Longread #224 -- Stormy Monday -- 12/31/12

It seems odd to post about the blues on one of the year's biggest party nights, but I'm of the opinion that just about any time is a good time for the blues. Even though the subject matter is often sad, blues music itself is full of energy and life. To me, it's an especially poignant reminder of how we can find beauty in almost any situation and how creativity and dedication can help us to overcome life's trials and tribulations. As we reflect on 2012 and look forward to 2013, I hope we can all make the most of both the good times and the bad times.

Today's longread is a poem from Billy Collins. The poem itself isn't long, but it's worthy of a long read (or maybe being read more than once). Below the poem, I've included a link to Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan playing "Stormy Monday" in 1983. It's a great performance (as is the whole video, which is definitely worth your time). Happy New Year!

"The Blues" by Billy Collins
Published in Sailing Alone Around the Room, 2001

Much of what is said here
must be said twice,
a reminder that no one
takes an immediate interest in the pain of others.

Nobody will listen, it would seem,
if you simply admit
your baby left you early this morning
she didn't even stop to say good-bye.

But if you sing it again
with the help of the band
which will now lift you to a higher,
more ardent, and beseeching key,

people will not only listen,
they will shift to the sympathetic
edges of their chairs,
moved to such acute anticipation

by that chord and the delay that follows,
they will not be able to sleep
unless you release with one finger
a scream from the throat of your guitar

and turn your head back to the microphone
to let them know
you're a hard-hearted man
but that woman's sure going to make you cry.

"Stormy Monday" at In Session with Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZB57b3lPQE#t=29m29s

Eric

Longread #223 -- The GOP and Me -- 12/28/12

The author of today's longread, Rany Jazayerli, is one of my favorite bloggers about the Kansas City Royals. While his writing normally focuses on baseball, he occasionally diverges into politics  In this article, he examines how the Republican Party lost its support from Muslim voters as a result of the words and actions of key party members in the years after September 11, 2001.

I think Rany's analysis here is important and thought-provoking, but I also struggle with his position that absent these changes, the GOP was a party that better represented his interests and the interests of many Muslims. The idea that Republicans are the party of small business and limited government has been rooted more in marketing than in reality for quite some time. Nevertheless, this article goes to show how quickly a political party can alienate its allies.

Also...go Royals!

"The GOP and Me" by Rany Jazayerli
Published at Rany on the Royals, November 6, 2012
http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/2012/11/the-gop-and-me.html

Eric

Longread #222 -- The Heart of Darkness -- 12/27/12

It's not everyday that you find a quality longread in an airline's in-flight magazine. Today's article comes from Spirit Magazine, which is published by Southwest Airlines. It documents the unusual paths that brought two men together to help reduce violence in America particularly among America's youth. As we have faced a number of tragic violent situations recently, I think it offers a compelling message about the importance of forgiveness not just for the health of the victims but also for the health of society in general.

"The Heart of Darkness" by Megan Feldman
Published in Spirit Magazine, November 2012
http://www.spiritmag.com/features/article/the_heart_of_darkness/?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #221 -- Eliminate Sports Welfare -- 12/26/12

Today's longread looks at one of the darker sides of sports in America. While we often think of the joys of going to sporting events or the camaraderie of being a sports fan, this article shows how commonly we (as taxpayers) are getting fleeced in order to line the pockets of team owners and players. I love sports, but I have no sympathy for owners who complain whenever these financial incentives are threatened. I strongly agree with Hruby -- let's eliminate sports welfare. It may not solve the much larger fiscal problems facing our country, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

"Let's Eliminate Sports Welfare" by Patrick Hruby
Published by Sports on Earth, December 12, 2012
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/40595178/?src=longreads&buffer_share=8c5d5

Eric

Longread #220 -- The Year in Band Names -- 12/21/12

There's not a lot for me to say to introduce today's longread. If you're going to read one "2012 in review" article, I'd suggest this one.

Note: I couldn't get a single page version, so you will want to click to page 2 to read the full article.

"Fartbarf, Neon Piss, and more: the year in band names 2012" by Kyle Ryan
Published in the Onion A.V. Club, December 13, 2012
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-year-in-band-names-2012,89829/

Eric

Longread #219 -- The Online Cat-Industrial Complex -- 12/20/12

In another exploration of strange subcultures, today's longread looks at the internet's most famous cats and the people behind their videos. It's a light read but an interesting case study of a seemingly fringe subculture that has exploded in terms of overall popularity.

"In Search of the Living, Purring, Singing Heart of the Online Cat-Industrial Complex" by Gideon Lewis-Kraus
Published in Wired, August 31, 2012
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/08/ff_cats/all/?src=longreads

Eric

Longread #218 -- Waiting for Bigfoot -- 12/19/12

Today's longread offers another look at a fringe group that holds fast to a belief despite a preponderance of contradictory evidence. It turns out there is an active scene of people searching to find bigfoot. As this article touches on, it seems that the social element is just as important as the prospect of actually seeing bigfoot. This is likely the case for many fringe groups -- it's not so much the belief that holds everyone together but rather the sense of connectedness and being part of a community.

"Waiting for Bigfoot" by Colleen O'Neil
Published in Outside Online, November 29, 2012
http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/north-america/united-states/ohio/Waiting-for-Bigfoot.html?page=all&src=longreads

Eric