MTV: Culpable

When I was about 13 my parents had cable and a new channel was added- MTV. Their daughter soon transformed from the hooked on phonics, top parochial school reading group, avid bookworm into an MTV addict. I had always loved music like my parents and reading had always been more natural to me than watching tv. Except for Siempre en Domingo, because that show with Raul Velasco was all musicians performing their music live on tv.

I spoke to my mom this evening and she asked me, "how is the dissertation going?" I felt 13 again...umm mom the MTV Video Awards are on. She laughed. But watching JT bring the 'sexy back,' and Shakira dominate the stage...was worth it.

My thought was to review some conference proposals I volunteered to read for a professional organization while watching. I completely understand why my parents had to cut the cable. Yo quiero mi MTV, de ves en cuando...

All Time Top 5...

I loved the film High Fidelity, even owned the VHS. What did ever happen to John Cusack? In keeping with the film here are my top 5 post dissertation indulgences and corresponding soundtracks:

• Number 5 Take my third trip to the Balearic island of Ibiza. Relax in a villa with family and friends. Cafe del Mar sounds like DJ Danny Tenaglia & MC Solaar.
• Number 4 Complete textbook, chapter, and article publications with my patient collaborators. iGracias! Sounds that move me, Janice Joplin & Ozomatli.
• Number 3 Go to my first burning man...On my way to work at 6:45 this morning I saw a caravan leaving town. Next burn I am bringing Manu Chao & Rage Against the Machine.
• Number 2 Hopefully relocate to my new university post in Southern California. Sounds that remind me of home, Julietta Venegas & Little Louie Vega feat India.
• Number 1 Amazing but true, think about the next generation and document the stories and recipe's of mi familia from Aguascalientes to Los Angeles. San Jose Alfredo Jimenez y la cancion de Lauren Hill, "To Zion."

Oh, and for those of you that remember the little procedure I kept claiming I would undergo post dissertation...Well I guess the bay area did make me a bit granola afterall!

Review Driven: Factotum

I read the review by Mick LaSalle about the film 'Factotum,' on the life of Charles Bukowski last Friday. Reading about Bukowski as a poet and novelist that wrote and submitted three stories a week was motivating. He was not on a deadline and I thought his work ethic might have fit into my own framework that distraction is really just inspiration. Admittedly Bukowski as I read the review grew even more fascinating due to his ability to write despite distraction. That evening I went to the used book shop down the street and was told, "He is a very hard writer to come by, unless of course you read Italian? We do have one copy." My intention was to read the book the film was based on, however, the film would have to do. By Monday my friend and I had snuck in small bottles of red wine and sugar free Godiva chocolate...It was then that I had my answers about how and when Bukowski wrote. Today I reread the review, about to recycle my newspaper- but I couldn't. Instead, I cut out the photo of Matt Dillon as he portrayed Bukowski sitting at a bar, taking in that drag from his smoke about to write...