RESETTING the CLOCK
The Morning Brief, Vol. IV, #8 (February 19, 2001) -- Right back to the Eighties.
CONTENTS
Bombing 'em back
to the 80s
Editorial - Confidence
Payback
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Unbridled optimism
Unbridled pessimism
Unbridled ambiguity
Elton John
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Leeza Gibbons suggests...
Tokyo trends
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TOONAGE: MeShell NdegeOshello @ The Conga Room
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Duets"
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Bedazzled"
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Wonder Boys"
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UPCOMING
CONCERTS
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CONTRIBUTIONS
NEARLY GOT THROUGH ONE WHOLE MONTH >>> Without President Itchy Trigger Finger bombing someone. Needing a demon to rally the troups. And like daddy Prez-bucks, George has picked Saddam Hussein. Evidently, Hitler's God-child was behind a nefarious plot to encroach on allied missions policing the southern no-fly zone. Which is roughly equivalent to we don't need a damn reason to bomb his Iraqi ass.
Now Iraqi rhetoric is escalating, the U.S. actions are being widely condemned, and Bush has fueled the fire to support his military funding agenda.
To quote yet another famous, public child, "That is fucking weak, dude."
EDITORIAL ;) >>> Neat how we managed to exit the 90s and wind up right back in the 80s. No one can figure out what to call the 00s, right? Better to return to that which makes us comfortable - dropping bombs, institutionalized religion, the rape and pillage of the environment, trickle-down theory - the 80s, a decade we can pronounce.
We could be doing so much better than this. Instead, we're floundering. The man who is our President has not one single theory about what makes our economy tick. He's simply there to pardon the sins of his father. Senior broke his no new taxes promise. Junior promises the tax cut. Senior failed to "finish the job" on Saddam. Junior's dropping bombs for specious reasons. It's like the techno-evolution of the 90s never happened. Unreal.
Here's the real problem: there's no confidence. Confidence that things will get better. Confidence that America's Republican-led government is doing anything more than validating it's own conservative agenda. Confidence that we're going forward. As of now, the U.S. economy at least is going nowhere. No confidence because there's no vision. What few, old ideas the Republicans have to offer us have zero appeal.
Not that all politicians don't stink on ice and we shouldn't get started voting them out before it's too late and we get to choose from a slate of losers again and again and again. Two years, four years, eight years from now.
We should, but we won't. Instead, we're going to have to endure four more years of policies that were warmed over even before the 80s. When we figure out how to go forward, leaving the dogma and the horrendous politics behind us, maybe we'll have a prayer of getting some of that confidence back. Confidence in a country that elected a vision-less man President. Until then, lovers of social freedom, equality of opportunity, and peace will be marking time.
PAYBACK >>> Really enjoyed last week's Congressional decision to let expire the executive order forcing power producers to sell affordable energey to California. In the words of one senator, the government might subsidize the military in a time of crisis, but not the private sector. California's industry is integral to the new economy, and it's life's blood is electricity. Hurt our bottom line, and you hurt the world economy. Wonder if this lack of support from the Senate has anything to do with the fact that California's governor and senators are democrats, and its voters preferred Gore in the last Presidential election.
UNBRIDLED OPTIMISM >>> It would be easier to look on the bright side if there was one.
JUST KIDDING >>> Things aren't so bad. At least we didn't elect an unqualified person President just because his Daddy is famous. He was elected because he offered a rebate.
SILVER LINING >>> Many people feel we've reached the bottom. Of course, they could be wrong.
ELTON JOHN >>> Really summed it up for all of us when he sang:
"B-B-B-Bennie and the Jetssss!"
Any guesses on song selection for his duet with Eminem?
LEEZA GIBBONS FOR K-BIG >>> The Upbeat, Listen While You Work station. Could be a whole, new direction for contemporary radio. Stations with personality. All happy music, all the time. Sad music. Silly Love Songs. Songs about Trains. A station to put you in the mood. To play while having sex...think of the celebrities you could get to endorse that one:
"Hello, I'm Denise Richards. And when I'm ready for the big one I tune into the enormous sounds of K-BASA, 107..."
HOT TRENDS FROM TOKYO >>> The new Afro Ken doll -- it's a stuffed dog, with a rainbow colored afro!!! And not necessarily a new trend, but my bum loves it anyhow: heated toilet seats. Cel phones that work! They figured that one out back in the 90s. Oh, and you'll be glad that the artificial sun-tan craze has given way to Britney Spears-ism. More on this soon!
MESHELL NDEGEOSHELLO @ The Conga Room >>> Nothing more refreshing than a woman who speaks her mind. Except perhaps a woman who speaks her mind and sings. Throw in a tight, jazz-influenced band that knows how to boogie, twenty or so songs about life, love, and politics, and you've got one of MeShell's four shows last week at the Conga Room.
Offering straight talk about race, responsibility, and lesbians who bat from both sides of the plate, not to mention two hours of great sounds, Ms. NdegeOshellow has tremendous presence live. Her most recent album, "Bitter," is more reflective than 1997's blazing "Peace Beyond Passion." And has not equalled its commercial success. But the tunes translate very well in concert. This woman has got game, and when you see her live there's no mistaking it.
By the way, if there's ever a chance to see an artist you like at the Conga Room, go for it. Assuming it's not a over-flow situation, the setting is intimate, the bars and side rooms areas are cool, and the big hall is a blast.
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Duets" >>> Ten word review...
Why it flopped - Karaoke kills
dramatic momentum
Why it's fun - Characters, songs
Good for planes - Doesn't demand complete attention
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Bedazzled" >>> Ten word review.
Why it flopped - Starring Elizabeth
Hurley
Why it's fun - Brendan Fraiser has range
Good for planes - Great eye candy
PLANE FLICKAGE: "Wonder Boys" >>> Ten word review.
Why it flopped - Movie about
writers
Why it's fun - Wit, intelligence.
Good for planes - Smart drama worth watching anywhere.
@ @ @
TEN FOR THE ROAD >>> Riding the rails this week out Tokyo way. Must have tunes to endure the crowding. Ten artists providing aural breathing room:
1. The Rolling Stones - Old and
New
2. U2
3. Fila Brazillia
4. Everything But the Girl
5. Afghan Whigs, "1965"
6. Deep Dish (go seem them at Giant next Saturday cuz I can't)
7. Harry the Bastard (Acid House maestro)
8. Various - Highways and Landscapes (transporting, if you can find
it)
9. Mojave 3, "Excuses for Travellers" (won't leave home without
it)
10. OST, "O Brother Where Art Thou"
Check out George Clinton at House of Blues if you have half an inclination to go. It's four, mind-bending hours of The Boogie.
Take some time to relax your mind this week. Just because our government sucks, the economy is unnecessarily spiralling into the toilet, and the environment is next doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves at least a little. :)
Arigato gozai schtimas (the only Japanese phrase I almost know).
Your pal,
David.
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It's tomorrow here now, even though it feels like yesterday.
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The Morning Brief can be read each wwweek @ www.smmirror.com -- in the Web Stuff section.
You can also find prior Briefs at www.morningbrief.net if you've got the time. Or load it up from www.avantgo.com and take your Briefs to go.
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DISCLAIMAGE >>> Please feel free to forward The Morning Brief to whomever you like. If you do, in part or in segments, or if you'd like to re-publish, please copy me or just let me know. Thanks for reading!
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Notable shows in and around Southern
California.
Highly
recommended shows this color.
Red
alert; must see!
2.20.01 - Bebel Gilberto @ El Rey
Theatre
2.22.01 -
George Clinton @ House of Blues
2.23.01 - Jeff Beck @
Universal Amphitheatre
2.23.01 - Los Amigos Invisibles @ Conga Room
2.24.01 - The Negro Problem @ Spaceland
2.25.01 - Bobby McFerrin @ UCLA Royce Hall
2.25.01 -
Deep Dish @ Club Giant
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3.01.01 - B.B. King @ Wiltern Theatre
3.02.01 - Roni Size Reprazent @ House of Blues
3.02.01 - String Cheese Incident @ Wiltern Theatre
3.03.01 - String Cheese Incident @ Wiltern Theatre
3.04.01 -
Superchunk @ Knitting Factory Hollywood
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3.06.01 - Lee "Scratch" Perry @ House of Blues
3.06.01 -
Lords of Acid @ The Palace
3.06.01 -
Mojave 3 @ The Troubadour
3.06.01 - Doves @ El Rey Theatre
3.07.01 - Mojave 3 @ The Troubadour
3.09.01 - Erykah Badu @
Universal Amphitheatre
3.10.01 -
Brideprimer @ The Gig Hollywood
3.13.01 - Ralph Nader @
Pasadena Civic
3.16.01 - Yahoo Outloud w/Weezer @ Hollywood Palladium
3.18.01 -
Mogwai @ El Rey Theatre
3.23.01 - Suzanne Vega @
Knitting Factory Hollywood
3.29.01 -
Fantastic Plastic Machine @ El Rey Theatre
4.06.01 - Bela Fleck &
the Flecktones @ Wiltern Theatre
4.23.01 - U2 @ Arrowhead Pond
4.27.01 - Ira Glass @ UCLA Royce Hall
5.05.01 - Natalie MacMaster @ UCLA Royce Hall
5.18.01 -
David Gray @ Universal Amphitheatre
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HAVE YOU ever reconsidered? HAVE YOU done something on the spur of a moment? HAVE YOU eaten anything extra yummy? HAVE YOU found a haven? HAVE YOU considered moving to a new climate? HAVE YOU got an axe to grind? HAVE YOU taken a deep breath lately?
RE: ROLOS AND STUFF >>> Regarding your suggestions for the rolos and the like...I prefer my chocolate pure and unadulterated. Nuts and fruit have no place in chocolate.
Maybe some caramel, marshmallow or perhaps a cookie crunch.But that's about it.
-- Robin Wachner.
RE: BUSH'S AGENDA >>> I fear your reader, in his "Contribution" printed 2/12/01 left out the following items from Bush's agenda:
J.Sale of tanks, military aircraft and other lethal weapons to "qualified" Americans (non-Christians need not bother to apply).
K.Permits issued to rape women and female children; kill all male first borne (non-Christians need not bother to apply).
L. Locusts
Most serious, if Bush reads this issue of The Morning Brief - NO MORE ROLOS.
-- Art Loomstein (Dad!).
RE: USEFUL URL >>> I get emails from time to time that are forwarded. some of the info is incorrect. I have also forwarded some incorrect myself.
There is a web address: www.truthorfiction.com (truth or fiction) On this web page you can check out somerumors(and some urban legends) to find out if they are true. I did check out the rumor of a MISSING GIRL: Kelsey Brook Jones...she was missing for two hours thenfound playing in her neighborhood.
-- Malinda Myers.
RE: WORDS OF WISDOM >>> I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in. I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just assholes. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.
I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better have a big weenie or huge boobs. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think. I've learned that you can keep puking long after you think you're finished. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.
I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get arrested and end up in the local paper. I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. I've learned to say "F--- 'em if they can't take a joke" in 6 languages. Pass this along to 5 friends...trust me, they'll appreciate it. Who knows, maybe something good will happen. If not...tough shit.
-- forwarded by Darren Hereford.