Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
- Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
The V.P. debates are coming up Thursday night - Sarah Palin vs. Joey Biden. The more Sarah Palin talks... well, it's like all of this stuff has just been thrusted upon here. To put it simply, she's just in way over her head. I predict (well, I hope) that she winds up like some kind of Johnny Fairplay, or Vanilla Ice - some reality star or some lucky sap who got thrust into the limelight and then winds up being the butt of our collective jokes for years to come. This gig just isn't for her. I'm sure she was fine in the remoteness of Alaskan politics. But when GOP talking heads are saying like that her best strategy is to not actually talk about the issues, or facts in general, and "just be Sarah"... well, that's not a good sign.
I almost feel bad for her. Almost.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
My New Team
I've lived in South Jersey, in the Philadelphia area, for just over three years now. Growing up in Bergen County, my main sports allegiance was always for the New York Knickerbockers. I would "follow" the Yankees and Giants for stretches of time, but my heart wasn't into them and I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of either team. However, even after I moved down here, I've been purchasing the NBA League Pass package so that I could watch my beloved Knicks stink it up (along with following the guys on my Fantasy NBA team. I'm embarrased to admit that, but it's true.) The main drive, though, was to watch the Knicks games frequently and the Nets games from time to time.
However, as we face the dawn of the 2008-2009 NBA season, I sadly have to announce that I believe - and this remains to be seen - that my time with the NY Knicks is done. They have been too mismanaged for too long, and there aren't many likable characters around. They are a bloated, overhyped franchise which has been heading in the wrong direction for several years now. And so, finally at my wits end, I've realized that I don't really want to order the League Pass this year. It's not a money question - it's a "I really don't want to watch the Knicks anymore, so why do I need League Pass?" feeling that my heart is conveying that I have to acknowledge. And consequently, that means that my allegiance may wind up switching to...
... the Philadelphia 76ers. They are a fun team to watch. They have a bunch of good young guys who, unlike the Knicks' guys, have been given a chance to develop and the team is seeing the results. Then, during this offseason, they addressed one of their biggest needs, a post-up presence who can score, by signing Elton Brand who is a perennial All-Star when he's healthy. Philly is a good sports town, all their teams are successful... and hey, when in Rome...
Look, I'm not consciously doing this. This is very hard for me. This is a guy that used to tape most of their home games in the early 90s (while I was in h.s.) and rewatch many of them. However, unless something changes in N.Y., my time with the Knicks may be over. I'll have to see what my heart tells me when the season starts. This could be very bittersweet.
However, as we face the dawn of the 2008-2009 NBA season, I sadly have to announce that I believe - and this remains to be seen - that my time with the NY Knicks is done. They have been too mismanaged for too long, and there aren't many likable characters around. They are a bloated, overhyped franchise which has been heading in the wrong direction for several years now. And so, finally at my wits end, I've realized that I don't really want to order the League Pass this year. It's not a money question - it's a "I really don't want to watch the Knicks anymore, so why do I need League Pass?" feeling that my heart is conveying that I have to acknowledge. And consequently, that means that my allegiance may wind up switching to...
... the Philadelphia 76ers. They are a fun team to watch. They have a bunch of good young guys who, unlike the Knicks' guys, have been given a chance to develop and the team is seeing the results. Then, during this offseason, they addressed one of their biggest needs, a post-up presence who can score, by signing Elton Brand who is a perennial All-Star when he's healthy. Philly is a good sports town, all their teams are successful... and hey, when in Rome...
Look, I'm not consciously doing this. This is very hard for me. This is a guy that used to tape most of their home games in the early 90s (while I was in h.s.) and rewatch many of them. However, unless something changes in N.Y., my time with the Knicks may be over. I'll have to see what my heart tells me when the season starts. This could be very bittersweet.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
WHAT?
From a cnn.com article this morning about the debates...
Fifty-one percent of those polled thought Obama did the better job in Friday night's debate, while 38 percent said John McCain did better.
Men were nearly evenly split between the two candidates, with 46 percent giving the win to McCain and 43 percent to Obama. But women voters tended to give Obama higher marks, with 59 percent calling him the night's winner, while just 31 percent said McCain won.
Good. Even so... 38% said "John McCain did better" in the debates. Almost 2 out of 5 people watched the debate and left thinking "McCain outperformed Obama".
Umm... WHAT?!? What were their criteria??
Fifty-one percent of those polled thought Obama did the better job in Friday night's debate, while 38 percent said John McCain did better.
Men were nearly evenly split between the two candidates, with 46 percent giving the win to McCain and 43 percent to Obama. But women voters tended to give Obama higher marks, with 59 percent calling him the night's winner, while just 31 percent said McCain won.
Good. Even so... 38% said "John McCain did better" in the debates. Almost 2 out of 5 people watched the debate and left thinking "McCain outperformed Obama".
Umm... WHAT?!? What were their criteria??
Jury Scams
I'm pretty savvy when it comes to cons - I never send my address and bank account information to somebody in Nigeria because they are holding $200,000,000 US Dollars and are willing to share it with me - but I have to admit I could slip on this one, if the person sounded official on the phone. And, it appears real.
Read here or here.
Read here or here.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
My Summer Vacation
This summer, I followed in Open Bar's footsteps and went to Vegas. It was so fucking surreal. Of course, I didn't have the experience that he did, as he went as a single guy and I went with my wife. Nevertheless, it was something to behold.
I won't bore you with a bunch of pictures of the various sights. I'm sure you'll ask if you want to know more details. I will mention a couple of random things...
- The sex industry in Vegas is out of control. I've posted before about how silly it is that this kind of stuff is "illegal" in this country. Well, Vegas takes it to a new level. It is extremely unregulated. Here's a picture illustrating this. There are many billboards like this, guys handing out cards on every corner advertising "girls to your room", etc...
- This guy my mom is dating is real tight with the uncle / driver / manager of Phil Ivey, the poker player. I was supposed to meet Phil Ivey while I was out in Las Vegas, if Phil was around. It turns out... Phil was not around. However, his uncle managed to drop off some merchandise for me. It's for the best. What the hell am I going to do with Phil Ivey, or talk to him about? I was hoping Phil would say, "Hey, man, here's $5,000. Let's play a little together. I'll stake you." Somehow I don't think that was happening. So, here's me posing with my consolation prize (Phil is a part-owner of Full Tilt Poker.)
We also went to see Miranda Lambert perform in Atlantic City. Her opening act, John Eddie, was awesome. If you're looking for a change of pace in your music, they're both a lot of fun.
I also made my requisite trip to Cape Cod for a little while. Here's Walt Clyde with his brother and father on the deck overlooking the bay in North Truro.
I won't bore you with a bunch of pictures of the various sights. I'm sure you'll ask if you want to know more details. I will mention a couple of random things...
- The sex industry in Vegas is out of control. I've posted before about how silly it is that this kind of stuff is "illegal" in this country. Well, Vegas takes it to a new level. It is extremely unregulated. Here's a picture illustrating this. There are many billboards like this, guys handing out cards on every corner advertising "girls to your room", etc...
- This guy my mom is dating is real tight with the uncle / driver / manager of Phil Ivey, the poker player. I was supposed to meet Phil Ivey while I was out in Las Vegas, if Phil was around. It turns out... Phil was not around. However, his uncle managed to drop off some merchandise for me. It's for the best. What the hell am I going to do with Phil Ivey, or talk to him about? I was hoping Phil would say, "Hey, man, here's $5,000. Let's play a little together. I'll stake you." Somehow I don't think that was happening. So, here's me posing with my consolation prize (Phil is a part-owner of Full Tilt Poker.)
We also went to see Miranda Lambert perform in Atlantic City. Her opening act, John Eddie, was awesome. If you're looking for a change of pace in your music, they're both a lot of fun.
I also made my requisite trip to Cape Cod for a little while. Here's Walt Clyde with his brother and father on the deck overlooking the bay in North Truro.
News from my district
A former teacher *allegedly* was exaggerating the hours he worked out-of-building on documents (read the article here), was taken to court, and found not guilty.
However, when your district spokesperson isn't allowed to *officially* comment but says, "We have to agree with whatever decision the judge made," it doesn't sound like the district is happy that the person was acquitted.
It's people like this that give teachers a bad name.
However, when your district spokesperson isn't allowed to *officially* comment but says, "We have to agree with whatever decision the judge made," it doesn't sound like the district is happy that the person was acquitted.
It's people like this that give teachers a bad name.
Sarah Opens for Weezer!
A few days ago, I posted that my wife's cousin Sarah was in a contest to open for Weezer. Now, she is!
She's opening for them at the Tweeter Center in Camden this Saturday night. She's only a teenager! Congratulations to Sarah!
She's opening for them at the Tweeter Center in Camden this Saturday night. She's only a teenager! Congratulations to Sarah!
The Economy, Politics, Stupid Americans
The statistic came on Hardball last night that, in the past couple of days since the economy shit has hit the fan, Obama has taken a big bounce in the polls. Not coincidentally, "the economy" has become the most important issue to these people who were polled.
Umm... what was the most important issue for these people in their decision process before the media starting reporting that we could potentially be facing a huge recession / depression? If it was Iraq or something substantial... fine... but in many polls, some people were saying that they were leaning McCain because of things like he possesses "leadership qualities" or that he's more experienced, or his "character". These things don't seem to *mean* anything, do they?
Anyway, LJT outlined the situation better than I ever could, and cleared some things up for me. As the housing boom collapsed a couple of years ago, and leading up to where we were today, I couldn't shake the feeling that this problem was truly, at its heart, caused by individual people and companies overspeculating and overspending. LJT compared it to a big game of Jenga... is another analogy a house of cards that continues to be built on a flimsy foundation until one day it inevitably collapses? Anyway, regardless of how this shakes out, I hope (though am not optimistic) that Americans will learn their lesson as LJT mentioned. If companies and people only spent what they truly could afford, wouldn't there truly be little economic issue?
Umm... what was the most important issue for these people in their decision process before the media starting reporting that we could potentially be facing a huge recession / depression? If it was Iraq or something substantial... fine... but in many polls, some people were saying that they were leaning McCain because of things like he possesses "leadership qualities" or that he's more experienced, or his "character". These things don't seem to *mean* anything, do they?
Anyway, LJT outlined the situation better than I ever could, and cleared some things up for me. As the housing boom collapsed a couple of years ago, and leading up to where we were today, I couldn't shake the feeling that this problem was truly, at its heart, caused by individual people and companies overspeculating and overspending. LJT compared it to a big game of Jenga... is another analogy a house of cards that continues to be built on a flimsy foundation until one day it inevitably collapses? Anyway, regardless of how this shakes out, I hope (though am not optimistic) that Americans will learn their lesson as LJT mentioned. If companies and people only spent what they truly could afford, wouldn't there truly be little economic issue?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Random Video Links 9.23.08
1) Ok, you know the big deal that's made out of censorship in our country from time to time (like, the Janet Jackson fiasco? The Imus fiasco?) I wonder if stuff like this Lil Kim video, edited (presumably) for airing on things like VH1 or MTV, actually ever made it there. To me, even though this is edited for content, this is less "airable" for kids than just somebody saying "fuck" or showing a nipple on the air. It's not like kids can't read between the muted words.
The song "Drug Ballad" by Eminem (which I personally enjoy) is another example of a song without much profanity - or, let me rephrase, even with the actual curse words censored, it's a song which I would think most parents would not want their kids to listen to, even if the curse words were bleeped. On the other hand, Eminem says "faggot", it's taken out of context, and he is slammed for it.
Anyway, on to the next video...
2) For you Hadron Collider people (I'm looking at you, ChuckJerry)... Check out the name of this link, click there, then view this:
Who the hell took the time to record this? I got bored trying to watch it through.
3) The teachers' union supports... guess who... Barack for president. Here he is talking about it... (again, I didn't make it to the end...)
The song "Drug Ballad" by Eminem (which I personally enjoy) is another example of a song without much profanity - or, let me rephrase, even with the actual curse words censored, it's a song which I would think most parents would not want their kids to listen to, even if the curse words were bleeped. On the other hand, Eminem says "faggot", it's taken out of context, and he is slammed for it.
Anyway, on to the next video...
2) For you Hadron Collider people (I'm looking at you, ChuckJerry)... Check out the name of this link, click there, then view this:
Who the hell took the time to record this? I got bored trying to watch it through.
3) The teachers' union supports... guess who... Barack for president. Here he is talking about it... (again, I didn't make it to the end...)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Great Ones!
ChuckJerry (of Where's Luke) has had a "Great Stories" site in the past which was enjoyed by many with great enthusiasm. Well, as it's been noted in a famous movie, "Everybody's got a story." So, ChuckJerry and I decided to start a new site, "Great Stories", at http://greatonesnj.blogspot.com. Jerry will be cutting / pasting his old stories, and I will add anecdotes that have happened to me that I have either told or not to the old gang. In any case, we've invited a number of old Teaneck people to be authors and they in turn are encouraged to invite more people. The site is devoted to the posting and sharing of the great anecdote, the great story, etc...
The address is http://greatonesnj.blogspot.com. If you want to be an author just let me know!
The address is http://greatonesnj.blogspot.com. If you want to be an author just let me know!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Vote for Sarah!
... not Palin. My wife's cousin is in high school and she's an awesome guitarist. She's in a contest where she can open for the band Weezer.
Please go here: http://www.radio1045.com/pages/weezer.html
Then, find Sarah and watch her play. Then, please vote for Sarah!
Please go here: http://www.radio1045.com/pages/weezer.html
Then, find Sarah and watch her play. Then, please vote for Sarah!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Random Notes 9.15.08
So, where was I? Ah yes, babbling about random shit.
- I took my first sick day of the year. I've been on this medication that's making me cough all night. I'm going to switch medications. I was too tired to function today, after being too tired to function all last week. Although, I suppose I'll have to get used to this should I have kids someday.
- I was posting yesterday about which web sites I find myself visiting with regularity. I started thinking about which TV shows I watch with regularity. If I'm home, I usually find myself watching Sportscenter in the morning and then reruns of the Simpsons and Seinfeld in the evening (most of which I've seen already). I also regularly watch poker on the Game Show Network on Monday nights and The Soup every Saturday morning. In stretches recently, I found myself getting into (and then losing interest in) Lost and this awful show. I'd never watched Law and Order and for some reason was morbidly curious to watch this (spinoff?) train wreck of a show. Needless to say, Ice-T and co. have acting skills that make Bob Saget look like Laurence Olivier. Why do I watch such CRAP? There's not much else on TV. Is it just the medium? Freaks and Geeks was a flash of brilliance in a dark, dark talentless world. Yet, everytime some old Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is on, I'll watch, zombie-like, until some cast member shamelessly sings to promote their singing careers, get disgusted with myself, and then watch it again the next time it's on. Am I just occasionally attracted to crap TV, or is most of programmed TV "crap TV"?
- I find myself missing Joe Grossberg's blog and find myself struggling to understand the Twitter concept that he's moved to. Maybe I'm like Side Bar as far as not being able to comfortably adjust to new technology or something. Anyway, Joey is always on the cutting edge, and made the suggestion (which I am grateful for, because I love Facebook so far) that I should invest my time in Facebook instead of Myspace because Myspace "is for kids and retards these days". Regarding his blogging and writing, how can you not feel nostalgic for his brand of wit, with lines like this that state that his buddy "spouted trivia like Peter North spouted ejaculate - profusely and widely"? I still don't understand what happened to your blog being hacked, but come back Joey, you are missed.
- A poker question: When could you ever fold pocket aces pre-flop in poker? ("Never" is my response.) Well, my brother pointed out that there is one scenario - like if you are in a tournament, it's early, and you have pocket aces and six or seven clowns or so go all-in with reasonable hands, you are probably an underdog to win the pot. Sure, you are favored vs. any one of them heads up, but you are an underdog "versus the field". And, why risk going all-in when you are not a favorite, when you should be able to outplay them later on? An interesting point. Here's a site that can figure out odds in hands, for up to five people.
- I took my first sick day of the year. I've been on this medication that's making me cough all night. I'm going to switch medications. I was too tired to function today, after being too tired to function all last week. Although, I suppose I'll have to get used to this should I have kids someday.
- I was posting yesterday about which web sites I find myself visiting with regularity. I started thinking about which TV shows I watch with regularity. If I'm home, I usually find myself watching Sportscenter in the morning and then reruns of the Simpsons and Seinfeld in the evening (most of which I've seen already). I also regularly watch poker on the Game Show Network on Monday nights and The Soup every Saturday morning. In stretches recently, I found myself getting into (and then losing interest in) Lost and this awful show. I'd never watched Law and Order and for some reason was morbidly curious to watch this (spinoff?) train wreck of a show. Needless to say, Ice-T and co. have acting skills that make Bob Saget look like Laurence Olivier. Why do I watch such CRAP? There's not much else on TV. Is it just the medium? Freaks and Geeks was a flash of brilliance in a dark, dark talentless world. Yet, everytime some old Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is on, I'll watch, zombie-like, until some cast member shamelessly sings to promote their singing careers, get disgusted with myself, and then watch it again the next time it's on. Am I just occasionally attracted to crap TV, or is most of programmed TV "crap TV"?
- I find myself missing Joe Grossberg's blog and find myself struggling to understand the Twitter concept that he's moved to. Maybe I'm like Side Bar as far as not being able to comfortably adjust to new technology or something. Anyway, Joey is always on the cutting edge, and made the suggestion (which I am grateful for, because I love Facebook so far) that I should invest my time in Facebook instead of Myspace because Myspace "is for kids and retards these days". Regarding his blogging and writing, how can you not feel nostalgic for his brand of wit, with lines like this that state that his buddy "spouted trivia like Peter North spouted ejaculate - profusely and widely"? I still don't understand what happened to your blog being hacked, but come back Joey, you are missed.
- A poker question: When could you ever fold pocket aces pre-flop in poker? ("Never" is my response.) Well, my brother pointed out that there is one scenario - like if you are in a tournament, it's early, and you have pocket aces and six or seven clowns or so go all-in with reasonable hands, you are probably an underdog to win the pot. Sure, you are favored vs. any one of them heads up, but you are an underdog "versus the field". And, why risk going all-in when you are not a favorite, when you should be able to outplay them later on? An interesting point. Here's a site that can figure out odds in hands, for up to five people.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Election 2008
I've been going back and forth between two feelings about this election.
On one hand, I try to analyze both sides, understand where people on the other (Republican) side sit on issues. It's hard to empathize with them so I try to seriously hear where they're coming from.
Then, I see polls on TV, or hear people saying things to me, and I get angry and think to myself things like, "How the FUCK could any reasonable human being want McCain, and then Palin, in this position of government? HOW? WHAT THE FUCK?!?" Then, I go through some psychological thing where I alternate between different stages of the process - acceptance, denial, anger, frustration, depression all occur to me. The whole "If x wins, I'm moving to Canada" thing has occurred to me. How could we live in a country where, as the saying goes, people would rather have a leader who is strong and wrong instead of "weak" and right (and notice I put weak in quotes)????????????
ARGHGHGHGHHGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! How could this thing even be close?!?!?!?
On one hand, I try to analyze both sides, understand where people on the other (Republican) side sit on issues. It's hard to empathize with them so I try to seriously hear where they're coming from.
Then, I see polls on TV, or hear people saying things to me, and I get angry and think to myself things like, "How the FUCK could any reasonable human being want McCain, and then Palin, in this position of government? HOW? WHAT THE FUCK?!?" Then, I go through some psychological thing where I alternate between different stages of the process - acceptance, denial, anger, frustration, depression all occur to me. The whole "If x wins, I'm moving to Canada" thing has occurred to me. How could we live in a country where, as the saying goes, people would rather have a leader who is strong and wrong instead of "weak" and right (and notice I put weak in quotes)????????????
ARGHGHGHGHHGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! How could this thing even be close?!?!?!?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Why I Voted For McCain
These are actual quotes that people I know have said in the past couple weeks as in regard to (a) why they plan on voting for the McCain/Palin ticket in two months or (b) reasons why they don't want Barack Obama in office (essentially the same, no?) These are either exact or paraphrased as close as I can remember to the actual quote. Some make me scratch my head.
- "I just like him [McCain]... I just like his whole thing."
(Me) - "What do you mean, 'his whole thing'?"
- "You know... just what he's about. I always have."
- "I really don't like much at all about McCain... but the whole abortion thing just drives me nuts. So I'll probably vote for him."
- "You know, when he [Obama] gets into office, he's just going to help his own."
- (passing some African-American gentlemen pimped out in oversized Obama t-shirts in a casino, and pointing them out to me) "There's your boy, Walt. That's who you're supporting." (said derisively)
- "The fact that his [Obama's] middle name is Hussein makes a difference."
...and this really happened...
- "I'm afraid that when the Muslim parts of the world see a guy with the name 'Barack Obama' get elected, they're going to think that they have somebody in a high position in America, and they'll be more likely to try shit than if John McCain is in there."
(Me) - "Why would they?"
- "Come on... 'Barack Obama'? They'll think, 'We've got one!' That stuff matters."
- "I just like him [McCain]... I just like his whole thing."
(Me) - "What do you mean, 'his whole thing'?"
- "You know... just what he's about. I always have."
- "I really don't like much at all about McCain... but the whole abortion thing just drives me nuts. So I'll probably vote for him."
- "You know, when he [Obama] gets into office, he's just going to help his own."
- (passing some African-American gentlemen pimped out in oversized Obama t-shirts in a casino, and pointing them out to me) "There's your boy, Walt. That's who you're supporting." (said derisively)
- "The fact that his [Obama's] middle name is Hussein makes a difference."
...and this really happened...
- "I'm afraid that when the Muslim parts of the world see a guy with the name 'Barack Obama' get elected, they're going to think that they have somebody in a high position in America, and they'll be more likely to try shit than if John McCain is in there."
(Me) - "Why would they?"
- "Come on... 'Barack Obama'? They'll think, 'We've got one!' That stuff matters."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Palin, etc...
As much as I wish this picture that I got on email was real, it's not.
The boys over at Where's Luke have been posting many political items recently, from awesome videos to general political questions like this for which I don't have an answer. As ChuckJerry posted in the last link, it's unfathomable how many people are duped by the Republican agenda which has been proven to not work in this country for the past 30 years. People who think that business should just run free and that anybody can just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" the way their grandfathers did when they came to America is living in the past. However, I don't think the people who read this blog (if any of you are out there) would disagree with me. But, in answer to Jerry's non-rhetorical question, the book "What's the Matter With Kansas?" explains it well. Read the Wikipedia summary.
But anyway, some random thoughts:
- Joe Biden was awesome with Tom Brokaw this past Sunday on Meet the Press.
- Gloria Steinem weighs in.
- It's ironic, among many hundreds of phony-ass things, that the GOP has tried to paint Barack Obama as style over substance, yet if you actually go watch everything stated in the GOP convention, you hear all style ("Country First", "A True Maverick", "Let's Fight for America!") and no substance, whereas the converse seems to be true when I hear Obama and Biden speak.
- And fuck Sarah Palin for saying these words: "Just know that if I get elected, you mothers of special needs children will have a friend in the White House." Fuck you. How manipulative even above all the other manipulative, crafty insubstantial shit they spew. Is the implication that you won't have a friend there with those evil Democrats? And is there any substance to being a "friend" of these people?
This has turned into a rant. I'm going to stop now.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Republican Rally
Watching the Republican Rally, Giuliani speaking...
Two thoughts:
1) I feel like I'm watching a Nazi Rally.
2) From my brother: "These people are fucking crazy."
Two thoughts:
1) I feel like I'm watching a Nazi Rally.
2) From my brother: "These people are fucking crazy."
This blog
To all of the thousands of new readers I'm sure will flood in from my recent joining of Facebook... hello!
I'm sure you're dying to know how come I'm not publishing this blog under my real name. I explained this back in the historic month of October 2007 - historic because that's when I started Walt Clyde Frazier's Stream of Consciousness. You can read about it here.
I will be posting as often as possible, and what I say is always interesting! So, be sure to tune in often!
I'm sure you're dying to know how come I'm not publishing this blog under my real name. I explained this back in the historic month of October 2007 - historic because that's when I started Walt Clyde Frazier's Stream of Consciousness. You can read about it here.
I will be posting as often as possible, and what I say is always interesting! So, be sure to tune in often!
Wake Me Up When September Ends
"Seven years has gone so fast / Wake me up when September Ends"
- Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day
My guilty pleasure song du jour is Wake Me Up When September Ends. If you've never heard it before, here's a video I found on YouTube. This clip is shortened from the original, longer video.
I try to pride myself of being a fan of "good" music, and I don't know whether this Green Day song qualifies or not, but whatever, I find this song incredibly catchy. Despite what the video shows, the song is about the singer's father dying when he was a kid (as the always-reliable-Wikipedia entry will tell you), which is touching in and of itself.
Interestingly, the song seems to have taken on two other meanings for some people. Often, people hear the chorus of a song and (sometimes incorrectly) derive the meaning from the chorus or from selected lyrics (like the Beatles' "Revolution", or like Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."). One meaning is that people connect this song with September 11. It has been seven long years since September 11, 2001 and some of the lyrics combined with the quote that I led this blog post with seem to touch on the innocence lost in our nation and in the world since then. Another meaning was the awful aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. My high school composed a montage of images from Katrina and played them everyday in homeroom for while set to this song. Just the images set to the words "wake me up when September ends" was interesting.
Since I haven't done much else other than teaching for a career, the month of September has consequently always been kind of a benchmark month, from childhood through now. For me personally, this is my 9th year as a high school teacher, and recently I have grown increasingly unsatisfied with my life as a teacher. So September and the start of autumn, in general, evokes a wide variety of feelings for me - some happy memories of being a kid, playing soccer in Teaneck, etc... to now starting each school year and having to leave the wonderful summer months behind, and remembering the innocence of childhood... some of the lyrics reach me on that level as well. Maybe I'm reading too much into the song.
- Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day
My guilty pleasure song du jour is Wake Me Up When September Ends. If you've never heard it before, here's a video I found on YouTube. This clip is shortened from the original, longer video.
I try to pride myself of being a fan of "good" music, and I don't know whether this Green Day song qualifies or not, but whatever, I find this song incredibly catchy. Despite what the video shows, the song is about the singer's father dying when he was a kid (as the always-reliable-Wikipedia entry will tell you), which is touching in and of itself.
Interestingly, the song seems to have taken on two other meanings for some people. Often, people hear the chorus of a song and (sometimes incorrectly) derive the meaning from the chorus or from selected lyrics (like the Beatles' "Revolution", or like Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."). One meaning is that people connect this song with September 11. It has been seven long years since September 11, 2001 and some of the lyrics combined with the quote that I led this blog post with seem to touch on the innocence lost in our nation and in the world since then. Another meaning was the awful aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. My high school composed a montage of images from Katrina and played them everyday in homeroom for while set to this song. Just the images set to the words "wake me up when September ends" was interesting.
Since I haven't done much else other than teaching for a career, the month of September has consequently always been kind of a benchmark month, from childhood through now. For me personally, this is my 9th year as a high school teacher, and recently I have grown increasingly unsatisfied with my life as a teacher. So September and the start of autumn, in general, evokes a wide variety of feelings for me - some happy memories of being a kid, playing soccer in Teaneck, etc... to now starting each school year and having to leave the wonderful summer months behind, and remembering the innocence of childhood... some of the lyrics reach me on that level as well. Maybe I'm reading too much into the song.
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