Signal Wave
What I'm listening to lately is the Yuletide mix I came up with for the holidays. I call it "Cool Yule II" after the first song on the mix:
I thought some of you all might like to listen to it. It's not your average department store mix, which tend to play the same 15-20 songs over and over again. The albums and artists I dip into more than once are Sting's If On a Winter's Night, James Taylor's At Christmas, and A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, as well as Medieval Babes, Jethro Tull, and, of course, Louis Armstrong. Please enjoy, and let me know if you have suggestions for additions to the playlist.
I hasten to add that the Grinch, Porky Pig, and the Batman animated cartoon "Christmas With the Joker" are also included. I like having Mark Hamill on my Yuletide playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5aWhCWWyImfxBNbW6VidBCtWB8ee8Akz
I did restrain myself and refrain from including Eric Cartman singing "O Holy Night."
Something else I've been listening to: a 1939 recording of Lionel Barrymore reading Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"--or at least reading a radio play version of the same. Since I think Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is his second-best work after Bleak House, an opinion which would no doubt horrify Dickens if he were alive to hear it, I think it can't be improved on, so, like the fans that plague all filmmakers and scriptwriters, I notice and disapprove of every deviation from the original, but it's fun anyway:
It's nice to have the interface working and all the scripts loading right again. Muchas gracias to JtC for his ongoing labor of love.
What am I watching lately? An old favorite from my teens and twenties, "The Tick Loves Santa." Watch it; you won't regret you did.
Oh, and by the way, that Chinese epic/historical fiction/forbidden love story/Game of Thrones-like series I was watching, The Rise of Phoenixes? I won't give spoilers here, but despite the excellent acting, mostly good writing, and beautiful filmmaking, I felt, at the end, that the payoff wasn't worth 70 40-minute episodes of my time. I'm having this problem a fair amount lately, and wonder if it's because I'm becoming a bit jaundiced in my late middle age. But if I spend 2800 minutes of my life on a story, I'd like the story to go somewhere a bit more interesting than all these power struggles are a waste of time and lives. Thirty to forty episodes worth of my time, and I might not mind so much. Anyway, I think I'm going to travel back west and hang with the Turks and their historical fiction some more.
What am I reading lately? I have been so lazy and haven't yet followed up on the new book suggestion zoebear gave me several weeks ago, ungrateful sot that I am. I've just been pulling things off my bookshelves. Most recently, I started re-reading Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series. For those of you who like detective fiction, high fantasy, sarcasm and wisecracks, this is a very good choice. He also writes about food in a way which will make your mouth water. The first book in the series is called Jhereg; the one I'm currently re-reading is called Dzur. One of the things I like about Brust is how he organizes his storytelling; it generally follows some sort of overarching structure; in Dzur the structure is a meal at the finest restaurant in town, with each chapter corresponding to a wine or a course. Mmmm.
Brust uses the language and culture of Hungary as the basis for his main character's background, as well as for much of the food he describes; I suppose it's too much to hope that Hungarian food is as good as the descriptions.
He has also invented klava, a coffee drink with the strength of coffee but without the bitterness. Doesn't it sound wonderful?
I just googled it, and it looks like it's possible to actually make it! Holy shit. At least, this intrepid soul has tried it. Perhaps my problem is that I know nothing about Turkish coffee (even though they were the ones who first popularized drinking it the way we do):
http://www.innatthecrossroads.com/klava-with-honey-vlad-taltos-series/
How are you all today?
Comments
I had that “huh — well” feeling after watching “Game of Thrones”
(DVDs loaned from the Dresden municipal library system’s Fahrbibliothek or “Library on Wheels” which visits my neighborhood once a week).
On the one hand, I give all the participants whose work went into creating the series a lot of credit for their art and craft.
On the other hand, my takeaway feeling was “What a world of backstabbers whose vengefulness leads to one lose-lose outcome after another — very much like the series known as ‘Real Life’ I’ve spent, lo! some seventy seasons in, eh?”
The opposite of uplifting.
I haven't bothered with GOT.
Just not really my thing. Of course, I also have a personal animosity towards most Tolkein rip off in general.
IMHO GOT is Tolkien as seen by a very sad person who believes that the Saruman had the right idea.
But hey, I'm a romantic idiot who frankly is tired of watching every single story devolve into "People Suck, Men Suck more, and the biggest jerks of them all are those who claim to want to do good."
When even a cynic find your work a bit depressing, you've crossed the line to nihilism, IMHO.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
GOT is a Tolkien ripoff?
Well, another reason for me not to watch it.
I heard it was too violent for me, so I never partook. The way people discussed the series, it sounded like it was gratuitously wallowing in violence and negativity--sort of like political horror porn.
Not that I haven't watched my share of violent or negative stuff in my life; just not interested in fetishizing it.
And lotlizard--you seem to have exactly parsed what I was talking about in relation to the Rise of Phoenixes. So, everything's shitty. Check. Huh, I thought this was fiction.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I personally theorize that the mentality...
Comes from "reality" tv.
I do have justification. The very first MAJOR hits on Reality TV have always been people behaving badly. People tune in because, "OMG, I Can't BELIEVE they did that!"
As a result, that need to shock the audience with bad behavior has become endemic to media.
To paraphrase Douglas Adams, they've been forced to put the spaceship crash in EVERY story to keep the people from running off to peer at their wrists.
Which is why I enjoy the shows like Great British Bake Show, Forged In Fire, or Making It. At least there's very little backstabbing on them. Those that engage in it are usually out FAST. Or kicked out. Rules Lawyering also tends to get people kicked off.
And really, you can't not do anything and then claim credit, which is the goal of almost all other shows these days. (Look he's the SMART one!) Of course that ties into my theories about the American Mentality, etc... but I digress.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Hmmm. That seems to derive from
the shock jock shows--Howard Stern and Jerry Springer, for instance--from the 80s.
As time goes on, I have a darker and darker view of those shows.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Ooh. You should watch "The Final Table."
An excellent show, only slightly marred (IMO) by the final competition. Well worth watching, though!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
You will be mad, almost certainly, at who they pick as
the final winner on The Final Table. But still well worth it.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Oh I've had MAJOR issues...
With the British Bake Off and Forged in fire.
British Bake Off, because they constantly praise obviously underachieving bakers with "Incredibly Flavors" Which of course is the ONE thing the audience can't see. (No, I'm not saying it's rigged. I'm saying the judges seem to have a preference in bakers. ESPECIALLY in the more recent seasons.)
And Forged In Fire, I LOATHE the "It Will Kill" part of the competition, which I know is the part that gets the most ratings. Honestly I prefer the technique, and it's interesting when You can see somebody who obviously has NO idea what the hell they are doing being praised...
But of course, I find it interesting that the quality has been declining over the past couple years. IMHO, the reason is because people started noticing it. Can't have an uplifting and interesting narrative praising skill! Gotta nail it down to personal whim...
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
We’re watching Game of Thrones
I have not read the original books, but as for the tv series, I have not found it to be at all reminiscent of Tolkien or Lord of the Rings. It’s a high fantasy with dragons and wars, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end I think.
For one thing, in GoT there’s often no clear cut idea of which “side” or characters are good or evil; you see multiple sides to the major players, some of which you cheer, and some you can’t help but despise. Almost everyone, even the ‘heros’ do things that are terrible and evil.
Yes, it is a graphically violent show, with more than a few scenes that I chose to leave the room during, and got the recap from others with stronger stomachs. (“Ramsey tortured him, cut his dick off, and” ... ! ok, that will do, I get the idea.)
The story arcs, if you follow them, can cause complicated emotions, for example the show makes you really, really hate some individuals because of the evils they do, and you find yourself cheering when they finally pay the price. Like the aforementioned Ramsey. Evil sadistic monster. When one of the women he victimized the most eventually wins, and then coldly ties him to a chair and feeds him to his own pack of vicious starving dogs, as he has done to others many times, as a viewer you get it. Revenge. Blood lust. You feel it. Instead yourself.
Then there’s little sister Arya, who could have just broken but instead she gives up her very identity to train and become an extremely effective and ruthless assasin. She survives horrors by memorizing and chanting the names on her personal kill list. All for good reasons. When she emerges and reclaims herself and implements her plan, it is again hard not to cheer for her. And then to look at your feelings and say, oh god, I’m cheering for a ruthless killer?
This kind of switching good versus evil, and the way you realize how all people are capable of both... it’s a wild emotional ride.
The dragons are also great fun and very well done.
There is a lot to criticize about the show, and I don’t recommend it to anyone. It’s definitely hard to watch, sometimes.
I never would have watched it myself, were it not for our weekly sci-fi group. We have obviously branched out from classic sci if, since there are fewer and fewer options in that genre anymore.
I did pass on watching True Blood and retreated to my bedroom to read during that one. Vampires are definitely not my thing. I figured I’d do the same with GoT when they started it.
But I admit to getting totally sucked in to the story now, and am waiting along with everyone else for the conclusion next year. Soon to be this year.
anyhow, just some random thoughts sparked by this thread.
Thanks for the OT, CStMS. Enjoying it as always.
Happy almost new year everyone!
Tolkien it isn't - it's the Wars of the Roses on steroids
with many more sides and much more horrificness. Wonder who gets to play Henry VII and sweep the board clean and start over.
I'm not a fan of the original (real-world) Wars of the Roses anyway.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Sometimes I think the lack of uplifting narratives
is purposeful. At least where the corporate media is concerned.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
So, been rereading a bunch of old RPG books.
Because they're light reading, but still rather fun. I find it funny comparing the old books to the new... there's a lot of MATH in the old ones.
Which as a kid was cool, because hey, I liked the idea of an algebra equation as my stat. No seriously, the first game I really got into literally used algebra equations as the character's stats. Very SIMPLE ones, but still... X(Variable) + (Value)= Result ... Compare result to precalculated results... Hell, it was practically Geometry prep.)
Makes perfect sense to me, and that basic equation went on to be the entire resolution for the entire RPG. (That RPG was Star Wars D6... before
TSRWOTCHasbro got their slimy claws into it.)Nowadays... they've streamlined and simplified the process. It's easy, but really ALL you can do with it is play combat and other WIN/LOSE types of scenarios. There is always a RIGHT answer and a WRONG answer. The idea that a result can fall between those spectrums... not in the program.
On a side note, I'm horrified by the new commercials I've recently been seeing with regards to pushing the Big Brother shit in our homes. People apparently just can't wait to be monitored, told what to do, where to go, what to think. Went to A Festivus party and saw my first one in action. The idea that EVERY single conversation I had was being monitored for a keyword... Well, I didn't talk much.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
What new commercials?
I don't watch much commercial TV.
Are you talking about the "smart" appliances? And as far as the surveillance of conversation is concerned, are you talking about online conversation (via keyboard/touchpad?) or listening in on the spoken word?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Mostly the competeing Alexa and Google Commercials.
Unfortunately, in order to enjoy the few things on tv I do enjoy (Forged In Fire, OK KO!) Hulu demands I watch commecials. They're just creepy. People googling STUPID shit, happily signing up to be monitored in their home while exercising. (Literal scene from 1984) (Smart Appliances, Home assistants, etc...)
Honestly, I do not trust them. And it was Alexa at the party house, and I realized that every conversation at the house was being monitored for keywords. (Of course they CLAIM that the stuff isn't admissible, but after the pigs started subpoenaing the data, I don't trust em. When the host just brightly says, Alexa turn off the music, and the music stops, I know that EVERY conversation was being monitored.)
Yes, I have officially become paranoid. Good to see you Paranoia! Been a while!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om-lrndZW0M]
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Oh, yeah. Alexa and Siri are crap.
And I do find it shocking that people feel just dandy about having mobile devices monitoring their physiological data. I was once part of a focus group for a Nokia phone, years ago: we were given commercials to watch, with a talking phone, and at one point, the phone humorously jibes its wearer because it detects his heart rate going up when he sees a pretty girl. All of us in the focus group unanimously declared that that was fucking creepy. Nowadays, maybe people would be delighted with it. It registers how many footsteps you've taken! It's a physical fitness aid! Isn't that wonderful?
My partner, in order to get on an organ transplant list, basically has to have a smart phone on which all of her medical data exists. So we are being forced into this Orwellian world. I guess some of that was happening already, because there's no way to keep one's financial or medical data offline--your doctors, bankers, and insurance companies will put it there whether you want it or not, and the only recourse is to simply not interact with the financial or medical institutions, which means getting no medical care. I don't blame her (as I've told her over and over) because she can't help it.
However, it weirds me out when I compliment an old friend's watch, and she tells me it registers her footsteps.
And I hate the fact that televisions are being used to monitor people in their homes. And I *really* hate it when "smart" appliances invade my kitchen. The NSA should stay the fuck out of my kitchen. What are they looking for in my recipe for picadillo?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
It's nightmarish, IMHO.
But then, I'm one of those people who reads unapproved sources.
I'm SURE that if I just sat down and tried it, I'd determine that I really liked it. (Nope, sorry, did that with Smart Phones. When My time was up, I got a Brick with a 4 day charge. Unfortunately it still has monitoring software on it, as they ALL DO. And googling how to disable it makes people think you're a criminal.) (WHAT? WHY don't you want the 911 crews to know exactly where you are? It will save your life!!! Whaddya mean you don't want to be tracked, it's for your protection!)
But then, these are the same people who think that forging metal is more dangerous than printing guns, so what do I know?
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
A sad fact: the ownership of these devices
is often enforced, not just by the PTB, but by the 99%. Do you have any idea how my friendships have diminished because I won't use FB? Just that is enough to create what my mom calls "the loneliness of not being on social media."
When I left DC, I wanted to take my cell phone, put it in the driveway, and run my car back and forth over it. But I got seriously guilted both by my partners and my mom. When your mom guilts you, that's the end of it.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Every little bit I disconnect, the Happier I am.
Reason I don't usually come here more than a couple times a week, nothing personal folks.
Online socializing is not conducive to good mental health. Introducing it into other situations... well, It bugs me when people want to put pictures on facebook, honestly.
Being photographed doesn't take your soul away, but it creates an image of you. The more images that are created, the more that persona will take on a life of their own. If you're not careful, it can absolutely taint your soul with the need to maintain it. (Here Endeth the Lesson of Social Media)
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
I have no problem with digital tech per se.
Including socializing/conversing online. The important thing is that 1)it not take over your life, 2)you have a social life IRL, and 3)that the online "place" you go has actual conversations between good-faith actors.
Just IMO.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Of course, I'm biased
both as a founding member of this space and also as someone who has, perhaps, one person in her IRL life with whom she shares political views. It's very Clintonian around these parts.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Sauron bet on the wrong kind of wearable gadget.
Rather than gifting rings of power to a handful of tribal chiefs, the key turned out to be outfitting everyone with a Pocket Palantir.
Fear of torture and death, meh — all the formerly free folk of Middle Earth would have swarmed to, and swollen the ranks of, Sauron’s armies (Anazgul Prime? Faceb-Orc?) entirely voluntarily, out of FOMO, fear of missing out.
Happy New Year to all
as we turn the corner into 2019. Here's hoping next year will prove more promising than our past. All the best to all of you!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
You too, Lookout!
This time of year, I always miss my mom's old eggnog recipe. Incredibly rich, with large amounts of whipping cream and whipped egg whites that you fold into a milk/alcohol/eggs/spices base that sat in the fridge overnight...yum.
She stopped making it years ago in response to salmonella; I can't make it anymore because I have a dairy sensitivity and my partner has an outright (and serious) dairy allergy. My other partner could drink it, and I could probably drink one or two small cups (and then take a Zyrtec) but that's not enough to account for a whole bowl.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning, everybody!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning, CSTMS . My reading, such as it is, doesn't
really belong here: American Archaeology, Sky & Telescope, Scientific American, Popular Science and a rare dive into strange fiction. Then there's Counterpunch and Caitlin. I maybe need to get out more. Xmas music is whatever xmas music I can't avoid hearing plus whatever good non-xmas music pops up into consciousness.
Your "Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series" sounds intriguing nonetheless. There wee a coupld of decades that I binged on detective fiction and I could easily lapse into that again.
Today is get shit done day, prep for the get shit done week to come, in order that I may be in a position to to make some progress on my agenda for the coming year, much of which is my agenda for the year past and the ones before that. ;-(
Have a great one.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
That's an interesting idea.
It would be fun to talk about our resolution lists/plans for the year, if any.
My partner's kid brought a person to Christmas who, while I like her, was sick as a dog...not a good thing to bring to the vicinity of my partner, who has a somewhat compromised immune system. My partner put on a medical mask, and appears to be fine; the other two of us got the illness and are trying to head it off at the pass by resting a whole bunch. (I do NOT want to end the year with another wet chest cough--the six weeks of pneumonia at the beginning of the year were enough!) So I haven't thought much about making my new year's list.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
No resolutions so much as plans, or more properly, planning
for planning. I can't do anything strenuous until about 6 weeks after I have some surgery that I can't have until February and which I can't even schedule yet due to issues on the hospital end. Meanwhile we have a 10 day trip starting the 17th, a 3 week trip starting in mid March, another starting at the end of May and a week in July. So, we have a medium large project in the house and a ton of specific projects in the yard, but we can't start any yet. Hence, I'm trying to find all of the fiddly-ass little stuff that I can and get it done with now so that when I can do stuff, I won't have all this other shit to do as well. But, where to start? So, tentatively, my "Plan" is to simply keep moving and doing whatever I can find that I can do now.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Best morning CStMS...
Happy New Year and thank you for all your wonderful ots. May your new year be filled with good friends, good health, and happy surprises.
I actually avoid xmas music like the plague. I do not begrudge others the joy they find, but I resent being bludgeoned with the music absolutely everywhere I go. I celebrate the coming of the light, the solstice and I honor my families participation in the holidays with joy. We do not participate in present giving so that makes it easy.
I read nonfiction - science, mostly global warming. however am now reading Chris Hedges new book now and quite enjoying it. no fiction. no movies, no tv. quit a great number of years ago and do not miss it. watch and read a lot of politically related stuff online. reading way too much stuff on Climate Breakdown. right? lol.
also fyi, shallots have a natural anti-something in them that works wonders for the flu and for colds. one rounded chopped up teaspoon raw. 2x or 3x per day. intense. I generally eat it on something. not cooked is important. both garlic and shallots have some natural antibiotic in them. but shallots are the most effective from what I found in my research and from experience.
have a very good one...
Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation
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If you are looking for the best show ever
check out line of duty. this show spoiled me for what makes a good plot line. The show will keep you guessing until the last one where things are finally clear.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
based on that rec...
you might like "Secret State" staring Gabriel Byrne. Here's the 1st of four episodes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aeZT6IXCUg (42 min)
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks for the recommendation
This show is on my to watch list. I love British shows. Broadchurch comes in second to LoD.
Boy are we having snow! Total whiteout and lots of fun. So quiet. Hope my pictures turned out. I could barely see the trees. Now I just hope my buddies across the street will do my drive again.
Was Humpty Dumpty pushed?
Broadchurch is excellent.
Hinterland was also good.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
A customer recently admitted to me
How much she likes listening to Xmas music.
"You wanna be cured of that?" I thought. "Listen to it for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a month"
That said, your unique playlist might be something I actually mix in with the Jazz Standards and Frank Sinatra music l usually play for my guests on Christmas Eve.
Enjoyed your open thread today. Especially the info on the mystery book you're reading. I love mystery books! (I also got a chuckle out of your reference about "neglecting" my book recommendation. Lol)
I'm at work right now trying to write this on my iphone, so I'd like to sign off by wishing you and everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Monty Python & the Holy Grail
is coming to Netflix in January. Can't wait to watch. I am curious if I will like it as much this time as I did the first time.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon