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Lauren's Journal

lauren
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01/07/2009 19:08 #47323

hahaha
thanks to (e:janelle) for the chips and dip AND for sending me to the FAIL website. I found this gem there


drew - 01/07/09 23:30
fail blog was me. Janelle isn't so profane, she just didn't sign out.

01/07/2009 10:32 #47317

breathe in breathe out
i heard Gavin Rossdale's new music sometime recently and I was thoroughly disappointed. Bush used to be sooo cool and now he is playing generic poprocks music that is indistinguishable from the rest of the nonsense out there.

Felly had a theory. That once Gavin and Gwen got married they both started to suck. Gwen was also once so very very cool. Remember when No Doubt came onto the scene and there was Gwen with her combat boots and wife beaters (waaaay before Avril Lavigne)? I mean, Gwen sang with Sublime. Now that's punk rock. And now? Harajuku girls or whatever the hell they are and...hmmm...when was the last time we heard from her?

Now don't get me wrong. I like pop music...usually. I recognize it for what it is however, namely that you take these songs and listen to them somewhat consistently for a short period of time until you get to the point where you might have to kill someone if you hear them humming it one more time. Then, you wait. Wait and wait and wait, until you haven't heard the song in, say, two years, and then you listen with fresh ears. If you still like the pop song from back when, its a keeper. I love shitty music from days of yore. I think it speaks volumes about a moment in time. I don't care if people call it fluff or fabricated or whatever. Perhaps that what it is meant to say. At this moment in time the majority of American youth are listening to fabricated cotton candy music. What does that tell you? Think about it.

I will admit though, it seams we are at a loss for the greats these days. Where are our Sublimes? Our Pink Floyds and Led Zeppelins. Nirvana? Operation Ivy? When was the last time someone put out an album that you could listen to alllllll the way through? I am trying to think...there is Radiohead. Weezer. Oasis maybe? I am (perhaps unfairly) talking about hit toppers here. Oh, maybe I got it. People don't buy actual albums anymore, they just download singles on iTunes, watch videos on youtube (cause MTV is gone) and probably only listen to the first minute of the song anyway cause they are all hopped up on prescription drugs and soda pop and Britney Spears.

I am reading a book...one of those whoa is me I am a feminist who is addicted to man sex book. But she (the author, the main character, whoeveR) made a point that I thought was so true. We have it alllll backwards these days. We are more and more isolated from human beings and more and more connected to everything else we don't really need. Connected to the internet, to television, to clothes and shoes and furniture and Britney Spears. Consume consume consume. Feed me. Cause I am starving. But the problem is that what we are eating is...cotton candy. Fluffernutter. Britney Spears. Not our lovers, our friends our family, humanity. So we continue to eat, cause we are still starving. And perhaps whats more, is that such a statement is cliche. I can't even type it without feeling a little silly cause, well, duh, everyone already knows this, but yet, still, here we are.

Anyone scene Wall-E?? Sometimes when I think about the future, thats what I think about. Millions of human beings floating around with television/computer/phones/ipods (all in one of course) implanted into their little mindless brains. Worthless. Scary. Terrifying.
metalpeter - 01/07/09 20:03
First of all the thing you Have to remember is Gavin went Solo so it isn't the same Music as Bush would be, the same thing with Gwen or music isn't at all Like No Doubt was. That being Said I thought I heard No Doubt was getting back together and making a New Album (not sure when). I listen to all kinds of stuff and not sure what music you like but I'm sure there are some band CDs that are pretty good like:

Metallica - Death Magnetic
AC/DC - Black Ice
any CD by Coldplay
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democrocy

I have a Christina Agularia double CD that is pretty good and she has a new one out don't know how it is though. I can't really recomend bands really with out knowing what you like. Some mentioned that the genres are kinda getting mixed now and that is true. One of the reasons for that is that people who produce and arange albums work for both rock groups and country groups now so the sounds get mixed The most recent Def Leopard Album is a good example of that.
drew - 01/07/09 13:01
Oh, and for the record, I never liked Bush, even if I did learn how to play "Glycerine." I love No Doubt's stuff, and agree that Gwen has fallen off.

In general, I think anybody named Gavin is a tool. Sure, its' a prejudice, but I haven't been proved wrong yet.

theecarey - 01/07/09 12:36
I sometimes wonder if I would be more social or less social if the internet wasn't so readily available; and would the depth of connection be any different?

Using technologies, I talk to people and learn about things I likely wouldn't have otherwise. But I am also less prone now to actually venture out to do those things as well (ie; meet new people). Cause or effect? hmmmm

Would I feel like Kate, in Wall-e, who once her monitor viewing was distracted, she realized that there was a lot in front of her that she hadn't seen or experienced before?
I'm confident that many of us have IM'd/texted someone who was in the near vicinity (or next to you on the couch!) (*raises hand*) instead of taking a moment to verbalize, interact. Or who among us feel like a major body part was amputated if we lost/broke our laptop/iPod/multi functional 'cellphone'/television and so on? (me, again). Just things to think about..

A quick note about music- the genres have been melting together. Everyone remembers the original sound of "alternative", and how ironically that is a main stream classification and loosely at that. An artist that is classified as "country" is often played on "pop" stations because their sound has crossed over (or double-dipping) and so on. I can't say what kind of music I like and have it mean something concrete now. Radio is rarely on but when it is, my thoughts are in wonder about the changes/perceptions of music over time.
johnallen - 01/07/09 12:01
I had posted the same thing about a month ago. BUSH rocked. COmedown, Glycerine, etc, great music, it was awesome.

NObody writes their own shit anymore, who stars with some buds in a garage and hits the underground sceen and goes big? - No-one. You have American Idol making a joke out a good music - all it is a sing-along, and then people think that these "stars" are real musicans, the whole thing sucks and I can't stand the show.

Pink Floyd is my fovirite, U2 is the next, that's music to me. There is a reason Dark Side stayed on Billboard for YEARS, because it rocked.

Gavin and Gwen can eat it both. THis shit is bananas................
james - 01/07/09 11:40
Eh, I feel like the internet makes me more connected to other people. That connection might not be as intimate but I am exposed to so many more people than I would be otherwise. I have internet friends in India, the Philippines, England, Ireland, Slovenia. Unless I am some blue blood trust fund kid, there is no way I would be able to talk to so many different people.

But don't sweat the pop. There are some wonderful bits of music in there. Music is like food. You can't eat at Rue Franklin every night.
jim - 01/07/09 11:24
To totally derail these comments, my full name is an anagram for:

Loins Learnedly Jammed

and also

Meddlesome Ninja Rally

drew - 01/07/09 11:16
Did you know that Britany Spears is an anagram for Presbyterian? Wierd, huh?

This week, I have definitely been guilty of the wrong priorities that you have been talking about. I am exhausting myself on things that aren't worth exhaustion.

This afternoon, I am going to turn off my phone and my computers so I can spend some time reading and praying. Friday night is date night with my dear wife.

I'm kinda weird in that it hall hits me at once. I go go go and am ok with it until a certain point and then it all catches up to me at once.

Anyway, your post is timely.

As for music--I used to be "that guy" that knew every band and the right bands and the right songs from each band. I stayed way ahead of the curve.

Then I started liking pop music, and lost a whole lot of cred. Then the internet happened and I stopped keeping up with all that's out there.

Now I buy new albums from u2 and Derek Webb, and get Kasey Chambers through my wife and that's it. I go back and listen to old stuff now and them, but really I spend so much less time enjoying music than I once did. I am a talk radio addict now, which probably is bad for my soul, even if it is highly entertaining.

12/11/2008 18:53 #47028

enough already
ug. phew. breath in, breath out.

this will not be another rant about how stupid conservative Christians are in their arguments for gay marriage. HOWever, I came across this in one of my "lefty" (as my father would say) email newsletters. the part the newsletter focused on was this :

"Have you not seen the awful similarity between what happened in Mumbai and what's happening right now in our cities?...What troubles me so deeply, and should trouble all thinking Americans, is that there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists. Hate is hate, no matter where it erupts."

This guy, Pat Boone, basically is comparing what is happening in Mumbai, where there were some 200 plus violent murders, to pro- prop 8 protestors. Uhhhhhhh, no, dumbass.

But it gets better. He goes on to say:

"Slavery was abolished, blacks and women obtained the rights to vote, and these true rights were not obtained by threats and violent demonstrations and civil disruption (though these things did occur, of course), but by due process, congressional deliberations and appropriate ratification. This was democracy in action, not mob rule."

ARE YOU KIDDING GUY?
I wasn't even there and I know there was violence...coming from the OTHER side. there is always violence when oppressed groups are forced to fight for their rights.

Oh oh and one more thing:

"No 'rights' were ever granted to citizens on the basis of their sexual habits or lifestyle. There simply are no such 'rights.'"

Really? Then WTF do you call straight marriage?? Is that not a right based on sexual habits and (god i HATE this word) lifestyle? Please MF please.

You can read the whole article here
I know that this guy is kinda extreme. but i also think that there are logical progressions in thinking that there is no harm in saying that marriage is a definition and man and woman and blahdeeblah to all homos are terrorists. its not that far of a stretch, obviously.




drew - 12/11/08 21:17
This letter is sad, but not surprising. The communication on the fringes is so isolated from other voices, that stuff like this never even gets questioned.
metalpeter - 12/11/08 19:10
I'm sure what he is saying from his perspective makes sense to him. That being said the thing about sexual life style or what ever that is called is wrong but I see it as wrong for a different reason then you. There was a time when it was legal to have multiple wives (and not just I want to have sex with my 14 year old bride because she is hot and reminds me of the 1st time I had sex), and that was made illegal and you can only get hitched to one person. Maybe if I have time to read the entire article I will be able to make a better comment. You are also so true about the violance. Does he mention that one of the reasons women got into the work place was to take mens jobs when they went off to war, oh yeah that was really peacful.
tinypliny - 12/11/08 19:08
His understanding of not only my country's politics but also of general biology is so distorted, I can only laugh. When was he born? Yesterday? LOL.

12/02/2008 09:51 #46919

Dolla Dolla Bill Ya'll
hmmm... you see, I always want to post something I think that others will think is interesting. This is hard for me. You know those people who can kinda just talk about anything...remember the smallest details and make a story out of it? That's not me.

Oh and I also have problems with deja vu...did I write that before? Is that how uninteresting I am that I have to repeat the same ol same ol on this blog that I barely write in in the first place? I am awesome.

So here's an idea.

There are three dollar stores in my town. Three. One, two, three. We have the original Dollar Store where everything really is a dollar. Then we have the Dollar General where almost nothing is a dollar. I believe the third is the General Dollar or something along those lines. The third I have not been in yet because, well, the second one is closer to my house. I was talking to my dad about this pseudo monstrosity and he was going on about he was able to get curtains and a curtain rob for my room at one of the dollar stores, i don't know which one, and how great it was because before them they would have to drive all the way to Oneonta, about half hour away, to get things such as these. I get that, really I do, but THREE??

I mean really, you need to picture this. My town sits in a valley. The village is mucho small while the town (i think i have that distinction right) spreads out through the mountains with dairy farmers and whatnot. But the village itself...you can walk from one end to the other in maybe 20 minutes. I might be exaggerating though, its been awhile since I walked from one end of that place to the other. but either way ALL THREE of these Dollar Stores are within LESS THAN ONE MILE of each other in my little shit ass town. Really? Really.
tinypliny - 12/04/08 10:00
Haha.. $1 = Rs.50
metalpeter - 12/02/08 18:52
I kinda agree with (e:Paul) it is kinda false advertising. I think that some of the places might get away with it because they still have stuff that is predetermined to cost a dollar or maybe every thing costs even dollars with no cents.
james - 12/02/08 11:12
You can never have enough shit.
paul - 12/02/08 10:31
I hate dollar stores where the stuff is not $1.00. I feel like its false advertising.

12/01/2008 13:51 #46907

Picture This...
There are small towns and then there are small towns and then even there are smaller towns. I live in a town I would classify as a middle small town. There were about 100 people or less in my graduating class. I have friends from two of the surrounding towns who graduated with 30 or so people. Crazy. The thing about my middle sized town though, is that it allows for the fostering of crazy football maniacs.

Walton almost made it to the state championships this year, but lost after their 30 or so game winning streak. Sucks for them. All over the town there are posters and signs that say things like "Fear the Warriors" and "Walton Warriors All the Way". Sheesh. They lost, take down the stupid signs.

Also, in response to (e:joshua)'s post about deer carcasses... my school would often get the first day of hunting season off simply because more than half of the students wouldn't be there anyway. I had a friend whose step father owned a deer prep place...for those hunters who didn't want to do it themselves...and I distinctly remember walking in there and having to watch where I was going so I didn't walk into a deer face. They were all skinned...and I don't know which is worse, with or without the fur. It is not uncommon to see deer strapped to the top of cars or hanging from trees. Better there than then indented into the front of your car.

I don't have a problem with hunting, or hunters. I do however have a problem with "flatlanders" aka city folk and new jersey-ites who come to the country and shoot at anything that moves. I might have written about this in the past, but once a little old lady was standing on her back porch and was shot dead by a hunter from new jersey who swore she was a deer. Gross.

Oh and, I made the mistake of going to the (only) bar in Walton while I was home. There were so many people there that I had forgotten existed...its weird to see people outside of the ridiculous mindfuck that is high school. I think that perhaps it is only in places like Walton where you can find men dressed from head to toe in camo dancing to the the dj who goes from playing "its getting hot in here" to "she thinks my tractor's sexy". oh and i won't even get into what it means to leave high school as a (chubby) straight girl and come back a slimmer homo. No, I don't have a boyfriend...
kookcity2000 - 12/01/08 21:58
I like your town taxonomy. Likewise I always thought the town I grew up was a med-small.
fellyconnelly - 12/01/08 19:27
i'm so glad i didnt come with you on this trip home....
heidi - 12/01/08 16:47
I'm from a small-small town - my high school graduating class was 42, the class behind me was about 35. The school district calls the two days the kids get off for hunting season "Environmental Awareness Days" although when I was in school, it was just called hunting season.

We call those nasty suburban philadelphians & jerseyites "flatlanders" too. We're called "ridgerunners" :::link:::

Usually the Saturday night before hunting season is the biggest night of the year at the local (and only public) bar, yep, lots of men dressed in full cammo dancing with all the local single women who would love to hook up with a flatlander, who would presumably be richer than men in Tioga County. Yeah, totally sucky djs.

I had kept up my ties to home while I was gone but when I moved back in '03 i got a lot of apologies from people who hadn't been so nice to me in high school.
james - 12/01/08 16:31
Going to one's hometown is always a grotesque landscape best left unrevisited.
joshua - 12/01/08 15:14
Ours had skin on it, and I felt lucky that it stayed on the entire ride. Seeing it without the skin has got to be worse...

I love your "flatlanders" term. :) And I don't know how somebody could mistake a person for a deer. Perhaps I should ask Vice President Richard Cheney? Bahahaha.