Lazy Toe

Boycott Watch #1

2007-11-29T23:19:00.000-08:00

I hope to overhaul this blog thing in the near future.

Till then - boycott watch #1

Mormon and Catholic Groups to Boycott "The Golden Compass" - "It's a 'stealth campaign,' McCaffrey said. 'The candy-coated message of atheism wrapped in fantasy packaging and fed to kids weeks before Christmas.'"

Andrew Bird

2006-09-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

So simple and cool

Wolf Parade

2006-09-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is a band called Wolf Parade. This is the best song I've heard in a while. Thanks to Juan Castro for hipping me to it!

Here He Comes - a story of Van and George (dumb, dumb George)

2006-07-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

I love it! The song is a van morrison track from the 2nd disc of the many times repackaged "Bang Sessions." Sometimes known as Bang Masters, sometimes known as Brown Eyed Beginnings, etc, etc, etc. This track, along with about 30 other strange one minute songs like Ring Worm, Chickee Coo, Dumb Dumb George, Jump and Thump, make up the whole second disc.

Van's George (the one in the songs) owned the label van was recording for (Bang) and was responsible for releasing an album of van's material without his knowledge. George was attempting to capitalize on a) the chart success of Brown Eyed Girl and b) the hippie movement (the album was called "Blowin Your Mind" and the cover featured a psychedelic van morrison). Van was pissed. And to get out of his 2 disc record contract he turned in the 2nd album of nonsensical songs. One of those songs is called "Blowin Yer Nose" and in the song he pretends to call the operator and rag on his own album. "Hey! Operator. I have a new album out and it's groovy. It's called.... it's called.. blowin' yer nose."

Van writes off all of his work at Bang as crap, but despite that there are some bad ass songs all on that first disc. Joe Harper's Saturday Morning, Madam George (later slowed waaay down for Astral Weeks), It's All Right, Beside You (same idea as Madam George), and the acoustic version of The Smile You Smile are all top notch tracks. Some of the best music ever created.

Here are the lyrics to ringworm:
I can see
by the look on your face
that you've got ringworm.
I'm very sorry but,
I have to tell you that
you've got ringworm.
It's a very common disease.
Actually, you're very luck to have
ringworm
'cause you may have
had somethin' else.
Oooh, aaahhh...
Uuunnnhhhaaahhnnn...
You've got ringworm.
Oooh-oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh....

Everything she wants

2006-07-18T21:16:00.000-07:00

Is everything she sees.

Wise words from Wham era George Michael? That song came over my ipod while busing to work (don't criticize) and it made me laugh laugh laugh.

But could this song be about ditching a pregnant wife? He says she's perfect. Then, six months later, they are married, she's pregnant, and now he's going on about "one step further and my back will break." What is she asking for? A crib? If I ever had the opportunity to interview George Michael I'd ask him to explain himself.

Next I will analyze Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam songs. Lost in Emotion? I'll be the judge of that. Hit the beat now!

Netflix Review

2006-07-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

I wrote my first and maybe last movie review on Netflix. It was for Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me. I hated it the movie. Here is the review -

Title: Why is everyone yelling so loud?

"This movie is not scary, but the main thing I'll remember from this movie is all the screaming. Despite this, I fell asleep trying to watch it. Twice. Why is everyone screaming? Don't really know, but maybe very few of the actors know what their motives are so they just yell their way through the scenes. "CLEAN THE FLOOR!" "DON'T WEAR MY CLOTHES!" "WASH YOUR HANDS!" WHO ARE YOU!" "I LOVE YOU JAMES!" "AAAAAAIGGGH!" Okay, I get it. Bored now...

By the way, half of the interesting scenes (2 of 4?) are ripped off from the series. Besides that, this movie is just a disjointed b flick.

RENT IT IF YOU HAVE TO! But you probably won't enjoy it."

I love, love, love Blue Velvet, but Mr. Lynch doesn't impress me much.

SKATE FOR CHRIST!

2006-06-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

wow.

I turned on my tv and it was tuned to TBN (of course). Stephen Baldwin was hosting some strange show featuring some weirdo who spins basketballs...for christ. Anyway, a Stephen Baldwin +christ youtube search ensued and I found that awesome little video. And make sure to always remember...
skate skate skate
christ christ christ
Skate for Christ
Skate for Christ
Ride the halfpipe
Don't smoke the crack pipe

Dylan on Youtube

2006-06-05T23:56:00.000-07:00

Girl From the North Country. I love this song. Conor Oberst, M. Ward and Jim James were singing this song as the final encore song when they were touring together. It's available somewhere, cause I heard it on the radio. Anyway, always nice to hear the original. "If you go where the snow flakes fall.." So gorgeous.

Why? Huh? Why?

2006-06-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, my ears may have been deceiving me, but I could have sworn that I heard/saw a dog food commercial with a Magnetic Fields song as the soundtrack. Unless I'm wrong, and I hope I am, "I think I need a new heart" is now the official song of cesar's dog food. How could this happen? Does Mr. Merritt need money? Is his club losing money? Is he hungry? Does he need to eat? Someone explain this to me?

Can someone with window's media player tell me what is happening here?
http://www.cesar.com/events/advertising_temp.aspx

Again, I have no problem with songs in commercials as long as the commercial doesn't suck the life out of the song. In honor of the good use of songs, I embed the following video:

Nick Drake

Shut your prayer hole!

2006-05-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

I got to see a TBN discussion about referendum 65. A few things stood out.

1) Listening to them would make you believe that ref 65 is a referendum on gay marriage. I think they did it for maximum scare effect.
2) The pastors went out of their way to not come off like hate mongers. "I have nothing against homosexuals. I want to defend marriage for the children! I want to honor god's word. Children and God. God and Children."
3) The pastors came off as hate mongers, "These laws could change EVERYTHING! Marriage is the fabric that hold our society together. What would happen if that fabric was torn apart? Think what they would teach our children in schools! This law could change who the government gives benefits to!" And my personal favorite, "You must get up and act! Remember, God not only punishes the practitioners of sinnful deeds, but also those of us who let the sinners practice these deeds." It's all about the subtext.
4) Awful music from young adults from the Prayer Team. The only thing I hate more than 89.5 is TBN music.
5)They tried, but failed to describe non-biblical arguments against gay marriage (again, not what this dam referendum is about). They really

Okay, referendum 65 is all about rejecting or approving HB2661. HB 2661 added sexual orientation to this language:

"The legislature hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a disabled person are a matter of state concern, that such discrimination threatens not only the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state."

Can you believe that Tim Eyman actually says, "Government-imposed preferential treatment will only enhance suspicion and conflict between our citizens exactly as described earlier by Rep. Cox. When the classroom teacher treats Johnny special, the other kids end up not liking Johnny. When government gets involved, it usually makes things worse. This is especially true when it comes to social issues. Better for the government to stay out of it."

Is it Tim? Would it have been better if the government stayed out of civil rights? What about the our government's push to get Saudi Arabia to remove anti Christian language from children's textbooks (this story was on the radio this morning)? Should the government stay out of that?

Concerned Women for America has this brilliant nugget to add to the debate:
"If HB2661 stands, our freedom to lovingly rescue people out of the sin of homosexuality will be limited."

Yea, well, guess what? Lucky for you this part of the constitution also restricts my freedom to pull your head out of your fucking ass. Deal with it. I am.

ALSO, THIS IS VERY IMPORANT. WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT UP ABOUT THE DAVINCI CODE? The book is obviously a work of fiction. I was tired of hearing about it in real time and now TBN and the religious right will not shut up about it. How stupid do THEY think their audience is? Judging by the shite that flows on TBN, my guess is "pretty stupid." Either they're just using this jig to raise money or they really think the foolish will be fooled. And organizations like TBN like to keep their monopoly on the foolish and their money. Now they're pimping a book called "The Da Vinci Deception" I mean really, is this work of fiction seriously being debated?

I come in the name of Jesus...

2006-05-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

Hope sent this to me and hope it gives me. This is how I like my religion. Prepare yourself.

"so he flew from the pit with the moon round his waist
gathered wind in his fists and the stars round his wrists
cryin' holy, holy to the lord" Neko Case

This is not Neko Case

This is more like it

2006-05-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

Sam and Ali

This is strange

2006-05-16T00:45:00.000-07:00

Yes that is en vogue in the background. The director certainly did ol' Rog a favor by cutting away after his "yea, I pointed to the crowd" rock star move (about 45 seconds into it). Whatever happened next was certainly quite scary for everyone en volved.

Let Me Introduce You to This Shady Cast of Characters

2006-05-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

Shins plus McDonalds. I thought I heard about that on a NPR interview a long time ago and whenever I'd compare the shins to michael bolton I'd make sure to tell folks that. No one ever believed me and I never saw the commercial so i started wondering if it was true myself. POPO ZAO suckers! Not like this should change anyone's mind about the music though. That Dylan/Victoria's Secret commercial was amazing. "I'm sick of love! I wish I never met you." And I definitely dug the car commercial with Nick Drake. It was brilliant.

The other day my brother confused me by putting some R Kelley in the cd player. There is a song on the album called "You Remind Me Of My Jeep." R Kelley says it like it's the biggest compliment in the world. "You remind me of my jeep. I want to get inside you. You remind me of my jeep, I want to bump you like my speakers" and so on and so forth etc etc until "and I just want to tell you..." long pause, music building ".......YOU REMIND ME OF MY JEEP!" My brother assured me that this was a big hit in it's day and I was utterly confused. I mean, this song was the literally the soundtrack to a million memories. It's too much to think about.

Alas, alas, another one of my favorite musicians put out a not so great album. I can now add Jolie Holland to my list that includes The Gourds, Bright Eyes, Devendra Banhart, Neko Case (maybe..not too drawn to the new album), Wilco, Ryan Adams (really more like 10 mediocre albums) and probably a much longer list if I think about it. I'm always saddest when super talented folks put out albums that are don't do anything for me. Okay, shouldn't rag on Jolie Holland's new album too much, because there are a few outstanding songs and a few fascinating song. It just seems like there are too many parts that drag. What I want to know is who is that guy singing on You're Not Satisfied? He sounds a sleazy and tired and awesome.

Holy Shot Through The Chest While Jumping Out a Jail Cell Window, Mor-Man.

2006-04-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith%2C_Jr.#Smith.27s_death

Scott let me borrow "Under the Banner Of Heaven." It is keeping me up at night.

Another Great Album Cover

2006-04-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

This photo reminds me of Tom Bombadil for some reason. I think I just like the idea of wandering through a forest and stumbling upon the master of Hawaiian guitar. He's got some kind of Hawaiian/Western Swing thing going on. I'd be as enchanted by him as the hobbits were of Tom and his river nymph.

Rockin Steady with Slim Smith

2006-04-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with this man. I want this album on my wall. I love it.

Lazy the Crime Toe

2006-04-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm the neighborhood watch guy tonight. I called the police on a car that's been sitting outside my house for a few days and I found this website.

Throwing toenails at crime.

My new favorite tree

2006-04-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

These things dot the shores of Mercer Island. I never really noticed them til I was out on Lake Washington with JuanB. In the light of the setting sun they looked like shaggy creatures making their way to the shore.

Saturday was a great day to be on the water. Didn't catch any fish, but we drank a decent amount of whiskey, boated all they way around Mercer Island (no small feat for the 12 footer), listened to good tunes and had a lot of fun. My ass hurts though. 7 hours on that hard boat seat did me in.

Neko!

2006-03-14T23:25:00.000-08:00

Soooo glad I found this. Video footage from last year's zoo concert. Absolutely amazing. The rain hadn't hit yet.

Neko doesn't live in Yarnia.

Soooo cute. And apologizing for the rain reference too.

Chronicles of Yarnia

2006-03-14T23:03:00.000-08:00

Yarnia is inhabited by Pat Boone, Keb Mo, and C.S Lewis.

I lied. Sort of.

2006-03-14T23:01:00.000-08:00

Keb Mo is the Pat Boone of blues

I will never blog about Pat Boone Again

2006-03-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

Why? Well, here are a few things from All Music reviews:

"To his credit, Boone was somehow able to extricate any sense of sexuality or danger from rock and roll - no mean feat."

"It doesn't include his hit covers of 'At My Front Door' and Little Richards 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Tutti Frutti,' which is perhaps just as well for all concerned."

AllMusic folk are wrong about a lot of things, but they are spot on about this one. However, I actually really like this one song called Moody River. It's a suicide tale set to a Sam Cooke ish piano rhythm thing. "Moody river your muddy water, took my baby's life." So, Pat wanders off into the woods to meet his lover at the oak tree by the river. Instead he finds a glove with a note on it.

"On the ground, your glove I found with a note addressed to me. It read dear Love, I've done you wrong and now I must set you free. No longer can I live with this hurt and sin. I just couldn't tell you that guy was just a friend."

Moody River, more deadly than the vainest knife. Moody River, your muddy waters...

Wedding Bell Blues

2006-03-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Saw a couple of curious performances by this Laura Nyro gal. The performances (on the Monterey Pop Festival dvds) and images I've dug up (see photo below) make me think of Fiona Apple. A bunch of Laura's songs were hits with artists like The Fifth Dimension, Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, etc. This makes me a bit dubious. Those bands don't get me all tingly inside. Then again, most of the Byrds' versions of Dylan songs are pretty shite. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just putting you on.

Anyway, I'm not buying anything yet. I will check her out from Ms. Casey first.

Last Call For The Poverty Train

2006-03-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

Destiny!

2006-03-11T00:08:00.000-08:00

I love not working. A random set of events led to up to a very sweet old woman giving me 4 moving boxes worth of records. And they are very old records. I kind of recognize some names (Dennis Day, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, and things of that era), but the boxes mostly comprise of super old 78s with titles like the Bohemian Polka and the Hawaiian War Chant, etc.

Anyway, just so happens that my record player doesn't play 78s. Sadness. However, happy hour introduced me to a friend of a fiend who just happens to have a record player that plays 78s. There are record listening plans in the works. Happiness.

On a random 78s note - I seem to remember seeing, in movies set in the 50s and 60s, record stores that had little recording booths for people to play music in. I think they would be recorded on 78s. Anyway, record stores should bring back the recording both, but with digital music. People could roll into the store, dig around for music that inspires them, and see if they can work something out in the booth. That sounds like a good time.

Girls Gone Wild

2006-03-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

Women have been dominating my music scene.

Things I suggest you do:

1) Buy the Etta James' song called "All I Could Do Was Cry." I suggest the version from the album called "Etta James Rocks the House." Dam that gal can sing. Yup, you can get it on itunes.
2) Buy "Call on Me" on Big Brother and Holding Company's self titled album. Could be my favorite Janis Joplin song.
3) Download this album. Sexy singing gals make me swoon. So do sexy singing boys.
4) Listen to the new Neko album. Some great tracks on there. Not a super big change in sound from Blacklisted, but you have to love "The Band" connection. Garth Hudson adds a lot of goodness to that record. Neko, I will swoon over you on April 6th and 7th.
4) Ella. This was on PBS's American Masters' website.

"I swear, when she finished you could hear a rat piss on cotton." I need to work that line into more conversations.

Mystery!

2006-03-07T00:26:00.000-08:00

A mysterious new shared itunes music folder showed up at work today. Scooby Snack is the name. I am intrigued by this Scooby Snack. We have shockingly similar music tastes. I saw Bob Dylan and The Bands' "Basement Tapes" in there, Songs of Freedom (bob marley), a few Bright Eyes albums, Mason Jennings (!), and plenty of other albums that I have. And plenty more that I plan on listening to in the next few days. My only complaint is that Mr. or Mrs. Snack seems to like The Boss just a bit too much. Anyway, I kind of want to know who this person is. Would it be weird to communicate through itunes' playlist? For the record, my shared itunes music folder is called "Guilty Feet," which is absolutely ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as the CashFlow infomercial.

Blowing Your Nose

2006-03-02T00:35:00.000-08:00

Obscure reference

Double Jeopardy

2006-03-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

THE CHASE IS ON!

A perfect life?
Not so fast!

Let's see if I can explain this...
Judd - amazing life, lives on Whidbey Island, likes boats, husband gives judd a boat (first picture), husband stages death on boat (blood), judd convicted of crime (court case), best friend adopts Judd's son (tears), best friend (and son) disappear, Judd makes friends in prison, judd uses six years in prison to train physically (rocky scenes), judd released, judd skips parole, escapes re-capture (second picture), hardened criminal judd tracks down husband (breaks many laws), Mr. Jones hot on her trail (chase scenes), Mr. Jones helps trap husband, Judd shoots husband, Mr. Jones injured, final shot freeze frame of judd embracing child, a bandaged Mr. Jones in the background.

Nominated for 4 awards (three blockbuster and one MTV)

from the quotes section of imdb - Mr. Jones - Dammit, woman, if you don't get out of this car and go to your kid, I'm going to have you arrested... for stupidity.

Amazing!

Song for an Evil Clown Nesting Doll

2005-08-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

I thought this was very clever when I wrote it. Granted, I was *slightly* intoxicated.

Scary Clown
everytime I turn around
you get a little bit meaner
Mean ol' Clown
I'm just wonderin' aloud
if you got the devil inside you
Red Face Clown
If makeup hid my frowns
I think I'd be a little evil too

McTube

2005-08-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to your local McDonald's

Foolish Man

2005-08-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

No one will even want his sperm after this foolish interview.

Better Get Ready For That Judgment

2005-08-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Just felt like saying that.

A "fabulously strong high pressure dome?" Nice quote.

Alaska, I feel for you. Heat...driving...me....insane.

PB, I hope you're right. I've been saying that a decent amount lately. Who would have guessed?

Doesn't really get that much better than this. I don't know why, but I just love this stuff.

RENTy Goodness

2005-08-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Not too excited when I first saw the preview, but that's changed over the last few days. Three things linger though:

1) When did Adam Pascal (Roger) turn into Willem Dafoe?
2) I'm a little dubious of the Rosario Dawson thing. Never saw that Pussycats film, but I hear she laid down the vocals for it.
3) I wonder if all the Law and Order mothers (mine included) will freak out when they see Jesse Martin (Tom) smooching a Tranny Superstar?

Jesse's voice is something else though. My god, that man can sing. Lucky enough to see him play Tom on stage and he really got me going with that voice of his.

Also stumbled across the website for the current Roger on Broadway. yow....

RFV

2005-07-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

The downside of all this Lance Armstrong business

2005-07-25T23:35:00.000-07:00

Way too many people are riding around in spandex and racer uniforms.

Yes, I broke 3 months of blog silence to say this.

Gonna Build Right On That Shore

2005-04-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Which shore? Maybe this one.

It's looking like I might move into a house right next door to the park. The house is farther out than I what I'd hoped for, but the park thing is awesome and the house is perfect. It's just the right size (1bd, 1ba), cute, and kind of weird. Plus it has a full basement. That's just about everything I was looking for. The manager seemed really cool too. We seemed to get along pretty well.

I was listening to The Soul Stirrers (the early incarnation w/ Sam Cooke) on my way out there and that "Gonna Build Right On That Shore" song came on and it just felt right. Wish me luck.

On a random note, I noticed that Yahoo was pimping a new Oasis video today. I watched about three minutes of it before I turned it off. I really gave it two and a half more minutes than what it deserved, but I did it for memory's sake. Plus, now I'm listening to "Definitely Maybe" which is never a bad thing.

Speaking of Soapboxes

2005-04-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, Emma already commented about it, but I'm going to link to it anyways. Twisted soapbox.

Twisted soapbox.

Gays in the Military

2005-04-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

Kind of heard some chatter about this recently, but it's not going to happen. Forget about it. For now, at least. The powers that be haven't forgotten what happened last time they let minorities fight for their country. Those same minorities came back demanding their full and equal rights and they (the powers) will be damned if they can't repress at least some part of the population.

I've been standing on my rainbow colored (gay) soapbox quite a bit these days. Not necessarily on the blog, but maybe soon. I read some bullshit propaganda that pissed me off.

Music, Taxes, and Movin' On

2005-04-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

Download this song. It was the first thing I heard at last night's concert. The performer had a way good vide and the song put me in the right mood. Well, that Thai restaurant’s "hallucinogenic" cocktail might have helped out, but probably not... Either way, the song is pretty cool.

Ha ha, finished my taxes. No six month extension needed for ol' Lazy Toe. I owe some money (I always do), but I'm not complaining. I think I get off pretty easy as far as taxes go.

More importantly - I'm on the move. My house is vacating in the next month or so. Haven't found a place yet, but it's coming along. I kind of dig the process, but it's also kind of a pain. I'll definitely be sad about moving out of this place. I've been here for 2+ years and it's all been good times w/ the roommates and the doggy. But yea, it feels like it's time to start something new.

"Whether you find something in the way, or you keep forgettin lost in lightless caves, or you found the sound in singing what you say, then vocalize, vocalize into the nada. Ah ah ah..." I'm listening to that song right now.

Hmmm, Salon, MJ(?), and Political Panderers

2005-03-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

Hey! What happened to MJ? Poor guy. Everyone is paying attention to Ms. Shiavo these days. He tried his best to keep our attention by not showing up, coming to court in PJs, and crying on the stand, but it just didn't work. It's old news. Sort of like his music. Oh well, that trial seemed pretty bogus in the first place.

Salon, Salon, Salon...

Salon's War Room posted some interesting things today. They lifted a story from the Daily Howler and didn't do a very good job of it.

This Daily Howler article about the Schiavo 'Nobel Candidate' was posted three days ago.

Also, the Howler makes a good point about the two Americas. Read on.

Salon's War Room also tried to tie in Schiavo, The Religious Right, and Stem Cell Research. And even though I might be in danger of getting my lefty politik card revoked, I have to say that I'm not big fan of stem cell research. I hated the fact that it was a big election year issue and I hated the way Democrats got all righteous and in our face about it. I don't think we need to restrict it (Bush doesn't want new lines to be created), but I don't think it needs to be a national endeavor. We don't need to pour trillions of dollars in it when there are plenty of other things that need a fixin. A country of limited resources and limited ATTENTION SPAN does not need to spend our time and money focusing on something that may or may not produce significant results. Anyone remember the big push to map the human genome? Wasn't that supposed to cure everything? Same arguments are used for Stem Cell. It will save us. It will be the solution for everything. Just buy into this... Same tactic used by Bushco (Private accounts! Easy Money! Alaskan Oil! Problem Solved!), just a different setting and not as evil.

Hey, I'm not opposed to scientific research (except for Human Cloning), but I just don't see what stem cell research will do for the millions of Americans who can't afford basic healthcare? And yea, maybe that isn't a valid argument (one could say that we should be doing both), but I'd just like to see our leaders focus on something real for once.

So, I've decided that I'm going to keep a list of politicians who will not get my vote due to silly pandering to the public. When I get more time, that list will be published to the right side of this page. John McCain just made that list (see the last few days of archived posts at the Daily Howler). I have a feeling a bunch I'll be checking off a lot of Gs and Ls next time I cast a ballot.

Okay time to get this freakin’ weekend started.

It's pretty bad out there. High water everywhere.

2005-03-25T00:20:00.000-08:00

I really wish Bush would stop saying "we need to err on the side of life." The Dianne Ream Show is on NPR right now and they are discussing the

EPAs new mercury regulations

.

"Studies have found that one in 12 women of childbearing age in the United States has mercury levels in her blood above that which the EPA considers safe."

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm

Hey, Bush, why don't you talk to your EPA lackies and tell them to err on the side of life?

Shciavo Circus

2005-03-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Dam, this thing is blowing up. From the Seattle Times:

"Supporters of the Schindlers modestly escalated their civil disobedience outside the hospice. About a dozen people, including three children, were arrested after carrying water and Bibles toward the hospice.

'This is my Bible, my sword,' said Orin Cooper, clutching his in a plastic grocery bag before he walked up to the police guarding the entrance. 'I don't go anywhere without my sword.'"

That souds fucking wild.

She's been like that for 14 or 15 years? I don't know about Terri, but that's not the kind of life I want to live.

New Stuff! Plus, The Blues and Andrew Bird

2005-03-16T23:23:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes, I finally updated my blog.

New Stuff

2005 Concerts - on the right
New tag line for the blog. 100% lifted from a Magnetic Fields song.

Old Stuff
Still getting into trouble
Still disappointed by my politicians (but good try today, Senator Cantwell)
Still trying to avoid coverage of the MJ trial
Still spending too much money on music

The Blues and Andrew Bird

Purchased a Charlie Patton cd the other day and was completely shocked when "Some of These Days" came blaring through my speakers. I first heard this amazing song on Andrew Bird's first record and instantaneously fell in love with it. My love only grows now that I get to listen to the original. This isn't the first time Ol' Andrew Bird has busted out some bluesy numbers. He covers a Mississippi Sheiks' song on his Swimming Hour cd and appropriates some of their lyrics for a great song on his new album. "She got blood...in her eyes for you." From Fake Palindromes

Unfortunately I've purchased more than a few Andrew Bird albums on iTunes and haven't been able to examine the liner notes. Just the drawbacks of cheap music, I guess. Actually, it's really kind of bothering me now that I think about it. I like knowing about artists' incestual relationships. Andrew Bird played on a Neko Case album. Neko Case played a significant role in the last Band of Blacky Ranchette album (a Howe Gelb project). I first saw and heard Howe Gelb and Andrew Bird at an amazing concert at the Tractor Tavern (thanks, Josh). Andrew Bird covers Mississippi Sheiks' songs, which is a band that I might not have heard of if I hadn't read the amazing liner notes of the Dylan album titled "World Gone Wrong," which is also the title track of the album, and a song by the Mississippi Sheiks. I could go on, but I'm a bit tired. In the meantime, I'll dream of The Blues and epic songs lamenting the disappearing art of album covers and liner notes. In Bluesy E.

E G A A# B D

Uh oh...

2004-12-09T21:36:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

Are you kidding me?

Just bookmark it already

2004-12-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

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...

2004-11-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

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

2004-10-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

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

2004-10-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

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!)

2004-10-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

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

2004-10-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

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

2004-10-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

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

2004-10-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

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...

2004-10-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-23T23:10:00.000-07:00

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

Photos

2004-09-21T01:24:00.000-07:00

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

Sexy Cat (Neko)

2004-09-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

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

Music. Oppression. War.

2004-09-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

"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

2004-09-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

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

2004-08-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

This day in History

The following B List Stars will be celebrating their birthdays today.

Vitamin C
Simon Rex (ha!)
Kim Carnes

Birthday Plans

2004-07-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

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

Jesse, I fear for you

2004-07-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

watch yourself

Lazy's Back

2004-07-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

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!

2004-06-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Look at that photo! Look out Terrorists!

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

Crazy Pat (CP)

2004-06-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-13T23:06:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

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

The SWAN

2004-06-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

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

2004-06-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-04-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

"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

2004-04-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2004-04-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

"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

2004-04-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

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

In Other News

2004-04-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

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

2004-04-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

"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