Benicio “Che” Del Toro Hates Being Railroaded By The Washington Times – Is That Surprising?

The headline for this Washington Times article (“Del Toro Walks out On ‘Che’ Interview”) is misleading at best.  Personally, I don’t really care for Benicio del Toro – I don’t hate him either – but after reading the article, I felt like I should write about this to point out that Sonny Bunch of the Washington Times is a sneaky bastard.

As a technical writer and instructional designer, I spend my working days creating resources that help people accomplish certain tasks, usually as part of their job.  Just because I am very go0d at writing documentation on accomplishing a particular task – say, making homemade explosives – doesn’t mean that I agree with it.  By that same token, Mr. Del Toro’s portrayal of Ernesto Guevara (which was right on, I hear) doesn’t make him a spokesperson for Che’s ideals.  Why weren’t those same questions asked to someone who had some editorial input on the film – Mr. Soderbergh perhaps?  The point is, these guys were just trying to make a movie.  The goal of a movie is to make lots of money, get its crew paid, and win lots of awards, so it appears that Mr. Soderbergh and Mr. Del Toro have been doing their jobs exceptionally well.

I’m sure when the interview was set up, the expectation was that it would be about the movie, rather than Ernesto Guevara’s historical legacy.  Railroading someone who just came in to talk about their work by making them respond in detail to comments on a historical figure’s unsavory-ness is just bad journalism for the sake of a juicy headline.

According to Sonny,

Mr. Valladares is afraid that Mr. del Toro and Mr. Soderbergh’s film will make people forget the reality that was Che Guevara’s life.

Mr. Bunch y Sr. Valladares, in case you missed the memo, Ernesto Guevara has already been turned into a countercultural hero of sorts.  Just spend a day walking around any major U.S. city while counting the number of hipster kids running around wearing red Che shirts.  There are people in this world that just do things without understanding the reasons why.  Both of you will need to accept that and stop trying to blame the American public’s general historical ignorance on a Puerto Rican actor who just played the guy in a movie.

Y me imagino que esa es la ultima entrevista de Benicio con el Washington Times, porque supuestamente a el no le importa un bledo.  He dicho.

Comedy Tuesday: Good News Day for Substance Abusers

Some bits of news that might make you chuckle:

• File this under “duh” – http://www.boingboing.net/2009/01/26/booze-may-prevent-er.html
• And this one under “irony” – http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/27/1354225

In other news, I continue to receive mailings from Kroger, a major factor in my decision to boycott their stores.   I have also (unsuccessfully) asked the offices of State Farm agents Wayne Shutt and Cleo Meyer to discontinue mailings to my address.

Please bear with me as life becomes interesting enough to blog again.

Kroger – Right Store… For Junk Mail

Hi! It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. Unfortunately, today’s post isn’t all that I wish it could be.

I have decided that this venue is a perfect place to chronicle my battle against junk mail. Although it might not be the most exciting reading, at least you can hear about what happens when you try to stop junk mail from coming to your house.

Today I received not one, but two “shoppers” from Kroger, and since I hate these, I immediately called the number on the front of the mailer, and a delightful young woman picked up wanting to tell me about the Kroger generic medication program.  Her delightfulness quickly evaporated when I asked to be removed from her mailing list.  ”I wonder how that happens…” she said. “Let me make sure I am transferring you to the right department.”

Then she put me on hold.

5 minutes later someone with Kroger Customer Service picked up the phone. When I asked for her to take me off the mailing list, she asked for my zip code and name, then she asked if I had my Kroger Plus card with me. After telling her I didn’t HAVE a Kroger Plus card and that the mail was addressed to “Resident,” she tried to pull it up using my address. Still nothing.

“It must’ve been sent from another division. I’ll send it to them for them to take care of it.” Then she assured me that I would be taken off the list when I asked again.

Tasha promised – I would hold her to it but she couldn’t give me an extension that she could be reached at.  Kroger (“Right Store Right Price”) – if you’re reading – stop it!

Hearst Magazines Sucks

I didn’t renew my subscription and now they sent me the following letter:

“Your delinquent account with us has been brought to our attention for collection. ‘Subscription Suspended for Non Payment’, that’s what our records reflect.”

If I’m not mistaken, this could be classified as bullying… well fuck em, I’m not the first one to think this was messed up. I’m never purchasing another issue of Esquire, Popular Mechanics or SmartMoney ever again.

It’s been a while…

I know.

Lots of work and such.  Will be writing more soon.

Thanks for reading.

Review: Calle 13 – Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo

Thanks to the inexplicable mess of good and bad that is the Internet, I’ve had the opportunity to illegally sear Calle 13’s new album into my brain for a few days now – not that they’d care (see link to Ruben Blades interview at the end).  It been a pleasant surprise to give the record a thorough listen a few days in advance, so I figured I’d write up my thoughts and share with you.

Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo kicks off with a slightly dramatic storytime sort of narrative telling the story of Residente, who only possesses Rene Perez when an imbecil listens to his music.  I guess it’s like Tinkerbell and clapping or something.  The intro is immediately followed by “Que Lloren” – generally aimed at the commercial reggaeton community, who according to Residente, sells itself for “cheaper than a whore on a highway,” and specifically aimed at Ivy Queen.

The record’s high-energy opening track is immediately followed by “No Hay Nadie Como Tu” featuring Cafe Tacvba – the original hispanic indie band.  As a long-time Cave Tacvba fan (since middle school probably…) I was very happy to hear these two unique acts on the same track.  It suprised me how successfully the track balances the individual sounds of both bands – drum machines and didgeridoos somehow mix very well with Cafe Tacvba’s upstroke-based surf tendencies.  The lyrics seem like nonsense at first, however by the time the first chorus rolls around Residente’s point is clear – this is a celebration of uniqueness, diversity, and life, because there is no one quite like you.

“Gringo Latin Funk” (my favorite track at this point) follows up with Residente’s razor sharp tongue taking aim at that most displeasing Puerto Rican stereotype – the “gringo/gringa wannabe.”  The beat starts up with some baritone sax licks with wah-wah guitar, latin percussion, and a fat synth bassline.  The strings and horns kick in soon after, immediately followed by a dem-bow based drum track that blends real and sampled drums.  Also, Residente gets some help on the chorus from his sister PG-13, who is slowly but surely gaining prominence as a member of the group.  As a musician, when I listen to this track I can’t help but feel envious when I imagine how much fun Visitante, Calle 13’s beat man, must have in the studio.

And so on.  I could continue writing about “La Perla” and the kind of musical maturity that kind of recording shows, or about the sheer electroboogie weirdness of “Electro Movimiento” (which makes me wish I knew how to breakdance).  But I won’t.  What I will do is wrap up with this:  Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo shows true musical growth and accomplishment – something that fans and listeners like me will enjoy.  If you are looking for radio-friendly slices of reggaeton, buy another record.

BONUS: If you speak Spanish and are in the mood for an interesting interview, check out this video of Residente and Visitante from Calle 13 kickin it with salsa icon Ruben Blades over a bottle of wine.

And…

Calle 13 – Gringo Latin Funk

The TSA Security Theater

The Atlantic has a great article on the “security theater” that is the Transportation Security Administration.

Just another small way in which “we” have given up our rights and dignity for the sake of “safety” so we can catch “the terrorists” – I can’t help but think we are getting dangerously close to McCarthyism at this point.

Reggae Evangelism: Listen To The Soldiers Of Jah Army (S.O.J.A.)

Every once in a while I get a piece of music stuck in my head that I just have to tell people about.  The Soldiers Of Jah Army (S.O.J.A.) are roots five-piece based out of D.C. / Virginia, and they tell it like it is.

From “Time Come Due” off Peace in a Time of War:

Wake up now people,

we live in a system that keep us unequal

and the education we receive’s falsified

how am I to believe what I hear when what I heard, I know was a lie?

Not only are they fine lyricists, the guys in S.O.J.A. are also incredible songwriters and musicians – they  deliver their powerful messages over tight, in-the-pocket roots reggae grooves that really get my head bobbing.  The judicious use of silence as part of the “Time Come Due” groove (where you can hear the skank immediately after those first two bass + distorted guitar notes) really makes this song breathe, and it also really makes me want to get up and dance.   When it comes to reggae, these guys are simply not fucking around.

Soldiers of Jah Army (S.O.J.A.) – Time Come Due

Why Copy Protection Encourages Piracy

The XKCD comic explains why digital copy protection (also known as Digital Rights Management) encourages piracy.

Memo to John McCain on Overhead Projectors

The device shown above, which is able to reproduce complete images of the night sky in full color AND motion IS NOT THE SAME as an overhead projector.  If you think giving inner-city kids the chance to experience a dark, starlit sky and awaken an interest in math and the sciences classifies as pork barrel spending, you have just proved your senility as well as your ignorance.

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