Late Arrival
Some earworms are intrusive. When you find an advertising jingle or a song you’re sick and tired of keeps playing in your mind again and again, it can be irksome to the point of distraction. I used to have that. Happily, it appears to have dwindled in favor of happy earworms.
Happy earworms are enjoyable: a musical soundtrack that you discover your inner DJ playing over and over again. Considering the other things your inner voice can get up to, playing music that you like is among the better.
The music of John Linnel and John Flansburgh—the founders of the band They Might Be Giants—often tends to evolve into happy earworms for me. I will hear a certain song’s refrain and its instrumentation and try to recall the lyrics. For instance, I found myself wondering, “Did he say, ‘Who ate the babies’ in that song?” The tune and rhythm kept my thoughts returning to this odd question.
The answer was “Yes”—at least in the song Synopsis for Latecomers. The words could be either metaphysical or just weird, or something in between. But it makes for an easy earworm.
If you feel the urge to sing along and wonder if you heard right, the lyrics are conveniently located here at the They Might Be Giants internet knowledge base, a.k.a., “This Might Be a Wiki”.
Good morning all!
Yesterday was busy with an early start. Sorry I missed the TD discussion. I agree that some things get just too long. I like Kevin Williamson but don't always read his pieces; Nick is a good writer but he is, in my opinion, by far the worst when it comes to the (interest+benefit)/length ratio. In general, Jonah is usually good about dragging all sorts of amusing elements in and managing to weave them together into a sharp, coherent observation by the end.
At this point, I am less worried about national politics than I am about NC politics. If there is anything close to a centrist publication in this state, I am not aware of it. I have subscribed to the Raleigh News & Observer for longer than I care to admit but am going to cancel the subscription because it is ridiculously expensive and biased in both the content and territory of its coverage. Every time I try to give it one last chance I get thoroughly disgusted. We will miss the Sunday funnies, though - they have actually gotten better recently (in quantity and content!).
I think that maybe Republican legislation isn't quite as evil as it appears but I don't know. I have the impression that they have decided it is better off for voters to see them fighting the media than it is for them (voters) to have substantive information to consider. "Distract 'em with childhood gender affirming care so we can take care of what's really important."
I mention this because it seems to me that there may be an opportunity here for TD: some investigation of news coverage in the culture war states - what is available and how solid is it?
And now I have five minutes to get dressed and leave for church. Time flies.
Placido Domingo again, everyone.