Random pop.

Songs like "Tubthumping" by "Chubawamba" remind us all that no one gets pissed off like the British working class. And that's just a fact.

The truth is that art has less to do with thought and more to do with libido. That's the energy everyone's always talking about.

But ever since manufacturing hits became a science the libidinal effort is no longer necessary.  Unfortunately, no matter what you do, if it's not put in at the front of the equation, it's not there at the end of the equation. That's why pop songs these days have a very predictable shelf -life.

But it's also why things explode with popularity from the most unlikely places. Something new must be coming.

My friend says that this is what it was like in the 1850's & 1860's, that's why everything good is underground. I would trust him. If you knew him, you'd be able to tell that he knows because he was probably there.

Undead

Writing about zombies can be a real pill.

I know they're insanely popular these days, so everyone's doing it. I was asked to do it, and in my current position, I can't say no to any potential gig.

Zizek says 'there are two kinds of undead in the world of pop-culture; the vampire and the zombie. The vampire is the upper class undead; aristocratic, refined, well spoken. Whereas the zombie is the working class undead; disheveled, always hungry, and silent.

As someone writing currently, I will say that this dynamic was deliberately true in previous decades. But now, the dead and the undead have no meaning at all...

If you watch any of the new zombie or vampire movies; you'll notice the most important things in them is the stuff. Material goods. Materialism has become the real horror of media and we didn't even notice.

So, writing about zombies, and pretending there is any meaning in the new stories about them can be really depressing...

Iowa II

So disappointing, Cruz is boring,

Had Trump won it would have been American political history. Maybe he can come back, but it's a blow and he'll have to move big and strong or we'll end up with a candidate like Rubio.

Glad Bernie had a good showing.

Iowa

Iowa tonight!

Want to see a Trump win so bad.

Wipe the smug look off all those goonie-beard-wearing-poli-sci-hipster-bastards that said it was impossible.

All the pundits will have to eat shit.

And all the data journalist will look like fools!

Go Trump!

On the other side of things... GO BERNIE!

Badness.

It's an interesting thing, struggling with badness.

Most people are always trying to tackle goodness. See little situation where they can do some 'good' or whatever. Giving the extra couple bucks at Whole Foods or CVS for the starving children, or whatever cause celeb is current wherever they are.

Some people even take it another step, go to marches or protests, and all that nonsense. PETA people yelling about how we treat animals, solidarity vigils, all kinds of crap that makes people feel good about doing 'good'.

Those people are fine. But wrestling with badness is different. People know you're bad. You're always stuffing down bad habits; from snaky remarks to hard drink.

Badness. It's a fight worth having, I think. But it's a hard one. And it's one that comes with the understanding that you are a bad person. I haven't done too much evil in this world. But I may be a bad person. I fear that I am.

I'm definitely weak. Which is bad.

Pure evidence of weakness is how bad this post is.

Better and better, right Norman?