Desert Island Discs

It is difficult for me to think about ranking music without having a little thought for the film High Fidelity, a film which obsessively ranks music and relationship issues, all the while unraveling the mysteries of them. Incidentally, the film makes me think of a bunch of my guy friends from college...(give the video 10 seconds to become clear)


That said, I set out to think of my top 8 all time favorite songs. I thought it would be easy. Eight songs! That's not many...surely I have some definitive favorites. But no, the task became grueling. Each time I had chosen one song, another beat would begin to drum in my ear. Oh right! I forgot Nina Simone! But what about Sam Cooke? And the Clash! After much deliberation, I decided that if I truly were stuck on a desert island, I would need to have songs which inspired me to move, and therefore stay alive. So here goes...

1)Dreaming, by Blondie



I picked this song for two reasons. For one, it gets me revved up. Whenever I am feeling lazy but have to get something done, I can put this song on and start moving. This would be helpful if stranded on an island. But also the song reminds me of my life working in a restaurant, a life of tough independence but that always made me dream of something else. (not too unlike being stuck on a desert island, except that you have to smile at strangers all day!!)

2) You Don't Own Me, by Leslie Gore



This song is also about independence. I may grow out of adoring it yet, but for now, it always makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. If I were stuck on an island, I would sing this very loud and very melodramatically, dedicating it to the island itself.

3) The Harlem Shuffle, by Bob and Earl



There is no philosophical reason for me to choose this song. It's just good. But it does make me want to dance and I think that would be an important way to stay happy while alone on an island. Some of you might recognize the intro to this song as it was sampled by House of Pain in "Jump Around", another fun song to dance to, though I am somewhat partial to older tunes.

4) At Last, by Etta James



Contrary to the statement I made about picking songs that make me want to move, this one makes me swoon...I'm not sure that it would actually MOTIVATE me to survive, but it would help me to chill out at the end of a long day of hunting and gathering. Besides, I'm a huge Etta James fan. The video accompanying her song has nothing to do with it, though I also like David Lynch and I think it was an interesting choice to edit Wild at Heart to this song.

5) I've Been Loving You, by Otis Redding



Otis Redding is a deity...and this song makes me a believer. How does he do that with his voice? How does he make me feel bad about something I definitely didn't do? How does he make me want to follow him to the end of time? Whatever magic it is that he keeps in his vocal chords, I'm so glad he shares it with us.

6) The Isrealites, by Desmond Dekker and the Aces



This song is a classic of Jamaican music. Although the lyrics talk about inequality and suffering to survive, it is an inspiring song. I like how the song can be heavy and light simultaneously: it makes you want to dance, but also move to action.

7) Mesopotamia, by the B52s



I'm particularly fond of this song for the line, "Before I talk, I should read a book!" The B52s have been rocking since 1976...and they still do! I've seen them twice and they never disappoint. I think that's part of why I would need to have a little B52s with me on a desert island, for stamina!

8) Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, by Doris Day



This song will probably not help me survive on the island, either, but it is all about the uncertainties of life, and surviving them. So in the fight for the eighth seat, an unlikely fight against "Close To Me" by the Cure and "Generator" by Bad Religion...Doris Day wins!

Voting Fears

The US presidential elections in 2000 and 2004 turned this US citizen into a real skeptic. It was clear to most of us watching that George W. Bush did not win the 2000 election. Scandalous events in the Florida election(where George W.'s brother Jeb was governor)made us all wonder just how reliable the voting machines and the electoral college were. Especially as Al Gore won the popular vote with 48.38% to Bush's 47.87%. The 2004 election raised further questions about the accuracy of voting machines. Many executives of Diebold, a major voting machine producer, were fund raisers, supporters and even possible cabinet members for G. W. Bush. I'm still not convinced the George W. Bush was ever legitimately elected President.

This year, though the US seemed overwhelmingly ready for change, it was hard to erase the memory of the voting machine scandals.



Fortunately, for whatever reason, voting machine numbers seemed to match exit poll numbers this time. The US can finally enjoy the chance for real change.

Greetings!

To inaugurate the IFIPS experiment blogspot, I'd like to start by telling about myself...

My Past and Present

I was born and raised on the east coast of the United States and I spent most of my life in the Washington, D.C. area, especially in Gettysburg, PA. When I came to Paris in September of 2006, it was to get my master's degree in French and to become a French professor. But life's path can be winding and unpredictable, so now I'm teaching English at the IUT de Cachan at the Université de Paris-Sud XI. Seeing the internet as an important tool for communication, my colleague Liz and I look forward to seeing our students use their English skills in meaningful dialog.

My Future
or five things I'd like to have accomplished in the next five years

1) I'd like to complete a PhD program in French.

My long term goal is still to return to the US and to inspire students to learn more about France. Having a PhD will allow me to accomplish this and meanwhile to keep learning.

2) I'd like to learn to make curry from scratch.

Mmm...Curry...
One of my favorite hobbies is eating; cooking is an important complementary activity. A good eater learns to cook their favorite meals!

3) I want to get back into a regular exercise routine and maintain it!

These days, my exercise routine consists of Parisian window shopping...not exactly the best cardio workout!

4) I hope to visit Germany, Morocco and Argentina.

I plan on going to Argentina to see my friend Pili, an Argentine girl who lived with my family as an exchange student when I was in high school. Friends of mine have traveled to Morocco and have inspired me to want to go. Berlin, Germany, has been on my list since I saw the play Cabaret.

5) I want to learn Spanish.

Knowing how to speak Spanish is quickly becoming a necessity in the United States.