Isaac Garcia's Blog

Tom Brokaw Is Out of Touch - An Elitist

After I poured out some Cheerios for my daughter this morning she wanted to watch something on TV - she suggested Sesame Street or Strawberry Shortcake. 

While flipping through the channels we came across Meet The Press - Tom Brokaw was interviewing Barack Obama. 

In response to Obama's comments about the auto maker's bailouts, compensation packages, fuel efficient cars, etc....Tom Brokaw quipped:

"Well, as gasoline prices continue to drop to near $1.00/gallon people are just going to go back out and drive their SUVs again.  Why don't we just apply a gas tax back up to the $4.00/gallon, where people were becoming comfortable paying, and use the profits to invest in alternative energy?"

Tom Brokaw needs to pack it up and go back to writing books. 

His smug elitism and immediate willingness to tax America without any regard to the working class, the daily commuters that have to drive because there is no mass transit available, those people who can't afford a "green car," and without any regard or respect for the people that STRUGGLED with $4.00/gallon gasoline.

He was 100% clueless and had NO QUALMS about "just raising gas tax to $4.00."

Unbelievable.  Just because Brokaw is rich enough to pay for $4.00/gallon gasoline, he believes the rest of America can too.  What this IDIOT needs to understand is that low gas prices are good for American Workers.  Sure, its a sign of a weakening economy, but cheap fuel is GOOD for America.  Trying to profit for pet projects on the backs of working class Americans is a typical Elitist comment and common expectation from someone who is completely out of touch with America. 

Luckily, Obama didn't think it was a good idea.

Tim Russert - Rest In Peace, you are sorely missed.

It Was a Good Saturday Night - NIN in LA

This wasn't a "1990 flashback" to Pretty Hate Machine.

Highlight of the night? A stripped down version of "Hurt".

Was I the only person kinda freaking out at the thought that I was a fan of NIN 19 years ago? Woah.

The crowd was a mix across three generations last night. Overall? A mellow - but honest crowd in LA at
The Great Western Forum; and a solid performance by the band with a balanced, impressive sound.

James

Am I the only James fan in LA?

Coming to town Oct 2nd.  Tix go on sale Aug. 9th at Ticketmaster

iTunes Feels Like Sam Goody - Trent Reznor

For all of you Apple Fanatics out there.....

"iTunes kind of feels like Sam Goody to me. I don't feel cool when I go there. I'm tired of seeing John Mayer's face pop up. I feel like I'm being hustled when I visit there, and I don't think their product is that great. DRM, low bit rate, etc." - Trent Reznor

I totally agree.    Get your music here

Introducing Saul Williams - List of Demands

I'm sure I'm behind the times, but I read about Saul Williams in New York Magazine yesterday.  I looked him up and came across this bad-ass song - "List of Demands."

Funny thing - I forwarded the links to a friend of mine who responded, "Dude, I went to NYU with that guy!" 

Saul Williams - Poet / Performer

Keep an eye on this guy.

Goodbye Blue Sky - Pink Floyd

Lots of things coalesce at different times in our lives that create unique, memorable, perfect moments. 

Over the weekend, the family was in the backyard enjoying the beautiful Southern California weather.  Malena (my daughter) was playing with PlayDough while Michelle (my wife) and I were talking about the crazy week.  Between the foiled terrorist attack in England and how we had just bought non-refundable tickets on British Airways for a trip to England that we have planned in October....and the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hizbollah (or is it Hesbullah or Hezballah?).....and the real pending conflict between US and Iran.........and how Los Angeles is a prime target for terrorist attack or a nuke from the idiots in North Korea or even China......gloom in the air and the buzz of an airplane over our head........when Malena looks up and says in the perfect child-like voice:

"Look Mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky"
(I couldn't have been more proud to hear my daughter quote Pink Floyd so succinctly and so perfectly.  Whether it was by accident or not is irrelevant.)

I half way expected WWIII to suddenly begin in Los Angeles or for the neighborhood to be transported by loud, warm, glowing music of Pink Floyd.

"Goodbye Blue Sky"

Did you, did you see the frightened ones?

Did you, did you hear the falling bombs?

Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter,

When the promise of a brave new world,

Unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?

Did you, did you see the frightened ones?

Did you, did you hear the falling bombs?

The flames are all long gone,

But the pain lingers on.

Goodbye, blue sky.

Goodbye, blue sky.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

It was a perfect moment that captured the feeling and mood of the conversation in my Los Angeles backyard in a way that only Pink Floyd could replicate.

"Airport Song" by Guster

Guster  (whatever happened to these guys?)

Airport Song

Glad you made it
Welcome to the farm
Who's your daddy?
I'm your daddy now

I'm here seeking only what I need
In your mind is where ill plant my seed
It's for sure

Let me keep you in this place
You'll be better off this way
I will keep you warm and safe
You'll be better off this way

You'll learn to love the price you pay
Trust me dear you're better off this way

Put to bed the son and sister moon
Ill be hiding in your dirty room
Go there seeking only what I need
La ti da we'll stay there till we bleed
It's for sure

Let me keep you in this place
You'll be better off this way
I will keep you warm and safe
You'll be better off this way

I will not wake you from your sleep
Leave you wandering counting sheep
No more sad and sunshine days
Trust me dear you're better off this way
You'll be selling books at the airport!

"I'll Be You" by The Replacements

Just a damn good song.  Thats all.

"I'll Be You"

If it’s a temporary lull
Why’m I bored right outta my skull?
Man, I’m dressin’ sharp an’ feelin’ dull

Lonely, I guess that’s where I’m from
If I was from Canada
Then I’d best be called lonesome

And if it’s just a game
Then I’ll break down just in case
Hurry up, we’re runnin’ in our last race

Well, I laughed half the way to Tokyo
I dreamt I was Surfer Joe
An’ what that means, I don’t know

A dream too tired to come true
Left a rebel without a clue
And I’m searching for somethin’ to do

If it’s just a game
Then we’ll hold hands just the same
So what, we’re bleeding but we ain’t cut

And I could purge my soul perhaps
For the imminent collapse
Oh yeah, I’ll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
I’ll be you

A dream too tired to get to
Left a rebel without a clue
Won’t you tell me what I should do?

And if it’s just a lull
Why’m I bored right outta my skull?
Oh yeah, it'll keep me from feeling so dull

And if it’s just a game
Then we’ll break down just in case
Then again, I’ll tell you what we could do
You be me for a while
You be me for a while
And I’ll be you

U2 - Original of the Species

Some moments in our lives are defined by a song or album that we heard while in the midst of a break-up, a meltdown, a roadtrip or an alcohol binge. 

Well, that 'moment' for me spanned the entirety of last year (2005).  2005 will always be remembered as a very busy year for me (us).  It was the first complete year with our daughter Malena.  I walked away from my job of 3 years at CNET and started Central Desktop.  We started an addition to our home.  We ensured that Malena would have a sibling (my wife is due next month).  My parents moved from Texas to California.  The year that it rained over 61 inches in Altadena (and it wasn't an El Nino year). And, finally, 2005 will be the year that I fell in love with U2 again.

For me, the soundtrack of my life for 2005 was U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.  By far, its been the most listened to album in my house, car, computer and iPod.  While I like every single song on this album, this one really stands out; and its my song of the week (year). 

Its Original of the Species and you've all heard and seen clips of this song from the Video iPod commercials. 

Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it

Some things you shouldn't get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it, no
And you'll never be alone
Come on now show your soul
You've been keeping your love under control

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it
Everywhere you go you shout it
Oh my my

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel ‘cos I want you some more
I want you some more, I want you some more...

"Wake Up" by The Arcade Fire

I saw U2 earlier this month in Los Angeles.  In spite of the killer ticket price and my low expectations I was completely blown away.  It was an unbelievable show.  I've seen U2 five or six times and I believe that their LA performance on November 1st was one of their best. 

But, in addition to the great show, I found a new band.  Right before U2 came on stage, the house lights dimmed, the warm-up music volume is cranked really loud and a solo electric guitar starts strumming a power chord riff that immediately gets the attention of the entire arena.  Its the type of riff that forces your leg to start moving and your knee starts bending to the cadence of the guitar along with your head bobbing forward and backward.  Suddenly, you and many others around you, are in perfect synch with the beat of the riff. 

The song continues to build to a crescendo that makes you want to scream with the same passion as the singer.  The first 3.00 minutes of "Wake Up" are some of the most intense and visceral raw 3:00 minutes of new music that I've heard in years.  From there, the song sort of does some odd things, but U2 was wise to walk onto stage right at the 3:00 mark.....it leaves you wanting more.

The song is called "Wake Up" by the band The Arcade Fire (an indie Canadian band).

Below are the lyrics and here is a link to an audio stream of the song.

Somethin’ filled up
my heart with nothin’,
someone told me not to cry.

But now that I’m older,
my heart’s colder,
and I can see that it’s a lie.

Children wake up,
hold your mistake up,
before they turn the summer into dust.

If the children don’t grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We’re just a million little god’s causin rain storms
Turnin’ every good thing to rust.

I guess we’ll just have to adjust.

With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’
I can see where I am goin’ to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.

With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’
I can see where I am goin’
With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’
I can see where I am go-goin’

You better look out below!