Talk of the town

So Girl Talk played here last night (if you don't know who he is, get googling. You are seriously missing out). I can't really express how incredible that was. It's always sort of an awe-inducing experience to see several hundred people jumping in sheer joy the instant sound begins to pour out over a room drenched in sweat and happiness.

I know that sounds sappy, but damn it was good. Everyone seemed to be having an amazing time and there wasn't a person there who didn't seem totally worn out by the end of it. I still feel like I have a sheep stuffed in each ear.

The last time I saw Girl Talk was this past summer at All Points West. There was plenty about that experience that I could talk about, but his show was the first time that I was shocked at how impressively someone could bring a crowd to its feet and keep them right in the palm of his hand for the entire set. The same went for last night. As the victorious chords of Journey's "Faithfully" rang out into the room, I found myself screaming along with all the others despite no longer really having the energy or the voice. I didn't care. I was completely wrapped up in it and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Dr. Time

I remember back in 8th grade, the first time that I felt like I fell in love with someone and she then went off and dated someone else. I thought it would never get better. I haven't seen her in years, except for that magic window known as Facebook, and I rarely ever think about that.

I've always been mopey about girls that I like moving on. Honestly, I think it's because it takes me a good long time to move on myself. And that's what I knew was going to happen when she left for Ireland.

If you know me personally, this will make sense. If you don't, then please enjoy the ride. I doubt it will be fun for anyone, I feel like I have to let it out.

We met back in February when I was traveling with a bunch of my friends. We were in Philly, we weren't supposed to be there long. I hadn't intended to do anything except sleep. We met and connected, and I went back to her place. That turned into an eight month relationship that ended this past October when we finally decided that if she was going to be in Dublin for the majority of the next four years, it probably wasn't going to work.

I told myself this was fine, that I could get over it, that I didn't WANT to be in a relationship where the obstacle wasn't just a plane ride, but a trans-Atlantic flight. I occupied myself with other things, classes and job applications and music and friends, and thought everything was fine.

But I'm bad at the whole being single thing. And I started to think about all the things that had been good in the relationship. Maybe I'm idealizing, but I got along with her very well. We had similar tastes in nearly everything and, towards the end, were just so comfortable with each other that it always felt wrong to be apart. At least, to me it felt that way.

I found out today that I wasn't totally right about things. That's what I was told anyway. I didn't really show her how I felt and I didn't really show her how strong I felt them. So when I realized it a few weeks ago, it was a few weeks too late.

This is not to say that I even had control over it, but I wanted so badly to have a second chance, to have a new opportunity to say "This is it for me." And I'm not even scared to admit that. That actually scares me a little, but in a good way.

I have, in some ways moved on. I'm trying to see other people and I'm trying to not think about it. But when I crawl in bed at night, its hard to not let my mind wander there. Maybe if I can get myself with someone else I could forget, but then I start to worry about what would happen if I couldn't.

And on top of it all, I'm probably just being mopey that a girl I loved moved on. And that thought, that I'm still that kid from all those years ago, seems to hurt the most.

Fail

OhmygodIfailatblogging.

I haven't touched this site since FEBRUARY. That's insane.

I really do like blogging. I really do. I didn't even have a reason to stop. I just did out of laziness. That's not a good thing.

I started this out of interest in the medium. Then I got bored. Then realized I liked it again. It's a great way for me to get out my thoughts onto paper and in the end, I always do enjoy it. I just have to find a way for it to stay fresh for me. I'll get this going again somehow.

I'm attacking the darkness!

It is way too damn cold for my liking.

Let me back up.

I love Boston. I love the feel of the city and its people and its buildings. I love the skyline in the day and at night. I love the Commons, and Chinatown, and the Pru. I even love the schizophrenic bursts of weather like the crazy things that happened yesterday. (Note: It should not be snowing with thunder and lightning at the SAME TIME. To paraphrase Lewis Black, that is some scary-ass biblical weather. That means you Boston!)

But my love for Boston is easily stretched thin when I stepped outside this morning and was greeted by an icy blast of wind that sucked the air right out of my lungs. I froze, both metaphorically and movementally, and thought, "This is not going to be a fun day to be outside." Walking just to and from my one class has left me with a large distaste for the negative wind-chill that Boston has conjured up. One would think that a weather system with any sense of decency would at least drop an inch or ten of snow to make it at least visually appealing. Instead we have this horrible dusting of barely an inch that is more ice than winter wonderland.

To change tracks completely, this Friday (February 15th, 2008) marks the beginning of the 2008 VoiceMale East Coast tour! I am quite excited. Gigs I know for certain (I'm not in charge of planning the tour) are as follows:

Friday, February 15: Wesleyan University with Onomatopoeia (did I spell that right?)
Sunday, February 17: Bryn Mawr with the Night Owls
Monday, February 18: Drew University with... I really have no idea who we're singing with or where this is... New Jersey maybe?
Tuesday, February 19: Virginia Tech with the Sensations
Wednesday, February 20: UVA with the Sil'hooettes
Thursday, February 21: Duke with Out of the Blue and possibly UNC with the Loreleis ( again, did I spell that right?)
Friday, February 22: William and Mary with the Passing Notes
Saturday, February 23:Johns Hopkins with the Sirens
and finally Sunday, February 24:Back to Brandeis

So it should be a fun tour to say the least. I hope for good turnouts and good health along the way. I'll keep you posted.

watwatWAAAAAT?!

I'm totally dumbfounded by what I've just witnessed. I mean one-hundred percent totally blown away. But then again I'm fairly tired.

It's called Raptor Safari. Check it out.


Off-Road Velociraptor Safari (Preinstall) from Matthew Wegner on Vimeo.

Touch and Go

This article at USA Today caught my eye in a bad way. It's talking about how advocacy groups now have incredible power over advertisers' content during major events, namely the Super Bowl. The prime example of this was the "suicidal robot" ad from last year's game that sparked a web-wave of controversy from those who thought the ad made light of suicide and ended with the original ad being yanked from the airwaves and GM's website.

Now I understand the concern. I myself felt uncomfortable watching that ad when it came on. It's not exactly the most humorous subject under any circumstances and definitely has powerful emotional connotations. But I made a specific decision when I saw the ad. I didn't want the ad pulled. That's a blow to GM, but not nearly the proper response. What about not buying from them? That might get some attention.

Hell, I forgot that the ad had even run until I read the article. With the ad pulled, there's nothing to remain in the psyche. Everybody goes on buying and barely putting a dent in GM's $3.3 billion advertising budget. In 2005, the cost of running a 30-second spot during the Superbowl was approximately $2.4 million. That's a small price to pay for indiscretion for some.

But then there's the other problem the article brought up from me. Things like the National Restaurant Association (there's an NRA you never hear about) complaining that the Kevin Federline ad (y'know, the one where he's a fry cook) was demeaning to fast food workers.

Note to fast food workers: If you work in a McDonald's or a Burger King, I have to problem with you or your job. You provide me with somethetimes delicious food to go. But somehow, I don't think that there's a great sense of prestige associated with your fryolator.

Really? I mean... REALLY? Demeaning to fast food workers? Should we say that the Budweiser ads are demeaning to mules or lesser horses? What about clearly absurd ads like the recent "Swiss Family Robinson" Emerald Nuts ad? Is that demeaning to Swiss maroonees?

I'm done I swear.

The thing that gets me is that these special interest groups are starting to dominate our national consciousness. Every conceivable group or demographic appears to have their own representation that every businessman or politician is afraid of offending. We're turning slowly into a nation of people with no sense of self-responsibility. We're letting these groups define us by what they think they represent for us. Until we stand up and take action for ourselves, we're like a nation of babies being told what we want. I don't think anyone really wants that.

Just Push Play

Sometimes I feel like there's a great deal of power contained within a single push of a button or the click of a mouse. The transfer of will into action, of thought into deed, and of curiosity into mistake.

Take the elevator, for example. (Was that sentence grammatically correct? I think not!) We call out for a giant metal box, several times our own body weight, command the opening and closing of its doors, and send the box up and down an elevator shaft sometimes hundreds of feet high just with button presses. We command with single fingers.

We can publish great works of literature and art online with the mouse. We can scour the globe for a rare item, speak with the vendor, and buy the damn thing without ever moving more than our fingers and wrists. Think about doing that 100 years ago. What about 50? What about 10? Even so recently as a decade ago we did not have the degree of technology available that we do now. The magic buttons of our society now enter into our pockets as we begin to carry smartphones and iPhones and other interconnected gadgetry. These things that can instantly move sums of money or sell a company or start a career have become essential to our daily lives.

I can no longer conceive of escaping from the online world for an extended period of time. The idea that I should have to be out of contact from e-mail and phone service not only seems patently ridiculous, but also somewhat frightening. And that in itself frightens me.

Back in the Saddle Again

I've gone and set a new record for inactivity here. 6 monthsish. Wonderful. I feel like such a bad person.

Quick rundown of what's happened since then. China was fun, jetlag was not. First semester junior year. Happy 2008!

Ok.

I'm gonna try to keep this thing up and running, and back to what I originally wanted it to be. Some kind of commentary site where people can come and say "Well isn't he a bit touched..." I feel like there has to be a method to my internal madness and maybe if I just write enough of it down then there's a chance I can figure it all out.

But I doubt it.

Speaking of people who aren't all there (Hello!) , there's a networking site that now exists for people who refer to themselves as real-life superheroes or "Reals". They run around in costumes with gadgets and look for crime to fight. Barring that, they donate at a local food bank or homeless shelter.

What's up with that? (I'm not gonna give you a link, it's always more rewarding to stumble upon this stuff all by yourself.) Is it really so hard to do good that people feel a need to be some alter-ego to accomplish it? Or have they been misled by the idea that they could just sit on a rooftop until they hear a scream for help in the night?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that we should just let the world go on turning like an unstoppable top (would that be a good band name? The Unstoppable Tops?) but I also don't think that we should have to be superheroes to do it. Why not volunteer or donate as part of our regular life and not when asked? Why not, like those insurance ads on TV say, be responsible?

If there's a problem, fix it. If there isn't, don't. That makes sense right? So why do we forget this simple thing? Why do we let problems get bigger?

Maybe all we need is a little spandex and a flashy title.

For those of you who have read this far, I want you to leave a comment with the following. Give me your real-life superhero name (check out the Reals for inspiration) and what your real-life superhero will do. It doesn't have to be comic-book worthy. It could be donating time at a shelter or just giving food at a food bank.

Then go and be that hero. Go donate and do your super-task that you just described.

I'll start.

To fit with the semi-anonymity of blogging, I'll take the name Masquerade. I will be donating through kiva.org to help poor entrepreneurs start businesses in third-world countries.

What about you?