My daughter asked me to help her with her math homework tonight. I’m sure I learned what she’s studying at some point but I have only the faintest clue how to go about solving these equations and the way I was taught is probably not how they teach it now.
It’s hard to counsel kids about advanced math subjects when you have forgotten all of it yourself. I often think it’s sending the wrong message for me to even try because I run the risk of admitting that it’s something I had to memorize for a test, promptly forgot, and have never needed again. This kind of math problem is more my speed.
Things have reached the tipping point, I really hope. Earlier today I was full of rage about the total ignorance and hatred that people in, or vying for, high political offices were spewing. Truly the most vile and disgraceful comments I have ever heard.
As the day wore on, however, I came to see things in a slightly different light. The statements about Syrian refugees made by Donald Trump and others are indefensible. So, now we know. Now there’s no more guessing just how stupid they are and just how racist and xenophobic they are. We no longer have to wait for the other shoe to drop, they’ve done it. They are showing their true colors, and anyone who still supports them is just as guilty.
This is really happening. Did you ever wonder how Nazi Germany happened? How someone who was as clearly unhinged as Hitler was could rise to power? This is how. Enough people who bought into lies told about those who practiced a different religion than the one they knew. Enough people who were small-minded enough to let fear take over their better judgement. And still more people who thought, well, I don’t want to confront anyone, I don’t want trouble, if I just keep quiet maybe it will go away.
I have it easy. My friends and family are equally disgusted by what’s being said and my elected officials are speaking out on behalf of the refugees. I don’t have to worry about getting into a fight with some relative at Thanksgiving about their backwards political views. I’m sorry if you do, but do it anyway.
I saw a mention earlier today about a Joe Hill tribute out in LA a few days ago in memory of his death 100 years ago today. Given how little some people know about this country’s history, I thought I’d post this Billy Bragg cover of the Phil Ochs song.
These are dark days for us history majors. I am on the verge of tears from the amount of stupid, hateful things I read about today. Unbelievable.
Several weeks ago I heard a song, once again on my local college radio station, as I was driving home. The dj had read some information about the song that was pretty interesting so I Shazamed it to look it up later. An online friend said he’d been listening to the album for a couple of months after he’d heard it on his college radio station. I was curious enough to look up the rest of the album and more information about the band.
The band is Public Service Broadcasting, two nerdy looking guys from England going by the names J. Willgoose, Esq., and Wrigglesworth. They use audio and film clips from old public service announcements and news reels which they set to music. The song was on their album The Race for Space, nine songs that trace the history of the US and USSR space programs by highlighting different chapters in each nation’s story.
The more I read about them and listened online, the more intrigued I was. The reviews of their albums on Amazon were nearly all 5-stars and for this record especially they recommended buying a physical copy so you could get the booklet that comes with it. I don’t need much arm twisting when it comes to getting the liner notes so I ordered the CD (much as I like records, the CD seemed more practical for me right now) and have not been disappointed.
It is worth it. The whole album is fantastic. You can just have it on in the background but it really deserves to be listened to more closely. I find myself getting pulled in to these stories and, this is not going to come out the way I want it to but, I feel like all of the day-to-day distractions fall away. I’m really immersed in these scenes of the space race.
I almost hate to choose just one song for this post because they work so well in the context of the whole and I can’t really pick a favorite. I lean toward “The Other Side” because it’s so expertly done – but I don’t want to give it away.
So if you’re curious and/or like this song, check out the whole album. And here’s some more links to see how they pull it together when it’s just the two guys* or when they add some people to flesh it out for a larger stage.
*The Tiny Desk Concert link is from last year and features songs from earlier albums but equally cool.
I’ve stayed up too late the last couple of nights and somehow it’s already Sunday and I need to go to bed. I miss being able to stay up to two in the morning and not pay for it the next day.
This song, yet another from the Until the End of the World soundtrack, is on my memorial service playlist. I’m not a religious person but the solemnity of it and the idea of asking someone to walk us through this world, to bolster people in their time of need and uncertainty, is one that I find especially appropriate.
I am shaken by the events in Paris, at the concert hall especially. Music has always been the thing that makes me feel the most alive and that gives me hope and restores my faith in humanity.
Sometimes I have felt like this business of spending my time going to concerts and writing about music is so inconsequential in a world that faces so many problems. But I always come back to the belief that music is uplifting and has the power to bring people together and transcend differences. If I can’t fix the problems, perhaps I can at least highlight something that lightens the load or provides solace. It helps my heavy heart at times like this.
This was among the songs played at the Beacon the other night while people were milling about and we waited for things to get under way.
I think “up yours!” is such a great expression and it’s time for it to make a comeback. It does lose a little something without the British accent but I think it’s worth dusting off and giving it a try. So the next time someone pulls a douchey move in traffic, I think I’ll shout, “up yours!” as I sit fuming in my car alone. I expect I’ll be able to master it quickly and in no time it will roll right off my tongue.
Noisy Cats 