How Topical of Me

I heard a lady explaining to her companion her approach to the subjects of the Dixie Chicks and the "Da Vinci Code".

"You better know how the other person feels before you voice your opinion unless you have time to waste getting a headache."

Not being particularly politically minded and with a only vague sense of spiritual matters, my thoughts on either subject are considered inconsequential by most. Why they don't see it as a prime opportunity to gather another into the fold, I don't know, but I'm glad.

However, I did see "The Da Vinci Code" yesterday and downloaded a few songs from the new Dixie Chicks album today.

When I read "The Da Vinci Code" a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it. I was introduced to new ideas, symbology, etc. Any book that makes you think and encourages discussion, works for me. And it's fiction. The movie was a B, maybe a B+ I liked it, didn't mind spending the money to see it. There's no Oscar performances in there, but Audrey Tautou is so damn cute, who cares?

I do not care what Natalie Maines said about the President. I find it annoying that over 2 years later it's still making news. From a PR view, it was dumb. But I bet there have been plenty worse things said about him from much more prominent people. It's an opinion, voiced in frustration, at a bad time. The office of the President deserves respect, and yet.... Free speech comes at a price, and that price is probably pretty steep if you're talking about record sales. People completely over-reacted.

Their new album is everything the reviews are saying: More mature, introspective, requiring multiple-listens to fully appreciate. Not as peppy and fun as their past albums, it is very strong vocally and musically. It's personal and powerful, and yes a little sad and bitter. Ignore the politics, focus on the music.

In my inconsequential opinion, of course.