(no subject)

1. Sigh, "SmartBitches" strikes again -- I ended up buying another paranormal romance. The line that sold me? "Her in-depth study on the mohana and their mating habits would just have to wait. All that background reading on malevolent sex-obsessed dolphin shapeshifters for nothing." Bwhhahhahha! I just could not resist.
It's a story about an anthropologist who works for the League for Interspecies Cooperation and is sent to a town south of the Devil's Armpit in Louisana. She runs into a sheriff...who may also be a dragon in his spare time. What's not to love?

As an aside, apparently dolphins are in reality rather aggressive sexually speaking, and you should be careful swimming with them. (I was informed of this by someone on a trip in Costa Rica. Apparently he'd gone on one that involved swimming with wild dolphins and they'd warned people to be careful. Honestly I think that sort of goes without saying in dealing with all local wildlife that has never met you before, including the human variety.)

2. Learned today that Kansas is one of six statesin which you can now go topless legally.

Wales: Did you know you can go topless in Kansas now?
ME: Really? Since when?
Wales: I don't know. Once you cross the state line you can go topless. I think it's because they are libertarian.

Me: So, apparently you can go topless in Kansas now, it's one of six states.
Mother: Oh. Libertarian.

Except they are choosy about what they are libertarian about. We had a discussion with a libertarian in law school about the death penalty once.

Libertarian: I'm for the death penalty.
Me and friend: Yes, but if you don't want the government to tell you where to spend your money, whether or not you can buy a gun, etc -- why would you want to give them the power to kill you?
Libertarian: Oh I never thought of it that way. That's a good point.

States that women can go topless in: Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, and Oklahoma. (The general theme? They are all Western States and all have wide stretches of land with no people on them. So technically, why would anyone care? Now, if it were to happen in NYC that would be interesting.)

3. ( fannish ramblings )

Music and TV

1. So, I've been basically watching non-fiction all weekend long...

Ken Burns on his Eight Year Dive into Country Music -- this excellent documentary took eight long years to make. (I actually like it better than his last three documentaries.)

( excerpt )

And yes, it did not pass my notice that there is actually a online zine entitled "Garden & Gun" -- frigging hell, only in America.

But this documentary goes in depth on the history of Johnny Cash (including collaborations with Bob Dylan and his activism and drug addictions), Roger Miller (who wrote music for a Walt Disney Movie (Robin Hood)), Sarah Ophelia Cannon (Minnie Pearl), Ray Charles, and others, many many others. It's fascinating. And surprising.
Particularly in its examination of lesser known musicians. Buck Owens -- for example, who was a supporter of the Beatles, but didn't like the Beatles hair. (The Beatles were huge fans of Country Music - Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Chet Atkins, Gene Autry, etc. The Beatles even recorded country songs -- like "Act Naturally" from Buck Owens, who loved it.) They also go into detail for Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee...and Wanda Jackson.

I think if you want to study or understand music, you have to look at all of it.
And yes, I'm a music nerd. And there's a lot I don't like here and there. But I actually do love a lot of country music (and dislike some of it).

On the music front? Several of my friends (who I see mainly on FB now) are obsessed with LIZZO -- an African-American female rapper, hip-hop, and R&B singer. I hadn't heard of her -- because rap, R&B and hip-hop aren't my favs...although I admit she's good. And catchy.
I checked her out -- she's positive, and sings songs about loving oneself and others, and promotes it -- as opposed to hate (which is the case with far too many rap and hip-hop songs), so she's revolutionary.

And Taylor Switch who has a very catchy and controversial song out...entitled "Calm Down". Which has a lot of cameos. And is basically about being tolerant. (I don't like Swift's voice that much, but I do appreciate her songs at times.)

2. A Very Brady Renovation is hilarious and weirdly comforting. ( Read more... )

3. I ignoring the Emmy's -- I don't care if anyone wins. And honestly, I don't see how they can begin to do it -- considering there's more content out there right now than any one person can possibly review or see. I'm certain there are some amazing gems out there that got overlooked.

I feel the same way about movies, television, and music.

When it comes to art -- awards are pointless and somewhat meaningless at this point.
There's no way you can possibly come up with best or anything close. You'd have to look at EVERYTHING. And even if you did nothing but read or watch, without sleeping or eating or any breaks -- you still wouldn't get through it all.