Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

by Thomas Friedman

The only reason I decided to read The World is Flat was because I really wanted to read Thomas Friedman’s new book; Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--And How It Can Renew America. I am not even going to try.

Here is my feeble attempt of a quick summary of an incredibly LONG book.

Friedman’s view is that the world has become smaller because of ten “flatteners”. These flatteners range from the fall of the Berlin Wall to work flow software to outsourcing. When the flatteners converge with; the opening up of China and India, and businesses/people that begin to understand the capabilities of these new technologies, globalization takes off.

The World is Flat goes in to great detail of each of the flatteners as well as the triple convergence. Many examples and antidotes are given.

The weakest part of the book is how Friedman describes the world as either utopian or catastrophic. I was at times excited about America’s possibilities only to be crushed a few pages later by our inevitable demise. The hope I did see in the new globalized world was that the smartest, most creative workers will survive and I have no doubt that my kids will be successful.

I cannot recommend this book. It is too long. It took me almost two months to finish. Towards the end, I was reading only for the purpose of getting closer to the end.

In fact, this book left me a little flat.

June 21: TV: 2 hours CRAP!!!
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June 22:TV: 2 hours CRAP!!!
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Charlie said: I do not enjoy jam bands. I never liked Cream, the Grateful Dead, or Phish. I have listened to the Altman Bothers Band At Fillmore East (Live), suppose to be one of the greatest live albums of all time, and felt nothing. It actually bored me. Dave Matthews Band has always done the same for me. I was not looking forward to reviewing this CD for that reason, I have a built in bias against Dave Matthews.

I like to listen to a new CD once through to get a feel of the music. I do this usually on the way to practice, running or doing errands. From that first listen, I get an idea of songs I like. After the first listen of Big Whiskey and the Goo Grux King I liked only three songs; Alligator Pie, Why am I, and Time Bomb. After a second and third listen, even those songs started to bother me.

I know this CD was made as a tribute to LeRoi Moore, the group’s saxophonist who died in an ATV accident in 2008 but I just do not like Dave Matthews and I do not like this album. On the Tina/Charlie promote it, lend it, or deny it scale; I would give it a deny it. Sorry Tina.

Tina said: First of all it’s The Allman Brothers, not the Altman Brothers.

I like jam bands. I like how the artist uses their musical instrument like a paintbrush on a canvas creating a beautiful picture of feelings and energy. I have always like the Dave Matthews Band; I have seen them live numerous times, own the entire CD collection, a couple of videos, draped my college dorm room with posters and at one point I wanted to marry Dave Matthews. If I were stranded on a desert island, one of the albums that I would want to bring with me would be Dave Matthews Band Live at Red Rocks, and one of my favorite songs is “Ants Marching”.

What has always drawn me to DMB albums is heavy use of the violin, various saxophones, drums and guitars to help create the story of the song. I think that jam bands know how and are able to create a balance between instrumentation and vocals; it keeps me engaged in the music.

Clearly, I am biased towards this band and genre and with Jim and Greg’s positive reviews of DMB’s, Big Whiskey and The Groo Grux King I was very much looking forward to the release of this album. After doing my quick listen, to this album I found myself only enjoying two songs; “Funny the Way It Is” and “You & Me”. These two songs gave me my fill of violin and other instruments. The initial listening of this album was leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

Charlie, are you sitting down? I agree with you and will say that the sour taste has not left my mouth. I deny this album--the heavy raspy vocals and overpowering instrumentation creates a sound that seems to be unoriginal and media driven. Could be it possible that The Dave Matthews Band is washed up? I suspect not; true fans will still flock to fields, concert venues and universities to hear this band to jam in the middle of their hits from the late 1990’s.

June 14: TV: 2 hours CRAP!!!
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June 15:TV: 2 hours CRAP!!!
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Tina Welzien and I have coffee every other Thursday. We discuss running, school, and anything else on our minds. Lately, our meetings have become more and more about music and we have begun to formalize it. It is one person’s job to bring a CD to share and it is the other person’s job to write a review. Below is our first review:

Cymbals Eat Guitars: "Why There Are Mountains"

Tina said: Cymbals Eat Guitars a band out of Staten Island have been recognized with
Pitchforks “Best New Band” award. Their independently released album Why There Are Mountains according to some could be the best Indie album of the year. I disagree.

While listening to the album I kept thinking that they have such a good sound, but they could do much better. The use of trumpets, background vocals, and other musical instruments was enjoyable. However, the guitar distortion was horrific. Now, maybe with a name like Cymbals Eat Guitars, guitar distortion is something that they could have been trying to create a sound like their band name. However, it did not seem to fit, even when the distortion as it was built into each song.

With that being said- I do have a sense that they are on to something bigger and better as I hear reflections of Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, and a little bit of Nirvana. On the Tina/Charlie promote it, lend it, and deny it scale; I would give it a lend it.

Charlie said: I hate the term Indie. What exactly does that mean? My guess is that it means an independently released CD. Isn’t almost everything now-a-days independently released?

I really like how Cymbals Eat Guitars use their guitars. Not only does the feedback add energy and grit, it helps create the picture they are so accurately painting. On the first song on this album, And the Hazy Sea, the guitar feedback brought me in and out the haze.

I agree with you Tina, I hear moments of all the bands you mentioned and I would add Pavement. And yet, the same time, Cymbals Eat Guitars, have a distinct sound of their
own. This is a band that is willing to experiment and the energy to pull it off. I was impressed and excited about what is to come.

On the Tina/Charlie promote it, lend it, and deny it scale; I would give it a strong promote it.

June 7: TV: 0
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June 10: TV: Wipe Out 1 hr 30 min.
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June 13: TV: 0
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I discovered a great free program the other day. I downloaded iLyrics that put all the lyrics into iTunes. Now when I want to see the lyrics to songs I am listening to, I click the center button a few times and they are listed.

Very, very cool.

by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson’s third quest takes him and his companions to San Francisco to save a friend and a goddess. The final battle scene is as enjoyable as any of the previous in the series. Once again, Greek myths are given a modern facelift without sacrificing their integrity.

Mike and I have a date and it is called Battle of the Labyrinth!!!

-1- Summer
-2- Summer
-3- Summer

May 31: TV: 0
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June 3:TV: Wipe Out 45 min.
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I have been happy lately and have been finding humor in the most peculiar areas.

For instance. I have been listening to my iPod on shuffle and the combination of songs seems to be manipulated by some higher power. Yesterday, and I am not making this up, The Buzzcocks "Orgasm Addict" was immediately followed by Michael Jackson's "Beat It".

I am so very very sorry, it just made me laugh.

1- Choice
2- Work
3- Touch