Beth's Must List 7/25

Here are some things I think are just great. Unlike Oprah's pretentious list (I just love this $5,000 Hermes bag! I recommend one in every color!), these are readily available to the masses.

5) "Let The Drummer Kick" by Citizen Cope. I am really digging on this song right now. If Moby did hip-hop, it would sound something like this. Beautiful.
4) The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 DVD box set. Hands down my favorite television program, with political pundits from both parties serving as equal fodder for satire. Includes all of the shows during the Democratic and Republican conventions, and loads of goodies on the 3rd disc. Highlights include coverage of GA senator Zell Miller losing it at the Republican Convention (he challenged CNN anchor Chris Matthews to a duel), and the hilarious Schoolhouse Rock spoof about midterm elections (Cute Kid: "So mister, what does midterm election mean?" Mister: "Goddamnit you little retard, haven't you been listening to a word I'm saying? Now just sing after me [launches into song]: Midterm elections, they come in the middle/Midterm elections, they matter so little!"). For new episodes, tune in Mon-Thurs to Comedy Central at 11:00pm.
3) Buying magazine subscriptions on eBay. Don't ever buy them anywhere else. Usually the magazine houses will offer combo deals (2 for 1) and they're amazingly cheap. I got yearly subscriptions for both Entertainment Weekly & Premiere for a low low $25, and for Rolling Stone & Spin for $9. Glamour & Lucky did a combo for $7. Marvelous.
2) Killing Yourself To Live: 85% Of A True Story by Chuck Klosterman. I love pop culture, so Klosterman's books are right up my alley. This is his latest, which started out as an article for SPIN magazine about his road trip to famous rock 'n roll grave sites. In between sites, he opines on everything from rock music to drug use to death and fame. There's an interesting section where he interprets Radiohead's "Kid A" as a 9/11 prophecy, and an extremely funny encounter with a Cracker Barrel waitress (she starts talking about Kafka, dreams, and the illusion of time, and her long diatribe is occasionally interrupted by Chuck's thoughts: "How do you possibly work here? What the hell is going on?"). His writing is like a late-night conversation at the bar with your wittiest, most pop-culture-obssessed friend. Also recommended is Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, where he takes on Billy Joel, Saved by the Bell, and favorite sugar cereals.
1) Interlochen Arts Academy. Working out there for the past two summers has given me a new appreciation for this place. It's a beautiful campus and a great place to hang out and work, and the summer concerts are usually diverse enough to be interesting. What gets major props, though, is the Academy's new film program launching this fall, and its involvement with the Film Festival this summer. Here's hoping that they will continue to allow the State Theater to be used for movie screenings. To find out what concerts are left this summer go here: www.interlochen.org. And be sure to buy tickets for at least some of the Film Festival activities--there are free discussion panels and waterfront screenings for those low on cash. Go here: www.tcfilmfest.org.