1. IrvingSnodgrass - April 15, 1999 - 9:19 AM PT
What are the cool people listening to, reading or watching these days? I know what the uncool people are enjoying, because I'm one of them.
2. hashke - April 15, 1999 - 9:25 AM PT
Irv:
Watching Spanish telenovelas dubbed in Indonesian has gotta be cool.
Are they all dubbed, or are some subtitled in bahasa Indonesia?
3. IrvingSnodgrass - April 15, 1999 - 9:32 AM PT
hashke:
Believe it or not, they used to be dubbed in English, and subtitled in Indonesian (both Spanish and Portuguese telenovelas). Now they go straight to dubbing in Indonesian. The only foreign language allowed on Indonesian TV is English, so these are the only options. Indian films are also very popular, and are found both in English dub/Indonesian subtitle and Indonesian dubbed forms.
4. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 9:36 AM PT
Well, the cool people are listening to Muzzle, Penelope Houston, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
They are eating Thai, Korean, and Cuban.
They read Mark Leyner.
They workout employing a muscle confusion regimen.
5. IrvingSnodgrass - April 15, 1999 - 9:38 AM PT
Well, at least I'm eating cool.
6. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 9:45 AM PT
Jade
Not Tesh, eh? Sob.
Or KennyG. sigh.
I'm trying to reform, btw, only been listening to Clapton and Everlast for the last few days (other than the usual latin, celtic and jazz).
7. BobaFett - April 15, 1999 - 9:48 AM PT
Mark "Et Tu, Babe?" Leyner?
8. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 9:50 AM PT
MsIT;
Good for you. Clapton is ok; he puts on a good concert. If you like good guitar, you might check out Ry Cooder.
What/Who is Everlast?
Tesh is the devil. But, I admit that I must watch for a full minute when I come upon him while channel-surfing. I cannot turn away.
9. justlooking - April 15, 1999 - 9:53 AM PT
Ry Cooder's world albums
10. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 9:53 AM PT
Cool people listen to U2, REM, Simple Minds, and the Talking Heads.
They read cyberpunk.
They wear t-shirts underneath cotton blazers, with a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers.
They dig Blue Velvet, Miami Vice, and Heathers.
Or has it been a while since I was cool?
11. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 9:54 AM PT
One of the things that interested me in this topic was a recent article I read in the NYT (?) about what's in. Apparently it's now considered Hip, Leading-edge, Noveau, to exhibit excrutiatingly BAD taste in clothes, decorating, and other cultural milieus (by whom is another question altogether). The article mentioned that good taste is now considered hopelessly bourgeois, and a mark of middle class pedestrianism.
Oh, dear. What will the world come to if good taste is considered BAD taste now?
12. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 9:54 AM PT
Absolutely, jl. Cooder's very underrated.
13. BobaFett - April 15, 1999 - 9:57 AM PT
"Or has it been a while since I was cool?"
No way! Keep on Truckin', good buddy!
14. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 9:57 AM PT
Jade
Everlast is my first, tepid, venture into rap. Philly says it's not legit, although the guy used to be with House of Pain (ya, like I know who THEY are). It's his attempt to merge rap with blues, and, well, I like it.
Philly held his nose.
15. BobaFett - April 15, 1999 - 9:58 AM PT
MsIT:
They trot that kind of crap out every ten years.
16. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 9:59 AM PT
Rask;
A friend of mine was in "Heathers."
I've been known to wear Wayfarers. I also like my Oakley M-frames and my Revos.
Talking Heads was a great band.
17. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 10:20 AM PT
MsIT: don't dispair. The only certain when it comes to cultural trends is that they will change. Within a year, tacky will be tacky again.
18. hashke - April 15, 1999 - 10:38 AM PT
The really cool cats are eating blue corn fry bread and mutton stew, listening to fados and Canyon de Chelly yé'ii bicheii, and reading Pessoa.
19. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 11:19 AM PT
I'm impressed at how many people won't admit their cultural snobbery.
Dang, it's pervasive around here, art, music, cinema, etc. and no one owns up to it.
Ha!
20. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 11:40 AM PT
I'll cop to snobbery. No question about it, MsIT.
CW music (??) makes me firf. I'd rather eat dirt than eat at a McDonalds. I openly laugh at people in minivans. I snicker at CharlieL and Ad for living where they live.
I identified with Joe Queenan's "Red Lobster, White Trash, and the Blue Lagoon."
21. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 11:44 AM PT
Hashke,
If you like fado, I'm sure you'll really like the albums by Misia, an up-and-comer. I have 'Garras dos Sentidos' and it's very good. Highly recommended.
22. incognito - April 15, 1999 - 11:44 AM PT
Cool people watch the Teletubbies.
23. webfeet - April 15, 1999 - 11:46 AM PT
I'll admit it, Ivory.
Case in point, friends in graduate school had free tickets for The View, the Barbara Walters, Star Jones and CO. show and invited me. Once I realized what I had committed myself to, I wanted to cancel but I ended up going.
It was excruciating. A female comic first starts making aggressive jokes to "pump" up the audience-- which consists of bumpkin Manhasset housewives wearing too much lip-liner, walking bowl-legged in some Nine West asshole shoe and other assorted dimwits--which really consists of bullying us into cheering, yelping, mooing and cooing. I felt like I was in a petting zoo. I have never felt more uncomfortable in my life while my friends were so "into it." they're also from out of town, which might explain it, but still. It was torture and a moronic waste of time but I didn't want to ruin things, so I put on a diplomatic smile and suffered silently. The fact that The View exists is a scary cultural indicator.
what's cool?
unwashed hair is actually cool, or maybe it's just hair that's "undone", blow-dried look--hair that is straight, blown out and styled is completely suburban and out. Dirty hair is in. My little sister is very hip, she works in documentary films and has the air of a PBS insider, and she can't stand looking "showered." She thinks it looks idiotic. After she bathes, she slicks it in Aveda so it will look dirty.
24. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 11:46 AM PT
Incog;
Indeed. Teletubbies is very, very cool.
25. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 11:50 AM PT
Hahaha
I've softened my stand on CW music over the years, I do like Emmy Lou Harris and the Carter women. Firf on most of the male singers, and that Grand Ole Opry version of CW.
I'm with you on minivans. The clone once mentioned getting one as we searched for a new vehicle, and I told her I'd rather be dead than drive one. Now that's not a road I'll go down.
Parenthood forced me to eat at McDonalds for a few years, but I weaned the tot of that one early on. Good taste DOES eventually will out over cutsey toys.
I'm not a snob about where people live though. Not much, at least. Anyone living in a city is cool with me. And mountains, ocean, desert, farms, etc, all have their unique charms. Track housing and suburbia make me break out in hives, however.
And trailer parks. I forgot trailer parks.
MsIt shudders.
26. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 11:51 AM PT
MsIT: of course few people will cop to it. A snob is someone who sneers contemptuously at stuff *you* like.
27. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 11:53 AM PT
Webfeet
I know what you mean about The View. I've caught it a few times, self-indulgent and embarassing, yes?
And no one living in elegant surburbia can be chic, forget that. Not going to happen. Chic is for cities.
QED
28. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 11:54 AM PT
The dichotomy of uncool/cool is pretty uncool. It is to the cultural elite what the "likes/dislikes" section is to a Playboy bunny.
29. ChristiPeters - April 15, 1999 - 11:54 AM PT
Welllll .....
My first impression on the Fray was y'all were WAY too cultured for po' lil' ole me.
My second impression was y'all were way too vicious and God forbid if I ever had one or more of y'all mad at me.
I stuck around anyway and sometimes have fun, sometimes learn something, and sometimes feel as if I've contributing something worthwhile.
I have not had a liberal arts education. So, I haven't learned how to sling around the right lingo or dissect a work of art, of writing, of cinema, etc.
However, I get along just fine on the following standards:
* I like a piece of art if it has life and I enjoy looking at it as much or more the 537th time as I did the first time.
* I like a piece of music if I can hum to it, or if it sends my imagination soaring, or if I can get lost in it.
* I like food that tastes good on my tongue and or has an interesting texture, feel, aftertaste, surprise.
* I like a book, a play, a musical, a television show, or a movie if it takes me away from all my troubles for a while, or if it moves me deeply, or if it makes me laugh, or if it says something to me, or all of these things.
Is any of the above "cool"?
I dunno.
I don't care, either.
30. benear - April 15, 1999 - 11:55 AM PT
The TinkyWinky:
Malibu
Blue Curacao
something green
a splash of soda
milk
experiment until you get the color just right or fall on your ass. Either way, it's cool.
31. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 11:56 AM PT
What's The View?
32. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 11:57 AM PT
109: then of course, even pronoucing the cool/uncool dichotomy as uncool is uncool. Hoisted by your petard.
33. ChristiPeters - April 15, 1999 - 11:58 AM PT
Have I ever had ANY friggin' idea what is "cool" at any particular time or place?
Nope.
Used to bother me.
Still does a little, except that when someone tells me that such and such "is cool", most of the time my reaction is "fergadsakes! WHY?!"
I guess I'll just stay a stranger peeking through the glass.
34. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 11:59 AM PT
Rask
"Hoisted by your petard" sounds pretty uncool.
Not that I'm making judgment.
But, in the spirit of the thread:
Turn ons: long walks in the rain, my chocolate Lab Max, my CD collection, and a man who is truly gallant.
Turn-offs: vanity, attitude, pollution, and greed.
35. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:01 PM PT
Ha! beat me to it Rask.
In any case, it's become the *in-thing* to worship at the alter of uncool. Hip is to be unhip. There is no such thing as a geek anymore, the unhip hipsters have destroyed their unique place in the social structure.
But we all know that's hooey anyway, since everyone has their own standards of what's cool and not cool, and who's in and who's out. This egalitarian shit doesn't fool anyone.
36. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:02 PM PT
Oh my God, 109 has resurfaced as Bull Durham.
Sheesh.
37. benear - April 15, 1999 - 12:03 PM PT
Dogs are cool, as long as they are well trained. People who are so irresponsible that that get a puppy then can't be bothered to spend the time are VERY UNCOOL.
My 102 lb. Guardian sleeps in the middle of the bed, snores and farts occasionally. Who needs a man.
38. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:05 PM PT
MsIt
Actually, your sweeping statement of hooey is false. You may not have much experience with egalitarianism.
For example, one person could say "Golf is cool, but pro wrestling is uncool." And hence, with a certain cultural snobbery, they could look down upon those who enjoy pro wrestling (or Schlitz, or Kenny G, or Cannonball Run 7 movies) and afford a higher cultural estimation of the golf lovers (and lovers of microbrews, Charlie Parker, or Wim Wenders movies).
You appear to be one of those persons. Not a big deal. Certainly not out of the ordinary
39. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:09 PM PT
I think Mondaugen is the coolest person in the Fray (and he'd be cooler if he could dance.) I'm second along with Philistine.
Henceforth kindly consider us three the final arbiters of who/what/where is cool.
40. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 12:09 PM PT
Things I sneer disdainfully at:
Country music
Country line dancing
Cowboy hats on people who aren't cowboys.
Large belt buckles (I sense a trend)
Rap music
weepy chick flicks
New Age nonsense
short sleeved dress shirts
Pseudoscience
People from Iowa
41. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:10 PM PT
Ooohh
A slam.
The problem is that I've never done such a thing. Rather, I'm only interested in golf. There's a difference.
And I've some experience of egalitarianism, anyone who was considered a geek in my early years has some intimate knowledge of just how people isolate and exclude based on the trivial.
Minivans, suburbia and trailer parks, however, I cop to.
42. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:10 PM PT
NinerBeFree: "Turn-offs: vanity, attitude, pollution, and greed."
Isn't "vanity, attitude, pollution, and greed" the motto of the GOFP?
43. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:11 PM PT
I sneer at expansion teams.
44. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:11 PM PT
Marj
Works for me.
45. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:13 PM PT
Yeah, Rask, I sneer at most of those things.
Rap music? I dunno. Everytime I reach a point where I think it's all crap, I hear something I like.
New Age--the worst. Possibly worse than CW music.
46. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:13 PM PT
Ms
I have reread my post and I can't see what would be a "slam" about it. You are not an egalitarian in terms of popular culture. You appear to have definite sense of "cool" and "uncool"/"bad tatse" and "good taste."
Just as marj has an incisive ability to designate the cool fraygrants.
47. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:13 PM PT
Can't sneer at the D-Backs this year. Could be quite decent.
48. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:14 PM PT
If Raskolnikov didn't include Rap in his list of dislikes, he'd be in the top few.
49. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:16 PM PT
Raskolnikov, as remedial therapy please go out and buy the Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill albums.
50. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 12:17 PM PT
Things that I enjoy that others sneer at:
Listening to Duran Duran CDs
watching Saturday morning cartoons (on the WB)
dancing a polka
doing a Donald Duck impression in public places
getting the high score on Ms Pac Man games
51. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:17 PM PT
109
Are you taking insult lessons from Calgal? The kind where one doesn't see the offense?
Try again.
You exemplify the unhip hipster. It's the thing to be egalitarian, and so, anyone who isn't egalitarian is out. And that, in itself, is elitist.
A vicious circle.
Btw, I cop to elitism anyway. I have many flaws, but worrying about what is or isn't COOL isn't one of them. That I leave to the pop culture gurus.
52. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:18 PM PT
Oh, it's got nothing to do with *reason* or *logic*.....the idea is what I disdain. Totally ridiculous, but so is snobbery.
53. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:19 PM PT
I *like* polkas.
54. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:20 PM PT
Rask, forget it.
55. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:21 PM PT
MsIt
Your suspicion borders on old coot. And it's kind of boring.
As to the meat of your post, I haven't called anyone or anything "out." I've merely stated that the subject matter - cultural snobbery - is in and of itself uncool, in my subjective judgment.
Of course, a thread entitled "Preferences" would be akin to a Playboy playmate's bio.
And we come full circle.
56. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:22 PM PT
nope, sorry, Marj, I think Rask is tres cool. Even if he does like Duran Duran. Everyone has a Tragic Flaw.
57. Raskolnikov - April 15, 1999 - 12:22 PM PT
marjori: I have heard an occasional rap album or song that I like. Its just that they are few and far between considering how ubiquitous the music is. I own a few Public Enemy albums, and like The Beastie Boys quite a bit. But the vast majority of it is bad street poetry backed by horribly emotionless music. I keep waiting for Rap acts to actually get some decent instrumental accompaniment, but it rarely happens.
58. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:24 PM PT
Diva
I'm hungry like the wolf for you.
Is that cool or what?
59. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:24 PM PT
(hurls a large earthenware pot)
60. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:25 PM PT
The Duran Duran in and of itself isn't bad (Come Undone is a great single), but if he's listening to 'Rio' and so on, that's uncool.
Similarly, dancing is cool but the polka? And cartoons are cool, but the WB?
Rask is close but no cigar.
61. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:26 PM PT
Me boring? Perish the thought.
No one ever says to anyone else, "you're an outie", not after high school, that is. Everything is through body language (and in cyberspace, stupid little grinning thingies).
And I really don't know what you mean about suspicion? What suspicion are you referring to now? I have many, you know.
62. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:27 PM PT
Rask, buy the Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean albums. There is hope for you (despite being appointed doppelganger by the resolutely, irredeemably, uncool Pseuder).
63. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:27 PM PT
You can polka to *anything* with the right beat, not just to beer barrel-type music....and Kids WB is a scream, especially Histeria. Gracie watches it nearly every Saturday morning.
64. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:28 PM PT
JadeGold is cool for challenging and effectively talking shit about basketball to 109 - and she's a pregnant woman.
65. Jenerator - April 15, 1999 - 12:29 PM PT
I think that Natalie Portman's cool. There's a sweet little story about her in this month's Vanity Fair.
66. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:30 PM PT
If I flip on TNN and line dancing is on, I find it very soothing to watch. They seem very happy to be doing what they are doing, and that makes me very happy. I have watched for upwards of 20 minutes, often with a beer, and it has the effect on me that a fish tank has on many others. And you'll never find a line-dancer floating dead at the top of a bowl.
67. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:30 PM PT
Will someone PLEASE tell me what The View is?
68. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:33 PM PT
Diva
Five bags of varying ages giving a women's "view" on you name it. Barb Walters, some dizzy blonde, that grotesque Meredith Viera, some very New Yaaaawk comedienne, and a big black woman.
69. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:34 PM PT
Marj;
I can whip anyone in the Fray at basketball. I can state that without reservation.
70. TheDiva - April 15, 1999 - 12:35 PM PT
Niner
Thank you.
71. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:37 PM PT
JadeGold,
If you're a pregnant woman, I find that boast very cool.
72. benear - April 15, 1999 - 12:37 PM PT
Irv is the only one around here that is cool. He justs whips out a little something called "Cultural Snobbism" and we all follow like lemmings over the cliff. What is that mirror mirror on the wall shit anyway?
73. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:37 PM PT
Jade,
What's this reference to you being pregnant? Did I miss something very important?
109
I consider that woman quite grotesque. I thought it was just cattiness on my part, I'm surprised others agree.
74. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:38 PM PT
Well, you aren't an other, technically, you're a number. But it's a start.
75. 109109 - April 15, 1999 - 12:39 PM PT
msIt
I have never seen five more grotesque women situated so close together. That includes watching women's field hockey.
76. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:41 PM PT
MsIT;
Email me at the secret leftist email address for details; you know, the secret hotmail.com account we have to coordinate our nefarious liberal undertakings. The one that starts with 'Jade' and ends in "Gold.'
77. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:41 PM PT
The program is now down to four, Diva. The young one, Debbie, was kicked off the show (and she deserves to be kicked off for using that name).
78. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:42 PM PT
Jade
Masterful! I'm on the floor laughing, really.
79. Jenerator - April 15, 1999 - 12:47 PM PT
Jade,
Next time I'm in the D.C area, I'll take you up on a game of hoops!;-)
80. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:49 PM PT
Jen;
Sorry. Won't play you. Nothing against you personally.
81. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 12:49 PM PT
Anyone who uses the phrase "homosexual agenda" in an attemptedly meaningful way is uncool. Nonsense is uncool. Jenerator is out.
82. incognito - April 15, 1999 - 12:50 PM PT
I seriously doubt anybody here could beat ME in hoops! How many of you can dunk the ball AND hit a three pointer with ease?
83. incognito - April 15, 1999 - 12:51 PM PT
Not at the same time mind you.
84. Philistine - April 15, 1999 - 12:52 PM PT
Ms -
I've heard the whole Everlast album, now, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. I take back any sniffing I committed, with appropriate interest.
Cool -
drug abuse, incurable diseases, psychological disorders, crime
Uncool -
teetotalling, good heath (both physical and mental) and abiding by the law.
When were things any different?
85. vonKreedon - April 15, 1999 - 12:53 PM PT
Ben wrote, "Irv is the only one around here that is cool. He justs whips out a little something called "Cultural Snobbism" and we all follow like lemmings over the cliff." I believe that use of the factually incorrect lemmings metaphor, along with the ostrich one, has been determined to be uncool.
86. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:54 PM PT
incog;
I can dunk.
Hitting treys? I'm a decent enough shot from the college three point territory.
87. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:55 PM PT
Besides, it had nothing to do with Irving. I saw the thread languishing, and since it was my idea, felt an obligation to get it going.
I did too.
(MsIt snickers)
88. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 12:56 PM PT
vK;
Bligh and Shackleton were cool. Whitbread sailors are uncool.
89. MsIvoryTower - April 15, 1999 - 12:57 PM PT
Philly!
Totally cool! So you liked it, eh? I've some favorite cuts by now.
Ends
Smokin gun (cut 14, I think)
Actually, there is only ONE cut I don't like, #7 I think. Too discordant.
90. doogie - April 15, 1999 - 12:57 PM PT
Dislikes:
philosophical positivism
lawyers
baseball
libertarianism
hawks
Likes:
basketball (I would crush you like the bug that you are, jade)
lefties (political - don't care about handedness)
cards
ping pong (I would challenge anyone, but it would be a waste of my time...)
tequila and orange juice
91. incognito - April 15, 1999 - 12:58 PM PT
I may be confusing people here, but did I see that Jade is pregnant AND can dunk the b-ball?
Now THAT'S cool!
92. BobaFett - April 15, 1999 - 12:59 PM PT
I can fly.
Flying's cool.
93. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 1:01 PM PT
doogie;
I'd use you. I'd beat you like a rented mule. Since you don't like baseball, I'd make you cry.
94. Philistine - April 15, 1999 - 1:03 PM PT
Misty -
Truth be told, I actually bought "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues" and I think it imporves on previous attempts to cover similar territory, like G.Love & Special Sauce and Basehead.
My fave is the little party cut with Sadat X and Casual, "Funky Beat."
incognito - I saw that, too, and if there is anything cooler than an pregnant oriental slamdunker, I can scarcely imagine it.
95. marjoribanks - April 15, 1999 - 1:03 PM PT
Jade,
If you're not a woman, please don't tell us. I find the image of a pregnant Asian woman jamming creatively to be about the coolest thing imaginable.
96. doogie - April 15, 1999 - 1:03 PM PT
I don't cry, Jade. I'm far too manly for that. I sleep with a basketball under my pillow.
97. JadeGold - April 15, 1999 - 1:03 PM PT
Don't get out much, do you, Marj?
98. incognito - April 15, 1999 - 1:04 PM PT
"pregnant Asian woman jamming" conjures up incredible images!
99. Philistine - April 15, 1999 - 1:05 PM PT
Oh yes -
Cool = promiscuity, uncool = celibacy
100. vonKreedon - April 15, 1999 - 1:05 PM PT
Jade - Ahhh, a disagreement about Bligh! Bligh was uncool, he risked his men by insisting that they take the direct route to the Dutch colony at Timor, instead of back to Tahiti, so that he could more quickly start the pursuit of the Bounty, get his side of the story out, and save his career.