Real Update...
I wonder what it was like to be alive at a time when one's primary objective was to secure food, shelter and a mate... and not die. It is exactly that type of single-minded focus that leads to accomplishment.
My discipline has been weak as of late. When you push yourself hard, yet have no idea of what you are doing, all you do is brew distrust in yourself, your actions, your desires and your ability to make sound decisions. Sometimes I hardly feel like myself and other times, I feel like the self that I loved of a few years back. By which I mean that I am starting to feel like I am living my life, not merely acting as a spectator to the events that happen to one Jordan Giarratano.
America is a spectator sport. We watch instead of do. We vote instead of act. We are passive. Docile. There may be a bit of complaining here and there, but for the most part, we accept that we are resigned to our fate, unable to challenge our infrastructure because really, it's not that bad. Morally and spiritually crippling yes, but quite entertaining nonetheless.
Last night, I watched others watching Nine Inch Nails. It was an odd show, in that my ticket was free (thanks
) and our seats were worth about as much as we paid for them. From the side of the stage, I was able to watch the band from far away and at an awkward angle, as if my dvd player got screwed up and it would only play a live gig from the backstage camera angle. I believe that it is impossible to enjoy a high-energy performance (of the variety for which NIN are known for something like 16 years now). So, figuring that the seats were free and I had nothing to lose, I just accepted that sooner or later I would at least get to listen to Trent play "Hurt" live at some point in the night.
Two or three songs in, it was apparent that the situation would be frustrating at best. How could anyone stand for this? Shit, this is why I don't go to arena shows, because I want to be in the pit, covered in sweat, dancing and screaming. Regardless of the ticket situation, the TD Banknorth Garden* had folding chairs setup on the floor, so NO ONE could dance. Signs were posted warning people who moshed** would be ejected.
To his overwhelming credit, Trent Reznor stopped the show right before "March of the Pigs" to apologize directly to the audience for the arena having seats and to take the blame for "not reading the contract before I signed it" saying they would "never play an arena with seats again." You can tell it through their game off, they can't be used to that kind of passive reaction (but their audience was, spoonfed on boring acts like opening band Queens of the Stone Age or any of the last ten years worth of radio-ready garbage). There was no riot. Reznor joked mid-song that it would be ok for the audience to clap, it was still allowed.
I ran into my friend Todd at the show. I saw NIN with him five years ago. I have not seen him or spoken to him in two years and spontaneously, he happened to be in the seat behind mine! How fucked is that?!?!
Looking for extra jobs is boring and brain hurting work. Groveling for jobs that pay 5 - 8 dollars per hour less than I am used to making also sucks. Need to remember that I am doing it for a reason, that I'm saving up for something worth doing.
I have quite a bit going on in my head, but I have been too tired to work on anything properly and also too disorganized. I need to change my life. I need to remember that if something doesn't seem like it would've been worth doing afterwards, that I should skip out on doing it beforehand. Nobody remembers how much fun it was to stay in reading books on logo design, all they have to think about is that the knowledge has integrated into their being and they can take control of their lives and their place in the workforce.
In other news, I am even less impressed with this site than usual. I still like naked girls though and I haven't started a new blog yet, so I shall remain for a while longer yet.
* On a related note, did anyone else hear about how the purchase of Fleet bank was going to result in the name of the Fleet Center being changed back to the Boston Garden as a nod of respect to it's heritage? Well, turns out, the bank decided to keep the same name and claim ownership, which you can't claim they don't have, over a building that probably means a great deal to Boston sports fans. I think it's more insulting than just renaming it after the bank. For me, stadiums like The Vet in Philadelphia (where the Eagles used to play) represent a time in sports where they were worth watching. Now, I could care less and I have nice dreams about people like T.O. and Johnny Damon and any other Deion Sanders-esque douche-twat getting dropped from their sport (or worse) getting paid what they are actually worth.
** Anytime the word "moshing" is used I cringe. If you are in a "mosh pit" you are at a lame show with frat boys. If you are in a "slam pit" keep one of your hands up and treat everyone else with respect and you will probably have a great night and hug a couple of the people there when the band finishes their last song.
I wonder what it was like to be alive at a time when one's primary objective was to secure food, shelter and a mate... and not die. It is exactly that type of single-minded focus that leads to accomplishment.
My discipline has been weak as of late. When you push yourself hard, yet have no idea of what you are doing, all you do is brew distrust in yourself, your actions, your desires and your ability to make sound decisions. Sometimes I hardly feel like myself and other times, I feel like the self that I loved of a few years back. By which I mean that I am starting to feel like I am living my life, not merely acting as a spectator to the events that happen to one Jordan Giarratano.
America is a spectator sport. We watch instead of do. We vote instead of act. We are passive. Docile. There may be a bit of complaining here and there, but for the most part, we accept that we are resigned to our fate, unable to challenge our infrastructure because really, it's not that bad. Morally and spiritually crippling yes, but quite entertaining nonetheless.
Last night, I watched others watching Nine Inch Nails. It was an odd show, in that my ticket was free (thanks
) and our seats were worth about as much as we paid for them. From the side of the stage, I was able to watch the band from far away and at an awkward angle, as if my dvd player got screwed up and it would only play a live gig from the backstage camera angle. I believe that it is impossible to enjoy a high-energy performance (of the variety for which NIN are known for something like 16 years now). So, figuring that the seats were free and I had nothing to lose, I just accepted that sooner or later I would at least get to listen to Trent play "Hurt" live at some point in the night.
Two or three songs in, it was apparent that the situation would be frustrating at best. How could anyone stand for this? Shit, this is why I don't go to arena shows, because I want to be in the pit, covered in sweat, dancing and screaming. Regardless of the ticket situation, the TD Banknorth Garden* had folding chairs setup on the floor, so NO ONE could dance. Signs were posted warning people who moshed** would be ejected.
To his overwhelming credit, Trent Reznor stopped the show right before "March of the Pigs" to apologize directly to the audience for the arena having seats and to take the blame for "not reading the contract before I signed it" saying they would "never play an arena with seats again." You can tell it through their game off, they can't be used to that kind of passive reaction (but their audience was, spoonfed on boring acts like opening band Queens of the Stone Age or any of the last ten years worth of radio-ready garbage). There was no riot. Reznor joked mid-song that it would be ok for the audience to clap, it was still allowed.
I ran into my friend Todd at the show. I saw NIN with him five years ago. I have not seen him or spoken to him in two years and spontaneously, he happened to be in the seat behind mine! How fucked is that?!?!
Looking for extra jobs is boring and brain hurting work. Groveling for jobs that pay 5 - 8 dollars per hour less than I am used to making also sucks. Need to remember that I am doing it for a reason, that I'm saving up for something worth doing.
I have quite a bit going on in my head, but I have been too tired to work on anything properly and also too disorganized. I need to change my life. I need to remember that if something doesn't seem like it would've been worth doing afterwards, that I should skip out on doing it beforehand. Nobody remembers how much fun it was to stay in reading books on logo design, all they have to think about is that the knowledge has integrated into their being and they can take control of their lives and their place in the workforce.
In other news, I am even less impressed with this site than usual. I still like naked girls though and I haven't started a new blog yet, so I shall remain for a while longer yet.
* On a related note, did anyone else hear about how the purchase of Fleet bank was going to result in the name of the Fleet Center being changed back to the Boston Garden as a nod of respect to it's heritage? Well, turns out, the bank decided to keep the same name and claim ownership, which you can't claim they don't have, over a building that probably means a great deal to Boston sports fans. I think it's more insulting than just renaming it after the bank. For me, stadiums like The Vet in Philadelphia (where the Eagles used to play) represent a time in sports where they were worth watching. Now, I could care less and I have nice dreams about people like T.O. and Johnny Damon and any other Deion Sanders-esque douche-twat getting dropped from their sport (or worse) getting paid what they are actually worth.
** Anytime the word "moshing" is used I cringe. If you are in a "mosh pit" you are at a lame show with frat boys. If you are in a "slam pit" keep one of your hands up and treat everyone else with respect and you will probably have a great night and hug a couple of the people there when the band finishes their last song.
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Also, since I am too lazy, remind ThePants that world/inferno is playing downstaires at The Mid East tomorrow night with Ho-Ag and The Briefs are playing upstaires.