10 May 2006

And we wonder why the President is not concerned with torture

From Irregular Times:


The original New York Times Article on George W. Bush's branding policy at the fraternity he led, Delta Kappa Epsilon:


Branding Rite Laid to Yale Fraternity

New York Times
November 8, 1967

New Haven, Nov. 7 - A Yale fraternity accused by the student newspaper of burning its initiates with a brand will have its fate decided Friday by student fraternity leaders.

The fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon, could face the temporary closure of its house and a $1,000 fine resulting from alleged violations of rules previously passed by the Interfraternity Council, which consists of Yale's five fraternity presidents.

The charges against Delta Kappa Epsilon were made last Friday in a Yale Daily News article that accused campus fraternities of carrying on "sadistic and obscene" initiation procedures.

The charge that has caused the most controversy on the Yale campus is that Delta Kappa Epsilon applied a "hot branding iron" to the small of the back of its 40 new members in the shape of the Greek letter Delta, approximately a half inch wide, appeared with the article.

A former president of Delta said that the branding is done with a hot coathanger. The former president, George Bush, a Yale senior, said that the resulting wound is "only a cigarette burn."

Looks the President has some experience with sadism. I'm sure his mother must have approved.

06 May 2006

Late to the party, or why iPod Shuffle is really and truly terrifying.

I ran across this meme here. I’d seen it appear in part at Mr. Sean’s place, and here. I guess I’m a little late in getting around to it.

I’ve always been a fan of what I describe as “minimal prophecy.” The hints and signs that one finds through any number of techniques often are useful in shaping what one does and how one does it. So I’ve been amused in the rise of the use of the iPod as a prophetic tool. My only comment is that I still want to know what kind of algorithm Apple uses to “randomize” the shuffle function.


How does the world see you?
Une Histoire d’amore, Gabin
Christ on a cross, an Italian boulevardier? Must be the Armani, Zegna and Zanella.

Will I have a happy life?
Through Hollow Lands (for Harold Budd), Brian Eno
One of the eeriest actual songs Eno wrote – although isn’t channeling composition by chance (editor's note -- that's "Oblique Strategies" for you Enophiles) through iPod shuffle an example of meta meta? I suppose this means my life is spooky – but not this kind of spooky.

What do my friends really think of me?
Mutterlandelei, Richard Strauss/Kiri Te Kanawa
My life as a leider. Hmm. Does the German really cut through the Scots and the French and the Russian?

Do people secretly lust after me?
Acetone, The Crystal Method
Oh dear. Not quite sure where to go with this.

What should I do with my life?
Giant Steps (Alternate Take), John Coltrane
Given that I believe Coltrane was a bodishattva, and his music is the embodiment of what practice really means, I get it. And am flattered.

Will I ever have children?
Andar Com Fe, Gilberto Gil
This damn song always brings tears to my eyes, of joy, for reasons I don’t understand. Of course, it would help if I studied Portuguese more. At least it’s happy. Not sure about the kid thing, though.

What is some good advice for me?
Anyway, Telepopmusik
Be contrary.

How will I be remembered?
The Sheltering Sky, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Full on romanticism meets Piazolla. Jacques Morelenbaum’s high register cello and David Nadin’s violin sound as much like a bandoleon as I can imagine. The Satie bit has always bugged me. The novel is one of the creepiest things I’ve ever read. One could be remembered in worse ways. Perhaps Motley Crue’s “Come On Feel the Noise”?

What is my signature dance song?
The Wrong Band, Tori Amos
Tori playing a waltz about infidelity and sexual perversity: Sounds about right. Surprised “Leather” didn’t spin up, though. Or “Vertigo.”

What do I think my current theme song is?
Daddy’s Gonna Pay for Your New Car, U2
Well, there’s the U2. “Daddy only gives you as much as you can take.” I’m shaking – this is wayyyyyy too close to the bone. Only Bono can make a song that’s about God sound downright dirty.

What does everyone think my current theme song is?
Stop Running Away, Telepopmusik
OK, this really needs to stop.

What song will play at my funeral?
Under the Cherry Moon, Prince
Is my iPod possessed? Or is it a function of the music I’ve selected for it?

What type of women do you like?
Bonita, Bossacucanova
Brasilian(-ish) music. Brasilian women. Beauty. Enough said. I wonder what it would have done if the question were, “What type of men do you like?”

What is my day going to be like?
Predictions, Suzanne Vega
Sweet baby Jeebus. I guess we need to add the iPod to Vega’s litany of prophecy.

04 May 2006

Why I love Sasha Frere-Jones

"I saw Jessica Lange and Sam Shephard downstairs, afterwards. They should donate some of their good-lookingness to charity because they are fucking up the whole curve just by walking around and being bodacious. Maybe when Keith Richards falls down, God foxies each of them up a little more."

Wow. I can't add to that.

In an unrelated note, more regular posting may resume shortly. Work has been kicking my ass, and the black dog has not yet given up on our families.