Books and Values

My son and I went to the Ann Patchett/Allan Gurganus discussion about what you can and can't teach young writers. I was so proud of my son that he was attentive and engaged by the discussion. He's so frigging awesome.

Ann Patchett talked about her friendship with Lucy Grealy, who suffered with a facial deformity, which really struck some chords with me. For one, I was ashamed of my countrymen when she described an incident in Aberdeen (where I went to school) where Lucy was taunted about her deformity. Ann's sensitivity and insight was very moving to me, and the subsequent discussion about ethics really interesting.

One of the hard things about being a mother is seeing my son, who is kind and sensitive and creative and very perceptive of other people's needs, grow up in a world where these attributes, are, for the most part, not valued. I was very glad for him to go to a public event where two people who exhibit those characteristics are celebrated and heard.

It does make me mad that we use all kinds of shortcuts for evaluating people; for kids, it's grades and athletic prowess; for women, looks; for men, money and career success. And we focus far too much on fixing those things so that we fall into the 'acceptable' category, and things like integrity, kindness and intellectual curiosity sometimes fall by the wayside. Raising a child who values these more ephemeral attributes, but who also 'passes' in regular middle-class society is a continual challenge.

Anyway, onto something lighter; here are Mykull's excellent liner notes to his excellent mix. As always, his taste is impeccable; I love that Mykull is firmly in touch with his inner Euroslut. Morrissey looks fabulous these days – maybe his break with celibacy with some Italian bloke suits him. I do have to take issue with the 'token Scottish band' – what about the Delgados and Belle and Sebastian, hmmm?? And I used to think Beck was sexy, in his Midnite Vulture days, but not anymore since I found out he's a clam.

Scientology is a passion killer in the same league as male ponytails or dungarees.

Mykull's CD

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Track	Artist	Comments
Sexual Chocolate	Hot Chip	Best. Lyrics. Ever. "Give me some of your darkest, creamiest chocolate. Tastes like chocolate never tasted before. I need to try some of your richest chocolate. I can't take this chocolate yearning baby no more.".
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep	Lush	This song, by the original band, was on the soundtrack to Breakfast on Pluto. The movie where Minty and I turned to each other during every song and said, "I really love this song." Here Lush makes the bizarre pop song dreamy and creamy. Btw, what twisted fuck writes a song about a baby bird whose momma and poppa have disappeared?
I Will See You in Far Off Places	Morrissey	MORRISEY, I MUST HAVE YOUR BABY CHIRREN!!!!
Calleth You, Cometh Il	The Ark	I loveth them.
Stacked Crooked	The New Pornographers	Some day I am going to create a mix CD of indie workout songs. Neko Case's soaring voice on this tune will make you run twice as fast and lift twice as much.
The Power Is On!	The Go! Team	And this song will make you run ten times as fast and lift ten times as much.
Take Another Little Piece of My Heart	Dusty Springfield	I totally would have had sex with Dusty. Too bad she was a big ol' lesbo.
Tits on the Radio	Scissor Sisters	I've never thought about it before, but it is so true: there are no tits on the radio!
Song for Sunshine	Belle & Sebastian	Pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty. (Notice the iambic pentameter rhythm.)
I Wanna Be Adored	The Stone Roses	I don't know why, but this song means more to me than anything. If I had to choose between the existence of this song and my dad, I would choose this song. (But I suppose that's not fair—I would choose a deaf albino toad over my dad.)
All You Need Is Hate	Delgados	Thank God I finally have plenty of something I need.
Worms	Beth Orton	Cutest lyrics ever: "Worms don't dance / they haven't got the chance." (Well, her worm might not dance, but mine totally does.)
Destroy Everything You Touch	Ladytron	Their new album sucks monkey butt but this hit single is classic.
1969	Boards of Canada	Token Scottish Band
Koko	Goldfrapp	I find it fascinating when a dance diva sings like an opera diva.
In the Waiting Line	Zero 7 (Koop Remix)	I was going to put Sia's "Breathe Me" on this mix but then I knew it'd make Pinky and Minty cry, so I decided to use a song from Sia's earlier band, a song beautifully remixed by the luscious Koop.
Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes)	Beck	To anyone out there, including many of my female friends, who think Beck is sexy: Ick. But is his music sexy? Hell yes!
Bonus Mystery Song for Minty!!!!!	Mystery Artist!!!!!	Remix by Depeche Mode & Fatboy Slim!!!!!