there, there

I cannot even read the front page of the LA Times anymore. Libby gets a pardon, Cheney is a rogue politician, our mayor has an affair (which i don't care about, but the moralizing public does and so he's ruined), and there are more contractors working in Iraq than soldiers. I didn't even read that last article, but then I find I can't read anything about Iraq. It's all too painful and quite reminds me of the Vietnam war. Look, I'm even using upper-case letters in this post, so obviously, I'm upset.

And if I turn to the California section, I get what I call the "dead baby" news. One story after another about kids dying in car accidents, at the hands of family members, in swimming pools, in hot cars. Also too depressing.

So I read the Calendar and then I feel remiss, because those asshole owners of the Times have decided that people in LA don't need foreign news, that they just need entertainment news. And here I am, proving them right.

But it's not that I want entertainment news and don't want foreign news. I just can't take the feeling of helplessness whenever I have to confront more of the ineptness and evilness of this administration, and the horrors of the Iraq war. There's always that tendency to say, "somebody needs to do something." I just don't know who that somebody is, and I don't know what I can do (besides the money I send to organizations). So I will read Calendar, and the comics, and do the sudoku until 2008 when hopefully a new president will rise from the ashes of this current administration and offer hope.

on itunes right now: incongruously, the white stripes, "hotel yorba"

the iphone madness

"I haven't been successful in getting one for her," the publicist said, adding that she might have to stand in line for Cher or find a fan to do so. "Doesn't winning Oscars, Grammys and Emmys entitle her to move to the front of the line?"

i love this. why should Cher, or her publicist, have to stand in line with mere mortals when she should be entitled to be first? this is the fun part of living in Los Angeles, where stars get preferential treatment and goodie bags worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Thank you, Steve Jobs and Apple, for not kowtowing to someone just because she has a few gold statutes.

meanwhile, i await the second generation of iphone (and my cingular contract to come up for renewal) before i make the plunge.

what we need is a good place to donate old ipods, for other, less privileged people to enjoy. is there anyone left in the US without an ipod, i wonder??

an elusive heroine

check out this blog, IF you have seen this modern day robin hood. (hoodette??)

http://lolailluminada.blogspot.com

van gogh or thom yorke?

just

just need to post this....

back to save the universe

blogger is working again. i panicked, the thought of losing my blog!

okay summer has started and i have been supremely lazy. long games of solitare and mahjong on the computer. a total and complete waste of time. my mind needs to kick into gear starting today. or maybe tomorrow. really.

and i have so many ideas for stories to write, plus a pile of great books to read. any ideas for breaking the internet addiction? the message board fascination? the radiohead message board in particular? or how to stop playing stupid games?

last night was uncle funky's final performance, and while a new band will grow from the ashes, it was a terrific band for the last three years and will be very much missed. we did a three-song radiohead suite in the middle of the set last night: creep, high and dry, and karma police. very nice.

on itunes: No Surprises. I love this, an ode to "a job that slowly kills you" and "a handshake of carbon monoxide." office drone seeks suicide..... what a rock song! and all wrapped in the most beautiful melody.

a note on the illustration - the kodamas from "princess mononoke" - forest spirits. and little imps that inspire creativity.

more, everyday, really.....the mind will recover!

a mystery

i can create a post, but my mac won't open any blogspot blog, including my own. so whatever i write her, i can't see! unless i go to school and use the computer there. so hi, to anyone reading this. kinda like shouting into a black hole.....

last day of school

today is graduation. that makes it really really the last day of school. the fact that i have to grade finals and write student assessments and pack up my room . . . those things don't count. graduation, that's it. the students go away and for a few days i am happy and then i miss them.

planning, already, for next year's class in asian literature. haven't taught that before. india china japan. see i'm reading rushdie right now and he doesn't always use commas so already i am influenced by him.

and once the tasks for school are over, i will write. yes. definitely. gotta get back to loralie and finish her story. gotta work on poor gawain. and there is the new idea that pushes at the edges, a story set in the near future, something i have not attempted before, but it is haunting me so i have to try.

but today, graduation.

and on itunes right now: the gloaming - one of the spooky radiohead songs.

oh, yes, the tourist.

watch all the way to the end - watch thom cry - watch thom make jonny take a bow.

just watch this

yeah it's not radiohead. but this youtuber is fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRAVoyUCxz8

if the link doesn't work, because my blogger isn't cooperating - cut and paste it. IT IS WORTH IT!

or not. come back and tell me what you think.