Common denominator

I can be a judgmental person at times. Mostly it's the kind of judgment that gets passed in the first few seconds of seeing someone--he's heavy, she doesn't look too bright, etc. Most of the time these kinds of thoughts are caught and identified as the unfair, hurtful preconceptions that they are. What follows is usually a course correction for my thoughts that often seeks some point of common ground between us, a point of identification. Last week, I had a minor epiphany about how that is done.

As a Christian, we are often encouraged to find common ground in our shared sinfulness, brokenness, and neediness (of salvation). But identifying with others on these grounds can be defeating, both to them and to oneself. Neither the other nor I is lifted up; instead we are both brought down. Spong, towards the end of his latest book Jesus for the Nonreligious, speaks in no uncertain terms about how degrading and dehumanizing such a focus can be.

At the end of our yoga classes we depart by bowing and parting with the word namaste, which means:

I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

Quotable quotes

"I am slaloming wildly through life."

-Werner Herzog

Oh me too, me too

Royal Adelaide
I looked for the Queen to come
Not that kind of place


Walking on Hindley
The only mexi-like place
Plus sixteen strip clubs


Greek yoghurt and quince
pick me an avocado
market of my dreams

--Monika

Ga Ga Ga ... Great

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, the latest release by Austin rockers Spoon, could be the commercial breakthrough the band is obviously shooting for, similar to the late-career meteoric rise of Modest Mouse ("Good News for People...") and St. Paul favorites The Walleyes. Artistically, the band is treading water, content to regurgitate the same crunchy, stick-in-your-head-for-a-week, minimalist guitar hooks and driving rhythms found on 2005's never-to-be-topped "Gimme Fiction." Not only is the band to closely tethered to their previous work, but too much of Ga Ga relies lazily on obvious influences: the drumming would fit on any of the b-sides from Neal Peart's one-armed-tied-behind-his-back masterpiece "Handicapped" and the keyboard riffs can't help but to remind any listener of Prrr's "Tuna Tonight." Maybe the masses will "spoon" up heaping helpings of Ga Ga, but the rest of us realize that post-punk art-rockabilly alt-indie was so spring 2006.

Just kidding.

I enjoy reading music reviews but too often they read like that: too many inside references and made up sub-genres. I'd like to try my hand at writing thoughtful, interesting reviews, but sometimes satire is easier.

That said, Spoon is a band that I've gotten into recently. Trent turned me on to Gimme Fiction a couple years ago. I'd bet "I Turn My Camera On" is probably one of the most played songs we've had since then. So I was excited for the new album and it's living up to its predecessor so far. The new "Camera" for catchiness is "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb." I also like "Rhythm and Soul" and "Finer Feelings." Spoon is not a band to listen to for deep and meaningful lyrics. I have no idea what "Cherry Bomb" is about and 90% of the lyrics to "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case" are in the title. But I did like this one from Rhythm and Soul: "winter gets cold in ways you always forget." Especially when it's 100F out. Overall a very strong album, especially for a run or just rocking out a bit. I'm giving it 8 thumbs up out of 10 thumbs.

NOTE: I promise to give credit to anyone who turns me on to a new band. Who wants to be famous?

Haiku, Aussie style

We have heaps of pictures from our time down under, but as time slides by (we moved there three years ago now!), I don't want to forget the little things we experienced. Haiku to the rescue!

We moved there in in the middle of winter--June. You wouldn't think 55F is that cold, but when the houses aren't insulated that well and you don't have a heater (or THINK you don't have a heater) it can get chilly.

Jetlag

Temporary house,
jet-lagged and without heater.
Look in the closet.

New series

I think it was Tyson that once suggested the idea of capturing memories in haiku form. Like a poetry photo album for trips and such. We've been bouncing the idea around a while but haven't done anything about it. That changes now.

Contentment

Perfect summer night,
strolling, yoga, and water-
melon, namaste.

My Turn

One of the benefits of being married to a "doer" is that you get asparagus boxes put in and blogs started while you sleep. I'm pretty excited about the blog. This surprises me a bit because I've never been a successful journaler; there have been a few attempts along the way but they tend to fade away when they start feeling like a chore. So don't expect a journal from me. Since it's mostly family and friends that will ever find this page, I'll leave the day to day happenings to emails and phone calls. I'd like to use this space for more esoteric bits of whatever, to try and push my creativity while at the same time sharing some of the really fun moments in life. So expect irregular, nonlinear (I'm trying Laura!) posts on this and that that percolates to the top of my consciousness. This will hopefully include deep thoughts, some haiku, my first stabs at record reviews, and ... we'll just have to see.

And if the activity fades after a few weeks, I warned you.

Justin