Premise:
Cohn,
Gonnet and Sandone LLP present "Drinking a lot at various locations", in
co-celebration of Joe and Jonathan successfully wandering into a third
decade.
While not Cohn's birthday specifically, his involvement
stems from the unassailable truth that one does not simply survive a
life of clumsy blasphemy and disorganized theory without having a Jew to
help finance and litigate away one's existence. This party is to honor
him, as well.
Time:
On
Saturday, November 24th (the Saturday that directly follows
Thanksgiving) we are going to host a mobile, outdoor bender which starts
at 12:00PM and will run until 8:00AM the following Sunday.
Road map:
For this ill-advised venture we have thrown in a clever little wrinkle
which we think is a value-add for our prospective guests. Because we
understand that not everyone has 20 hours with which to waste in heavy
drink and harassment of our fair city, and because we realize not
everyone has the bandwidth, stamina or alcoholic disabilities that
enables one to booze for such an extended period of time, we've taken
the liberty of creating a Google .doc spreadsheet to assist and promote
attendance.
This spreadsheet will allow the prospective
party-goer to see, as a running itinerary updated in real-time, exactly
what bar or festive locale the traveling caravan is at any given hour.
Further, the invited guest will be able to track location and activity
which we hope empowers the guest to pick and choose- based on either
schedule availability or interest- when and where they want to join our
existential soiree.
If you have received this and are excited
to attend (in some aspect) please message me your email address so that I
can follow up in the next day or so with an invite to the read only
document.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Democracy is not my standard.
If the state is a temporary establishment in the development of human society,
an idea with which I follow and agree, then we who make up society are
doing each other a great disservice by abandoning almost all study and research
into political science.
People, as a species, are genetically hardwired to respond and act towards an incentive or reward. Individually, you see this phenomenon in the hard-wiring of human brain chemistry and with the “reward center” and, collectively, it is expressed through the external and material rewards of society. In America, we have created a political environment so toxic and ignorant -- so full of cruel, close-minded and mediocre, small people -- that our greatest and most able thinkers, instead of trying to understand and best a bunch of moron's in what amounts to some perverse idiot pageant, have completely abandoned the subject of political (and, arguably, economic) theory. And what has that left us with? Individual autodidacts going on tangents on a blog, a 200 year old, bastardized form of government that, while admittedly responsible and effective in hyper-local settings, in 2013 is woefully inadequate and laughably archaic, and the "Tea-Party" movement. Hey, at least those dorks are trying, I guess.
America (not to say anything of mankind) has a remarkably decorated laundry
list of accomplishments in the realms of science, mathematics, and technology.
By and large we have told our finest thinkers, and at an early age, you will be
rewarded by society if you can achieve in the aforementioned fields; if find a cure of AIDs, if you can discover the
Higgs Boson, or if you can create a social media platform, so is it any wonder
that is what they set out to do? Unquestionably, we have reaped the benefits of our
greatest thinkers and will continue to do so for generations- nobody will argue
the societal gains and value- but why have discouraged investigation into matters of individual and societal relationships and freedom. Why have we discouraged the investigation of the relationship between the state and man and how we can improve on the various structures we have developed and implemented since the time of ancient city states?
Imagine if we were to take the same academic
and practical approach to science and technology that we have largely taken
with philosophy, both generally and politically speaking. We would have created the
horse and buggy, declared it to be the most definitive mode of
transportation ever, anointed it "God's will", we would have sold the idea
(and the horse and buggy very cheaply) to the vox populi and stagnated on that idea so that 200 years later we would find we are an even larger society who is without the luxury of the
resources or an environment with which to sustain a horse and buggy culture. That is
what we have effectively done with respect to Democracy:
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people" forever, no matter what, to infinity, no take-backs so don't even try to conjure up a better system or you are a traitorous racist who can find somewhere else to live."
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people" forever, no matter what, to infinity, no take-backs so don't even try to conjure up a better system or you are a traitorous racist who can find somewhere else to live."
My worry for a better future for my kids is not the "impending financial doom" or the "debt crisis" or any number of other silly constructs the talking heads crow about to draw up fear, it is only that they might live in a nation and in a society that is (over)populated with too much "fat part" of the bell curve who represent the simple and sad cretins, content to
continue on the status quo who willfully exist without a critical thinking bone in their body. A people
who while more complicated than cattle are just as immovable when confused and dug in and a people who make movement, and by virtue progress, impossible.
Do I have a favorable alternative or at least the rough sketch of what one looks like? No. I have spent many years "working hard" to "provide for my family" and "be a good dad" and rationalizing that's good enough work and socially responsible and respectable. It's not, it's self-limiting and pathetic and wholly my own fault.
Is Anarchy the answer to a better world and society?
Probably not (at least not for people like you when there is a sizable amount of guys like me out here), but I am hopeful there will be a time soon when at least people aren’t upbraided for asking the
question of what is and the pursuit thereof.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
White Boi Swag
Recently I have found, through my clumsy and rudimentary experimentation, that learned behaviors and human skills have more than
one use.
For example, I have found that the skill needed to put a baby to sleep (read: be a good father) is the same skill needed to make a woman orgasm (read: be a good lover) which fundamentally translates to the awareness of bodily rhythm and the ability to sustain it longer than thought possible.
Namely, the ability to keep rhythm, at any pace, when you've come to the realization that you have found the sweet spot and not “geek” yourself into slipping up (the human mind can be a self-defeating instrument) and inadvertently changing your motion and sustained rhythm.
This difficult pattern suggests more than just the brute and brawn needed to rock a baby or pound a vagina, this of course implies all of that, plus another trait, the evolved brain of a modern alpha male:
He that is both the archetypical and fabled Sex God and Lover, but also the newly formed and created Modern Dad.
For example, I have found that the skill needed to put a baby to sleep (read: be a good father) is the same skill needed to make a woman orgasm (read: be a good lover) which fundamentally translates to the awareness of bodily rhythm and the ability to sustain it longer than thought possible.
Namely, the ability to keep rhythm, at any pace, when you've come to the realization that you have found the sweet spot and not “geek” yourself into slipping up (the human mind can be a self-defeating instrument) and inadvertently changing your motion and sustained rhythm.
This difficult pattern suggests more than just the brute and brawn needed to rock a baby or pound a vagina, this of course implies all of that, plus another trait, the evolved brain of a modern alpha male:
He that is both the archetypical and fabled Sex God and Lover, but also the newly formed and created Modern Dad.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
On Living a Life Without Meaning
On Living A Life Without Meaning:
Let's assume someone is not religious and does not believe in a Western God or a variation of the Savior myth (or someone is sufficiently skeptical to dismiss the payoff of heaven).
Why would one who does NOT want to A) investigate life with an eye for observation, in an effort to advance human understanding, scientifically and/or technologically, B ) does not want to participate and add anything meaningful to the human conversation with original creations of art, music, literature, or otherwise, C) does not want to procreate in order to add resources and prolong the human experiment and, C) does not, at least, find value in the sensory pleasures of the fruits of man's labor thus far, rich foods, booze and merriment, porn and easy sex, etc., want to go through the motions to sustain life?
It would seem as if that person would just be biding time, meaninglessly working and eating and sleeping and generally trudging about, before they sighed their last breath. It would seem that if, after an honest and thorough evaluation, of course, one were to deem that their life was more work and cost than it was worth and beneficial, would the most efficient and rational course of action, then, be to just, how do you say it nicely, unplug yourself from the game?
We regard the suicidal as irrational and mentally ill, but what about the man who exists with no merit? Wouldn't it be easier for the apathetic to save time? Doesn't it seem much more irrational, instead, to waste 70+ years putting fuel in your body to, not participate, but to watch people, like human isotopes, electrons, and ions, interact and share and grow and (brain) chemically change in this big test tube we inhabit?
Let's assume someone is not religious and does not believe in a Western God or a variation of the Savior myth (or someone is sufficiently skeptical to dismiss the payoff of heaven).
Why would one who does NOT want to A) investigate life with an eye for observation, in an effort to advance human understanding, scientifically and/or technologically, B ) does not want to participate and add anything meaningful to the human conversation with original creations of art, music, literature, or otherwise, C) does not want to procreate in order to add resources and prolong the human experiment and, C) does not, at least, find value in the sensory pleasures of the fruits of man's labor thus far, rich foods, booze and merriment, porn and easy sex, etc., want to go through the motions to sustain life?
It would seem as if that person would just be biding time, meaninglessly working and eating and sleeping and generally trudging about, before they sighed their last breath. It would seem that if, after an honest and thorough evaluation, of course, one were to deem that their life was more work and cost than it was worth and beneficial, would the most efficient and rational course of action, then, be to just, how do you say it nicely, unplug yourself from the game?
We regard the suicidal as irrational and mentally ill, but what about the man who exists with no merit? Wouldn't it be easier for the apathetic to save time? Doesn't it seem much more irrational, instead, to waste 70+ years putting fuel in your body to, not participate, but to watch people, like human isotopes, electrons, and ions, interact and share and grow and (brain) chemically change in this big test tube we inhabit?
Friday, February 1, 2013
Good Grief!
One time, a while ago, I was really hungover on the couch.
Not your typical "woe-is-me-I-feel-like-shit" hangover where some lapsed time, hydration and a nap cures what ails you, but one of those states of general malaise that rocks your worldview to the core. Paranoia, anxiety and confusion are the rules of that day and a man's only recourse is to grin and bear it and orgasm in one way or another.
When a man's condition is perverted to such extremes, brief moments of lucid thoughts and experiences explode like epiphanies. Well, it just so happened that as I lay on my couch - that worn, leather deathbed - in the background babysitting my children was a Charlie Brown musical and I heard a song. I had such a moment.
I heard this brief song and I thought of what foundational and deep wonders the Peanut mythology held. I perked up and felt alive.
My person -- my genius, as the Greeks called it (not the pedestrian definition we use nowadays) -- was moved. A two minute song perfect in juxtaposition; innocent children of the nuclear 50's playing a tragic masterpiece under the Gothic, pained harmony of that bitch Lucy.
I say all that to say, just now my kids and I got to share that same moment. This came on and we all, as if prompted, shut the fuck up and experienced.
I hope it meant as much to them as it did me.
Not your typical "woe-is-me-I-feel-like-shit" hangover where some lapsed time, hydration and a nap cures what ails you, but one of those states of general malaise that rocks your worldview to the core. Paranoia, anxiety and confusion are the rules of that day and a man's only recourse is to grin and bear it and orgasm in one way or another.
When a man's condition is perverted to such extremes, brief moments of lucid thoughts and experiences explode like epiphanies. Well, it just so happened that as I lay on my couch - that worn, leather deathbed - in the background babysitting my children was a Charlie Brown musical and I heard a song. I had such a moment.
I heard this brief song and I thought of what foundational and deep wonders the Peanut mythology held. I perked up and felt alive.
My person -- my genius, as the Greeks called it (not the pedestrian definition we use nowadays) -- was moved. A two minute song perfect in juxtaposition; innocent children of the nuclear 50's playing a tragic masterpiece under the Gothic, pained harmony of that bitch Lucy.
I say all that to say, just now my kids and I got to share that same moment. This came on and we all, as if prompted, shut the fuck up and experienced.
I hope it meant as much to them as it did me.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Death in Venice - A Review
Death in Venice, while being a relatively short read, set in a short
amount of time and on limited geography, was a pretty dense and, at
times, emotionally exhausting read.
A few prerequisites to thoroughly enjoying Death in Venice:
• A firm understanding and working knowledge of Greek mythology, which is a prevailing motif peppered on almost every page from the beginning until the end.
• Experience with archaic, out-of-date language. While legitimately impressive, it could also be a deterrent if the one who is reading does not have a particularly robust vocabulary. I stopped and looked up at least a half dozen words, so I can imagine the frustration to a layman trying to plod his way through. But, it’s not Mann’s fault and it isn’t a mark against his writing and novella. It’s almost as if he was just on the unfortunate end of history, like he was using the “Betamax” dialect of 1800’s language because a lot of his vocabulary was defined as “archaic” or “dated” or “out of use” or otherwise EOL’ed.
• Speaking of being on the unfortunate end of history, when you boil it down the book is about a 50-something man’s smoldering and sexual lust for a 14 year old boy. It takes you into the mind, and really the downward journey, of a pedophile. It’s a fascinating look at how “innocent” pederasty begins, as a germ in a discontented, repressed, and, although decorated as an artist and writer, wholly average man and leaves you guessing at just how far down the rabbit hole our protagonist would fall had outside events not interfered
All in all, it was a good book once you got adjusted to the style. He was good, not great, at imagery; he put a lot of effort in trying to get the sounds and, especially, smells off the page and for the most part succeeded. I feel like Death in Venice, with its somber, grayed tone, setting, and homosexuality was an influence on The Talented Mr. Ripley -- I wouldn't be surprised to read that. That being said, in its style, language and aspirations, while not poor, it was an austere man’s less interesting imitation of E.A. Poe.
Not that I am a literary critic and my reviews are the definitive take on the particular subject as it’s just one man’s perspective, but I like to critically think about literature as an art form and I hope that helps answer your question!
A few prerequisites to thoroughly enjoying Death in Venice:
• A firm understanding and working knowledge of Greek mythology, which is a prevailing motif peppered on almost every page from the beginning until the end.
• Experience with archaic, out-of-date language. While legitimately impressive, it could also be a deterrent if the one who is reading does not have a particularly robust vocabulary. I stopped and looked up at least a half dozen words, so I can imagine the frustration to a layman trying to plod his way through. But, it’s not Mann’s fault and it isn’t a mark against his writing and novella. It’s almost as if he was just on the unfortunate end of history, like he was using the “Betamax” dialect of 1800’s language because a lot of his vocabulary was defined as “archaic” or “dated” or “out of use” or otherwise EOL’ed.
• Speaking of being on the unfortunate end of history, when you boil it down the book is about a 50-something man’s smoldering and sexual lust for a 14 year old boy. It takes you into the mind, and really the downward journey, of a pedophile. It’s a fascinating look at how “innocent” pederasty begins, as a germ in a discontented, repressed, and, although decorated as an artist and writer, wholly average man and leaves you guessing at just how far down the rabbit hole our protagonist would fall had outside events not interfered
All in all, it was a good book once you got adjusted to the style. He was good, not great, at imagery; he put a lot of effort in trying to get the sounds and, especially, smells off the page and for the most part succeeded. I feel like Death in Venice, with its somber, grayed tone, setting, and homosexuality was an influence on The Talented Mr. Ripley -- I wouldn't be surprised to read that. That being said, in its style, language and aspirations, while not poor, it was an austere man’s less interesting imitation of E.A. Poe.
Not that I am a literary critic and my reviews are the definitive take on the particular subject as it’s just one man’s perspective, but I like to critically think about literature as an art form and I hope that helps answer your question!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
A Rap Enthusiast's Top 10
1. Biggie Smalls. He was born with the gift of gab. Just a big, fat,
motherfucker who was blessed with the voice of a generation. Not much
needs to be said: The GOAT.
2. Nas. Nas is a more cerebral Biggie Smalls. If you listen to enough of his music you will come around to the acceptance of my theory that he is brilliant and probably has the highest IQ of all rappers. (apologies to OutKast fanboi's because, while Andre3Stacks is the most creative and artistic of any rapper- he's a craft artist, if you will- Nas is intellectual horsepower.)
3. Tupac. Tupac, while not being the most technically sound and talented rapper, had pure, unadulterated passion. In fact, I would argue that NOBODY ever rapped with more integrity. This motherfucker made the conscious decision to truly and wholly embody his music and, I would argue, traded his life for a higher calling- that of his art. He created and threw himself into "Thug Life" and truly lived like there was no tomorrow. With Tupac I'm reminded of the old ham and egg breakfast idiom:
"When it comes to a bacon and egg breakfast, the Chicken is involved, but the Pig is committed" and 'Pac was committed! He was an artist's artist and while I don't think most of his music aged well, he gets my highest respect and honor.
4. Ghostface Killah. This is a controversial pick for some, but I feel he has a true talent and is the closest to "Rapper/Warrior Poet". His unique brand of "stream-of-consciousness" is fascinating and stretches the listener (a lot of that is his unique delivery and slang as well, but not to be discounted).
Beyond all that, I don't think there is a rapper, save maybe 50 cent for about 6 months, who has ever commanded more tacit fear and I think it's largely because his music his full of testosterone and adrenaline, like raw meat.
5. Jay-Z- While it is my opinion that someone of his tenure and visibility (and discography) should have way more tier 1 songs, he is one of the best technical rappers. It makes sense after all, he followed and was close to Biggie. He is lyrically very strong and while he may not be a lot of people's favorites not mentioning him in the top 10 I think is fallacy.
6. Eminem- Eminem is an example, to me, of what happens when hard work and practice meets a unique perspective, story and style. Eminem could have sold out and been a bitch, but he made the decision early in his career to keep his music on the cutting edge (stylistically- not so much shock lyrics) and it worked. His unique style- not rhyming ABAB or AABB, but multi-syllabification within verses (eg. "Whatever 'happened to 'catching a good ol 'fashioned 'asswhoopin and getting your shoes,coat and hat took'en) is ground-breaking.
7. Controversial pick - Fabulous. I know his first exposure (and last to most music fans) was that pussy ass holla back song, but Fab is hands down the best punch line rapper ever. Cannibus, Cassidy, Ludacris- eat your hearts out. Lyrically, he does the most twists and turns and is clever enough to extend metaphors for multiple bars. If the rappers above are great literary titans, Fab is like the intellectual satirist.
8. T.I. - I generally fancy music that glorifies violence, misogamy, drugs, and glory and while there are grimier and more raw rappers that embody those ideals, T.I.P. birthed them in the South. I think what makes T.I. great is that his best music all has the message, by way of subtext and underlying themes, of hope. He reminds me a lot of Tupac and I think, if he doesn't quite elicit the same emotion and following with his fan/populace/constituents, when it comes to actual rapping, he is better.
9. Juvenile- I contend that 400 Degreez might be the greatest debut album ever. Juvenile, like carcinogenic cellular mutations in the human body and Mother Nature, just doesn't give a fuck and won't be denied. I feel like all men are born with a purpose. Most men use resistance and excuses to wallow in mediocrity and deny themselves the passion in their heart until it doesn't exist. Juvenile was a born rapper and nothing- not the death of his kids, bankruptcy, fraud- will deny him. Without rap Juvenile would cease to exist on this earth and I feel that manifests through his music. I think in 20-30 years we will all understand his genius and celebrate his entire catalog.
10. Lil Wayne- I think Wayne in TC1-TC3 (and all his mix-tapes) deserves to be in the top 10. His experimentation and exploitation of that time was remarkable in that he truly mastered his craft and could invoke his message, his journey, his being, in each and every song from 2004-2008. It has become chic to forget those days but I think eventually time will do him justice. In fact, I think Lil Wayne will be one of those who commits suicide because as the drugs, fame and fortune wear off, he will wake up in a stupor to realize that he sold out his art and is an empty man who spawned fagets like Drake and Niki Menage
2. Nas. Nas is a more cerebral Biggie Smalls. If you listen to enough of his music you will come around to the acceptance of my theory that he is brilliant and probably has the highest IQ of all rappers. (apologies to OutKast fanboi's because, while Andre3Stacks is the most creative and artistic of any rapper- he's a craft artist, if you will- Nas is intellectual horsepower.)
3. Tupac. Tupac, while not being the most technically sound and talented rapper, had pure, unadulterated passion. In fact, I would argue that NOBODY ever rapped with more integrity. This motherfucker made the conscious decision to truly and wholly embody his music and, I would argue, traded his life for a higher calling- that of his art. He created and threw himself into "Thug Life" and truly lived like there was no tomorrow. With Tupac I'm reminded of the old ham and egg breakfast idiom:
"When it comes to a bacon and egg breakfast, the Chicken is involved, but the Pig is committed" and 'Pac was committed! He was an artist's artist and while I don't think most of his music aged well, he gets my highest respect and honor.
4. Ghostface Killah. This is a controversial pick for some, but I feel he has a true talent and is the closest to "Rapper/Warrior Poet". His unique brand of "stream-of-consciousness" is fascinating and stretches the listener (a lot of that is his unique delivery and slang as well, but not to be discounted).
Beyond all that, I don't think there is a rapper, save maybe 50 cent for about 6 months, who has ever commanded more tacit fear and I think it's largely because his music his full of testosterone and adrenaline, like raw meat.
5. Jay-Z- While it is my opinion that someone of his tenure and visibility (and discography) should have way more tier 1 songs, he is one of the best technical rappers. It makes sense after all, he followed and was close to Biggie. He is lyrically very strong and while he may not be a lot of people's favorites not mentioning him in the top 10 I think is fallacy.
6. Eminem- Eminem is an example, to me, of what happens when hard work and practice meets a unique perspective, story and style. Eminem could have sold out and been a bitch, but he made the decision early in his career to keep his music on the cutting edge (stylistically- not so much shock lyrics) and it worked. His unique style- not rhyming ABAB or AABB, but multi-syllabification within verses (eg. "Whatever 'happened to 'catching a good ol 'fashioned 'asswhoopin and getting your shoes,coat and hat took'en) is ground-breaking.
7. Controversial pick - Fabulous. I know his first exposure (and last to most music fans) was that pussy ass holla back song, but Fab is hands down the best punch line rapper ever. Cannibus, Cassidy, Ludacris- eat your hearts out. Lyrically, he does the most twists and turns and is clever enough to extend metaphors for multiple bars. If the rappers above are great literary titans, Fab is like the intellectual satirist.
8. T.I. - I generally fancy music that glorifies violence, misogamy, drugs, and glory and while there are grimier and more raw rappers that embody those ideals, T.I.P. birthed them in the South. I think what makes T.I. great is that his best music all has the message, by way of subtext and underlying themes, of hope. He reminds me a lot of Tupac and I think, if he doesn't quite elicit the same emotion and following with his fan/populace/constituents, when it comes to actual rapping, he is better.
9. Juvenile- I contend that 400 Degreez might be the greatest debut album ever. Juvenile, like carcinogenic cellular mutations in the human body and Mother Nature, just doesn't give a fuck and won't be denied. I feel like all men are born with a purpose. Most men use resistance and excuses to wallow in mediocrity and deny themselves the passion in their heart until it doesn't exist. Juvenile was a born rapper and nothing- not the death of his kids, bankruptcy, fraud- will deny him. Without rap Juvenile would cease to exist on this earth and I feel that manifests through his music. I think in 20-30 years we will all understand his genius and celebrate his entire catalog.
10. Lil Wayne- I think Wayne in TC1-TC3 (and all his mix-tapes) deserves to be in the top 10. His experimentation and exploitation of that time was remarkable in that he truly mastered his craft and could invoke his message, his journey, his being, in each and every song from 2004-2008. It has become chic to forget those days but I think eventually time will do him justice. In fact, I think Lil Wayne will be one of those who commits suicide because as the drugs, fame and fortune wear off, he will wake up in a stupor to realize that he sold out his art and is an empty man who spawned fagets like Drake and Niki Menage
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