Djchall's Micro Blog

It's also a joint rolled in toilet paper

During Funkadelic's first appearance on PBS back in 1971, the great George Clinton declared, "Soul is a hamhock in your cornflakes." George proclaimed this wisdom while fronting this fantastic, crazy-looking band on their first big syndicated television appearance. For me, the hamhock represented plantation-era food somehow now being integrated right into Middle America, straight into the land of cornflakes. I still stick to Funkadelic's excellent theory.

via www.huffingtonpost.com

I've been listening to this song for almost twenty years (the first time was while rolling down I-55 on my way to New Orleans in summer 1993.) I always took that line as a bit of stony nonsense/incongruity, but of course, Questlove's interpretation is exactly right.

I'm still not sure what a "joint rolled in toilet paper" means. Perhaps it's psychedelic culture being integrated into every day life? Or it relates to the idea on "One Nation Under a Groove" that music is an enema for the brain?

I'd like to think

via mlkshk.com

this person got the idea from reading "1989 A Novel" but it's more likely an instance of "Great minds, etc."

There's something very satisying about getting back to the basic LEGO colors--it's an unnatural selection, but somehow fitting to the pixelated nature of the LEGO world.

Lord of the Tweets

A name like Grima Wormtongue should have been a tipoff.

Little known fact: Theoden’s previous advisor was named Pervert McTraitorpants.

via whatever.scalzi.com

Funny stuff

"Got it, Bob-san?"

Director: [in Japanese] Mr. Bob-san, you are relaxing in your study. On the table is a bottle of Suntory whiskey. Got it? Look slowly, with feeling, at the camera, and say it gently - say it as if you were speaking to an old friend. Just like Bogie in Casablanca, "Here's looking at you, kid" - Suntory time.
Translator: Umm. He want you to turn, looking at camera. OK?
Bob: That's all he said?
Translator: Yes. Turn to camera.
Bob: All right. Does he want me to turn from the right, or turn from the left?
Translator: [to director, in Japanese] Uh, umm. He's ready now. He just wants to know if he's supposed to turn from the left or turn from the right when the camera rolls. What should I tell him?
Director: [in Japanese] What difference does it make! Makes no difference! Don't have time for that! Got it, Bob-san? Just psych yourself up, and quick! Look straight at the camera. At the camera. And slowly. With passion. Straight at the camera. And in your eyes there's... passion. Got it?
Translator: [to Bob] Right side. And with intensity. OK?
Bob: Is that everything? It seemed like he said quite a bit more than that.
Director: [to Bob, in Japanese] Listen, listen. This isn't just about whiskey. Understand? Imagine you're talking to an old friend. Gently. The emotions bubble up from the bottom of your heart. And don't forget, psych yourself up!
Translator: Like an old friend. And, into the camera.
Bob: OK.
Director: [in Japanese] Got it? You *love* whiskey. It's *Suntory* time. OK?
Bob: OK.
Director: OK?
Bob: [nods]
Director: [to crew] OK!

via www.imdb.com

Epically, IMDB has the translation of the director's direction to Bill Murray in Lost In Translation. I think Sofia Coppola made the right decision to not add subtitles to that scene (given the movie's title and theme) but scene in some ways is even funnier knowing what the director is saying.

1989 A Novel (the remastered expanded legacy super deluxe edition)

I've been kind of obsessed with these today; not because I'm interested in ordering replacement dust jackets, but just with the idea of replacing the "book on the shelf" as the signifier of ownership (and maybe even actual enjoyment) of books. Facsimile dust jackets are one angle, of course -- and repro's of vintage titles are the library nerd equivalent of the old Italian movie poster. But are any book publishers taking the approach that TopSpin championed with musicians?

• Give me the digital sample chapter in exchange for my email address
• Sell me the ebook for $9.99
• Sell me the ebook plus a frameable repro of the book cover for $19.99
• Sell me all that plus a hardcopy for $29.99
• Sell me all that plus an archivally printed copy of background material, editor's notes, rough drafts, etc., for $99.99
• Etc., etc.

via www.sippey.com

I've often wondered why writers don't do this. Why not have one edition of a book for casual readers, and another with expanded bonus materials?

I'd be embarassed to share a lot of the stuff in the 1989 A Novel archives (some things should remain on the cutting room floor) but there are a lot of scenes, entire chapters even, that I love but which had to be cut because they didn't advance the story sufficiently given their length. There the kind of thing that someone who really loved the novel, and loved the characters, would want to read. 

The other reason to offer bonus materials/out-takes, of course, is that they're incredibly instructive. I've learned a lot about story construction from watching movie DVDs, and seeing what the director chose to leave in the theatrical release, vs. what they cut out. 90% of the time I agree with the director's choices. Not always, though. There was one out-take from Garden State that I thought was better than anything in the actual movie–made it a different movie, to be sure, but a superior one. (I won't say more than that because I don't want to spoil it, so if you like that movie and haven't watched the deleted scenes, I recommend it.) 

So, in 2012, be on the look out for the Super Deluxe Legacy Expanded Home Edition of 1989 A Novel. For $1,000 I will come to your house and read the entire thing to you live. 

Paul Krugman loves my dad's shit

Paul Krugman wrote a post today referencing a paper my dad wrote in 1976!

Bob Hall has posted his original 1976 paper making the distinction between fresh water and salt water economists (pdf):

The fresh water view holds that fluctuations are largely attributable to supply shifts and that the government is essentially incapable of affecting the level of economic activity. The salt water view holds shifts in demand responsible for fluctuations and thinks government policies (at least monetary policy) is capable of affecting demand.

via krugman.blogs.nytimes.com

The title of this post, by the way, is a reference to Paul Krugman's hilarious cameo in Get Him To the Greek.

 

Possibly the coolest thing any economist has ever done, anywhere. 

Zeppelins!

In the world of 2049, Zeppelins are a popular way to travel long-distances, since they are comfortable, fly high enough that it is not too warm, and use much less fuel than airplanes. In fact, with the use of solar panels, they can sometimes fly without using any fuel at all (like a hybrid car.) 

The largest zeppelin is the Boeing 878, with a length of 1200 feet, as long as four football fields, and 50% larger than the Hindenburg, the largest airship of the 20th century. The 878 can carry 250 passengers on short routes, and 150 on ones requiring overnight travel. 

Eight Boeing 878s are currently in use, six by Federation Airlines (Achilles, Avalon, Valhalla, Kashmir, Shangri-La and Albion) and two by the Federation government, one as official transport for the Federation ruling council (unimaginatively named Federation) and the Columbia, a ship for military and humanitarian missions. 

 

"colorblind, but in his ears"

One way to describe this would be to say that Bob is colorblind, but in his ears. He has an uncanny ear for melody, obviously, but cannot or will not hear things that strike even casual listeners but especially musicians as bloody obvious. I think this is one of the keys to his songwriting genius. I’m just not entirely sure in what way.

via www.jamesgreer.net

One of the most interesting things I've ever read about the genius of Robert Pollard.

No more iPod Classics?

TUAW claims that Apple may be planning on discontinuing the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle devices this year.

It seems that the "product transition" Apple mentioned on the last earnings call could very well be within the iPod line. Specifically, if you want to buy an iPod shuffle or iPod classic from Apple, you should do it sooner rather than later. We've heard those two iPods are getting the axe this year.

 

via www.macrumors.com

This makes me sad, since I love the iPod classic form factor and interface. But there's also a practical aspect, which is that iPod Touches only go up to 64gb of capacity, and the rumors indicate that won't change on October 4th.

For people who have lots of music and/or have ripped their music at a high bit rate, it severely limits the amount of music one can carry with you. Although this is something Apple never does, I wish they would license the iPod classic interface to a smaller third party, who could then build high-end iPods for people like me.