Saturday, March 22, 2008

Starless and Bible Black

(Disclaimer: the post title is borrowed from a King Crimson album, and is only tangentially related to the post itself.)

Distributorcap recently gave his take on some advice for bloggers, originally from a New York Times article. Here's my own take.

New York Times:
1. Don't expect to get rich.
2. Write about what you want to write about, in your own voice.
3. Fit blogging into the holes in your schedule.
4. Just post it already!
5. Keep a regular rhythm.
6. Join the community, such as it is.
7. Plug yourself.

Satan:
1. Rich? Why would I need money? If I need it I can just take it from somewhere. Or create it. Somewhat like the government.
2. Oh, I do write about what I want. But my own voice? I use different voices depending on who I'm talking to. Just like everyone else. I think my own voice might not work out so well. I'm reminded of a line from Broadcast News: What do you think the Devil's going to look like if he's around? C'mon, no one's going to be taken in by a guy with a long, red, pointy tail. C'mon, what's he gonna sounds like? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarch?"
3. Holes in my schedule? What holes? If I waited around for holes in my schedule I would never post at all.
4. More or less what I do.
5. What is this, sex advice? Doesn't a regular rhythm conflict with posting in holes the schedule?
6. Ok. Nice cheap shot at the bloggers you're pretending to advise, by the way.
7. No. I'm sorry, but having a lot of people read whatever I write here in not my goal. If people like it to read it, that's nice, but I'm writing here for my own reasons, to amuse myself, not them.

Ask Satan is published irregularly per questions received. (And schedule permitting -- I have a great question pending but I just haven't had time to do it justice...) Have a question for Satan? Email it to Satan or post it in the comments.

9 comments:

CTK said...

While I enjoy Starless and Bible Black and the other 2 Bruford/Fripp/Wetton albums, I'm partial to the 81-83 Belew/Bruford/Fripp/Levin trilogy.

Ubermilf said...

Jelly beans are so much better know than when we were little.

Remember when all the black and white ones were left over after all the fruity ones were gone?

And the spicy ones -- I just KNOW you were responsible for those.

In fact, I think I will write a post listing the things for which you are responsible.

Ubermilf said...

Dear Mr. S --

Am I really making a difference by using this?

It works just as well as the other stuff so I'm concerned I'm being lied to.

Satan said...

CTK - What do you think of the more recent incarnations? I like the ProjeKcts set quite a bit.

Satan said...

Übermilf - I'm definitely looking forward to the list of things you hold me responsbile for.

So are you paying more for the allegedly ecological dish soap? There isn't any particular reason non-phosphate detergents can't be effective. Do you think they're lying about not having phosphates, or lying about the absense having any meaningful benefit for the environment?

-- Satan

CTK said...

I'm well past my Art-Rock phase, which took place during our years in the Deeg (I blame Jason Gardner and Frank Resh). I have listened to a bit of the new-ish KC stuff and generally thing it's decent, but I'm just not nearly as into the style/genre as I used to be. I think I still enjoy the stuff from the Salad Days for nostalgic reasons more than anything.

You have inspired me to give them a fresh look/listen, however. I'll give you an updated take later.

Satan said...

I don't think I have a phase. I tend to get a bunch of stuff at once, gradually listen to it all, and then get another batch. Mostly it's either recommendations, whims, things I heard somewhere, or infill, going across multiple genres.

Ubermilf said...

I'm not paying more, or a negligible amount, but i don't understand why they put harmful phosphates in there in the first place if the non-damaging stuff works just as well.

Is that your doing? It sounds like something you'd do.

Satan said...

As usual, members of humanity blaming everything on me instead of collectively taking responsibility for their own actions.

Phosophate detergents have been around longer. It took time and money to develop alternatives and then get them approved by the FDA. They only actually have a negative environmental effect in some areas, depending on how wastewater is treated and where it goes.

I suspect in your area *none* of the dish soap has phosophates, or at least not much. They've probably been banned or limited to low levels for years - decades even. Palmolive is just brand diversifying to try to get more market share.

What's funny about this is that the peak of the phosophate detegent battle was fought in the early 1970's. Of course, by now, nobody remembers the issues; they're trying to get credit for doing something they were partially forced to do.

By the way, check if there's chlorine bleach in your Palmolive Eco+.

-- Satan

P.S. By the way, I love black jellybeans.