When I Was French

Between the now successful move to a new host, busy days at the fishtank complete with overtime (easy thing for the part time king), and the arrival of my love – my powerbook g4, I haven’t been blogging properly. Take one of these and call me in the mornin, I should be telling you. I’ll get to the thank you’s and the Powerbook Porno shots tomorrow, today I wanted to tell you bout how my present and my past are linked.

One of the French fishes at the tank decided for all my hard work and all the bla bla bla I have to endure from international students, I deserved to have dinner cooked for me. And she decided she’d do the cooking, and baking I might add! And so I made the trek to that suburb that -I vow- I will never live in. because it’s just NOT Amsterdam when its that far away, and sat down to a meal full of reminiscing.

This because she’s from Marseille, and I studied just outside that city, in Aix-en-Provence, Southern France. But that was a whole 5 years ago, back when every weekend you’d find BM in a different country and I was heartbroken about some feminina back in Jersey. Aix was a ritzy city with cushy programs for foreigners like myself. School shacked me up with a lovely yet quirky madame, probably because we were both veggies or because I myself am quirky.

But I digress, this is about my meal and the conversations about Marseille. We talked and talked. I still remember the street names and the different neighborhoods, 5 years and I still know what goes on all around the Vieux Port. She spoke of the towns we used to invade for the day; St. Tropez, Cassis, and even the poshy-posh Cannes. Some of my memories of those places have spilled over into each other. St. Paul de Vence tastes alot like Grasse. Antibes smells like St. Tropez. Sloppy memory, making a mess.

She had even cooked a few familiar dishes, a very provincial salad, a gateaux, and that cheesebread that I forget the name of. For shame, I’m forgetting names. But one thing for sure, I’m not forgetting that dark city. The mountains of Couscous, the fleet of ships, the Gateway where France meets the wondrous realms of North Africa and the Middle East. Snobs in Aix used to say “Marseille, ce n’est pas la France.” Ah non? I used to respond, well that not-France city over there, overflowing with culture and history, I absolutely love it!

I also met the Mindcaster today. More proof that if you get along online, you’ll have just as many laughs and things to talk about in real life. More on those great conversations in the next podcast.

Today’s Sounds: If I lean in close, I still cant hear I peep from the New Powerbook

tags:,

Dig Deeper

On Tuesday nights, I seek television shows that will wisk me away to a fantasy world of witty humor, indie music, and tormented lovers. It used to be the O.C., but that’s gone, and my old standby is back EVERWOOD. Which sounds like a porno, but isn’t.

Nevermind that, this is actually going to be a serious post goddamit. So sit up in that chair, cause this is big stuff.

If you’ve been round the Communiqu? before, you know that bm is a big critic of media and government. Some might say I’m a cynic, but I prefer to call myself a wacko pinko watchdog. (in private) Because whenever I listen to a politician or consult the media after something tragic happens, they consistantly act like they just landed on earth and have no concept of history or society. I’m talking worldwide here, not just the US or Europe. A terrorist act is committed, they talk revenge. Someone is murdered, they talk severe punishment. Rarely to never, do they ask WHY and WHAT are the conditions in which this thing happenned.

So I’m following this story of the kid who shot classmates and himself on an indian reservation, and silly me, I’ve got this hope about the discussion that will follow. I skim the articles looking for anything about poverty, unemployment, depression, mental illness, alcoholism, or the history of how Native Americans have been treated for generations. And no matter how much I’ve skimmed the last few weeks, I can find barely a shred of such discussion. Lots of boring sad pictures of memorials and people crying. A little bla bla here and there about guns, schools, arrests, and whatever. Same old shit that got us here in the first place.

Chalk it up to another dropped ball. Another clue completely missed. And both a government and a national media who lack any kind of real analytical and investigative tradition. Who the hell votes and reads for these morons?

Course there is hope, besides blogs, there’s this.

Me, I read WRITEHARD.. cause he can tell a tale that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

And Jill/txt wrote one that hit home for me as she was fingerprinted at the gates of the promised land.

Today’s Sounds: Ray Charles – Ultimate Hits Collection (disc2)

EU Urbanites

I could, of course, bla bla bla for days about my trip to Paris. But really I think the weekend post and podcast give you some idea of what it was like. A wonderful mix of old friends, new friends, and adventure.

Paris itself, as you may have heard, is damn expensive. It’s no New York City, but it seems to take after la grande pomme; a super rich rot-your-teeth cup of hot cocoa will taste fantastically delicious, but it will also cost you a good 6 euros. (whats that.. 8 USdollars these days?) But hey, that’s what some hip and beloved cities are for.

Interesting as well are the young people, the 20 something internationals that are a intrical part of the parisien social fabric. Many of which are my friends, it’s quite exciting to be around these young and open-minded professionals who are making their lives in this city, whether it be for a few years or for life. I suppose every city, throughout history, has had these types of go-getters who migrate somewhere for a reason… a mission. Hell, I suspect you reading this might be or will be one of them. (or us) It’s just double fun to see it in Europe, where we have the traditionally well defined language and cultural differences.

Shakespeare and his girlfriend (sorry I have no nickname for her, yet.) have been residents for a few years now, almost like old pros, I bet they would say. And then BlueBerry Girl (pictured) has been in paris for the past 4 months, since leaving lil ol’ me and all her fans, in Amsterdam. She really seems to love or be falling in love with the city already, which makes it all the more cool to learn cool spots and facts from her. She helps handle the world’s bank money, which seems to be such a important and difference-making gig, compared to say — me a fishtank guardian. Someday I should probably work at fixing the world too, I could even podcast while I do it!

So as per request, in email and in person, tomorrow I shall include in my post, a step-by-step of how I podcast. Shit, I feel like I’m giving away grandma’s family recipe for oatmeal cookies. Ah well.. you guys deserve good cookies.

Today’s Sounds: The Brilliant RadioClash Podcast

I hitchhiked here

I took a train… to a train… I started in PAris… and then I was in the middle of fields and dirt and ice.. and I thought to myself “keep walkin man…”

I kept thinking I would just find someone on the street.. and then I did. French lady was just standing there waiting for ther butcher shop to open. But he wasn’t… and so I told her “Je suis completement perdu.” And she thought it was funny.. and my feet/hands/nose/soul were freezing. And then she knocked on a window, and a guy handed her keys, and she drove me to this tiny town. She explained the history of this beautiful area, and she said she used to hitchhike, and so she wanted to help me, and one day I will drive someone as well. I told her I would, only on bike!

And here I sit. with the coolest family ever. LaVacheQuiLit aka MAdame L.. rocks. Oldest Daughter Rocks as well. And well.. everyone in this house… even the walls rock. Not much for choosing adjectives today, am I?

OK, now back to Paris and Ill work on the soundseeing. A plus.

Today’s Sounds: The sounds of the French countryside

ISDHF Featuring: Joe Strummer

It has been awhile since the last I See Dead Historical Figures installment, so today, I’m proud to present a posthumous interview with Clash frontman and music legend Joe Strummer.

BM: Joe, first off, welcome to the blog, and I have to say… I was so shocked and so sad when you died of a coronary in 2002.

JS: Well, I can say this is the first blog I’ve ever been interviewed on, even though I had heard the word back in 2002. I guess I won’t be appearing on too many, being dead and all. And well, as far as my death, I can only say, I didn’t really see it coming. I mean.. until then very end.. then I realized it.. but we’re talking about a matter of seconds. Still I never worried about the future, tried always to live in the present, and well.. shit happens.

BM: I gotta admit, at the time of your death I was very skeptical of your new projects with the Mescaleros, but since then I’ve grown to love each of the albums, especially that last one –Streetcore.

JS: It’s not very surprising.. after all the fame and recognition of the clash, it’s a tough act to follow yeah? But I really felt, and even dead I feel, that each of those albums was a great musical journey, especially Streetcore. Some people don’t want to hear it, they only want the clash, but what can I say, it ended.

BM: Speaking of the Clash, any final thoughts about the legacy and that time in your life?

JS: I didn’t need to die to realize it was a great ride. It made me an icon, I’ve got no illusions about that. But that fucking record label and their ridiculous contract made, and still make, artists into slaves. I’m sure you heard what I went through to get out of that contract yeah? — GENERAL STRIKE — for nine years.

BM: And you ran in the Paris Marathon… not bad.

JS: Yeah.. that was a hell of a time.

BM: Your music taught me alot about politics Joe, especially about the cold war and the secret objectives of the American and Soviet governments around the world. Anything to say about politics today?

JS: Well you should definitely not turn to me for all your history lessons. What went on wasn’t a big secret, except that it was buried or ignored by people and the press. Watching politics today is like watching a rerun. Terrorism isn’t new, and neither is this cold war part 2 they’ve started. Hell even most of the actors are the same. Its a crime how history repeats itself.

BM: Before I end this interview, I wanted to compliment you on that recording of redemption song with Jonny Cash.. its beautiful.

JS: I also felt pretty lucky to get to do that with him. And if you’re curious, being that we’re both dead, we’ve lots of time to jam together.

BM: Fantastic. If you release any zombie records, let me know. And hey.. thanks alot for doing this Joe… we miss you.. the world I mean.

JS: Not a problem. This blog and podcast world is very interesting, especially since the dead can finally get involved. We’ve been waiting for something like this for a long time.

——–
There you have it…. one of my most favorite people ever.

Today’s Sounds: Accident Hash Podcast

Act natural

I was at the controls of the fishtank when SHE walked in. If I keep eyes on the LCD display, I can’t actually see who is walking in, but I can sense it. Especially when its someone who looks and smells as good as she would. My mystery girl, who for the past six months had been the highlight of my workday. I swear she purposely chose a seat that offered a chance to steal glances my way. And sure enough… she’d catch me looking at her and vice-versa. We enjoyed those moments, and it seemed an unspoken agreement that we’d leave it like that.

That is until.. we broke the rules. Maybe it was the landing on Titan, or the rising of ocean, but for some reason, we spoke to each other. Starting with those magical words she spoke “hi”. I tried to think of something suave… so I responded “hi.” What followed involves alot of blushing, staring at the floor, and fidgeting. Eventually a real conversation ensued… and then came the inevitable: Mystery girl was glad to finally talk to me, but she was leaving the next day for good. Where was she heading, you may ask…. THAILAND.

Yeah.. Thailand.. I was all “don’t tell me.. you’re going to help with the relief effort!” thinking mystery girl was good hearted as she was beautiful. But NAY… she gave me one of those smiles that could turn winter into summer and said “I’m going on vacation.” This brought alot of questions from me… and a larger issue, the whole “best thing to do after a disaster is to get back to normal life… go shopping” philosphy. She explained, and I understand to some extent, that she had booked it long ago, and after careful reflection, she felt it was good for Thailand that the tourists come back, so why not her… now.

What a fucked up world, I tend to think. Which functions in such a system that says, the best way to recover from tragedy and move forward, is to go out and spend money. I know economically it somehow makes sense… but it doesn’t it feel creepy and wrong ? Does to me sometimes. I wouldn’t be able to just, go lay out in the sun of Phuket while hundreds of thousands have just died in one of the worst tragedies in the history of the world. For some reason I’d have trouble spreading suntan lotion on my European-American pale skin, when just a few minutes away, families are desperate for water and food to fall from the sky.

I guess that’s where the mystery girls of the world step in. They have the courage to get past my guilt, and go look beautiful on the beaches of south asia, while putting money into the tourist dependent economy. Hooray.

PS– If you had asked me oh mystery girl… I’d have gone with you.

Today’s Sounds: Radio Clash Podcast