One of the great concepts of the early 21st century is the Playa Hata (or, "player hater" for you ebonics hatas out there). The premise is that there are two kinds of people in the world: The Player and Those That Hate Him due to mostly to jealousy. I have come to realize over the weekend that I am something of a hata. I learned I was hata during a discussion I had with a friend about the movie "Magnolia." We politely disagreed about film. While I expressed some reservations about the movie, we agreed to disagree and ended the conversation after some gentle prodding from my wife. Actually, I was viscerally angry and depressed at the memory of that movie and I could barely restrain myself from ruining the evening by going on a rant worthy of Hitler in the bunker in the final days. I am quite ashamed over my lack of control in the incident. I don't know what came over me...the very thought of that movie makes me ridiculously upset, in any case. Given that I'm a well-established hata, a new quandry arises: am I jealous of "Magnolia?" Should I, in fact, not hate the playa, but hate the game? I would contend that, no, "Magnolia" merely sucks Satan's cock and that I am justified in expressing my contempt for such a poorly written and pretentious film. That's just what a hata would say, though, isn't it? I'll shut up about that movie, now...sorry...

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Some things need to be said about Pop Culture, but I am not sure if I am qualified anymore. The Jim Neighbors Masculinity Project was started in 1974 to provide a forum for my Very Important Musings on the pop cultural landscape. And it has served us all well. I believe I was the first person to go on record that C.W. McCall of “Convoy” fame and Gloria “I Will Survive” Gaynor would probably not have enduring careers. Like Cassandra, I also foretold the doom of Luke and Laura’s relationship on “General Hospital” and *nobody listened to me.*



But, this noble project has not been depository of gloom and negativity, either. When 47 crazy kids (and a series of managers and “advisers”) in various parts of Latin America had a dream to conquer the world with precision dancing, angelic singing, doe-eyed seduction and a vast array of aqua headbands, I was right behind them spurring them on to greatness (often with a hearty cha-cha-cha). And my faith in Menudo was proved right. You’re welcome.



My public encouragement to Michael Jackson on this website to seek the solace and counsel of children and Liza Minelli during the turbulent days while recording “Thriller” may very well have saved his career. Again, I graciously accept your collective kudos for my service to Pop Culture. Sure, I may have made some seemingly bizarre pronouncements here on occasion. My initial impressions that Sigue Sigue Sputnik and “Shanghai Surprise” were revolutionary might have been off the mark, but I don’t want to open old wounds. In a 100 years people will rediscover these treasures…ok, they will still suck, but I had a rough time in the ‘80’s, ok? For my English friends, only, is New Order *that* much better than Sigue Sigue Sputnik? But, (uncharacteristically), I digress…




Since moving to New Zealand I am completely out of the loop. I have seen, like, two movies in six months, I watch total bullshit home improvement DIY television almost exclusively and my finger is closer to the rectum than the pulse of today’s music. I don’t want to be one of those old bastards who label something crap out of sheer ignorance. That is why the focus our little project on the web that we started some 28 years ago will have to change. My ill-formed thoughts on popular culture, the sustaining milk of world civilization since 1956, will thus have to take a slight step back in the order of priorities around here. Sure, I’ll tell you about what images and sounds I am excited about, but, alas, my role as being the Prime Definer of the World Pop Cultural Zeitgeist is probably over. I have left Rome for the Barbarians. Henceforth, we must wave goodbye to the dear, departed Jim Neighbors Masculinity Project.

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