The Breaks
I'm just laying around reading this old Richard Price novel, The Breaks, and I pause like you do when you read a great writer and think about things the writer makes you think about. It may not be anything the writer actually said that makes you think, it may just be the mood the writer creates that helps you get somewhere you really had no intention of going when you reclined on your couch, propped up by pillows, you lazy bastard.
Since I got the TV this pause time created by great writers, or even mediocre writers, it doesn't matter and let's not be snobbish, would occasionally lead me not to deep contemplation but to the exact opposite, that is--watching TV.
In the past I have written things here that were inspired by stressful times and I think people may occasionally think this boy needs help, but no, thank you so much anyway, the writing pretty much helps me all I need to be helped in order not to be a detriment to society.
However, last night I found myself in deep doo-doo and I yearned for outside help. I wanted to cry out--help me, help me, help me, but my voice doesn't carry so well and so who's gonna hear it? what's the use? I am referring to the fact that I was for two hours flipping back and forth between two two hour TV specials detailing the somewhat remarkably bizarre world of Michael Jackson. I was convinced that somehow I was being drugged into submission by the Networks, who themselves had been drugged into submission by George W. Bush, I mean Lucifer, no, I don't know what I mean. I was witless. I was non-plussed. And some other things.
It is not like I eschew all things mindless. Mindless activities are good for the soul. But the Jackson story is superficially disturbing, disturbing. I don't need to watch TV to get that. No one can say for sure that I am exaggerating when I say we may be on the brink of nuclear war. I think that is disturbing, and not superficially. So in these times, when I want to be disturbed, I can simply think about current events. I do not need to think about Michael Jackson and the regrettable cirmcumstances of his life.
Thursday night (2/20) on Public TV is an advertised show I am actually looking forward to. It is a taped jazz concert featuring the entire Marsalis family which occurred here in New Orleans several months or almost a year ago. The ticket prices were way out of my league and as far as I can tell the concert sold out before the tickets even went on sale. I don't know that it will play that well on TV (I don't know if you will get how great is the youngest and shyest one, Jason on drums) but no matter, it will be the best thing going. The problem is, there is ANOTHER two hour Michael Jackson special airing Thursday night. I am weak. I have already learned this. I may need help. I may call out to you.
dont you know you were supposed to be watching joe millionaire. coincidentally, nyc pbs rebroadcast this rockefeller documentary later that night.
Rejoice. TiVo hears your cry.
how was the concert tape??
Oh, ya''ll didn't get the broadcast in NYC? The Marsalis concert w/ interviews? It was truly outstanding. Catch it or tape it if it comes around.
Hell, let me elaborate, rained out at home all dressed down with nothing to occupy my hands. The tape was brief, a one hour show, maybe only four or five songs, three or four of which were just amazing to listen to, and there were taped after the fact monologues by each of the brothers, the father, and Harry Connick Jr., the NY by way of NO jazz singer/actor who was a piano student of Ellis, the father.
Branford the oldest on saxophone, who you saw play with the G Dead, dissed on the middle brother Delfeayo on trombone, who you and Linda unfortunately missed on Valentines night on account of both shows at Snug Harbor being sold out. Branford said Delfeayo was just his little "punk brother" who he beat up on as a kid. And that he never really understood D picking up the trombone as instrument of choice for a serious jazz musician, which is clearly what all the Marsalis's have strived (quite successfully) to become. But then Defleayo plays his one song set and whatever Branford just said don't mean nothin'.
And Jason, the kid brother barely out of his early twenties, on drums, is going to redefine jazz drumming in our age. He's got this incredibly subtle groove and a proper allegiance to his bass player and it all comes out smoother than a delaudid cocktail. A brother Wynton comment suggested there might be more to see from Jason than we've seen so far, or that he hoped there would be. You do get the feeling watching Jason that he still is a bit tenative, and doesn't necessarily feel a need to shine too bright too soon.
Father Ellis dissected Branford, and Wynton on trumpet, when he said more or less that Branford had gotten by on a low key work ethic and a lot of talent, and Wynton, who is the most celebrated of the family, had gotten by on average talent and a herculean work ethic.
So it was good, and offered some interesting insights into an interesting family, a balm after all the MJ specials.
Thanks for the recap.
You still connected through the slow sprint wireless link?
Yes, still the slow sprint wireless link. Is there any hope, in your estimation, that such connections will one day (soon please) exceed these blistering dialup speeds (14.4/19.2K)? I mean for 5 bucks a month Its a good deal but...
No, probably not soon, although it's hard to say. We're not waiting on the technology, we're waiting on the business/regulation side of things. They could roll the next wave out in 6 months, but I'd guess something like 18 months is more likely.
I get around 14.4 on my sidekick, so I know it hurts.
No cable on your block?
Yeah, got the cable, I can almost see the hookups on the pole outside from here, and a budget that will fit it in, but as a monthly expense vs. what is being provided, my depression era sensibilities (inherited from my parents) is fighting it. I have a feeling I will give in someday.
Yeah, I don't have it either, for the same reasons. Still, the internet connection speed is impressive. It's too bad they won't let you buy just the data part.
They do! Well, Comcast does. It's still not cheap, though. 65 for internet only, 85 for internet/basic tv cable. And I'm sure they'll double it as soon as they're feeling bold enough.
They'd have to half it to make it irresistable to me.
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I'm just laying around reading this old Richard Price novel, The Breaks, and I pause like you do when you read a great writer and think about things the writer makes you think about. It may not be anything the writer actually said that makes you think, it may just be the mood the writer creates that helps you get somewhere you really had no intention of going when you reclined on your couch, propped up by pillows, you lazy bastard.
Since I got the TV this pause time created by great writers, or even mediocre writers, it doesn't matter and let's not be snobbish, would occasionally lead me not to deep contemplation but to the exact opposite, that is--watching TV.
In the past I have written things here that were inspired by stressful times and I think people may occasionally think this boy needs help, but no, thank you so much anyway, the writing pretty much helps me all I need to be helped in order not to be a detriment to society.
However, last night I found myself in deep doo-doo and I yearned for outside help. I wanted to cry out--help me, help me, help me, but my voice doesn't carry so well and so who's gonna hear it? what's the use? I am referring to the fact that I was for two hours flipping back and forth between two two hour TV specials detailing the somewhat remarkably bizarre world of Michael Jackson. I was convinced that somehow I was being drugged into submission by the Networks, who themselves had been drugged into submission by George W. Bush, I mean Lucifer, no, I don't know what I mean. I was witless. I was non-plussed. And some other things.
It is not like I eschew all things mindless. Mindless activities are good for the soul. But the Jackson story is superficially disturbing, disturbing. I don't need to watch TV to get that. No one can say for sure that I am exaggerating when I say we may be on the brink of nuclear war. I think that is disturbing, and not superficially. So in these times, when I want to be disturbed, I can simply think about current events. I do not need to think about Michael Jackson and the regrettable cirmcumstances of his life.
Thursday night (2/20) on Public TV is an advertised show I am actually looking forward to. It is a taped jazz concert featuring the entire Marsalis family which occurred here in New Orleans several months or almost a year ago. The ticket prices were way out of my league and as far as I can tell the concert sold out before the tickets even went on sale. I don't know that it will play that well on TV (I don't know if you will get how great is the youngest and shyest one, Jason on drums) but no matter, it will be the best thing going. The problem is, there is ANOTHER two hour Michael Jackson special airing Thursday night. I am weak. I have already learned this. I may need help. I may call out to you.
- jimlouis 2-19-2003 5:00 am
dont you know you were supposed to be watching joe millionaire. coincidentally, nyc pbs rebroadcast this rockefeller documentary later that night.
- dave 2-19-2003 10:12 am [add a comment]
Rejoice. TiVo hears your cry.
- jim 2-19-2003 5:22 pm [add a comment]
how was the concert tape??
- Skinny 2-21-2003 3:46 pm [add a comment]
Oh, ya''ll didn't get the broadcast in NYC? The Marsalis concert w/ interviews? It was truly outstanding. Catch it or tape it if it comes around.
- jimlouis 2-21-2003 5:42 pm [1 comment]
Hell, let me elaborate, rained out at home all dressed down with nothing to occupy my hands. The tape was brief, a one hour show, maybe only four or five songs, three or four of which were just amazing to listen to, and there were taped after the fact monologues by each of the brothers, the father, and Harry Connick Jr., the NY by way of NO jazz singer/actor who was a piano student of Ellis, the father.
Branford the oldest on saxophone, who you saw play with the G Dead, dissed on the middle brother Delfeayo on trombone, who you and Linda unfortunately missed on Valentines night on account of both shows at Snug Harbor being sold out. Branford said Delfeayo was just his little "punk brother" who he beat up on as a kid. And that he never really understood D picking up the trombone as instrument of choice for a serious jazz musician, which is clearly what all the Marsalis's have strived (quite successfully) to become. But then Defleayo plays his one song set and whatever Branford just said don't mean nothin'.
And Jason, the kid brother barely out of his early twenties, on drums, is going to redefine jazz drumming in our age. He's got this incredibly subtle groove and a proper allegiance to his bass player and it all comes out smoother than a delaudid cocktail. A brother Wynton comment suggested there might be more to see from Jason than we've seen so far, or that he hoped there would be. You do get the feeling watching Jason that he still is a bit tenative, and doesn't necessarily feel a need to shine too bright too soon.
Father Ellis dissected Branford, and Wynton on trumpet, when he said more or less that Branford had gotten by on a low key work ethic and a lot of talent, and Wynton, who is the most celebrated of the family, had gotten by on average talent and a herculean work ethic.
So it was good, and offered some interesting insights into an interesting family, a balm after all the MJ specials.
- jimlouis 2-21-2003 7:05 pm [1 comment]
Thanks for the recap.
You still connected through the slow sprint wireless link?
- jim 2-21-2003 7:21 pm [add a comment]
Yes, still the slow sprint wireless link. Is there any hope, in your estimation, that such connections will one day (soon please) exceed these blistering dialup speeds (14.4/19.2K)? I mean for 5 bucks a month Its a good deal but...
- jimlouis 2-22-2003 4:51 pm [add a comment]
No, probably not soon, although it's hard to say. We're not waiting on the technology, we're waiting on the business/regulation side of things. They could roll the next wave out in 6 months, but I'd guess something like 18 months is more likely.
I get around 14.4 on my sidekick, so I know it hurts.
No cable on your block?
- jim 2-22-2003 5:29 pm [add a comment]
Yeah, got the cable, I can almost see the hookups on the pole outside from here, and a budget that will fit it in, but as a monthly expense vs. what is being provided, my depression era sensibilities (inherited from my parents) is fighting it. I have a feeling I will give in someday.
- jimlouis 2-22-2003 6:24 pm [add a comment]
Yeah, I don't have it either, for the same reasons. Still, the internet connection speed is impressive. It's too bad they won't let you buy just the data part.
- jim 2-22-2003 6:28 pm [add a comment]
They do! Well, Comcast does. It's still not cheap, though. 65 for internet only, 85 for internet/basic tv cable. And I'm sure they'll double it as soon as they're feeling bold enough.
- tom moody 2-22-2003 6:49 pm [add a comment]
They'd have to half it to make it irresistable to me.
- jimlouis 2-22-2003 9:22 pm [add a comment]