Insomnia

The last post's title was a reference to the DJ mix series "Late Night Tales." Many different people have had their own Late Night Tales including Jamiroquai, Belle and Sebastian, and Fatboy Slim. I had two of the albums previously, but I never really listened to them before. It's strange, really. Most people would do this as a remix album, but nope. These are all originals, just some mixing done. They're basically the mixtapes we all make, except they're done by famous people. How odd.

It makes me want to make the ultimate mixtape. I had an idea for a mixtape, where it would be made up of songs that sampled the actual lines from a song and when the that part of the sampling song hit, I would mix it with the original and let the original play after that, then mix it into another song and repeat. I just wish I knew the correct software to use to do crap like that.

Does a mixtape tell you anything about the person who made it? I guess it tells you what type of music they like but I wonder if it tells you anything beyond that. We all know/have made/have received those mixtapes that express the feelings of tenderness, but even beyond that. I know that when I make mixes, I like to keep a certain theme throughout. It makes finding songs that mix into each other easier. Might it tell someone the certain mood I was in when I made it? I shall attempt to read into the mixtapes I hear from now on.

In other news, it was Malcolm X's birthday (it was also my friend Kirk's birthday, how silly). I got my brother the Autobiography of Malcolm X last week and he's been reading it a lot. I'm slowly molding him into a smaller version of me. Soon he'll be out canvassing the neighborhood with petitions and lobbying and rallying. A lovely vision to behold.

Speaking of convassing the neighborhood, I've been reading Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Real Radicals" lately, and I must say, and interesting read. Written the year before his death, this book is Alinsky's attempt to impart the knowledge gained over decades of community organizing to youngsters trying to get in the same game. The book feels like a bare skeleton of what could actually be divulged. For example, Alinsky states that one must be fear and hated by the machine (my word of course, by which I mean the establishment, or the "Haves" to quote the man himself). He goes on to say that when he was organizing his first group, he acted in ways to make the newspaper revile at him and the establishment to condemn him. This all worked in his favor because the "Have Nots" reacted by inviting him in and respecting him as someone who could get things done. At this juncture, Alinsky believes his point made, but what were the exact methods he used? How are we to mimic his results? He gives no answers.

His second chapter is highly flawed in my opinion, as he states quite clearly in this chapter that ends justify almost any means. I disagree wholeheartedly. He says that the Haves and the Have Nots work on two different moral pillars, and are therefore found to be just in their own eyes. I think that this is completely wrong and both parties should be held to certain moral principles. I mean by this that what morals one party believes the other party should be held accountable to, that party must also follow.

But other than that, it's interesting. I wish there was a bit more instruction.

I got a call from Texas Freedom Network's Youth Leadership Council. I was apparently the first person they called for the phone interviews. I think it went well, and I'm hoping they'll give me a position. It'll be nice to get a bit of money coming in. All that's required is tabling once a month, putting on an event once a semester, and blogging once a week. I blog once a week as it is already so I'm set. Also, apparently I'm going to be called once a month and there's another conference call with all the members monthly, but that shouldn't be a problem. And a free trip to DC! Color me excited.

I'm not sure what book I'll start when I'm finished with Rules for Radicals. Maybe Wind-Up Bird Chronicles. Yeah, I'm thinking that one. Too much non-fiction for me, need some fiction. Love it.

Summer is coming to a close soon. But I'm moving into my apartment soon and I'm super excited. House Warming party? Yeah? Yeah!