Uh oh...

It looks like this story is destined to become focused on the reporter and not the real issue. Grrrr... The other soldiers cheered dammit!

from the Seattle Times.

Me=Sick

It's official. I went to the doctor and he told me so.


Bad News - I'm sick (super cough/headache/eye thing), I spent $70 on medicine, and I can't drink this weekend

Good News - I'll be better soon, I learned a ton about the world of nasal sprays, and I've been playing crazy music. Doc probably wouldn't approve of the all the singing and shoutin, but it makes me feel good.

Been listening to a bunch of Jon Wesley Harding lately (the album, not the artist) and I decided that I really need to sing this song. I just want to hear those words coming out of my mouth.

And Bessie Smith seems to be coming up a bunch too and I must say that she really inspires me. She fucking owns her voice. And I guess you'd have to if 90% of your songs had a title that ended with "Blues." You can't mess around with a word like that.

This will end in disaster

Are you kidding me?

Just bookmark it already

I've said it before and I'll say it again - READ The Daily Howler. One of the best commentary sites I've seen on the internet.

Recently they've been talking about the Social Security crisis. Very interesting stuff, especially for all us young folk. Read on..
Yesterday
Today

See, they even trash Salon when appropriate.

I do not have a hangover

My eyes are red, but I am neither high nor hung over. I am sick. Maybe I have one of these

By the way, aint I cute?

Deep Throat...

Love 'em

Hate 'em

Always an interesting read though.

And the Deep Throat part is just a reference to the theory that he was the source of the Watergate leak.

One thing I have to say about the culture war bit - I just don't understand why Christians feel (or in the case of our "leaders", pretend) like Christianity is in endanger of becoming extinct. And the ACLU (and other orgs) get a bad rap from the Coulters, Falwells, and Robertsons of the world, when those same people know dam well that if (or maybe when) Christianity was a minority religion, they'd be protecting their rights too.

DT quotes 60's Dylan in one of those articles and I feel I must do the same. "Come mothers and Fathers throughout the land/and don't criticize what you can't understand/yours sons and your daughters are beyond your command/your old world is rapidly aging/please get out the new one if you can't lend your hand/for the times..."

GI Joe

Heard this on the news this morning - A Texas High School has stopped it's annual cross dressing day, because a few parents complained that they were advancing the homosexual agenda. So they've decided to replace is with Commando Day where student will dress up as soldiers.

Heard about this wacky site a few days ago. You know, if the holidays got you in a killing mood.

Woof

The daily howler should be read by everyone.

Besides the free states vs. slave states map, this is the most interesting thing I've seen since the disastrous election. If I ever stop cringing about it, I may just post some legitimate thoughts about it.

Bush Wins

Holy Fuck. Holy Holy Fuck.

I don't want to read the news, don't want to listen to the radio, don't want to think.

The rules of the game have changed. Smoke and Mirrors win the day. Catch phrases. Code words. Muddied waters.

My pimple is still here (see below) and I'm sure I'll have 20 more by the end of this week. My skin reacts badly to a god dam stupid public.

A Kind of Peace

I'll post again soon. Hopefully tonight. Until then I'm posting some lyrics from a new cd. Song is Ulysses by Mason Jennings.


I went in to twelve bookstores looking for ulysses
Motherwell led me to believe all my questions would be answered
Now i have it here sitting on the table
Another word for the universe
Loose green tea and a bonsai tree, underground apartment
Check my e-mail and wash my clothes while my rice is cooking
Oh jesus christ, how i hate making phonecalls
So i lead a lonely life
A waterfall from a higher place told me all about you
The funeral of the man i was told me not to doubt you
Oh what we could do with your dress up round your shoulders
We could leave all our fear behind
I went in to the liquor store looking for a bottle
Of my favorite bombay gin, the answer to my problems
But to my delight the bottles were all taken
Ah yeah, another hero's night

One month anniversary

Tomorrow I will be ‘celebrating’ my one month anniversary with this big ol’ freakin’ pimple on my nose. Crap. I first noticed it (and blogged about it) on Sept. 15th. Jeez. My prediction – if it’s still here on election day, Kerry will lose, if it’s gone, Kerry will win. Forget all that stupid Futures Trading and debate stuff; it’s all about my nose.

My pimple and I will celebrate by going to a house warming party tomorrow. An old friend of mine, Danny D., moved back to Seattle last week. Last time I saw him was last summer when he came to the Friday the 13th Bonfire Party of Danger that rose and I threw. He pulled up in a giant camper with a few friends looking an awful lot like the New Morning era Bob Dylan

Fear and Singing in Seattle (Daniel Johnston, you will be mine!)

Ohhhhh, just picked up the new Tom Waits cd (how could I not after I gushed all over that song...) and a Daniel Johnston cd called "Early Recordings Vol. 1 - Songs of Pain and More Songs of Pain." It's a double disc. This Daniel Johnston guy is super interesting and this whole cd is a super low budget-y piano boom box affair from the early 80s. I'm not ready to declare him a genius quite yet (unlike all the other hipsters), but the more music I listen to, the closer I get to making that declaration.

A tribute album came out recently, featuring bands like Beck, Bright Eyes, Teenage Fanclub, Calvin Johnson (I heart Beat Happening!), Clem Snide, Tom Waits, M Ward (who, I think, is playing with Bright Eyes this Monday...) and many others. I would have purchased the tribute album too, but stupid chain stores always have crappy selections. I was suprised to find the album that I did. Guess I'll have to make my way to a Sonic Boom. Maybe I just need to move to Capitol Hill. Or Ballard.

Initial reaction to the Waits cd will come soon. Must digest Songs of Pain though.

Uncloudy Day

Today is gorgeous! Yay sunny, yet cold days. Campus rocks on days like this.

Listening to: The Roadhouse thanks to KEXPs archived radio section. Lots of gospel action during the first 45 minutes. Me thinks it has something to do with Mavis Staple coming to town. "Thank the lord, I got a new born soul."

Everything I done is between God and Me

Just heard a new Tom Waits' song "Sins of my Father" and it is absolutely great. He is playing in Shi-a-to-rlu (as my Japanese friends call Seattle) on 10/18, the same day as Bright Eyes. My city will be sad, dark, and somewhat creepy on that fine day.

Kitty-Corner Lesbians

Went to see my folks today and when I pulled up to the house I remembered that a couple of lesbians moved in kitty corner to my parents. They got the big house, the dog, two suvs, and apparently one of them used to be a fire-person. As in someone who fights fires. Not someone who sets them. Anyway, I just think that's pretty cool - a couple of lessies in my parents little Kent neighborhood. It's too cute. And doesn't it seem like lesbians are the pioneers of gayness. Granted, this is a big generalization, but hear me out - they were the subjects of TV shows first, they have better movies about them (Chasing Amy and Bound come to mind), there seem to be more experimental straight gals to..um..play with, they can play professional sports, and they get the big house, the dog, and suvs. And some of them even get to work on their evil father's reelection campaign...

Anyway, not being envious or condescending or anything weird, I just think it's kind of cool.

On a random note, Netflix just delivered a documentary about Ramblin’ Jack Eliot. Me=giddy

Oh, and for all the pioneering done by lesbians, not one has been elected governor of NJ and outed by a scandalous love affair. Way to go gay boys, can't let those gals beat us to everything.

On itunes party shuffle:
John Lennon - Anthology, Disc 3, The Lost Weekend
Women of Sun Records (VA) - Disc 5
Bob Dylan - Freewheelin' Outtakes (bootleg)

Not much of party with that selection of music, but it did make me that much more excited for the Ramblin JE documentary.

Where you been is good and gone...

Grrr, I'm working. On a Sunday. Booo.

Shit, it's been busy 'round here. School started on the 29th so last week was the first full week of class. The weather was perfect on the first few days of school and it reminded me of my first day of school this campus. For some reason I woke up extra early (definitely not a trademark of mine...), hung out on the back deck of Hagget Hall, and watched the sun rise. I sat there with filled with anxiety and hope for the future. That was six years ago. And it's been a weird and strange and amazing six years. And maybe it's because I'm celebrating my 6th year at my school/job (same place) or my 25th year of existence or maybe it's because I've been going to a bunch of weddings or maybe it's just the color of the sun cut flat, but I've been thinking a lot about the people that made the last six years what it was. The people who have been around from what feels like the beginning (the tangos, roses, bartletts, carmens, wendys), the people who wandered in, affected my life, and departed in one way or another (the Neils, Bens, Tahns, Joshuas, Siris, Kellys, Andrews, Jesses, Caseys, Felcias) and the people who came out of nowhere and continue to impact my life (the Emmas, Espys, Taras, John Bs, Kates, Matthews, Shawns, Karens,) and everyone else who'll kick me in the stomach for forgetting about them. There is no way I could've guessed what was going to happen as I sat there watching that sun rise on a new day. I just ruminated for a while before trotting off to meet a friend for breakfast. Life rolls on, but here's to all y'all who've been a part of it.

"Where you been is good and gone all you keep is the getting there."

Music getting heavy rotation:
Magnetic Fields - Charm of the Highway Strip
Ryan Adams and Gillian Welch - Live at the Exit In Nashville (recorded in Y2K)
Every Andrew Bird cd I have
Some other things that I referenced in this post. Any trainspotters out there?

Howlin' at midnight, Winter Creepin In

Gonna get in my Mercury and drive around the world.
When I reach that mountain top I'll stand with flags unfurled.

Photos

I think the photos are messing up my blog formating so they have been removed, for now.

Sexy Cat (Neko)

This message, from Neko Case, was forwarded to a music discussion board that I'm on. Too late to help out, but worth posting due to the WA State references and the dig on Madonna. She is just too cute. In Japanese, Neko means cat. purrr.


EMERGENCY! WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL SEPT. 14TH!!!!!

HELLO EVERYBODY! IT'S NEKO, THANK YOU FOR CHECKING ME OUT ON THIS WEBSITE. I MUST CONFESS I RARELY EMAIL, LET ALONE GO ONLINE, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU FOLKS FOR A BIG FAVOR. IT'S A BIT OF AN EMERGENCY.

I GREW UP IN WASHINGTON STATE, WHICH I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART. I LOVE THE WEATHER, I LOVE THE KIND PEOPLE AND MOST OF ALL I LOVE THE BIRDS AND THE DEER AND THE TREES AND THE MOUNTAINS. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO TAKE 30% OF OUR NATIONAL FORESTS, NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON BUT EVERYWHERE. THEY ARE TO BE USED FOR LOGGING, MINING AND OIL DRILLING.

I AM NO SCIENTIST OR ECOLOGIST, BUT I DID WATCH MOST OF THE FOREST I REMEMBER FROM BEING A KID DISAPPEAR IN THE SHORT SPAN OF ABOUT 12 YEARS. IT BREAKS MY HEART. NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF SUCH BEAUTY AND THE ONGOING, NEEDLESS EXTINCTION OF WILDLIFE, BUT BECAUSE WE AS A COUNTRY ARE MUCH TOO SMART TO LET THIS GO ON. WE NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO FUEL OUR CARS, MAKE OUR ELECTRICITY- AND STOP POISONING THINGS TO DO IT.

SCIENCE IS SO WONDERFUL! SOUND ENGINEERING SCIENTISTS HAVE EVEN MADE MADONNA SING IN KEY!!! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! I LOVE "RAY OF LIGHT"!
IT MAKES ME DANCE IN MY UNDERWEAR!!!! THINK OF HOW HARD YOU'D DANCE IN YOUR UNDERWEAR IF WE FOUND A WAY TO STOP RELYING ON EXPENSIVE, DESTRUCTIVE OIL!! EVERYONE COULD SLEEP A LITTLE BETTER AT NIGHT.
(AND NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES).

I REALLY LOVE OUR COUNTRY AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I CAN'T HELP BUT HAVE FAITH THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER AND MAYBE SOON WE CAN START USING OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TOWARD GOOD, CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRESS, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THE WORLD. EVEN IF THAT MEANS SOMETHING AS SMALL AS SENDING AN EMAIL TO TELL OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WE WANT TO KEEP OUR FORESTS JUST THE WAY THEY ARE.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE WEBSITE THAT TALKS ABOUT THIS ISSUE - http://www.ourforests.org. I'M NOT QUALIFIED, BUT THEY CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER AND HELP YOU OUT. PLEASE ACT SOON (WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL SEPT. 14TH!) AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID, AND SO WILL SPOTTED OWLS AND TIMBERWOLVES AND BLACKBEARS. YOUR KIDS WILL BE GLAD TOO.

I HATE TO HARP, BUT DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!! IT IS SO IMPORTANT. EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR GEORGE BUSH, MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU WITH MY MOST SINCERE RESPECT. JUST VOTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LOVE NEKO

http://www.ourforests.org

P.S. HEY, I FORGOT TO ADD IN MY DEAL THAT I DID THE THING ON THE 'OUR FORESTS' WEBSITE AND IT WAS SUPER EASY, IT TOOK TWO MINUTES. LOVE N

Jacko

I guess everyone needs to feel like they have a purpose in life.

Music. Oppression. War.

"Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows."


That bit is from a Leonard Cohen song that I've had in my head all week. It's an eerie acoustic song about WWII and the Holocaust. That specific passage has been in my head all week, because I keep thinking about how it can easily be applied to any kind of struggle against oppression. Anne Frank, Emmit Till, MLK, Matthew Shepard, Lincoln, and millions and millions of others. Freedom soon will come; then we'll come from the shadows... How fucking powerful is that.

This is from "War," by Bob Marley -

"That until there is no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be pursued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war"

Similar themes to the Leonard Cohen song, but I especially love the way the song is so inclusive. I had it in my head for months after 9/11. It's so much bigger than Afghanistan, Bin laden, and Saddam. And it's so much closer to home than we usually realize. Just walk down any city street. It's too bad we don't fight that hard for democracy at home. Ahh, I think the election coverage is getting to me.

"When I was just a kid, my mother used to sing me songs. Now I've grown to be a man, but it still lingers deep down in my soul. Said it still lingers deep down in my soul." Okay, that's kind of random, but still beautiful.

Mind the Gap

My nose is shining, because there is a giant underground pimple growing on its tip. It fucking hurts, but at least it's below ground....for now.

The new Onion has a Cheney story that's pretty solid.

All this crap, in the news, about Bush's National Guard stuff is starting to get on my nerves. Let's focus on the last few shitty years already.

Went to THE MALL (zhay pur) tonight. Been busy wrapping up things for Rizzo Bizzo's Bachelor Party Weekend. Fucker's (aka-one of my best friends) getting hitched in a little more than a week. Holy shit. Another friend is taking the vow in December. That will make 3 friends in about 6 months time. Nesters! Making me feel all old. I feel it's appropriate to quote Billy Bragg at this moment.

"I understand you needing
And wanting is no crime
But I can't help feeling
That you and your mother are just wasting your time

Choosing Saturdays in Summer
I dare you to wear white
Love is just a moment of giving
And marriage is when we admit our parents were right

I just don't understand it
What makes our love a sin
How can it make that difference
If you and I are wearing that bloody, bloody ring

If I share my bed with you
Must I also share my life
Love is just a moment of giving
And marriage is when we admit our parents were right"

And look at ol' Billy in this photo. Looking a lot like Woody Guthrie.

Dems lose again

VP Cheney recently made these comments: "It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on Nov. 2, we make the right choice, because if we make the wrong choice then the danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States."

Obviously it’s a scare tactic. He’s said the same thing before, just wasn’t as straight up about it. It was more implied. So, what was the Dems’ response?

Kerry: “Outrageous and Shameful.”
Edwards: “wrong and un-American" and "intended to divide us."

That is terrible response. They will get nowhere by crying “foul” every time Cheney busts those kinds of moves on them. How hard would it have been to say, “That is the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever heard. This is coming from the same administration who said Saddam Hussein had massive stockpiles of WMDs. These are the same people who said we would be greeted as liberators in Iraq. These are the same people who said reconstruction would only cost about 1 Billion Dollars. The fact is, they were wrong before and they’re wrong now.”

And it even fits nicely with the “W is wrong for America” theme they keep pushing.

Of course the “who will keep us safer” question will play a major part in this election and the Bushies are playing tough. Kerry’s team better start throwing some elbows of their own.

Yay

So I finally fixed my blog, which is no easy event for a html dunce like myself. But yay, I’m back on track. Haven’t been posting much lately. Been super busy being weird and lame. Plus, the freaky format of the blog discouraged me from looking at it, much less posting to it.

Another reason to be excited is that I just received my new shipment of Netflix dvds. This batch includes:

Six Feet Under – the final episodes of season 1
Queer as Folk – The first episodes of the series
A Clockwork Orange

Obviously I’m kind of behind the times with the TV show things. Cable does have its pluses, I guess. Like the Daily Show, whose webcasts I cannot watch on my mac. Boo Microsoft and the comedy central website developers.

And I’m really interested in watching A Clockwork Orange. I really have no idea what it’s about, but imdb had this for a tagline – “Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven.”

IMDB was the source of some other interesting news a few days ago when I decided to look up the acting career of one Simon Rex, who birthday falls on the same day as mine.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005350/

Look at the early films, “young hard and solo?”

Music Post - My new found love for Joe Nichols

This fool is currently a star on CMT, but he's on his way to becoming a superstar. Why? Well, America loves stupid shit and his new single, "If Nobody Believed In You" is being sold exclusively at Wall Mart.

I saw his video today and got a good laugh out of it. It fails on every level, accept one. Here's how the video kind of goes (at least the part I saw, which was near the end, I think):

Settings: A classroom, of course.

Lyrics: "We take His name out of schools/The lawyers say it breaks the rules."
Video: the words of the bible are being erased from a blackboard
Lyrics: "Pledge of allegiance can't be writ,/An' under God, should not be said."
Video: Old Glory disappears, followed by a map of the USA.
Lyrics: "I wonder how much He will take./I just pray it's not too late."
Video: One by one the children freaking disappear!?

Right, because now that those godless commies are teaching evolution in the schools, it's only a matter of time before our children vaporize. Anyway, he goes on to sing about god for a few more lines.

"What if God quit tryin',
He just turned away?
There were teardrops on his face?
Tell me, how would you feel?
You'd probably give up too,
If nobody believed in you."

So, here are my problems with this thing:
1) The lyrics are ridiculously cheesy and cheap.
2) He will be gigantic country star even though...
3) ..he looks kind of like he's kind of on the fence of becoming a metrosexual (this deserves it's own #). Look at that hair! Look at that shirt!
3) The video is presented like it's talking to a child. Almost like it DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MY ability to put two and two together.
4) The song is about believing in people and god and such, but the video tries to scare you? That sucks.

So why is this popular? My only guess is that it's topical and it's easy to understand. The package is agreeable. The rhythm is conventional, the lyrics are cheap slogans/sound bites. There's a lot of that in music today. And in politics. And people just eat that stuff up.

Check out his website and listen to a clip of the song. Blah.

http://www.joenichols.com/home/

Today

This day in History
 
The following B List Stars will be celebrating their birthdays today.
 
Vitamin C
Simon Rex (ha!)
Kim Carnes

Birthday Plans

I plan to do the following on my birthday (today).
 
1) Slack off at work, but not too much.
2) Get off early - maybe 1 ish.
3) Roll on down to guitar center and buy something nice.  Can't decide between a steel guitar, electric guitar (maybe this one), or an interface for my computer.
4) Hang out with the brother.
 
Yup, nothing too special, but I'll be seeing a lot of my friends this week.  Did the movie folk thing last night, seeing my brother tonight, and going to Lucinda Williams tomorrow with Ryan, Tara, Emma, and Jeremy.  Matthew is taking me to a fee movie on Thursday too so the week is shaping up nicely.
 
Roommate Rose cooked me a croc madame this morning and presented me with a gift - a gay (rainbow colored) fish windsock.  I think it's hilarious.  It will fly (swim?) in my room.

me me me me me me me me

It will be my birthday in 48 minutes. Bow before my birthday-ness.

Jesse, I fear for you

watch yourself

Lazy's Back

Whew! What a fucking trip that was. Had an absolute great time. Wales was fucking beautiful, the wedding was fantastic, and Paris was Paris - scary (Zhay Pur!) gorgeous, and expensive. Of course the best part was hanging out with my buddies. We all had a great time. It was actually one of the best vacations I think I've ever had. Ridiculous conversations, new catch phrases (chunnel of love), and good memories. If tango puts his photos on the internet, I'll post of link.

It's good to be home though. Flew in on Thursday afternoon, worked on Friday, and been taking it easy while trying to get my life back in order. Well, I detour from the life thing when I get to messing around with the music bit. I rearranged some things the other day so I could do multi-tracking on my computer and successfully mixed a few tracks down to a song. A short song (about 1min) but a song none the less. So much to freakin learn, but it's exciting. I looped a 20 second guitar thingy, recorded a quick vocal track, played my tambo, and added a light harmonica throughout the bit. It took me a while to do it, but I'm assuming it gets easier with practice. My god, one of these days I might actually know what I'm doing.

Vacation has refreshed me. I'm ready to get down to business. More later though - I borrowed some guilty pleasure DVDs (Buffy The Vamp Slayer, Season 4) and have a burning desire to catch a few before it gets too late. Plus, Joy Division just popped up on the itunes party shuffle and I'm now officially scared (Zhay Pur!). And I just realized the minor irony of using "Party Shuffle" when I'm all by my lonesome. Huh.

Heart Beat

My god, one of my best friends got hitched today. I can't believe it. Everyone had a fantastic day though. My speech went well. I was most nervous during the wedding. For some reason, Wendy getting married really hit me. My heart was pounding during the vows. Good stuff. I'm extremely excited for them both. They really do seem great for each other.

Crazed Madness

Lazys in England. Yay, travel. Things have been quite hectic this last week. Especially these last few days. Spent many-a-days in Northwest Wales and felt like I was coming home, but no. Wedding is tomorrow. BBQ is going on right now. Everyone is drunk. I'm chatting with all sorts of people, but know no one. Wendy is running around like a mad person. Tomorrow is the wedding and I have a big speech to give. Tangoscott is sanity with blond hair. I'm glad he's here.

More on Wales later. I had a great time. Snowdonia and The Llynn are brilliant. Yay, traveling. I'm exhausted though and I must go mingle/drink. Plus, there are some fine, fine folk here.

Cracked Eggs

Mmmmm........ so...tired.

No sleep last night.

Trying to figure out how I can pack one bag of stuff for a wedding, camping, road trip, and train travel. Not easy, these things. All require different items. Wishing I had an ipod. At least I could cut back on the CDs...

I'm not leaving without the new Wilco album though. Listening to it right now. It's a very pretty thing. Maybe that isn't the best description, but Tweeds' voice just gets me. I love how it cracks. Especially when he's whisping (whispering/singing). Can't decide if the new album is a slightly different version of YHF. Not sure at this point. It has the same kind of vibe. Noises that fade in and out and long (with a big L) instrumental/noise breaks. Just not as much of it though. And there is definitely no "Jesus Don't Cry"s on here. The album is weirdly inspiring though. Before I heard it, I read the lyrics while waiting for a friend at the Hopvine and I definitely imagined the album sounding different than it does. When I listen to it, random sentences stand out for whatever reason.

"what a laugh I was looking for you"

"It's good to be alone"

"I am all emotion"

"I look like someone I used to know"

"I'm assuming you love me and you know what that means"

Blah Blah blah, long story short, I caught myself singing weird things after listening to the album. This is good. Itching for my guitar. And you know what that means.

I won't be able to play for over 2 weeks. Again, this is good. I need a break from all the manic street strumming I've been doing. That sounds worse than it really should. I usually have a good time, but sometimes it's just good to start fresh, I guess.

The sunrise was gorgeous this morning. Haven't seen that in a while. A good way to start any adventure.

Live Forever!

Watched a few documentaries on Sunday morn. One of them being "Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Britpop in the 90s." It featured 3 bands that I absolutely adored during high school - Oasis, Pulp, Blur.

The documentary is a funny piece of work, but incomplete at best. The best parts are the interviews with band members (Damon Alburn, Jarvis Cocker, Gallagher brothers, etc) and the music video clips that were rarely shown in the US of A. My mom's comments (from the sideline - preparing BBQ) were "Someone needs to wash that man's mouth out," referring to Noel G., and "Ohhh, he was a handsome one," referring to pretty boy Damon in early Blur videos.

Of all those folk, I think I mostly identified with ol' Jarvis Cocker, the odd one. And of all the groups, their music (that was popular at the time) have held up best. Actually, I'm blaring "Common People" all across the office today. I guess I should be proud to join this fine group of folk.

I have distinct memories of running all around London with Pulp blaring in my headphones. Taking the Night Buses (aka, Drunk Buses) home at 3am listening to "I Spy."

"I've got your number, taken notes, I know the ways your minds work. I have studied. And your minds are just the same as mine except that you are clever swines: you never let mask slip, you never admit to it, you're never hurried. Oh no no no. And every night I hone my plan - how I will get my satisfaction, how I will blow your paradise away....La la la la la la la la la la, in the midnight hour. La la la la la la la la la la, I will come to you, I will come to you. I will take you from this sickness, dinner parties and champagne. I'll hold your body and make it sing again. Come on - sing again, let's sing again. Oh yeah. 'Cos I spy. I spy a boy. I spy a girl. I spy the chance to change the world. To change your world."

Tough Gal

Look at that photo! Look out Terrorists!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001957222_montana16m.html

Crazy Pat (CP)

The other day I receive a very special piece of snail mail from Walter Cronkite and The Interfaith Alliance. They are asking for money (of course), but this Interfaith Alliance gig sounds kind of cool. I guess I don't know everything they believe in, but on the surface it looks like they are for all the right causes. Anyway, inside the package is a list of quotes by my two favorite hate mongers - Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. Here is the best quote:

“The Feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” Pat Robertson

Wow, that’s a heavy charge.

Okay, so the separation of Church and State, a major cause for this interfaith group, is definitely something I believe in. I mean, I sure don't want CP's version of Christianity to become the country's religion. But Christians, you too should fight for that same separation, because if your faith needs to be propped up by our government, then it is surely doomed. And you may want your religious beliefs to be added to the political discussion, but do you really want politics to get mixed into your religion? I mean there are pretty corrupt aspects to our state and that part of it would inevitably flow into your religion. It's a two way street, you know. Here's another reason:

"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist." Pat Robertson, 700 Club.

Another quote from my snail mail package.

Define

Definition of Intercourse: 1. Having sex. 2. Communication or dealings between individuals or groups.

"Communications" and "Dealings" huh? It all comes down to sex. Everything does. Sex and aggression. Aggression and Sex. Sex and aggression.

I'm channeling Freud tonight. Minus the blow.

The MEEOOWWing stop. Good. Sleep time.

Dirt Road Blues

There's a cat dying in the woods behind my house. Well, that's what it sounds like at least. Who knows though - weird shit happens in them woods. "MEOOOOWWWW!" "MEEEOOOWWW" Uggg. Sadness.

Today I saw a ridiculous infomercial for some 8 minute workout program and I noticed they frequently used variations of the phrase - "Changed my life." The testimonials were full of it and at one point a lady said "if you want to change your life, just pick up your phone and call our toll free #." Yea, like it's that easy. It's scandaless how they’re hawking simple change. It's amazing to me how people capitalize on discontent and pain. Fucking scoundrels. "It ain't nothing, but a god dam shame is what it is. Oh it ain't nothing but a god dam shame." (confession - listening to Jolie Holland right now.) But seriously though, has anyone met anyone whose life has been changed by something that was being sold on an infomercial? If so, let me know. I'm curious. Oh and I should also confess that I love infomercials. I’ve been watching them since high school. I'm serious. Infomercials and Fox News. You know, the presentation is essentially the same.

Oh and I got a cell phone today. It happened kind of randomly. I went home to see my folks and left with a cell phone. I'm looking forward to not signaling my turns/lane changes while driving and talking.

Faking It

Collin Dictionary's definition of Sexual Intercourse: The sexual act in which the male's erect penis is inserted into female's vagina, usually followed by the ejaculation of semen.

I stumbled across the definition a second ago and thought it was interesting how the definition makes no reference to ladies getting off.

More Music

Also been really lovin up on this John Cale called Empty Bottles. Something about the lyrics "We're much poorer than those bottles, more foolish than that wine. Mocking our intentions, sadly out of time..." It's a perfect match for his haunting voice. There is a great version of the song on John Cale, Nico, and Lou Reed's "Live from Bataclan" album.

Welsh-men

So to prepare for my trip to England/Wales I've been listening to The Manic Street Preachers, who were semi-popular while I was in high school. Anyway, their song, "Little Baby Nothing" is quite phenomenal. See below.

Little Baby Nothing

No one likes looking at you
Your lack of ego offends male mentality
They need your innocence
To steal vacant love and to destroy
Your beauty and virginity used like toys

My mind is dead, everybody love's me
Wants a slice of me
Hopelessly passive and compatible
Need to belong, oh the roads are scary
So hold me in your arms
I wanna be your only possession

Used, used, used by men
Used, used, used by men

All they leave behind is money
Paper made out of broken twisted trees
Your pretty face offends
Because it's something real that I can't touch
Eyes, skin, bone, contour, language as a flower

No god reached me, faded films and loving books
Black and white TV
All the world does not exist for me
And if I'm starving, you can feed me lollipops
Your diet will crush me
My life just an old man's memory

Little baby nothing
Loveless slavery, lips kissing empty
Dress your life in loathing
Breaking your mind with Barbie Doll futility

Little baby nothing
Sexually free, made-up to breakup
Assassinated beauty
Moths broken up, quenched at last
The vermin allowed a thought to pass them by

You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair

You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair

Tent

Yeeee Haaaawww, I gots me a new tent. See it. Love it.

The SWAN

Wish I could have seen some that ridiculous show, but whatever, I had better things to do. If you're in the same boat as me, visit their website for some good entertainment.

Make sure to check out the gallery, where you can see the ugly ducklings' turn into "swans" right before your eyes! Umm, if I were some of those gals, I would sue. Some of them ended up looking a lot like some trannys I know. See Merline N. for proof. Yikes.

TV sucks.

Long Time, No Post

Dam, it's been over a month. Well, Lazy's been extremely busy lately. So why post now? Well, I had an amazing camping trip this weekend and I was able to catch the most ridiculous thing EVER on Q13 News last night.

Pixies Update

So, what have I been up to. Well, saw the Pixies in Spokane which was ridiculous and extremely fun. There was some drama on the trip (pants falling, beer bongs, tranny jokes, etc) but I walked away with a bunch of good memories. Roomed with Shawn during the trip and had a dam good time chatting it up with that guy all weekend. The Pixies were really really good. I felt like a tourist, not knowing too much of their stuff, but familiarity wasn't required for the show. They kicked ass.

Quincy Hell

Went camping over in Quincy this weekend. My buddy, Ryan, found some big ol' complex of lakes hidden out in the middle of nowhere. The only sign for it is "Public Fishing, Public Hunting," but the place goes on forever out there. We had a great campsite that juts out into lake that we stayed on so we were surrounded by water. Giant fish were taunting us all weekend, jumping out of the water and swimming by the shore. We almost caught one of those things, but right as we were getting it near the shore, the sea monster broke free and ran from us.

There was quite a bit of traffic running around our site, but at night, when the activity slowed down, the place was the most peaceful thing I've ever seen. The moon was almost full, the stars were out in force, and the light just danced across the water. It was gorgeous. Also stumbled (literally - we were wasted) across the most beautiful hike I've ever been on. And in our sandals too. The hike led us down the winding pathway down this gorge and onto Dusty Lake. It was so beautiful, that it has already inspired one song. Maybe I'll complete it one day.

Goodbye Skeletor!

Last night I was relaxing and catching up on some "news" on Q13 Fox and it just so happened that last night was Leslie Miller's final night as a news anchor on the show. Her final bit came during "Fit on Fox" section of the show where she shed some light on some insightful research that shows that people who spend more time commuting in their cars are more likely to be overweight! Gasp! Who knew? So after reeling from that bit of news, they launched into this retrospective of Leslie's time on Fox and showed her doing all stupid things. It was extremely stupid, but it made me realize that I actually enjoy Q13 Fox News more than any other local news program. Local news sucks, let's face it, but at least Skeletor and Co. knew that and didn't take themselves too seriously. Though, at one point she did say, "Thanks for helping us become the #1 10pm local news channel in state" or something like that and I had to laugh, because what other channel has news at 10pm? Kong 6/16? You can't even get that channel if you don't have cable. What to hype yourself y'alls. Anyway, apparently the Stranger has been all over her these last few years so look for some news about it in there. Should be fun.

Oh and apparently, she won the local award for "news anchor you'd most like to see naked" which completely baffles me. She looks extremely creepy to me, hence "skeletor," but hey, who am I to judge.

Okay, that's it for now. More later, I'm sure. Lazy Lazy Lazy Lazy.

Oh those silly Nihon's

Japan to Freed Hostages: Anatatachi wa BAKA desu! Watashi no yen wa doko deska!?

That's pretty cold y'alls.

Pixies. Road Trip. Pixies. Spokane. Pixies. Road Trip.

"Black Francis, Black Francis, you were the last motha f**ker, hoarding all the good stuff and leaving no doubt that if rock n' roll dies, it's not my fault. I do the best with the leftovers that I got." Bobby Bare, Jr.

Pixies. Spokane. Road Trip. "No outstanding warrants for my arrest."

Apple Scruffs

Love is in the air. Not for me, of course (you know, that whole black heart thing), but for my roommates. Okay, I don't really know if it is love, but I came home last night (midnight) and was unloading my car when Rose's car started up out of nowhere. I walked up my driveway to see what was going on and saw that both my roommates were in her car. Apparently, they were just sitting in there talking and about to go for a drive. At midnight. After they just got back from the bar. Maybe they finally came clean to each other about their feelings. I haven't *really* talked to either of them about it, but it is kind of obvious what is going on. Except that they don't talk about it. To me or to each other.

YAAAWWWNNNN, I'm tired.

Dead Things on A Work Break

I was sitting on a bench reading a book in the sun when I noticed something strange about the little pile of brown sticks and moss a few inches from my feet. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that it was a decayed rat with little toes and a long brown branch-looking thing that must've been it's tail. Everything was brown except for the toes, which were still white. The whole thing was pretty much decayed though, which is why it looked like a pile of branches and moss. It was disgusting, but fascinating. I don't know how it got there either. I know it wasn't there this morning, when I took my earlier break. Maybe it fell out of someone's backpack...

Yup, it's a John Wesley Harding Monday morning.

"Arise, Arise, he cried so loud, in a voice without restraint. Come out ye gifted Kings and Queens and hear my sad complaint. No martyrs are among you now, that you can call your own, but go on your way accordingly and know you're not alone." From I Dreamed I Saw Saint Augustine, which I actually learned to play it the other night. Go me and my three chords.


"Dear Landlord, please don't put a price on my soul. My burdens are heavy, my dreams are out of control."

7 Days

Dam this week went by fast. As usual I've been over extending myself and sacrificing the sleep. This weekend will probably be no different. Tonight I'm seeing a concert at the Tractor and tomorrow I have a big ol' family event to go to. Sunday will hopefully be my day of rest, though I've been itching to go to Guitar Center and play around with all their equipment for 4 or 5 hours. My brother and I have a big ol' grudge against that place so I devised a plan that would not only let us get some revenge, but would also be quite fun.

Here is the plan: Enter the store and make our way to from section to section (prioritized by importance to us), play with the most expensive/interesting things we can get our hands on and see how long we can do that for. If no one says anything to us we'll eventually end up in the miscellaneous section - which includes guitar straps, harmonicas, cheap mics, music books, guitar strings, stands, etc. - and ask them to play various harmonicas through that air blower things they use. Petty? Yea, but fun. Hey, I've never played a steel guitar before and I want to dammit. And I really want to get my hands on some nice electric guitars.

Maybe I'll be extra obnoxious and play some shit they probably hear all the time. Rosie worked at a local music store in Kent and said that people would always come in and play some easy Led Zepplin (stairway to heaven) or Pink Floyd (wish you were here) riffs. That all sounds like the equivalent of grocery store shoppers saying "Hey, I guess it's free! HA HA HA HA HA HA....." when their item doesn't ring up. The "......" represents the quick silence that would follow after they saw the steely look in my eyes.

Not Quite the Weekend Blues

It is almost here. The sun shining through my office "window" is making me yearn for weekend goodness.

The sun was shining on my face when I woke up this morning. That only happens during this time of year, due to the way my house is situated next to a woodsy hill. I enjoy it while I can.

Heading up to Rizzo Bizzo's Skagit County Mountain Cabin tonight. They say Skagit County is nice this time of year. You know, with all the tulips and all. Maybe I'll go and run through those fields or maybe I'll just sit on the porch and drink up the sun and listen to water tumble on down. Either way, I hope to be Chamorro Brown (as opposed to Seattle White) by the time I come back.

Galway Calling

"There's a full moon over Galway babe tonight. Silver light, all green and blue."

In Other News

1) This is just about the scariest thing I've ever seen.

2) Glossopoet is big phat faux Romanian liar. He burned me a couple of Modest Mouse cds before he left and told me that "lonesome Crowded West" was their best album, when clearly "The Moon and Antarctica" is the better of the two. Just started listening to The Moon, realized how good it is, and am slightly disappointed that I put it off for so long based on Glosso's recommendation of the lesser album. Glosso also says a lot of stuff about God that may or may not be true, but I have yet to independently confirm this.

3) Where are my library cds? If anyone understands why it takes 3 months for them to process and catalogue a cd before they let us check it out, please clue me in. Still waiting for the Pieces of April soundtrack as well as the new David Byrne. Aaargghh, must have music. No worries, Library, I still love you.

4) It is time for everyone to recognize the greatness of Wilco's "Being There." Don't argue, just do it.

Time to Save

Scott and I purchased our plane tickets to Europe today. The travel agent was awesome and I'm quite excited now that it is all said and done. Now comes the fun part of actually figuring out what we are going to do over there. Tentative plan is this

June 29th: fly
June 30th - July 7th: Roam around Wales, Scotland, maybe Ireland
July 8th: Meet up with Wendy, Alfred, and Scott (he is flying in on the 7th) in Leicester
July 9th: Wedding
July 10th - 14th: Be led around by Wendy and Alfred
July 15th: fly

Apparently, the possibilities are endless with the Wendy and Alfred duo. They have friends in every major city of Europe and they claim that we'd all be able to crash on various couches/floors. Scott really wants to go to Paris and Alfred's brother lives there so that is becoming more and more of possibility. Paris, we may just meet again. :O

Bad news is that it is now time to be cheap. I've got to save every single dime to pay for this trip. 1 dollar currently buys .82 Euros or .52 British cents. Rubbish.

Sorry friends. I hope you like renting movies and drinking Busch Light, cause that is all I'll be doing from now until then. Well, minus the trips I already have planned.

Transcendental Blues

"I find that for me, for now, transcendence is about being still long enough to know when it's time to move on. Fuck me." Steve Earle

The Hospital Bombers

Yikes, there was not enough debate about the name of this band.

Former Green Fool

Nader is on The Conversation and acting like an ass. I don't care that he is running (do what you wish), but stop being so dam condescending. I realize that he has probably heard these questions a million times before ("take votes away from Kerry?" "help George win?" "Drop out if close?"), but cutting people off and talking down to people will not win him any votes. Which is good for the Dems I guess. Here is the good that will come of his candidacy.

1) Another person out there bashing the Bush and spotlighting the garbage that is his presidency.

2) Make sure the Dems don't take their voters for granted. Last time around the Dems ignored Nader, but they are scared now. They know they can't make that mistake again so they will have to confront him and his ideas. And more conversation is never a bad thing. Anyone hear Former President Jimbo Carter tell Nader (granted, after he complimented him a lot) to go back to coaching little league? Wow.

And, at the end of the day, Nader is right about many things. Especially when he says that the Dems should be landsliding Bush. They really should.

They leave me hanging on to a shadow

Dylan + Victoria's Secret. A friend/coworker sent me this description -

"Did you SEE the Victoria's Secret tv ad with the nubile brunette pouting around in some hotel room in her panties, and Bob Dylan snarling "I'm sick of love"? Holy Smokes. Tom and I just sat there flabbergasted. Yow."

The song they used is from Time Out of Mind. The dark dark dark 1997 I'm close to death, but not really album.

"I'm sick of love, I wish I never met you. I'm sick of love, I'm trying to forget you."

Suckas

These suckas will have a whole new set of problems once Snatches Fontaine hits the streets.

Relevant

Just bought a new cd today. Won't tell you which, but it had these lyrics and I thought of the Shakti. If you can guess the song, I'll burn you the cds. It should be easy, especially for all the Trainspotters out there.

"And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind
down the foggy ruins of time
far past the frozen leaves
the haunted frightened trees
out to the windy beach
far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow.

Yes the dance beneath the diamond sky, with one hand waving free
silhouetted by the sea
circled by the circus sand
with all memory and fate
driven deep beneath the waves
let me forget about today until tomorrow."

Don’t Want to Hurt No Kangaroo

Ahh, it is good to be back home. It always feels good to sleep in your own bed after 400 miles of exploring, drinking, singing, thinking, yapping, sketching, combing, firing, trespassing, etc.

The beach was fantastic. The rain attacked us as we started our journey, but we made it through all right. There was some hydroplane action and some hairy moments involving semi trucks, but it was a fun drive down regardless. If anything, it gave me a chance to listen to some fantastic music. Dug out some mixed cds I hadn’t heard in a while and listened to a bunch of new cds.

Perfect Driving Moment: Singing along with “The Real Bahamas” as they get down and dirty on Jamaican Christian folk music. All of a sudden the rain cleared up as I rounded a bend in the road. It was then that I was confronted with an amazing view of the water and the sun peeking out of the clouds way over yonder. If I was a god-fearing man, the scene would have confirmed my beliefs. But the searching sinner that is me just smiled and did a lot of reflecting.

“When mother and father forsake me I know
The angel from heaven is calling me home
Thank God I can sing a song of his love
I know that some day I’ll be singing it home.” Real Bahammas

Shatki Goodness

All of our time at the Cove was great. Hung out on the beach, partied well into the night every night, enjoyed an amazing beach fire, and got to hear Jackie play her guitar and sing in that sweet ol’ voice of hers. Went antique shoppin’, dive bar drinkin’, secret tellin’, and sketch festin’. Yeeee Haaawww… what a weekend. Seems like a fitting ending to a crazy fun month.

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. Spent some time on the beach, dug my feet in the sand (lazy toe, too), chased the Sass (the dog) and took my time driving home. Thought I would take a different route home so I took Highway 6 from the coast to Chehalis. Thought I was doing something new, but it turns out I had been down that same road a few years ago, though I was going a different a direction, both literally and figuratively. Also took a bunch of back roads home. Went through the towns of Yelm, Sammamish, Roy, and Pe Ellum until I made it into Puyallup and onto 167 to Kent.

And now it is back to work. I'm tired. I think I'm going to take it easy this month and do fun home things. Like learn to cook a meal or two, fix up my room, play more music, and maybe even try to paint a picture or two.

“And I’m content to go a little slower, cause there is no where that I really need to be.” Conner Oberst.

Good

Hey hey, tomorrow I'm going to the beach for a few days and today I'm bustin' out of work mass early. I am in a ridiculously good mood. Van Morrison is helping out that scene. Here is a crazy beautiful song from the "His Band the Street Choir" album.

Dance on Gypsy Queen
If it's all night, it's alright
Rave on
Let your love come tumblin' down
If you let your love come tumblin' down
It's alright
Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen
Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen

Rave on
Right beneath the silver moon
Don't stop your carburetor
Let your car run
And if it starts to rain
Keep on dancin' in the rain
And if it's all night, it's alright

Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen
Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen

Dance, dance, dance the night away
Come on, come on, come on
Let me hear you say

You're gonna dance on Gypsy Queen
Stars shine down on you
Yeah, ev'rything alright
Ooo-wee
I wanna throw my arms around you
I'm so glad I've found you Gypsy Queen

Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen
Dance on (you know it's alright)
Gypsy Queen

Ev'rything (dance on) is
(You know it's alright)
Ev'rything is (alright)

We are screwed

Medicare will be bankrupt by 2019, but even worse, Social Security we be bankrupt by 2042, right around the time I am supposed to retire. AP Story

Skankin' it, yuppie style.

Went down The Village today for some good food and some skanky jeans. I got both.

Bogus Name

Someone called my house at 8am this morning (woke me up!) and asked for Greg Gutters. Bullocks. I googled Mr. Gutters and all I got was this nasty Princess Diana stamp site.

I can't believe people are still making money off her.

Ahh, the sun is out and Bo Diddley is on my stereo. Just wish I could lounge outside.

Work by day, drunk by night

The weekend has treated me well so far, despite the ridiculous number of hours I've spent in my office, getting sun from a window to a window. At least the sun has been around though. Seattle is gorgeous during this time of year.

Friday was all about taking care of my business day, but I did manage to stay up way too late playing my guitar and keyboard. Found some awesome cheap ass beats on the Casio and worked my limited playing skills into something pretty interesting. I need more equipment though! My one mic is just not cutting it anymore. If anyone knows where I can get some cheap goods, let me know.

I worked all day Saturday, but saw a bunch of friends at night. Hung out with British folks, heard some really great Mod, Isle of Wight, and pink corduroy stories, drank way to much wine, and then hopped on over to the Canterbury where we met some older cool/drunk/strange locals who engaged us in conversation about the "size" of Ron Jeremy. Scary stuff. After all that, I joined up with some folks at ridiculous costume party that spilled over to a bar on Broadway. A bunch of crazy people were there with some fantastic costumes on. It was wild. And after the bars closed some boys in a car tried to pick me up. They drove by twice, pointed at me and then pulled up to talk to me. Fucking weird, but they were nice, and I got a laugh out of it. I ain't no ho, though. Not yet.

And the folks are firing up the BBQ today too, so I'm in for some good eats. And I got to plan my trip to London tonight, too. No complaints.

Quote of the Day

Stumbled across Bill Maher's website and found some solid stuff. Check it.

"New Rule: Computers aren't for voting. They're for picking up under-age girls. Voting by computer sounds really cool and futuristic, if this were 1969. But now that we all have computers, we know that they are, in fact, huge fuck-up machines! They're like having a compact silicon version of Gary Busey on your desk. You never know what's going to happen. Well, I'll tell you what'll happen. Some 13-year-old hacker in Finland is going to hand the presidency to Kylie Minogue!"

Woke up this morning, feeling blue

"I can't be good no more, once like I did before
I can't be good baby, honey cause the world gone wrong." World Gone Wrong by The Mississippi Shieks

Dylan covers two of their songs on his all folk album called "World Gone Wrong." He writes about each track in the liner notes. Here is a bit of it.

"Mississippi Sheiks, a little known de facto group whom in their former glory must've been something to behold. rebellion against routine seems to be their strong theme. all their songs are raw to the bone & are faultlessly made for these modern times (the New Dark Ages) nothing effete about the Mississippi Sheiks.

WORLD GONE WRONG is also by them & goes against cultural policy. "strange things are happening like never before" strange things alright -- strange things like courage becoming befuddled & nonfundamental. evil charlatans masquerading in pullover vests & tuxedos talking gobbledygook, monstrous pompous superficial pageantry parading down lonely streets on limited access highways. strange things indeed -- irrationalist bimbos & bozos, the stuff of legend, coming in from left field -- infamy on the landscape -- "pray to the Good Lord" hit the light switch!"

St. Patty's Day...

I forgot to wear green, but I didn't forget about the booze. We all know what this holiday is really about.

Lazy's Promise. Mystic Fan's Scorn.

I will fancy up the whole right side of this page by the end of this weekend.

Q: Does Lazy know enough about html to do this?
Mystic Fan: Never

Ha! We'll see, "Mystic" Fan.

Slick Willy

Hey, I just got an email from former President, William Jefferson Clinton! At my Yahoo account too. This is the first line of the email - "You and I have made history together before. It's time to make some more."

Doesn't that sound extra dirty? My god...

To The Artist...

DAVID BYRNE

Hey, where did you come from? Yea, yea, yea, Talking Heads, I know. What I mean is, how come I've never heard any of your music? Too young maybe? Who knows. But your cds will soon be mine!

I just heard the opening track from your new album (out today) and that is quite a strange little number you got there. I'm looking forward to digging through your catalog of music. If I like some of them enough, I may just purchase them...

Oh and try to get someone at allmusic.com to change your photo. Christ, it reminds me of Matthew Perry during the crack years. You look like you'll attack if you don't get a hit.

Wilco

New album in June? 'Bout time. Just heard a song from the album and I dig it. It has a very nice groove. I already own all your albums. Even bought one twice. The last time my car was broken into, the hoodlums messed up my cd player, which had Summer Teeth in there.

Fog of War, Foggy Eyes

Check out the "The Fog of War" website, they got a cool flash thing going on. Definitely listen to the 1945 commentary. If you have any interst in history, you should watch this movie. Karen and I watched it on Friday and I kind of want to watch it again. Maybe it will come to The Crest.

Wow, the weekend went pretty fast. Watched two movies on Friday (also saw Goodfellas with my roommate), spent Saturday night with the cineclub (and a good amount of booze) on Karen's Whidbey Island condo, and made it to my folks house for Sunday dinner. Not bad at all.

Ugg, want to write more, but I need sleep more than I need blog. Tomorrow it is then. Oh and tomorrow I plan to confront my Magic Fan with some tough questions. Be there!

Found

I've been cleaning up my work space as of late and been finding some very interesting things. I just found a note card that has "complexity" written on one side and "houses, boundary, art, trade, network" written on the other.

Also found a giant squeaky frog toy and a bar coaster from the Netherlands. More on those later. Also, look for an update of "I'm an atheist." I should really post a follow up and provide some context for the quote I used.

Also re-discovered my Mystic Fan (the Asian Uncle of the Magic 8 Ball) and decided to consult it for all of life's questions.

Watch it!

I just found the biggest rubber band ever. Someone's arm is going to be seriously red tomorrow. Pray it isn't you...

Help!

It's 10pm and I'm still at work. What the hell? Thank god for music and DCN. Currently listening to Kelly Hogan and The Pine Valley Cosmonauts perform live at Schubas. She does a cover of a Smog song (yea!) and a version of Papa was a Rodeo (by the Magnetic Fields) with Jon Langford. "Jon Langford, I'd like to ask you up here to sing this homo-erotic trucking song with me." How cool is that?

Oh, I think I'll check out this Interpol business next. See what all the hype is about. "Rapt introspection is just another riff on quiet desperation."

Alright, time to stop the blog and get out of this place asap.

New CD Project

I need to make a cd of cool/creepy/sexy music. A live version of "Furnace Room Lullaby" is what prompted this post. That dam song is one of the most seductive things ever created. Leave to The Sadies to craft a perfect song for Neko to showcase those pipes. Dam Siren gets me every time. Also see "Make Your Bed" by the same tag team. That song scares me to death. Speaking of "Make Your Bed," allmusic needs to revisit Neko's Canadian Amp cd. That disc is amazing and it only gets 3 stars? Oh, and note the artists that worked on that cd too. All of them are bloody amazing. Yea Bloodhsot Records.

Oh, and the Handsome Family gets at least one spot on the cd. The tough part would be choosing just one song. Their new cd is chalk full of creepiness.

The best "Passion" Review. EVER!

Found this review on a bad ass local website.

Bird Eat Bird

The title of this article cracked me up. What is a "twitcher" anyway?

Quote of the day

How ridiculous is this:

"Without Advertising, we'd be like Russia: a nation of bearded bicyclists with b.o."

Who am I quoting? This man.

Some Christian friends of mine are sending around a Passion of the Christ review he wrote and since I long to have my fingers on the pulse of that community, I figured I should find out a little about him.

I'm an Atheist

But who knows, I might not always be one. I've been reading Brave New World and I just came across this bit.

"The religious sentiment tends to develop as we grow older; to develop because, as the passions grow calm, as the fancy and sensibilities are less excited and less excitable, our reason becomes less troubled in its working, less obscured by the images, desires and distractions, in which it used to absorbed; whereupon God emerges as from behind a cloud; our soul feels, sees, turns toward the source of all light; naturally and inevitably."

Sounds plausible eh? It actually sounds pretty nice, but I'm skeptical. But I’m also still quite excitable so I guess we’ll have to see. I'll tell you this though, if I ever did turn to the light, it wouldn’t be the light that leads the crazy Ann Coulters and Pat Robertsons of the world.

Yikes, I need to sleep.

Che at the Corner Store?

A week ago there was an enormous red banner hanging outside my local 7–11. The banner read, JOIN THE NO CARB REVOLUTION!!

I saw “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” today and I was reminded of that ridiculous sign.

On a somewhat related note, I’ve made it a goal of mine to get involved in the political process this year. Its not quite a revolution, but I’d be quite happy to see Bush voted out of office. After that, maybe we can all rally round and topple those Olson Twins…

blogging underneath that ol' apple tree

Ha ha! The Blog is back. Much thanks to PetJunkie!

Bruised Big Toe Blues

Busted up my big toe moving some ridiculously heavy furniture. Might have to wear sandals to work. It’s not uncommon for me to wear sandals during the summer (Free the Feet!) but it’s too dam cold right now. Hmm, pain with a shoe or cold in the sandals? Lazy Toe might have to dress warm, though I did hear a rumor that we might actually get a few days sun.

The good news is that picked up some Bo Diddley (you know, of “Hey! Bo Diddley!” fame) from my folks house. The music is fantastic, but a few songs are just ridiculous jokes told over a rhythm. “You look 10 days older than water.” “Yo’ feet look like they got on violin cases.” Huh? And there were some yo mamma jokes too! Who knew yo mamma jokes went back so far...

humbled....

I have been completely humbled by Super Ultimate Karaoke Revolution (or something like that) for PS2. Holy shit. I actually had to sing "Wind Beneath My Wings." I had to do it Captain Kirk style. This is why I don't karaoke. This game is amazing. The songs are shite, but everything else is great.

Whose that riding? Jonny Revelator.

I should never ever go into Sonic Boom Records - I always end up spending way to much money in that place. But I was walking around Ballard today and sure enough, I wandered on in and left with a bunch of cds. So the one I listened to on the way home, “Oh Holy Fools” by Bright Eyes and Son, Ambulance, unexpectedly opens with this beautiful upbeat piano song. It's a perfect song for car groovin' and car groovin' I did. I had never heard of this Son, Ambulance guy, but he has this fantastically soft voice (as in Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastian) that I completely dig. So yea, it was a good purchase. And then the sun came out as soon as the song started so I took some back roads (aka - the long way) home and enjoyed the scene. It was great drive though it did make me remember how much I miss the sun.

Note: Comments are down for now. Booo...

Oh My God

Did I just learn how to add comments? Lord, I am sooo smart.

Ugg, enough computer work for today though.

Dead Rat Watch, 2004 - Part 166

No I’m not talking about the democratic primaries, but the decaying animal under my closet floor. I first started smelling it over the weekend, conveniently when I was just about to start painting my room. It still smells and everything that was in my enormous closet is now strewn across the rest of my room/hall along with the mess that was created during the paint job. On top of all that, I have to keep my windows open all the time (again, the smell) as well as constantly burn incense. Aarrgh, how I hate thee, dead rat. However, with the incense, the open windows, and the deodorizing agent I purchased from a nice man in a grow shop, the smell isn’t too bad. Still, what a hassle. Though I did get a kick out of asking Jeeves about dead rats. I had no idea there was a website devoted to pictures of dead rats. Or poems written for them. If I had any knowledge of technology, I would actually link to those pages. Anyway, people have way too much time on their hands. Then again, here I am blogging about my rat.