Goodbye 2004 (and good riddance)

Those who know me well know that this was a very difficult year for me. It was tough right from the start with the departure of some dear friends; it came to a head with a work situation where, if I had chosen to stay, I would have lost my soul and any shred of self-respect (interesting how the style of your supervisor can make your life heavenly or hellish); and to add insult to injury, it was exacerbated by my achingly vast disappointment in the results of election day 2004 (I still don't know how that happened). I don't want to go into it all and end up whinin' and wallowin', so I'll just say it certainly wasn't the best year ever.

As far as I can tell, about two good things came out of 2004: 1) a challenging new job I really like with great people to work with, and 2) a significantly large amount of good new music. Maybe I'd add a third thing: the support of all my true friends. I guess a year of adversity really does let you know who those true friends are.

Anyway, not long ago I came across a song, "New Lang Syne" by Jim's Big Ego. It seemed to sum up nicely my feelings about the year: "Some things really kicked our ass...thank God it's over!" (check it out at http://www.bigego.com).

So, goodbye 2004, and good riddance. I look forward to 2005 and the promise of a much, much, much better year!

Zen and the art of relationship maintenance

As I look back on 2004 I see a vast ocean of change. I have a new job, a new place to live, new coworkers, and I'm working on some new friends. That's always hard for me because it takes time for me to build that trust.

Anyway, I got to thinking that I renewed some friendships this year too. I got back in touch with a friend of mine from my UMM days (Paul Greenfield) who lives in Sioux Falls with his family. I reestablished communication with a couple good friends of mine from my time in Crookston--one lives in Las Vegas (Doug Sargeant) and the other works for the U of M library system (Anne Wogen) in Minneapolis. I still keep in touch on a regular basis with many folks back in Crookston (especially Alex and Holly, Peg, John and Deb, Sheila and Marcel, and many others) and I've been able to maintain my friendship with Chris and Heidi in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Karl and Jody in St. Joseph, MN. I still chat with and e-mail Cameron, my former student worker and friend who is now in grad school in Montana, and I still get to have a drink now and then with Doug Knowlton and Steve Shirley, friends from UMC who now have great jobs at Dakota State University in Madison, only 45 miles away. And over Thanksgiving I reconnected with high school friends Lea, Pat, and Brad and Mary. (You see, 20th year high school reunion is approaching in 2005.)

The phone and e-mail have helped me keep in touch, and these friends have helped me make my life transition to Sioux Falls somewhat easier.

My humble initial studies of Zen have left me with the thought the we should always live in the moment and appreciate our now. I try to do that, but it's also nice to know there are people out there from your past (and present), who are there for you even if you don't see them every day. All you need to do is pick up the phone or drop an e-mail. Thanks, friends! I hope you know I'm here for you as well. I hope to see each of you and all my other friends out there this coming new year. I also look forward to those new friends I have yet to meet in 2005.

Take care of yourselves, live in the moment, and don't each too much fruitcake!

Best of 2004

It's an interesting phenomenon: looking back at the year and reliving it in condensed form just before a new year starts. So I guess it's that time of year to post the obligatory "best of..." list for 2004. Here are my favorite CDs from the past 12 months. (I know this is sort of a cop out, but my mind is lacking for creative copy at the moment, so this opinion will have to do.) Twenty-five seems to be an interesting, arbitrary number to select as the limit.

1. "More Adventurous" Rilo Kiley
2. "Garden State Soundtrack" various artists
3. "Singles" Travis *
4. "Universal Audio" the Delgados *
5. "Vehicles and Animals" Athlete *
6. "Everyone Is Here" Finn Brothers *
7. "Homesongs" Adem *
8. "Our Endless Numbered Days" Iron & WIne
9. "We Shall All Be Healed" the Mountain Goats
10. "Eveningland" Hem
11. "Let's Bottle Bohemia" the Thrills *
12. "Monsoon" Preston School of Industry
13. "Sitting Around Keeping Score" Spymob
14. "Long Gone Before Daylight" the Cardigans *
15. "Riot on an Empty Street" Kings of Convenience *
16. "Flutterby" Butterfly Boucher *
17. "The River Bends...and Flows into the Sea" Denison Witmer & the River Bends
18. "Has Been" William Shatner
19. "Violence in the Snowy Fields" Dolorean
20. "Magic and Medicine " the Coral *
21. "Treble and Tremble" Earlimart
22. "Franz Ferdinand" Franz Ferdinand *
23. "Hot Fuss" by the Killers
24. "The Futureheads" the Futureheads *
25. "Please Describe Yourself" Dogs Die in Hot Cars *

So, there they are, 25 of my favorites for the year... Three honorable mentions: "Wild Dogs with X-Ray Eyes" by Helicopter Helicopter and "Heart" by Stars--both of which were released in 2003, but which I didn't learn of until spring of 2004. And "Chutes Too Narrow" by the Shins, which was released in Oct. 2003, but which I listened to all year through (and I'm still listening to it!). If it could be listed, it would be at my #1 position. Every song on "Chutes Too Narrow" is a gem.

The asterisks denote bands that are from other countries.
* = England
* = Scotland (I know, technically part of the UK)
* = Ireland
* = New Zealand
* = Canada
* = Norway
* = Sweden

Of course, these are the more noncommercial releases. I have to say I liked "American Idiot" by Green Day and "Say You Will" by Fleetwood Mac. Also, I was really disappointed by R.E.M.'s "Around the Sun" - maybe I just need to listen to it twenty more times. U2's "Vertigo" single RAWKS, but the rest of the album is ho-hum.

I blame Phoebe Buffay

My friend Alex pointed out this mildly disturbing language trend recently. I'm sure you've heard it: the "yeah, no phenomenon." Example: "Yeah, no, I know what you mean." He said he's been hearing it often, and since we talked about it, I've noticed it everywhere too. "No, yeah, I don't like that show ether." "Yeah, no, I think that's a great idea." etc., etc., etc.

Essentially, the yeah and no cancel each other out, so you have to depend on the rest of the sentence for any kind of context. There's an interesting analysis at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/18/1058035195876.html?oneclick=true

Is it the result of hedging and trying to soften the affirmative or lessen the negative? Or is it a way to emphasize to someone that you actually agree with their negative or positive assessment of a situation? I'm not sure, but I blame Phoebe Buffay of Friends. While I'm not a language purist, and I do embrace creative word use and the creation of new words, could I be any more annoyed at this "yeah, no" phrase? Yeah, no, probably. Phoebe was great at using this essentially meaninless phrase. The thing about it is that it's so insideous! I've found myself using it lately, even when I've made a concerted effort to not use it. (try not thinking about cows right now)

I can understand trying to lessen the blow of no and soften the commitment of yes. As I've said before, the world is more often several shades of gray than, more simply, black and white. But if we agree to a yes or no, let's commit to either the affirmative or the negative. Commitment is often scary, but fence-sitting can become all-consuming. And then what happens? We sit around watching reruns of Friends all day...

What's south of South Dakota?

Place names are funny. What's south of South Dakota? West of West Virginia? East of East Timor?

It can get complicated too. I live in southeastern South Dakota. Aberdeen is in northestern South Dakota. In South Dakota we have East River and West River (the Missouri River basically cuts the state in half). There's a town in South Dakota near the North Dakota border called Mound City that is considered to be in the northwest part of East River South Dakota (did you follow that?).

I think it's interesting that if you start in western Europe and keep going west long enough, you get to what was once known as the Far East. Parts of the Midwest (mainly Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan) used to be known as the Northwest Territory. The West Bank is located in the Middle East. I could go on...

Then, toss in relative age: New England, New York, New Mexico, Nova Scotia (New Scotland). For some reason I think my favorite is New South Wales in Australia.

Now I've got that song "Stand" by R.E.M. in my head.

Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

If you are confused check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around...

For your information...shut up!

Okay, my posts of late have been a bit heavy. So...

I saw this great response on one of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim shows. It was a response to a discussion where Debbie was being questioned by Quin on the logic of her argument. Before she walks away she responds:

"Well, for your information....shut up!"

End of discussion. I love it! I wish that worked. I'd use it all the time. The problem: someone would probably use it on me.

Protecting the minority from a false sense of mandate

This morning I read an editorial in the Argus Leader newspaper that stated people living in the blue states (read: Democrats) should stop whining about the election because there were just more red states (read: Republicans). They should stop whining and come together and accept W and the sweeping mandate he received from American voters. Essentially, we should not question our president, because he won the majority vote.

Several thoughts rolled around my head, but mostly I pitied this writer and his simplistic, uneducated view of America. I fear that too many people think as he is thinking.

First off, I do agree that everyone should stop whining about the election. John Kerry has moved on, so should we. However, W’s 51% of the popular vote (versus 49% support for Kerry) CANNOT be considered a sweeping mandate. I’d consider it winning by a nose. Thus, the “slight majority” needs to keep in mind that it has a margin of only 2% more support. If these folks are responsible, they will understand that this is not the time to stomp out the “slight minority” opinion or force an agenda favored by a “slight majority."

I suspect, however, the illusion of a geographic mandate created by the block of red states will color people’s thinking. Thank goodness Alaska isn’t usually represented in its true size on these maps or the “majority” would think they owned America’s pulse! Oh wait, it seems they already think they do.

Anyway, the “majority” cannot legitimately claim it has a mandate in any way. And this mistaken belief that the rest of America should just fall in line and hand W and his evangelical neocon Christian friends a blank check to do whatever they want is not what I believe the founding fathers had in mind.

Thomas Jefferson and others believed in a free and open marketplace of ideas. They set up a series of checks and balances of power so no one could conceivably become a dictator or king. That’s why we have the Senate and the House. The Senate allows an equal voice for even the smallest state, and the House gives stronger voice to the states with greater populations.

Interesting side note: much of the bloc of red states is comprised of western states with relatively small populations. For example Connecticut, a small blue state of 4,845 sq. miles has a population of 3,483,372. Red states Alaska, North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming combined, 1,055,939 sq. miles, have a total population of 3,465,827. Connecticut, in this case, has a great relative minority in size, but actually a slight majority in population.

When we hear complaints about gridlock in Congress, isn’t it better to know that there is some debate taking place on topics that concern us all rather than a ramrod of, let’s say, a slight majority’s agenda? Changing the Constitution should NOT be quick and easy. Representative democracy involves time spent on complex issues. My studies of communication warn of the dangers of groupthink—when everyone seemingly agrees and self-censorship occurs because “minority” opinions are squelched or members who disagree are cast out. This type of behavior is not appropriate in a representative democracy and is attributed more to fascism or monarchy.

Sorry, I’m meandering again. Part of the title of this entry is Protecting the Minority, and that’s what my concern is about. Lately, America’s politics has been about which party is in control instead of individual rights. With the results of this past election the Republicans control the Presidency, the House, and the Senate (with a slight majority—not a sweeping mandate). While the President may “owe” these results to the evangelical Christian voters who apparently turned out the vote on “moral issues,” let’s hope the rights of the “slight minority” of blue-thinking Americans aren’t trampled by a false sense of mandate.

I worry increasingly that the past four years (and now four more) of painting those who disagree with the war in Iraq as traitors to America; one of the most secretive presidential administrations in history; the burgeoning neoconservative religious fundamentalism of many public officials; the unwillingness of the mainstream media to ask tough questions; and an increase in single-issue voting (mainly regarding abortion), will lead to the trampling of individual rights. We must protect and allow minority views or we aren’t any better than the countries so many of those first Americans fled to escape religious persecution.

"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote: a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority." --Ayn Rand, "Collectivized 'Rights,' " The Virtue of Selfishness.

Knowledge, Faith and Karma

So I read this in a friend's philosophy paper: "A great irony exists in the fact that knowledge, to which we appeal in order to dismiss faith, requires faith to exist at all." (Okay, Cameron sent me a draft of his paper to confound my mind). It's an interesting statement. Let's think about this. I AM a closet and/or barstool philosopher after all...

We believe in what we "know" to be true--usually what we witness firsthand or what we accept based on our experiences. But because we can't experience everything firsthand, we have to extrapolate based on what we "believe" to be true. know=believe. This extrapolation is, essentially, faith, and it can be strong or weak depending on the situation and our experiences. I experience gravity firsthand every day, so I guess I have a pretty strong faith in gravity.

I've been struggling with faith lately. The thing is, there are an infinite number of things I'll never experience firsthand. Lots and lots of grays in a world that isn't every really black or white. I'd say I'm spiritual, but not so religiously dogmatic. I guess I have faith that different people can have different truths. Sometimes I really appreciate those people who have strong faith in certain areas, but I do have a hard time when their faith in what they know or believe to be true starts to infringe on others' rights to know or believe a different truth.

That's rather shades of gray, isn't it. I also believe in karma--that you get what you give. And while it may not be as easy to convince someone to believe that as, say, to believe in gravity, I've observed what I believe to be karma in action on numerous occasions.

So to bring some kind of closure to this mess, I have faith that the more one has experienced firsthand, the wider world view that person will have, and probably better karma, since that person is more open to new experiences and information and less rigid in what he or she knows to be true. So get out there, America, and experience life firsthand. Think and believe for yourself. Come to your own conclusions. I have faith that the more you do, the better your karma will be... Accept and you will be accepted. Include and you will be included. Tolerate and you will be tolerated. Love and you will be loved.

A few of my favorite words...

I don't know why, but there a just a few words and word combinations I like hearing and/or saying:

• mnemonic (I like the fact that there's a silent m)
• juxtaposition (gotta love the xt combo, plus I like putting two disparate things next to each other and then saying "interesting juxtaposition, isn't it?")
• paradox (another cool x word and interesting conceptually)
• flabbergast and/or flummox (I never use these words, but I like them because they sort of confuse people)
• curmudgeon (a grumpy sort--maybe because I'm slowly becoming one?)
• entails (much better than involves or requires)
• snarky (combines sarcasm and cynicism, but in a good way, "hey, that's a snarky remark!")
• if (there are just so many possibilities...)

Okay, maybe this post is a bit light, but I like thinking about words, okay. Deal with it. I don't think I could put these all in one coherent sentence, however. Well, maybe I could...

If the snarky curmudgeon was flummoxed by a paradox, would it entail the juxtaposition of forgetting a mnemonic device?

Damn, I MUST be getting old

So, following my weekly new music Tuesday ritual, I stopped at Best Buy. I didn't see much other than the new DVD of all of the Scottish band Travis' videos, but I also picked up a few other CDs. I went to the check out, and the clerk, who I'd guess was probably in high school, asked me if the CDs were for me or if they were gifts. I said, "for me." (I did feel a little guilt about not buying any holiday gifts...but I'm just not ready to shop for that yet, damn it!)

He said, "Oh. Cool. I'm not trying to say you're old or anything, but this CD (new EP by the Omaha emo band Bright Eyes) is usually picked up by younger kids."

I suddenly felt very old and almost like I was trying to intrude on a different generation's music. I'd bought CDs by Bright Eyes before...and other emo bands, too! But this incident was a kind of reality check. He then said, "You ever heard of the Appleseed Cast? You might like them if you like this. I could write it down for you if you want." I said I thought I could remember that. In a way, I was flattered that he had a musical suggestion for me--RIYL (recommended if you like)--but I left the store feeling very self-consciously old. I checked for grey hair in the rear view mirror, even thought I know I have many.

Damn kids and the music they listen to these days...

It also struck me that I'm one of the oldest people on Blogger. After a quick perusal of "next blog" links and a few clicks to see who else listed common interests from my Blogger profile, I AM OLD. 38. I have seen a couple 32-33-34 year-olds with blogs, but mostly teens and twentysomethings. 38 is positively ancient. Sigh.

What part of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" do you not understand?

Jerry Falwell, the man who claimed Tinky Winky would lead to the ruination of America because the purple teletubbie with the triangular antenna was obviously a gay subversive, has hit another low... Recently I watched him on one of the major TV news shows where he stated, quite viciously, that we needed to hunt down and kill every last terrorist we could. As I watched, I couldn't help but question whether we were living in the times of the Old Testament again. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth just doesn't seem to work all that well in a complex modern world of many shades of gray. Ironic, too, that a born again Christian would so gleefully advocate killing.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying that terrorists are beneficial, but Mr. Falwell was so eager to endorse the killing of other human beings with different world views that I was taken aback. I shouldn't have been surprised, I mean he responded with the typical neocon hypocrisy. So many of these zealots end up contradicting the messages of Christ, with whom they supposedly have a direct phone or prayer line.

I'm not sure what the answer is to terrorism. Maybe helping to build opportunity for people in the third world? Maybe not killing lots of Iraqis? Maybe education to help the people escape from the extremes of Islamic fundamentalism? Maybe a dose of education for ourselves to promote tolerance of different belief systems? I don't have the answers, but it seems like there should be some other way than simply wiping people off the face of the earth... Anyway, I'm getting off topic.

I guess I was just struck by the blatant hypocrisy. I don't think I can ever recall Jesus saying "kill thine enemy. Smite him with vengeance." I always thought Jesus' message was "love thy neighbor as yourself." I would've thought such a devout (dare I say holier than thou) Christian as Mr. Falwell would know that.

On with it, then, and with a herald of banjos

So, here we are. I thought I'd start with a brief rehash of something I posted to my website in March 2004... It's a good starting point and I've updated it.

My friend Cameron, a fellow connoisseur of cool and mildly obscure popular music (interesting word grouping there--"obscure popular music"), and I made an important cultural observation: the banjo is the new guitar! I know the banjo is a standard in bluegrass and some country music, but it's cropping up in my kind of music, and I LIKE IT!

Recent banjo sightings (hearings?) in mildly obscure popular music include "Sing" by Travis; "Powerless (Say What You Want)" by Nelly Furtado; "Loosen Your Hold" by South; "Greetings from Michigan" by Sufjan Stevens; "Big Sur" by the Thrills; "Were the Heavens Standing Blindly?" by the Honeydogs; "Teeth in the Grass" by Iron & Wine; "Bukowski" by Modest Mouse; "Action" by Clem Snide; and quite possibly (but not 100% certain) "Pass It On" by the Coral; among more... Most recently Jem lent a remake of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" to the second edition of the O.C. soundtrack, and that song contains a niftly little BANJO SOLO! It's a trend and I hope it continues...