Unfortunately a third night of nyquil produced no dreams, but i did find out that NyQuil makes my kneecaps sweat. Cough still wont go away so its onto Duratuss.
Listening to: CAN - Ege Bamyasi
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
NyQuil II
Another night of the big fuckin Q, another fucked up dream. This one contains 3 borders people and one of the stores.
I'm in the Cary store back in music and Lane is trying to shelve the Beatles cd 1963-66 (the red 2 disc set), but there are already close to 100 in the section, so i tell him to put them in understock. That's when Joy comes over and asks what this door is. I look up and there is a locked metal door in a place that didnt have one before. Oddly enough my key works and we step into an field between to buildings.
In the field there are rows of corn, no two rows are the same height (some are 12 feet tall and others 2 feet tall), they aren't in any ascending or descending order either, its very chaotic. There is some one tending the corn, its Joost. Then i notice the pile of cigarette butts by the door.
Then on the wall of the opposite building there is a large flat screen tv, so we sit down and watch whats on. It's a piece of notebook paper, torn from the book and cut in half. On it is a game of hangman, but instead of single words, there are complete phrases, one of them being 'He thrusts his fists against the post and still insists he sees a ghost' and other tongue twisters. We sit there entranced staring at the screen unable to move, it feels like being so high that you can't (or rather, don't want to) move, but we are not high.
The channel changes to two high school students' home movie project that involves acting out a scene from 'Great Expectations' page 171 from a baby crib. The one with the camera is lieing under the bed shooting the other one as he hangs over the edge of the crib to act out the scene. I reach up to the shelves and grab a copy of 'Great Expectations', but the book looks exactly like 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' (the white qp, same cover design, thickness, etc) so I can follow along with the scene.
Then the scene ends and the tv switches to the Israeli Prime Minister making a speech in the UN in 1968.
That's it. Once more down the rabbit hole tonight as NyQuil again is on my to do before bedtime list.
Listening to: Phish - New Years Eve 1995
I'm in the Cary store back in music and Lane is trying to shelve the Beatles cd 1963-66 (the red 2 disc set), but there are already close to 100 in the section, so i tell him to put them in understock. That's when Joy comes over and asks what this door is. I look up and there is a locked metal door in a place that didnt have one before. Oddly enough my key works and we step into an field between to buildings.
In the field there are rows of corn, no two rows are the same height (some are 12 feet tall and others 2 feet tall), they aren't in any ascending or descending order either, its very chaotic. There is some one tending the corn, its Joost. Then i notice the pile of cigarette butts by the door.
Then on the wall of the opposite building there is a large flat screen tv, so we sit down and watch whats on. It's a piece of notebook paper, torn from the book and cut in half. On it is a game of hangman, but instead of single words, there are complete phrases, one of them being 'He thrusts his fists against the post and still insists he sees a ghost' and other tongue twisters. We sit there entranced staring at the screen unable to move, it feels like being so high that you can't (or rather, don't want to) move, but we are not high.
The channel changes to two high school students' home movie project that involves acting out a scene from 'Great Expectations' page 171 from a baby crib. The one with the camera is lieing under the bed shooting the other one as he hangs over the edge of the crib to act out the scene. I reach up to the shelves and grab a copy of 'Great Expectations', but the book looks exactly like 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' (the white qp, same cover design, thickness, etc) so I can follow along with the scene.
Then the scene ends and the tv switches to the Israeli Prime Minister making a speech in the UN in 1968.
That's it. Once more down the rabbit hole tonight as NyQuil again is on my to do before bedtime list.
Listening to: Phish - New Years Eve 1995
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
NyQuil
The cough medicine of the gods, if the gods were continually fucked up.
I always have the most fucked up dreams on this stuff and last night was no exception. I was in a Resident Evil game, but you could play either side, human or zombies and even the zombies had guns. The guns zombies carried allowed them to shoot their serum into humans to make more zombies. I was a human first, then I was a zombie. I had more fun as a gun toting zombie, creating legions of zombies that overran the humans.
Also, the map was my old grammar school.
I always have the most fucked up dreams on this stuff and last night was no exception. I was in a Resident Evil game, but you could play either side, human or zombies and even the zombies had guns. The guns zombies carried allowed them to shoot their serum into humans to make more zombies. I was a human first, then I was a zombie. I had more fun as a gun toting zombie, creating legions of zombies that overran the humans.
Also, the map was my old grammar school.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The Metro
My girlfriend, and a few other of my friends, call my car The Metro, as if it was the only one in the world, which I know its not. But, I'm pretty sure its the only one in the world thats lost all four of its hubcaps while in motion. Not all at once, although that would be impressive. No, they've fallen off one by one, usually when I race around a turn at speeds Metros arent supposed to do around corners. I know this because I saw the first one fall off.
Back when I lived in Cary I spent way too much time at Cary Towne Center. It was between work and home and I enjoyed many of the shops there. Speeding through the parking lot was always fun, as it was relatively deserted. Long sweeping curves around the backside of Cary Towne center were always a fun place to open my car up (40MPH! back off MF! woo-hoo). One day while exiting a swooping curve I saw something roll in front of my car that was round, plastic and going faster then the car. Neat, I thought, then, Fuck!?!, was that mine?
I got confirmation that I had lost a hubcap when home and found my car was missing one. I never saw the other 3 fall off the car, but it only took an additional 9 months for me to lose them all and the Metro's been that way ever since.
Now seven years later, the Metro (who I call Polly) passed the 100,000 mile mark and is doing fine. It makes many noises, the hatch refuses to stay up, the heat has only two settings [very high & volcanic] and the dome light is always on; but other than that its in good shape. It still gets 35+ miles to the gallon and continues to get me from home to work & back, which is all I need it to do.
I looked into replacing the hubcaps for Polly, but since she's got such odd sized wheels, the hubcaps would cost about half what the tires do. $50 for the 4 hubcaps, $120 for 4 tires, and I refuse to replace them as I will just fling them off my car eventually.
So, here's to you Polly, the best car I ever had. May you continue to shuttle me around.
listening to: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
Back when I lived in Cary I spent way too much time at Cary Towne Center. It was between work and home and I enjoyed many of the shops there. Speeding through the parking lot was always fun, as it was relatively deserted. Long sweeping curves around the backside of Cary Towne center were always a fun place to open my car up (40MPH! back off MF! woo-hoo). One day while exiting a swooping curve I saw something roll in front of my car that was round, plastic and going faster then the car. Neat, I thought, then, Fuck!?!, was that mine?
I got confirmation that I had lost a hubcap when home and found my car was missing one. I never saw the other 3 fall off the car, but it only took an additional 9 months for me to lose them all and the Metro's been that way ever since.
Now seven years later, the Metro (who I call Polly) passed the 100,000 mile mark and is doing fine. It makes many noises, the hatch refuses to stay up, the heat has only two settings [very high & volcanic] and the dome light is always on; but other than that its in good shape. It still gets 35+ miles to the gallon and continues to get me from home to work & back, which is all I need it to do.
I looked into replacing the hubcaps for Polly, but since she's got such odd sized wheels, the hubcaps would cost about half what the tires do. $50 for the 4 hubcaps, $120 for 4 tires, and I refuse to replace them as I will just fling them off my car eventually.
So, here's to you Polly, the best car I ever had. May you continue to shuttle me around.
listening to: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
Our Future In Domes
How creepy will it be if in the year 2043, when we are living in our corporate controlled housing units inside the city sized domes that protects us from the global-warming super storms that rage across the world, we finally find out that it was Bush and his neo-con cronies who planned 9/11, just to be able to justify his secret monitoring of communications at the end of 2005, which would lead to the eventual repealing of the First and Fourth through Eighth Amendments, thereby ushering a new world where large corporations run the government. [Like the Shadowrun world, without the magic, although having magic would make up for living in a sterile cookie cutter world. Sort of.]
Be very afraid. The president is urinating all over the 4th amendment. What he's doing is very frightening. He must be stopped. I know I don't want to live in the Greater Atlanta Coca-Cola Dome
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Be very afraid. The president is urinating all over the 4th amendment. What he's doing is very frightening. He must be stopped. I know I don't want to live in the Greater Atlanta Coca-Cola Dome
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Olympic Fever
just 64 days to go until the 2006 Winter Olympics begin in Torino, Italy. the grandest world spectacle (well, second behind the summer games).
a place where everyone (well, everyone who lives in a country with winter) gets together to do compete with items ill-equiped to walk in, attached to your feet.
oh, so grand! and guess what makes it better? the insanity of the events.
slide down 70m long ramp on skis and then jump? YOU BET!
hurl yourself down an icy replica of your small intestine at 90mph on a radio flyer? RIGHT ON!
ski around in circles with a rifle on my back? YEAH... wait, what?
slide a rock with a handle while i use a broom to direct it? now your just making shit up
more good news? you're gonna know more about 2 or 3 american girls (ages 15-22), who happen to skate very well, than you know about your neighbor.
so what should you do? watch the damn games. i will, because i am a sucker and love this kind of crap. over dramatized, homogenized, nationalist drek crammed down my throat. oh, and, and hot italian women in tight fuzzy parkas
a place where everyone (well, everyone who lives in a country with winter) gets together to do compete with items ill-equiped to walk in, attached to your feet.
oh, so grand! and guess what makes it better? the insanity of the events.
slide down 70m long ramp on skis and then jump? YOU BET!
hurl yourself down an icy replica of your small intestine at 90mph on a radio flyer? RIGHT ON!
ski around in circles with a rifle on my back? YEAH... wait, what?
slide a rock with a handle while i use a broom to direct it? now your just making shit up
more good news? you're gonna know more about 2 or 3 american girls (ages 15-22), who happen to skate very well, than you know about your neighbor.
so what should you do? watch the damn games. i will, because i am a sucker and love this kind of crap. over dramatized, homogenized, nationalist drek crammed down my throat. oh, and, and hot italian women in tight fuzzy parkas
Monday, December 05, 2005
1.6 Seconds
thats all it takes, from utter disbelief that MY team was going to lose the first game i ever saw live AT home to an UNRANKED team to unbridled joy.
i really still cant believe it happened. i really still cant believe i saw it live.
when i see the replay on the morrow, i will be like 'hmm... looks like the shot... it could be... but then again i saw it from a different angle, CAUSE I WAS FUCKIN THERE!'
and when i see the replay every game this season it will make me smile, not cause Duke won, but because i was there. it will also make me smile because i sat two rows back of a pair of fine asses.
and a pair of fine asses in proximity to each other causes one to smile; the closer, the wider the smile
i really still cant believe it happened. i really still cant believe i saw it live.
when i see the replay on the morrow, i will be like 'hmm... looks like the shot... it could be... but then again i saw it from a different angle, CAUSE I WAS FUCKIN THERE!'
and when i see the replay every game this season it will make me smile, not cause Duke won, but because i was there. it will also make me smile because i sat two rows back of a pair of fine asses.
and a pair of fine asses in proximity to each other causes one to smile; the closer, the wider the smile
Friday, December 02, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Harry Potter & GOF
Tonight i saw the fourth Harry Potter movie and i ruined it for myself in the first five minutes. I am familiar with the books and once i spotted the first major deviation from the book, i turned my attention to catching other 'mistakes'. This led me to miss the movie.
I really couldnt tell you what happened, but i can tell you exactly what was different between the book and the movie. I mean the weasleys hair should be RED, how hard is that to get right? Its like Harry without the scar, or Hermoine with the proto-boobies and young blossoming body..... wait, i mean, they even changed the sets! fuck! i liked the old sets, they were bigger. Theres a reason its called a Great Hall, because its supposed to be fuckin GREAT, not some cramped room that resembles my high school auditorium.
Fuck! Now i realize the whole movie was smaller, every room, every shot, even Hagrid! All smaller, much smaller. Thats bullshit. If i'm gonna spend $8 bucks to go see a movie thats 2 and half hours long i want some wide, grand shots, some kind of epic feeling; not some 2+ hour long G-rated music video. The only tongue i saw tonight was in the trailer for Aeon Flux.
Aeon Flux? thats a tough one, see it, not see it? Plus side to this movie is that i will enjoy the movie and not look for 'mistakes'. i had no idea what the plotline was on the short videos i caught on MTVs Liquid Television, probably the last good thing mtvs done, so i should go see it. double plus: Charlize! one of my 5
So then i shouldn't read the Narnia series i just picked up until i see the movie, that looks sweet. it better not be a fuckin g-rated music video. i want grand fuckin shots, i want shots taking from a fuckin helicopter sweeping across a giant fuckin battlefield. i want to leave the movie theater saying 'that was fuckin cool' not 'what the fucks up with their hair?'
One Star (out of 5) and sadly, i might go see it again
I really couldnt tell you what happened, but i can tell you exactly what was different between the book and the movie. I mean the weasleys hair should be RED, how hard is that to get right? Its like Harry without the scar, or Hermoine with the proto-boobies and young blossoming body..... wait, i mean, they even changed the sets! fuck! i liked the old sets, they were bigger. Theres a reason its called a Great Hall, because its supposed to be fuckin GREAT, not some cramped room that resembles my high school auditorium.
Fuck! Now i realize the whole movie was smaller, every room, every shot, even Hagrid! All smaller, much smaller. Thats bullshit. If i'm gonna spend $8 bucks to go see a movie thats 2 and half hours long i want some wide, grand shots, some kind of epic feeling; not some 2+ hour long G-rated music video. The only tongue i saw tonight was in the trailer for Aeon Flux.
Aeon Flux? thats a tough one, see it, not see it? Plus side to this movie is that i will enjoy the movie and not look for 'mistakes'. i had no idea what the plotline was on the short videos i caught on MTVs Liquid Television, probably the last good thing mtvs done, so i should go see it. double plus: Charlize! one of my 5
So then i shouldn't read the Narnia series i just picked up until i see the movie, that looks sweet. it better not be a fuckin g-rated music video. i want grand fuckin shots, i want shots taking from a fuckin helicopter sweeping across a giant fuckin battlefield. i want to leave the movie theater saying 'that was fuckin cool' not 'what the fucks up with their hair?'
One Star (out of 5) and sadly, i might go see it again
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Austin City Limits
Like most times I catch the show on PBS, I've already missed at least the first half. Tonight, no different. This time it was the fuckin Pixies!! and I saw the last 3 songs, 'Hey', 'Gigantic' the encore 'Caribou'. In honor of 12 minutes of the best TV I've seen in the last month, here are the top 8 Pixies songs of all time, in no particular order:
Bone Machine
Break My Body
Caribou
Gigantic
Gouge Away
I've Been Tired
Levitate Me
The Holiday Song
Bone Machine
Break My Body
Caribou
Gigantic
Gouge Away
I've Been Tired
Levitate Me
The Holiday Song
Friday, November 25, 2005
What I Need
About a week off where I can spend my time cataloging all my music. I've added so much stuff since I got the external harddrive I know my master list is sadly out of date and needs to be updated.
Also, another external harddrive. At least 160GB this time.
A box of blank DVDs to back up my music harddrive.
A way to get the dead bug out of my clock.
Also, another external harddrive. At least 160GB this time.
A box of blank DVDs to back up my music harddrive.
A way to get the dead bug out of my clock.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Top 7 Albums That Begin With S
no particular order
1. Screamadelica - Primal Scream. The best of the late 80s early 90s Brit trip pop. Perfect for: the hashish clouded co-ed dorm room.
2. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard & Linda Thompson. The sound of a marriage falling apart. Perfect for: the first three weekends after a breakup.
3. Sign O' The Times - Prince. The Minneapolis Imps masterpiece. Perfect for: the first three weekends of a new relationship.
4. Slanted & Enchanted - Pavement. Lo-fi magic from the kings of lo-fi. Perfect for: impressing that barista with the tongue ring.
5. Spiderland - Slint. Lost classic, laid the heavy guitar blueprint for current breed of screamcore. Perfect for: US Interstate 95 at 3am.
6. Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones. Among the greatest of all time, the Stones at their best. Perfect for: tailgating with your cool uncle.
7. Surfer Rosa - The Pixies. What the fuck is he saying? Where's my spanish dictionary? Who cares. Perfect for: under the bleachers with two fat joints.
1. Screamadelica - Primal Scream. The best of the late 80s early 90s Brit trip pop. Perfect for: the hashish clouded co-ed dorm room.
2. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard & Linda Thompson. The sound of a marriage falling apart. Perfect for: the first three weekends after a breakup.
3. Sign O' The Times - Prince. The Minneapolis Imps masterpiece. Perfect for: the first three weekends of a new relationship.
4. Slanted & Enchanted - Pavement. Lo-fi magic from the kings of lo-fi. Perfect for: impressing that barista with the tongue ring.
5. Spiderland - Slint. Lost classic, laid the heavy guitar blueprint for current breed of screamcore. Perfect for: US Interstate 95 at 3am.
6. Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones. Among the greatest of all time, the Stones at their best. Perfect for: tailgating with your cool uncle.
7. Surfer Rosa - The Pixies. What the fuck is he saying? Where's my spanish dictionary? Who cares. Perfect for: under the bleachers with two fat joints.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Employee Appreciation Day
Its a happy time, where I spend my hard earned cash at the store that gives me the large discount and gives me the opportunity to buy CDs I wouldnt even buy at my standard discount, mainly to fill in my catalog and to try new stuff. This years take, part 1:
Can - Tago Mago
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
Thelonoius Monk Quartet w/ John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall
Richard Thompson - Grizzly Man (soundtrack)
Talking Heads - Fear of Music
Richmond Fontaine - Post To Wire
also, now that Joy is gone, I have no one to burn me alternative rock cds in exchange for something from my list.
The Can is interesting, might have to check out some more.
Have rediscovered the Talking Heads after listening to 'side 1' of Remain in Light over and over again. World Music for people who hate world music.
Can - Tago Mago
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
Thelonoius Monk Quartet w/ John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall
Richard Thompson - Grizzly Man (soundtrack)
Talking Heads - Fear of Music
Richmond Fontaine - Post To Wire
also, now that Joy is gone, I have no one to burn me alternative rock cds in exchange for something from my list.
The Can is interesting, might have to check out some more.
Have rediscovered the Talking Heads after listening to 'side 1' of Remain in Light over and over again. World Music for people who hate world music.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Happy Happy Joy Joy
I feel blessed. I am in love with two different sports, and because of their schedule, never the twain shall meet. Well, almost.
Tonight College basketball began when Duke beat BU, a scrappy America East team that should win 20+ and be a tourney team come March. The beginning of the season comes during the week that Major League Baseball announces their award winners, a sure sign that the World Series ended about two weeks ago.
The worst two weeks every year, that small nulltime between MLB & NCAA BB.
The only weekend they overlap is at the end of the NCAA tourney, Final Four weekend is the first in April, the same as opening day. So, overlap is a weekend.
Boy this post sucked, but since I have so few I might as well keep it.
Tonight College basketball began when Duke beat BU, a scrappy America East team that should win 20+ and be a tourney team come March. The beginning of the season comes during the week that Major League Baseball announces their award winners, a sure sign that the World Series ended about two weeks ago.
The worst two weeks every year, that small nulltime between MLB & NCAA BB.
The only weekend they overlap is at the end of the NCAA tourney, Final Four weekend is the first in April, the same as opening day. So, overlap is a weekend.
Boy this post sucked, but since I have so few I might as well keep it.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
My Friend Dave. He Is Very Smart
The man who followed me as Executive Editor of
the Press and the reaper of the seed I sowed, now
works for Forbes.com,he created this. I take full
responsibility for his genius.
"Forbes.com on Communicating," a mammoth special report
that published this morning. It's the first project I've
edited at Forbes.
It's really huge: more than 40 feature articles and
interviews, 90 minutes of audio, 20 minutes of video,
and interactive elements including an application that
allows you to e-mail yourself decades into the future.
We pulled in contributors ranging from Kurt Vonnegut
to Noam Chomsky to Walter Cronkite.
You can see the final product at
http://www.forbes.com/communicating
Thursday, October 27, 2005
STOP THIEF!
My first day back from vacation and I stopped two thieves.
One was the 'sticker remover' bastard who had 25 books staged in 5 different places in Politics. Apparently he is almost done with stealing the entire lit section as he had all of Vonnegut's books ready to be lifted. Fucker. Pulled his stashes before he could leave and then I creepily stalked him until he left the store. Did he get the hint? Doubt it.
Two was the 'guy i chased'. The fuck walked out the front door with stuff, then proceded to walk towards Kroger, all the while speeding up. Once he started walking faster outside, I cut across the store through the cafe. When he turned the corner between the stores, he took off running, that's when i started running as well. He had a good lead on me and there was no way I was going to catch him, but found an alternate way to stop thieves.
Yell "Drop that shit, punk ass".
I was so happy I almost plotzed. I returned with his booty (3-disc Wizard of Oz & 2-disc Big Lebowski) and felt good for the rest of the day.
One was the 'sticker remover' bastard who had 25 books staged in 5 different places in Politics. Apparently he is almost done with stealing the entire lit section as he had all of Vonnegut's books ready to be lifted. Fucker. Pulled his stashes before he could leave and then I creepily stalked him until he left the store. Did he get the hint? Doubt it.
Two was the 'guy i chased'. The fuck walked out the front door with stuff, then proceded to walk towards Kroger, all the while speeding up. Once he started walking faster outside, I cut across the store through the cafe. When he turned the corner between the stores, he took off running, that's when i started running as well. He had a good lead on me and there was no way I was going to catch him, but found an alternate way to stop thieves.
Yell "Drop that shit, punk ass".
I was so happy I almost plotzed. I returned with his booty (3-disc Wizard of Oz & 2-disc Big Lebowski) and felt good for the rest of the day.
Two Or So Things
Dreamt I met the new GM last night (sort of). I actually had a dream that contained one of my first managers at Borders, and he said that Gary [gm6] was alot like him, but thats all I remember. So this could mean various things, Gary is irish or prematurely balding or has a skinny wife or likes D&D or is overweight and doesn't shave. Very cryptic. Let's see how true, or untrue, this is.
Good news is that gm5 no longer has any power over our store, although she's been harder to find than julie ann boler since she left.
The purchase of my iPod has led me to 'exercise' more, if you can call alternately walking and jogging around Lake Lynn exercise. But I have realized that it is tough to jog to songs where my natural jogging speed doesn't match the beats per minute of the song. Like Dance Naked by Mellencamp or Suzie Q Part 2 by CCR, and jogging to live Coltrane is impossible.
Was finally able to get my hands on all the good Van Halen cds (pre-sammy), Flamestrike Boy hooked me up with the Van Halen, as well as much OutKast, Wu-Tang and a pair of bowls. He burned Van, Lyle, Jimi, Floyd & the Dead among others.
Good news is that gm5 no longer has any power over our store, although she's been harder to find than julie ann boler since she left.
The purchase of my iPod has led me to 'exercise' more, if you can call alternately walking and jogging around Lake Lynn exercise. But I have realized that it is tough to jog to songs where my natural jogging speed doesn't match the beats per minute of the song. Like Dance Naked by Mellencamp or Suzie Q Part 2 by CCR, and jogging to live Coltrane is impossible.
Was finally able to get my hands on all the good Van Halen cds (pre-sammy), Flamestrike Boy hooked me up with the Van Halen, as well as much OutKast, Wu-Tang and a pair of bowls. He burned Van, Lyle, Jimi, Floyd & the Dead among others.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
My iPod
I've only had my iPod for about 2 weeks and now I've already divided my life into B.i. and A.i. It is a magical device, the mythical philosophers stone. Most mornings I wake up and thank the higher powers that Steve Jobs returned to run Mac. Without him life would suck and I would be on some crappy pc clone praying not to be struck down with the 'blue screen of death', which, rumour has it will be in the next version of the OED.
Bless you Mac
Bless you Mac
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
My Greatest Bands of All Time
1. The Beatles - the lads from Liverpool have done more for rock music that any other band. they didnt just open new doors, they built the house. true ground breakers they turned the simple pop song into genius, had 80 bajillion number 1 hits in just three years, then they went out and in less than 2 years produced Rubber Soul, Revolver & Sgt Peppers (holy fuck that's a good stretch). still bigger than jesus.
2. The Band - 4 canadians and 1 american redefined music right in the middle of the psychadelic era, mixing folk, rock, gospel and blues into a tight package that yearned to explode at the seems. from a hoary r&b dancehall band to dylan's backing band, they transformed themselves through two albums of americana folk tales into one of the most influential bands of all time and put a large pink house in upstate new york on the map.
3. The Replacements - rising from the minneapolis scene, their punk influences and their rollercoaster live shows (blisteringly hot or drunkingly incoherent) set them up for breakthrough with Let It Be. westerberg's songwriting skills blossomed on that album and allowed them to make the jump to warner bros, which tamed them a bit, until they fell apart and became paul's springboard to a solo career. their unwillingness to promote themselves kept them from being larger than life.
4. The Pixies - out of Boston, their influence continues to grow to this day. they have become a modern day velvet underground, exploding a music scene (alternative rock) to the forefront without ever really being part of it, until now. squealing guitars, bizarre lyrics and a female bass player set the standard for the next decade of bands, as has their 'loud-quiet-loud' song style.
5. (tie) R.E.M & The Rolling Stones - bands similar in their overall careers. both have periods where they were the absolute 'Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World' and produced records that are withour peer. rem (83-87), stones (68-72). both returned years later with another classic album after a decline, rem (Automatic For The People); stones (Some Girls). and now, both bands continue to slog along without founding members who have retired. both bands need to stop now, or in the case of the stones 20 years ago.
2. The Band - 4 canadians and 1 american redefined music right in the middle of the psychadelic era, mixing folk, rock, gospel and blues into a tight package that yearned to explode at the seems. from a hoary r&b dancehall band to dylan's backing band, they transformed themselves through two albums of americana folk tales into one of the most influential bands of all time and put a large pink house in upstate new york on the map.
3. The Replacements - rising from the minneapolis scene, their punk influences and their rollercoaster live shows (blisteringly hot or drunkingly incoherent) set them up for breakthrough with Let It Be. westerberg's songwriting skills blossomed on that album and allowed them to make the jump to warner bros, which tamed them a bit, until they fell apart and became paul's springboard to a solo career. their unwillingness to promote themselves kept them from being larger than life.
4. The Pixies - out of Boston, their influence continues to grow to this day. they have become a modern day velvet underground, exploding a music scene (alternative rock) to the forefront without ever really being part of it, until now. squealing guitars, bizarre lyrics and a female bass player set the standard for the next decade of bands, as has their 'loud-quiet-loud' song style.
5. (tie) R.E.M & The Rolling Stones - bands similar in their overall careers. both have periods where they were the absolute 'Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World' and produced records that are withour peer. rem (83-87), stones (68-72). both returned years later with another classic album after a decline, rem (Automatic For The People); stones (Some Girls). and now, both bands continue to slog along without founding members who have retired. both bands need to stop now, or in the case of the stones 20 years ago.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Fitzpatricks War
Fitzpatrick's War: The Early Life of Sir Robert Mayfair Bruce is a wonderful book. Theodore Judson creates a wonderful world in a very possible future. Set in the late 26th century the world is powered by steam (electricity has been forgotten) and the age of fuedalism has returned.
The world's most important science has become history and not only has history been written by the victors (the Yukons), but rewritten by them to glorify Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick, the conquerer of the world and a young man with an Alexander complex. Or has it?
If you are a fan of historical fiction, speculative history or alternative earths, then this book is definately for you. Not only does Judson create an all too convincing possible future of earth, but he dots the book with humorous takes on current times as seen through the eyes of a puritan society 600 years in the future. The book is filled with footnotes that point out the inconsistancies between Robert's tale and what has become the remembered history of the Age of Fitzpatrick, which allow you to see the power that history creates.
One can only hope that Judson will write more about his future earth as he leaves plenty of back history and potential stories littered in his footnotes. It's been a long time since I have read anything this good.
The world's most important science has become history and not only has history been written by the victors (the Yukons), but rewritten by them to glorify Isaac Prophet Fitzpatrick, the conquerer of the world and a young man with an Alexander complex. Or has it?
If you are a fan of historical fiction, speculative history or alternative earths, then this book is definately for you. Not only does Judson create an all too convincing possible future of earth, but he dots the book with humorous takes on current times as seen through the eyes of a puritan society 600 years in the future. The book is filled with footnotes that point out the inconsistancies between Robert's tale and what has become the remembered history of the Age of Fitzpatrick, which allow you to see the power that history creates.
One can only hope that Judson will write more about his future earth as he leaves plenty of back history and potential stories littered in his footnotes. It's been a long time since I have read anything this good.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Humans Vs The Vampire Car
My car (95 geo metro named Polly, 95K miles) is a vampire.
It doesn't like sunlight and tends to die in the face of overwhelming heat. Example one, yesterday. While driving home it stalled on Lynn Road while doing 50, I tried coasting to a place to jab a stake in its heart, but you really can't coast uphill, so it stopped in a turning lane about 50 feet from an intersection.
As luck would have it, two cars behind me was a cop. He helped me push it uphill through the intersection onto a side road into a bus lane, where I sat down to wait for a while. In the past waiting has given my car a chance to cool off? return from gaseous form? or something, and then it usually starts up again.
Within 5 minutes I was asked by not one, but three people if I needed a ride anywhere (not help), but a physical ride to someplace. One of them had pulled off Lynn Road and turned onto the sidestreet to see if I needed help. The other two happened to be driving on the side road.
People stopping to help a stranger? in 2005? with Bush in the whitehouse? It made me happy, renewed my faith in humans again and proved to me, once again, that in a global war of humans vs vampires that humans would win
It doesn't like sunlight and tends to die in the face of overwhelming heat. Example one, yesterday. While driving home it stalled on Lynn Road while doing 50, I tried coasting to a place to jab a stake in its heart, but you really can't coast uphill, so it stopped in a turning lane about 50 feet from an intersection.
As luck would have it, two cars behind me was a cop. He helped me push it uphill through the intersection onto a side road into a bus lane, where I sat down to wait for a while. In the past waiting has given my car a chance to cool off? return from gaseous form? or something, and then it usually starts up again.
Within 5 minutes I was asked by not one, but three people if I needed a ride anywhere (not help), but a physical ride to someplace. One of them had pulled off Lynn Road and turned onto the sidestreet to see if I needed help. The other two happened to be driving on the side road.
People stopping to help a stranger? in 2005? with Bush in the whitehouse? It made me happy, renewed my faith in humans again and proved to me, once again, that in a global war of humans vs vampires that humans would win
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Dogs Kick Ass
Another reason dogs are better than cats...
SAN FRANCISCO - One of the swimmers in this weekend’s Alcatraz Invitational swim has dog paddled his way into the record book.
Jake is a 65-pound golden retriever and the only non-human in the tenth annual 1.2 mile swim from the infamous prison island to the San Francisco shore. The four-year-old pooch swam across the cold, choppy water in just under 42 minutes, finishing 72nd out of the more than 500 swimmers. Organizers say it was the first known crossing by a dog.
The crowd cheered as Jake made his way onto solid ground, shook himself and dodged a woman who tried to put a medal around his neck.
Jake’s owner, Jeff Pokonosky, says the two swim four miles a week and bodysurf together. His training secret? Jake always gets scrambled eggs before a big swim.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Funny Things
Its been a while, but I needed to write something.
Things that are always funny:
1. People walking into things. Funnier when its glass walls or doors, like that new AOL commercial. I always pray for that commercial rather than the AOL commercial with cake, because cake isnt funny.
2. Mascots getting beat down. Specifically college mascots in full soft cloth puppet heads and accompanying costume, not the lame mascots who only wear a fake head (George Washington U) or just dress in period costumes (FSU & WVU). If its two mascots going at it, its even better.
3. Puppets cursing (or saying rude things). Especially when its unexpected. Also, the cuter the puppet, the funnier. This is why Greg The Bunny was very funny.
Things that are always funny:
1. People walking into things. Funnier when its glass walls or doors, like that new AOL commercial. I always pray for that commercial rather than the AOL commercial with cake, because cake isnt funny.
2. Mascots getting beat down. Specifically college mascots in full soft cloth puppet heads and accompanying costume, not the lame mascots who only wear a fake head (George Washington U) or just dress in period costumes (FSU & WVU). If its two mascots going at it, its even better.
3. Puppets cursing (or saying rude things). Especially when its unexpected. Also, the cuter the puppet, the funnier. This is why Greg The Bunny was very funny.
Monday, May 16, 2005
sports night
aaron sorkin is a god.
the first season of Sports Night proves that. probably the greatest first season of any tv show known to man. every so often I pull out my dvd copy and watch it again, the eight hours it takes to watch the 23 episodes. the writing is razor sharp and delivered at a pace unseen on network tv, until sorkins next (and more popular show, The West Wing).
if you haven't seen this show your life is incomplete, as is this post is because I am trying to compose this post while watching the show, which is turning out to be much harder than I thought.
the first season of Sports Night proves that. probably the greatest first season of any tv show known to man. every so often I pull out my dvd copy and watch it again, the eight hours it takes to watch the 23 episodes. the writing is razor sharp and delivered at a pace unseen on network tv, until sorkins next (and more popular show, The West Wing).
if you haven't seen this show your life is incomplete, as is this post is because I am trying to compose this post while watching the show, which is turning out to be much harder than I thought.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
the obiligitory pope post
The pope. He’s dead. And by the time new one is finally elected, our ADD world will be all poped out.
The cardinals aren’t allowed to meet for at least two weeks, due to papal law. An eternity in the news cycle. I’ve learned more about John Paul II in the last 4 hours that I had in my entire life, and I went to catholic school for 9 years.
Pope John Paul II was an important man. Let’s just leave it at that. His part in the fall of Communism, apologizing for the church’s past sins and reaching out to all countries to end hostilities, these are things that important men do. But, as the head of the church, the Pope guided their policies, which included attacks on gay marriage, abortion and women.
The process that’s about to begin will show the Catholic Church for the lumbering dinosaur it is. Don’t get me wrong, Roman Catholics are among the best for traditional pomp and circumstances. But Latin, come on, is there anyone besides paleontologists that still use Latin?
It should be fun though, 3 weeks (minimum) of pope coverage. Whoever becomes the next pope will have some huge shoes to fill, not just as head of the Catholic Church, but as an important man. How the church handles the election will determine what kind of player in the world they want to be
A return to past glory is unlikely, as few institutions will ever be as powerful (or corrupt) as the Catholic Church was in medieval times. Sounds like someone we know. But the election of an aging, European pope will signal a return to tradition drowning in centuries old dogma. Also, an older pope would mean a greater risk of having to do all this again in a decade or so. And nothing lessens a 21st century persons attention like repetition in a global event. Quick, when’s the next Olympics? and where?
Pope John Paul’s reign of 27 years is a long time for a pope, third longest, in 2000 years. We’ve been come accustom to a sitting Pontiff, waving his hand, and not much else. Early film showed a spry pope (well spry for almost 60), and that’s what the world needs, an even younger pope, preferably one that speaks English.
What the Catholic Church needs to do is to move forward. A new pope will have an unique opportunity to grab the worlds attention for a while, and he needs to bring serious world issues to everyone’s attention, especially those of us who call themselves Christians.
The election of a younger pope, from somewhere other than Europe, will move the church forward. What’s that you say? Not gonna happen. Why not? The nation with the most Catholics in the world is Brazil. The church’s fastest growing regions are South & Central America and Africa. Places a new pope could do the most global good. Any coincidence that a Polish pope would return home to spark the Solidarity movement that would eventually end in the fall of Communism?
Think what an African or Latin American pope would be able to accomplish by sparking real debate on the African AIDS epidemic or the plight of the poor and hungry across the globe. That is one of the strengths of the papacy. Their ability to be an outside observer and point out what is ‘bad’ and ‘wrong’ the world. Granted the church’s definition what is ‘wrong’ has changed over the centuries. Just think of how many US Senators would have purchased indulgences for themselves –and business partners- had this practice still existed. But they have come a long way from the banning of scientific fact and paying for forgiveness.
So now, I’ll sit back and watch what happens. This will be the first Conclace I remember, so it should be interesting. With two millennium of history to pull from our airwaves will be covered with papal biographies and documentaries on Christianity. Few institutions have a history like the Catholic church, drenched in power and secrecy, ever see Hudson Hawk?
Or (alternate ending)
So now, I’ll sit back and watch what happens. This will be the first Conclace I remember, so it should be interesting. With two millennium of history to pull from our airwaves will be covered with papal biographies and documentaries on Christianity, from the celebratory (resurrections, miracles, saints, puppies) to the regrettable (inquisitions, crusades, corruption), all in all I am looking forward to the next month.
By the way, the Twentieth Olympic Winter Games takes place in Turino in 2006.
The cardinals aren’t allowed to meet for at least two weeks, due to papal law. An eternity in the news cycle. I’ve learned more about John Paul II in the last 4 hours that I had in my entire life, and I went to catholic school for 9 years.
Pope John Paul II was an important man. Let’s just leave it at that. His part in the fall of Communism, apologizing for the church’s past sins and reaching out to all countries to end hostilities, these are things that important men do. But, as the head of the church, the Pope guided their policies, which included attacks on gay marriage, abortion and women.
The process that’s about to begin will show the Catholic Church for the lumbering dinosaur it is. Don’t get me wrong, Roman Catholics are among the best for traditional pomp and circumstances. But Latin, come on, is there anyone besides paleontologists that still use Latin?
It should be fun though, 3 weeks (minimum) of pope coverage. Whoever becomes the next pope will have some huge shoes to fill, not just as head of the Catholic Church, but as an important man. How the church handles the election will determine what kind of player in the world they want to be
A return to past glory is unlikely, as few institutions will ever be as powerful (or corrupt) as the Catholic Church was in medieval times. Sounds like someone we know. But the election of an aging, European pope will signal a return to tradition drowning in centuries old dogma. Also, an older pope would mean a greater risk of having to do all this again in a decade or so. And nothing lessens a 21st century persons attention like repetition in a global event. Quick, when’s the next Olympics? and where?
Pope John Paul’s reign of 27 years is a long time for a pope, third longest, in 2000 years. We’ve been come accustom to a sitting Pontiff, waving his hand, and not much else. Early film showed a spry pope (well spry for almost 60), and that’s what the world needs, an even younger pope, preferably one that speaks English.
What the Catholic Church needs to do is to move forward. A new pope will have an unique opportunity to grab the worlds attention for a while, and he needs to bring serious world issues to everyone’s attention, especially those of us who call themselves Christians.
The election of a younger pope, from somewhere other than Europe, will move the church forward. What’s that you say? Not gonna happen. Why not? The nation with the most Catholics in the world is Brazil. The church’s fastest growing regions are South & Central America and Africa. Places a new pope could do the most global good. Any coincidence that a Polish pope would return home to spark the Solidarity movement that would eventually end in the fall of Communism?
Think what an African or Latin American pope would be able to accomplish by sparking real debate on the African AIDS epidemic or the plight of the poor and hungry across the globe. That is one of the strengths of the papacy. Their ability to be an outside observer and point out what is ‘bad’ and ‘wrong’ the world. Granted the church’s definition what is ‘wrong’ has changed over the centuries. Just think of how many US Senators would have purchased indulgences for themselves –and business partners- had this practice still existed. But they have come a long way from the banning of scientific fact and paying for forgiveness.
So now, I’ll sit back and watch what happens. This will be the first Conclace I remember, so it should be interesting. With two millennium of history to pull from our airwaves will be covered with papal biographies and documentaries on Christianity. Few institutions have a history like the Catholic church, drenched in power and secrecy, ever see Hudson Hawk?
Or (alternate ending)
So now, I’ll sit back and watch what happens. This will be the first Conclace I remember, so it should be interesting. With two millennium of history to pull from our airwaves will be covered with papal biographies and documentaries on Christianity, from the celebratory (resurrections, miracles, saints, puppies) to the regrettable (inquisitions, crusades, corruption), all in all I am looking forward to the next month.
By the way, the Twentieth Olympic Winter Games takes place in Turino in 2006.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
a strange night in iTunes
Coming down from a good high is always fun and hearing the right album at the right time is essential, but you never know where iTunes will lead you.
Tonight I went from 'Dark Side' to 'Ok Computer' to see if 'ok' is the dark side of our time. Answer: maybe. Then a quick shuffle through Stoner Mix starts me with the live 'Up on Cripple Creek' from 'The Last Waltz', so off to the Band it is. Get almost 2 hours of the band before Van shows up to sing an Irish Lullaby, so I head for 'Its Too Late To Stop Now' by Van. About an hour later Frank pops up and I end the night with the chairman of the board.
Its fitting that i am finishing this post with Auld Lang Syne playing.
Good night iTunes, thanks for a great burn.
Tonight I went from 'Dark Side' to 'Ok Computer' to see if 'ok' is the dark side of our time. Answer: maybe. Then a quick shuffle through Stoner Mix starts me with the live 'Up on Cripple Creek' from 'The Last Waltz', so off to the Band it is. Get almost 2 hours of the band before Van shows up to sing an Irish Lullaby, so I head for 'Its Too Late To Stop Now' by Van. About an hour later Frank pops up and I end the night with the chairman of the board.
Its fitting that i am finishing this post with Auld Lang Syne playing.
Good night iTunes, thanks for a great burn.
Monday, February 21, 2005
guitar albums
Spiderland by Slint
A remarkable album, it pre dates Nevermind by almost a year, and it grows stronger as the years go by. Not 40 minutes in length, this album is drenched in trail blazing guitar sounds. Planted deep in the music is the seeds of loud-soft plan, Nirvana would steal from the Pixies and math rock, and the thousand bands its spawned.
"Nosferatu Man" is the crunchiest song here and its outro jam is among the finest in all rock. "Good Morning Captain" brings the album to a close by building up to the last minute when everyone comes crashing back together.
Weezer (first album)
It doesn't have to be technically superior to be important. Weezer let us know that you could right pop songs AND play the guitar really loud. Really good pop songs are few and far between, but it all worked on this album. Like most 'sounds' this album bred far too many copies, luckily few have remained. Weezer's remained, becoming the Pearl Jam of alt-pop bands, still making quality, hoping for a return to their early highs when each had been "Greatest Band in the World", even if for a short time.
A remarkable album, it pre dates Nevermind by almost a year, and it grows stronger as the years go by. Not 40 minutes in length, this album is drenched in trail blazing guitar sounds. Planted deep in the music is the seeds of loud-soft plan, Nirvana would steal from the Pixies and math rock, and the thousand bands its spawned.
"Nosferatu Man" is the crunchiest song here and its outro jam is among the finest in all rock. "Good Morning Captain" brings the album to a close by building up to the last minute when everyone comes crashing back together.
Weezer (first album)
It doesn't have to be technically superior to be important. Weezer let us know that you could right pop songs AND play the guitar really loud. Really good pop songs are few and far between, but it all worked on this album. Like most 'sounds' this album bred far too many copies, luckily few have remained. Weezer's remained, becoming the Pearl Jam of alt-pop bands, still making quality, hoping for a return to their early highs when each had been "Greatest Band in the World", even if for a short time.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
a pair of jeans
Is there anything better in this world than a woman in a perfect fitting pair of jeans?
Normally I am a leg man, but when the perfect ass struts by in the pair of jeans it was built for, there's only one thing I can do. And that's trying to keep myself from walking into street sign or parking meter or parked car.
It doesn't matter the color of the jeans, black, dark blue, green (although faded blue is best) as long as they fit perfectly and appear to be one with the woman. Slight wear marks right under the cheek, a stray bit of fraying at the waist, maybe the outline of a lighter or change in one of the pockets. Or better yet, just the hint of a panty line.
These jeans don't just spring into existance, they adapt over a long period to the body underneath. Built by years of tugging and stretching over firm muscles. Finally coming to rest in perfect contours after the demin goes through its own version of continental drift.
The perfect pair of jeans is something to be respected and worshipped, not everyone has them, more importantly, not everyone can create/wear them. And like anything that is American at its core they should be saluted when they go by.
Normally I am a leg man, but when the perfect ass struts by in the pair of jeans it was built for, there's only one thing I can do. And that's trying to keep myself from walking into street sign or parking meter or parked car.
It doesn't matter the color of the jeans, black, dark blue, green (although faded blue is best) as long as they fit perfectly and appear to be one with the woman. Slight wear marks right under the cheek, a stray bit of fraying at the waist, maybe the outline of a lighter or change in one of the pockets. Or better yet, just the hint of a panty line.
These jeans don't just spring into existance, they adapt over a long period to the body underneath. Built by years of tugging and stretching over firm muscles. Finally coming to rest in perfect contours after the demin goes through its own version of continental drift.
The perfect pair of jeans is something to be respected and worshipped, not everyone has them, more importantly, not everyone can create/wear them. And like anything that is American at its core they should be saluted when they go by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)