow didn't realize. The name is subject to change.
Oh, and this is my first foray into blue screen film making. It's pretty lame. Thanks to Pete for helping me shoot and providing the blue sheet. Next time I'm bringing in a big blue piece of sheetrock or something. The video is supposed to be cheesy, but cleaning up that background island scene as much as it is cleaned up was a total mess. I pretty much had to re-draw the palm trees pixel by pixel and then frame by frame. It's so embarrassing how long it took.
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