Christina's Blog

Smells like wishful thinking

2010-05-10T17:44:00.011-05:00

So I’m doing some research on generations, their characteristics, and their use of technology for a work project, and I came across an interesting illustration of the Baby Boomer v. Gen X dynamic.

Much of the research on Gen X has either lamented (Baby Boomers) or defended (Gen Xers themselves) the alleged apathy, laziness, and wandering nature of Xers in comparison to the supposedly strong Boomer work ethic and moral sense. Granted much of this was written well before Gen Xers starting turning 40 and acting more like old people.

I ran across an interesting 2007 article by Patrick Neate where he talked about being an aging Gen Xer and reflecting on what factors shape the Gen X moral compass:

“It was mostly the Boomers who fought for civil rights and against apartheid, the Boomers who enjoyed the Summer of Love and won the feminist argument (if not the practice), the Boomers who first marched for gay pride. Good for them. All their achievements, however, didn't stop them being racist, sexist and homophobic. … And Generation X looks on, somewhat bemused. You see, thanks to the Boomers efforts we are typically Natural Pluralists who accept diversity. Of course, this doesn't make us less racist, sexist or homophobic either, but it does mean that such impulses are transmitted across motherboards hardwired to value difference. This frequently leads to some confusion and even the occasional short circuit. But, in confusing times, it's OK to be confused.

I would argue that it is our Instinctive Relativism and Natural Pluralism that spawn the accusations of amorality. But it's simply not true that we don't believe in right and wrong; rather that we're often not sure what they are.”

Many other authors, sociologists, and people who supposedly know about these things echo this idea that Gen Xers, while more diverse, don’t take up causes the way Boomers did because for all their effort, we look around the world and question how much has changed. Hence, the famous Gen X cynicism as opposed to Boomer activism.

So then I was looking up the lyrics to the chorus for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” because I think it would be an interesting prelude to the chapter on Gen X, and I find a reference to an article where Kurt Cobain explained how he got the idea for the song and what it’s about on Wikipedia. Because I’m old school and I don’t want to quote Wikipedia, I looked up the reference and tracked the original quote to an article in The Seattle Times that was supposedly published the day Nevermind was released. So I looked up an article mentioning Nirvana published around that day.

Instead of finding the Cobain quote I was looking for I found this from music writer Patrick MacDonald:

“The first single, the powerful ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ challenges the apathy of today's young people, arguing that racism and sexism are rampant and calling for a return of '60s-style awareness and protest.

With an aggressive style reminiscent of punk and thrash metal, Nirvana makes its points with cynicism and mocking humor.”

Not what I was looking for. What I was looking for was the article where MacDonald included the quotation cited in Wikipedia from a book about Nirvana:

“We still feel as if we're teenagers because we don't follow the guidelines of what's expected of us to be adults [. . .] It also has kind of a teen revolutionary theme.”

Ultimately, I found the actual article. The interview took place about a month after the album was released when Cobain returned to Seattle after touring in Europe, but this portion of it wasn’t published in the The Seattle Times until April 5, 2004 - the 10-year anniversary of Cobain’s death. Here is the interview reconstructed from MacDonald’s notes:

“I asked what "Teen Spirit" means.

‘What do you think it means?’ he replied. I said I thought it was about a party, with sketches of people there.

‘Hmmm, interesting,’ Cobain said. ‘But that's not what it's about.

‘It's basically just about friends. The friends that I have now, in a way. We still feel as if we're teenagers because we don't follow the guidelines of what's expected of us to be adults. We still screw around and have a good time. It also has a kind of a, like a, teen revolutionary theme to it, too.’

I asked where the title came from.

‘Well, my friend and I were in my bedroom, drunk,’ he says, laughing. ‘We're having a real fine time talking about all kinds of revolutionary things, and we ended up destroying my bedroom. We ended up throwing my art supplies all over, and paint, and breaking the mirror and tearing my bed up. It was a lot of fun.

‘And so we were writing all over the wall with paint, and my friend wrote “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit,” and I took that as a compliment, and what she actually meant by it was that I smelt like this deodorant that is for teenagers called Teen Spirit. She's seen that on television, and I guess I stunk that night.’

This is not a call for ‘60s-style protest. It’s not challenging apathy. It’s about getting distracted from revolutionary things by drunkenness and not wanting to grow up. There may be some self loathing and self mocking about being contagiously stupid and screaming “Here we are now entertain us,” but the music writer’s need to call it a protest song is just so Baby Boomer and, ultimately, kind of self indulgent. Although, to be fair, MacDonald wrote his review of the album before his conversation with Cobain, I think he must have really wanted the music to be about challenging –isms, and this made me smirk and issue a Gen X “meh.”

You can read the song lyrics and see what you think. I’ve always liked the song and still listen to it, but I hardly think it’s “What’s Goin’ On” in a call for social justice and change.

This isn't any kind of Jesus I've ever heard of

2009-08-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

So last Saturday morning, I watched Bill Maher on DVR, as I do every Saturday morning during the Real Time with Bill Maher season. He had Jeff Sharlet on to discuss his book on the American fundamentalist movement amongst Washington's elite and its intersection with politics via "The Family." The Family is a shadow organization started to oppose FDR's New Deal and that has today infiltrated every level of politics here and abroad. At first it sounded like so much BS conspiracy theory. He kept tossing around the group's affinity for the organizational practices of Hitler, Mao and Ho Chi Minh and how they are using those to organize America politically. Still, I ordered the book. Today, I started reading it, and I'm horrified because it makes you rethink the religious right, not in its grassroots anti-gay, anti-civil rights formulation, but in it's Machiavellian, "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" formulation that seeks world domination. Highly recommended reading though it's scaring the hell out of me how many high ranking politicians were a) groomed by the family b) cozy with the family or c) using the family to do things that are supposed to be done through our official government with some semblance of accountability.

Sharlet describes this secret cadre of right-wing elites who have deemed themselves "chosen" to seize control of the means of production across the world, as well as governments everywhere, in the name of Jesus. And -- via what Sharlet calls "divine diplomatic immunity" through their covenant with God -- they are allowed to do so by any means necessary (palling around with genocidal maniacs isn't a problem). This way, when Christ comes back, these soldiers for Christ will be in place to do his will. Their Jesus isn't a Jesus worried about the poor or curing lepers. This Jesus is all about the pursuit of power. It sounds nuts, but the book is a first hand account of Sharlet's living with the family in an Arlington, Virginia mansion. ... Uggh... And I'm only through chapter 1. Sharlet also blogs on religion at: http://killingthebuddha.com/.

Not working is kind of the best... Sort of...

2009-07-31T13:46:00.007-05:00

It seems like I just got back from Greece a few days ago, but it's been almost three weeks! The good news is I've been busy with a contract that should earn me some money. Actually, I should say great news since July 29 was my last official day on the ALU payroll and today I received my last paycheck. I'm now officially unemployed.

Aside from bearing the stigma of lazy, unemployed drain on the American taxpayer, I'm very much enjoying my "time off." I've been able to visit my mom, who is recovering from surgery, and take care of some updates on the home front -- including painting my bedroom purple and planning more redecoration projects and furniture purchases. Most of these projects are on hold since my extended work-free sabbatical is unpaid. But I should be getting my severance check shortly, so I can pretend to have money once again.

I'm also planning my next big trip. The less than 24 hours I spent in London on the way back from Athens has me thinking about heading back in the spring. The plan: rent an apartment in London for at least 2 weeks and take time to see the sights. Hopefully, I can bamboozle some friends into joining me so we can split the cost.

I have also finally had time to post a few of my Greece photos to my Flickr page. Check out the slideshow.

Mykonos: Santorini's Bastard Cousin with a Drinking Problem

2009-07-10T12:12:00.007-05:00

Arrived in Mykonos a couple of days ago. I'd be more specific but unemployment + vacation = having no idea what day of the week it is, which is quite nice I must say. I went on a tour, which confirmed my opinion that it's no Santorini. Plus, plus we found out that 15 years ago or so, much of what we saw on the island wasn't there. In many sections of "Old Town," cobblestone is painted onto the streets and the electrical wiring is actually inside the white stucco walls (as opposed to wild configurations of wiring and cable strewn everywhere like in Santorini). They do have an interesting mascot -- the pelican. They are down to two after one got hit by a car last summer. Not surprising. The drivers here are terrifying.

What Mykonos has to offer is nightclubs. Lots of nightclubs. Plus, storefronts selling t-shirts with wacky messages about being in nightclubs and picking up your evening hook-up in nightclubs. Offering opportunities for drinking, partying, and exposing one's self to a variety of international STDs appears to be it's most lucrative industry. That being said -- good times. At least until you have to find a taxi at 4 a.m. because the buses stop running at 2 but the party goes all night. Literally, all night.

Yesterday, we took a ferry to Dalos, an old island that was the original point of commerce into Europe. There are ruins, and it's incredibly hot. There is also some pretty hardcore brush with brambles, which you don't notice until you take a wrong turn and have to scramble up and down ancient ruins with stickers in your pants. But it was fun, and we made it back without incident.

Arrived back in Athens today by boat. Tour of the city and Acropolis tomorrow.

Bouncing back, baby

2009-07-08T08:59:00.006-05:00

So after climbing the steps in Santorini, I thought it would be a good idea to go out on the town. And it was -- though probably not until 5:30 a.m. (No photos of the evening will ever see the light of day.) Having been told that we didn't need to leave until about 11 a.m., I was struggling when I woke up at 9:30 and found out we had to be packed and on the bus by 10. I made it before having a slight meltdown on the ferry to Mykonos. As Laura was WAY under the weather, I loaded our bags onto the ferry because she was too sick to handle her bags and stay in line. I'm very glad she and I buck the female trend and pack light. Dragging 3 bags plus my camera bag up that ramp was a nightmare. Plus, I couldn't see Laura and thought, "What if she's passed out in the ferry depot?" Luckily, she made it. I made it and then passed out in my seat with my iPod.

Mykonos isn't nearly as scenic as Santorini and apparently, its greatest offering to the world is over-the-top crazy nightlife. After my night in Santorini, I'm not sure I can handle Mykonos night life, but may go out in a more controlled fashion tonight. Today, we changed rooms because someone else on our trip isn't handling Mykonos very well. One of the women in our group was sharing a two-room suite with a couple of guys who didn't make it in until 8:15 a.m. One of them stumbled in and passed out in her room. So now, we've switched and moved into the suite.

Good news is that Laura is feeling better and actually made it out to the beach for lunch. Opa!

Laura and her non-flu

2009-07-06T11:25:00.001-05:00

-- Post From My iPhone

Me Santorini My Feet

2009-07-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

Ammoudi & Sweat

2009-07-06T11:02:00.002-05:00

After some very planned days, today I decided to relax and sit out by our pool, read, and take in the scenery without climbing on and off of a tour bus. Some friends and I ended up heading to what is now my favorite spot in Santorini -- the Ammoudi port to watch the fishing boats, eat lunch, and head to what passes for a beach on Santorini. It's more of a rocky shore next to a swimming hole.

To get there, we hoofed it down about 300 steps from Oia down to the bay. We were told it would take about an hour, maybe longer, but we kicked ass and made it in 20 minutes - very nearly beating the other half of the group that decided to cab it. The best part was that we also made it back up those 300 steps in the same time -- sweating profusely as there is NO shade and this is the west facing side of the island.

Unfortunately, vacation roommate Laura didn't make it -- even though this was her idea. She has some sort of illness that we dare not name for fear of quarantine. I thought I'd get her something at the pharmacy, but was told that if she should go straight to a hospital or clinic. There are tremendous fears of the swine flu here. Hopefully, she'll be feeling better before we ferry to Mykonos tomorrow.

Pictures to come. Having issues getting my camera photos online. However, I did get one photo with my phone of my feet (got to have proof I was there) by the water. Will post shortly.

Don't know how they do it

2009-07-05T02:45:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how late some of the others can stay out. 4 am every night? I was in bed by midnight and I still haven't gotten over the jet lag. On the upside, the hotel is beautiful and Santorini is gorgeous.

Here are some pics from our bus tour. I'll have better pics on Flickr that I took with my regular camera.

Lucky traveller

2009-07-03T05:26:00.001-05:00

It's amazing that I'm actually going to make my flight to Athens. First, I missed my flight due to Dallas traffic. Then, I got put on the direct flight to London, and it left 2 hours late. But I made it and now just one flight to go. I'm tired and I smell, but since I'm now in Europe, I don't expect anyone to notice the second part.

-- Post From My iPhone

Progress at last?

2009-06-30T21:07:00.001-05:00

Item B is a go-go.

-- Post From My iPhone

Efforting to Blog

2009-06-30T19:26:00.000-05:00

So my blogging efforts have been pathetic, but I'm thinking this will change because of:

a) My recent unemployment and voluminous time on my hands
b) My new iPhone, which I'm trying to set up for blogging
c) My upcoming trip to Greece. Instead of writing a travel journal (so old school), I'm going to do it online (so 2009).

Stay tuned!