knomat?

A recent issue of clamor magazine features an interview with punk rock pioneer Ian MacKaye. I found the following statement from him regarding music and politics to be quite powerful and somewhat true.

Music was around before anything else practically. How could it be entertainment? Do you think that the initial musicians were entertaining people? I don’t think so. They were communicating. Have you ever seen Bruce Springsteen or somebody say something political, and someone else will just critique him going, “What does he know about politics? He’s just a musician.”? I would counter by saying, “What the fuck does the White House know? They’re just businessmen. They’re not politicians.” They’re businessmen. It’s clear. It’s so interesting that musicians are ridiculed. But people who are clearly, solely interested in profit, and profit for themselves, are taken seriously when they start talking about issues of the public health and will. It’s insane. Music is no fucking joke.

Hoke-E-Geez

Originally uploaded by knomat.

I saw this today on my way back from my Easter visit home and thought “What the?!”

I welcome explanations from anyone who might have any idea what the name of this place means.

GIT-R-DONE!

Typically, I’m annoyed when I’m walking down the street or driving in my car and I hear someone blaring their car stereo at a deafening volume. I never quite understood the point. Sometimes, it’s laughable. Especially when it sounds as though the car is going to fall apart because you can hear more vibrating metal than you can music. 9 times out of 10, it’s rap music. I don’t care if I can find you in the club. And no, I’m not going to drop it like it’s hot.

Today, though, was an exception to my often annoyed reaction. As I was walking from my parked car to the lab at school, I was passed by car with all the windows down blaring music. What music you ask? 50 Cent? No. Snoop D-O-Double Gizzle? Nope. This certain someone decided to grace the public by blaring “F**k Her Gently” by Tenacious D. It was a breath of fresh air from the typical thumping of overplayed rap music coming from the cars owned by giblets attempting to impress the ladies. A vulgar song? Sure. But it sure is a damn funny one. Well played, Tenacious D fan.

I bought into the hype. Today, I ventured into DC to check out the cherry blossoms. Unmitigated madness. I had a good reason though. You see, my parents were to spend their honeymoon in DC to attend the famous cherry blossom festival and enjoy the scenery. But alas, the year they married DC froze over and the cherry blossoms decided to hibernate. They have yet to see the cherry blossoms or go on their honeymoon. Since I can’t afford to send them down here and put them up for a few days (maybe next year!) I decided I would do my best to capture the blossoms on camera and send them some nice pictures as an anniversary gift - a bit late though since their anniversary is today. (Mom, Dad - if you see this before your present arrives - act surprised! Happy Anniversary!)

Seriously though, if I didn’t have this whole plan devised I would have turned around the second I saw the jam-packed metro cars at the end of the line near my house. I’ve been on the metro during morning and afternoon rush hour and it wasn’t nearly as crazy as it was today.

On another note - I’ve decided that Sigur Rós’ music could be the soundtrack to anything. I listened to it all day long today as I wandered the busy streets and I felt like time was passing in slow motion. There’s something about them that just conveys some intense emotion that makes me think it would be fitting for just about anything. I love me some Sigur Rós.