White G Wrap-Up

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. 2005 is histoire, and 2006 is here at last! I can't believe I'd ever be excited for Monday morning, but here I am, like a kid who can't wait for school to open. See what happens when you decide to go all the way.

I'm not going to do this in any order, but here are my picks and pans for 2005.

Movies

The best movie of the year was March of the Penguins. Real life triumphs fiction every time. 100% true love and death and destruction. But not corny. Made me realize even more what my parents and ancestors did for me. Not much difference when you think about it.

Also good was Hustle and Flow, but it tragically flawed in that the real story was about a white film maker (the director) and he pussied out and made it about black people--rappers and pimps and hos. To make it "real". Sell-out. What's the phrase for an Uncle Tom white? Why'd he scale back the relationships when the real story was about a committed marraige? (As I understand it, his wife was the one dancing.) C'mon white folks, bring the truth. Don't you think you're worth it? Or do we have to pimp black people to get our dose of realness? Entertaining but didn't change the game. We're still starving for a premium price point for more nuanced, more real mass culture. So we get pimps and hos instead of grown ups. Where are the adults demanding a culture? Priming the pump with their money? Financing the truth? Making what they want to see? I know you didn't conquer the entire world just to drink coffee, work and have a few glasses of wine. Or watch Sideways and Gray's Anatomy (gag). 2006 is the year that White G will jump start the adult imagination.

Even better was New York Doll. The story of Arthur "Killer" Kane, the bassist of the New York Dolls. Made in part by family friend Seth Gordon. If you think rock and roll is glamorous, take a look at this puppy. Also beautiful because it shows that if you start your documentary, you get your ending. Great stuff about the quest for art and the quest for god. WIth the background of early 70s punk rock. And it's 30 year wake. Date with Drew, which was inspirational, honest and fun, was also good. Good guts there guys. Way to go big! Cajones.

Music

A lot of pap, a lot of bling, a lot of "world", but not much substance or western relavance that I could find. Lots for kids, but almost nothing for adults. 2006 is the year that all changes. I guarantee.

Tech/Business

The biggest news was the video iPod. Imagine film crews roving and recording like bands do now. That's the future, now that the economics of production and distribution have changed. The future is now. Once we get true price point differentiation, all bets are off.

White G is positioned to capitalize on this one event. We have almost unlimited price points on all mass produced goods EXCEPT cultural ones. Except the most important ones. Jeans, vodka, iPod covers, tires, wheels, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, paper, candles, motivational speakers—all of this crap you can find at any price point you want. $800 bottle of vodka—no problem. But a $120 book. Well, it'll take a minute to get our heads around that. Luckily, the time is now. All the dots are in place and all it takes is someone to pull out their #2.

Why haven't we already. Because artists are notorious pussies about money. And notoriously bad about taking care of themselves. And often infantile. And nobody else understands (I guess) what it takes to make something important vs. something stupid and lame. And that every properly differentiated artist—every artist who has gone deep enough—has a monopoly. And that the majority of wealthy consumers (this means you) are good people starving for a beat.

Other factors—modern western culture has been in its teenage rebellion stage until now. It didn't want to build but to destroy. Now it can't "deconstruct" anything else. And it takes money to build, my brothers and sisters. We won't sit in this rubble heap for long. —There's just too much capital around. There're almost unlimited ideas, feelings and creative territory to uncover, illucidate, and enjoy—but no one's got the time, inclination or inspiration. No one can see. No one believes.

And there's so much crap out here—so many pants choices and iPod covers—that they (the material world) are almost worthless. It's simple supply and demand. And real spiritual or creative expressions (real intangibles for you CEOs) are rare as a motherfuck. If you don't believe now, just wait a few years. It's gonna get harder. This isn't the millenium for no reason. We are here because we want to get real, go for love and what we want this time around. And our souls aren't even flinching if we don't. Twenty year-olds are dying from cancer. Death isn't that big a deal, unless you refuse to believe your own life. Then it exists to shake you into reality/soul compliance. Just like Jonny Cash's brother. It doesn't have to happen—we don't need death to fuel life—but if we aren't living, our souls don't mind helping us examine the meaning of what is happening. What we are doing. It doens't hurt them any more than millions of powerful people walking around dead enforcing their fear—their death—on others.

What else?

I really enjoyed 2005. It was fun. I'd like to thank and give shout outs to my friends and family. Especially my mom, my sister Suz, who's been living with us, my friend Robert, who's my partner in crime and documentary director.

I'd like to thank god for the space on my credit cards and inspiration to re-order The Love Artist at it's true price. And for the prosperity to build a music studio with no regular income. And the time to do so. And the time and inspiration to create. And for taking care of me and informing me through all the ways that he does. God really is a permanent presence. One that we either feel or shut out. One pointing us to exactly what we want. His will is our will once we strip away the bs. Or I should say our will is his will. He isn't above us but around, in, through, with, for, because of us.

Thank you god for the multitude of blessings you have heaped upon me and my family and friends this year. Thank you for the overwhelming gifts you have given the people of my country and the world. Again and again. Thank you for the consistancy and enduring nature of your love. The incorruptability of your will. The variety of your perfect joy. The unfathomable depth of your understanding. The unwavering tenderness of your mercy.

Happy new year everyone! 2006 is going to be calmly and gently HUGE!