Heartache With Hard Work

Matt Yglesias is, once again, wrong about Battlestar Galactica. This time, he responds to the paranoid rantings of Dirk Benedict, who played the original Starbuck, by emphasizing precisely the wrong thing. Benedict’s complaint:

“Re-imagining”, they call it. “Un-imagining” is more accurate. To take what once was and twist it into what never was intended. So that a television show based on hope, spiritual faith and family is un-imagined and regurgitated as a show of despair, sexual violence and family dysfunction. To better reflect the times of ambiguous morality in which we live, one would assume. A show in which the aliens (Cylons) are justified in their desire to destroy human civilization, one would assume.

Yglesias responds: “claiming that the Cylons are justified in their desire to destroy humanity seems like a perverse reading of the action.”

No no no! The show was good precisely when it WAS suggesting that. It’s a legitimate question. The show became terrible once it decided that it had resolved that issue and became a giant metaphor for contemporary politics. And when it decided that the mysteries were significant for their own sake (OMG, who’s the last Cylon?!?!?!?!?!1/1/1/1onequestionmarkone), rather than as clues for the single overarching question of exactly what justifications for our existence make sense once we admit the possibility of something beyond ourselves.

The fact that the Cylons were human inventions themselves only heightens that point. The radical Other, that nevertheless springs from within us, and which challenges the entire mythology of human existence…that’s fascinating stuff. When it turns out that the Cylons are precisely as boring and stupid and petty (and useless) as humans, the show collapses on itself. It turns into space opera, and the endless “darkness” becomes tedious. It becomes darkness for its own sake, an affectation, rather than significant for what it might reveal.

I’m watching CNN and the Republicans have decided that today is the day to come out against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, branding it the “trial lawyer bailout” and accusing Obama of trying to overturn the Supreme Court decision

WTF is wrong with these people? First of all, the Court decision was wrong. Second, even if it wasn’t, their justification was that there was insufficient evidence of Congressional intent to apply the law in this way. Basically, they sent the issue back to Congress to resolve. The way our system works, that means that if the President and Congress want to fix the problem, they have an open invitation.

And finally, they can’t really believe that passing this law is going to hurt the economy. They just can’t. Which means this is some sort of political posturing, which means they think that this tactic is going to obtain them some public reward. Which, in turn, means that they have learned nothing from the election results of the past two years. They think it’s going to get them more votes to come out against popular legislation to codify a common-sense approach to combating gender discrimination? Really? And even more, they think that “oh noes! the economy!” is going to offer some sort of blank check that lets them explain away all of their preposterous positions?

UPDATE: Here’s the video. The guy talking is John Ensign, and the relevant section is about a minute in.

I’m becoming increasingly convinced that I was blinded by the absolute genius of two songs on that first Wolf Parade record. While “Dear Songs and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts” and “I’ll Believe Anything” – both penned by Spencer Krug – are stunning, it turns out that I’m far more intrigued in the long run by the work of Dan Boeckner. I was quite disappointed in the sophomore Wolf Parade record, and never found all that much to enjoy in Sunset Rubdown.

But I quite liked Plague Park – the debut from Boeckner’s Handsome Furs, and based on what I’ve heard so far, I’ll probably like Face Control a lot, too.

I’m Confused – Handsome Furs

It melds together the electronic attitude with the wide open spaces and rootless abandon of a teenage garage band. It teeters between this excessive, almost ridiculous, exuberance and a dirty guitar riff. Here’s hoping for more songs like this one.

Face Control is due out on March 10.

So I posed a wonderful youtube clip yesterday – of hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the Mall, singing “This Land is Your Land” – including the ‘radical’ verses about private property and the like. It was touching and inspiring to think about an America where it was possible to declare forthrightly a belief in a world that is shared rather than one that’s cordoned off and commodified.

So what happens if you click the link now? You get a message that says: “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Home Box Office, Inc.”

As hilzoy says, irony is dead.

Sometimes this country is exasperating beyond belief. Still, when I wake up tomorrow, it will be one hour exactly until we get our second ex-President named Bush. So today, I’m just going to let it slide, and keep looking forward. And believe that somewhere off in the distance, there’s a land where what people care about matters more than what they own.

I know in the grand scheme of things it’s pretty small, but I really, really appreciate that two days before the inauguration, hundreds of thousands of people stood out in the freezing cold to listen to some music, to be inspired, and to generally share the moment. And, even more, that when Pete Seeger (all of 89 years old) came out, he led a rendition of “This Land is Your Land” with the “radical” sections included.

There’s something immensely comforting in the idea that a celebration of our president can include lines like:

In the squares of the city, by the shadow of a steeple
By the relief office, I saw my people
As they stood there hungry, I stood there whispering
This land was made for you and me

A great high wall that tried to stop me
A great big sign there said private property
But on the other side, it didn’t say nothing
That side was made for you and me

Not because I really think there’s anything truly radical about it, or because I think he’s going to build some socialist utopia, but simply because it’s nice to be able to admit the blemishes in our country without feeling like it disrupts the amazing promise. Or, even more simply, it’s nice to feel, even for a little bit, like America belongs to everyone, not just to those at the top.

People Got A Lotta Nerve – Neko Case

It took a long, long time for Fox Confessor to grow on me, but in retrospect it was a truly phenomenal album. Based on the evidence of this song, there’s every reason to think the next record from Neko Case will be just as good. It’s got a much faster tempo than I’d grown to expect from her, but it all builds effortlessly into a jangly storm, and her voice remains as astonishing as ever.

And, as with most of her songs, you get so caught up in the voice that it’s only after many listens that you start paying attention to the lyrics and realize that it’s far darker than you originally guessed – either a rumination of the way that civilized folks become alienated from the natural life of beings in the wild, or a sly metaphor for her own social relationships. Or something else entirely. Regardless, the imagery is evocative and only more so when sung in her voice.

But wait, there’s more. She and her label have decided not only to give this song away for free but also to donate 5 bucks to the Best Friends Animal Society for every blog post or iLike user who adds it to their profile. Given that, how can I not post it?

Middle Cyclone is due out on March 3, and you can hear a bunch of bits and pieces from it as well as some awesome discussion from her about recording in this video. Based on what you can hear, it sounds really REALLY good.

I particularly appreciate this quote from her: “I don’t like writing love songs and so I don’t really write them. But then I also realize that every single song I ever write is a love song.”

I haven’t been writing much about politics lately, because, well…it doesn’t seem like there’s actually that much to say. We’re in a holding pattern for the next week (less than a week!!!), and even when Obama is actually inaugurated, there’s still going to be some time before anything happens.

On the whole, I’m pretty satisfied with the transition. As I’ve said before, I wish it could have been expedited, but there’s not much that can be done about that short of amending the Constitution, so…

For the most part, qualified people are getting appointed. The “problems” for the transition have been pretty minuscule, especially when considered in relation to the actual problems facing the nation. Compared to a collapsing financial sector, two wars going nowhere fast, lack of health care, a warming planet, etc. I have a hard time getting worked up about Diane Feinstein being angry over whether she was consulted before the CIA director was announced.

And I’ve said my piece about the Burris thing, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why it’s supposed to be some sort of big problem for Obama. The guy’s going to get to be a Senator for two years. The conditions surrounding it are frustrating for those who believe in the spirit of the law, but if he wants to have ANY chance of getting re-elected he will vote exactly as Durbin and Obama tell him to. So it’s not really a political problem.

Stimulus is the big deal right now. I don’t have the economic chops to weigh in on exactly how big it ought to be. But as a political analyst, I’m willing to say that I think there’s something to the strategy Obama is deploying. Remember that less than a month ago there was talk about the Republicans freaking out over a big deal. Now, on the even of the inaguration, we’re talking about $800 billion as if it’s the absolute bare minimum. There’s virtually no talk of going below Obama’s asking price – the only question is how much more will get added by Congress. Nate Silver rather cleverly suggests he’s going for a Price is Right negotiating strategy.

I think that’s wise. And (assuming it actually works) it’s another good demonstration of how Obama is very good at combining an (almost certainly genuine) attitude of consideration and deliberation with tactics of political framing. He submitted his own stimulus plan to Congress but explicitly acknowledged that a) it was not set in stone and b) would most likely be expanded by the legislature. So when Democrats raised objections, he incorporated some of them. And even more, he sent a message that while he may have the political capital to ram something through, he is going to make an effort to preserve a form of political debate where getting something that lots of people can agree on still matters. If only because it means that all the relevant actors feel like they have a strake in the final bill.

Of course, we don’t even know how it will turn out, much less how the counterfactual world where he opened the bidding with a plan that would have made the Krugmans of the world happy. Maybe the latter tactic would have worked better. For my money though (and, of course, a vanishingly small part of the stimulus will actually be my money), I like seeing a world where the bargaining in Congress is between pragmatic progressivism and its even more radical elements. That this is happening without making it seem like GOP voices are shut out is even better.

Hopefully the end result is a stimulus bill that goes further left than Obama initially proposed. That would be a sign of many good things. It would show that Obama really does care about soliticing input. It would be good for the simple reason that it would probably do more to help the economy. And finally, it would show that an Obama presidency might (just might) actually be about improving the world, not about executive egos.

If this really is a tactic, to submit something less than he might really want, and to let Congress take some ownership over the process, that would be a welcome change. It could show that he doesn’t need to exert totalitarian control over things, and could build some goodwill to get the rest of the (very important) agenda rolling.

Ultimately, on stimulus, health care, energy, and the like there is no single perfect idea or strategy. And even if some are better than others, the real hump is getting past 25% solutions. If Obama is willing to compromise on the details in order to get the general principle locked into place, that’s a trade I’ll take 1o times out of 10.

We’ll have to see.

In the meantime, here’s a track that got a lot of blog love in the 2008 lists, and which has been growing on me steadily for the past few weeks. It’s airy and warm and friendly – just the sort of thing that can lighten your mood when facing the seemingly intractable problems of the world at large.

Collapsing At Your Doorstep – Air France

You Had Time – Ani DiFranco

One of my favorite things about Ani DiFranco is that – despite being a huge fan for more than a decade – there are still TONS of her songs that I haven’t really listened to in much detail. When my music goes on shuffle, it is actually pretty common that I’ll hear a song from her and be astonished at how I managed to never realize just how good it is.

This happened again today, hearing “You Had Time” – from the wonderful Out of Range. I’ve apparently listened to it a half-dozen times before (according to iTunes), but never given it my full attention. And oh my what I was missing.

This is one of her most beautiful songs. And I think the reason why is the way it taps into the confusion and wayward longing that characterizes the end of a relationship. When you realize that you still care deeply, but have to face up to the fact that it’s no longer enough. You take time to think it over but in the end there’s no thought behind it all – you want for it not to be over but nevertheless it is. The pain will come later. For now, it’s all an ineffable sense of loss, like there’s a hole in your heart that you can’t quite figure out. When you can feel a heart break and still not even quite know why.

And I think it’s so powerful because it’s really a song about the other person, the one who is waiting at home. Deep in their heart they know it’s over. But when you’re in love, you wait anyway because you just can’t give up. And in a way it hurts even more because she’s so gentle and caring. So all you can do is wait, and then say “what did you do out there, and what did you decide? You said you needed time, and you had time.” But you both already know the answer, and that’s the saddest part.

Boing Boing features a video from Microsoft, touting their new program Songsmith. It may be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Or the saddest. I can’t tell for sure.

I want to stress that this is a real promotional video. It’s not from SNL. It isn’t a clever ploy by Steve Jobs to destroy the reputation of his competition.

Speaking of things that leave me confused and vaguely sad, I was listening to the Culture Gabfest from Slate, and they played a clip from the new season of 24. Here’s the relevant section:

Senator Mayer: Alright then. Did you torture Mr.Haddad?

Jack Bauer: According to the definitions set forth by the Geneva Convention, yes, I did. (long pause) Senator, why don’t I save you some time. It’s obvious that your agenda is to discredit CTU, and generate a series of…

Senator Mayer: My only agenda is to get to the truth.

Jack Bauer: I don’t think it is, sir.

Senator Mayer: Excuse me?

Jack Bauer: Abraham Haddad had targeted a bus carrying 45 people, 10 of which were children. The truth, Senator, is that I stopped that attack from happening.

Senator Mayer: By torturing Mr.Haddad!

Jack Bauer: By doing what I deem necessary to protect innocent lives.

Senator Mayer: So basically what you’re saying, Mr.Bauer, is that the ends justify the means and that you are above the law.

Jack Bauer: When I am activated, when I am brought into a situation there is a reason, and that reason is to complete the objectives of my mission at all costs.

Senator Mayer: Even if it means breaking the law.

Jack Bauer: For a combat soldier, the difference between success and failure is your ability to adapt to your enemy. The people that I deal with, they don’t care about your rules, all they care about is the result. My job is to stop them from accomplishing their objectives. I simply adapted. To answer your question: am I above the law? No, sir. I am more than willing to be judged by the people you claim to represent, I will let them decide what price I should pay. But please do not sit there with that smug look on your face and expect me to regret the decisions that I have made because, sir, the truth is…I DON’T.

Once again, I’m left perplexed about how to respond. In one sense, I’m embarrassed for whoever came up with this dialoge – it sounds like it was written by a six year-old, and not a particularly clever one. And then there’s a feeling of deep shame for the country that I’m sure there are plenty of folks out there who were totally pumped to hear Jack Bauer tellin’ it like it is! to the man. Finally, I’m disgusted that a show based on scenarios and hypotheticals which are completely divorced from reality (there are no such things as ticking time bombs, and even if there were torture is a terrible means of obtaining the truth) has such cachet in the world right now.

Basically, this scene was a million times better when it was in A Few Good Men…and it was obvious that the guy declaring himself judge and jury over right and wrong was, in fact, a raving lunatic.

Anyways, while I’m talking about things too horrible to contemplate, why not round off the trifecta with some isolated vocal tracks. For instance, here’s David Lee Roth singing “Runnin’ With the Devil” with all the instruments (e.g. music) removed. It has to be heard to be believed.

But, I swear to god, there’s one that’s even worse, an unreleased (can’t imagine why) track from Smashmouth called “Days Like These” – so terrifying that it makes me hope we’re alone in the universe just so that no one else is subjected to it.

There was a time when I thought that might be the worst/best thing I’d ever heard. But then, some brilliant, brilliant person out there combined the ‘horrifying isolated vocals’ concept with the ‘horrifying Microsoft music program’ thing and produced: “Runnin’ With the Songsmith.”

Ladies and Gentlemen…the internet is now complete.

Isolated vocal tracks:
Days Like These – Smashmouth
Runnin’ With the Devil – Van Halen

Puzzles Like You – Mojave 3
Mystery and Misery – Rainer Maria

This weekend is the MIT puzzle hunt, something which I had heard about for years but never actually took part in until last year. It was a major mistake. I’m not one prone to exaggeration, so I feel safe in saying that it may be the single greatest thing in the history of all-time.

Sadly, I’m stuck out here in California, inhabiting a straightforward, entirely puzzle-free world.

If you are in Cambridge, though, there’s really no excuse to not go give it a try. Except the intense frustration you’ll feel from staring at a puzzle for hours on end and having no clue what the question even is, much less how to answer it. Then again, that’s really all part of the fun.