1986 Favorite Albums

R.E.M. “Lifes Rich Pageant”
Eurythmics “Revenge”
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark “The Pacific Age”

I turned 20 in the fall of 1986 and began my second year of college. My musical tastes were branching out, mainly because I was listening to KUMM, the college radio station at the U of M, Morris. By far my favorite album was "Lifes Rich Pageant" (yep, no apostrophe) by R.E.M. I think it might just possibly be my favorite album of all time. Every song still sounds great even today. "Begin the Begin," "Fall On Me," "Swan Swan H," "Cuyahoga," "Superman," and all the rest... Eurythmics' "Revenge" was their most pop/rock oriented album, and I believe it's highly underrated. "Missionary Man," their lead single, really rocked and was accompanyed by a very cool video. OMD's "The Pacific Age" was one I remember eagerly anticipating. I was not disappointed, even though some felt it was weak. "(Forever) Live and Die" is still a favorite song... These three were on heavy rotation on my turntable all year.

21st Century Ten Commandments

Well, unsurprisingly, it looks like the alleged rapture/end of the world has come and gone with nothing but a yawn (I am usually suspicious of people who say they know what God is thinking or wants). With that in mind, I was inspired to come up with a list of ten commandments for the 21st Century. (Note, many of the statements are borrowed generously from Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, who developed new sets of commandments themselves.) The following is a very humble suggestion for a set of statements I try to live up to on a daily basis...

1. Live life with a sense of joy and wonder, always seeking to understand new things.
2. In all things strive to cause no harm.
3. Think before you speak or act.
4. Treat your fellow human beings, fellow living things, and the world in general with love, honesty, fairness, and respect.
5. Be aware that you, too, are dependent on the web of nature. Try to think and act accordingly.
6. Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.
7. Do not condemn others on the basis of their ethnicity, race, or inborn nature.
8. Do not tolerate those who use violence or deceit. Seek to help them learn new ways if you can.
9. Do not tolerate ignorance or fear mongering, especially in leaders.
10. Question everything and test all things, always checking your ideas against the facts, your own reason, and experience. Be ready to discard even a cherished belief if it does not conform to them.

(reference here)