The song was inspired by a newspaper article Vedder read about Jeremy Wade Delle, a high school student who shot himself in front of his English class on January 8, 1991
At home drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
Dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
Oh, to the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Oh, ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed the lion
Gnashed his teeth and bit the recessed lady's breast
How could I forget
And he hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurting
Dropped wide open
Just like the day
Oh like the day I heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something that mommy wouldn't wear
film review: Scott Pilgrim vs the World. So I had never seen this, though had kind of always meant to. Since it popped up on the 'flix this month, I watched. Has two of my favorite things, stylized action, and punky-garageband pop driving the whole thing. A well done movie, that is unsurprising that it didn't do great at the box office. Much like 'Princess Bride', it's not something that can be marketed by regular marketing types very well. The leads are appropriately likeable and dislikable. Micheal Cera as Scott is both charming and an awful person. Mary Elizabeth Windstad as Ramona is alluring the toxic way some romantic comedy ex's are. 16/19 WBA
I remember watching this movie at the theater when I was out in Carlsbad, NM for the experiment during grad school. The entire theater on the opening weekend Saturday night was just me and a teenage couple who may or may not be watching the movie at all.
By the way, Michael Cera's character in this movie defeated Captain America (Chris Evans), Superman (Brandon Routh), and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson).
Yeah: it wasn’t a brilliant piece of film making but it was well executed and as an increasingly old dude I appreciate films where the old dudes are huffing and puffing a bit more than they used to
Scott Pilgrim is a good movie, but it lacked a niche beyond awkward teen superhero film - which is super niche. Look at Kick-Ass - another fantastic film in the same genre that cost $30m and only made a paltry $20m in box office.
Yes, both of those are not box office winners, but have both had a long and successful DVD/streaming revenue. I recall reading that Scott Pilgrim had one of the highest opening weeks of DVD sales.
Also, apparently I'm in the awkward teen superhero film niche.
It's interesting how almost every supporting actress in this movie quickly went on to be a star in something else: Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza.
Ellen Wong should have been bigger, but you know, she's not white.
Alison Pill does keep showing up in stuff in supporting roles at least. She's gone the full "character actress" route. I recently finished watching her in Devs.
Only thing I've seen Ellen Wong in since Scott Pilgrim was GLOW.
I don't know if it's because she lacks range or if it's a niche she's consciously trying to fill, or it's just the roles I've happened to see her in, but Alison Pill seems to play very similar characters. It's that awkward, nervous energy she brings to the role.
The womenfolk are not going to summer camp in Vermont for the first time since 2009. That only affects me to the extent that I had been looking forward to spending the 4th of July up there because the calendar was favorable for the first time in some years. Under different circumstances I might have lobbied for going to my mother in law’s place in Maine but 1) it’s a haul, and 2) she and her husband aren’t going there. Partly for pandemic purposes (risk of exposure isn’t that great but the health care facilities are very limited) and partly because her husband has been diagnosed with some form of dementia and it seems to be moving more quickly than expected. đŸ˜¬
while our situation is purely luxurious compared to this, this will be the first year that neither of our girls are going to summer camp in NH since 2013. it was pretty nice to have a 4 week break from at least, if not both the kids.
I generally get 8 weeks to myself over the summer. My 15 year old was going to take it easy and only go for the second half of the summer, so that was going to be interesting, but she doesn’t require tons of sustained attention. I’m sure we’ll all be sick of the sight of one another by the end of August
Our English friends were coming to San Diego, and we were going to go do to hang out with them, but that got cancelled - we didn't make any other plans yet.
We had a family get together in a cabin outside Yosemite for my mom's 80th bday. Her brother was going to come out from Taiwan and his son's family up from LA. My sister and her family up from Pasadena, and No 1 coming back. Obviously all that got cancelled.
Was supposed to go to Ann Arbor for Class of 20's graduation, Australia this weekend, then Disneyworld in July and camping in August. Hoping that camping might still work out.
possible family bike tour in NC. Trek Travel is doing custom trips but w/o the custom trip makrup so it might be a good chance to vacation w/ another family
going to take the younger one and nephew backpacking for a few days nearby.
still waiting on travel guidance from Canada or Europe. we could go to Sweden or a backcountry lodge in BC mountains.
if we could get flights Sweden would almost have been a serious possibility since we have family there. my wife and daughters have UK passports, but i am the only one who only has US passport so i ant currently get into the country.
This is becoming a point of contention in our house. Both of my daughters want a U.K. passport, I’ve been mulling over whether I can chance getting one despite the unclear changing standards on public trust clearances, and my wife is acting like we’re preparing to abandon her
At this very minute I was supposed to be on a flight back from CDG after a week in France. That would have been our last trip before Mrs. Bk97 gives birth in August (can't remember if I mentioned that in a previous DBD).
I'm liking this one too. On top of all that, it's compatible with the Cal-related nickname I had already come up with (Lil C) and the symbol for Californium is her initials.
I don't know if Lil C will make it to the game, but the Auburn and Florida games look feasible. Auburn isn't too far from Mrs Bk97's family in Atlanta, and she has a coworker who's a diehard Gators fan, so we're planning on going to that one.
For now, still headed to Tahoe the last two weeks before Labor Day. It's by far the most socially distant weeks of summer up there, so hopefully it should be OK.
Other things have been scuttled -- we had Yosemite reservations for this past weekend. I was supposed to be on a work recognition trip in Boca Raton next week, Hawaii for the 4th of July. I was just looking at my vacation balance and I still have 240 hours to take this year -- cannot imagine how I am going to do that because there's only so much staycationing one can do.
They extended our vacation cap, since essential workers can't really take much time off right now. I've got about 300 hrs and gain about 7 every two weeks.
we have to take the time off approved before the quarantine, so unless we get a big surge of patients and they want me in the hospital, I'll still be taking vacations.
I hear you on the vacation time issue. I haven't taken any since quarantine because...what's the point if there's nowhere to go and everything has been closed?
I'm getting screwed with one of these garbage "unlimited PTO" plans, so I don't really have any choice but to take time off since it's not accruing or anything anyway.
Italy was nixed, so some of the budget will instead go to a massive road trip with the only red thing I own....my dog.
The Jeep, a tent, an atlas, a map of Civil War battlefields, a National Park pass, cloth masks, gloves, rags and a few gallons of Clorox bleach...and we're off. Bucket lists will be attended to.
I guess most of those Civil War battlefields are open, but just the visitor centers are closed (without a current plan to open them yet)? I remember reading not too long ago about how the National Park Services are not refunding any of the National Park pass purchases although the parks are closed during the pandemic.
I think that's the case around here. Visitor centers and restrooms are generally closed but you can drive around the battlefield. Also many of the restrooms in parks are starting to re-open.
I'm going to try to drive down PCH in the Miata with No 3 sometime in Aug or during one of his breaks in the fall. May try to stay in SLO and then head down to LA to my sisters.
Definitely. We'll be going through SB I'm sure. No 3 may be looking at colleges as well so maybe we'll also check out UCSB. Though he doesn't really know where he wants to go.
Participated in my first paddle out in Santa Monica on Saturday hosted by Black Girls Surf. Aside from getting pummeled by shore break on my way out, it was an amazing and powerful demonstration to attend. It was great to see the worldwide surfing community embrace and participate in it as well.
Portland's Police Chief is out. The Mayor had said he wanted the use of gas to stop, it didn't, and she is now headed for another as yet undisclosed role in the PD, less than 5 months after taking over for the prior Chief, after she quit to head to Philadelphia.
A "large" list of "bold" and "meaningful" (and so far undefined) reforms promised to be coming.
In this case, which is certainly not a retirement, it appears to have been a case of being overwhelmed by something she had no idea how to handle. When the standard play-book call didn't work, there was no plan B. Whether that was actually a function of the Chief, or an entrenched staff that felt it was insulated and immune from outside forces, I can't yet tell.
I was still surprised, because that's never been a catalyst for change in PDX before, so why this time would be different, I don't know, and didn't expect. That said, as some have suggested all around the country, maybe this is the time things will actually be different enough to be lastingly different.
I missed the march from Arlington but went downtown on my own later. Lots of chanting and singing and groups forming and going off in different directions. All in all it was a pretty mellow crowd and lots of support even there is no central organization
Well, honestly more like a parade. Heard all this honking by a semi, traffic in a main 6 lane avenue was not moving, went down to see what's up - I'd guess about 2,000 cyclists riding 4 lanes abreast were riding by, seemed very festive.
MLB proposed a marginally better deal to the players - 76 game season, players get 75% of the pro-rated amount (so around 35%) IF the playoffs are not canceled.
You'll see teams have press releases but I can guess the ones that won't actually mention BLM or George Floyd.
For example, in the NHL, you have some teams that have press releases that mention BLM and George Floyd. But the NY Rangers have a general statement regarding solidarity against racial violence.
Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?
Virtual Pomp — Blockeley University Commencement 2020
Watch as members of the Cal Band and UC Berkeley Wind Ensembles perform two versions of Pomp and Circumstance in this music video dedicated to the Class of 2020 and the organizers of the Blockeley University virtual ceremony. Halfway through, the rendition transforms into Pomp and Berkumstance, an upbeat, celebratory take on the solemn graduation theme.
To create it, 50 students submitted audio and video recordings of themselves performing their parts. The audio was mixed together in time for the Blockeley graduation ceremony on May 16, and used in real time for the opening procession and closing recession. Following the ceremony, Director of Bands Matt Sadowski and the students created the video by combining the audio file with the submitted video tracks, as well as with footage from the ceremony on Minecraft and of the actual Berkeley campus.
Pearl Jam is my favorite band. I’ve traveled all over seeing them play shows, and Jeremy always stands out when played live. A really powerful song, by a band that doesn’t shy away from tackling heavy topics.
Is it just me or is most popular music a lot fluffier and less imbued with meaning nowadays than it used to be? There are exceptions, of course, but it just seems less thoughtful and more targeted toward the lowest common denominator.
There are theories of history that indicate this is likely to happen during periods of great crisis: that since real life is already so fraught, people aren't looking for challenging art/music as well. When real life and politics calm down, they start looking for that again.
Yeah, but it's been like this for a good 15 years I feel like. Don't get me wrong, bubblegum pop has always been pretty trivial, but now *everyone* listens to pop. I think the decline of rock as a mainstream genre has removed a bit of that rebellious, angsty, counter-cultural element to popular music as an art form. Hip-hop and rap have some element of that still, but I think even those genres are less thoughtful and socially conscious than they used to be back in the 1990s and 2000s.
Right, as in that article I provided we've seen hip-hop go from the hard-edged and overtly political material of the late 80s and 90s to the fun party style of the 00's and now more introspective/arty stuff. Of course examples of all of that can be found in all time periods, but the style favored by the majority changes over time.
Rock is probably over as a dominant popular style. Not sure where it's gonna go next.
I had the thought a couple months back that Bieber is kind of the answer to the question (which nobody asked), "What if K-fed actually had some musical talent?"
film review: Scott Pilgrim vs the World. So I had never seen this, though had kind of always meant to. Since it popped up on the 'flix this month, I watched. Has two of my favorite things, stylized action, and punky-garageband pop driving the whole thing. A well done movie, that is unsurprising that it didn't do great at the box office. Much like 'Princess Bride', it's not something that can be marketed by regular marketing types very well. The leads are appropriately likeable and dislikable. Micheal Cera as Scott is both charming and an awful person. Mary Elizabeth Windstad as Ramona is alluring the toxic way some romantic comedy ex's are. 16/19 WBA
I remember watching this movie at the theater when I was out in Carlsbad, NM for the experiment during grad school. The entire theater on the opening weekend Saturday night was just me and a teenage couple who may or may not be watching the movie at all.
By the way, Michael Cera's character in this movie defeated Captain America (Chris Evans), Superman (Brandon Routh), and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson).
Former Cal PG Nikola Kneczevic always reminded me of Michael Cera.
samsies
I watched The Foreigner on Netflix which was perfectly adequate for my purposes (come down from a work day full of anxiety on Friday)
The Jackie Chan movie? I thought it was pretty good.
Yeah: it wasn’t a brilliant piece of film making but it was well executed and as an increasingly old dude I appreciate films where the old dudes are huffing and puffing a bit more than they used to
We watched "Horror of Dracula" a Hammer film from 1958, it was quite enjoyable.
Scott Pilgrim is a good movie, but it lacked a niche beyond awkward teen superhero film - which is super niche. Look at Kick-Ass - another fantastic film in the same genre that cost $30m and only made a paltry $20m in box office.
Yes, both of those are not box office winners, but have both had a long and successful DVD/streaming revenue. I recall reading that Scott Pilgrim had one of the highest opening weeks of DVD sales.
Also, apparently I'm in the awkward teen superhero film niche.
me too. I loved "kick ass"
It's interesting how almost every supporting actress in this movie quickly went on to be a star in something else: Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza.
Ellen Wong should have been bigger, but you know, she's not white.
Yes, would like to see more her and Alison Pill (Kim the drummer) as well
Alison Pill does keep showing up in stuff in supporting roles at least. She's gone the full "character actress" route. I recently finished watching her in Devs.
Only thing I've seen Ellen Wong in since Scott Pilgrim was GLOW.
I don't know if it's because she lacks range or if it's a niche she's consciously trying to fill, or it's just the roles I've happened to see her in, but Alison Pill seems to play very similar characters. It's that awkward, nervous energy she brings to the role.
Small steps forward
Collin Powell: will vote for Biden
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/501529-trump-fires-back-at-colin-powell-for-saying-hed-vote-for-biden-a-real
NYT: G W Bush will not endorse Trump
GW Spokesman: This is fake news.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/george-w-bush-wont-support-donald-trumps-reelection-report-says
This isn't really news though -- wasn't W open about not having voted for either candidate in the last election?
Marines ban the Confederate flag
https://twitter.com/USMC/status/1269075089078784001
Good riddance
Not before time
I think it helps to call it the 'traitors flag'. At least, it helps me.
That time that you missed an obvious hint
so many times when young.
Do you have summer plans or did all of them get scuttled by CV19?
I was going to move back to the US. Imma wait till you guys get CV19 under control a bit.
The womenfolk are not going to summer camp in Vermont for the first time since 2009. That only affects me to the extent that I had been looking forward to spending the 4th of July up there because the calendar was favorable for the first time in some years. Under different circumstances I might have lobbied for going to my mother in law’s place in Maine but 1) it’s a haul, and 2) she and her husband aren’t going there. Partly for pandemic purposes (risk of exposure isn’t that great but the health care facilities are very limited) and partly because her husband has been diagnosed with some form of dementia and it seems to be moving more quickly than expected. đŸ˜¬
while our situation is purely luxurious compared to this, this will be the first year that neither of our girls are going to summer camp in NH since 2013. it was pretty nice to have a 4 week break from at least, if not both the kids.
I generally get 8 weeks to myself over the summer. My 15 year old was going to take it easy and only go for the second half of the summer, so that was going to be interesting, but she doesn’t require tons of sustained attention. I’m sure we’ll all be sick of the sight of one another by the end of August
:( sorry to hear that
Dementia in a loved one is such a difficult thing to process.
I wouldn’t say we’re close and also i wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy
Our English friends were coming to San Diego, and we were going to go do to hang out with them, but that got cancelled - we didn't make any other plans yet.
We had a family get together in a cabin outside Yosemite for my mom's 80th bday. Her brother was going to come out from Taiwan and his son's family up from LA. My sister and her family up from Pasadena, and No 1 coming back. Obviously all that got cancelled.
Was supposed to go to Ann Arbor for Class of 20's graduation, Australia this weekend, then Disneyworld in July and camping in August. Hoping that camping might still work out.
old plans scuttled. making new ones.
possible family bike tour in NC. Trek Travel is doing custom trips but w/o the custom trip makrup so it might be a good chance to vacation w/ another family
going to take the younger one and nephew backpacking for a few days nearby.
still waiting on travel guidance from Canada or Europe. we could go to Sweden or a backcountry lodge in BC mountains.
if we could get flights Sweden would almost have been a serious possibility since we have family there. my wife and daughters have UK passports, but i am the only one who only has US passport so i ant currently get into the country.
The girls have both US and UK passports?
pre-Brexit it would have been much more valuable. even things like job permits and college aborad would have been significantly cheaper
C is a natural born UK citizen so you can get passports for the kids for one generation
This is becoming a point of contention in our house. Both of my daughters want a U.K. passport, I’ve been mulling over whether I can chance getting one despite the unclear changing standards on public trust clearances, and my wife is acting like we’re preparing to abandon her
I mean abandon her for where? The UK? Come on.
and yes, they have both
At this very minute I was supposed to be on a flight back from CDG after a week in France. That would have been our last trip before Mrs. Bk97 gives birth in August (can't remember if I mentioned that in a previous DBD).
Wooo babby!
Congrats, dude!!!
Thanks! It's certainly an interesting time to be expecting a baby. But we'll take it--we'd been trying for years.
I don't DBD anymore, so this is the first I'm hearing of this. Yayyyy Bk97s--congrats!
I was concerned that the timing wasn't ideal with football season starting not long after, but looks like I don't have to worry about that anymore!
Congrats!! And (new baby nickname) will be old enough to visit Auburn, ND, Florida!
FYI, Berkelium-249 does decay into Californium-249, which is known as the daughter nucleus of the decay.
I feel like it would be a crime to use anything but this as the nickname.
I'm liking this one too. On top of all that, it's compatible with the Cal-related nickname I had already come up with (Lil C) and the symbol for Californium is her initials.
So Californium-249 or C-249 for short?
I don't know if Lil C will make it to the game, but the Auburn and Florida games look feasible. Auburn isn't too far from Mrs Bk97's family in Atlanta, and she has a coworker who's a diehard Gators fan, so we're planning on going to that one.
How about Bromide? Compound of BK97. Only discovered in tiny amounts. Solid, but kinda unstable.
I vote for baby Calcium (Ca20).
For now, still headed to Tahoe the last two weeks before Labor Day. It's by far the most socially distant weeks of summer up there, so hopefully it should be OK.
Other things have been scuttled -- we had Yosemite reservations for this past weekend. I was supposed to be on a work recognition trip in Boca Raton next week, Hawaii for the 4th of July. I was just looking at my vacation balance and I still have 240 hours to take this year -- cannot imagine how I am going to do that because there's only so much staycationing one can do.
They extended our vacation cap, since essential workers can't really take much time off right now. I've got about 300 hrs and gain about 7 every two weeks.
we have to take the time off approved before the quarantine, so unless we get a big surge of patients and they want me in the hospital, I'll still be taking vacations.
I hear you on the vacation time issue. I haven't taken any since quarantine because...what's the point if there's nowhere to go and everything has been closed?
I'm getting screwed with one of these garbage "unlimited PTO" plans, so I don't really have any choice but to take time off since it's not accruing or anything anyway.
We usually spend a week at Tahoe with the extended family, which MIGHT still happen. We'll see.
Italy was nixed, so some of the budget will instead go to a massive road trip with the only red thing I own....my dog.
The Jeep, a tent, an atlas, a map of Civil War battlefields, a National Park pass, cloth masks, gloves, rags and a few gallons of Clorox bleach...and we're off. Bucket lists will be attended to.
I guess most of those Civil War battlefields are open, but just the visitor centers are closed (without a current plan to open them yet)? I remember reading not too long ago about how the National Park Services are not refunding any of the National Park pass purchases although the parks are closed during the pandemic.
I think that's the case around here. Visitor centers and restrooms are generally closed but you can drive around the battlefield. Also many of the restrooms in parks are starting to re-open.
I'm going to try to drive down PCH in the Miata with No 3 sometime in Aug or during one of his breaks in the fall. May try to stay in SLO and then head down to LA to my sisters.
Swing through SB if you need a coffee break with some Cal fans.
Are you in SB? It's high on my list of "where I'd live if I had no need to work and endless capital for a cool house."
High, but not in your top 5 apparently (from our list the other day)! It was in mine đŸ˜›
I am...I love it
Definitely. We'll be going through SB I'm sure. No 3 may be looking at colleges as well so maybe we'll also check out UCSB. Though he doesn't really know where he wants to go.
That sounds pretty fun. Hopefully you're able to do it before the peak of summer heat/humidity.
Sounds like an interesting trip. Recommend Ft. Sumter, 10% for the fort and 90% for the charming city of Charleston, SC.
It’s on the list...
That sounds pretty good
Jeremy
Pride of Antioch. One of the best linemen in Cal history. 12 NFL season including 2 pro-bowls. Currently lives in Brentwood.
https://s.hdnux.com/photos/12/20/10/2687516/4/920x920.jpg
Seattle
Protests
Participated in my first paddle out in Santa Monica on Saturday hosted by Black Girls Surf. Aside from getting pummeled by shore break on my way out, it was an amazing and powerful demonstration to attend. It was great to see the worldwide surfing community embrace and participate in it as well.
Portland's Police Chief is out. The Mayor had said he wanted the use of gas to stop, it didn't, and she is now headed for another as yet undisclosed role in the PD, less than 5 months after taking over for the prior Chief, after she quit to head to Philadelphia.
A "large" list of "bold" and "meaningful" (and so far undefined) reforms promised to be coming.
A lot of chiefs are testing their elected oversight and I suspect more reassignments and retirements are on the way.
In this case, which is certainly not a retirement, it appears to have been a case of being overwhelmed by something she had no idea how to handle. When the standard play-book call didn't work, there was no plan B. Whether that was actually a function of the Chief, or an entrenched staff that felt it was insulated and immune from outside forces, I can't yet tell.
I was still surprised, because that's never been a catalyst for change in PDX before, so why this time would be different, I don't know, and didn't expect. That said, as some have suggested all around the country, maybe this is the time things will actually be different enough to be lastingly different.
I missed the march from Arlington but went downtown on my own later. Lots of chanting and singing and groups forming and going off in different directions. All in all it was a pretty mellow crowd and lots of support even there is no central organization
Seattle Protest went less well. Man drove car into crowd & shot a protestor. Wound is not life threatening. Driver/shooter is police custody.
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/suspect-arrested-after-shooting-protest-seattle-police-say/AW6EX6BPJRGLPJ4CRR27BMHLL4/
Rumors are abounding that the Seattle PS are engaging in retaliatory arrests against people who posted film making them look bad
Well, honestly more like a parade. Heard all this honking by a semi, traffic in a main 6 lane avenue was not moving, went down to see what's up - I'd guess about 2,000 cyclists riding 4 lanes abreast were riding by, seemed very festive.
I read the line of bicycles was nearly 3 miles long. It was pretty impressive.
Yeah, it was impressive, and very friendly.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/donald-trumps-only-liked-tweet-is-about-hbos-insecure.html
I can't even.....
PRO
At least the two sides are talking?
MLB proposed a marginally better deal to the players - 76 game season, players get 75% of the pro-rated amount (so around 35%) IF the playoffs are not canceled.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29282383/are-closer-2020-mlb-season-answering-questions-new-76-game-proposal
75% of a pro-rated amount, lol
Just pay the fucking pro-rated amount. It's pro-rated.
Goodell apologizes. Says NFL supports BLM.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1269034074552721408?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
I wonder how long before individual team owners walk that back.
I feel like the social mood is going to keep moving irrevocably in this direction. There won't be any walking back.
...publicly at least
You'll see teams have press releases but I can guess the ones that won't actually mention BLM or George Floyd.
For example, in the NHL, you have some teams that have press releases that mention BLM and George Floyd. But the NY Rangers have a general statement regarding solidarity against racial violence.
Right. It's going to become unacceptable for an organization like the NFL to be seen as opposing BLM.
I know at least 2 owners that will pressure him to walk it back. And Trump already has tweeted about it.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29280329/donald-trump-reopens-anthem-debate-tweet-aimed-roger-goodell
Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?
CAL
Got this from Carol Christ--presumably everyone else did to, but ICYMI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yJXHES7cP8
Virtual Pomp — Blockeley University Commencement 2020
Watch as members of the Cal Band and UC Berkeley Wind Ensembles perform two versions of Pomp and Circumstance in this music video dedicated to the Class of 2020 and the organizers of the Blockeley University virtual ceremony. Halfway through, the rendition transforms into Pomp and Berkumstance, an upbeat, celebratory take on the solemn graduation theme.
To create it, 50 students submitted audio and video recordings of themselves performing their parts. The audio was mixed together in time for the Blockeley graduation ceremony on May 16, and used in real time for the opening procession and closing recession. Following the ceremony, Director of Bands Matt Sadowski and the students created the video by combining the audio file with the submitted video tracks, as well as with footage from the ceremony on Minecraft and of the actual Berkeley campus.
Go Bears!
Faraudo @ CalSportsReport: Cal running game
https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/assessing-als-running-game-2020
Pearl Jam is my favorite band. I’ve traveled all over seeing them play shows, and Jeremy always stands out when played live. A really powerful song, by a band that doesn’t shy away from tackling heavy topics.
Is it just me or is most popular music a lot fluffier and less imbued with meaning nowadays than it used to be? There are exceptions, of course, but it just seems less thoughtful and more targeted toward the lowest common denominator.
There are theories of history that indicate this is likely to happen during periods of great crisis: that since real life is already so fraught, people aren't looking for challenging art/music as well. When real life and politics calm down, they start looking for that again.
Yeah, but it's been like this for a good 15 years I feel like. Don't get me wrong, bubblegum pop has always been pretty trivial, but now *everyone* listens to pop. I think the decline of rock as a mainstream genre has removed a bit of that rebellious, angsty, counter-cultural element to popular music as an art form. Hip-hop and rap have some element of that still, but I think even those genres are less thoughtful and socially conscious than they used to be back in the 1990s and 2000s.
Right, as in that article I provided we've seen hip-hop go from the hard-edged and overtly political material of the late 80s and 90s to the fun party style of the 00's and now more introspective/arty stuff. Of course examples of all of that can be found in all time periods, but the style favored by the majority changes over time.
Rock is probably over as a dominant popular style. Not sure where it's gonna go next.
Oooh, here's a couple of articles about that:
https://www.integr8research.com/blog/introducing-the-generational-music-cycle
https://www.integr8research.com/blog/how-the-homelanders-will-soon-change-popular-music
Interesting
Hey, that was an interesting take! Hopefully music is about to change, because I would definitely agree we're in a doldrums right now.
Exhibit A of being at the nadir:
"Yummy", by Justin Bieber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pAkIrJfwao
Hey my wife helped dress that god awful music video!
I had the thought a couple months back that Bieber is kind of the answer to the question (which nobody asked), "What if K-fed actually had some musical talent?"
That's my take on his vibe, anyway.
Wow, this song is really hurt by putting all the (dumbass) lyrics right there on the screen.
Yup, the doldrums of Millennial culture as that generation fights for control over public institutions with the Boomers.