Tricky Kids

In 1996 Tricky released his third album, Pre-Millennium Tension. Then the whole Y2K bug hysteria blew over and we all lived happily ever after. Psyche! There are still bugs and glitches - maybe more than ever. And there are hackers, crackers, cracker-jackers, phreakers, sneakers ... sorry, I'm getting carried away. I know Tricky's better than me when it comes to spitting rhymes.

Anyhoo, the whole album is full of paranoia, discomfort, and doom - if you don't believe me you can check Wikipedia. If you don't trust Wikipedia, well, join the club ;) Or you can decide for yourself. Here's a taste:



I was fascinated when I first heard this line from "Tricky Kid": "everybody wants to be naked and famous." It's a popular ambition for kids to be famous someday, even if they don't care what they're famous for. Some would be happy to be infamous! And then there's the naked part. You can interpret that to mean anything from literally to figuratively naked, and it's the figurative that fascinates me. Naked can imply honesty, vulnerability, apathy - lotsa stuff, really. As far as the internet goes, I think people want to get to a point where they have countless friends (or "friends") and don't worry who they offend, who sees their nipples, or what information gets leaked or money gets stolen.

When I listen to "Tricky Kid," the desire to be "naked and famous" feels like an ugly disease. Isn't it better to be happy, or kind, or an asset to society? But too often I think we fantasize about fame, wealth, power, and/or comfort. I've written about it before, and I don't mean to beat a dying horse, but ... mo' money -> mo' problems? How do you count and measure problems? Why do rich and powerful people whine? Why do we let them? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind ... (btw, I may be a bigger fan of Jay-Z than Bob Dylan.)



I don't really know how to wrap this up without trailing off again, but here goes: my advice to anyone who might be reading this is to give Pre-Millennium Tension a try, buy it if you like it, and then take a walk :)

Drugs

Drugs.

It's been months since my last post, and I may get to that later, but for now: Drugs.

I was at the bus stop thinking about drugs: legal prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, recreational drugs, "street" drugs. I was near a liquor store wondering if I should pick up a six-pack for myself or a bottle of vodka for a friend who's thankfully cut way back, but still drinks every day.

[Flash-forward: I bought and delivered a bottle to him. Nothing for me right now.]

I was thinking about those people who "don't believe in" prescription drugs, and will lecture you on the benefits of more water, yoga, and maybe some St. John's Wort. And I'm fine with all of that; no one's ever lost a tooth from rust, yoga is good for your body and mind and chakras and stuff, St. John's Wort won't give your unborn fetus/baby heart defects ... I'm sure it's all true. But for some people, Jamba Juice just isn't going to cut it. Some people need more than some special blend of herbs and spices - they need DRUGS. DRUGS can figuratively AND LITERALLY be just what the doctor ordered. Voices in your head? Chicken soup, Chamomile tea, and a weekend at the spa are not the solution.

I think it's shitty when someone lectures another person on the evils of psychiatric drugs because it always comes off as arrogant, sometimes lacking any genuine concern or compassion, and may be complete gibberish, scientifically speaking. Ironically, the guy most adamant about the dangers of psychiatric drugs may need them the most. Or maybe he just needs to lay off the bath salts.

(If you want more "Tom Cruise on drugs" - and I don't know why you would - here you go.)

... Where was I? And why did I get all bent out of shape waiting for the bus all by myself? I don't know.

Maybe I need to switch to decaf.

Too Much Coffee Man™© 1999 Shannon Wheeler