Medium is the message (with apologies to McLuhan)
Once again, another night where I passed out on the couch, but this time I woke up at 3AM to an episode of the Cosby Show where Cliff and Theo Huxtable were fighting about getting tickets for graduation. The timing of this episode was purely coincedental, but man, how apropos.
Document of the early 1980s New Brunswick, NJ scene. Quickly obliterated by downtown re-development plans.
Thanks to Mike Appelstein for the link!
Graduation
The Mo-Dettes –
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
The first Peel session by the Mo-Dettes was broadcast February 4, 1980. Here’s “Norman (He’s No Rebel).”
Dear Post-Punk Resurgence of the Aughts: Why was there no Mo-Dettes reissue?
Dear New Decade: Fix this error. Please.
Shitty First Drafts
“For me and most of the other writers I know, writing is not rapturous. In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts.”
— Anne Lamott, “Shitty First Drafts,” Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (1995)
Every time I seize up about trying to write something (which is, like, all the time) I am reminded of this chapter. I think it should be required reading for the entire universe. It’s not simply about writing — it’s a good life lesson. No one gets anything “right” the first time around, and it is better to put the idea out there than to have done nothing at all.
I was excited to see someone had posted the first chapter, but I recommend plunking down some dollars for the whole book. It’s enjoyable.
It Just Dawned On Me That It's Thursday.
That means at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, I will be a MASTER of Broadcasting, Telecommunications, AND Mass Media*. (Communications degree with an unwieldy name the school is trying to change.) Will they be able to contain all that awesomeness on my diploma? Is there enough space for that? Should I start wearing my hood with all of my teaching outfits?
Saturday night, come snow or snow: I am going to England Belongs to Twee** and celebrating this milestone. I do not care if it’s snowy, or that you’re stranded in a snowdrift, but I think you should put it down in your dance card for the weekend. I bought the cutest dress ever as a graduation gift to myself and I intend for all of you to see it.
* Technically Temple’s official commencement ceremony was last Friday, but I opted out of the larger one, and have chosen to walk in my school’s event.
** NYC-area friends: EBTT is doing a special version of this in your ‘hood on February 20th, and I intend on coming up for this. I’d love to see you there!
Become a fan of my radio show on Facebook
I hit 100 fans this week, so I was able to customize my page’s URL.
In expanding the best picture category — something it hasn’t done since awards for the 1943 films — the academy’s governors were hoping to spark new audience interest in a ceremony that recently has leaned toward independent-style fare like “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Milk,” and “The Reader.
–
Via the New York Times.
“Independent-style fare” reads like code for “movies that are awesome but would not appeal to the rest of America, who really want Hotel for Dogs 2.”
The Feelies’ second single, a cover of “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey,” came out February 2, 1980.
Kind of a crime that the B-side to this single was the band’s own “Original Love.” Talk about a lack of band self-esteem!
Medium is the message (with apologies to McLuhan)
The Mo-Dettes –
The first Peel session by the Mo-Dettes was broadcast February 4, 1980. Here’s “Norman (He’s No Rebel).”
Dear Post-Punk Resurgence of the Aughts: Why was there no Mo-Dettes reissue?
Dear New Decade: Fix this error. Please.
Shitty First Drafts
It Just Dawned On Me That It's Thursday.
Become a fan of my radio show on Facebook
My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-1-31)
"In expanding the best picture category — something it hasn’t done since awards for the 1943 films — the academy’s governors were hoping to spark new audience interest in a ceremony that recently has leaned toward independent-style fare like “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Milk,” and “The Reader."
