Immortality

Today's title doesn't really have much to do with the post I'm about to write, but it's interesting to think about. Through government records, old files stored on forgotten, but still running, servers and posts such as this one that will disappear who-knows-when, the human race, or more specifically, tech-savvy members of it, are doing our best to become immortal.

Granted, there is the obvious downside of this. A blogger in Iran, his posts disagreeing with the "duly elected" government, was arrested and his very honest, not at all under duress confession is being used to level charges at more than 100 people who are seen by the ruling government as being behind the recent protests with regard to last months election. Source And I'm not aware of the statute of limitations on internet posts, which probably varies from country to country, so perhaps someone could be prosecuted ten years on for something that they wrote during their pro-active college years. I'm not sure.

In any case, I'm thinking about this because it seems like a lot of us want to seek out some kind of fame. Me writing in this blog, sending my poetry and fiction out to publications which continually reject it, yet I send it again a week later, I'm attempting not only to make a living by doing what I love, but to obtain some small part of that moneysexlovegoddream that is fame. I'm ashamed to admit this. Really, I am, since I consider most of the magazines of the 'look at this famous asshole who is famous for being an asshole being the asshole he is famous for being', like People, Us Weekly or god only knows what, disgusting. But I suppose I wouldn't mind being featured in one of them, or the writers equivalent. I don't think Stephen King often makes the cover of Us Weekly.

I am having a ridiculous time keeping up with new music. Currently without a source for promos except the occasional Saddle Creek box at work, I have to buy each and every album that I'd like to review. Since I work with a limited budget, this leads to me missing a lot of albums and thus missing the boat on that tiny window when it is okay to review a new item. You really have to do it within the first few days it's out. So if there is anyone out there from a music label, magazine, or any other company that might be able to help with this, please, please contact me. I would possibly love you forever. Or at least a little while.

I've been able to check out a number of new albums though. Jonathan Coulton, a nerdy musician that I'm fond of, released his 'Best. Concert. Ever.' live album last month and it's worth checking out whether you're a fan or have never heard of him. You get a CD with a fair number of his most popular songs (including one of my favorites 'A talk with George') but the real prize is the live DVD. If you're not lucky enough to have seen one of his concerts, this captures the energy and hilarity of being there pretty well. His fans are some of the most devoted, almost obsessed, that I've ever seen (as nerds tend to be) and he seems to enjoy performing for them.

I'm also pretty peaked about the Japandroids album coming out Tuesday. While I often don't agree with Pitchfork (they're a bit harsh and pretentious, if you're somehow unaware), they seem to be spot on this time around. What I've heard from this two-piece is strong, fuzzy indie rock. We'll have to see if the entire album stands up.

I think I'll end today's post with a link to something I find disturbing. I'm really confused why in Israel it is ok to evict folks from their homes so those of a different ethnic identity/religion can live there. I was hoping that we were finally going to be past that, but we're not yet.

Creeps.