Real DJs Don’t Take Requests
Even as I’ve mulled this line over in my head I already know the problems with it, the problems with me. It’s an old school issue; it’s a longing for the days that I went to clubs to hear the DJ play music I wasn’t hearing anywhere else. I’ve asked myself often this new year, “What’s the draw? Why would I want to spend several hours in a night club?” Ironically enough, with Philadelphia’s newly enacted smoking ban, THIS is the time to be in night clubs, (for me anyway as a non-smoker). I think I should be excited about returning to these cool spaces of nocturnal congregation, now smoke free, but I just can no longer, in my mind justify the time.
This, quite possibly is a sign of “getting old.” Although my friend is much more diplomatic, telling me my attitude is more, “been there, done that.”
More and more I am going to events where the “D” in DJ means digital, rather than disk – even compact disk – but, I tell myself, it’s not about the delivery system is it! It’s about the music. Do most people care if their beer comes from a keg or a bottle or a can? (Pass me a bottle please.) And as for the new tech DJs, I completely understand not wanting to lug crates full of vinyl from gig to gig. Even turntablism (the art of scratching, mixing, fading, cutting and all that, for those who STILL don’t know) has been adapted to a digital platform.
The Capricorn Party was fantastic! Despite the Eagles loss to the New Orleans Saints, I had a great time with family and friends. I have to give props to the DJs for coming through and playing some music for us to dance to. Their taste in music and their skills, (with a few exceptions) fluctuated between adequate and substandard. They set up a laptop, that was connected to the internet for “instant” downloads and a couple of CD decks. The practicality of it is not lost on my pragmatic side, but there was something missing. I think it was the soul and knowledge and love of the music that was missing from these guys’ performance. I think I can tell when a DJ is playing a track he/she’s only casually acquainted with, (via the radio of download or compilation CD). Pushing buttons on a computer doesn’t have the same organic mood as cuing a record or matching the beats and bringing it into the flow.
I’d say the years 1995 to about 2002, maybe 2003 were Philadelphia Golden Years for DJs. This is when things peaked. This is when people were excited and it seemed that every new restaurant was staying open past meals hours and setting up turntables on the edge of the bar. Some venues found the DJ draw to be worth building a DJ booth and hiring talent to spin and entertain patrons five out of seven days a week. However as with any phenomenon too many people started getting into the game and the market reached its saturation point. I knew it was ending when I’d hear the same tracks being played in different venues on the same night. I knew it was ending when I heard DJs playing tracks from others DJs’ (popular) sets. You know, when you walk into a club and hear music and you say, “That’s sounds like DJ A1,” and it’s DJ 4F, playing stuff he/she heard elsewhere.
They may already have digital juke boxes installed somewhere, I haven’t encountered them yet, perhaps it’s an issue of copy rights. If they are not already out there they are certainly coming. Look no further than your hard drive for the prototype. Imagine that consol on the wall of your favorite public house with so many choices they aren’t listed, but searched. You put your dollar in and you can play maybe 6 tracks, all digitally stored in a hard drive, maybe on the premises or maybe not. That’s what I see coming, (if, like I say it’s not already out there, I don’t get out much.)
Technology and diversity are two of my favorite things, however when one has virtually unlimited access and one is trying to please a diverse audience, it’s rather difficult for one to be exclusive. Indeed the concepts of diversity and exclusivity are diametrically opposed. Look no further than the wedding DJ who must be prepared to please, musically at least, the tastes of four or five generations; he/she may be asked to play anything from the Mills Brothers to Stephanie Mills to The Beatles to the English Beat to Modern English to a modern mashup or hip-hop remix. There’s no way for him/her to plan and execute an exclusive continuous set.
Real DJs don’t take requests, and savvy club kids don’t make them. Come to the party for the vibe, the music is part of that vibe, if you want to hear your favorite pop song, go turn on your radio or plug in your iPod, if you want to change the vibe or create your own, get your music and equipment together and start your own night at a venue somewhere, you might just find yourself building an audience, competing with a juke box or karaoke machine, or, as one DJ confessed of Nelly’s “Hot In Here” playing the same track three separate times in a single night.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Priests in Trash: Bizarro Dream 11207
Priests in Trash: Bizarro Dream 11207
Friday’s workout was devastating! After walking to the gym and working the first three back/trapz/shoulders stations as super-sets, balancing the rest with a muscle confusion technique and walking home, (I stopped for food which I never got around to cooking), I passed out on the floor for 80 minutes, then went back to sleep in my bed for 30.
Half an hour later I wake up with the phrase “Priests in Trash,” on my mind. What happened in the dream was that the archdiocese got into the sanitation business because of all the problems they’d had with lawsuits. They were out in their frocks and collars removing debris from in front of houses.
At some other point in this series of dreams I find myself sleeping on the floor of my room. It’s much bigger than in real life. I sense a presence; I open my eyes and see the silhouette of a woman rimmed in the moonlight. She looks familiar. I am awakened with a kiss, I kiss back and in between smooches I tell the unidentified woman, “I was hoping it was you.” We kiss for a while longer and then she leaves – get this – through secret exit in the wall next to the radiator. [Okay all you dream analysts out there… is this a secret love or forbidden lover?]
I can hear her traveling through the secret passages. I get up to find that my bedroom door is open, so I look around to see if Mojito (Stazja’s cat) has wandered in. He hasn’t. He’s waiting in the hall crouched, but there’s a collie in the hall with him. [We had a toy-collie named, you guessed it, Lassie, when I was a child.] I heard loud snoring, real loud. Then I hear my sister call out, “Pearl, Pearl!” [I work with a woman named Pearl at the gym. I don’t know whether she snores or not.]
Sometime later I am asking Xavion is he knew there were secret passages in [someplace, probably] the house. Later, which was actually sooner than I’d hoped, I woke up.
Friday’s workout was devastating! After walking to the gym and working the first three back/trapz/shoulders stations as super-sets, balancing the rest with a muscle confusion technique and walking home, (I stopped for food which I never got around to cooking), I passed out on the floor for 80 minutes, then went back to sleep in my bed for 30.
Half an hour later I wake up with the phrase “Priests in Trash,” on my mind. What happened in the dream was that the archdiocese got into the sanitation business because of all the problems they’d had with lawsuits. They were out in their frocks and collars removing debris from in front of houses.
At some other point in this series of dreams I find myself sleeping on the floor of my room. It’s much bigger than in real life. I sense a presence; I open my eyes and see the silhouette of a woman rimmed in the moonlight. She looks familiar. I am awakened with a kiss, I kiss back and in between smooches I tell the unidentified woman, “I was hoping it was you.” We kiss for a while longer and then she leaves – get this – through secret exit in the wall next to the radiator. [Okay all you dream analysts out there… is this a secret love or forbidden lover?]
I can hear her traveling through the secret passages. I get up to find that my bedroom door is open, so I look around to see if Mojito (Stazja’s cat) has wandered in. He hasn’t. He’s waiting in the hall crouched, but there’s a collie in the hall with him. [We had a toy-collie named, you guessed it, Lassie, when I was a child.] I heard loud snoring, real loud. Then I hear my sister call out, “Pearl, Pearl!” [I work with a woman named Pearl at the gym. I don’t know whether she snores or not.]
Sometime later I am asking Xavion is he knew there were secret passages in [someplace, probably] the house. Later, which was actually sooner than I’d hoped, I woke up.
Friday, January 12, 2007
T-Blog
T-Blog
A T-blog is an entry I try to write in the time it takes for me to consume a cup of tea, makes sense right? T-blogs are perfect little weekly wrap ups of things I want to share and/or get off my chest.
[Takes sip of tea.]
The highlight of the week was perhaps 90 minutes hanging with two people I'd never met before, but whom I find to be kindred spirits; people of adventure. Anyone who visits a foreign country where they hardly speak/read the language, and visits people she's met on myspace is someone of extraordinary trust and confidence. Tomoni came from ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Japan, flying non-stop from Tokyo to New York where she connected with a myspace contact who helped her get from Manhattan to Baltimore on the Amtrak. She got to Philly with the help of Kennedy, an exceptional photographer/artist and adventurer; and we all hung out on South Street for a while on Thursday. It was more like a reunion of old friends (perhaps from past lives?) than people who were meeting for the first time.
This internet stuff is crazy!
In sports, my son's freshman basketball team remains undefeated with eleven games in the "win" column. Good thing there's no one rushing to put their pictures on the covers of cereal boxes or video games. From the games I've seen it's truly a team effort. The kid who seemed to be carrying the team with threes has cooled off, and other guys have picked up the slack. I've seen the center develop into a solid three point shooter and the offensive boards, rebounding, have improved.
As for me and my gym-ratting; I was feeling a bit like a slacker. I've only been to the Y once this week, (today will make it twice), however I've been doing a variety of push ups all week long at home (and work) and today I pressed past my all-time personal best of 100 and got 105. (This is BIG for me because I have been stuck on the 100 push up set for years. My mind would stop counting at 100 and my body would follow.) I have set a goal of 200 push ups now, not really expecting to attain it; (it's a mind thing with me, I need a goal to constantly be moving towards) however I'll take the benefits of working towards it.
Like the sages say, it's not the destination, but the journey.
My cup is empty. I think I may have been able to write more if I weren't interrupted by phone calls (welcome as they were.)
Have a good weekend! (Psssst GO EAGLES!!!)
PS: I FINALLY got some good sleep today!
A T-blog is an entry I try to write in the time it takes for me to consume a cup of tea, makes sense right? T-blogs are perfect little weekly wrap ups of things I want to share and/or get off my chest.
[Takes sip of tea.]
The highlight of the week was perhaps 90 minutes hanging with two people I'd never met before, but whom I find to be kindred spirits; people of adventure. Anyone who visits a foreign country where they hardly speak/read the language, and visits people she's met on myspace is someone of extraordinary trust and confidence. Tomoni came from ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Japan, flying non-stop from Tokyo to New York where she connected with a myspace contact who helped her get from Manhattan to Baltimore on the Amtrak. She got to Philly with the help of Kennedy, an exceptional photographer/artist and adventurer; and we all hung out on South Street for a while on Thursday. It was more like a reunion of old friends (perhaps from past lives?) than people who were meeting for the first time.
This internet stuff is crazy!
In sports, my son's freshman basketball team remains undefeated with eleven games in the "win" column. Good thing there's no one rushing to put their pictures on the covers of cereal boxes or video games. From the games I've seen it's truly a team effort. The kid who seemed to be carrying the team with threes has cooled off, and other guys have picked up the slack. I've seen the center develop into a solid three point shooter and the offensive boards, rebounding, have improved.
As for me and my gym-ratting; I was feeling a bit like a slacker. I've only been to the Y once this week, (today will make it twice), however I've been doing a variety of push ups all week long at home (and work) and today I pressed past my all-time personal best of 100 and got 105. (This is BIG for me because I have been stuck on the 100 push up set for years. My mind would stop counting at 100 and my body would follow.) I have set a goal of 200 push ups now, not really expecting to attain it; (it's a mind thing with me, I need a goal to constantly be moving towards) however I'll take the benefits of working towards it.
Like the sages say, it's not the destination, but the journey.
My cup is empty. I think I may have been able to write more if I weren't interrupted by phone calls (welcome as they were.)
Have a good weekend! (Psssst GO EAGLES!!!)
PS: I FINALLY got some good sleep today!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Verizon Ripped me off!!
Verizon Ripped me off!!
I was about to rip Verizon a new “V-hole” so to speak, but my virtuous patience won the day and after being transferred around to five different phone-talkers, (as I know not their official titles), I attained satisfaction, thus the company remains unorificed!
Here’s my story: With the introductions of cell phones the concept of long distance is pretty much null and void. With this in mind, I cancelled long distance on my home phone, which I hardly even answer these days thanks to caller ID. Back in 04 Verizon put me in a plan where I’d only be charged long distance if I made long distance calls, which made perfect sense to me, so I went for it.
Last September, Verizon, probably realizing that people aren’t making long distance calls from their homes added a “shortfall” fee to that program. “Shortfall” is one of those quasi-benign words like “stop-loss” that companies and the government use but don’t define for us until we’re already caught up in it. For those who don’t know what “stop-loss” is, it’s when the government extends a soldier’s military obligation beyond the agreed upon contract so they don’t lose soldiers, (to discharges, etc. It’s apparently okay to lose soldiers to roadside bombings and ambushes, but that’s another issue.)
Verizon’s shortfall fee comes down to changing customers for NOT making long distance calls! You read correctly friends.
The customer service rep put it to me anything but succinctly; “It’s like, say you made $1.65 worth of long distance calls, that fee would be 50 cents.”
“So basically,” I say to her – calmly mind you, “Your company is charging me for NOT making long distance charges.”
Go ahead, tell me I’m right. I know I’m right!! I get transferred to customer service, where I am equally as polite, however I think the rep can hear the “I-can’t-freekin’-believe-the-freekin’-balls-on-this-company!” frustration rising in my voice.
What I want is the five months of being charged for NOT MAKING LONG DISTANCE CALLS, credited to my account. She doesn’t know that she’s going to be able to do that, she tells me, yet I remain calm. (There are phone/cable companies dying for my business, I think to myself. Are they gonna lose this contract over $10.00?)
My pleasant and helpful, (I understand that people respond in kind, so I get myself in a Zen type mood before I make these phone calls. Belligerent customers who attack CSRs don’t get anywhere. ) customer service rep explains to me that I was grandfathered into the program where by I am charged for NOT making LONG DISTANCE CALLS. Plus, she sees in my data, that I have an LD RESTRICTION on my phone – so even if I (or someone living with me; long, complex story from the past) wanted to make a long distance call, they couldn’t.
For a minute I wasn’t going to post this because the CSRs were so nice and I got what I wanted – but then I decided that it’s not about them, it’s some corporate bullshyt to boost their income and profit margin. Take that $2.15 a month for a service that’s not being provided or used and multiply it by all the customers that aren’t using it. That’s money for nothing and your chicks for free. It’s not as if Verizon doesn’t have a wireless program that’s keeping people from using the long distance on their home phones.
This is why CEOs who all but ruin companies can “retire” with hundred-million dollar severance packages. So if you have Verizon and you’re not using their long distance; check your bill. Heck, check your bills anyway, when you see some mumbo-jumbo double-speak charge on their like short-fall, it equals a windfall for the company, get on the phone and challenge them.
Suckers!!!
I was about to rip Verizon a new “V-hole” so to speak, but my virtuous patience won the day and after being transferred around to five different phone-talkers, (as I know not their official titles), I attained satisfaction, thus the company remains unorificed!
Here’s my story: With the introductions of cell phones the concept of long distance is pretty much null and void. With this in mind, I cancelled long distance on my home phone, which I hardly even answer these days thanks to caller ID. Back in 04 Verizon put me in a plan where I’d only be charged long distance if I made long distance calls, which made perfect sense to me, so I went for it.
Last September, Verizon, probably realizing that people aren’t making long distance calls from their homes added a “shortfall” fee to that program. “Shortfall” is one of those quasi-benign words like “stop-loss” that companies and the government use but don’t define for us until we’re already caught up in it. For those who don’t know what “stop-loss” is, it’s when the government extends a soldier’s military obligation beyond the agreed upon contract so they don’t lose soldiers, (to discharges, etc. It’s apparently okay to lose soldiers to roadside bombings and ambushes, but that’s another issue.)
Verizon’s shortfall fee comes down to changing customers for NOT making long distance calls! You read correctly friends.
The customer service rep put it to me anything but succinctly; “It’s like, say you made $1.65 worth of long distance calls, that fee would be 50 cents.”
“So basically,” I say to her – calmly mind you, “Your company is charging me for NOT making long distance charges.”
Go ahead, tell me I’m right. I know I’m right!! I get transferred to customer service, where I am equally as polite, however I think the rep can hear the “I-can’t-freekin’-believe-the-freekin’-balls-on-this-company!” frustration rising in my voice.
What I want is the five months of being charged for NOT MAKING LONG DISTANCE CALLS, credited to my account. She doesn’t know that she’s going to be able to do that, she tells me, yet I remain calm. (There are phone/cable companies dying for my business, I think to myself. Are they gonna lose this contract over $10.00?)
My pleasant and helpful, (I understand that people respond in kind, so I get myself in a Zen type mood before I make these phone calls. Belligerent customers who attack CSRs don’t get anywhere. ) customer service rep explains to me that I was grandfathered into the program where by I am charged for NOT making LONG DISTANCE CALLS. Plus, she sees in my data, that I have an LD RESTRICTION on my phone – so even if I (or someone living with me; long, complex story from the past) wanted to make a long distance call, they couldn’t.
For a minute I wasn’t going to post this because the CSRs were so nice and I got what I wanted – but then I decided that it’s not about them, it’s some corporate bullshyt to boost their income and profit margin. Take that $2.15 a month for a service that’s not being provided or used and multiply it by all the customers that aren’t using it. That’s money for nothing and your chicks for free. It’s not as if Verizon doesn’t have a wireless program that’s keeping people from using the long distance on their home phones.
This is why CEOs who all but ruin companies can “retire” with hundred-million dollar severance packages. So if you have Verizon and you’re not using their long distance; check your bill. Heck, check your bills anyway, when you see some mumbo-jumbo double-speak charge on their like short-fall, it equals a windfall for the company, get on the phone and challenge them.
Suckers!!!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Bizarro Dream # 10707
Bizarro Dream # 10707
I was actually trying NOT to write this one down; mainly because it’s a bit complex. There are a lot of details.
It starts, from what I can remember, with a conversation with an actor. He’s one of those guys like William Macy who you’ve seen hundreds of times but never knew his name. He made sure I remembered his name and everytime I began to come out of sleep I’d say his name, David Edwards. I even dreamed that I looked him up on the internet and I have a mental image of him in my head. However I can’t put an actual name to his face.
The conversation was casual, although it began to seem like an interview. Sometimes I tend to “interview” people during casual conversations. Mr. Edwards didn’t seem to mind. I can’t seem to remember any of the actual questions I asked him, however I do recall alluding to whether it bothered him that no one knew his name.
Okay, so after that I find myself on my way to work. I purposely walk down the park side of the street. One thing I picked up from my acting coach, (from way back when) was I had choices. I could choose to walk on the side of the street with the garbage, or the side with the flowers. I’ve always remembered that, even though it seems like simple common sense, sometimes these dormant ideas need a catalyst.
Anyway I was walking along the parkway and I see some friends of mine coming from a training session. They are all lawyers, public defenders or some such, and all female. (These are real people you’ve seen in pictures.) I figured I’d go over and say hello and walk them home. Normally down the hill there’s a track and a baseball diamond, but in the dream there’s a lake. A strong wind starts to blow from the south. It’s one of those winds you can hear as well as feel. Men in government issued windbreakers have shown up. There’s a sailboat on the lake moving as if it were motorized, that’s how fast the wind was blowing. The men draw high powered rifles and aim for the boat. One of my female friends draws a revolver – I am shocked!! (She never seemed the gun-toting type to me.) She says to me I shouldn’t see what she has to do, as she’s aiming her weapon at the sailboat and advises me to take cover. I am stunned and scared, so I hide. I hear all these gun shots going off. They seem to be going both ways, i.e. someone is shooting back.
When it’s over I don’t know what has been accomplished. Apparently someone got a tip that if they saw someone in the water with a goat, (this is not a type o, in my dream they said goat and not boat), they should take action.
Now that I’ve written and posted this dream I might be able to forget it. But wait until I see my friend and tell her that she was in my dream. I’m sure I’ll get the same puzzled look I always get.
REAL LIFE
Yesterday I leave the house to find a pigeon sitting on the back of my car. Stazja came out and took a picture. I thought about what do to about it. I figured maybe it would fly away and I opened the door, nope… when I closed the door and started the car, nope. I think the wind blew it off. It was mangy and might have not been able to fly. I don’t think it flew off as much as it was blown off the back of the car as I drove off.
This is the type of stuff that stands out to me because it doesn’t happen very often. Once, out of all the cars parked on my block some cat decided to jump on mine; I had to coax him off with a bucket of water.
I was actually trying NOT to write this one down; mainly because it’s a bit complex. There are a lot of details.
It starts, from what I can remember, with a conversation with an actor. He’s one of those guys like William Macy who you’ve seen hundreds of times but never knew his name. He made sure I remembered his name and everytime I began to come out of sleep I’d say his name, David Edwards. I even dreamed that I looked him up on the internet and I have a mental image of him in my head. However I can’t put an actual name to his face.
The conversation was casual, although it began to seem like an interview. Sometimes I tend to “interview” people during casual conversations. Mr. Edwards didn’t seem to mind. I can’t seem to remember any of the actual questions I asked him, however I do recall alluding to whether it bothered him that no one knew his name.
Okay, so after that I find myself on my way to work. I purposely walk down the park side of the street. One thing I picked up from my acting coach, (from way back when) was I had choices. I could choose to walk on the side of the street with the garbage, or the side with the flowers. I’ve always remembered that, even though it seems like simple common sense, sometimes these dormant ideas need a catalyst.
Anyway I was walking along the parkway and I see some friends of mine coming from a training session. They are all lawyers, public defenders or some such, and all female. (These are real people you’ve seen in pictures.) I figured I’d go over and say hello and walk them home. Normally down the hill there’s a track and a baseball diamond, but in the dream there’s a lake. A strong wind starts to blow from the south. It’s one of those winds you can hear as well as feel. Men in government issued windbreakers have shown up. There’s a sailboat on the lake moving as if it were motorized, that’s how fast the wind was blowing. The men draw high powered rifles and aim for the boat. One of my female friends draws a revolver – I am shocked!! (She never seemed the gun-toting type to me.) She says to me I shouldn’t see what she has to do, as she’s aiming her weapon at the sailboat and advises me to take cover. I am stunned and scared, so I hide. I hear all these gun shots going off. They seem to be going both ways, i.e. someone is shooting back.
When it’s over I don’t know what has been accomplished. Apparently someone got a tip that if they saw someone in the water with a goat, (this is not a type o, in my dream they said goat and not boat), they should take action.
Now that I’ve written and posted this dream I might be able to forget it. But wait until I see my friend and tell her that she was in my dream. I’m sure I’ll get the same puzzled look I always get.
REAL LIFE
Yesterday I leave the house to find a pigeon sitting on the back of my car. Stazja came out and took a picture. I thought about what do to about it. I figured maybe it would fly away and I opened the door, nope… when I closed the door and started the car, nope. I think the wind blew it off. It was mangy and might have not been able to fly. I don’t think it flew off as much as it was blown off the back of the car as I drove off.
This is the type of stuff that stands out to me because it doesn’t happen very often. Once, out of all the cars parked on my block some cat decided to jump on mine; I had to coax him off with a bucket of water.
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