Jeffrey, Are You Listening?

{ July 3, 2008 @ 15:21 } · { All, Art, Books, Politics, Randomness }
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Here’s a poem by Serj Tankian, most noted for his role in System of a Down. It was performed on the Concert Series Volume 1 album by Axis of Justice. It is also in his book of poetry, Cool Gardens - totally on my Amazon wish list!

I don’t know the exact punctuation and layout, but here’s my interpretation. Corrections are welcome as are thoughts on who or what Jeffrey represents.

I’d also like to add that “who pays the bills sets the ways” applies not only to foreign policy. It’s fundamental in capitalism and although it has its benefits, there are dire consequences when unrestrained.

Serves plenty of food for thought and the word play is delightful.
 

Jeffrey, Are You Listening?

Blessed are the criminals that pursue crime as a hobby,
as soldiers who kill the enemy for fun,
as hookers prostituting for joy,
tall trees and submarines,
skin deep abrasions.
Gods children serving dearly should be forgiven.

Jeffrey, are you listening?
Are you listening?

Out of their fierce bellies
like a swordfish dance hall metholyptus cough drops you on your ass.

I’m encountering a strange revival:
that of the mind.
Thinking, unobsessed, scrutinising
mechanism of our human experience
unlike the staggering loop forced contemplations
of the ego-based mind of trouble and canoes.
I am re-encountering the thriving pinnacle
of the expansive existential thought processes.

Jeffrey, are you listening?

Out of their fierce bellies
like a swordfish dance hall metholyptus cough drops you on your ass.

On the other foot,
why not laugh?
Laugh of well being
for it is that which drives us men to evolve.
It’s the trick of life.

Jeffrey, are you fucking listening?

We are freezing
standing in front of our electric heaters, nuking our food.
We are tired of your transparent “Who pays the bills sets the ways” foreign policy.
We are tired of sending our troops to foreign soils to die,
not knowing why
and who’s interest they were sacrificed for.
We are ashamed to see the way you take care of your people
by cutting social services and aid to those most in need.

Explain me something:
How could the richest country in the world have starving children?

Here’s the fucking point:
Nations and their governments should provide, protect and serve its citizens.
Not the interest of the multinationals.

Jeffrey, are you listening?

A Monk Swimming.

{ May 5, 2008 @ 18:43 } · { All, Books }
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Malachy is Frank McCourt’s wild younger brother. His tale begins in America working the docks as his older brother did, stealing as much as he could conceal on his bodice and drinking far more than recommended. From there a wild string of events takes place: he works his way to (minor) stardom in the theatre and TV chat shows, opens up “Malachy’s” with a few buddies which quickly turns into the hottest saloon in New York, weds a not-quite-girlfriend and has two children by her which he abandons to engage in excessive drinking and general hedonism, smuggles gold to India…

It’s an interesting read for a number of reasons. I’ve read both Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and ‘Tis, and now I’ve seen parts of those books from a different point of view. Malachy is also the entertainer of the family and this is portrayed in his writing style. It’s very colloquial, easy to read yet he is obviously well-read. The dictionary had to come out a few times. He is, in his own words, an erudite. Still, reading his book is just like listening to him telling stories at a pub.

The stories themselves aren’t overly impressive. He’s led an exciting life, but I think we all do, so this is to be expected of a biography. If there wasn’t anything exciting or different to write about there wouldn’t be much point. What I did like, as I just mentioned, is his writing style and therefore have to recommend it. In my opinion he’s superseded his brother. Very entertaining.

Miss Gomez and the Brethren.

{ April 17, 2008 @ 20:16 } · { All, Books }
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Miss Gomez discovers the Church of the Brethren of the Way in Jamaica in a paper left behind by a client at a brothel in London. She begins corresponding with them and eventually ends up on the desolate Crow Street, doomed for demolition. She is convinced that a sex crime is about to occur between Alban Roche, previously incarcerated for sexual misdemeanors, and Prudence Tuke, daughter of the owners of the Thistle Arms. No one listens to Miss Gomez when she intervenes and tries to prevent the act with prayer. When Prudence doesn’t return that night a huge investigation takes place.

There was a little too much preaching in this one for me. Miss Gomez, once converted, tries endlessly to convinces others to join her church. It’s main concentrated in one section of the book, but that was more than enough. Because if it, it took nearly a month to finish!

The writing is delightful though. Very funny and descriptions are original. The omniscient point of view is also well used, adding thoughts from random people passed on the street or updates on characters only briefly involved in the plot. It gives the story a profound sense of realism.

The plot is really interesting and characters well developed. Miss Gomez goes from being the sole survivor of a horrific fire to a disturbed child at an orphanage in Jamaica to a hooker in London to a fanatic Christian trying to save people. Prudence’s mother, Beryl Tuke, is a gin-guzzling, sappy romance-reading, promiscuous woman. Alban Roche is a man deeply disturbed by incest.

It certainly makes for an interesting read and Trevor’s style is great. I’ll have to read some of his other works.

3D Pinball: Space Cadet.

{ April 11, 2008 @ 22:06 } · { All, Randomness }
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You have got to love this game! I rediscover it every few years and just go into a major pinball frenzy, it’s great!

Seriously, how old school is it! As far as I know, its first release for Windows was with Windows 95 Plus, and it hasn’t changed a bit! I love the fact that regardless of all the advances in graphic design over the past decade, it’s still totally grainy (you must play full screen of course!) with the same cross-eyed space cadet. It’s awesome! Pinball on its own is a totally old school game. I can’t even remember the last time I saw an actual pinball machine…

Ah, and the whole idea of completing missions! I have no idea of how many missions there are in total, but there are 9 levels and I doubt I’ve ever gotten past level 4. It’s some tough stuff!

There are so many details I could go into that I bet all 3D Pinball lovers would appreciate. Like how annoying that first light to accept the mission can be when you just can’t seem to hit it, and when you finally do, you die. Or the anxiety when both your side kickers are out and the ball’s bouncing between safety and peril. And when it does go down the wrong way, the relief of “Replay ball”. Whew!

I always forget about this game thanks to all the other more developed, swanky games out there. It’s days when I’ve not got an Xbox or Nintendo Wii or the internet to waste time with that I chance upon it and fall in love all over again.

I must admit, I am a bit of a hardcore videogamer. So much so I’ve been having Super Mario Galaxy dreams! (Way cool!)

P.S. I Love You.

{ March 29, 2008 @ 13:53 } · { All, Books }
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Biography about the hilarious but deranged Peter Sellers by his son Michael. Michael describes his father’s childhood, his introduction into entertainment, his first taste of fame with the Goons, right up to his death in 1980 from heart failure. Peter always displayed erratic behaviour, being moody and highly superstitious. He goes through four marriages, all of them plagued with obsessive jealousy and violence. Michael also describes his stormy childhood and that of his sister Sarah and half-sister Victoria. They were all disowned at numerous times when having children was an inconvenience to Peter. He wasn’t all bad, however. In good times he would shower those he loved with excessive gifts in a show of affection. These times sadly never lasted long.

It’s an interesting biography. It’s written in a very personal manner as Michael writes it from the viewpoint of Peter Seller’s closest confidante. Michael witnessed everything first hand - the good times and bad. You’d never realise what a difficult man he can be from just having watched his films. The Pink Panther series is brilliant, and Sellers is so damn funny. However, you often find that behind genious is a hint of lunacy.

I definitely recommend this book. Even if you’re not into biographies or non-fiction and just like a good story, trust me, you’ll get it. There’s so much drama surrounding Peter Sellers - all of which he creates himself. He goes through one stormy relationship after another, obsesses about cars and various gadgets, and lives in extreme luxury. He’s clearly a disturbed man who was constantly on the hunt for happiness but never seemed to find it.

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