On the one hand, I'll give you that this essay is well written. You have some nicely turned phrases.

The content of it, however, is way lacking. This strikes me as merely an unearned expression of broad contempt for basically everybody and every damned thing.

Not to be unfriendly, but this kind of thing bristles. It smacks of Ben Folds classic invocation of "unearned unhappiness." It makes one want to ask, "Who the hell are you to look down your nose at everyone and everything?"

Friendly suggestion: try picking out something much more specific to object to, and then give specific objections as to why you're not buying.

Marrying the stereotypical
Cynical Gen Xer 'tude with a stunning lack of content was intended to convey the underlying sociocultural ills related with pop culture.

That said, thank you very much for your time, effort and honest critique. I sincerely appreciate the input and the read.

I don't know about that whole nose-looking-down on everything thing though, I included a number of self-effasive remarks to convey the tongue-in-cheek nature of my post.

Ben Folds might be down with Capitan Kirk, but it will be a cold day on Omicron-Perseii 8 when you hear me say, "Dudes, William Shattner ROCKS!"

Now, Spock is a different story.

:)

ML

*energize*

I'll grant you that Ben Folds' interest in Captain Kirk may be more a perverse emotional indulgence than a visionary artistic pairing.

The best connection between Star Trek and music I've ever heard (aside from Mr. Shatner's foray into lounge history) is a song called "William Shatner" by Long Island, New York-based ska band The Scofflaws.

Oh, was that off topic?

Following in the off-topic mode here.The
coolest Star Trek/Pop Music connection I
can think of is the late great SF garage
band "The Mummies".

They did a song called "Doin' The Kirk"
on their 1st or 2nd LP back in the early
90's. A dance floor stomper about Capt.
James Kirk,man just how cool is that ???

I heard (or just pretended) that in order to make 2005 suck less, Miss Melisande is considering starring in a Women of Blogcritics calender.

I'm sorry, was there actually a topic to stray from here? My bad.

Al, the Melisande only poses sidereal. Grr.

My turn to get off topic...what exactly is ska? I've seen this twice now and I can't figure it out. Guess I really am an idiot!

i like to think of ska as reggae on too much (or maybe just enough) coffee.

fast reggae is maybe a cheap description, but you get the idea.

Thanks Mark.

Ms Luna,

I love you.

And disregard Al's complaints; he doesn't know enough to loathe everyone and everything.

Not yet, anyway.

xxoo
Shark

PS: Do I know you? You sound damn familiar.

"but that my kingdom had one neck so I could behead them all with a single blow..." --- Caligula (Shark's hero when it comes to culture critics)



Shark's Top Ten

I believe that ska actually developed from Calypso music in the Caribbean. It then matured into "rock steady" for a while, but really became "noticed" (in the US, at least) when English bands like The Specials mixed in just enough rock sounds to give us the modern ska sound.

The music itself is a little hard to describe, though Andy did a game job of it. Ska relies on a staccato off-beat guitar rhythm for its signature sound. Think of a pick strumming a guitar: usually you get a down-strum sound and an up-strum sound, right? Now, with ska, on the down-strum sound, instead of letting all the sound ring forth from the strings, the left hand (whose fingers created the notes or chord: and with ska you get a LOT of chords) mutes the strings so you get a THWACK sound instead of an ordinary ringing sound. Then, on the up-stroke the full sound is let out.

Therefore, ska produces a thwack-chord thwack-chord thwack-chord sound, with the chords always filling up the off-beats.

A great example of this sound can be heard on The Specials' "A Message for You, Rudy," also one of the all-time classic ska songs.

I'll have to elevate this post to a full-fledged article at some point. Hope that does a little bit of a job explaining ska.

Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com

I prefer Propaghandi's version of Rudy's Message in their timeless classic, Ska Sucks!

Sharky, I don't believe we've had the pleasure. But I like your style. *grin*

Paradigm shift in t-10, 9, 8 . . .

The funny thing about the internet is that when one desires knowledge on a subject, like ska for instance, there's this nifty little utility called "google." But, alas, it is often easier to burden others for information than it is to type "ska" and click "search."

God Bless America! Would you like fries with that?

Melisande,

There's also a nifty invention called "message board" where people interact, share information, and learn from one another.

Aha! We seem to be in one right now...

OK, if you enjoy leisure time typing out explainations to googlephobes, who am I to say how you spend your dime?

By the way, I enjoyed your knowledgable expansion on the topic and anticipate reading your upcoming essay.

By Bonsai Buckaroo, you mean a vaquero engaged in the cultivation of dwarfed or artistically trained and shaped plants?

The difference between a battle cry and a horticultural pursuit is in a vowel and a consonant.