Comments on: New York Minute

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:57:05 +0000

[8] Bruford is amazing. Love Bruford in King Crimson, too, especially the mid-70s stuff.

By: Raf

Raf — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:43:22 +0000

[10] If I ever get a handle on the Japanese language… It’s kind of a weird feeling to not be able to say anything while out in public for an entire day. For me, it’s more not being able to talk to a cute girl. It’s nice to be able to make eye contact and smile. Sometimes it looks like they want to say something, or ask a question, but they can’t (or maybe won’t). I have really enjoyed my all too brief trips out there, and I look forward to my next trip there.

By: Mr OK Jazz Tokyo

Mr OK Jazz Tokyo — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:19:51 +0000

Really love the NY Minute posts, AB.

One of the nice things of living in Tokyo is the ability to really BE alone if you want to. Odd thing in the world’s most populous city, but if I turn off the Japanese speaking I can wander the city for a whole day with no one speaking or making eye-contact with me. Some foreigners hate this but at times it’s very nice. If I get lonely then just need to make some polite small talk with any local and they will instantly respond, relieved that I can communicate in their language.

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:19:22 +0000

[8] “I feel lost in the city”

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:54:40 +0000

[7] dude. that’s my *favorite* Yes tune of all time!!!

Bill Bruford is brilliant.

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:50:04 +0000

[2] Funny, I was thinking of Taxi Driver (The blu-ray just came out yesterday). Yeah, ever read any of that book by Robert Kolker “A Cinema of Lonliness?”

Also, and maybe Diane will appreciate this, but I also flashed on Yes’ “Heart of the Sunrise.”

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:45:46 +0000

[5] ooh, i could use those extra 10 hours a day!!!

soon, my handle here will link to my name. coupla last minute tweaks at the website, before i feel comfy linking to it. even then, the website will be pretty barren for awhile.

then again, i haven’t a clue as to how to make your handle here red and linkable!

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:27:02 +0000

It is not the same thing but that is why the Banter is open 34-7, 365. The place where everyone knows your name–or handle.

By: Jon DeRosa

Jon DeRosa — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:06:47 +0000

My wife and I used to have an Oscar party every year. At the height of attendance, we used to have maybe 20-25 people there. Then we moved uptown, people moved to the burbs, people started having kids (us included) and then one year, a few weeks after our second was born, our attendance was my wife’s mom and one other couple who also had a kid and left before the first award was handed out. The next year nobody came and that was that.

That felt lonely. Like everbody had formed these new closed units and all the old familiar connections were severed.

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:00:43 +0000

Yes, very much so.

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:33:54 +0000

Cool. Always thought that isolation was the real theme of “Taxi Driver.” The paranoia and fear too but loneliness in New York, displaced–Travis was a vet–was really poignant.

By: cullid112233

cullid112233 — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:32:09 +0000

You ever listened to “New York City’s Killin Me” by Ray La Montagne? Pretty good tune that captures that feeling from the perspecitve of an outsider