Here's a link to the latest Chuck Klosterman colum in Esquire, funny stuff as usual:
At some point during the past year, I assume you have consumed a news story regarding YouTube.com. This assumption is based on the fact that there have been 16,578,000 stories about YouTube.com written in 2006, roughly 20 percent of which were then read aloud into the lens of a camera phone and posted on YouTube.com.These articles fall into three general categories:
1) "This reporter thinks YouTube is awesome."
2) "This reporter believes the content of YouTube is insane."
3) "This reporter finds YouTube to be insane in a specifically awesome way, and this is going to revolutionize marketing, even though no one (including this reporter) is quite sure how that will work."I have yet to meet a person (who is not a copyright lawyer) who hates YouTube for any reason whatsoever. YouTube is slightly less popular than oxygen, but it currently has a higher approval rating than wood. And while I'm still mystified as to what compels the average citizen to upload the opening credits of Head of the Class onto a Web site he doesn't own, I completely understand why other people enjoy watching such clips. It kills time, and it makes it infinitely easier to experience the past (and these are the things that make life worth living). Moreover, I've started to notice another positive impact of this technology, and it's something I would have never anticipated: Completely by accident, YouTube is fostering the rediscovery of rock virtuosity, particularly as it applies to the guitar.
MC, you are my go-to guy for Klosterman words. love it. keep up the good work. did i tell you that Leslie got me an inscribed ("happy 38th birthday") copy of 'killing yourself to live'?
Posted by: lou ford | November 30, 2006 at 03:02 AM
Cool present, did you get Chuck Klosterman IV yet?
Posted by: MC | November 30, 2006 at 02:29 PM
nope. maybe someday. speaking of presents - if you'll looking for something to give me I hear that Unazukin toys (made by Bandai) are all the rage in Japan. they're cute too. we don't have 'em here yet.
Posted by: lou ford | December 01, 2006 at 08:36 AM
so if i were to put a klosterman book on my x-mas list, which one should it be?
i did see an article in the ny times a few months ago about guitar virtuosity on u-tube. specifically there was a controversy over who had played a particular killer lick. it was widely thought that it was just too good for any human to have played, maybe even eddie van halen. it turns out two korean kids took credit for it, though only one turned out to be the true virtuoso, playing alone in his bedroom.
whoops just read the article, and it looks like this is the story it was about. seems chuck and i read the same stories.
Posted by: phatrick | December 01, 2006 at 04:49 PM
All of his boks are extremely entertaining, but I'd say start with the first: FARGO ROCK CITY.
Posted by: MC | December 02, 2006 at 03:17 PM
i'd just stop reading books, and watch more u-tube.
Posted by: lou ford | December 08, 2006 at 02:29 AM
When I bought "V" I was pleased to see he has the fashion sense to have a beard just like mine. Haven't yet read the book, but it's prominently displayed on my coffee table so the rare visitor to my home can see how hip and with-it I am.
Posted by: Ozzy Osmond | December 08, 2006 at 06:43 AM