Those Damn Canadians

So, just got back from Chicago. And had a good, although jam-packed time. One experience though is standing out above the rest- Those Damn Canadians.

On one night a friend came over with her boyfriendand and at one point he started to complain about "All the Canadians" that came to his work. When I looked confused, his girlfriend explained that this was what the guys at his restaurants called blacks. He continued with his story, and although it was fairly benign racism (complaining about how they wanted their food too fast at a wedding) it was boding badly. Wife attempted to save the guy through generalizing his comment ("Yes, all people can be obnoxious at their wedding") but he wasn't to be deterred. "Nope, I've had Jews, Christians, everybody. But the Canadians are the worst." We quickly changed the subject. This has left me with a few questions...

1. Why Canadians?

I find it very strange that they picked Canadians. It's as if PCness has managed to infiltrate today's racist. Which seems to be a (mildly) good thing. Or, perhaps, they just use it b/c no one would guess it and then they can use it in front of the very people they are insulting.

2. Are Chicagoans more racist than Portlanders?

I do find myself in these situations more when I go to Chicago. Is it the people I tend to see there versus the people I surround myself with now? Is it that it's easier to be non-racist in Portland where everyone's white? Or, is it that Portlanders are just as racist, but just not as vocal about what they're really thinking? Curious what the Chicago Bloggers think of this.

3. Did we respond as we should?

These are always tough uncomfortable situations. How do you go about showing these people that this is not acceptable? Will admonishing them do anything? In the past, I've felt that just full-on not laughing and not smiling can switch the discomfort back to them. Which is pretty much what we did, but this certainly did not get the message across to this guy (he was a little on the dumb side). Perhaps we should have just said something along the lines of, "Could you not talk like that in front of me." And I'd have no problem doing that to a coworker or friend, but someone you just met... I've played with the idea of just saying, "Actually, my brother-in-law is black," (he's not) and then just stopping and letting them feel like an idiot.

Classic Rock Equivalent

As someone who spent most of his formative years listening to Classic Rock (WCKG!), I pose the question, does every current band have classic rock equivalent? I'd like to think so.

Radiohead = Pink Floyd
This one is a slam dunk. Both are interesting, experimental, and not as deep as they think they are.

Marylin Manson = Alice Cooper
Anther easy one, but might already be a little dated (what happened to Marilyn Manson?). Both are more known for the shockingness than their songs. Kind of look the same. Only difference I can think of is Alice Cooper seemed to take himself a whole lot less seriously.

U2 = Steve Miller Band
I'm sure I'm alone on this. but think about it: lots of hits, all recognizable, nothing too crazy, better greatest hits album than actual albums. Yes, I think it works. Steve Miller just got unlucky and Bono very lucky.

Snoop = Eric Clapton
A werid one, but kind of works. Individual work is just above average, but both are seemingly everywhere, always turning up on various albums with various people. Both have careers that have outlived various musical trends. Yeah, it kinda works.

Jack Johnson = Jack Johnson
Are we sure his albums aren't just some dead guy from the 60s that are just being slowly released? I really think this guy's career would have been no different had his music come out 30 years ago.

GROSS INFESTATION ON MY FRIDGE!!!!

Alright, I am not easily grossed out, but yesterday I discovered a little colony of these little white worm-like creatures living on my refrigerator. After some internet research, it appears these are just your everyday ordinary MAGGOTS. They are gone for now, bleached away, but some questions remain

1. What brings maggots? The weird thing about mine is I don't think they were in any food. The only edibles on the fridge were Ruffles in closed chips bags. Instead, what they appear to have been living in was the back of photographs. On closer inspection they were all over the fridge nestled in little cocoons behind photos and magnets. WHAT GIVES?

2. The internet says "maggot" is a general term for larvae, and that they eventually can turn into flies, moths... But I haven't seen any flies or moths in my house. And that's when the eggs are spread as well. How did I get so many of these without flies?

3. Aren't maggots supposed to just writhe around? These move almost like inch worms.

As you can see, I am questioning whether these are maggots or SOME NEW BIZARRE PHOTO INGESTING INCH WORM. After joining me in vomiting, I would appreciate any insight or information you may have on this subject.

Pet Peeves #4-#6

Pet Peeves #1 - #3

4: Pedestrians when I'm a driver, drivers when I'm a pedestrian
And it is alamming at the speed at which I can change this viewpoint. I will literally be downtown driving cursing the slow walkers in my way and then park, walk out of my car, and instantly feel emboldened being a walker and annoyed at those pesky impatient earth killing metal machines.

5: White people who say, "Back in the day" and Black people who talk about their, "Love of hip-hop"
For different reasons. The white one b/c of the trying to act black. The black one b/c I get really annoyed when people act like Hip-Hop is some sacred poetry. I'm not saying it's not good music, but it's not exactly Emily Freaking Dickinsin either!

6: Raspberries in Chocolate deserts.
If I wanted a fruit desert I would have ordered the fruity desert. And who bestowed raspberries as the eternal compliment to chocoalate? Just because they're both dark? I don't get it.

Environmentalism Via Consumerism

The last Economist had an article about eco-food buying, and, specifically, questioned whether buying organics, fair trade, or locally actually helped mother earth.

Organics: The downside to using natural methods and avoiding GMs/pesticides is it takes much more land to grow the same amount. For example, since the "Green Revolution" farmers have tripled their cereal grain production while only using 10% more land. You could make a solid argument that if we push developing countries to grow more organics we would lose more rain forests.

Fair Trade: Fair Trade is when a Western consumer pays more for an item so that people in the developing country will get paid a more livable wage (Free Trade coffee seems to be the most popular one). The Economist's issue here had to do with Supply and Demand (which I didn't quite get), but had something to do with screwing up the market and making prices lower for farmers not lucky enough to be involved in fair trade. Also, I guess most of the mark-up stays with the US store (freakin' capitalist hippies!), with only 10% going to the 3rd world farmers.

Locally Grown: The problem here was 3-fold. (1) It is often farther away to buy locally (a farmer's market versus your local grocery store) and driving is the root of everything environmentally evil. Which might seem counter intuitive, but even if your food was transported from very far away, it was efficiently packed together versus just you going an extra 5 miles to get a red pepper. (2) The energy it takes to grow a food in less suitable environments can be more than the lengthy transport. For instance, a study found it was better to truck in tomatoes from Spain then to grown them in Britain in heated greenhouses. (3) By buying locally you may be decreasing money that could be going to developing countries.

Not sure where I stand on all this. I've always been suspicious of the amount of good "organic" did, but also assumed it must be a little better. And I wonder if a lot of the negatives disappear if it becomes more universal. Like, in Portland you probably live close, if not closer to a healthy grocery store where you can get local and organics. And what about the people who ride their bikes to farmer's markets? What now Economist? And isn't it supposed to taste better? Curious what others, especially the more environmentally informed, think of this whole issue.

Merry Holidays

A friend was telling me about some people at work making the following complaint, "I mean, I don't understand why people get so mad about saying Merry Christmas. It's Merry something. Shouldn't that be a nice thing to say?"

Now forgetting the question of whether or not an offended person is justified or being overly sensitive (I would lean to the latter as well), what I'm wondering is who is the person talking about? Did they say Merry Xmas to a coworker and get shot down? I don't think so. I think they've created this phantom person and are now annoyed at them. Which to me seems a little ridiculous. Like, if you think "Tonya" is too adamant about her Hinduism, think that. But don't get all riled up about "these people" that may not even exist. I feel like people are so paranoid about offending people, that they watch how they speak and then get bitter at the fact that they just self-censored themselves. Whose fault is that?

Or maybe I'm wrong. I don't know anyone who cares, but maybe you all have a friend who responds to, "Merry Christmas," with, "Excuse me, Hanukah's a holiday too," or, "I only celebrate Kwanza, thank you very much." And maybe I'm the insensitive one, and it really is upsetting to be the oddball during Xmas time. But in the end, I think, that 99% of the people who hear, "Merry Christmas," don't think twice about it.

Albums of The Year: 2006

Curious what others think on this. And feel free to make your own categories. My definite favorite of the year is Beirut's "Gulag Orkestar": AKA the Slavic Opus of a 19-year hig school drop out from Albuquerque. My vote for worst album is another easy one: Fergie's "The Dutchess". And I'd give "Whatever People Say I Am I'm Not" by The Arctic Monkeys the most overrated title.


Best Albums
Beirut "Gulag Orkestar": 3
Clipse "Hell Hath No Fury": 1
Jim Morrison "Undiscovered": 1
Swan Lake "Beast Moans": 1
Tim Hecker "Harmony in Ultraviolet": 1
Grizzly Bear "Yellow House": 1
Sunset Rubdown "Shut Up I Am Dreaming": 1
Xiu Xiu "The Airforce": 1
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Show Your Bones": 1
Ghostface Killah "In My Own Words": 1
Band of Horses "Everything All The Time": 1
Peter Bjorn and John "Writer's Block": 1
Snowden "Anti Anti": 1
Neko Case "Fox Professor Brings the Flood": 1
Thom Yorke "The Eraser": 1

Worst Albums
Fergie "The Dutchess: 3
K-Fed: 2
Paris Hilton: 1
Everclear: 1





Overrated Albums
Joanna Newsome "Ys": 3
Arctic Monkeys"Whatever People Say I Am I Am Not":1