1.25.2007

NPR Morning Musings

This morning as I drove into work, I was listening to NPR. They always have a number of stories that seem to pique my interest, even on the days where I’m hesitant to let anything penetrate or percolate in my mind before a reasonable hour of 9am or at least one cup of coffee. Today was no exception, so now matter how hard I tried to think I was leaving my world of CD music this morning for a brief update on the news, weather and traffic, I ended up flipping to NPR and staying for my duration of my ride into the office listening to the morning edition.

I was initially sucked in by the story about the history of Motown in comparison to the fictionalized, multi Oscar nominated film Dreamgirls. Where a debate ensued about whether the film was really doing a disservice to the History and Evolution of Motown Sound.

The other story focused on how the U.S. is still very conflicted over many issues that divide us (i.e. class, gender, religion, etc.) in our society, but how Race still seems to out pace all the other characteristics. The story invoked images of Katrina…And even utilized the first stanza of an Emily Dickinson poem to draw comparison:

I’m nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there’s a pair of us—don’t tell!
They ’d banish us, you know.

It’s interesting to me that in the days, weeks and years following numerous celebrations of freedom from many things that we still just keep gravitating toward the same issues of racism. We pretty all start out as nobodies and end up as nobodies, I guess it’s just the filler in between that defines who we used to be…Just a little something to digest and mull over.

1.15.2007

We Can’t Work With Out Music…

The brilliance of Ricky Gervais never ceases to amaze me. He cracked me up when I first started watching The Office on BBC America a few years ago. Let’s face it, the original is and will always be awesome (I can rewatch it without hesitation). And the American version of The Office, which Gervias is behind too, still manages to blow me away with fresh original episodes that sometimes hit way to close to home. Seriously we’ve all seen some of these character types in our own workplace.

But honestly I’m the most captivated by his new show Extras, which premiered it’s second season 2 last night on HBO. I’ve waited well over a year for it to come back to TV and it was still worth the wait. The Brits don’t pump out the mass volume of episodes that American sitcoms release during a season. But what they lack in volume they certainly make up in quality.

Name one other show on television that writes hysterical parodies for real life celebrities to act upon. With the guise of being behind the scenes of a movie or tv set, the viewer is treated to a reveal of what these actors are like behind the celebrity through the eyes of the “extras” working with them. Here are examples of a few of my favorite guest star appearances:

Ben Stiller – being the jerk behind the camera.

Kate Winslet – giving tips and fantastic analogies that can be utilized in any phone sex situation.

Orlando Bloom – promoting his dashing good looks, while simultaneously bashing on his Pirates of the Caribbean co-star Johnny Depp for his indie attitude.

Chris Martin – portraying an egotistical self-promoting musician who’s not really the activist we thought he was. In reality of the show he’s simply a man all about self-promotion and payoff for his band Coldplay. Check out the clip below that shows Chris in a new light promoting Coldplay "Greatest Hits Album" to some workers in a factory who can't work without the music:



Seriously, if you’re tired of the drab American comedy that lack substance, give this britcom a try. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with this little gem.

1.04.2007

Blinded By Bad Light

So I’m sitting here at work this morning, basking in the rays of the florescent tubes perched above my head/cubicle walls. My thoughts every so often drifting to the phrase I constantly ponder as I sit in my cubicle, repeating – “what’s next?!?”

But my mind keeps drawing blanks. And the humming, sputtering of my computer sends me back into shocking reality. I will remain here, seated calmly until I can find a more suitable means of expressing myself that also provides a slight profit. It’s almost like I’m waiting for that airplane ding to signify, “you’re now free to move about with your life!”

Part of me would love nothing more then to leave cubicle life behind forever. Do something brash and unruly by just walking away. But the realist in me knows that I need to keep somewhat of a level head, until I can figure out my next move.

Because really, what will 2007 bring me on this chilly, rainy January morn? Then I sit back and take a sip of my tea. I shield my eyes from the blinding light and am clearly drawn to the fortune hanging on my tea bag, which states, “Your greatness is measured by your gifts, not your possessions.”

What a great ideal to believe at this moment. What a great ideal to strive for in my life. What a great mindset to venture toward today and tomorrow. To realize that there is a hope of what’s next could really be something to covet. An opportunity to share of my time and myself is probably the greatest gift. And realizing maybe when I stop asking questions I should start truly worrying…

Here is a list of tunes that were the first tunes springing from my Ipod today. Indeed they were helpful in combating this cold, rainy attitude:

  1. Walking Out of Stride – Badly Drawn Boy
  2. Day Tripper – The Beatles
  3. How It Is – Jackopierce
  4. How to Save a Life – The Fray
  5. Still – Long-View
  6. My Stupid Mouth – John Mayer
  7. Pop Song 89 – R.E.M.
  8. Maggie’s Farm – Bob Dylan
  9. Jumpers – Sleater-Kinney
  10. Crystal Ball – Keane
  11. We Haven’t Turned Around – Gomez
  12. I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs
  13. London Bridge – Fergie
  14. Shut Down – The Beach Boys
  15. Something to Say – The Connells