tcpip: (Default)
Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath ([personal profile] tcpip) wrote2006-05-25 11:28 am

Monsters, CCNA, Work, Gaming, Politics

Monsters 1: Lordi wins Eurovision. Surprised to see many people on my flist making a big deal of this. Let's face it, their lyrics suck and musically they're as competent as KISS or Twisted Sister (i.e., not at all). Basically, they're a crap band in glam monster outfits.

Monsters 2: A gaggle of g*ths wander through Melbourne dressed up as zombies. I find myself wondering what's the point? Sure we love to frock up and apply makeup in new and interesting ways, but I could only think that said participants are competing with Malaysian beggars (I actually saw I guy like this in Indonesia).

Monsters 3: Dracorex hogwartsia, "The Dragon King of Hogwarts", has been discovered. Hat-tip to [livejournal.com profile] ozraptor4 with whom [livejournal.com profile] caseopaya and I are going to the Melbourne zoo tonight for a presentation by a wild animals vet graduate from Murdoch Uni.

CCNA: (Re)sat my semester 2 theory exam on Tueday. Despite feeling like death warmed up I finished with 30 minutes to spare. Instead of doing the sensible thing and checking some of my answers I submitted. Shouldn't have worried; 91.3%; pleased with that result.

Work: I have a lot of it at the moment. Was given at the start of the week a sixty page website to finish by today. No, I haven't been doing much else.

Gaming: Three new faces at GURPS Australian Noir last Sunday; we're going to have to break up into two groups and a two week cycle. Thinking GURPS, retro AD&D, Using HARP, MERP or Rolemaster for Thieves World ([livejournal.com profile] artbroken's ears prick up) and possibly Call of Cthulhu. Would be great if someone would run a SF game; like Paranoia or Cyberpunk.

Politics: Back to the medieval fiefdoms as Montenegro declares independence. Want to reduce teenage pregnancies and STDs? Provide sex education and treat them like the adults they are. Duh. Will someone please pay for the externalities? Global warming may exceed predictions - as in six degrees hotter.

Re: Eurovision: a viewer's guide

[identity profile] catsidhe.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
"treat it" hell, it has been a joke for decades, it is just that the organisers and most of the contestants are the only ones not to have realised.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 04:42 am (UTC)(link)

RE 3) Quite possibly so, hopefully it will be renamed to something more sensible (and not 'Smaug' either). Nevertheless can you imagine being a medieval peasant and dragging that out a quarry?

Hell, I'd be damn scared.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
What else is new?

But... They got up... and left the house.. it was daytime!

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
That'd be a pretty funny scene..

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes, and they were having fun!

Lordi

[identity profile] paula-angela.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, is that what they were called?

As one of the people who noted the Eurovision win in my LJ, I never suggested they were any good. I didn't hear enough to their song to make comment musically, I just noted that their staging and complete lack of choreography sucked.

The costumes were fun. And in a very big way, Eurovision has always been about the costumes. What made this year's winners noteworthy was the shift from the short skirts and boobies of previous years, to something quite the opposite!

[identity profile] artbroken.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
I appreciate the offer, but... without wanting to sound dismissive, I don't game with strangers. I'm only interested in playing (or running) games with people I've met and liked as people first, gamers second.

Sex and teenagers

[identity profile] tabouli.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 11:33 am (UTC)(link)
I wrote about this some time ago in my own LJ, and yep, thoroughly agree. However, I've since learned that the teenage pregnancy rate in Australia is in the top 5 of developed countries or something similar, which surprised me. I thought that the more down to earth pragmatic attitudes of Australia (complete with condom machines, ads in public toilets, etc.) would have reduced it, but evidently not.

Re: Sex and teenagers

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 11:54 am (UTC)(link)

I remember this thread; and the comments its attracted.

Australians may be pragmatic, but they're also wowsers - and anti-intellectual. So if you're a teenager and know something factual about sex, there's something disconcertingly nerdy about you.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 11:55 am (UTC)(link)

Well, you're allowed to meet the group first y'know ;-)

Re: Lordi

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 12:01 pm (UTC)(link)

So it's a bad fashion show with bad music.

And people spend valuable time on this?

Re: Lordi

[identity profile] paula-angela.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep. Just like spending money on B-Grade movies or collecting "kitch" artefacts. Some people revel in it.

Obviously, you are above such things...
redcountess: (Default)

[personal profile] redcountess 2006-05-25 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, so SBS *does* show the BBC's broadcast with Terry Wogan's commentary?

Re: Lordi

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)

Kitsch scares me.

B-grade movies? Often a b-grade movie, with all it's terrible production quality, has one or two excellent components; again I cite Ed Wood films as an example. Awful production; but often good stories.

[identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Well they also offered a very polished, professional performance that was an alternative to the usual pop-music stuff.

[identity profile] usekh.livejournal.com 2006-05-25 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry damn thing is logging me out. BTW I am not saying they are a great metal band by that. But they are not totaly awfull either

The heat must be getting to you. vittulinen mies.

[identity profile] evil-genius.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 11:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Monsters 1: Lordi wins Eurovision. Surprised to see many people on my flist making a big deal of this. Let's face it, their lyrics suck and musically they're as competent as KISS or Twisted Sister (i.e., not at all). Basically, they're a crap band in glam monster outfits."

Normally I am beyond impressed with the content of your posts on live journal. Both here in your private journal and elsewhere. But I'm going to have to call you on this one. As you seen to have your head wedged firmly up your ass.

You have made the mistake of assuming that since this band isn't for you, it must not be for anyone. It looks like you made the same mistake regarding Kiss and Twisted Sister aswell. So you don't like Glam rock in general. Does that mean no one else should?

Your claim that KISS and Twisted sister suck, should tell everyone just how good your taste is(n't). Rolling Stone magazine seems to disagree with you on Kiss's musical abilities. Placing their album 'Alive' a 159th place on the list of top 500 albums of all time. Ahead of such artists as: Radiohead, Prince, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Aerosmith, Parliament/Funkadelic, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, R.E.M, AC/DC, Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Beastie Boys, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Pixies, Erik B. and Rakim, Queen, Black Sabbath, and The Grateful Dead.

The essence of the issue is: What makes (music) a band "good"?

I think all will agree the answer to such a question is HIGHLY subjective. I personally think Lordi's lyrics rock(pun intended). But in an intentionally campy and over the top fashion. I find the fact they make so many puns in a foreign language very impressive to be honest. Lordi is totally a joke. Tomi(Mr. Lordi) doesn't take himself seriously at all(unlike GWAR). The whole thing is supposed to be tongue-in-cheek. That being said, they are hugely successful at pulling this joke off. Perhaps more pertinant to my point, I would be willing to bet you have only heard/seen that single song/video. Am I right? Passing judgement on any band after such a small bit of exposure seems more than a bit premature.

The fact you don't get it/like it is a shame. But for you to say they suck is out of line.

"Surprised to see many people on my flist making a big deal of this."
Because you don't know the background store. A huge portion of Finnish national identity is constructed around an intense inferiority complex. Aftering being either Sweden's or Russia's bitch for the past 1200 years, several catastrophic famines and civil wars, and the whole war reparations thing with Russia post WWII. Finns are a bit beat down in the national ego department. A lose in any international competition, even something as utterly ridiculous as the Eurovision contest, hurts every Finn that hears about it. Conversely a win in any international contest effects Finns deeply. For over 30 years the Eurovision song contest has meant national embarrassments for Finland. Years of not only not winning but in many cases of getting 0 points(a true disgrace). Have meant most Finns cringe just thinking about Euro vision. So to send a band that almost everyone assumed was a guaranteed 0 to the contest. But then to place first, with a new record score, and best Russia by one of the largest margins in eurovision history. It's just huge here.

Finland isn't Australia or America. It's not some huge country with a massive population. Where all kinds of interesting things happen all of the time. Finland is 1/23 the size of Australia, with only 1/ 4 the population. We don't do big military operations around our region. At the 2004 Athens games Australia got 49 medals(17G,16S,16B). Finland got 2(silvers). The only times Finland usually wins international competitions is when tax rates or economic competitiveness start getting compared. Then we take home the dubious honour of having the highest aggregate tax burden of any country on the planet. Which basically no one cares to even thing about.


So you see, to a Finn, winning this competition is a very big deal.

[identity profile] evil-genius.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 11:56 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess Eurovision has given up all pretence of being even remotely sensible."

That happened over 25 years ago.

[identity profile] evil-genius.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Regards to Monsters:
1. Eurovision, who cares?"

Over 100 million people watched the final. So apparenly 1/5 of the population of Europe cared at least a little.

But as an American(just a guess). You probably shouldn't care much, if at all.

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Apparently 'rhetorical question' is another concept you're not familiar with. Way to prove me wrong though, well done. Personally I think it would have been more impressive if you'd actually compiled a list of all the people who do, in fact, care about Eurovision. More thorough, you know?

And no, not American. Wrong again. Better luck next time! I appreciate your efforts in seeking me out on other people's journals to continue your crusade. Makes me feel special.

Re: The heat must be getting to you. vittulinen mies.

[identity profile] jahbulon.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
So you see, to a Finn, winning this competition is a very big deal.

That's not a very convincing argument. Sorta like your parents telling you to eat your vegetables because children are starving in Africa. Eurovision the crude grain meal to a starving infant Finland. It does say something about Finland, it doesn't say anything about Eurovision.

[identity profile] evil-genius.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Apparently 'rhetorical question' is another concept you're not familiar with. Way to prove me wrong though, well done. Personally I think it would have been more impressive if you'd actually compiled a list of all the people who do, in fact, care about Eurovision. More thorough, you know?"

Odd that you are constantly complaining about my level of etiquettes. But yet you persist in maintain such a low level yourself.


"And no, not American. Wrong again. Better luck next time!"
For ethnocentrism above and beyond the call of normal bigotry. For a level of confidence that far exceed your competence. For a degree of certainty completely unwarranted by any level of investigation. I dub thee 'Honorary American'. Rise and be counted among your obnoxious peers.

"I appreciate your efforts in seeking me out on other people's journals to continue your crusade. Makes me feel special."

My my, haven't we significantly overestimated our importance in the universe.

Re: The heat must be getting to you. vittulinen mies.

[identity profile] evil-genius.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's not a very convincing argument."

What is so hard to understand?
Something big happened in a small country. Maybe if I drew you some pictures or something. I could clear up your confusion? First let me lower the linguist complexity a little. If this doesn't work out maybe some interpretive dance or puppet theater will be required.

Eurovision contest big deal in Europe (rightly or wrongly)
Finland never win contest
Finland always lose pitifully
same every year for 30 year
but win this year
with record score
Finns think big deal

Understand now?


"It does say something about Finland, it doesn't say anything about Eurovision."

Indeed. Finns like it when their countrymen win international contests. Even if said contest is less than earth shatteringly important.
Don't forget Finland is the home of a great many odd competitions:

Air Guitar World Championship
Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships
The world championships of Rubber boot throwing
And let's not forget the most important international competition ever held....
The Wife Carrying World Championships.
And the wikipedia article on that one.

Re: The heat must be getting to you. vittulinen mies.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-26 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)

Aesthetically, I will acknowledge from the outset, to be a "high art" advocate in the same mould as the Frankfurt School (Adorno, Horkheimer and Marcuse in particular). I do think there are ways and means of evaluating the arts in a manner which does not result in mere subjectivity.

As I have expressed elsewhere, if the arts were dependent on the votes of the masses, then we'd have professors of literature specialising in Hagar The Horrible rather the Poetic and Prose Edda; culture would be whatever the culture industry produced, and The Kalevala would be replaced by a Eurodisney production of a title more consumable for a Anglo-American audience.

Aesthetic analysis can be applied to music; the conceptual construction of time using tones (vertical harmonies, horizontal melodies) and silence for a psychoacoustic effect. In contemporary (that is, 20th century onwards) music is often accompanied by lyrical content in which poetic analysis can be applied.

I have listened and viewed several Lordi songs and, heaven help me, read through more than a dozen of their lyrics. As has been pointed out to me there are moments where lyrically they reach a Spinal Tap moment, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Psychoacoustically, they seem (and this is subjective, as the sense are subjective) to lack the sort of passion, emotion and especially originality that I have found in other bands in their genre (I am thinking specifically of Ne Plus Ultra and the amazing narrative depth in Elend).

As for Finland, apart from your good self, noone has made a mention of the importance of Finland per se winning Eurovision. Most seem to have been attracted to the outfits - which I don't think is a good basis to judge the competence of musical skill or lyrical content. Perhaps, as it has been suggested in this thread, that Eurovision is a competition in bad taste.

Re: The heat must be getting to you. vittulinen mies.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2006-05-27 12:03 am (UTC)(link)

See, Finland losing Eurovision pitifully every year for thirty years should be worn as a badge of honour. It is a huge carnival of bad taste, masochism and schadenfreude, all wrapped up in glitter and neon. Losing such a competition is a good thing.

"No, we Finns don't worry about losing Eurovision all the time. He have Nokia, Linux, the world's best PISA test results, and one of the highest standards of living in the world. I guess it all comes down to priorities."

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