Prepare to be Unimpressed...

New Posts Galore

2009-07-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

theunimpressive.wordpress.com

New Blog Post

2009-07-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Here.

Update your bookmarks, slackers. Or better yet- follow this RSS feed!

Another New Blog Post

2009-06-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

Right here.

New Blog Post

2009-06-23T18:34:00.001-07:00

Right here.

Always Behind The Curve

2009-06-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

So, I'm moving this blog. Blogger is just too much of a pain in the ass to manage. I'll cross post at both places for a while, since the new place is still deep under construction.

Follow here: http://theunimpressive.wordpress.com/

TOAF 6/8/09

2009-06-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

"If it wasn't for Christ, I'd be out there arming people..."
Then, a few moments later:
"What's you name again, buddy?"

I can only imagine what the poor operator on the other line was thinking after getting this craziness espoused to him/her completely randomly. Ha!

As The Mighty Marvin Gaye Once Said, "What's Goin' On?"

2009-06-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Answer: nothing.
Sorry Marvin.

-Too many records to buy, too little $$$. New Sonic Youth tomorrow will burn a hole in my wallet, however.

-Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I've kept my love of basketball (actually, just Lakers Basketball really) hidden from nearly everyone for a really long time.
I suppose there are several reasons for this:
A. Definitely not punk.
B. Too much Nike. All that swoosh represents is the enslavement of thousands of Chinese babies.
C. Team sports go against my ruggedly individualistic nature. The American dream, right?
Anyways, in my old age (57 this November), I've been getting to the bottom of the following:
A. Not being so much of a dick.
B. Getting back to my roots.
C. "It's like Hamlet said- 'To Thine Own Self Be True.'"
"Hamlet didn't say that
"I think I remember Hamlet accurately."
"Well, I remember Mel Gibson accurately, and he didn't say that. That Polonius guy did."
So that's a lot of existentialism backing up my Los Angeles Lakers fandom. I've got no exit strategy for that point.

-Ladies & Gentlemen: The Fabulous Stains! Finally available. So, the movie may not technically be very well filmed, but the message is undeniable. They should show this to young girls everywhere. It does a very good job of telling the story of strong girls without trivializing them. Netflix it- seriously. I first learned about it through the transcendently-before-it's time Grand Royal Magazine. Which brings me to:

-Grand Royal Magazine. If there was ever any one group of people that were/are consistently ahead of every curve, it's the associates of Grand Royal. Initially, GR was the Beastie Boys vanity record label- however, it evolved into the most unbelievably trend-predating tastemaking organization in the history of pop culture. Not only did GR bring us 4 beyond-great Beastie Boys full lengths (and countless single/eps: see Aglio E Olio, Country Mike's Greatest Hits, Root Down), but they also introduced most of the world to Spike Jonze (Sabotage. Where The Wild Things Are. Girlfilms. Genius!), At The Drive-In, artist sanctioned mp3s (really. Ask this guy), and the Mullet (I'm not kidding). Grand Royal Magazine ("Long Awaited, Much Anticipated, Grossly Outdated") was their compendium of coolness. It only lasted 6 issues, but contained way too much excellence to post here. I have all the issues except for the first and fourth ones, which are nearly impossible to find- so let me know if you come across one. I re-read them all from time to time, when I feel like I need tips on Adidas Vs. Puma, building a demolition derby car, the best ways to harass Ted Nugent, Moog Synthesizers or the truly original expose on the mullet epidemic. Ultimately, the Beastie Boys' unwavering ability to see the future got them out of the record label business before the shitstorm, and now Grand Royal Magazine is a memento of a cooler time- just the sort of thing that the magazine would've written about.

-Dinosaur Jr, Freak Scene. Had to "get" the remastered version of Bug (see first item, above). It sounds 1000 times better than the original version, and just fucking shreds. I am now 100% a Dinosaur Jr. fan, whereas I was only like 50-75% before Saturday. Also, perhaps I could work this verse into my wedding vows?
Sometimes I dont thrill you
Sometimes I think Ill kill you
Just dont let me fuck up will you
cause when I need a friend its still you
Cute!

I Am So Bad At Blogging, pt. 2: The Month-Late Photoblog

2009-05-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Staycation, guys! Ugh, that term is about as overused these days as "recessionista," "tweet," and "Glen Beck Is A Terrorist." Okay, not that last one, but I'm trying my hardest. But anyway, D and I were ready for a little work ditching, as I had just finished doing a bunch of rich whiny people's taxes, and she had been working harder than anyone else in California, as per usual.
So a Friday was picked, work was ditched, and the mythical Catalina Island was the destination. D had never been there, and I went once when I was but a lad. The original plan was to lead off with an old person breakfast at the Carrow's by our house, but that was of course trumped by laziness. Mastodon's Leviathan was on the Subaru stereo. After barely (of course) making it to the ferry on time, we were off.

In the harbor, aboard the vessel.

My better half.

See what I mean?

Leaving the harbor.

Officially on the open sea.

Twas rather windy.

Though I was not fazed.

Remember this guy (and the people in front of him) for later.

South tip of the island.

And then it happened. The family in the picture above (in front of grey sweatshirt guy) decided to start throwing up, at the front of the boat- which was going pretty much top speed. You do the math. When my sunglasses started getting splashed, I thought it was the ocean. I was very mistaken. Grey sweatshirt guy, luckily for me (and unluckily for him) took the brunt of it, though my sweatshirt was out of commission for the rest of the trip. His may not have been salvageable. Poor guy. Also- the lady came to apologize to him, and the baby she was holding started throwing up again! I may not know too much about the seafaring life, but I do know you should avoid the highest point on the boat if you tend to get motion sick.

We did make friends with the other thrown-up-upon people, and they took a picture of us, far away on the back of the boat.

Into Avalon Harbor.

My seafaring lass.

Casino.

Friendly tourist pic.

We basically just did a bunch of hanging around, eating a bunch of food, and enjoying the weather.

And looking at fish via glass-bottom boat. Tourism!

Yes, that is a submarine.

At the end of the day, we walked down to this beach (it is a protected wildlife area) and just lazed around for a good while.

Rocky, but relaxing.

And Dawn almost fell in.

Back to reality. Or, at least Orange County.

A patriotic afternoon voyage.

A bunch of dolphins started swimming in the boat wake after I took this picture, naturally.

I Am So Bad At Blogging

2009-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

[Note to self: Catalina Island Adventure photoblog coming soon. Maybe.]

Ugh, I'm still mostly asleep for some reason. It's not like I don't get enough sleep- my incessant selfishness and lack of any real responsibility probably afford me too much. Luckily, I don't let worrying about my budget for vinyl reissues at Insound keep me up at night. Usually. So here's how I've been spending my days in my general post-adolescent malaise:

-Wedding planning. Almost done (yeah right. Jinx!). Much was accomplished in Paso Robles last weekend (a phrase that has never been typed before!)- cake tasted/arranged for (it's gonna be good, and I don't even like cake. Seriously.), invitations designed (I was a totally wannabe graphic designer for a while, so I was prepared to be a dick about the invitations. Luckily for me, my fiance is more than capable of arranging excellent looking invitations without my faux-knowledgable snide comments), and my Sound System Assistant was arranged for (Thanks, Turtle Boy).

-We decided to take Monday off for a leisurely drive back south, so we stopped in Malibu for lunch/early dinner. As with most things, I was generally unimpressed by Malibu. I enjoy all of the leftover architecture from the 30's-40's-50's-60's, but other than that, I really don't see the big deal. Overrated, like the other 90% of Los Angeles. After we made a Lawyer Emergency Internet Pit Stop at the Panera in Santa Monica (I much prefer Santa Monica to Malibu, btw), we went the rest of the way home on PCH- though only out of necessity, since it weas now rush hour(s). Blech.

-I've sworn off physical record stores. I hate to say it, but it's true. I have a spreadsheet on my phone (nerd) of about 300 different records I need to buy (yeah right), and have only managed to find 1 of them in 3 trips to different places. The exception, of course, is Amoeba, but I can't drive there all the time. At least it took me 15 years of record buying to get to that point. Everyone else: keep going. I am an isolated case of extreme nerdiness and even more extreme jaded-ness.

-The one record I did get was Jane's Addiction's Nothing's Shocking. As I may or may not have said before, I never liked Jane's until this past year or so. I think it has to do with living in Southern California- Jane's is everywhere (even the post office), and they wore me down. I remember hating this record in college. We had this neighbor that lived in an apartment behind our house, above our garage/practice space (which undoubtably sucked for him), and he was an older grad student who commuted (!) from Berkeley (!) 3 or 4 days a week. He was super wierd and tended to invade your space with unsettleing regularity. He used to just roll in through our back door, go through my cds and grab the ones he wanted to copy. He always traded me cds in return, although I rarely listened to them because he annoyed me and I am an asshole. One of the few I did listen to was Nothing's Shocking, which Jason and I hated (also the 2nd Meat Puppets album- the one that Nirvana did all the songs from on Unplugged in NY. I still don't like the Meat Puppets. Kurt Cobain really captures the vibe of the songs, while being 200% more tuneful than the original songs). Anyway, like Jeremy "Bummer" Machi says "We always become what we hate."

TOAF

2009-05-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

"I hear Rush, Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura..."

Two Blog Posts That Made My Day (Today)

2009-05-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

Not that I was having a particularly bad day... but still.

From Idolator: Dissecting "Superstition" (the song, not the mystical belief). Very interesting to me because of the following- A: I am a recording nerd & B: It's one of my favorite songs.

From Videogum: Uniting Humanity And Squirreldom. Dare I say, my heart was warmed. I've only recently begun realizing my fascination with animals. Growing up with 900 yapping dogs, a bunch of messy horses and a nutso parrott kind of gave me a distaste and exasperatuion for most of the animal kingdom, but thanks to Lindsay at Videogum (and Box Cat, and Nyack The Otter [RIP- too sad to link], and Foxes On The Trampoline, and Lazy Cat, and Baby Hippo, and Crazy Mini-Horse... christ, do I ever digress), I basically have the youtube-viewing habits of an 11 year old girl.

A Quick One:

2009-04-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever been proud of the town I've lived in, until this morning.
Good job, kids.

Rrrrrrecords

2009-04-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Recent Listenings:

Mastodon: Crack The Skye- Still great. Actually, rather unfortunately, I lost my cd of this (it may have been stolen at the carwash- that was the last place I saw it, but I thoroughly doubt those dudes are Mastodon fans), so I hadn't had much chance to listen to it until I burned myself a new copy. In the metal world, no one does layering like Mastodon, and it really must be turned up pretty loud to get all the little interesting parts. That, and I'm deaf.

Beastie Boys: Check Your Head Remastered B-Sides- Perhaps more than any other record (save the Descendents' Somery and the Minor Threat record), Check Your Head defined my teenage/highschool years. It was even in my cd player when I picked Dawn up for our first date (cute). I had tapes of tapes of bootlegs with these B-sides on them, so it brings back a lot of memories of causing/getting into trouble. And, more philosophically, it really inspired me to play music and broaden my horizons. These came as a free lossless download when I ordered the CYH Remastered vinyl, so I can finally replace my 96k mp3's that were among the first digital audio files I ever encountered.

Wire: Chairs Missing- Bigger fan of Pink Flag, but I Am The Fly is a brilliant song, as the limeys might say. I've already listened to the record twice today. Interestingly enough, the last time I listened to it, according to iTunes was exactly 364 days ago. Also of note- if you want to remaster your records and have them sound great- get the Wire dudes to do it. I don't know how, but they have the best sounding remastered catalog ever, especially considering they recorded it originally in the late 70's with ultra-low budget punk gear. Even Jimmy Page can't remaster that well.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven- This is some serious shit. I kid you not, I had to turn off the lights and light a candle to listen to this. And it worked. Aaaaatttttmmmmmooooosssssppppphhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee.
The record kind of sneaks into your brain like a parasite and feeds on your nerves, and you're none the wiser. The 3rd "movement," entitled Sleep, WILL fuck your shit up.

TOAF 4/9/09

2009-04-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

"It's the castration of American, and Obama's the kingpin."
followed by something about his citizenship that I couldn't hear, then:
"It's the breakup of the family fabric."
and
"God bless America- we need it. Have a happy Holy Thursday and Good Friday..."
Kinda tame, but funny in a crazy nonsensical way.

Blah-ndora Internet Blah-dio

2009-04-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

I've given Pandora Radio months of chances. I've put my faith in the science of music- only to find out there is no such thing. And I've been forced to come up with only one conclusion-
dreadfully, Yahoo! Launch Radio is better.
Yuck. I feel like one of those assholes contending that "The Zune really is better than the iPod!" out of a sense of misguided contrarianism.
I don't even know if the Yahoo (fuck exclamation points) radio thing is even still around. Last I checked it didn't support Macs OR Firefox, which is beyond retarded, so I've boycotted it ever since. But it did (does?) have a few things going for it- actually, one major thing: the intelligent "Don't Ever Play This Again" button. Say I type in "Nirvana" (because I'm grunge) and it plays Lithium... immediately followed by Pearl Jam or Pudddddle of Mudddd or some other ridiculous shit, I click the button, the software learns I only like Nirvana and not horrible shit, and the world is happy.
But science gets in the way over at Pandora, and unfortunately I'm convinced that science gets in the way of music. Pandora breaks down the songs (as opposed to the artists) into formulas- minor key songs, rock-and-roll instrumentation songs, songs with "excessive vamping" (I didn't know what that meant either). And then it mathematically combines all these variables, and I get... Radiohead.
All the time, with the boring-ass Radiohead. I would never tell it to seach for Radiohead's acoustic b-sides and whatever else. The one positive aspect was that I was able to come up with a new term for Thom Yorke- Downs-Elf. It's pretty self-explanatory, and I apologize to the Downs- community, but it had to be said.
And just because I like Jay-Z DOS NOT MEAN I WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH 2-PAC. Sure, I can say "Don't play this song for a month" to Pandora, but what about the 5000 other posthumous 2-Pac songs, or the rest of the extensive Downs-Elf catalog? [Note- This just happend as I was typing- I thumbs-downed a Downs-Elf song, and 6 songs later it plays Creep. Arrrgh.]
That's all I've got, but at least I might have managed to offend the Downs-Syndrome Community (sorry), White Kid Wannabe Gangsters (not at all sorry), and people who like "Artistic, Creative, Mindblowing" music (hahahahaa, fucking Radiohead fans are the WORST).
And on a positive note, at least it's playing Straight Outta Compton at the moment, though I'm sure my joy will be short-lived.

Recent Musics

2009-03-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Obits: I Blame You and One Cross Apiece- The One Cross 7" is the winner here. The two songs are great and (understandably) is a great transition between Hot Snakes and this, the first Obits recording. The full length is great too- I prefer it to the Night Marchers record (sorry other 3/4 of Hot Snakes, Rick wins). It's more surf guitar/Duane Eddy inspired than the single. Subpop was a little late sending these out (boo), however, they made up for it (almost) by doling out stickers, buttons and a limited edish Obits hologramy-thing. It used to be my job to fill packages with that stuff, but it still makes me as giddy as a little girl when I get it myself.
Mastodon: Crack The Skye- Very, uhhhh... psychedelic. And awesome. It sounds exactly like I expect it to sound, based on the concept. Mystical-czarist-space-hallucination-metal! I don't know if I like it better than Blood Mountain, but I like it a lot.

The Overheard Asshole Files (A New Feature)

2009-03-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

This one requires a little background info. The office space that I work in is divided in half- one side is our (mine/boss') and the other side is subletted out to another guy. The other guy in question, I have determined is quite possibly THE WORST PERSON EVER. Well, he's no Hitler or anything (actually, if he wasn't so lazy, he might be just as bad), but he's certianly the one and only truly bad person I've ever met. He's a born-again, a (relatively newly-minted) gun nut, an unbelieveable rascist, a sexist in league with O'Reilly, and just all around scumball sleazebag.
And no, I've not called him out yet- I'm saving up.
Anyway, being a blowhard-know-it-all is the most immediately noticiable of his many horrible traits. He doesn't really do too much in the way of working, it's mostly just barking ridiculous rhetorics and degradations at people over the phone and telling them how much more knowledgeable (then they) he is. He talks really loudly (so we can all hear him), so I am consistenly overhearing him, and I'm planning on making a log of some of the nearly unbelieveably things he says thoughout the day. Sorry everyone. It's your turn to share in my misery.
Today:
3/26/08: "What are these guys smokin? yukyukyuk"
&
"These women don't have God in their life- they just have no connection to reality"

You might think this is a bit of a slow start- but just wait. I promise it'll get better/worse.

[Oh, I almost forgot- here's an entry for yesterday: 3/25/08- He is listening to the Jurassic Park Soundtrack.]

Why I Try Not To Write About Music (UPDATED)

2009-03-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

[When I originally wrote this, the Buddyhead website was down (way down), but, merely a day or two after I clicked "Post," theyre back (way back). Even with a new gossip post! It's like 2002 all over again! So, in short, THEY WIN.]

Because there are a few people that do it far better (and far less annoyingly).
If you're interested, check these out (in no particular order):
Buddyhead- the original and best. They've mellowed out (at least in terms of spending time on the internet), but have always been unstoppable. Much to the chagrin of their enemies (countless), they actually know what they are talking about and have great tast in music (I'm willing to forgive the Oasis-worship, dudes). For god's sake, they're language artists, brah.
Stereogum- All around top quality (and it's sister site, Videogum, is one of the best sites of any category, ever)
Idolator- Interesting articles, less news-reporty than Stereogum or BV.
An Aquarium Drunkard- Low post volume, but of the absolute highest quality, musically, aesthetically, and writing-wise. Stunningly good.

And The Award For Current Best-Thing-In-The-World Goes To...

2009-03-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Fake Nick Cave Twitter.
Far better than the Fake Steve Jobs blog. Classic gems (I just coined that phrase).
Highlights:
-Opening a vegetarian restaurant called "Murder Salads"
-Attempting to one-up Jarvis Cocker's tie choices
-Consistent mustache-groomery
-Being unable to tell if he's speaking to Blixa or his answering machine
-Tagging, and then untagging himself from Mick Harvey's facebook

Really, it's just hundreds of Nick Cave nerd in-jokes. Good thing I'm a Nick Cave nerd.

The Business of The Business

2009-03-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a while to chill out after that last post, but I think I've reached my equilibrium once more. Here's some shit that sucks way less than that horrible movie:

-Our wedding has a blog. How technological! I'm having a hard time not being pretentious and cynical on that one (see: "The wedding event of the Century-" sorry, I was a Marketing & Hyperbole major).
Check it out: http://dawnandbrianswedding.blogspot.com/
-Choosing menu items for said wedding- even though Dawn didn't like my original Asian-fusion theme. Early California Homestyle, here we come! (The Chili theme was passed over as well- bummer.)
-Listening to the Paul's Boutique reissue non-stop. The mix is way better, plus it sounds great on wax.
-Also listening to Spiritualized's Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space almost as non-stop. It really is a masterpiece too. He's doing a Don't Look Back performance of the record in the UK and I would give my cousin Michael's kidney to go. Sorry Michael, but that's the price for tax advice.
-...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dads: The Century of Self- another really good plateful of jams.
-The time changing back. Unfortunately, this just makes laziness harder. Possible, but harder nonetheless (that's what she said).
-iPhone OS 3.0: Yeah, copy & paste, finally.

Watchmen Was So Unbelieveably Horrible

2009-03-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've never wanted to walk out a movie at so many different points- including within the first 5 minutes. I don't even want to talk about it, really.

So here are some movies I'd have rather spent my time/money on:
-Larry The Cable Guy: Health Inspector
-An American Carol
-Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever
-Charlies Angels 2: Full Throttle
-Paul Blart: Mall Cop
-Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li
-Speed/Speed 2 (Double Feature!)
-The DaVinci Code
-Star Wars Episodes 1 through 3
-Dave Matthews Band Live Bootleg Series
-Any Cameron Diaz/Drew Barrymore/Julia Roberts romantic comedy
-Testicles Being Crushed In A Vice: An Exhausitve 13-part Documentary

Hate-Reading Pitchfork

2009-03-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

I like doing surveys because I'm not really very creative. So in the spirit of staleness and predictability, I appropriated one from Pitchforkmedia.com, where they ask pretentious and overrated musicians about (mostly music-related) things. Let's do this!

>> Favorite Songs from the Past Year
Hmmm, off the top of my head:
Batcat- Mogwai
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Time To Pretend- MGMT
>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment
Elton John- Rocket Man (I heard it on TV last night, so it's fresh in my mind.)
>> Favorite New Band
This question is bad because "new" is so fucking subjective. You're the worst, Pitchfork.
But in the spirit of playing along, MGMT is probably the newest band in my collection.
>> My Dream Collaboration
To collaborate with me? Anyone, almost.
To collaborate with each other: Josh Homme & Jack White on a Desert Sessions record, Boris and Mastodon on a noise-metal record.
>> Favorite Song Ever
How could someone choose this? Here's a selection:
Merchandise- Fugazi
A Day In The Life- The Beatles
Teenage Riot- Sonic Youth
Tangerine- Led Zeppelin
Plenty For All- Hot Snakes
>> Best Recent Concert
The last one I went to was one of the best- Mogwai in LA. As of right now, that's also the nest concert I'm going to.
>> Last Great Film I Saw
Man On Wire
>> Last Great Book I Read
I'm reading Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's great.
>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment
Mainly the versatility of my Gibson SG, but really any guitar- especially electrics plugged into a shitload of pedals and a fucking loud amp.
>> First Record You Ever Bought
You know, I don't really remember, and I was trying to figure this out the other day. The earliest one I can remember is buying the Nirvana cds of Nevermind and In Utero from my friend Lawrence for $10. He had decided he liked rap. But that was in like 6th or 7th grade, and there must have been some sooner. The first records I remember getting as a gift were: The La Bamba Sountrack, a Cars tape, and Michael Jackson's Bad.

>> Favorite Record Shop
Fucking Amoeba Hollywood of course. It's always crowded, but that's because it the world's best record store.

>> Favorite City to Play
Based on my extremely limited touring experience, I'm gonna say San Luis Obispo.
>> My Dream Merch Table
None, like Fugazi.
>> A Popular Artist I'd Like to Fall Into Obscurity
It's hard to be an "artist" when you are popular, but Diddy or Britney Spears fit, in the absolute loosest definition of the term. As for those who consider themselves "artists," I have to say Radiohead and Bruce Springsteen (sorry Andy). Oh, and Arcade Fire!
>> Obscure Artist I'd Like to Become More Popular
See above. I don't really want to live in a world where everyone listens to "obscure" shit, but I think Queens of The Stone Age should be more popular.
>> Strangest Display of Affection from a Fan
n/a, thankfully.
>> Best Purchase of the Past Year
Have to say the Subaru.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year
Engagement.
>> Favorite Venue
The Troubadour.
>> Favorite TV Show at the Moment
Too many. Arrested Development is the all-time best. Others: No Reservations, Lost, Classic Albums. Top Chef has lost much of it's appeal since Thumb-Head's win.
>> Favorite Video Game at the Moment
Temporarily gave up Zelda to focus on Wii Sports and Call of Duty: World At War. Now it's back to Zelda.
>>Favorite Radio Show
The oft-lamented Jonsey's Jukebox, and the newly reborn Harmony In My Head.

Trader Joe's Soy Orange Creamsicles

2009-03-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Are the fucking best. I suggest you get hip to them ASAP.

Other things I'm digging:
...Trail of Dead: Source Tags & Codes- Still good. Need the new one.
The Juliana Theory: Music From Another Room- San Luis Obispo flashback, and I'm not ashamed.
Spiritualized: Songs in A+E, Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space- Jason Spaceman wins.
Sunn0))) & Boris: Altar- I love the doom.
Counting the number of despondent wealthy people I hear daily convinced that those commies are going to steal their hard earned cash and redistribute it to the unwashed and undeserving- priceless.
Douchechill!

Not Digging:
The Top Chef winner- he doesn't get mentioned by name. Dear Padma, we'll forget this ever happened.
Shunning my instruments- not consciously.
Getting tickets for expired registration stickers, then having the parking cop PUT THE ACTUAL TICKET ON TOP OF the temporary registration in the windshield.
Not getting tickets to the Clarity x 10 tour. Blew it.
Blogger's Block- blowing it.

Musicality

2009-02-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

Recent musical tidbits/happenings:
Seriously, Jane's Addiction is all over the goddamn place these days- more than usual. The (internet) radio, TV shows, Pitchfork (twice), even the Irvine post office. Their ubiquity is astounding. What a perfect time to have a reunion.

Recent Listenings:
Fugazi: Red Medicine- Why I don't listen to this more is ASTOUNDING. It may be their best record. When I was younger I think I wrote it off for not being either aggressive enough or song-oriented enough, but, after listening to in the car for the past week, I'm amazed at how good it (still) is. Great recording, and especially great guitar sounds (even for Fugazi). Makes me want a Rickenbacker even more.
Fugazi- Steady Diet of Nothing: Always, always good.
Sonic Youth: The Destroyed Room (rarities/b-sides)- Cool weird stuff and the 20+ minute version of The Diamond Sea is iconic.
Sonic Youth: SYR 8 ANDRE SIDER AF SONIC YOUTH- About an hour of live noise improv, featuring, among others, The Mighty Merzbow. Cool textural stuff if you can stand it (you can't).
Boris with Merzbow: Rock Dream- This is my (metal) rock dream. Beyond perfection, noise+rock+sludge+metal.

I am ridiculous:
I made a spreadsheet of the guitar pedals/effects I plan to buy. It's waaaaay too long.

Do you ever do things that make you hate yourself?

2009-02-24T18:43:00.000-08:00

Take Myspace for instance- it's THE WORST. It's like the Paso Robles of web 2.0, all tacky and trashy, full of people you don't want to see except out of morbid curiosity, made up to look modern at first glance. You don't know why you go back.

Oh, right, it's because your parents live there.

I guess that analogy kind of falls apart at the end. Sorry.

Anyway, I'm over it.

In other news: added a twitter thingy and rss subscription links (at the behest of Andy, I finally figured out how to do it) to the blog. Get ready to get sick of my constant twitterings.

I know these dudes perhaps a little too well.

2009-02-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

So read their blog: The National Hustle.
Hopefully googlers don't get it confused with the fantastic line dance "The Nashville Hustle-" which was created in the 70's after George Jones, hard up for bourbon cash, started covering Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony. The rest, as they say, is history.
As long as Matt continues to "lean" to the "left," and as long as Camo keeps his writing reminiscent of his storied Crimson Chronicle past, I will keep their blog on my link list.

Currently: Music

2009-02-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

Recent Listening List:
Morrissey: Years of Refusal- Well, truthfully, it's probably waiting on my doorstep right now, but I know it's good and that I'll be listening to it constantly for the next year- like with any Morrissey record.
John Frusciante: The Empyrean- Jesus, this is good. I could listen to the first 2 songs forever. I even listened to the first track @45 rpm and it was great (it's an instrumental, so no high pitched vocals to contend with). Said first track makes me think of if Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac recorded "Albatross" after binging on Joy Division, Fugazi and Jimi Hendrix- so it's pretty much a fantasy track for me. On the whole it's easily his best non-that-other-horrible-band-he's-in-with-Flea.
Mogwai: EP Compilation Mix CD- This one never worked correectly in my old car cd player for some reason. Sounds great now though.
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion- Pretty good record, definitely not the best I've ever heard, as the Pitchfork rubes would have you believe. It has a nice, thick, bassy production that I dig.
The Lonely Island: Incredibad- Yeah, Lazy Sunday and Dick In A Box are old and overexposed, but I fully endorse this album. I'm On A Boat is my favorite (especially the autotuned/vocoded "muthafuckaaaaa" parts).

Why The Fuck Has This Not Been ReMastered? Episode One

2009-02-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

Sunny Day Real Estate: Diary
For fuck's sake- this is one of the greatest records of the 90's, and it sounds terrible. Luckily for all of us, the excellent songcraft shines through the horrible, muddy mix. Jeremy Enigk needs to get over himself, do the respectable thing by making the record sound like it should, and even, as a side benefit, make some fucking cash (everyone knows Nate Mendel had to pay for the first Fire Theft record).
Ratings in it's present form: Songs: 9.5, Mix: 2.0.
Jeremy/Sub Pop- DO THE RIGHT THING.

Good Night & Good Luck, My Old Friend.

2009-02-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

So, it finally happened. I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends this last weekend.

Yeah, I know... traumatic/dramatic. She required a princely sum to get running again, in addition to untold future investments- so I decided the do the economically smart thing and invest it in an otherwise more reliable vehicle:

And so now I join Maine residents and various other hippies as the proud owner of a Subaru. I am very proud of my absolutely pragmatic decision making.
Dawn played DJ on the way home (ipod connectivity!), and after the obligatory round of Hot Snakes, she made the best possible choice: 99 Problems- immediately easing my separation anxiety from the Red Dragon, at least temporarily. The first record you listen to in a certain situation is very important, I think. (Also noteworthy- the first song I heard on the car's radio was Q-Tip. I didn't even know he got played on Power 106 these days. Even so, a very good omen.)
So, I say a tearful goodbye to my friend of 12 years, and bid a bittersweet welcome to a new one.

I've Got 96 Tears In 96 Eyes

2009-02-05T14:49:00.000-08:00

I new something was up with my car this morning. Come to find out, it was bummed about Lux Interior's passing. Well, that makes two of us, Jeep.
Sadly, I've got no pictures of me lurking out-of-focusly behind Lux. Oh well- check out the youtubes instead.
My favorite two Cramps songs:
I Was A Teenage Werewolf

& Human Fly

[Update: I came across what I thought is the best eulogy for Lux- written by none other than The Mighty Sw@mi himself:

"no way only 95,000 people bought Bad Music. i'm guessing it's 10 times that.
as important as the ramones or mozart. the cramps not only taught us songs
but a way of life. no one will ever be cooler than lux. he was badass lethal
and outrageously hilarious until the end
i mourn"]

I had finally come up with a plan to replace my car- however, it required my car to be driveable until at least September. Hopefully this is an easy (and cheap) repair, but that doesn't usually happen.

Hmm, Weird/Good, Weird/Bad.

2009-01-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

Item 1:
In reference to the previous post regarding my dissapointment with the demise of Indie 103.1 fm Los Angeles: the new, web-only version of the station is better in every way except two: no Steve Jones, and you can't listen to it in your car (actually, Dawn's car- my radio doesn't work anyway). Listen here if you desire.
Awesome surprises- yesterday they played Slint. Fucking Slint! Unbelieveable. And not just any Slint song- Good Morning, Captain is nearly 8 minutes long. Normal Version. Crappy Live Version.
Today- Wire's Ex-Lion Tamer, and not even on Rollins' show. Normal Awesome Version. Not Really Awesome At All Rollins Cover Version. (See how I brought those together?)
Two of my favorite bands/songs ever, but I suppose I shouldn't be that suprised- either of those tracks is probably being played hundreds of times a day somewhere on the internet.
[Subitem A: All the internets were like "lolz, indie sucked, listen to KUCI ftw, icanhascheezburger brb!!!111" KUCI is the UC Irvine college radio staion (No doy, Jack Donaghee). It is just as bad and possibly worse than I remember college radio being. The d.j.s might actually be retarded. Can you be mentally handicapped at the UC level? All they really have to do is comb Pitchfork for playlist ideas or play horrrrrrrrible "World Music." Dear internets: you were so wrong. KUCI=Epic Fail, lolz!!!!111]

Item 2:
I watched some live Nine Inch Nails movie/dvd thing on the HD music video channel the other day and it was APPALLINGLY HORRIBLE, sound-wise at least. Hardly any drums, no synths or guitars in the mix at all, only bass and lead vocals. I'm chalking it up to someone at the TV station fucking it up, because I can't believe there'd be anyway a band would release that shit on DVD- it would be humiliating.

Item 3:
Dear Coachella Festival: Fuck you. I've successfully avoided going to your festival for the last 10 years or so. But those days my be nearly over. Look at this shit! Amazing.
Bands I wanna see: Fri- A Place To Bury Strangers, Conor Oberst, Franz Ferdinand, Girl Talk (meh, maybe), Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, Paul McCartney (!), Patton/Rahzel.
Sat- Amy Winehouse (assuming she's still alive), Glasvegas, Henry Rollins, Liars, Mastodon, Tinariwen, Turbonegro, TVOTR.
Sun- Fucked Up, My Bloody Valentine, No Age, Paul Weller, The Night Marchers, X, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
(I did not plan to bold those just because they are all M's. They're just the ones I'd like to see the most (again). Weird!)
Christ though, $269 for 3 days, plus the need to find somewhere to stay. They have fucking layaway though.

Some Times It Just Takes a While To Get Things Done

2009-01-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

Like, say, 6 or 7 years.
Case in point: my turntable. Like any self-respecting young "punker," I've had a record player and the requisite Minor Threat 7"s for years. However, I never had it set up correctly- until last night. See, I never had a stereo with the proper phono input/preamp, so playing records involved plugging the beast into my crappy bookshelf stereo and turning the volume waaaaay up, and listening to records without the proper EQ curve. I could've bought a phono preamp, but who has $50, right?
Anyway, I recently aquired the proper receiver/preamp, bought a classy new needle/cartridge, bought some new speakers (hooray gift certificates!), new speaker wire, etc. etc. etc. After a liberal application of electrical contact cleaner (the balance & volume knobs were corroded, causing distortion and general not-workiness) last night, I'm in business- finally. And it really does sound great. Apparently the reciever I got from my parent's house is very well thought of in stereo cicles (it's a Luxman R-117, if you care. But I know you don't). Fantastic. I don't plan on replacing my (hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of) cds, but when new stuff, or stuff that I don't physically own is available on vinyl, that's what I'm buying.
One thing I've got to get used to: having to stand up and walk over to the record to see the track names.
One thing I don't need to get used to: vinyl really does sound better. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

Records I've been listening to on the beast:
-Hot Snakes: Suicide Invoice (with a rad extended version of Paid In Cigarettes that I'd never heard until now!)
-Mogwai: Bat Cat EP (it's a 12" 45! Those crazy Scots!)
-At The Drive-In: One Armed Scissor single (yes, there were some cool things about my old job.)
-T.Rex: Electric Warrior (I always regretted buying the album from iTunes, and now I've made it right.)
-Big Black: Songs About Fucking (of course I have to have a Steve Albini record on vinyl. It's virtually required.)

And I Forgot To Mention

2009-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Mad Men is the best television show ever conceived.
It's honestly all I think about.

Notable Stuffery

2009-01-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

This close to having my turntable set up again. It's been a long while- since I moved out of my Mom's house in college, to be exact. Got some new speakers this weekend, fanagled a vintage receiver from Hall Manor (thanks Ross), still waiting on my new cartridge from Amazon- should be here any day now. I've got a bunch of records that have never been played- time to put a stop to that.

Listening lately:
-(some CD compilations to listen to in the car)
       Mogwai EP Compiliation: EP+2, Bat Cat, My Father My King
       My Bloody Valentine: Glider + Tremolo
       The Clash: Assorted Dub (the only reggae you will ever hear me listening to)
-Sigur Rós: Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
-Hot Snakes: Automatic Midnight

Watching lately:
-Imagine: The Story of the Guitar (BBC Bootleg!)
-John Adams
-Taxi To The Dark Side (Fuuuuuck...)
-Bigger, Stronger, Faster
-Defiance

The Death of Indie 103.1FM:
Bummer. Jonesy's Jukebox was the best radio program ever conceived.

And finally- Blogism
See the sidebar at left for new friend-bloggage. Including, but not limited to: Megan J's Carnival Preparations and Morgan C's drawings of flesh-eating diseases/zombies. Enjoy!

TiVo HD is the greatest.

2009-01-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

Even for someone who's been living the TiVo lifestyle fo sooooo long. Netflix Instant Queue! Amazing. The increased hard drive space and dual recording capability are really doing a number on my free time.
Oh yeah, Time Warner Cable=dicks. It took them a whole day to get the cable card working.
So between TiVo, Netflix, and Call of Duty: World At War, I haven't a lot of time for the internets, sorry.

Ron Asheton

2009-01-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

I love The Stooges. I'm very glad I got to experience them live. Thanks Ron.

(That's me between the left elbow and headstock on either picture.)

Back To/In The Swing Of Things

2009-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

As unfortunate as it is, I think everyone gets a little sick of vacation. I've successfully avoided doing very much work (about 3 days worth) in the last 3 weeks or so, and as much as I enjoyed being on a couch by the fire in Paso or on a ski lift in Big Bear, I am more than glad to be home.
Here's what I've been doing since I got back.
-Watching Mad Men (thanks Chase) on the new TV
-Playing Call of Duty: World At War (thanks Michael) on the new TV
-Recovering my sore muscles
-Reading The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain (thanks Tim)
-Listening to these: Roxy Music: s/t, Scott Walker: Scott, Paul McCartney: McCartney, Paul McCartney: Ram, Sonic Youth: Confusion Is Sex/Kill Yr Idols, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Murder Ballads, Explosions In The Sky: All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (thanks Chase).
-Exploring the wonderful world of the Micro POG (thanks Dawn).

Probably The Final Blog Of The Year

2008-12-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

Geez, 2008 was kind of a tough one, you guys. I mean, not really for me, just in general. Actually, 2008 was pretty alright- good even. On to the bullet points!

-Obligatory Christmas info: long vacation, too much food, great (cold) weather. Ranch catastrophes are commonplace this time of year, so we all had to take care of a dying goat- just another day in Paso. All the family was around pretty much the whole time, which is rare. With multiple people, however, comes disease- and I've spent Christmas eve until now as a congested, sore-throated mess.

-Don't buy things from Best Buy. I should've known, especially cause I read Consumerist damn near everyday. Collecting X-Mas money, gift cards and etc., Dawn and I decided to buy an LCD HDTV. I didn't want to order it because I didn't want to deal with delivery hassles (not being home, etc.) and I was sketched out by Circuit City's impending bankruptcy, so I cracked and went to Fucking Best Buy (as it shall henceforth be known). The one by my work didn't have the approprate models in stock, so I drove to Costa Mesa, where they did. After long considerations about which picture was better (Samsung vs. Sony), I went with the Sony, bought it, got it home, unboxed it, and immediatly re-boxed it. Because the screen was shattered. Awesome. Took it back less than an hour after I bought it, when the Fucking Best Buy "manager" told me this doesn't happen to tvs so they couldn't help me, becuase it was something I did. Wrong, asshole. After some, shall we say, stern words, said Fucking Best Buy "manager" dissapeared and someone brought me a new TV, whose box I promptly opened in the store to verify the lack of shattering on the tv screen. Fuckers.

-I was able to summarize my musical taste with one trip to Boo Boos. I Purchased records by 2 artists: Paul McCartney (McCartney and Ram) and Sonic Youth (Confusion Is Sex, and SYR 8 live with Merzbow). One end of the rock music spectrum to the other: oldtimey-folk-classicrock-avantgarde-postpunk-noise-improvisation. Awesome.

-New Years plans: Big Bear. I've probably spent more time in Big Bear over New Years than anywhere else othe than my Mom's house. It's my brother Tim's bday on the first, so we will do much celebrating up there. Should be good times.

-Wedding update: date is set, catering booked, invitations designed, (cup)cake(s) tasted, dress (apparently- not my department) picked out. Not too bad for only one month of being engaged.

This Week's Tunes

2008-12-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

Man, weather is wierd. Less than a month ago it was around 100 degrees- and as of yesterday it was about 40 and pissing rain. On of my favorite things about where I live is standing on the beach looking at snow covered mountains.
So this got me in the winter mood- and with the holidays fast approaching, I dusted off some old friendlies to warm me up, music-wise.

-Mogwai: Mr. Beast
-Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsies
-Any Beatles record
-Mastodon: Blood Mountain & Leviathan
-Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights
-Ataxia: Automatic Writing
-John Frusciante: DC EP
-And yes, I fucking like Christmas music, so I have a playlist of that going on iTunes. Deal with it.

2 Recent Revelations

2008-12-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

I was watching Dave Chappelle's Block Party (again) the other day and I realized two things:

1. Lauren Hill is certainly the best female singer in modern music. Seriously- her voice is amazing, easily ahead of Beyonce (sorry Beyonce, no time to hunt-and-peck for your accent marks), Christina Aguilera (whose voice has like, zero personality), and Alicia Keys (she comes in second place, bolstered by her friendship with Jack White). However- I can't stand her! I don't know why. I love the Fugees, but she drives me nuts for some reason- maybe because she is rather nuts herself.

2. It's a serious bummer living in a world where Dave Chappelle is still in virtual hiding. I know he has/had a lot of shit on his mind- but come say hi once in a while Dave! Even an Oprah appearance would be welcome.

Things That Have Happened (to me) Since The Last Time I Got Gas for $1.86

2008-12-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, the threshold has been crossed. Gas at this particular gas station is actually below $1.86 at the time of this writing- it's 7-11, 17th St, Costa Mesa here. This is a memorable amount is because I was helping Dawn move into the old Costa Mesa apartment, and the day after driving a miserable, air conditioning-less, radio-less huge U-Haul truck from Paso to the Mesa in the middle of August (2003, pending verification), I couldn't help thinking how screwed I was getting by filling up the truck at the 7-11 down the street for $1.86/gal. Little did I know, right? Get ready for a big ass incomplete sentence, starting NOW!

Graduated college, Paso earthquake, layoff, move to So Cal, collect unemployment, blow savings, internship (Adam LaRue is the greatest), "Sweet" music industry job, overworked & underpaid in shitty Garden Grove (excellent freinds made, however), TiVo zombie initiation, getting a cat, early (forced) retirement from music tastemaking (Sierra and I broke Fall Out Boy. Really. Kinda. Yes, unfortunately all in a days work), Dawn graduates law school ass-kickingly, European Sojurn, The Lost Year (which I will not speak of other than saying unemployment, depression, temp jobs), going to the gym, getting my shit together, getting a "real" job, new laptop (!), de-vegitarianizing, expanding liquid horizions, joining/quitting a drummerless band, moving to Corona Del Mar, getting engaged.
So there we are, up to last week. Weirdness!

The Current "Stuff."

2008-12-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Records:
-Brian Eno: Taking Tiger Mountian (By Strategy)
-Mogwai [as usual]: The Hawk Is Howling & My Father My King
-The Beatles: The White Album
-Melvins: The Maggot [Dude, I like it! Sorry for calling you out in the past Buzz]
-The Andrew Oldham Orchestra: The Rolling Stones Songbook [The last song on here may sound very familiar to you. Research!]
-Mastodon: Blood Mountain
-Scott Walker: Scott 2
-To buy: new (International) Noise Conspiracy, new phono preamp

Other Music Stuff:
-Geeking out over Mastodon recording a new record: check this and this.
-Have a bunch of Boris records to go through that I "got" from my brother. He loves the sludge-metal, that's for sure.

Holiday Attack:
-Other than getting engaged (geez- obvs, Brian), Thanksgiving was memorable for these reasons: A)The worst heartburn of my life. B) Drinking alcohol before 9 am for several days in a row (see "A" above). C) Playing video games with parents/adult family (it was Wii, but still. My Mom thinks creating "Mii"s is the most hillarious thing ever).
-I started Christmas shopping earlier than ever this year. Congrats to myself for good planning/budgeting.
-XMas tree this weekend?

Wedding Attack:
-1 week into planning and shit's going pretty well. After some haggling over the date (and many, many congrats to Megan and Morgan), things are going nicely. Only 10 months to go!
-The first thing I did when I got home and plugged my music hard drive in was start playlisting. I AM UNSTOPPABLE, and possibly the best DJ ever.

Hello Adulthood, nice to finally meet you.

2008-12-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, Dawn and I are now engaged.

That is all for now.

The Great Dr. Pepper Debacle of 2008

2008-11-24T12:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, its an overstatement, but I really wanted a free Dr. Pepper. Since the World's Greatest Comedy Record came out the other day, I was looking forward to signing up for my free Dr. Pepper- which leads me to my point:
IT people responsible for estimating server traffic the world over should be fired, because they are always wrong.
Now, I know that the Dr. Pepper example could be just Dr. Pepper trying to avoid sending very many people a free DP coupon. This, being the most likely case, should result in Dr. Pepper being fired.
However, think of other examples. The 2 recent ones that come to mind are the Firefox 3 launch and the iPhone Firmware v2.0 launch. According to my simplistic understanding of economics (read: 4+ years studying it in school), it would appear that turning people away from your website/store would not be beneficial to the "bottom line." Is it that hard to overestimate? You have months! At least 6 months, in Apple's case (AND THEY MAKE SERVERS) to get some extra lines flowing.
The only solution is thus: fire everyone everywhere involved in estimating server traffic on launch day.

You're welcome, bottom lines everywhere.

Things I'm Into: RIGHT NOW Edition

2008-11-18T15:32:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the net-yelling. I wanted capitalizations, so deal with it.

Music: Blasts from the past:
The Get Up Kids (freshly reunited!)
The Descendents (RIP Frank Navetta)

Long forgotten webzines:
Suck dot com: I didnt make that a link because the site hasn't been around for years, and I didn't want to inadvertently trick anyone into clicking a porn link. I'm not sure that it is a porn link, but I'm at work and don't want to find out [edit: the site is still there! Thanks wikipedia!]. Anyways, Suck was a back-in-the-day internet site that I thought was funny in my 14.4 dialup netscape days. I was just telling Dawn how my mom was dissatisfied with me because I had a graphic from the site as my desktop on my OG computer. Anywho, it was a picture of 2 socks with a sign that said "Live Fast, Die Young." Needless to say, I don't think she (my mom) got it. "They're socks, mom!" I said. There was also a little blurb on the AV Club on how a bunch of their articles were made into a book. [Note: an (probably not) exhaustive google image search failed to retrieve said socks.]

Hating on the Weather:
Really? 94 degrees in the middle of November? Southern California, you're a dick. Just a I had decided to embrace the whole "Christmas decorations start even more incredibly earlier" thing, it becomes July again. [Note: This was originally gonna be a "Music for Winter" post, but I need a few days of sub-70 degree weather to get back in the mood.]

Literatuuuuure:
Doris Kearns Goodwin: Team Of Rivals
The latest in my "bought-as-a-gift-for-my-stepdad-and-then-stolen-back" series. You: "Ooooh, such a topical reading choice!"

The Blog That Was The Day That Was 11/4/08

2008-11-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

By now everyone knows that Nov. 4th was kind of a big deal- but I always knew that. Here's my day- keeping it real on a sweet b-day.

Awaken! Way too early!

The most crucial ingredient to any successful day- Italian Roast.

Coffee and (homemade, of course) cornbread. Desayuno de loscampeones.

First jam of the day, as told by a horribly out-of-focus phone pic.

Kristin: Ahead of the game. Thanks.

Exercise is horrible.

Get fancy for the DMV (it did no good).

Directly after I took this picture, some DMV guy walked by and said "About 1 hour from right here," and pointed at me.

Ugh. My paperwork is piling up.

Fruits of labor.

Even bros vote around here.

The scene.

Civic duty: done.

Reward time: beastly present opening.

In the box- fuzzy destruction. My lady is the raddest.

[Note: There should be a picture here of Dawn and I dining at my favorite vegan restaurant , but I forgot to take one. We were getting the full hippie on.]

New shoes and the finest in punditry- Stewart/Colbert.

The rest of the audience: Dawn, Oliver, and Danielle.

Finally on the winning team.

We weren't sure, so we had to check with these evil bastards (that's Karl Rove's fat ass attempting to hold back tears).

Celebrating patriotism like a Frenchman.

A fantastic end to a mostly fantastic day. Cheesecake!

Aaaaaaand that's pretty much it. Sorry for the terrible formatting (thanks Blogger!) and the terrible pictures (thanks Lack of Skill!).

Current Bullshit

2008-11-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here's some current materialism for you. I used to put this stuff on my myspace, but, as we all know, myspace sucks balls.

Music:
Brian Eno: Another Green World
Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation of Millions...
Smashing Pumpkins: Machina II
Hot Snakes: Automatic Midnight
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Tender Prey
Kanye West: The College Dropout & Late Registration

Literatuuuuuure:
Michael Pollan: The Omnivore's Dillemma
Guitar Player Magazine
Vintage Guitar Magazine

Movies:
Role Models

Guitar Shit:
Devi Ever Shoegazer
Line 6 DL4

iPhone:
Bloom
Cosmovox
Wikipanion

Computers:
New harddrives
Maxing out memory

Recent Concerts:
Mogwai @ The Wiltern (A)
Raconteurs @ The Greek (B)
My Bloody Valentine @ Santa Monica Civic (A-)

The Best Junk Mail Ever?

2008-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Junk Mail: my truest, in every since of the phrase, Love/Hate Relationship. Sure, it's one of the hugest ass-pains in modern society, but without it, where would we get gems like this one (allegedly from "GOPUSA Friends"):
Subject: "Chuck Norris To America: Wake Up!"
Of course, I didn't open the message, but did I really need to? Nah. It says EVERYTHING in that subject line. I love that I'm even on the (obviously purchased) mailing list for these supposed "GOPUSA Friends." It takes away the need to gloat.

Dear America: WOW.

2008-11-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

Dear California: WHAT THE FUCK?!

I did some of my own polling.

2008-11-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

-Chance of celebration tomorrow: 96.3%
-Chance of cheesecake tomorrow: 100%
-Chance of UPS losing my birthday present (from Dawn), finding it, and subsequently delivering it last Saturday night between 6 & 10 pm: 100%
-Chance of my day being ruined by the DMV tomorrow: 30%
-Chance of my Halloween playlist having been awesome: 100%
-Chance of Proposition 8 supporters being horrible people: 100% (This one has been independently verified. BY REASON.)
-Chance of my brother and his friends being badass and stealing "about 30" Yes on 8 signs as well as "some" Yes on 4 signs: 100%
-Chance of me being sketched out that my polling place is a residence: 75%
-Chance of rain tomorrow: 20%
-Chance of me going to the record store tomorrow: 50%
-Chance of me buying a new guitar pedal in the next month: 95%
-Chance of my Dad or Grandpa waking me up with a phone call tomorrow morning: 85%
-Chance of above, plus my Mom or Sister: 100%
-Chance of me taking my birthday off work for the first time ever (except when I called in sick to work at CCS): 100%
-Chance of me watching a music DVD tomorrow (most likely a Beatles Anthology episode, or Refused Are Fucking Dead): 70%

Norton 360 Is A Horrible Peice Of Shit

2008-10-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

It wont let me post in response to topics on here (but I guess that's what I get for blogging from work). So this is in reference to the post below:

@Andy: I read that too, but I also read today that they we setting up a meeting, so I guess we'll see what happens. And thanks for the vote of confidence, but I doubt increase readership would have any effect on my laziness.
@Time Magazine (who I didn't attribute that quote to): Sorry, but shouldn't it be "disproven?"

I'm not a "spiritual" dude, but I've always liked this guy.

2008-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

"Though he is a spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama also holds a doctorate in philosophy. He rejects anything that has been disproved by scientific inquiry and dismisses Buddhist teachings not verified by science."

Get Linked.

2008-10-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

-Certainly sleazy- there's no debating that. But he is doing a lot of good, and making good clothes. Click!
-Rats are ultra awesome. So is shredding! Click!
-The worlds longset insect- enough said. Click!

And, In Other News...

2008-10-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

-Dare I say, things are looking up for my birthday. It's weird having hope for the country. My inner ultra-negative cynic isn't totally going away though.

-On a related note, if this whole election clusterfuck turns out favorably, I'd really like to visit Washington DC. I've always wanted to go (to the Smithsonian, especially), but banished the idea from my mind about, oh, eight years ago.

-This is a pretty funny article- not only because the idea of the Chinese Democracy record is hilarious, but they put up a picture of Radiohead instead of that cornrowed, football jersey-wearing fatty. I think Axl thinks they are the same band anyway, so that may just be the picture the record company sent. It'll probably be taken down soon, and I dont know how to take a screenshot in (bleeeecccch) Windows. Check it quick!

-That is all.

Ways to Describe The Aural Experience of Seeing My Bloody Valentine Live

2008-10-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

-Having your brain fucked by a jet engine
-Standing under the space shuttle for 15 minutes during takeoff
-Riding a missle, Dr. Strangelove style, home from a rave
-Being drug about via 747/chest harness
-Being trapped in a reverse sensory-deprivation chamber
-Only bad things happen at volumes this loud. Like the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium collapsing.
-Eardrum holocaust
-Near-panic loud

Check out this article for a good representation. It really was a strange, unbelieveable experience. And I don't say that hippy shit often.

Looking Forward the Recession (Depression?)

2008-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Firstly, because no one in my immediate circle is looking like they will be directly affected at the moment. And Dawn and I have a pretty good amount of job security at the moment. But I do feel for the people that screwed by bad mortgages and shady investment bankers (isn't that all of them?).
OK, now that the pleasantries are out of the way, lets get selfish:
-Less cars on the road: less traffic, less gas burned, less demand for cars and gas.
-Car makers building higher value cars, with better fuel efficiency. It's kinda nerdy, but I have a desire deep down inside to drive an all-electric Mini Cooper.
-The absolutely retarded world of the musical instrument industry will (hopefully) come to its senses. Used/vintage stuff is obscenely overpriced. Gibson is raising prices by double digit percentages while skimping on quality. As soon as people stop buying overpriced shit like brand new $5000 guitars "relic-ed" to look old, normal dudes like me that just like to make music just might become able to get some good sounding stuff at reasonable prices.
-Housing prices are plummeting. Needless to say, I would love to own a house one day. Loans will be harder to get, but that's why we pay attention to building good credit, right? Right?
-The music industry as we know it could finally be put out of its misery. Right now it's bloodied and beaten, laying on the floor of some backwater Texan chapel (only way less awesome and ass-kicking, like The Bride), waiting for Bill to come finish it/her off. [Admittedly, I was thinking that was a good analogy at the beginning, but now I realize it kinda sucks. Sorry.] I like the idea that becoming a musician isn't an automatic meal ticket for fameseekers.
-Public Works. Remember that brilliant package of borderline-socialist economic stimulus plans? No, the one that started in 1933. FDR? Keynes? Ring a bell? Yeah, The New Deal, dig it. Farm programs, WPA... Good shit could really be done, all while stimulating employment and spending. Dear Mr. Next President Who I Hope Isn't That Fascist Moron John McCain: Hook it up. Build us some roads and schools and stuff. Oh, and while your at it, subsidise the arts and artists.

Also check out this article.

Yeah, I'm a Scenester, Fuck Off.

2008-09-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

And I'm reeeeeealllly excited about seeing My Bloody Valentine next week:
20 minute long free-noise closer?
Body massaging stage volume?
"Only 30" of Kevin Shields' "hundreds" of guitar pedals?
$460,000 spent on sound equipment?
In Santa Monica?
For a best-case-scenario quality reunion performance?

Fuck, yes please.

Cool Shit Vs. Bummer Shit

2008-09-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Cool Shit:
Mind-fucking Mogwai gig the other night
Raconteurs on Monday @ The Greek
Magazine subscriptions
Matador Records being the only good record label. (And Dischord too, duh.)
The Traveling Wilburys
Impending fall (seasonally)
Samuel Smith's
Shred Sticks
Getting my favorite jeans back from being mended
Gabe from Videogum (Example: "I believe that my limited experience as Governor of Zings more than qualifies me to be the Vice President of Zings.")
Finally (almost) completing my pedalboard
The Ben Kingsley/Minor Threat video (look it up, I haven't the energy)
This Picture:

And this picture (Thurston gets around):

Bummer Shit
Ultimate Fighting's popularity (and the dumb-ass Affliction shirts that go along with it)
Bands that dress like 1800's train conductors (I'm looking at you Dr. Dog & Fleet Foxes)
Not getting off my ass and onto one of the old shredsticks
Needing a new ride
WaMu going to shit
Trying to install Norton at work
Dawn being in Tahoe (on business! wtf?) without me
The new adidas store not being open yet
Not having a good phono preamp (Shit! The Batcat 12" is on the way! Roky Erickson is in those little grooves!)

Things That Will Fuck Up, Could Fuck Up and Are Fucking Up Other Things, Not Limited To Myself or Society In General.

2008-09-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Item 1: Republicans
Please Democratic Party, resist the urge to fuck this one up. You have it so easy. I wouldn't put it past you though, and I'm gonna be stressed out at least until November.
[On a related note- guess what I want for my birthday? Hint: it's on November 4th- which could potentially make it my best or worst birthday ever. And that's coming from someone who was born the day Regan was elected.]
Item 2: Style (debatable) Over Substance
The dude from Thursday wrote an interesting article about political activism in music. It's on the Headbanger's Ball website (haaaaaaaaaa!), and it's not the best written article on the subect I've ever read, but it's still pretty good. I often (read: constantly) wonder the same thing. I have also resigned myself to the fact that if the Bush Administration can't bring FUGAZI back together for a protest show or two (or hundred), nothing will.
Item 3: Mogwai Vs. My Ears
I'm worried, because I lost my earplugs. I accidentally threw them out when we moved- they were in an Altoids box (to keep them minty fresh, naturally), that I thought was empty (they're very light, naturally). We're (Dawn, Chase, & myself) going to see our favorite Scottish Post-Rock Mostly-Instrumental Genius Titans tonight and I fear my ears are doomed. Work tomorrow may just be a days of ringing ears and "What?" Sacrifices, kids, sacrifices.

Bands I Wish I Liked

2008-08-28T23:23:00.000-07:00

-Crass: So punk, but so bad. I love everything about them except their music.
-Fucked Up: Mostly because the singer's bald and fat.
-Pavement: No cred for me, I guess.
-Melvins: I just can't back Buzz's voice.
-Jawbreaker: You don't remember them because you're not OG emo like me and my peer group.
-Pink Floyd: I like the whole idea of Syd Barrett and playing at a volcano, but then my good taste in music kicks in.

Thats all for now.

Random Shit

2008-08-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

The new pad is infested... with helicopters.
Seriously. All the time (like, once a night, at least). The bastards are so loud one can't hear the television if the windows are open. What business does the ghetto bird have in Corona Del Mar? I want to know.

Speaking of infestations- bugs seem to be especially attracted to me lately, and it's gross. Spiders, beetles, the horde of wasps that has kicked me out of my preferred lunch area... Ridiculous. Mosquitoes have always been overly attracted to me, which is unfortunate due to my high level of reaction to them. The little fuckers nearly caused a nervous breakdown in France a few years ago, and are responsible for my hatered of the town of Nice (and, interestingly enough, my love of socialized French pharmacies).

Things I Like to Make Fun Of:

2008-07-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

Because I'm an asshole, and am really quite funny.

-Overly concerned parents ("My Babies!")
-PT Cruisers
-Religion
-People talking on their Bluetooths
-Radiohead
-MySpace profiles
-Your favorite bands
-Jock culture: bros, brew-has, hoverload, brew-hos, lifted trucks, dirtbikes, wakeboarding, slutty girls with blonde/stripey hair, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Pennywise (ha, "Bro-Hymn," this shit writes itself), Social Distortion
-Heartwarming stories
-Tattoos
-Sex In The City
-BMW's
-Hats
-Bad taste in guitars
-Scene kids
-The Valuation of Adulthood

I think I'll stop there. This could've gone on forever.

Dear Matt Taibbi

2008-07-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Your articles show a wit, insight, intelligence, and analytical prowess that are incredibly uncharacteristic within the brutal journalistic abortion that is Rolling Stone Magazine.
You deserve better.
Thanks,

Brian

[See what I mean?]

Locale

2008-07-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Here's some lists I made based on where I grew up and where I live now.

5 Best things about growing up in Paso:
1. The splendid isolation of Hall Manor
2. Living far out of town forced me to nerd out (books, computers, guitars), and initiated a renaissance when I got the drivers licsense.
3. Oldest friends
4. Highschool shenanigans and/or hijinks.
5. Punk rock and skateboarding

Best things about living in Orange County:
1. Best beaches in America
2. Weather
3. Entertainment (including proximity to LA/SD)
4. Cleanliness
5. Employment

Best things about Corona Del Mar specifically:
1. Awesome shit in walking distance
2. Hearing the waves, sea lions and foghorns in the morning
3. The smoothest paved streets I've yet to experience=skateboard pleasure
4. Trees, grass
5. Thai Del Mar

Worst things about Paso:
1. People: white trash, lake rats, motocross bros, general brew-ha action, druggie ass meth burnouts, people from highschool I don't want to see at the movie theater over the holidays
2. Christian Conservative assholes
3. Heat. And Cold.
4. The wine "industry"
5. Isolation

Worst things about Orange County
1. Christian Conservative assholes
2. People: white trash, lake rats, motocross bros, general brew-ha action, scene kids
3. Wealth and sense of entitlement
4. Weather
5. Music scene

Best restaurants in SLO County
1. Cafe Roma
2. Thai Classic
3. The new Italian place across from Boo Boo's
4. Tio Albertos
5. Big Sky Cafe

Best restaurants in my immediate area:
1. Thai Del Mar
2. Giorgio La Trattoria
3. El Matador (tied with) Great Mex
4. Native Foods
5. Bandera has fabulous pork loin

Worst towns in Orange County:
1. Laguna Hills/Aliso Viejo/Mission Viejo/Lake Forest faceless, culture-free staletropolis
2. Huntington Beach broverload/hoverload
3. Garden Grove, shit covered in shit, baked on asphalt
4. Fountain Valley, like above, but literally smelling of shit.
5. Fullerton should probably be reclassified as part of Riverside, but must remain free of too much scorn because Fender (and G&L) originated there.

Recent Happenings

2008-07-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Not too much, really.

-My Wolverine-like healing factor. After finishing some (eventually fantastic) Steak Au Poive in the oven, I grabbed the handle of my trusty All-Clad 10" fry pan, only to absolutely sizzle the palm of my left hand with the most painful burn I've ever experienced.After several hours of palming a cold beer bottle (the shape contours nicely to the palm, of course), and some neosporin the pain subsided, and the blisters were gone in less than two days. Under a week later, there is almost no evidence of the event. Such an injury would have healed on our old X-Man freind in mere moments, but I like to think I'm somewhere in between Wolvie and an average dude.

-iPhone firmware v2.0. As if enough hasn't already been written on the internet about this... I'll keep it short. The iTunes servers crashing at about 8 am friday moring left me phoneless until about 1 pm. But jesus, it was definately worth it. The apps already available are great, and they're only going to get great-er. If someone doesn't write a Pro-Tools/Logic wireless controller app and a Kaoss Pad/theremin emulator, I'm gonna have to learn to code it myself.

-The Dark Night. I've successfully avoided seeing all previews for the movie, except the one I couldn't avoid before (I think) Indian Jones ATKOTCS. I think I may be on to something here.

-Paul's Boutique. My current musical obsession- especially Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun. One hell of a jam, and pretty fuckin' gangster too. A whole album of miniature masterpeices.

-EBow. Finally got one, and it's super sweet. It seems to overdrive my pickups more than I remember the ones I've played in the past have. Maybe that's just because I'm doing it right now. The one problem is that it can't do chords, but that's what cello/violin bows are for.

-Freedom Guitar San Diego. What guitar shops are closed on Saturdays? Re-fuckin-diculous. Our Fender Showman finding mission was cut tragically short. At least we got to go to the zoo... Oh, wait.

-San Diego Zoo. Yes, I've confirmed my hunch that zoos are a major bum-out. Most of the animals looked really depressed- especially the lions, bears (Sun and Grizzly) and the elephants, which I found quite disheartening since San Diego is considerered to be quite an advanced establishment. I'd hate to see the zoos that aren't so generally well thought of. The gorillas seemed pretty impervious to the sweaty masses behind the glass, which was very cool. There was also a particularly active (and impressive) mountain lion- it chased after one small kid that ran by and totally stared down some other kid that was making growling noises at it. Had the majestic beast not been in a cage, the first kid would have been quite an afternoon snack. Awesome. They should let one zoo patron be devoured by a wild animal every year or so to keep everyone's respect level up. I think the San Francisco Zoo has already implemented this program.

-Fireworks from the porch. One of the many benefits of the new pad.

-Oh, and I almost forgot: The God Delusion. Can't put it down. My only critisicm is that I'm afraid I'll like it so much I'll finish it very quickly. Read it. Now.

It takes a special kind of asshole...

2008-06-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

To wear one of those motorcycle helmet-mohawk things.
As if dicks speeding around on streetbikes weren't retarded enough anyway (prove me wrong- please), now they're trying to convince us that they're "edgy."
[edit: I proved myself wrong. Sorry Josh.]

traffic blog

2008-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

- 11 pm Sunday night
- 1+ hour
- >1mile
- 85 degrees
- Carson, CA

My Guitar Genome

2008-05-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

If you know me at all, you probably realize I spend between 50 and 99% of my time thinking about guitars. Sometimes I play them (but probably not enough). So I decided (cause I'm boring) to figure out why I play guitar the way (read: as badly as) I do, and here's what I came up with- in semi chronological order of influence, of course.

-Jimmy Page: because I am, and have been obsessed with Led Zeppelin since I was about 11 or twelve. I think I got most of my "sloppiness is cool" ethos from that occult-lovin' sonofabitch, and it's come in handy a time or two. Also helped me realize, at a early age luckily, what guitars (and records in general) should sound like, and how to make them sound like that. My desire for a Les Paul and an Orage is still based around watching The Song Remains The Same during my formative years.

-George Harrison, Lennon & McCartney: Songs, songs, songs. Open chords, composition, creativity, barre chords (after I got over my fear of them). More than I can understand.

-John Frusciante: Though I find most of it unlistenable now, in 7th and 8th grade I listened to Blood Sugar Sex Magik night and day. Admittedly, it's a pretty sleazy record for a young kid to listen to, which I thankfully realized early enough to keep it on the down low in regards to parental ears. But Frusciante has always been unbelievably talented. He tends to be kind of sloppy too, flowing in front of and behind the beat, which I latched on to. And his, dare I say, "funkiness" subconsciously interested me too. Also, his clean guitar tone is unfathomably perfect, as far as I'm concerned. Also probably the first time I laid eyes on a Fender Jaguar, too. Much later, after he rejoined RHCP and putting out tons of awesome solo records, he got even more influential to me. His acoustic playing and use of vocal harmonies are also very big chapters in my book.

-Kurt Cobain: You knew it was coming. Not only did Nirvana teach me (and everyone else, according to the lionizing press) that I could be in a band, but they instilled in my psyche- I think most importantly- that your guitar playing is only as good as your songwriting and vice versa. Oh, and POWERCHORDS. Growing up in a shitty, white trash, small-ass town severely limited my ability to get turned on to stuff like real punk records- but without Nirvana I wouldn't have know about them anyway. Thanks to following Nirvana's exploits I learned about a lot of my favorite bands: The Wipers, The Vaselines, Black Flag, Black Sabbath and Steve Albini. And guitars too: Jaguars, Mustangs (and Jag-Stangs), Mosrites/Univoxes, and Pat Smear's awesome Hagstroms.

[Here's the abridged version of the rest.]

-Lyle Preslar/Minor Threat: Hardcore.

-Sonic Youth: The greatness of noise.

-Operation Ivy: Shitty tone is cool.

-Black Flag: Hardcore jazz noise.

-The Beastie Boys: Jamming is the world's worst term, but the most fun activity.

-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: The importance of studying the classics.

- Descendents: The greatness of real pop punk.

-Weezer: Is heavy. And Pinkerton is awesome.

-Refused: Add up all of the above and throw in more awesome, and some communism too.

-Foo Fighters

-Jimmy Eat World

-At The Drive In

-Drive Like Jehu

-Smashing Pumpkins

-The Hives

-Sunny Day Real Estate

-Nine Inch Nails

-Converge

-The Get Up Kids

-Queens of the Stone Age

-The Stooges

-Joy Division

-The Darkness

-Frank Zappa

-Slint

-Mogwai

-Shellac

Ben Gibbard is the Mazda Miata of songwriting.

2008-05-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

People who are into him think he's totally capable of taking on other sports cars- but he's really just underpowered and hopelessly cheesy. I'd just call him a pussy, but I'm no misogynist.
Not that I hate Death Cab- Transatlantacism is a super good record. The band itself is capable, and Chris Walla is mighty talented as a guitarist/instrumentalist/producer. But fuck- a song about glove compartments? Yes, I know it's a "metaphor," but it's still insulting to my intelligence.
Oh wait, it heart-on-the-sleeve songwriting.

I call bullshit.
"I will possess your heart?" Seriously? Come on dudes.

Moral of the story- I would punch the Gibster in the balls if he had any (but again, not a misogynist).

"Good artists copy, great artists steal."

2008-05-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I forget who said that. [Google update: it was Picasso. Sweet.]
Anyways, today, I'm attempting to steal the idea of "95% Albums" from Andy. And to make it my own, I'm titling it "95% Records." See what I did there? Creative, huh? Yeah, I know.
Just what the internets need- another douchebag pontificating on on music. Oh well. What else do I have to say? Unless you want me to ramble about the benefits of true-bypass vs. non true-bypass and buffered effects loops, or why 1970's Hagstroms are cooler than PRSes, this is what you get.

Coming soon:
Led Zeppelin III & IV (and I & II, and Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffitti, and Prescence, and In Through the Out... Fuck. Nevermind. Led Zep (and The Beatles)=disqualified for being too good).
Refused: The Shape of Punk To Come...
White Stripes: White Blood Cells
Raconteurs: Broken Boy Soldiers
Weezer: Pinkerton
Wipers: Is This Real?
The Damned: Damned Damned Damned
Fugazi: In On The Kill Taker
Hot Snakes: Automatic Midnight
Nirvana: In Utero
Minor Threat: Complete Discography
Bad Brains: ROIR s/t
Descendents: Milo Goes To College
Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
Foo Fighters: The Colour and the Shape
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Murder Ballads and Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!
UNKLE: War Stories
Beastie Boys: Check Your Head

Yeah, most of those are pretty obvious, but, you know... my apologies for having good taste. As I used to say: "I get paid for my good taste in music." (Actually, I don't anymore, but I did at the time.)

On-going Goings-on.

2008-04-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

Past week-or-so recap:

-There was a straight-edge documentary (narrated by Thurston Moore, which is funny for many reasons) on the National Geographic Channel. Pretty bad, by National Geographic standards, but pretty standard by straight-edge standards.

-Crazy backstage parties with the Lakes- you missed it, you're bummed.

-Chase and John came down- Chase ate my bagels, John regaled us with tales of expatriate life in Switzerland, and Dawn joined the three of us to experience the best and worst things about heavy metal. The Sword absolutely slayed, this band (I refuse to type their name) was the absolute definition of "unwitting joke," and I was blown away by Children, whom I had never heard before.

-Moving is progressing. Not as quickly as I'd like, but progressing nonetheless. Wanna see the new pad? If you want to send me any boxes, do so quickly.

-The Night Marchers and Flight Of The Conchords have new records out. Go buy them.

And last, but certainly not least, check this sweet myspace survey! [Sorry. I'm bored, and haven't even looked at one of these things for a looooong time. Props to Josh for originally posting it, and not hitting me in the balls anymore.]

Who was the last person of the opposite sex you had a texting conversation with?
Me telling Dawn I finally hired the movers.

Where is the last place you went out to eat?
Chipotle with Chase and John (see above).

What was the last beverage you consumed?
Italian Dark Roast with a splash of nonfat Coffeemate (I know, I know. But the nonfat kind actually tastes better than the regular kind and/or nonfat milk.

Thoughts at this moment?
Formatting on Blogger sucks.

Do you bite your lips a lot?
I actually just did while typing the above response.

Medicine, fine arts, or law?
Art. Is there anything else?

Best kind of pizza?
Ham and pineapple is serious business.

Favorite drink?
A well made cappuccino in the morning.

Do you miss anyone?
Various dudes, I suppose.

What were you doing at 11:59 PM on Saturday night?
Seeing Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Who do you hate?
Most of the American public, neocons, outspoken religious people, the "President," people with bad taste in music... I could go on forever.

Who was the last person you had in your room?
I guess Dawn, but it's her room too.

Is your room clean?
Except for the large pile of laundry on my chair.

Can you speak another language?!
I create my own vernacular. Get hip.

What are you going to do tomorrow?
Work, food, pack boxes, watch Survivor, The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock & Grey's Anatomy, play some gee-tar.

What is in store for your future?
Moving, in the immediate future.

Who was the last band you saw live?
The Sword (see above).

Do you take care of your friends when they are sick?
Sorry brah. Pass.

Do you like to read?
Constantly.

When was the last time you purchased something over $500?
Quite a while ago, I suppose, when a got a new amplifier.

Who is your favorite person to have a serious conversation with?
Serious conversations almost always consist of 90% bullshit.

What does your last incoming text message say?
"Nice!! Thank you for taking care of that."

Nickname?
When we lived in San Luis, Justin and I decided we needed sweet nicknames. He got Platinum Cobra, and I got Disaster.

Where do you want to go?
Australia, the South Pacific, Costa Rica, Mexico, London, Paris/Normandy, Florence/Rome, Japan, The Czech Republic, the former Yugolslavian nations, Boston, New York, Seattle, South Africa, India, Thailand, Scotland

What are you wearing?
T-shirt, jeans, adidas (alone in the office today).

What brand of digital camera do you own?
iPhone

When is your birthday?
11/4/79

Where was the last place you slept other than your own bed?
My bed at my mom's house.

How do u feel right now?
Slightly hungry.

How many kids do you want to have?
0.0

Do you like coffee?
I fiend for good coffee.

Who was the last person to call you?
Dawn, last night.

What are you craving?
The new Orange OR-50 reissue, a Valvetech Hayseed 30, a Jazzmaster, a silverburst Les Paul Custom.

Whats the closest red thing to you?
2007 Form 1099-Misc.

What are you listening to right now?
Indie 103.1 fm

What is the last pill you swallowed?
Some intestinal flora-balancing herbal shit my mom gave me.

Do you smoke?
Smoking is for hipsters and white trash. Interesting paradox.

Is there anyone you would like to fight?
If necessary, I'll pull a blade.

Do you like somone right now?
Dumb question. Next.

Do you know what tofu is?
I've become familiar with it over the years, yes.

Have you ever eaten it?
A time or two. Or million.

Do you want to go back to middle school?
Pass.

Have you ever watched the Britney Spears movie Crossroads?
Epic Fail, as internet nerds would say.

What did you do yesterday?
Worked, made a fantastic Mango Guacamole, made my ears ring, packed DVDs and books in boxes, watched Top Chef.

Who did you ride in a car with last?
Dawn, Chase & John.

Are you tired?
Meh.

Who were you with last night?
Dawn

Last movie you watched?
Sarah Marshall

Ever had a crush on a teacher?
Absolutely fucking disgusting. Never, ever ever.

Do you wish at 11:11?
Superstitions are for the weak-minded.

Contacts or glasses?
20/20+

Do you play any instruments?
Any and all, with the exception of banjo and brass instruments, which I refuse to go near.

To cool for school?
Obviously.

any piercings? where?
Pass.

Last person you hugged?
Dawn Bon Jovi

In the past 24 hours what did you do?
Fuck, I thought I already answered that.

Who/What made you angry today?
Nothing yet, bsides thinking about the state of affairs in the current world.

Do you download music?
In addition to the 60 or so records I buy a year? Yeah, whatevs.

Have you ever bungee jumped?
Nay.

How many pets do you have?
1 cat/racoon/lemur/panda hybrid.

Ever had an antfarm?
I don't think I ever got around to adding the ants.

Has anyone you were close to passed away recently?
Thankfully no.

Where is the weirdest place you have slept?
Various blow up mattresses. I travel prepared.

What's the closest orange object to you?
The "Publish Post" button on Blogger.

What is your natural hair color?
Mostly darkish brown, for the time being.

Where was your default picture taken?
CA, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana Ave., my living room, the couch.

Super Lame, dude.

2008-04-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

-I hate Superman. This pretty much sums up why.

-Lots of new records lately, mostly new releases. 2008 is shaping up pretty well. Here is the shit I've spent too much money on lately:
-The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely. It's definitely different than the Abbey Road + Led Zeppelin III glory of their first record, but, then again, the Beatles and Zeppelin aren't my only favorite bands (just the top 2), and The Raconteurs are certainly my favorite rock and roll band currently in business (I think, but odds are good I'll edit that later). Not better or worse (weeeeeell, maybe slightly not-as-awesome) as Broken Boy Soldiers.
-The Sword: Gods of the Earth. Certainly not as good as their first record. A good listen though. Dudes have been listening to Blood Mountain (awesome, btw) a lot and it shows. Could be worse though. They could've had Dragonforce in their cd players while writing the record. Thank god(s) they didn't.
-Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! FUCK YOU, amazon.com, FUCK YOU. This is why I never preorder shit. The record I was most excited for this year, and it's at least 3 days late getting to me. It's one of the best Nick Cave records though, which, admittedly, is like saying one lung is better than the other. (Note: the only dvd I've ever preordered, There Will Be Blood, arrived before it's street date, but it's not like I can listen to that to and from work. Well, maybe it is...)
-Jonny Greenwood: There Will Be Blood ST. My obsession with the movie trumps my hatred for the "World's Most Revolutionary Band!" (or whatever Pitchfork and the general public [that is, the ones that "totally know good music"] is heralding them as these days). Plus, I harbor a secret desire to score films.
-Wire: Chairs Missing. You may have heard, I love Wire. Their remasters are the best in the business.
-The Vaselines: The Way of The Vaselines. Along with The Wipers records, something I've been meaning to pick up since, I don't know... 9th grade? Rationale: Kurt Cobain championed them.
Recounting a conversation between my 2 (also Nirvana-obsessed) best friends at the time:
Josh: "Hey Jeremy, I've got The Vaselines at my house!"
-The Evens: Get Evens. Rationale: I'm an Ian McKaye acolyte. Dare I say, though, I don't like it. I liked the first one, but this one seems like bad, political, pretentious hippie music, which is understandable.

[I spent all this time formatting this post, and blogger killed all my work. Fucked.]

Basic Boring Update

2008-03-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

-Moving May 1st: Moving in is fun, moving out sucks. Come visit me- four blocks from the beach! Gas stove, but no a/c (bummer).
-Ate waaaay too much last weekend, and played waaaay too much Smash Bros. (thanks Chase).
-Tax Time
-St. Patrick's day is horrrrrible. "Celtic punk" bands are horrrrrible.
-Toooooooo maaaaaaaany repeateeeeeeeed letteeeeeeeeersssssssss.
-Music stuff:
New Raconteurs today. GO BUY IT.
New Nick Cave in a week or two.
90's cover band (possibly) on the horizon.
Song Ideas (on the basis of possible audience appreciation):
Foo Fighters: Monkeywrench
Toadies: Possum Kingdom
Breeders: Cannonball
Radiohead: Creep
some Beck song that's not too hard to recreate live
Blind Melon: No Rain
Cranberries: Zombie
Semisonic: Closing Time
Fastball: The Way
some Smashing Pumpkins song
Everclear: Santa Monica
Folk Implosion: Natural One
Mazzy Star: Fade Into You
My Bloody Valentine (i wish)
Oasis
Pixies

Going Back On My Word, Or, Overgeneralizing About Music and The Great Meat Experiment

2008-02-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know that's a sweet title for a post.
First things first:

1.Overgeneralizing About Music
I've said for years that I hate Ween. This is generally true, though it dawned on me today that there is one exception.
Buenas Tardes Amigo
I like to think of it as a collaboration between Inigo Montoya (you killed his father, prepare to die), Ennio Morricone (thanks, Captain Obvious), and Walter/Wendy Carlos (there is a definite Kubrick thing going on in the background tracks), but it's really just Ween. Trust me, it's a sweet tune with a ton of interesting layers. I believe I first heard this song years ago on a snowboard movie soundtrack (Peter Line's part), and I have, in fact, always liked it. Plus the Ween dudes get points for being on a Desert Sessions.
But they are still pretty fucking annoying otherwise.
And, like divine clockwork, a newer Radiohead song ("Bodysnatchers," according to iTunes) comes on the radio. And yes, I'm actually into it. Well, the bassline mostly. Thom Yorke fucking ruins the rest of the song, as usual.

And in case you were wondering (you shouldn't have been), here's some electro-ish jams I've been into these days:
-LCD Soundsytem: Someone Great [It sounds like an old song, but I haven't figured out which one yet.]
-MGMT: Time To Pretend [Good lyrics and Zelda-esque music- a winning combination.]
-Teddybears: Punkrocker [Actually, I've been into this song, hard, since last summer when Shelby turned me on to it. It is, as they say, "Awesome."]

2. The Great Meat Experiment
It's no secret to most that I was a vegetarian for a looooooong time. Seriously. Like 10+ years. But then I got bored. And started becoming obsessed with Anthony Bourdain. And curious. I never really had a reason for not eating meat (I don't particulary care about animals, except cats, and most people don't think they taste very good anyway). So, for 2008, it was on. Or off. Or Whatever.

And I'm not going back.
Mostly cause of shredded beef tacos. Here's the scorecard so far:
Mexican style shredded beef tacos/burritos, etc.: Fuck yeah.
Chicken: meh. Whatevs.
Pork/Ham: Good stuff, to be sure. I gotta get my hands on some prosciutto and some fine bacon (not Farmer John).
Steak: Kinda hard to cook, since my grill's broken, but still pretty good.
In-N-Out Burger: Not impressed. I prefer, taste-wise, In-N-Out grilled cheeses.

All in all, a success. Don't think I'm heading off to McDonalds anytime soon- this is a new opportunity for snobbery. But I still like to keep 'em guessing.

Heads up, douchebags.

2008-02-20T12:32:00.001-08:00

Beards aren't cool*. They haven't been for quite some time.
They don't make you "punk" or "indie," especially if you live in Brooklyn.
See also: short-brimmed hats**.
Oh christ! How could I (almost) forget all-over prints? Horrible.

[*Unless you're in Grinderman, or you are Zack Galifinakis.]
[**No, they are not called "fedoras" regardless of what you may think. It's a Trillby, motherfucker! Also, I am assuming you are not brain-dead enough to be wearing a Bowler.]

Punk Again

2008-01-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

My old school punk favorites (chronologically, of course):

-The Damned: Damned Damned Damned

I'm a bit obsessed with New Rose these days, but I love the whole damn record (btw: New Rose is the first "punk record," noobs). Damned Damned Damned slays the Sex Pistols and The Ramones simultaneously. Like I've said before, it's faster and more musically proficient than any other first wave punk band.

-Wire: Pink Flag

And then, in the same year, Wire created postpunk. Thank god. It's an unbelievable progression from all of the other Punk '77 bullshit.

-The Wipers: Is This Real

Admittedly, this started out as an entry entitled "The Strange Case of Greg Sage And The Wipers," but was abandoned prematurely, like most things my all-too-short attention span gets ahold of. It baffles me how someone can be so influential and so unknown at the same time. Points for songcraft, engineering skills and guitar heroics all go to Greg Sage.

Fuck, man.

2008-01-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

I've have really intense blogger's-block, which is probably a good thing.

In the meantime, I thought this was really funny:
Patton vs The Famous Bowl

(oooh, a Patton Oswalt link! How hipstery!)
Oh yeah, I really like Ratatouille, btw.

What A Waste

2008-01-03T15:19:00.001-08:00

Of the first blog of the new year.

[Note: for 2008 I'm going to start using the Tagging feature. Now I can instantly (and hopefully snarkily) judge every observation I make!]

Evan likes his wizards (and whisky).

2007-12-18T23:42:00.000-08:00

New link- click it.
http://quarterlifec.blogspot.com/
A fine young man by the name of Evan Stears:
Poet Laureate of the Paso Robles University of Cheap Liquor, Pornography, and Potterology. A true Triple Threat. He's also my Hooter's Trivia Nite tutor.

Some ill-informed and ill-formulated bullshit.

2007-12-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

I never really discuss it (besides ranting about socialism and the abolishment of the class system), but I have a lot of interest in business and the interesting contradictions that make up the modern capitalist economy.
One thing that consistently baffles (and really bothers) me is the "Microsoft Mindset"- that is, diversifying your product offerings to a confusing and nonsensical degree. This doesn't come from the fact that I am a life-long, card-carrying Apple acolyte (cause I am), it's just a pet peeve I have about the business world. Google tends to do the same thing, just in my opinion, not a recklessly as Microsoft.
Why does Microsoft need to compete with everyone? I have never been able to understand why anyone, in business or life, refuses to be content with just doing one thing (or, a few things) really well.
Besides how to funnel money into it, what does Microsoft know, for instance, about web searching? What would make me, or any other Joe Consumer choose Microsoft Live Search (or whatever clever branding they've come up with) over Google (user friendly and familiar) or Ask.com (feature packed)? Why don't they just make a cool operating system- or even one that doesn't suck?
Ok, I just got really bored.
Maybe I'll finish this later... but probably not.

What I'm Working On These Days:

2007-12-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

-I'm working on an expose about the British fascination with cat news. Everyday I read the BBC web page, and about 90% of the time there is an article about something cat-related, from the King's Cross Tube Station's "Chief Mouser" to "Pussywillow, the UK's oldest cat (at 26!)."
Of course, my research hit a snag today when I couldn't find any suitable articles before getting bored reading about limey affairs.

-Recovering from my returning-espresso-machine-and-almost-not-getting-a-replacement endeavor. The old one started to shoot water out the bottom after exactly 15 uses. Strangely enough, the new one makes far more (and hotter) espresso, and the coffee carafe doesn't spill all over me when I pour from it. Unexpected benefits, for sure.

-Reminiscing about listening to DEVO's Girl U Want with Grant, since it's on the radio at the moment: "She sends an aroma all over my nuts/ Drips on down like a mist to my balls..."
Until just now (when I looked them up) I thought those were the actual words. Apparently, according to dubious web sources, they aren't. Allegedly, it actually goes: "she sends out an aroma of undefined love/it drips on down in a mist from above..." I refuse to believe this, since it robs most of my subversive enjoyment from the song. I'm sure Grant will be disappointed as well.
Also, I've been kinda obsessed with King Crimson's The Great Deceiver, which relates to the above because it's one of the first songs on Consolidated's landmark skate video "Number One," which I spent countless hours watching with Grant- that video was my first exposure to King Crimson, and more importantly, Black Sabbath. I know for sure that my favorite line from the song is "Cigarettes and Ice-Cream..."

-More music nostalgia: The Song Remains The Same and Nirvana Unplugged just came out on DVD. TSRTS was the first music movie I ever remember watching- my first video rental from Video Palace in Paso. I remember being captivated by glances of Jimmy Page's Orange Amplifier, and deciding after watching the live performances that Jimmy Page was too good for me to even bother learning his guitar parts. I don't think I ever bothered trying to play a Led Zeppelin song (besides Stairway To Heaven, very unsuccessfully, in like 8th grade) until about 2004.
Unplugged, on the other hand, had kind of the opposite effect (well, more truthfully, the CD did-. I was too punk to watch MTV, so I don't think I actually saw the TV show until 5 or so years ago). I probably wouldn't have learned to play Bowie or Lead Belly songs without that record. Oooooh, such a critical landmark! Such barrier-breaking! I, for the record, did own Nirvana's "first album," so I did know About A Girl, thank you very much, Kurt.

2007-11-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

That is all.

After that last glut of useless posts, I don't have much to say.

2007-11-12T11:46:00.001-08:00

Except that I deeply, deeply hate The Hold Steady and The Arcade Fire.

And that I have a sore throat.

And that the weather is nice.

Halloween Blogstravaganza, pt. II

2007-10-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

Or, The Economics of Candy Tampering.

Are concerned parents/authority figures still alerting childern to the dangers of tampered-with candy? That was a big deal, back in the day. Thankfuly, I think my parents were a little to sensible for that whole craze, and with good reason.
Who wastes their time, and, more importantly money tampering with the candy they are about to give trick-or-treaters? Seriously- the notion is ridiculous.
If I know one thing about drugs and/or razorblades, it's that they cost money. Why would some dude, presumably a drug dealer (or really, just someone who happened to have an above-average amount of drugs laying around), just decide to forgo all the potential profit (or high-ness), and just dole 'em out to unsuspecting Ninja Turtles and Witches? It's not like they could come back once they got hooked and get more (the candy is laced, get it?).
Same goes for razorblades/needles/whatever. It's not like the kids instantly ingest the razor blade and the deviant can revel in the the childs pain. There's no payoff. Even serial killers need a payoff.
I'm sure it was all a huge conspiracy by the religious right to dissuade people from celebrating a "Pagan" holiday, so pardon me while I go worship the Dark Lord.

Halloween Blog Attack!

2007-10-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Days Playlist: [Note: Why would I bother posting this? It's far too long. Oh Well.]
Criteria: Creepiness, subject matter, evilness.

Artist - Name
Sonic Youth Hendrix Necro
Shellac Ghosts
Sonic Youth Screaming Skull
Converge The Saddest Day
Sunn O))) It Took The Night To Believe
Some Girls Deathface
The Misfits Vampira
Hella The Devil Isn't Red
Desert Sessions Dead In Love
The Misfits Hellhound
Led Zeppelin In My Time Of Dying
Pil Death Disco
Converge Hellbound
Danzig Killer Wolf
Bauhaus Dark Entries
Mastodon The Wolf Is Loose
Samhain Halloween II
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Red Right Hand
Fugazi The Kill
The Darkness Black Shuck
The Birthday Party King Ink
Mark Lanegan Death Valley Blues
The Beatles Maxwell's Silver Hammer
The White Stripes Death Letter
The Hives Die, All Right!
Wipers Potential Suicide
New York Dolls Frankenstein
Joy Division Shadowplay
Mogwai Black Spider
Hot Snakes Who Died
The Misfits Devil's Whorehouse
The Misfits Night Of The Living Dead
The Damned Born To Kill
Danzig Soul on Fire
Explosions In The Sky Welcome, Ghosts
Samhain Black Dream
Dillinger Escape Plan With Mike Patton Come to Daddy
The Damned Stab Your Back
The Misfits Green Hell
The Jesus & Mary Chain Darklands
Converge Black Cloud
The Hives Abra Cadaver
Doomriders Black Thunder
Samhain He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named
Mudhoney Halloween
Fantômas Rosemary's Baby
H.I.M. Don't Fear the Reaper
Mos Def The Boogie Man Song
Cursed RIP
Led Zeppelin Black Dog
Converge In Her Blood
The Misfits Halloween II
Hot Snakes Hatchet Job
Cave In Trepanning
Samhain Macabre
Iggy Pop Kill City
T.S.O.L. Code Blue
Danzig Evil Thing
Danzig Long Way Back From Hell
Queens Of The Stone Age Someone's In The Wolf
Samhain Initium\\Samhain
John Frusciante 666
Explosions In The Sky Greet Death
Led Zeppelin Gallows Pole
Desert Sessions Covered In Punks Blood
The Misfits London Dungeon
Elliott Smith See My City Dead
T.S.O.L. Silent Scream
Hot Snakes Suicide Invoice
Beck Devils Haircut
Black Sabbath Hand of Doom
The (International) Noise Conspiracy Black Mask
The Faint Agenda Suicide
The White Stripes Little Ghost
The Misfits Horror Hotel
Metallica Dyers Eve
The Misfits Bloodfeast
The Misfits Cough/Cool
Joy Division Dead Souls
Mogwai Kids Will Be Skeletons
Eagles of Death Metal Speaking In Tongues
The Beatles Helter Skelter
Metallica Fade To Black
Metallica One
The Raconteurs Blue Veins
Black Sabbath Electric Funeral
The Misfits Where Eagles Dare
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead Witches Web
Mastodon Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife
The Raconteurs Store Bought Bones
Earthless Godspeed
Jesu Dead Eyes
The White Stripes 12 Catch Hell Blues
The Misfits Demonomania
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Cannibal's Hymn
Queens Of The Stone Age Monsters In The Parasol
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds O'Malley's Bar
These Arms Are Snakes Drinking From The Necks Of The Ones You Love
Grinderman Grinderman
The Misfits Die, Die My Darling
Danzig Heart Of The Devil
Samhain Horror Biz
Mr. Bungle Everyone I Went To High School With Is Dead
Cursed Fatalist
Bad Brains Fearless Vampire Killers
Black Sabbath Children Of The Grave
Some Girls All My Friends Are Going Death
Depeche Mode Black Celebration
Queens Of The Stone Age Song For The Dead
Danzig Devil's Plaything
The Misfits Wolfsblood
Morrissey Ouija Board, Ouija Board
Bauhaus Stigmata Martyr
The Misfits Skulls
Queens Of The Stone Age Burn The Witch
Bauhaus Rosegarden Funeral of Sores
The Misfits American Nightmare
Sunn O))) & Boris Blood Swamp
The Cramps I Was A Teenage Werewolf
The White Stripes Black Math
Bauhaus St. Vitus Dance
Sonic Youth NYC Ghosts & Flowers
Hot Snakes Automatic Midnight
Cursed Hell Comes Home
Danzig Possession
Oingo Boingo Dead Man's Party
Dillinger Escape Plan Baby's First Coffin
The Faint Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat
Queens Of The Stone Age Intro/Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath
The Damned Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Joy Division Atrocity Exhibition
The Misfits Death Comes Ripping
The Misfits Devilock
The Smiths Pretty Girls Make Graves
Desert Sessions At The Helm Off Hells Ships
Smashing Pumpkins We Only Come Out At Night
The Cramps Zombie Dance
Some Girls Marry Mortuary
John Frusciante Murderers
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Stagger Lee
Black Sabbath The Wizard
The Misfits Astro Zombies
The Birthday Party A Dead Song
Eagles of Death Metal Chase The Devil
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Up Jumped The Devil
Eagles of Death Metal Kiss the Devil
The Blood Brothers Rats And Rats And Rats For Candy
Elliott Smith Son of Sam
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Stagger Lee
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Little Ghost Song
The Misfits Mommy, Can I Go Out And Kill Tonight
Slint Breadcrumb Trail
Some Girls Dead In A Web
Wipers Return Of The Rat
Led Zeppelin No Quarter
Samhain All Murder, All Guts, All Fun
Desert Sessions Up In Hell
Sunn O))) Vlad Tepes
Khanate Track 2
The Cramps Human Fly
The Misfits Halloween
AC/DC Back In Black
Queens Of The Stone Age 04 Into The Hollow
Desert Sessions Hanging Tree
Botch The Opera Song
Iggy & The Stooges Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell
Fantômas The Omen (Ave Satani)
AC/DC Hells Bells
Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Godspeed You Black Emperor! The Dead Flag Blues
T.S.O.L. Funeral March
Cave In Halo Of Flies
Slint Nosferatu Man
Converge Hanging Moon
Converge Death King
Some Girls Gonna Set My Soul On Fire
Sunn O))) Báthory Erzsébet
The Misfits Horror Business
The Misfits Ghoul's Night Out
The Blood Brothers We Ride Skeletal Lightning
The Sword Winter's Wolves
Suicidal Tendencies I Shot The Devil

This May Be Crossing Two Lines.

2007-10-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

"People are nauseous about being perceived as the enemy. After Abu Ghraib, reasonable, rational people were saying the most despicable things about America. Imagine that. The country that not only liberated Europe but rebuilt Europe with the Marshall Plan. The country of Omaha Beach. The heroism of people who gave their lives for people like my dad. I mean, this is the United States of America.

And, by the way, whoever fixes that problem gets elected. People say, "Oh, it's all about the economy." This is the first time it's not. It's about turning that idea around. We're the United States of America, and we do not like being seen as the enemy.

And it's a wave. I think the next generation is going to roll right over us. There's a new kind of hard-headed idealism out there, which is not about "Let's hold hands and wish away the world's problems." People are ready to change the world one brick at a time. I really believe that."

So yes, that is a Bono quote. And yes, it was from The Worlds Most Overrated (By Itself) Magazine (Rolling Stone). But a good sentiment, nonetheless. I don't generally think "entertainers" should speak on political matters, but, due to my punkish background, believe in that right for musicians. So there: I have no problems with being a contradiction.

Note To Self:

2007-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sometime, when you are not quite so tired, discuss how your ear holes were shredded and your mind was blown (off) by the combined forces of The Mighty Mastodon and Unbelievable QOTSA Sleaze Rock Overload.
Jesus- shows that good should be illegal.

Evacuations, and... Lunch.

2007-10-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

First up, check out my old friend Andy's (I'm not saying he's old, he's just been a friend for a long time... but he is older than me) blog. His observations are way more interesting than mine, plus he likes comic books. And he majored in Japanese (IIRC- maybe it was "just" Linguistics?). And his blog is very visually pleasing.
http://onefinemess.wordpress.com/

Second: Southern California is going up in flames around us, and I was reading an article the other day with people talking about what they would take with them if/when they had to evacuate their house. What would I take?
-Our cat, Oliver (he's quite furry and I'm surprised he hasn't lit on fire before. He looks to be more combustible than most animals, so he gets a very high priority. Well, that and I really like him).
-The Macbook and my 2 hard drives. (Yeah, superficially, my life is pretty much that computer. I don't think I could bear to lose my Protools song files from one drive or my iTunes library (especially if I couldn't grab my record collection) on the other).
-As much of my music gear as possible (I would be uncontrollably depressed without it. Priority goes to my SG and the Mesa amp head, both of which I have a ton of sentimental attachment to.
I guess that's it. Maybe a few pairs of jeans, some t-shirts, and a hoody. And a power strip, if I have tons of time. Dawn said similar: cat, computer, pictures, jeans.

Lastly: In case you wondered (and you definitely shouldn't), I eat pretty much the same thing for lunch every day. As follows:
-Main course: Usually a Tofurkey/cheese/sprouts sandwich. Peanut butter and (only) raspberry jelly, or leftover pasta are the only variables.
-Trader Joe's String Cheese: Like a preschooler.
-Trader Joe's Woven Wheat Wafers: Like Triscuits, but better because they are slightly saltier.
-Trader Joe's nonfat yogurt: Usually only raspberry, but I've rotated in black cherry, starting today.
-A gala apple.

I don't know what motivated me to type that out. I apologize.

Life is a series of random events.

2007-10-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

-It's smoky. Ash is falling from the sky. Apocalypse?
-Bummed out by American Chopper: Vinny left the company. I'll really miss seeing that guy on the show.
-Two of my favorite bands broke up: The Blood Brothers (supposedly) and Some Girls. There will be a lot less new noisecore on my iTunes in the near future.
-And I hate cover songs: but the Killer's cover of Shadowplay is cool. I'm into it- even though covering Joy Division is like covering The Beatles or Zeppelin and should be off limits.
-While Malibu burned, Justin, Stevie and I had a Naked-jump-off-the-roof-into-the-pool Contest. Dawn and Jason watched in horror. I was also attacked by a bird (both the Avian and I were fully clothed at the time).
-Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: 3-Tone Sunburst, Olympic White, or Surf Green?
-I wish it would snow. Instead, it's like 94 degrees.
-I've been artistically stifled, and it's bugging the shit out of me. There is not enough time in the day.

These things don't usually go this well.

2007-10-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Not much going on here in blog land.
There's a feature in Blender about the worst lyricists in rock music- and it's pretty good. Accurate too (surprisingly). Sheck it out here.

In the "Fascinatingly Disgusting" Department: [Note: Beware.]
I have lots of problems with my ears. Nothing serious, just superficial, annoying things. Earplugs and iPod headphones don't fit in my right ear- I think it's oddly shaped. I have declining hearing (or so I thought). And, horrendously, I produce and inordinate amount of earwax. Yes, that's disgusting. I know- I have to live it.
Anyways, every couple months one of my ears (usually the bastard on the right) gets completely plugged. It happened again on Tuesday, worse than ever, and I'd had enough. So I went to the doctor, and some unfortunate (but nonetheless pleasant and gracious) nurse had to clean out my ear. And it wasn't pretty. I'll spare the details, but let's just say I could start an organic candle business very easily.
My point is this: my hearing isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was. I can hear far better now, especially in the higher frequencies. Thank you, Dr. Lo, and Nurse Whose Name I Didn't Catch. You've just contributed to my year of re-birth (first I find out I'm younger than I thought, now this). The moral of the story is: Doctors are not bad, but very useful. Also- don't clean your ears with Q-Tips. Ever. Seriously. Not that I did, but- seriously.

Finally- Plotting has begun on my Soon-To-Be-Legendary Halloween Playlist. Criteria: Outrightly evil-related song name, subject matter, or general creepiness factor. Ideas welcome. Also- (Shane) let me know what your playlist might be.

Post-Finally: Copious research has begun for my guitar nerd blog (hopefully Blog-Cum-Empire).

Post-Post-Finally: Waaaaay to many hyphens. I apologize.

Another one, only for nerds.

2007-10-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog going down- about guitars and other noisemakers. If you're into that sort of thing, dig it here:

http://artnoiseart.blogspot.com/

If not, fuck right off.

Severely Overrated Bands/Musicians

2007-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Because I am here to educate.
[Note: 2 posts in a day? What a fertile mind!]

-Radiohead: Everyone thinks they like Radiohead. Everyone thinks they should like Radiohead. I guess it is pretty "Avant-Garde" for Brits and people who don't know anything about music.

-Johnny Cash: It baffles me that people like Johnny Cash (even if he wasn't a country musician). He's not even a bad-ass, like his proponents would have you believe. He was a bad singer and a bad guitar player. So he played at a prison. Big fukkin deal- so did Metallica.

-The Pixies: Someone please tell me what's so great about The Pixies. Is it Frank Black's annoying-ass voice? The mediocre songwriting? The unoriginal sound? I can't decide.

-"Indy Singer/Songwriters": Iron and Wine, Bright Eyes, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and their ilk. So, more dudes (with beards, more often than not) writing (sensitive) songs with acoustic guitars, but without the support of major record labels. Great. Enough said. [Note: "When The President Talks To God" is one of the best protest songs ever written, however.]

-The Arcade Fire: Go to hell. That is all.

-The Ramones: Bleh. Moderately catchy, moderately fast (The Damned=way faster while also being talented at the same time). Who cares? Plus, Johnny was a Republican.

-90% of the first wave of British Punk: Pretty much everyone except the aforementioned Damned, Wire (possibly one of the BEST BANDS EVER), the amazing Buzzcocks, and Johnny Rotten & Steve Jones from the Pistols. Sid? Fuck off.

-The Shins: Cause they just came on the radio, and they're not that good. Yeah, really.

-70's Prog bands: Rush, Asia, etc. [Note: King Crimson and Can are excluded, because they are actually underrated] These bands are the epitome of lame. For serious. No one cares about your wanky concept album.

-Stevie Ray Vaughn/Kenny Wayne Shepard/Other white guys that "just really identify with the blues," loooove Hendrix, and play a Stratocaster: Oh my god. Really? You expect me to believe you have the blues? Those faces you guys make when you're feelin' a blues riff travel straight from your soul through your fingers are ridiculous- hate to break it to you.

-Pink Floyd: See Radiohead, subtract 30 years.

-Oasis! How could I forget Oasis? What is so groundbreaking about these two twats? The British music press' crowning achievement in hype selling (see also: Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, Kooks, Fratellis).

Lately, I've been obsessed with:

2007-09-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

-Morrissey:Everyday Is Like Sunday.
-Getting new adidas (it's like coming home after being lost).
-The combination of Swiss cheese and alfalfa sprouts on sandwiches.
-Finding a suitable desktop background for my computer.
-Lifehacker.com
-Kanye.
-Fender Jazzmasters, Ampeg Dan Armstrongs, Fender Dual Showmans.
-Getting a new videogame system.
-Someecards.com. I can't look at them, because I lose control of my laughter.

If You're Goin' to San Fransisco...

2007-09-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

For years I've made it clear to people that I don't particularly like San Fransisco. It's dirty, bummy, smelly, and I just generally find it unpleasant. Are these good reasons? Probably not. Are they even valid reasons? Probably not. After much convincing, my cousin Michael convinced Dawn and I to come visit him at his pad in Marin (Greenbrae, specifically). And here's the photographic record proving that, even tough it took (literally) months of planning, we actually went.

Part 1

Here's the view from Michael and Kristin's (his roomate, and our neighbor from the Paso days) balcony. Thats the eastbay (Oakland, I think) on the horizon.

Here's the living room we lurked in. The way-too-small (twin style) blowup matress is in the lower left corner.

This is Kristin's cat Lupe. Looks can be decieving. She's our cat Oliver's neice (?), but I think her father is the Dark Lord.

Michael and Dawn, Larkspur Ferry.

There is one hell of a wind on the ferry.

North bay- Hippie/Yuppie Country.

It may be hard to tell, but the wind is blowing quite hard. Here I am nearly losing my glasses.

Golden Gate+fog=everyday San Fransisco.

The Bay Bridge and Financial District/Wharf

Alcatraz. Our main goal for this day was to go to, as Connery says, "The Rock." As usual, poor planning resulted in the damn island being sold out.

That bitch kicks out quite a frothy wake.

This picture is way better, and I don't feel like deleting the other one.

The ferry was rad. I suggest everyone take a time or two. It's only $7 each way, cheapasses.

Rolling into the Piers. Still very windy.

Most likely saying something rude and demeaning to my cousin.

Tourism 101.

North Beach is rad. Immediately prior to this was my first American cab ride.

Ravioli PWND.

A stereotypically steep street. Pretty nice day, huh?

Dawn+Chron. We met up with Megan shortly after this, but, as I am new to this whole picture-taking thing, you'll just have to take my word for it. Everyone (except, possibly Megan) was dissaponted at the lack of the usual Trannys/Prostitutes/Tranny-Prostitutes outside her building.

How can you go to SF and not ride the BART? After a loooong trek around SF, we happened upon the downtown Paul Frank store, minutes before Justin got off work. In lieu of hanging in China Town, we convinced Justin to take the ferry back to Marin with us.

Excellent snap by Dawn on the ferry back. "When the lights... Go Down... On The Citaaay... And the sun shines on the baaayyy..."

Jesus- such a tourist with a sunburn.

Part 2

Fog attack.

Dawn and Kristin (and Michael), Golden Gate Park.

People who live in glass towers shouldn't throw stones.

Panoradical.

Aww, cute- strolling through the Enchanted Forest, perhaps? Nope. Staged cheesyness at the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Brian=Faux sensiitve.

I get distracted easily.

Two creepy dudes and a tree.

This pic would be so much better if there were no tourists in it. Still good, though.

For some reason, Dawn was obessed with getting Michael to climb over the fence and stand by the little water feature. He did, and regrettably, looks like he's relieving himself in the river. Classy.

Koi. So coy.

Amongst nature.

The Haight. Jesus- hippy drum circles galore and counterfeit rolex watches. My own private hell.

Straight up Mrs. Doubtfire.

On the way to the airport in Oakland, we stopped by James' Berkeley stomping grounds. We got some good food and ice cream, and he took us to this sweet hotel up in the hills. I can't remeber what it's called though. The Claremont?

I am pure sleaze.

A good try. This patio had a rad view.

The Enormous Mojito Chronicles.

At the airport. My focus was thrown off after I used the Oakland Airport men's room.

So that's pretty much it. I somehow managed to avoid seeing most of my friends that live in SF- sorry guys (especially Shane). But hopefully we'll be back soon. I don't hate the City so much anymore.

Coming Soon(ish)

2007-09-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

My SF trip photoblog is gonna be up here someday, weeks after the fact. And long after I've forgotten the interesting details.
Get psyched!

OK, I just can't resist this one.

2007-08-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Myspace surveys are pretty lame in general, and I vowed to never post a bulletin with a survey in it.
This one, however, I thought was cool for whatever reason. I stole it from Josh "White Shadow" Lewis, whose answers were particularly funny (poignant? I think so). So here we go.

1.You're infected. Your top 8 has the cure. One must die. Who?
Off to a bad start.

2. If alcohol were banned, what would your reaction be?
The government can't surprise me with bad decisions anymore.

3.Your CD collection is repossessed. But you may keep one. Which?
Either Led Zeppelin "How The West Was Won," or Beatles "Revolver." Clutch decision.

4. Do you believe world peace is possible?
If religion is abolished? Maybe.

5. I'm a genie. Name your wish....
Infinite wishes, stupid genie. Next time make some conditions.

6. Name two things about the opposite sex that automatically turns you off:
Bro-ness and Ho-ness.

7. Name two things about the opposite sex that automatically turns you on.
Babe-ness and Intelligent-ness.

8. Speaking of same sex, what did you think about Brokeback Mountain?
Hellz yeah, I am the Liberal Elite.

9. What are you obsessive about?
Organizing my iTunes.

10. Leather face is in the kitchen. Will you fight to victory, or hide from him?
Leatherface is one word, fuckwad. Even I know that. But fight or flight depends on the weapons on hand. Homeboy obviously rocks a chainsaw, so I'd need some artillery at my disposal, or at least a spear (of course, I'm strapped with a blade). I would at least hold that bitch off until my crew could escape.

11. Do you feel people underestimate you?
If not, then my image needs adjustment.

12. When you're in a bad mood, what will always put you in a better mood?
Records.

13. Honestly, do you talk about myspace in real life?
Dude, I live in Southern California. What else is there to talk about?

14. Have you ever met anyone off the internet?
This is a poorly structured question, therefore I refuse to answer it.

15. What do you hope to have accomplished by the end of this year?
Not being broke.

16. Do you believe minimum wage should be raised?
I'm a Libertarian Socialist. Guess.

17. If someone at a bar gives you "the look" how do you respond to it?
The look like, "Let's brawl," or the look like, "Let's hook it?" Either way, a blade is drawn.

18. Do you have any really crazy relatives?
I met some haggard relatives at a family reunion, like, forever ago, but nothing too serious.

19. Pretend you're 15 deep in beers. Describe what you would be doing?
Probably winning a bet for a bunch of dough. And it would have to be a bunch.

20. People get sad. Are you the one they turn to?
With one or 2 exceptions, no.

21. Does everyone in your life know the real you?
I am a figment of my own delusion.

22. What is the most ridiculous fear you have?
Heights and African Death Squad Militias.

23. Do you know anyone in Prison?
In the prison of society, yes.

24. Have you ever logged on in a boyfriend/girlfriend/crush's name?
Not necessary.

25. When is the last time you ate Peanut butter and jelly?
Sometime within the last month. Creamy+ my beloved raspberry jam= damn goodness.

26. When did you last have a home cooked meal?
Coffee this morning.

27. Have you ever gotten naked at a party?
Any time I'm naked is a party.

28. Name someone you miss.
Guess.

29. Are you named after a grandparent?
Nope. A famous and honorable Canadian bull rider.

30. Who would you want to fight?
He who provoketh my ire.

31. Do you throw up gang signs?
The only gang sign necessary is "The Knife."

32. Have you ever broken a rib?
Ribs of Steel.

33. Would you rather be a girl or a guy?
Penises are super gross, so maybe the optimal choice would be lesbianism. It combines my love for the female form with my general dislike of the male sex organ.

34. What are your plans for tomorrow?
Making the rounds in Paso.

35. Boyfriend/Girlfriend?
If this means "Do You Have A Boyfriend/Girlfriend," then no, I don't not have a "Boyfriend/Girlfriend." I have a girlfriend, however.

36. Are you mad at anyone right now?
The Republican destroyers of reason.

37. What are you wearing right now?
Levis and a t-shirt (incidentally, the same answer as Josh).

39. Would you ever work for the border patrol?
I could undermine the man from the inside, I suppose.

40. Who do you talk to the most everyday?
This total babe I live with.

41.What are you feeling right now?
Slight guilt for how long this shit is taking.

42. What is the biggest age gap you've dated?
6 Months. I rob cradles.

43. Do you have a porn collection?
My mind is a glorified porn collection.

44. Have you ever been in an interracial relationship?
Race is irrelevant.

45. Is your birthday on a holiday?
Sean Combs Day.

46. Are you old enough to vote?
I've been losing the presidential race for 2 terms.

47. Do you have any friends or family in the War right now?
The War on Drugs, maybe.

48. Are you afrid of hights
See #22.

49. Do you worry about global warming?
See # 8.

50. Do you like polar bears?
See #49.

51. Do you like alligators?
I prefer Crocs (not the shoe).

53. What slang word do you call marijuana?
Chronic The Hedgehog (from Chad, through Justin).

54. Are you an atheist?
I believe in reality.

55. Did or do you think your childhood dreams will come true?
I remember in preschool being asked what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said "An astronaut or a beach bum." So yes, I'm livin' the dream, brah.

56. Is there a certain someone on your mind right now?
Shane, whom I'm am chatting with on AIM, at the moment.

57. Is life troubling at the moment?
Life is fukkin' cooooooooosmic, bro. Society is particularly troubling though.

58. Do you have a tan?
See #55.

59. Where were you one hour ago?
Procrastinating.

60. Life... How do you feel about it?
Does not begin with conception.

Man, that shit bored me by the end.

For Whatever Reason, Skateboarding.

2007-08-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've been occupying my internet time these days looking at a lot of skateboarding-related stuff. I attribute this, partially at least, to last weekend's Rob & Big marathon. So, I read a bunch of skate web pages and stuff and got my motivation back. (On a similar note, I also got my artistic inspiration back, thanks to dinner at El Matador- but that's beside the point.)
And in that vein, here's some skateboarding related lists:

Top 5 Skate Shoes
1. eS Koston- The second version, with the air soles. So comfy, durable, and readily available in vegan style. Not too thick of a sole or tongue.
2. Vans Slips- Always there for me.
3. Vans Half Cabs- Super ugly (and leathery), but gnar tough, and I used to think they made me skate better.
4. Airwalk Jim- From back when Airwalk was gnar (94-95 ish). Simple and timeless. I prefer mine with a bunch of Shoo Goo (Paso Represent!) on the ollie patch. [Note: I had both blue and maroon flavors. Ahhh, for those simpler times...]
5. Emerica Templeton- Ugly and kinda fat. But durable as hell and vegan, and it's Ed Fucking Templeton's shoe.

Top 5 Skate Shops
1. Alliance
2. Alliance
3. Alliance
4. Surfside [Note: It's 2 blocks from my house, for god's sake.]
5. Active [Note: Only, and I mean only because they have cheap wheels.]

Top 5 Tricks on the Paso Skatepark Wedge Bank [Note: I'm really a pretty terrible skateboarder, but I feel like a cool dude when I do my silly little tricks on this silly little section of our park.]
1. Fakie 50-50 to revert
2. B/S 5-0 off the end
3. F/S 5-0 revert
4. F/S disaster [Note: Hiiiiiiyooooo!]
5. 50-50 kickflip 50-50 blah blah blah

Top 5 Skate Injuries
1. Permanent wrist injury- Vans Park, right before Thanksgiving 2004.
2. Right ankle sprain- Attempted b/s noseslide on some ghetto ass funbox at a pre-park Paso bash. Out for 3 months. The beginning of the decline of my skating days.
3. Left ankle sprain- First skate after above. Bailed manual pad. Thought that shit was broken. Out 3 more months. Sealing of the deal for my transition from "Skateboarder" to "Guy Who Owns a Skateboard."
4. Big bank First Blood- 3rd person to skate the Paso Park, first to do so with super loose trucks. Also first to publicly embarrass himself there. "First Blood!" is what Jeremy yelled as I hit the flat.
5. Constant shinners- Always. From the day I got my first shred to 2 days ago. My shins are bumpy as hall. Memories of going to bed on late summer nights with bloody shins.

Top 5 Skate Companies
1. Toy Machine
2. Consolidated
3. Girl
4. Scarecrow
5. Zero- Until all that cross bullshit.

Top 5 Skateboarders
1. Ed Templeton
2. Rowley
3. Koston
4. Some dude that I forget at the moment.
5. Jamie Thomas- See #5 above.

Top 5 Skate Vids
1. Welcome To Hell
2. Consolidated- #1
3. Zero- Thrill of It All
4. Landspeed
5. Girl- Yeah Right!

Top 5 Ghetto Paso Skatespots
1. Wal Mart Curb- Default because it's hidden and never disturbed.
2. Meat Factory! Old school. Only a few still remember.
3. Wal Mart McDonalds- It smelled bad, but had a fun gap and manual pads.
4. Paso High- Hiding from cops on the roof= good times.
5. Pat Butler- I think this place could accommodate like 300 people at a time. It used to be like a party there every Saturday night, and no one cared! Oh, the good ol' days.

Top 5 Skate Soundtracks
1. Minor Threat
2. Beastie Boys
3. Descendents
4. Adolescents
5. Slayer always works.

Best name for a song, ever? I think so.

2007-08-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

"F.W.T.B.T (I Dream of Lars Ulrich Being Thrown Through the Bus Window Instead of My Mystikal Master Kliff Burton)" by Sunn0))).

I dream of the same.

The Wikipedia Trail

2007-07-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Concept: I spend way to much time on Wikipedia looking up random shit. It all starts out innocently enough, only to get out of hand.

Rules: Start either at the Wikipedia home page, or look up something on which information is needed (via Firefox's search bar, for instance). Document the pages visited via direct links or stimulated curiousity.

Today:
Started from: Home Page
1. Buzzcocks "Spiral Scratch EP" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Scratch_%28EP%29
2. Music of Manchester http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Manchester
3. Martin Hannett http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Hannett
4. Dead Kennedys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Kennedys
5. Jello Biafra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jello_Biafra
6. Liberal Elite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_elite
7. HR Geiger's "Penis Landscape" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_219:_Landscape_XX
8. Mordam Records http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordam_Records
9. East Bay Ray: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Bay_Ray
10.Sympathy For The Record Industry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathy_for_the_Record_Industry
11. Kill Rock Stars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Rock_Stars
12.Jade Tree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Tree_Records
13. Long Gone John http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Gone_John
14. Biafra (in Africa) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafra
15. No WTO Combo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_WTO_Combo
16. Kim Thayil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Thayil
17. Touch and Go Records http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_and_go_records
18. Man Or Astro-Man? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_or_Astro-man%3F
19. Slint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slint
20. Theremin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremins
21. Tesla Coil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil
22. The Simpsons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons
23. Life In Hell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_in_Hell
24. Nancy Cartwright http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Cartwright_%28actress%29
25. Julie Kavner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Kavner
26. Yeardly Smith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeardley_Smith
27. The Flintstones http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flintstones
28. Fruity Pebbles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruity_Pebbles

Allright, that's more than enough. From Buzzcocks to Fruity Pebbles. Nice!

hmm.

2007-07-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was gonna write something, but I guess I have nothing to say.

Ideas for later: my "Wikipedia trail." But I don't really feel like doing that now.