last words

As of late, I have discovered the TV show "How I Met Your Mother". Yes, I ask myself why I didn't start watching sooner. Last night's episode was entitled "Last Words". The premise was that Marshall's father passed away suddenly. His mother and brothers spoke of what his father's last words to them, while Marshall struggled to remember what his father's last words to him were. Yes hilarity did ensue down his path of recollection, but it did get me thinking about loved ones last words to me.

The first two people I thought of are Grandmom and Granddad, who passed away in 2009 and 1998 respectively.

I'm told I adored Granddad as a kid. I remember him taking me to my first Orioles game and teaching me about baseball in general. (And yes, you can partially blame him for me being a Cubs fan.) Granddad didn't say much, so I can't think of his last words to me directly. I can, however, recall his last words about me on Christmas Day 1997 (in response to my second cousin nailing me in my newly-pierced navel with a Nerf gun): "Don't mess with Bec. She's a tough cookie."

I've never though of myself as tough, but when I'm going through a difficult time, I remember those words and it helps me through.

Similar to Granddad, I don't recall Grandmom's last words to me specifically. What stands out in memory is my phone conversation on Mother's Day 2006. She was telling me stories about her and Granddad's day trips to Milwaukee from Chicago back in the day and how she liked Milwaukee a lot. Then she suddenly asked, "Do you still draw? You have such creative talents. You should be using them."

Oddly enough, a month later I made a career switch and started my first marketing/graphic design job. While those definitely weren't her last words, they're the last words I vividly remember (and obviously stuck with me).

Then there are Mom and Dad, who thankfully, are both alive and kicking.

The good thing is that I no longer hang up on my mother when she pisses me off (although I think that was a college/early 20s phase). Maybe she really doesn't piss me off anymore, or maybe I've matured. Either way, I actually enjoy talking to Mom weekly, with the last words of every conversation being, "Love you."

It seems only fitting that I end with Dad, based upon the HIMYM episode. I don't talk to Dad nearly as often as I used to, which I miss, but I know he'll be there if I need him (as will Mom). In fact, the last time I actually talked to him was when he dropped me off at the airport.

But I remember the last words: "Love you sweetie."

cki disconnect: pop culture style

If you read this blog, you know I'm no longer CKI Administrator. And I'm finally ok with that. Regardless of circumstance, I would not be serving in that capacity today.

But for fun, let's take a look at why I would not fit in as the current CKI Administrator, pop culture style:

Glee obsession.

I fail to see why people are obsessed with this show. The concept : geeks join together and forge a bond and thus create their own clique. Wow...this is a novel concept...let's run with it! Not. It can be found in any sitcom or drama about and/or relating to high school students. Plus, for me high school was not a fun and joyous time nor the best years of my life. Why the hell would I want to live them vicariously through a TV show? Add to it that I'm not a fan of musicals in general - sans Rocky Horror Picture Show and a couple others.

Which begs the questions:

why would anyone attempt to destroy a wonderful cult classic?

what high school would actually allow the theatre department to perform RHPS?

Harry Potter fanatics.

You can tell me the books are well written. You can also tell me green beans are good for me. But if I have no interest in it or don't like them, it's just not happening. Period. I enjoy some sci-fi...Star Wars anyone? I can even go for the Matrix. When it crosses the line into fantasy, you've lost me. I have no interest at all. And with a HP themed fall trainer, everyone's fantasy would have been my hell.

However, I will give Harry Potter props for one thing: getting kids & teens to read. Beyond that, Harry should just graduate or (gasp) die. I am sick of you.

Disney.

I went to Disney World twice - at age 7 and 17. In my second trip, I called Dale of Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers Chip. Dale then proceeded to whap me on the nose. I was assaulted by a giant chipmunk. I really wasn't a huge Disney fan growing up, but this event certainly didn't help.

But these CKIers love Disney - about as much as Glee and Harry Potter. And it's not just the movies; it's the music too.

Now, I will admit I like two recent Disney movies: The Lion King and The Three Musketeers. The only explanation I can give for the former is that I'm a Leo and Jeremy Irons is the voice of Scar. I love Jeremy Iron's voice. The latter is actually one of my favorite literary classics. Plus, it's not a musical. And Oliver Platt is freakin' hysterical as Porthos.

Music.

There's a lot of pop music to be listened to. While I know who Justin Beiber is, I have no idea what he actually sings. And as a whole, I think most of the American Idol finalists sucked, and most pop music as crap. There is also a lot of 80s music to be listened to. As a point of reference, the average college student is 18-22 years old, thus being born 1988-1992. These college kids weren't even around to remember the 80s, let alone the music. It's almost frightening that they know all the words to Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" yet barely any words to Guns 'n Roses "Welcome to the Jungle".

While I do listen to the 80s on occasion (read: when my iPod plays it) and admittedly still know the words to far to many "one hit wonders" - my preferred decades are the 1990s through today, alternative genre. I've always been an alternative music girl, so I'll chalk up the difference in music tastes to that.

And in closing, I leave you with a telltale example of the CKI pop culture disconnect:

On one board CD, a number of folks chose a song from the 1980s or an American Idol contestant. I chose Rage Against the Machine's "Renegades of Funk".

Enough said.

summerfest = bummerfest

Music. Food. Friends. The Lakefront. Sounds like a recipe for a fabulous time, right?

Well, yes..in theory. The Big Gig, aka Summerfest, has touted itself as "the world's largest music festival". This indeed is true. I mean, where else will you find an event that runs for 11 days with 11 stages filled with all different genres of music.

I myself have been a frequent goer to The Big Gig (including one year where I went seven of 11 days) since my early 20s when I adopted Milwaukee as my "home". Yearly, I had the obligatory Saz's Sampler (sour cream & chive fries, mozz sticks and cheese curds) and a cold, frothy beverage...well, maybe more than one. My college roomies would converge on the fest for at least one day, and likely find others we knew along the way.

But really, Summerfest is all about the music! In my early fest-going days, you could get "hand-stamped' for the main stage - meaning you lined up outside the gates, paid general admission (about $10 at the time) and rushed the Marcus to get that coveted stamp. What did it get you? "Free" grass seat admission to the main stage. As a result, I've seen the following for $10 each: Prince (2x), BoDeans (2x), Violent Femmes/Goo Goo Dolls, Stone Temple Pilots, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Smashing Pumpkins...to name a few.

With the firing of Bo Black (RIP) as Executive Director and the hiring of Don Smiley (coincidence, seeing the logo of Summerfest), this fine tradition died - and the music died as well.

Don't get me wrong, there is still music at Summerfest. However, the music aimed at the mid 30s to early 50s crowd (plus their expendable income) and their children - aka classic rock, pop and country. Case in point, I give you the 2010 headliners:

Classic rock: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers w/ZZ Top, Eric Clapton w/ Roger Daltrey, Santana w/ Steve Winwood, Rush

Country: Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn w/ Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood

Poppy Crap: Justin Bieber w/ Sean Kingston, Usher (sans "Yeah"), American Idol tour

I realize that Tom Petty loves Summerfest and vice-versa, and I understand (per my brother who incidentally falls in the target audience) he puts on a great show. But think about it...all the classic rock main stage acts were making music/touring before I was born. Really? The only "new" acts (or at least acts that came of age this millennium) you could find were able to book country and this poppy crap trying to pose as music?

Now I realize that not everyone likes alternative/new rock genre (even though it's the best in my opinion), and that for some odd reason, the general populous likes country music. I also realize that Summerfest as a business needs to make money, and apparently the classic rock and country acts will rake in the dough more than the others. But I ask...where the hell is the alternative genre represented?

I would say on the side stages, but nope. In perusing the schedule most of it is made up of classic rock/80s music including: Night Ranger, Wang Chung, Kool & the Gang, Blue Oyster Cult, 38 Special, Moody Blues, YES, Scorpions and Peter Frampton. True, there are some good songs in this group of aging acts which I like - and I totally rock "Burnin' for You" by Blue Oyster Cult at karaoke. But I seriously thought Wang Chung and Kool & the Gang were dead. And none of these acts have had anything new since about 1990.

I did find some bona fide "new" alternative music, which by Summerfest standards, means their first hit occurred after 2000: Toyko Police Club, Cage the Elephant, Puddle of Mudd, The Bravery and Against Me! That's a mere five of hundreds of acts.

I believe my genre of music just got bitch-slapped by a smiley face.

the day the music died, "gen X" style

Sixteen years ago today...8 April 1994.

The day we learned that the life of one of the most influential and iconic rockers ever came to an end. Kurt Cobain, best known as the lead singer & songwriter of Nirvana, was found dead at his home in Seattle.

Officially, Cobain's death was ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted shotgun wound on 5 April 1994 per the coroner's report. However, the cause of death remains a topic of fascination and debate. Conspiracy theorists claim Cobain was murdered (presumably by Courtney Love) but results are inconclusive.

Cobain changed the face of rock forever by introducing the world to his now famous sound (labeled "grunge" by the populous) to the music scene, inspiring bands like Alice In Chains and Soundgarden in the 1990s and Puddle of Mudd in the 2000s, to name a few. As a result, alternative rock catapulted to the mainstream and became a dominant genre on radio and MTV in the early 1990s - and effectively ending the reign of the new wave/electronica sound of the 1980s. Rolling Stone ordained Nirvana the "flagship band of Generation X" and anointed Cobain "spokesman." As a private person - almost the stereotypical, misunderstood artist if you will - Cobain was uncomfortable with the anointment and the attention that followed. Focus turned to Nirvana's music and artistic message, resulting in In Utero (1993). This ended up being the band's last "new" work.

I remember first hearing about Cobain's death and sincerely thought it was a joke (a sick joke, but a joke nonetheless). Then I did what anyone would do to verify music news in the 1990s - I turned on MTV. Kurt Loder then confirmed the news of this tragedy. I'm convinced he was on 24/7 covering this story. Fans and admirers alike flocked to memorial services (especially in his hometown of Aberdeen, WA) - much the same as they did with John Lennon's death in 1980. While the similarities between the two aren't readily apparent, both were major rock artists with the balls to openly and freely speak their mind on a variety of topics. That's something that only comes along once a generation.

The untimely death of Cobain had lasting effect on the world of music. The grunge movement embraced acceptance and individuality - artists were encouraged speak their mind and put their own original spin on it - dare I say "come as you are"? The year 1994 not only marks the loss of an artist barely at the brink of his potential, but a regression in the music industry (read: grunge is dead). The door was opened for "pop sensations" such as N*Sync, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. It is debatable if there is indeed talent there, or if this "talent" was generated through the miracle of drum machines, etc. Think of it as the 1980s new wave, part two. The days of individuality - gone.

Thankfully, the 2000s have brought about artists with a "real band" sound such as Billy Talent and Rise Against; not to mention the reunion of Soundgarden at Lollapalooza 2010. However, one does have to wonder how the alternative music scene would have evolved had Cobain lived.

Oh...nevermind....

information taken from Rolling Stone, MTV and Greg Prato

We Are The World, take 2

Where were you on 5 April 1985 at 10:25 am EST? That's the date more than 8000 radio stations in the USA played "We Are The World" by USA for Africa simultaneously. Twenty-five years later, "We Are The World" has been re-recorded and released. But before I get to that, let's explore how the music forged to the forefront of social causes.

How did USA for Africa come about? Well, It was the USA's response to the UK's effort to fight hunger relief. This effort, led by Bob Geldoff of Boomtown Rats fame, is better known as Band Aid. The song, "Do They Know It's Christmas", recorded and released in 1984. Geldoff's song raised millions of dollars, and had already made a significant difference to those suffering from famine and disease in Africa, specifically to famine relief in Ethiopia.

(Note: if you are not familiar with "Do They Know It's Christmas", you can hear it every year, multiple times, on any radio station that decides to begin their Christmas programming on 1 November.)

Not to be excluded, Canadian artists released "Tears Are Not Enough" under the name Northern Lights to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Practically overshadowed by its USA and UK counterparts, this continues to be my favorite of the three.

While the individual artists in the music industry frequently have stood for social causes, this marks the first first time the music industry assembled on a grand scale with supergroup quality to tackle a worldwide cause. Farm Aid, Amnesty International (among other musical/social cause marriages) concerts/fundraisers likely would not have flourished had it not been for Bob Geldoff's vision.

It's hard to believe that "We Are The World" is now 25 years old. It is also hard to believe that 25 years later, there are places on our planet that are still suffering from hunger, sub-par living conditions; basically a natural disaster away from total devastation.

Enter the marriage of "We Are The World (2010)" and Haitian earthquake relief. In reality, a 25th anniversary re-recording was planned for 28 January 2010 - exactly 25 years from the date of the original. However, the earthquake on 12 January altered plans slightly, one of which was re-designating the proceeds of the re-recording to benefit Haitian earthquake relief.

I can't fault the proceeds going to Haitian earthquake relief. In fact, I think it's fabulous that those deemed celebrities by our standards are using this status for a greater good - even if only for eight minutes and 33 seconds.

However, I do have to ask: who the hell are these people in the video? I could name 12, and that includes the image/voice of Michael Jackson. I recognized four less people in the "Tears Are Not Enough" video. I realize the face of pop music has changed over the years (which is why I don't listen to it anymore), but a slightly more diverse sampling of American music (read: alternative) would have been appreciated.

But in all seriousness, it once again shows that we, as human beings, can unify in our humanitarian efforts to help those who have been affected by devastation. And if it encourages or influences at least one person to take action, then it was well worth it.

schadenfreude

Schadenfreude: pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others or simply put, happiness at the misfortune of others.

"Wow, that IS German!" I can say that, I'm 1/2 German. And after meeting some of my German relatives, I can verify that it is scarily accurate. Yet this concept (or phenomenon, if you will) has transcended far beyond one ethnic group....right into the very fibers of our society and culture.

American society as a whole was introduced to the concept "schadenfreude" through pop culture as early as 1991 thanks to The Simpsons. Lisa asks Homer if he's ever heard of schadenfreude after he is excessively happy that Ned Flanders' business is failing. Defining it for him, she says, "It's a German term for "shameful joy", taking pleasure in the suffering of others." The word/concept has also appeared in other hit shows, including Malcolm in the Middle. If you've seen that show, it shouldn't shock you. Malcolm seems to be based upon that very premise.

However, most people became familiar with the term by way of Avenue Q; the Broadway musical that can be described as: Sesame Street gone wrong. Any sick and/or twisted thought you conjured up about Sesame Street, well, you're not the only one. Here it is in a musical.

To quote the song Schadenfreude from said musical: "Nothing I can do! It's Schadenfreude makin' me feel glad that I'm not you!" Later in the same song, the happiness at the misfortune of others continues...

Nicky: How 'bout straight A students getting B's?
Gary: Exes getting STDs!
Nicky: Waking doormen from their naps!
Gary: Watching tourist reading maps!
Nicky: Football players getting tackled!
Gary: CEOs getting shackled!

Hysterically funny? Yes. But think about it. Society as a whole does it...especially the news.

The May 2008 earthquake in China stands out as a perfect example of schadenfreude and how it has affected society as a whole. I was on vacation in Greece when this natural disaster occured. Not able to understand a damn word of Greek, I received any information deemed newsworthy from BBC News and CNN. As we all know from the pictures and live footage, the destruction was massive and left tens of thousands dead. I understand the need to be "live on the scene" as it is, and likely will remain, one of the worst natural disasters of our lifetime. However, I don't understand the need to interview a grandmother (with help from a translator) who cannont locate any of her family in the rubble. It is highly likely that her children and grandchildren have perished in the devastation, and we're seeing her have a breakdown on national, no...international, television. As a society we thrive on sensationalism, but quite frankly, this was ridiculous.

I experienced wide range of emotions. I was saddened at the death and destruction, disgusted that they continued to interview survivors obviously going through major emotional turmoil; yet I found it somewhat comical with people frantically shifting through the rubble as it resembled a scene from a really bad B movie (I'm blaming the Mythos beer for this). And I caught myself thinking "I'm so glad that's not me. It would suck. I'm happy I'm safe on vacation and not in China." And there it was: on the island of Mykonos I had a schadenfreude experience.

Is it wrong? Definitely.

But again, it reinforces the fact that no one is immune. Schadenfreude is also readily evident with common sayings/catch phrases:

• "Sucks to be you." I'm willing to bet that everyone has said this. If not, you're lying.
• "I'm glad I'm not that guy." You've said that too. You know you have.

Or common daily occurances:

• Being amused when someone is trying to walk a straight line in a 40 mph wind gust.
• Feeling warm and safe in your home while watching people in the their cars stuck in a snowstorm.
• Chuckling (or in my case, Nelson's "ha-ha" from The Simpsons) when someone is pulled over for speeding. Admittedly, I do this all the time.

Or on the web:

• http://www.fmylife.com/: I check this daily. In a strange, twisted way it makes me realize my life could be so much worse and really doesn't suck.

Yes, schadenfreude is alive and well in our daily lives, whether we want to admit it or not.

Now I think I'm going to take the elevator to get a coke and if someone asks me to hold the door, I won't. Then on the ride down, I'm going to laugh at them.

there's no nice way to say it...

Kicking the bucket.
Going six feet under.
Having the angels ask you to fly.

No matter how metaphoric or flowery you put it, death is not a fun or happy subject nor is there a nice way to say it. I realize this blog is (or at least is so far) about more frivolous and less life-altering subjects, but once in a while, a trip down a darker road is deemed necessary.

Let's face it, there's been quite a bit of death in 2009. Personally, my Grandmom and my dog, Tiger Lily, passed on.

Grandmom's death was somewhat expected and "a relief" (as my dad put it) as her health was failing. She also wasn't her usual feisty, spunky self; which was quite strange and sad as she was always busy running around and quick with a sassy comment. Grandmom was also the relative who always told me I was so creative and should really doing something with those talents. Well, it took a few years but I finally listened...thanks Grandmom.

Tiger Lily's passing was completely unexpected which makes it a little sadder on some level. She was also my first pet as an adult, so she'll always hold a special place in my heart. Lily was a good dog that sometimes did bad things (such as eating couch cushions) but overall had a good and happy life. Her mom and her brother Caye also miss her very much.

However, death has affected almost everyone on some level this year as a number of high-profile "rich and famous" people have passed. Not that celebrities overshadow our families, friends or pets passing because that is certainly not the case. But in this years "class of 2009", at least one of them has had some impact on each of us (whether it be directly or indirectly).

Ed McMahon: Carson's sidekick - thus making him the most well-known sidekick in history. The former host of Star Search - arguably the precursor to American Idol (and all the other reality talent competitions). I don't know if I can forgive him for that.

Farrach Fawcett: I remember playing Charlie's Angels as a kid but since I was a brunette I always ended up as Kate Jackson. Honestly, that's probably why I wasn't huge fan of hers in the day. However, the way she publicly and courageously dealt with her battle with cancer speaks volumes. For that alone, she should be admired.

Michael Jackson: Personal life aside, MJ truly was "The King of Pop" and one of the few all-around entertainers of the 80s. Sure he was certifiably bizarre and whiter than I was, but we can only speculate on the "inner" demons. He will be forever recognized (and rightfully so) for his contributions to the music and entertainment industry.

Billy Mays: Maybe a pseudo-celebrity, but the world would be a much dirtier place without Oxy Clean and Orange Glo.

Walter Cronkite: As a broadcast minor, we watched early footage of Mr. Cronkite. Amazing. The man could almost transport you to the live action to the point where you felt like you were experiencing it yourself. How could he do it? "That's the way it is". There is no other way to sum it up.

John Hughes: Perhaps of all the celebrities, this one hits the hardest as his movies were a fabric of our lives in the 80s. We may have forgotten (until recently anyway) that he was involved in Uncle Buck and Home Alone (and thus largely responsible for Macaulay Caulkin's career)...but movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sixteen Candles and my personal favorite, The Breakfast Club remain true classics. Each one of us could relate to at least one of the characters in The Breakfast Club, and the film helped us to realize that no one social sect in high school had it easy. Hughes effectively tackled the highs and lows of growing up in a humorous way, yet made you think at the same time. I doubt anyone in the near future will come close to capturing the essence of adolescence quite the way Hughes did.

here comes the hammer...

By request, I was asked to write about how MC Hammer has had an impact on the present day cultural scene. And believe it or not, the Hammer did not disappoint....

Hammer pants are back.

That's right. In the late 80s/early 90s, these baggy, parachute-style pants were all the rage (thanks in part to MC Hammer himself). Twenty years later, they're haute courture once again but under the monkier "harem pants". Thankfully, when created out of material such as tweed they are slightly less obvious and obnoxious than say, gold or purple lamé. In some strange, twisted way maybe Hammer is "2 legit to quit"...

And did I mention he's signed for a 13-episode reality show on A&E?

stop, collaborate and listen...

Admit it...

You know the lyric. You wanted to be "rollin' in your 5.0 with the rag top down so your hair can blow..." You actually listened to the song when it came on the radio and watched the video on MTV (when they still played music).

I was with "Gabe" (for lack of a better name) at a watering hole watching sports highlights and we heard the beginnning notes to this infamous song. Something came over me. I proceeded to recite all - and I mean ALL - the lyrics, complete with some dance moves. I think Gabe was, well, impressed wouldn't be the word I'd use. Frightened would be more like it.

Perhaps I should have been embarassed that I knew all the lyrics. Strangely, I wasn't.

Circa 1990, Vanilla Ice was somewhat a breath of fresh air. Prior to the "Ice Ice Baby" phenomenon, the only white rapper-esque artist was the Beastie Boys. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the Beasties to this day and they introduced us to the "rock-rap" angle. But Vanilla - at this point in musical history anyway - showed us that a white guy could perform rap AND hip-hop, or at least hip-hop as white folks knew it. Love it or leave it, Vanilla Ice did impact the scope of music in the early 1990s and dare I say, helped bring hip-hop into mainstream culture.

I almost wanted play my "To The Extreme" CD when I got home. Emphasis on the word almost. Yes, I still own the CD. For some unexplainable reason, I can't part with it.

The only thing that frightened me in this event was the following: I can't remember what I ate for dinner last Thursday, yet apparently I have ample brain storage for song lyrics of the early 90s.

Word to your mother...