Happy is the new Moody

Horoscopes For Today: 12/5/2005
A friend in need may be a friend indeed, but
this can also mean they're a pain in the behind. While it may be slightly
excruciating, you yourself will need to exercise your patience muscle when it
comes to platonic relationships now. If they need to vent about work, or their
honey, or the price of gas -- and vent, and vent -- it's your duty to make
sympathetic noises, at least for a certain amount of time.

Oh come on now, it’s Monday.


The Beat: I am at this moment listening to the new Matisyahu “Live at Stubbs” album. You are probably not. Particularly if you shop at the Beat. I have come to the understanding that the Beat only sells music that either no one listens to –or- everyone listens to. There is no middle ground here. No little niche for people like me who listen to more or less off the wall stuff. I have never once in my entire life walked into the Beat with a certain album in mind and walked out with anything other than a frown on my face. I thought this place was supposed to cater to ‘rarer’ finds. Apparently only if ‘rarer’ is disco and comes in vinyl. In any event, this was one album that I would have actually paid for had I been able to find it when I looked. Using the scientific method here I have come to the conclusion that the Beat contributes to illegal downloading. (Yes, I will use any excuse I can to justify my downloading habits and no force on earth can make me feel guilty about it.)
Update: Yesterday on the radio the DJ person announced that this album is simply impossible to find in Sacramento or anywhere else. If you want to purchase it online you will have to look really hard and be willing to put down at least $25. Ok, Beat, I’ll let you slide this time. But what about that time I was desperately trying to find the soundtrack for ‘The Secretary’? Where were you for me then, Beat?

Passion: Speaking of Matisyahu, I will have to come out and just admit that I have a big, fat crush on him. Listening to the album is one thing, but you have to watch the video for “King Without a Crown”. Trust me. You can find it on the website at http://www.hasidicreggae.com. First, I have to say because people have asked me this: Yes – I know he is singing about God. And yes, for the record I am an atheist. Many people equate atheism to anti-religion. This is not the case. Well, actually, for many unenlightened people I suppose it is. But it is not the case for me. I actually envy those who can believe in religion and am not really ‘anti-religion’. I do think it’s rather misguided and possibly not very smart, but I am not here to judge. It’s not my fault; blame science for proving to me what church cannot.
Back to the point – here is this very traditional looking Hassidic Jew, which to me and my unreligious uneducated mind brings thoughts of things like darkened rooms and chanting. And here is this guy – stage diving. It’s a huge juxtaposition of images for me. I kept thinking, “Is his yarmulke going to fall off?”
The point here is this – this guy really turns me on. Why? His passion. He is so passionate about his beliefs and you can hear it in his voice and he is jumping into a crowd and shouting it at the top of his lungs and he is happy. Happy is sexy. Happy is the new moody.

People who walk without moving their arms: People who walk without swinging their arms freak me out. Enough said.