I believe that that was indeed touching and earnest. I believe also that the Prudential ad at the beginning is appallingly cynical. I believe moreover that I've just stated the obvious, but it is kind of striking how blatant it is.
I believe that, somewhere, Brighton's mom is really embarrassed and thinks her daughter exaggerates. (At least, that would have been my mom's reaction.)
I believe Gerald Ford is clever / That Bob Hope will live forever / And that "lever" is pronounced "levver" / And that the best film ever made is Saturday Night Fevver.
I believe I'm confused about not doing any grocery shopping at stores vs. catching some produce discounts at a local Chevron (which is totally understandable and savvy). I also believe she's a better writer than most 18-year-olds.
I believe that pineapple juice and Plymouth gin, with a little confectioner's sugar, is in fact a very nice thing to drink.
I believe that I'm warming to Peter Sellars' production of Mozart's Zaïde, which you can watch this very moment in a high-quality stream courtesy of medici.tv, though I was initially suspicious. It's set in a sweatshop.
I believe my roommates' installation of a bug zapper in the backyard is getting creepier with each sizzle and pop.
I believe your roommates' installation of a bug zapper is likely ill-advised.
The Onion has the track list for an imaginary compilation of crappy late-90's hits. I would so buy this:
Disc One
"Semi-Charmed Life," Third Eye Blind
"Push," Matchbox 20
"Walking on the Sun," Smashmouth
"All For You," Sister Hazel
"Save Tonight," Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Sweat," Inner Circle
"Angel," Sarah McLachlan
"Rhythm is a Dancer," Snap
"Meet Virginia," Train
"Flag Pole Sitta," Harvey Danger
"Fly," Sugar Ray
"Hook," Blues Traveler
"Dammit," Blink-182
"You Get What You Give," The New Radicals
"We Like to Party," The Vengaboys
"Ready to Go," Republica
"Torn," Natalie Imbruglia
Disc Two
"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)," Baz Luhrmann
"Tubthumping," Chumbawumba
"The Freshmen," The Verve Pipe
"Blue," Eiffel 65
"Kiss Me," Sixpence None the Richer
"How Bizarre," OMC
"One Week," Barenaked Ladies
"Sex and Candy," Marcy Playground
"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hands," Primitive Radio Gods
"She's So High," Tal Bachman
"Missing," Everything But the Girl
"Take a Picture," Filter
"I Need to Know," Marc Anthony
"Livin' La Vida Loca," Ricky Martin
"Steal My Sunshine," Len
"Mambo No. 5," Lou Bega
"Summer Girls," LFO
I believe I suggested we were killing "the good bugs" and that Jesus' second link will be shared promptly with the 'mates.
I believe that Mauricio Kagel's Atem is, in the hands of the right performer (such as, I don't know, Tom Dambly, on various trumpets and cornet), a fantastic piece, as is Giacinto Scelsi's Kya.
But Rob started it so it's all his fault.
I believe that AWB's drinnk suggestion sounds very like one I had last night, which contained organic (!) cucumber vodka, pineapple juice, and cucumber juice.
I believe it was a fabulous drink and I wish I had one right now.
drinnk suggestion
I believe this to be a most felicitous typo.
I believe I read it, and didn't listen to it.
I believe that I totally dig it that the author's name is "Brighton Earley," even though it's the kind of name people think parents are crazy for giving their kids.
16: I took "Brighton Earley" to be a pseudonym, but now that you mention it...
I believe it would be totally awesome if a couple got busy in the storycorps booth. Noisily. With the tape running.
For some reason Moll-E doesn't actually want to do this, so I leave it to the loving couples of Unfogged as a homework project.
Becks,
Thanks for blogging this. Please don't hesitate to blog "touching and earnest."
Brighton speaks what she knows, and the piece is genuine because of it. Her genuine piece is hopeful and poignant and sad all at the same time.
What keeps me hopeful is that humanity seems to show its best side when facing adversity.
It is possible to overdo "touching and earnest" but I think it is nice to have it as a counterbalance to "snarky and cynical."