Monkey-brained Musings
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Underemployment
Barbara Card Atkinson has posted a brutal tale of underemployment on Salon. It is an all too familiar story in today’s economy. Earlier this year, it seemed as if a friend a week was becoming un- or underemployed and that it might be my turn the next week. Now there are signs of an upturn, and most of my friends have found jobs, with none having to move out of town or out of their houses.
Still . . . .
Iraqi Oil
Michael Kinsley has a good op ed piece in Slate on why it is a bad idea for the U.S. to encourage Iraq to rejoin OPEC. I am all for furthering the independence of Iraq’s new governing council, but why would we want Iraq to strengthen the position of that price-fixing coalition? Even if this wasn’t a war for oil, why would we want to reinforce the financial strength of those states within OPEC that are known funders of al Qaida and other terrorist groups?
ACL Wrap-up
Who would have thought that we would have worried about being cold at the ACL Festival? It was a wonderful weekend, despite the gray, damp, cool weather. One of the best things about the ACL Fest was running into people I knew, catching up with some that I hadn’t seen for awhile. I ran into a friend from work immediately after entering on Friday and didn’t see him again until Monday morning at work.
The highlight of Saturday was the heartfelt Johnny Cash tribute that made excellent use of both the talent at the festival and the giant screen TVs, showing both Cash’s Hurt video and his ACL appearance. Tift Merrit was great on her own and at the Cash tribute. The Drive-by Truckers were better at the tribute. Bruce Robinson sang What Would Willie Do, dedicating it to all of the slackers and would-be slackers attending the Fest. That song had been the only thing missing from his set at the Cactus a few weeks earlier. Patty Griffin and Nickel Creek both turned in great shows. Nickel Creek was wonderfully surprised and thrilled to receive the awards for their new gold album. I was surprised to see that the rewards are still gold LPs.
Sunday was Bob Schneider’s curious set, Lucinda Williams’ welcome return, the Polyphonic Spree’s musical aerobics, and Ween’s energetic set. REM put in a good show to close the festival, keeping a large crowd there until nearly 10:30. I had last seen REM at the City Coliseum during their 1985 Fables of the Reconstruction tour. I think that Michael Stipes’ ego has grown since then in proportion with the size of the crowd.
Rogues Gallery
Bush regime trading cards are now all the rage.
Barbara Card Atkinson has posted a brutal tale of underemployment on Salon. It is an all too familiar story in today’s economy. Earlier this year, it seemed as if a friend a week was becoming un- or underemployed and that it might be my turn the next week. Now there are signs of an upturn, and most of my friends have found jobs, with none having to move out of town or out of their houses.
Still . . . .
Iraqi Oil
Michael Kinsley has a good op ed piece in Slate on why it is a bad idea for the U.S. to encourage Iraq to rejoin OPEC. I am all for furthering the independence of Iraq’s new governing council, but why would we want Iraq to strengthen the position of that price-fixing coalition? Even if this wasn’t a war for oil, why would we want to reinforce the financial strength of those states within OPEC that are known funders of al Qaida and other terrorist groups?
ACL Wrap-up
Who would have thought that we would have worried about being cold at the ACL Festival? It was a wonderful weekend, despite the gray, damp, cool weather. One of the best things about the ACL Fest was running into people I knew, catching up with some that I hadn’t seen for awhile. I ran into a friend from work immediately after entering on Friday and didn’t see him again until Monday morning at work.
The highlight of Saturday was the heartfelt Johnny Cash tribute that made excellent use of both the talent at the festival and the giant screen TVs, showing both Cash’s Hurt video and his ACL appearance. Tift Merrit was great on her own and at the Cash tribute. The Drive-by Truckers were better at the tribute. Bruce Robinson sang What Would Willie Do, dedicating it to all of the slackers and would-be slackers attending the Fest. That song had been the only thing missing from his set at the Cactus a few weeks earlier. Patty Griffin and Nickel Creek both turned in great shows. Nickel Creek was wonderfully surprised and thrilled to receive the awards for their new gold album. I was surprised to see that the rewards are still gold LPs.
Sunday was Bob Schneider’s curious set, Lucinda Williams’ welcome return, the Polyphonic Spree’s musical aerobics, and Ween’s energetic set. REM put in a good show to close the festival, keeping a large crowd there until nearly 10:30. I had last seen REM at the City Coliseum during their 1985 Fables of the Reconstruction tour. I think that Michael Stipes’ ego has grown since then in proportion with the size of the crowd.
Rogues Gallery
Bush regime trading cards are now all the rage.
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