Entropy

I keep my hands under the air dryer in public bathrooms until it stops blowing, even after my hands are acceptably dry. I do it to reduce entropy in the universe. By using the lowly heat energy to its fullest I can prevent other energy from being degraded to dry my hands. Every little bit helps.

Consistent Insanity

We expect artists to be consistently insane. I learned a long time ago that the persona of the insane artist is a relatively new one. And that appealed to my cynicism against poseur artists. Today, however, I might be having a change of heart. We've always kept art, and therefore artists around to express our darker feelings. It's just in earlier eras (in our culture, in recent history) artists had to hide the raw aspects of their insanities like the rest of us do now.

These thoughts came when reflecting on how rigid our expectations are of rock bands. Once the band has established the prevailing mood of its music it seems hard for them to break out of it, assuming they even try. Also, perhaps related, I think of the requirement for front men to be "crazy". Whether it's ecstasy or agony we want jean clad prancing shamanism all the way.

Good Friday

Tomorrow is Good Friday. I just learned Saint Peter's will use the Saint John Passion instead of Saint Matthew. I listened to it today and I simply can't find it as special though the chorales are ethereal. Another opportunity to embrace change, I tell myself. Paul always felt the opposite but I don't trust his opinion. I've come around on a lot of music he introduced me to, but I don't think I'll ever find the John as compelling as Matthew. I think I'm right on this one. And to think Bach lost a passion. How do you lose a passion? Lost work greater than the sum of whatever my life's output will be. How depressing is that?