Roger Miller of Mission of Burma is offering guitar lessons. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a member of one of the finest rock bands ever. Anyone in the Boston area should take up this offer immediately.
Check them out performing their greatest song Thats When I Reach For My Revolver in 2006.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Halfway Crazy
Here is an example of why the Pakistani media may be among the laziest and most dishonest in the world.
From Dawn newspaper
Man held for ‘desecrating’ Holy Quran
By Our Correspondent
SIALKOT, July 8: Badiana police arrested a man for desecration of the Holy Quran on Saturday night.
Talib Husain took some copies of the Holy Quran from the village’s mosque and burnt the same in front of his house in Panwana village, Badiana, Pasrur tehsil.
The area people became infuriated and thrashed the accused. Police reached the spot and arrested him
The headline, through it use of scare quotes, seems to imply that the Quran was not desecrated, yet the very first sentence of the story presents this supposed desecration as fact. The second sentence, with equal credulity, narrates the point of view of someone who is clearly opposed to the alleged perpetrator.
Given that there have been numerous such cases that turned out to be fraudulent, a little skepticism is in order here. And don't even mention the fact that maybe tearing up a book isn't a crime. This is Pakistan after all.
From Dawn newspaper
Man held for ‘desecrating’ Holy Quran
By Our Correspondent
SIALKOT, July 8: Badiana police arrested a man for desecration of the Holy Quran on Saturday night.
Talib Husain took some copies of the Holy Quran from the village’s mosque and burnt the same in front of his house in Panwana village, Badiana, Pasrur tehsil.
The area people became infuriated and thrashed the accused. Police reached the spot and arrested him
The headline, through it use of scare quotes, seems to imply that the Quran was not desecrated, yet the very first sentence of the story presents this supposed desecration as fact. The second sentence, with equal credulity, narrates the point of view of someone who is clearly opposed to the alleged perpetrator.
Given that there have been numerous such cases that turned out to be fraudulent, a little skepticism is in order here. And don't even mention the fact that maybe tearing up a book isn't a crime. This is Pakistan after all.
Five Days That Shook The World
Blender, in typically clueless fashion, counts down the 100 days that changed music. Among the oddities, the release of Radiohead's Kid A, Depeche Mode selling out the Rose Bowl and Scarface topping the VHS rental list. Here are five far more important days than the ones they picked.
1- Nirvana's Nevermind dethrones Michael Jackson's Dangerous off the top of the Billboard charts.
2- Blur and Oasis simultaneously release Country House and Roll With It, respectively marking the commercial high point and inevitable artistic decline of Britpop.
3- The release of Stravinsky's Rites of Spring. Without him there would be no Velvet Underground, Television and Sonic Youth.
4- Lester Bangs reviews Patti Smith's Horses, bringing the CBGB scene to the world's notice.
5) Bob Marley and the Wailer release their first album.
1- Nirvana's Nevermind dethrones Michael Jackson's Dangerous off the top of the Billboard charts.
2- Blur and Oasis simultaneously release Country House and Roll With It, respectively marking the commercial high point and inevitable artistic decline of Britpop.
3- The release of Stravinsky's Rites of Spring. Without him there would be no Velvet Underground, Television and Sonic Youth.
4- Lester Bangs reviews Patti Smith's Horses, bringing the CBGB scene to the world's notice.
5) Bob Marley and the Wailer release their first album.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Wag The Dog
I believe Aamir Ahmed Khan (one of Pakistan's finest journalists) is mistaken when he attributes the government's decision to finally take on the Lal Masjid extremists to Chinese pressure. The Chinese 'madam' had already been released when the operation began. See this earlier post for what I think really explains the timing for this much-needed action.
Word Perfect
The Guardian asks, "What's a perfect line in poetry?" Here's my nomination:
Nature and nature's laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!
Alexander Pope
Hat tip: Cheryl Miller at The American Scene
Nature and nature's laws lay hid in the night. God said, Let Newton be! and all was light!
Alexander Pope
Hat tip: Cheryl Miller at The American Scene
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Jamie Lee Curtis Discovers Reality TV
Jamie Lee Curtis (star of ummm... that rubbish sitcom with Richard Lewis) watches a reality show and dosen't like what she sees.
Money quote
I understand there are many of these shows now. All "elimination"-based and faux reality. Real like a firing squad. I understand there is a good side, a jubilant winner getting their shot at fame and fortunes, but the bulk of the watching, I gather, is some communal elimination where the audience gets a hand in the stone-throwing. It begs the question of why we feel the need to watch this. Are we all so unhappy in our own lives we need the fix of watching another human go into the gladiator ring and come out a bloody, eviscerated mess? What does Russell Crowe scream in Gladiator -- "Are you not entertained"?
Dear Jamie, we had this debate four years ago and decided reality tv was soul sucking, voyeuristic and degrading. Then we continued to watch Survivor, Big Brother and American Idol. Leave us alone.
Money quote
I understand there are many of these shows now. All "elimination"-based and faux reality. Real like a firing squad. I understand there is a good side, a jubilant winner getting their shot at fame and fortunes, but the bulk of the watching, I gather, is some communal elimination where the audience gets a hand in the stone-throwing. It begs the question of why we feel the need to watch this. Are we all so unhappy in our own lives we need the fix of watching another human go into the gladiator ring and come out a bloody, eviscerated mess? What does Russell Crowe scream in Gladiator -- "Are you not entertained"?
Dear Jamie, we had this debate four years ago and decided reality tv was soul sucking, voyeuristic and degrading. Then we continued to watch Survivor, Big Brother and American Idol. Leave us alone.
Atheist Attack
Fascinating and at times blistering attack on Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion by fellow athiest David Sloan Wilson. I love these internecine fights. Intellectual porn at its finest.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Why I Hate Mullahs Part LXVII
Few people have criticised Pervez Musharraf as much as I have. I even lost my job because of his draconian control over the press. But I sincerely hope he prevails in the showdown at the Lal Masjid. Read this BBC story to see how cowardly the Islamo fascists are. Just yesterday Maulana Abdul Aziz had insisted he would fight to the death. Today, when it seemed that the government might finally take him on, he tried to escape in a burqa. On one level I am heartened by the cowardice of the Islamic leaders but, the fact remains that there are thousands of people who have been so brainwashed that they will continue to 'martyr' themselves and refuse to recognise the true nature of their brainwashers.
Dumb and Dumber
Granted she faces very stiff competition, but Shireen Mazari may be the vilest op-ed columnist in Pakistan. I think its time to start a weekly fisking of her obnoxious lies.
"Even in Britain, the Blair government has managed to increase the polarisation between its Muslim citizens and the rest of British civil society. After all, it was Jack Straw, a member of the Blair cabinet, who asked his Muslim constituents to come to him without the veil if they wanted to seek his assistance."
Of course it's Blair who has polarised Muslims. How dare he decry terrorist attacks in his country and how dare he say the problem is not with Islam but with a minority of extremists. And the gall of that evil Jack Straw who doesn't personally like the veil but has not stopped his constituents from wearing it when they visit him.
"Even more terrifying were developments in Scotland after the Glasgow airport attack when wall chalkings appeared declaring 'kill all Pakis'. Such is the level of hatred Blair's Britain now harbours."
Because the real problem in Britain is a few hooligans who vandalise public property with hateful words and not many Muslims who want to take innocent British lives with murderous actions. We all know that someone who says Kill all Pakis is worse than people who have actually tried to kill all Britishers.
"In October 2006, The Lancet published the findings of research undertaken by Johns Hopkins University, into the number of deaths that had taken place in Iraq since the US-UK invasion and the figure they came up with then was around 655,000."
This faulty research has been thoroughly debunked (here for example).
"Pakistan has suffered particularly on this count, especially at the hands of the Brits who find it so convenient to label their errant Muslim citizens as British Muslims of Pakistani origin."
The problem identified by the Blair government is not that the overwhelming majority of terrorists are British Muslims of Pakistani origin but that they have received training in the multitude of terrorist camps in Pakistan, But heaven forbid if Mazari would advocate strong action being taken to close down these camps. She finds it far more convenient to blame perceived British racism.
"Even in Britain, the Blair government has managed to increase the polarisation between its Muslim citizens and the rest of British civil society. After all, it was Jack Straw, a member of the Blair cabinet, who asked his Muslim constituents to come to him without the veil if they wanted to seek his assistance."
Of course it's Blair who has polarised Muslims. How dare he decry terrorist attacks in his country and how dare he say the problem is not with Islam but with a minority of extremists. And the gall of that evil Jack Straw who doesn't personally like the veil but has not stopped his constituents from wearing it when they visit him.
"Even more terrifying were developments in Scotland after the Glasgow airport attack when wall chalkings appeared declaring 'kill all Pakis'. Such is the level of hatred Blair's Britain now harbours."
Because the real problem in Britain is a few hooligans who vandalise public property with hateful words and not many Muslims who want to take innocent British lives with murderous actions. We all know that someone who says Kill all Pakis is worse than people who have actually tried to kill all Britishers.
"In October 2006, The Lancet published the findings of research undertaken by Johns Hopkins University, into the number of deaths that had taken place in Iraq since the US-UK invasion and the figure they came up with then was around 655,000."
This faulty research has been thoroughly debunked (here for example).
"Pakistan has suffered particularly on this count, especially at the hands of the Brits who find it so convenient to label their errant Muslim citizens as British Muslims of Pakistani origin."
The problem identified by the Blair government is not that the overwhelming majority of terrorists are British Muslims of Pakistani origin but that they have received training in the multitude of terrorist camps in Pakistan, But heaven forbid if Mazari would advocate strong action being taken to close down these camps. She finds it far more convenient to blame perceived British racism.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Lal Masjid Showdown: The End?
At around 2 am the government imposed a curfew in the G-8 area of Islamabad, where the Lal Masjid is located. Apparently, the special forces were called in and given instructions to shoot on sight. The students at the mosque were told to surrender or action would be taken. I've been hearing intermittent gunfire from my apartment, which is close to the mosque. There's going to be a lot of carnage today as this plays out.
YouTube of the Day
A brilliant parody of the Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls on Flight of the Conchords, the fantastic new HBO show.
Greatest Quote Ever
"I just gave a fat cheque to a fat Czech"
Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You legend Ian Hislop after losing a libel case to the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell.
Sorry for being about 15 years too late with this quote but I'm watching old video cassettes of Have I Got News For You.
Private Eye editor and Have I Got News For You legend Ian Hislop after losing a libel case to the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell.
Sorry for being about 15 years too late with this quote but I'm watching old video cassettes of Have I Got News For You.
Islam. Yawwwwn
Refreshing (and typical) honesty from John Derbyshire as he explains why Islam bores him so. Many of my favourite writers, including Andrew Sullivan, denounce him as a racist crank. Certainly there is a bit of Steptoe in Derbyshire but he is an entertaining, lucid writer unafraid of pissing people off. His refusal to march in lockstep with conservative orthodoxy on Iraq, evolution and teenage breasts is the only reason to visit the Corner. Long live the Derb.
The Ghost of Ted Haggard
This column, printed in the far-right World Net Daily, shows why there is no such animal as an 'ex-homosexual'. Contrary to the title, Michael Glatze does not explain how a gay rights leader became straight. Rather, he was so ashamed by his homosexuality that he chose celibacy.
Money quote
"What I discovered – what I learned – about homosexuality was amazing. How I'd first "discovered" homosexual desires back in high school was by noticing that I looked at other guys. How I healed, when it became decidedly clear that I should – or risk hurting more people – is that I paid attention to myself. Every time I was tempted to lust, I noticed it, caught it, dealt with it. I called it what it was, and then just let it disappear on its own."
Glatze's problem is not just with homosexuality but with all sexual expression. Time for me to get neutered.
Note: Pakistani readers will not be able to access the page because our military dictatorship has decreed that our minds will be poisoned by World Net Daily. I recommend circumventing the ban by using a proxy like anonymouse.
Money quote
"What I discovered – what I learned – about homosexuality was amazing. How I'd first "discovered" homosexual desires back in high school was by noticing that I looked at other guys. How I healed, when it became decidedly clear that I should – or risk hurting more people – is that I paid attention to myself. Every time I was tempted to lust, I noticed it, caught it, dealt with it. I called it what it was, and then just let it disappear on its own."
Glatze's problem is not just with homosexuality but with all sexual expression. Time for me to get neutered.
Note: Pakistani readers will not be able to access the page because our military dictatorship has decreed that our minds will be poisoned by World Net Daily. I recommend circumventing the ban by using a proxy like anonymouse.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Partners in Crime
One of the greatest joys of the live concert experience is an unexpected duet as one rich rock star brings a random rich rock star friend on stage and they launch into a tuneless, ten-minute version of some long-forgotten song. This experience is particularly popular amongst the crowd as they can go home and ecstatically tell their friends that Neil Young jammed with Sonic Youth.
I enjoy these collaborations as much as the next guy. But listening to bootlegs a week later, I am invariably disappointed.
The one exception to this was the 2004 Vote for Change Tour. I took a month off from term papers and exams to follow the tour despite being a Bush supporter. Springsteen, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., John Fogerty. I would have voted for Lyndon La Rouche to catch these gigs.
Listening to some of my bootlegs today, I'm amazed at how well the numerous collaborations hold up. Among the highlights are REM and Springsteen on Man on the Moon, Springsteen and Fogerty on Fortunate Son and REM and Eddie Vedder on Begin the Begin.
But take a look at what I would rank as one of my greatest concert experiences (beaten only by Guided by Voices' final ever concert). Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band along with Eddie Vedder on Better Man.
And as a bonus, the worst ever collaboration. The Jesus and Mary Chain at their reunion gig at Coachella decide to invite Scarlett Johansson to sing backing vocals on Just Like Honey. Jesus, all she has to do is say 'honey' a few times. How could she screw that up so badly.
I enjoy these collaborations as much as the next guy. But listening to bootlegs a week later, I am invariably disappointed.
The one exception to this was the 2004 Vote for Change Tour. I took a month off from term papers and exams to follow the tour despite being a Bush supporter. Springsteen, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., John Fogerty. I would have voted for Lyndon La Rouche to catch these gigs.
Listening to some of my bootlegs today, I'm amazed at how well the numerous collaborations hold up. Among the highlights are REM and Springsteen on Man on the Moon, Springsteen and Fogerty on Fortunate Son and REM and Eddie Vedder on Begin the Begin.
But take a look at what I would rank as one of my greatest concert experiences (beaten only by Guided by Voices' final ever concert). Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band along with Eddie Vedder on Better Man.
And as a bonus, the worst ever collaboration. The Jesus and Mary Chain at their reunion gig at Coachella decide to invite Scarlett Johansson to sing backing vocals on Just Like Honey. Jesus, all she has to do is say 'honey' a few times. How could she screw that up so badly.
Long Arm of the Law
Wasi Zafar, our cultured law minister, scratches his balls on a television talk show. In his defense, the shalwar kamiz is notorious for causing constant testicular itches.
Hat tip: Huma Imtiaz
Hat tip: Huma Imtiaz
Gone
For those wondering where all my posts are, well, they just dissapeared this morning. I've contacted blogger to try and get them back. The word pissed doesn't begin to describe it.
Further On Up The Road
Continuing the reunion theme, James Poulous at The American Scene mentions that Britpop legends The Verve and Britpop wankers Kula Shaker will be releasing new records. Is there any band that has not got back together? Time to make a list of when all your other favourites reunite.
The Beta Band: Will play a surprise gig in 2010 at a ten year anniversary party for High Fidelity and announce that a new album is in the works. Will claim that fans and critics never understood the genius of The Beta Band Rap.
Pavement: After another critically panned solo album, Stephen Malkmus will resurrect Pavement in 2009. Ala the Pixies, will tour in front of huge crowds but not release any new material because any songs they write will be utter crap.
My Bloody Valentine: Kevin Shields will take time out from his busy schedule of playing guitar for a random indie rock group every five years and return to the studio. Scheduled release date: 2011. Actual release date: 2042
The Beta Band: Will play a surprise gig in 2010 at a ten year anniversary party for High Fidelity and announce that a new album is in the works. Will claim that fans and critics never understood the genius of The Beta Band Rap.
Pavement: After another critically panned solo album, Stephen Malkmus will resurrect Pavement in 2009. Ala the Pixies, will tour in front of huge crowds but not release any new material because any songs they write will be utter crap.
My Bloody Valentine: Kevin Shields will take time out from his busy schedule of playing guitar for a random indie rock group every five years and return to the studio. Scheduled release date: 2011. Actual release date: 2042
Sexy Supreme
This BBC report shows that things are about to get a lot tougher for General Musharraf in Pakistan. After ousting Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry (who bears a remarkable resemblance to Peter Sellers) for "abuse of office", Musharraf has faced what can only be described as a popular revolt. It now seems that he is basing his case against Chaudhry solely on some illegally obtained photographs. This is purely conjecture on my part, but it seems as if the photographs must have some sexual content. So is Chaudhry about to be "lewinskied"? Interesting times ahead.
They Live (in a time not their own)
With the release of the Smashing Pumpkins new album Zeitgeist, now seems an appropriate time to decide if the recent spate of band reunions have produced anything worthwhile other than piles of cash for impoverished rock star has-beens and nostalgia trips for Boomers. Lets start with the Pumpkins themselves.
Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
If there was any evidence to suggest that Billy Corgan possessed a sense of humour, I would guess that the album title was meant to be ironic. Corgan is still stuck in the early 1970's. Punk is yet to be unleashed, layers of overdubbed guitars are reduce the sound to one big sludgy mess and the lyrics are as puerile as Humpty Dumpty but with none of the unintended humour. (Why exactly did anyone think the king's horses would be able to reassemble a human?) Not a single song has the emotional resonance of Adore's For Martha. Hell, none of them have the emotional resonance of the silly Ava Adore. And anyone deluded enough to think this reunion would have been perfect only if James Iha and Darcy rejoined should keep in mind that Corgan, control freak that he is, records every guitar part himself.
Verdict: Listen to Siamese Dream and commit a horrible act of self-mutilation to punish yourself for ever taking this megalomaniac seriously.
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
In 2000 I had the pleasure of watching J Mascis playing with Mike Watt and Ron Asheton at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London. Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie joined the supergroup to sing The Stooges' No Fun and proceeded to repeatedly assault a guy in the audience with his mike. Macis just continued playing as if nothing untoward had happened. He may just have been feeling nostalgic for the time he bashed band mate Lou Barlow on the head with his guitar for missing a note. That and the fact that he kicked Barlow out of the band by telling him that the band had broken up and then reforming the group the next day with a new bass player may make this the most unexpected reunion of the year. Unlike Corgan, who says he didn't feel whole without the Pumpkins, Mascis and Barlow admit they have got back together for purely mercenary reasons.
And yet Beyond may just be the best album of the year. Dinosaur Jr are as loud as ever, the solos still owe the same debt to Neil Young. The group hasn't aged one bit. And songs like Almost Ready and Back to Your Heart rank among the finest in their catalogue.
Verdict: In 20 years, nothing has changed, Amen.
The Stooges - The Weirdness
No need to spend too much time on this turd. This couplet should suffice.
"I see your hair has energy
My dick is turnin' into a tree"
From Trollin'
Verdict: Iggy rhymes Dalai Lama with Baby Mama. Why oh Why?
Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
If there was any evidence to suggest that Billy Corgan possessed a sense of humour, I would guess that the album title was meant to be ironic. Corgan is still stuck in the early 1970's. Punk is yet to be unleashed, layers of overdubbed guitars are reduce the sound to one big sludgy mess and the lyrics are as puerile as Humpty Dumpty but with none of the unintended humour. (Why exactly did anyone think the king's horses would be able to reassemble a human?) Not a single song has the emotional resonance of Adore's For Martha. Hell, none of them have the emotional resonance of the silly Ava Adore. And anyone deluded enough to think this reunion would have been perfect only if James Iha and Darcy rejoined should keep in mind that Corgan, control freak that he is, records every guitar part himself.
Verdict: Listen to Siamese Dream and commit a horrible act of self-mutilation to punish yourself for ever taking this megalomaniac seriously.
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
In 2000 I had the pleasure of watching J Mascis playing with Mike Watt and Ron Asheton at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London. Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie joined the supergroup to sing The Stooges' No Fun and proceeded to repeatedly assault a guy in the audience with his mike. Macis just continued playing as if nothing untoward had happened. He may just have been feeling nostalgic for the time he bashed band mate Lou Barlow on the head with his guitar for missing a note. That and the fact that he kicked Barlow out of the band by telling him that the band had broken up and then reforming the group the next day with a new bass player may make this the most unexpected reunion of the year. Unlike Corgan, who says he didn't feel whole without the Pumpkins, Mascis and Barlow admit they have got back together for purely mercenary reasons.
And yet Beyond may just be the best album of the year. Dinosaur Jr are as loud as ever, the solos still owe the same debt to Neil Young. The group hasn't aged one bit. And songs like Almost Ready and Back to Your Heart rank among the finest in their catalogue.
Verdict: In 20 years, nothing has changed, Amen.
The Stooges - The Weirdness
No need to spend too much time on this turd. This couplet should suffice.
"I see your hair has energy
My dick is turnin' into a tree"
From Trollin'
Verdict: Iggy rhymes Dalai Lama with Baby Mama. Why oh Why?
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