I forgot to mention that since I’m on vacation, that obviate would be going on a short hiatus. I forgot to post that before I left. Oops.

New posts should resume by Monday, July 7.

I have very recently become obsessed with a random, well-known but not, early 70s country classic.
Two words. Delta. Dawn.

The song has this wonderful, huge, deep south choir sound to it, almost like this could be played in a huge country wedding chapel before being baptized onto the righteous path.
Still “Delta Dawn” makes me want to chug bourbon and possible consume chicken off the bone. If you know me, you know that I have an issue with eating meat off the bone. It makes me shudder.

(ASIDE)
I’m beginning to wonder why I have this fascination with southern people. Every time I am at work and I catch a twinge of a southern accent, I immediately ask if that customer is from out of town. Granted, to make a gross stereotype, southern people are kind of against everything I’m for. Barack Obama, energy effieciency, nonfried foods, etc., but perhaps I am enthralled with what I don’t understand. I don’t know anything about what the Delta Dawn looks like (the woman in the song was dubbed that since she was so beautiful).

Back to the song.
There are two versions of this song worth checking out.
Helen Reddy is an Australian performer best known for “I Am Woman,” but covered “Delta Dawn” soon after that. Her accent in the song is kind of affected, which could make it delightfully ironic. I haven’ decided yet.

Tanya Tucker’s version is a little less dramatic, since there’s no orchestral arrangment to make MORE sound, but a lot easier to belt along to, turning “Delta Dawn” into the perfect shower song (the words are really easy to remember).

I think my taste becomes more questionable the older I get. I used to dig Husker Du when I was 17. Now, at 21, I dig “Delta Dawn.”
I’m worried.

Click here to see a kid do something amazing.

I’m very impressed.

There’s very little action in life. Sure, we’re in constant motion–physically and mentally–but there’s very little action that actually takes place. However, I had a little bit over the last few days. In this case, “action” is a very literal term. Working for and alongside my favorite non-profit organization, I participated in an event protesting the continually unacceptable business practices of a major American company. Pretty vague, huh? They don’t even train me in this shit. I just point the camera. And that’s exactly what I did.

While three brave activists chained themselves to the main gates of one of the company’s manufacturing facilities, I wielded two cameras, live and still, to immortalize and publicize the event. All said and done, it was a tremendous, exhausting, sweaty, and incarcerating experience. (The latter doesn’t directly relate to me, but yes, people ended up in the pokey.) Aside from that, though, I’d like to return to my original thesis. Involving myself in such a proactive environment really made me take a hard look at the rest of my life. For the most part, I don’t accomplish much. I work a little, I write, I spend time with my girlfriend (which is pretty active, if you know what I mean! High five, anyone. . . anyone?) The point being, I wish my everyday life were more action-centered. If I could maintain a perpetual state of motivated engagements, I think I’d sleep more soundly.

I’ve been thinking about the last lines of David O. Russell’s I Heart Huckabees. Essentially, it goes something like this: Jason Schwartzman and Mark Walberg sit on a lone rock, having just established their existential path (something else I’m working on). Schwartzman, an environmental activist in the film, is asked by Walberg, a part-time fireman, “What are you doing tomorrow?”, to which he replies, “I was thinking about chaining myself to a bulldozer. Wanna come?”

“What time?”

“About four o’clock.”

“Sure.”

Then Walberg hits Schwartzman in the face with a large, rubber exercise ball.

That moment, that conversation, is one that I’d love to have on a regular basis. When asked what I’m doing tomorrow, my answer is generally somewhere between the fabulously interesting ends of I don’t know and Not much. I don’t mean to say I think it’s entirely necessary to steer my life towards hardcore activism, but still, it would be incredibly fulfilling to have something that reflects that quality. Be it community outreach, social activism, or masked crime-fighting, it’s becoming increasingly important to me to find that motivator, whatever it may be. Fortunately, I should have plenty of time to think about it tomorrow. What am I doing? Not much.

Long overdue, without further adieu…

Hüsker Dü - What’s Going On - Hüsker Dü is a band I’ve sat on for a while now but never really devoted my ear to until just recently. That said (and as many know) 1984’s Zen Arcade is an extraordinary record for it’s era. In fact, most of their catalog is of that high caliber. This track in particular is breathtaking with it’s wall of guitar fuzz, demented piano and Grant Hart’s deranged vocal.

Pela - Waiting on the Stairs - There’s a real sense of urgency in Pela’s music. I hear their live shows are pretty incredible and I want to catch them live when I get a chance. Here’s the phenomenal leadoff track from last year’s Anytown Graffiti.

El Madmo - Carlo! - El Madmo is Norah Jones’s rock band. They released an album relatively under the radar on Team Love on May 20. This song is AWESOME. The album is well worth checking out.

Lil’ Wayne has pushed over 1 million copies of Tha Carter 3 since it’s release last week. Despite the endless mixtapes and the fact that his tracks leak like a faucet, he’s posted the highest sales total since 50 Cent’s The Massacre in 2005.

Definately adds something new to the music piracy debate.

If you haven’t heard the record, make a point to listen to it. It’s one of the most bizarrely enjoyable hip hop albums I’ve heard in a while.

Check the article at MTV here.

Also, here’s I Feel Like Dying , one of Wayne’s more popular mixtape cuts.