Yes, He Did!
Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America.
November 4, 2008
September 11, 2008
In Rememberance
September 2, 2008
So much talking ... Part 2
So little sense ...
May 15, 2008
So Much Talking
So little sense ....
March 13, 2008
KO Special Comment on HC campaign tactics
Well said, KO.
February 6, 2008
So what does it all mean?
After looking at Super Tuesday results last night and today, I have come up with a few impressions about what I think will happen going forward -- at least on the Democratic side. I am not following the Republican side with the appropriate level of diligence to make relevant remarks
February 4, 2008
Integrity of the game
Recently two of the major professional sports, baseball and basketball, have been rocked with scandals that go to the integrity of the competition. Baseball with performance enhancing drugs and basketball with the referee gambling scandal. It has always seemed that professional football was immune to such scandals, even though the tell tale signs of performance enhancing drugs are seemingly evident in the sport.
February 3, 2008
Perfect Season?
No, perfect ending.
I think that for most of the season, Flying Elvis fans thought that they were the wave in "The Perfect Storm". Today, they were the boat.
Greatest QB of all time?
Epic ass beating, 18 knockdowns without counting 5 sacks
Greatest coach of all time?
Out-coached
Greatest team of all time?
You can't cheat and be it. You can't lose and be it.
Greatest feeling of all time?
Oh yes, I can hear the sweet chants of 18-1! ... 18-1! ... 18-1! ringing in my ears
Acronym for the Greatest of all time
GOAT!!!! That pretty much says it all
Perfect Commercial
Perfect ending to the NFL season!
February 2, 2008
Endorse-O-Thon
Yes, We Can.
January 28, 2008
Obama Response to SOTU
January 26, 2008
Obama South Carolina Victory Speech
January 8, 2008
The Aftermath
We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. So now, ... you can go up on a steep hill ... and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark - the place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.
- Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Mahalo Coach Jones. Best of luck in your new challenges.
Goodbye Herman Frazier. May you find new challenges in which to apply yourself.
January 4, 2008
Not so fast, Fancy Pantsuit!
I think all that talk about inevitability of the fancy pantsuit and electability of the guy with the funny name (aka TheOrator) has just gone out the window.
Wonder what her magic mirror said to her last night ... magic mirrors are fun like that.
December 24, 2007
Some people
Sometimes, you just can see the train wreck coming from like 8 miles away. It just takes time for the train to arrive. Public transport metaphor, the theme of the day -- it seems.
One of my former classmates is a very nice person, very kind, very warm, and good looking. Everyone should have friends like that, just nice people that care (looks don't matter). She married a guy that gets by on his looks (literally, is a model), and hitting the double double, has lived a very privileged lifestyle (family is extremely well off). He once ticked me off in a workshop session, because he has expectations that some one will bail him out, no need to be personally responsible. Talk about la-la. This guy is fkn really out there.
Found out today they are divorced. I wish I was not so jaded as to say that wow, I was so surprised, how could that happen? But I was surprised because it really deflated me to hear that.
Then I heard who he is now engaged to be married to, and I heard about how big of a wedding it's going to be, with the fancy custom high fashion house rings, the whole 9. I know the person he is marrying, used to be a co-worker of mine, and quite frankly, they deserve each other. Both spoiled, and both kind of have their head up their ass in terms of their priorities in life.
All I can do is feel some sympathy for my former classmate, and know that she will be 1000 to a 1,000,000x better off with someone else. I guess sometimes you need to live that dream, no matter how tragic it turns out as. I wish her a better future, knowing it will be so much better without him.
I sometimes wonder why some people seem to float through life, as if made with non-stick cooking surface. And why the cool people always seem to get trampled. It does really feel at times like assholes just get everything, why be nice.
December 23, 2007
Tunes By Thumbdrive - Trek Playlist 001
I've decided to log key stats from my morning (and other) treks, perhaps workouts too. Just to keep information and make changes as necessary
Sunday, December 23
Time: 7:58 a.m. - 8:48 a.m.
Style: Walk
Distance: 2.67 mi
Conditions: Gray, wet, humid
Playlist:
The Police - So Lonely
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Rilo Kiley - A Man, Me, Then Jim
Silversun Pickups - Future Foe Scenarios
James Hunter - People Gonna Talk
Nine Inch Nails - The Good Soldier
The Nightwatchman - One Man Revolution
Nine Inch Nails - The Beginning of the End
Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes
Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls (Joy Division cover)
Arcade Fire - Crown of Love
She Wants Revenge - Out of Control
Observations
Should have gone to restroom prior, made last 1/4 mi interesting.
November 15, 2007
Two observations
With regards to the Bonds indictment, the message here is don't lie in a federal grand jury proceeding. I think what is even more alarmingly stupid or arrogant is the fact that he was provided immunity vs. prosecution for being a steroid user -- and could answer these questions candidly and truthfully, without criminal repercussions. He lied anyway, and no matter what his motives may have been -- I think he may have finally and ultimately tarnished the legacy of his career. I do not believe he will play again, I do not believe his records will stand, and I do not believe he will be elected to the HOF. At the end of the day, the most talented player of his generation was so personally flawed -- arrogant, jealous, covetous -- that he brought down his own house.
---
ARod looks to have begged his way back on to the Yankees. I find this move by the Yanks to be curious, but understandable given the composition of their team without him. Personally I would have let him hang out to dry, after all those shenanigans he and his agent pulled. I find it odd as well that other teams "interested" in him likely would have made offers that were $100M less than the package agreed on in principle. In fact, at the Ducks-Cats game last night, Angels owner Arte Moreno said they would have offered 1/2 the amount. Why the Yanks are essentially padding this contract to an ingrate who had to beg his way back into their favor is unbelievable as well. Unbelievable, totally unbelievable.
November 4, 2007
Rainy day perfect
Nice time to check out the Heaven and Hell RCMH DVD and NIN Beside You in Time
Nothing like rain and gloom -- perfect match for Birmingham doom and dark electronica
November 3, 2007
BC Sunk
Noles 27
#2 BC 17
College football is crazy.
Noles win first game against Top5 team since they were a perennial BCS team several years ago.
October 1, 2007
Name Your Price
There's some buzz in the blogs about the move by the world's best known art band, RH -- and their move to go it alone without a record deal, and self-distribute their new album due out on 10-10.
The biggest buzz is over the band's decision to let fans name their price of how much to pay for digital D/L of the music -- which could be as little as 2 cents, to how ever much someone wants to pay.
This move is interesting. I think that a lot of people are skeptical of this "honorbox" approach to music distribution -- some would criticize that this is similar to Mr. King, the horror novelist, going name your price and that failing miserably in moneymaking terms.
Well, we'll see how this goes -- it certainly is a pretty bold move.
Nice blog at TheLede in NYT this morning on this very topic, check it here.
September 27, 2007
In the wind
ThePolice, next spring at the tail end of a Japan tour
We'll see ....
September 20, 2007
Another high profile cancellation
There comes a point with these mega shows where you have to take the fan hat off and realize that it is all business -- no loyalty to the fans, only to the cash you can make off your nostalgia show.
Reading this morning's paper, I can only vomit a little bit in my mouth about how they want to make UH baseball stadium totally secure so that a show can be "private" next week -- don't you feel good that a large number of our city's cops will go and protect a multi-million dollar corporate shindig, maybe they will pass out mandatory ear plugs to the nearby dorms so that they absolutely and positively cannot hear anything, too
This is why this morning I salute TR.
In front of what was generously 2000 fans at the very spacious and empty Blaisdell ...
A show went on -- no cancellation.
Ticket prices were reasonable for 1994, much less 2007
Despite well documented grumblings on his part about expenses, etc. Despite his grousing about the costs to ship gear to Asia, and perform before crowds that -- well, were at best, unfamiliar with their music. He also grumbled about the overhead of carrying a full rock band out on a short summer tour.
But he played -- was it passion for his fans? or his music? or for performance?
And they played one of the best shows of the year here, hands down
Maybe it was all three, maybe it was out of obligation ... but I definitely respect him for playing despite all the obstacles to putting on a show here. It's really too bad that not many saw it -- that performance deserved a better audience
Not many bands or artists are about the fans anymore -- maybe I'm stupid, but I believe TR/NIN is still one of them
---
Makes me think of old lyrics of an IceT rap:
You think you've made it, you're just a lucky man
Guess who controls your destiny -- FANS
But you diss 'em `cause you think you're a star
That attitude is rude, you won't get far
`Cause they'll turn on you quick, you'll drop like a brick
Unemployment's where you'll sit
No friends cause you dissed 'em too
No money, no crew, you're through
You played yourself...
---
September 19, 2007
Old Style vs. New Style
As a followup to the UToob clip, we posted earlier this week.
An interesting blog basically on topic with what we and others have been discussing for a while -- what does music distrib look like in the future, and isn't there a more equitable way of getting the music out to your fans
Check it out here. Very topical as it discusses Mr. West's approach vs. Mr. Reznor's approach -- and how each is successful on its terms. However, one does seem to make more common sense given the state of technology today.
September 18, 2007
NIN:HNL
Holysh!!
No Words = Experience
A++
Mr. Reznor Sez:
Oh, by the way, before you click ... this clip has some NSFW words, just letting you know
And on a related note, last chance to see the current band lineup tonight ... if you just happen to be in my neck of the woods
August 29, 2007
2 Years Later
August 28, 2007
Easier Said Than Done
Um, yep, Mario ... us USAmericans have trouble saying stuff, so let's not even talk about being done ... like in South Africa or Iraq and such as
August 24, 2007
Heaven and Hell Live at RCMH Listening Party
I'm not a big fan of the other media players besides iT, but if you have (or will consider d/l-ing) Rhapsody -- you can check out the full streaming soon-to-come Rhino album of BlackSabbathw/Dio (now HeavenandHell) live at RCMH from this past March in NYC -- to be released next week on CD and DVD.
Check it out here.
And, the live DVD is being pre-sold at Amazon for the low price of $11.99
The origin of the phrase
Today's phrase: "jumping the shark"
Where you feel like:
I don't think this show has any more good ideas left -- who wrote this crap?
Also attached to the arrival of certain characters, like Cousin Oliver and Scrappy Doo
August 15, 2007
Oddly enough
Moveon has found an explanation for the whole "let's not go into Bag" at the end of the last desert war -- a decision which had always puzzled me. Now, in context of current events, this rationale makes nonsense of our current skirmish and problems -- indeed our actions are foolish, tragic, and stupid.
(From Moveon.org)
August 14, 2007
Did Han Shoot First?
Was Mr. A ever a part of VH?
I have to admit, I thought the superimposing of Ed's kid onto classic VH album photos in the place of Mike the one true bassist and BGV force of nature, was downright tacky and offensive. Then again, I thought to myself that it wouldn't be the first time that someone arbitrarily took liberties and made highly questionable edits -- for the sake of personal whim, that now, we would like to revisit the whole idea of .... for example, Greedo shooting first in SW SpecialEd or ... disowning Mike's part in the band entirely ... when I think about it further, to continue my rant, it's like two impostors in KISS makeup that wear the classic Spaceman and Cat persona makeup ... and we should still think of the re-visioning as the same?!?!?!
Update:
Well, looks like some sanity prevailed. The image of Mr. A was restored to the album cover photos. Too bad he won't be part of the reformation tour -- it is hard for me to conceive of the classic VH sound sans the big fat bass lines and BGV harmonies ... maybe Ed's kid can pull it off? who knows. I guess personally I'm at the point where I no longer support 3VH plus Dave anyway. I just don't support the direction, so I will move on.
August 6, 2007
Weird and Creepy
There was a time that I really enjoyed BLB Jr.'s play. That was 15-20 years ago. In fact, I actually owned a cotton replica unnumbered button-down Pirates jersey -- the Pirates were fun to watch, the Yanks sucked at the time. I cheered for the Buccos against the budding dynasty that was the Braves. I marvelled at this talented skinny dude, BLB Jr. who had all the tools, the glove, the D, the incredible hitting ability.
I didn't feel like I needed to necessarily weigh in on the whole 755+1 thing -- I just will provide a few observations at why I am not so eager to celebrate this accomplishment.
His career numbers basically illustrate it out, in a ridiculous way. If you cut his career down the middle -- he had hit 292 when he was 30, or in his 10th season. By comparison, ARod who hit his 500th today hit 464 by the time he was 30.
BLB Jr., by all accounts and measures, at the time he signed with the SFG in 1993, was certainly in the discussion for best player in the game, along with GriffeyJr. at the time. Was there any reason to believe he would hit another 464 over the most recent 12 seasons?
It's funny because when I was growing up, I found it hard to accept that people grow old, their talent goes away. A study by GustavusAdophusUniversity found that for most of the great HR hitters (those with 500+ HRs), their peak of home run hitting performance happens between their 6th and 10th seasons. This conforms with the common sense, "believe what your eyes see" approach -- players rise, have a peak/prime, then decline
If we accept the conclusions of the well-researched GameOfShadows, BLB Jr. had a whole regimen of performance enhancers that he was on. The absolutely unbelievable aspect of this whole story is that BLB Jr. was a HOF first balloter even without the "assistance".
Deep inside, as sports fans, we hope to see amazing things, good competition, and we want to believe what our eyes see -- that's why things like the whole NBA gambling ref fiasco and the breaking of the career HR record shake the confidence of this common fan to the core.
The man with 755 was by all accounts a great player -- consistent beyond belief, never had a 50 or more HR season -- just year after year putting up 40s, into his 40s. His career numbers are a testament to consistent performance.
The man with 755+1 obviously let his own personal vanity get in the way. How can you tarnish a sure thing HOF career, one that was arguably going to go down as best player of a generation, without "assistance". I find the vanity of trying to a) break the single season mark -- motivated by jealousy of Mac&Sammy's popularity, and b) tarnish the all-time HR record with questions, clouds, and controversy -- it's all just creepy and weird.
Did we all love BLB Jr. more for these things? Make no mistake about it, the guy can hit, probably has the best "eye" for reading pitches ever, just look at his career walks -- amazing.
We should be celebrating this achievement -- I just feel like vomiting in my mouth over this whole thing because it is clear that one man's pursuit from being a top 5 baseball player in a generation to become an all-time baseball god was so misguided and selfish.
And at the end of the day, less fans like him ... and the great game is tarnished for selfish reasons.
June 6, 2007
Big year for the nosties
Lots of nostalgia, particularly of the 80s sort, coming our way. Apparently, the AFOS and other new wave bands still on for much later at AlohaTower. Some speculation now that we will get Asia (reunion of all four original members) in Aug, and ... well, these guys aren't nosties, but LosLonelyBs are a possibility in Sept
May 23, 2007
Just not terribly exciting
As the Association playoffs enter the conference finals, I couldn't be more indifferent with the four teams remaining. They all play team basketball, and you would think that I would actually enjoy that. However, there isn't really any sizzle to the matchups -- in many ways, I would be terribly surprised if both series were not swept by the Car parts and Boot accessories, as they are the superior sides
Assuming I am correct, a Finals rematch of 2005 should be pretty good ... but for now, zzzzz
---
The Association lottery ... does this process make any sense to anyone?
Yes, I find peculiar, dark pleasure in seeing them Green Leprechauns get shut out of spots 1 and 2, and probably spiral some more down the tubes. However, what good is it to have the worst and second worst team in the league, as a result of a random lottery, end up picking fourth and fifth in a draft with two obvious great players who could potentially change the fortunes of those cities.
Lakers, Celtics, Knicks ... at this point, could not be any more irrelevant -- yet I suppose I think that the Association would be much better if these franchises were healthy and dominant, rather than middling to sucking as they are right now ... but that's just me
---
This may be the first season that I am vaguely familiar with what is going on with that long running series AI. I'm not expert on the show, I hardly watch it -- but I think that at least for this year, there is this sense that the outcomes are as put-on, predetermined, and heavily influenced by producers as ... professional wrestling. Whether this means the long awaited death of this rather mindlessly entertaining show for the masses ... TBD, but the cracks in its armor are showing, producer arrogance is very evident, the "stars" it produces are largely irrelevant, etc.
I must say that last night's program was such a mismatch of epic proportions that I would almost consider it producer induced show suicide if the underdog won tonight. I mean, it would be such an all-time fiasco of juiced/fix is in, that the masses would leave in droves. And yet, if the favorite won, it would be quite the anti-climax as well. The show is over the barrel, and it's about time
---
Lastly, I watched some of that legislative Herman Inquisition on TV a few days ago, and I came away with the following impressions:
1. UH is much bigger than just its Ath department. Why legislators would want a briefing from only the UH ath dept is a big mystery to me, ath facilities issues, football sched fiasco, Wallace contract/Nash selection fiasco, not withstanding
UH sports certainly are important to the community, that is without question.
2. The current chancellor is a lame duck, and sure acts like it
3. The current AD is doing an okay job, there are some obvious issues with his performance. But I don't think you get to the performance issues by drumming on him for 4 1/2 hours, in many ways, it became like the Oliver North hearings -- if anything, I would think more people sympathized with HF after that full on, attempted hatchet job
4. I think that if you are going to have a witch hunt, you should understand the principles of the childhood game from Milton Bradley, Which Witch is Which. Simply, know what the witch looks like before you go on a witch hunt, or else you look like angry townspeople with pitchforks and torches ablaze ... in other words, pretty out of control
5. Lastly, although fans are an important part of the overall UH ath dept equation -- one certainly cannot run an ath dept from such an emotional and passionate place. It made Kmart's questioning look totally retarded. Seriously dude, who cares if you lettered in swimming at UH, tried to hug Wags at the BYU win, or tried to tear down a goalpost
The passionate fan perspective is no way to run an ath dept, nor is it a good way to evaluate the performance of an ath director.
6. Fire HF!!! is a very easy road to go down. Saying someone messed up is very easy to say in hindsight. I would like to see our legislators take a supporting role in the matter, facilitate constructive improvements to all of UH including the ath dept ... than appear as fickle as fans and ask fan-type questions which are at the end of the day, not very important
What the fans think is not the first priority when trying to manage the priorities of an ath dept
7. Why is Senator Sakamoto so cool? If you watched the briefing, I think we got another example. Constructive, above the fray, inclusive, professional, supportive.
May 21, 2007
One song each ... then good night?
Okay, maybe two
Any way, there is speculation that the Lost 80s tour will come and play here in September. The basic lineup of the tour is AFOS, DRR, WhenInRome, and G-Loves-J. The huh? about this speculation is that they will be playing at AlohaTower, Kaponos
To say that we are curious about what the bands look/play like, as well as what the fans look like ... well, that would be the understatement of the late 2000s
May 7, 2007
What I've been reading
Well, as I have yet to blog up ... spent a week in the "apple in decay" of 4NR LLWFHome fame. During my stay, I was intrigued by the heroic story of a construction worker who dived down into the subway rails to cover up someone who fell off the train platform ... and they both survived. And, the construction worker became a local legend ... and a national hero, whose fame took him to the talk show circuit ... and little did I know, so much more
Check out the story here ... would I be cut out to be a hero? Not too sure after this
April 26, 2007
In a month or so
The things that can happen in a month or so. Long story short, it's been a busy month and change -- as always, the thing that doesn't get updated is this here blog
I do have things that I want to write-up, so those things are coming ... hopefully soon
Before that, a grindhouse style answer to what was in the PulpF briefcase from the Q himself ... from a cool short interview from RR/QT
Check it out here
March 20, 2007
If you like that sort of thing ...
You can preview the Sabbath Dio Years album, with full length songs, through a QT featured music link on the Apple website. Sounds much better than my old ass cds, even through the players.
Check it out here.
March 16, 2007
The Aftermath
I didn't really write much when I found out about the death of Brad D. last week. Now that I have found out that it was a suicide, and perhaps learned a little too much information about the particulars, I think that the level of the tragedy has just gone up a few notches in intensity for me.
What I feel is this, sometimes it is easy to look upon our own lives and consider/wonder about how our lives are so average, normal, mundane, boring, whatever ... and we look to certain talented people in the arts, music, theatre, comics, (name your passion) as these standards of excellence -- and their work provides such a great level of enjoyment.
Never does it cross my mind that the people who I admire for their talents, well ... I never assume that they are in some way unhappy or troubled. I just naively think, well, they are so blessed with talent, fame, riches, etc. --- hmm, ergo, they must be happy and content in their lives and legacy, especially when there are no obvious self-destructive signs, particularly the tell tale signs of hard living (i.e., alcohol, drugs, trouble with the law, etc.)
When I learned the whats and wherefores about BD's death, I came to realize that what I think someone in that position would value, or find value and contentment in their lives ... well, it just may not be so to that person. I guess we all have our own demons ... and we all have our own reasons to live. Should we no longer find that enough to live on, I can see how the weight of this life ... perhaps greater if you have expectations put on you, whatever they may be -- well, I think it can pull you under.
Did that happen here? I do not know. It's sad to hear about how he cared a lot about others well being in his death, but no longer wished to live for himself or for those others that he clearly deeply cared about. One who has brought so much happiness to others, could not find happiness for himself anymore.
The music lives on, but there will be nothing new.
4NR
You wanna talk about pleasant surprises? 4NR's show last night was absolutely amazing. Best that I've seen from a reconstituted, nostalgia band, which is missing key personnel.
As I commented earlier when I was on the fence, they only sold half the house for the show, but this smallish crowd of probably 3000-4000 was really treated to a classic arena rock show. Just fantastic!
March 13, 2007
A new home
For UFC? This morning I completed a fanzone survey for the "worldwide leader" relating to ESPN possibly carrying and covering UFC in what I presume will be the near future.
Observations about last night's RRHOF within...
March 9, 2007
RIP Brad Delp
The voice behind Boston is silenced forever.
March 8, 2007
What More ...
Can go wrong? I know that sometimes we all can get caught up with the bad things that happen to others ... especially performers/celebs that we care about. However, at this point, I am just so stunned/deadened with what is going on with the state of 3VH as to be like ... umm, I think everyone just needs to go away, get their head straight, ... or maybe even just go away for good and do other productive things with their lives.
February 28, 2007
Brought back to limited success
If you check out MTV's NL site, they have posted links to Korn's UPlugd performance.
Check it out here.
Well, to be fair, I think there is a reason why the band has a big sound -- the performance of the songs in this format was pretty much "ehhh" to me.
February 27, 2007
Going nowhere ... musically
Today I decided to listen to a backlog of new release metal podcasts from one of my all-time favorite labels, MetalBlade. If the state of MB over the past several months is any indication, metal is going through a serious growth crisis, not unlike the late 80s ... where a shakeup is required to bring new influences into the genre
February 26, 2007
Pre-PPD: 2 outta 3 ain't bad
There is an interesting RS interview conducted with the elder two of 3VH.
Interesting stuff, go to here and take a listen to the clips.
New BS
Or HnH, The Devil Cried... big, fat, dirgy, dark ... and just okay imo
Check it out here from the Rhino site
February 25, 2007
Somewhat Busy ... For What It's Worth
Since I've been somewhat busy with work and other life stuff, I haven't been staying abreast of two changes that mean so much to the world of rock. Well, so I found out on this lazy Sunday ...
The first is no damn big surprise, the elusive cd with the initials CD, which had a tentative release date as 3/6 has totally, utterly, completely dropped off the face of any release list for music this year. I guess it is sufficient to tour and play the "new" songs (some which are who knows how old by now) ... not interested in that "reunion", more like reformation anyways
The one that I am pulling for because of what it could be, as we discovered earlier, appears truly doomed. Now, there are rumors that the 2VH may not be showing up at all at RRHOF -- along with the rumors that personalities (or one person is) are holding up the plans.
And the thing I learned today from MelodicRock.com is that VH albums have outsold the total albums of four prominent artists, including the ubiquitous You, Too ... and the eccentric purple one
February 22, 2007
Does That Make Me Crazy?: Days 2-4
No blogging the past two days, but yes, the insanity continues
February 20, 2007
Ummm ... Yeah
And this is why, I take a I'll believe it when I see it approach to the 3VH+DLR tour
To summarize, the tour is on hold indefinitely, read more here
Nice pic on RS (to go along with the "it took years" VH website re-do), though ....
The drama, if any of it is left, remains the RRHOF induction on March 12th ... will the band be talking tour ... or turkey
Well, that trashes the see a show in LV thing ... not really into FallOutBoy or Celine Dion. Perhaps Taylor Dane will be in town ...
February 19, 2007
War Inside My Head: Day 1
So I wonder to myself, am I insane ... or are the times I live in insane?
I hope to discover the answer to this over the course of the next 28 days, as I embark on a diet/fitness/wellness program, partially of my own design ... well, the exercise portion anyways.
As such, I will be keeping a journal to mentally note my observations throughout the process. It probably won't be exciting reading at all, just the meanderings of someone trying to kickstart a healthier lifestyle
February 16, 2007
MBE Recommendations
Been getting back into watching MBE sessions on kcrw.com, there are some excellent recent sessions on there.
The Damien Rice session is awesome in its depth of emotion and the beauty of the performance. I don't think there are any better than DR in writing deeply personal lyrics and songs of such beautiful orchestration (M voice, F voice, piano, cello) ... the songs of his new album, 9, are fantastic
Our fave band of the moment, Silversun Pickups, has a really great session as well. If you didn't know anything of the band prior to seeing them, you may make a few perception mistakes ... especially around the tone of the vocals. They just plain rock.
At MTV's site, as part of their discover and download live series, they have a 5 song live performance by SSPU. You can check it out here. Then, when it is playing in the sidebar, click on the 5 videos, and it will have all the songs
The energetic performance of Honeycut is just plain fun ... the crazy dancing and energy, neat stuff
And if you like energy, check out Rodrigo y Gabriela, seems like I cannot recommend them enough. Talk about not believing your eyes and ears.
February 13, 2007
Fiery
A small recommendation this morning.
If you are a classic rock fan and haven't yet checked out wolfgangsvault.com, there are a ton of classic live show boots in their concert vault, including a pretty amazing sounding one of the legendary SRV, which I was listening to this morning.
I mean, talk about knocking the Jimi classic, VooChi, out of the park ... simply amazing. It is a unique opportunity to rediscover your favorite artists live. And I suppose the best part of it all is that for now, this site is free reg, and free to listen
The thing I like about the site is the great variety of performers, everything from AFOS, to Genesis, to the classic lineup of Sabb, to Zep, etc. etc. Check it out and give it a listen, neat site.
February 12, 2007
Boys play rock and roll
After a long hiatus, well they did play at their induction for RRHOF ... that aside
Worst kept surprise: World Tour, like of the everywhere-kind ... NorthAm, Europe, back to NorthAm, Mex-SouthAm, Japan-Aus-NZ
Could it be better on a Monday morning in the middle of the Pacific?
Played:
Message In a Bottle
Voices in My Head/When the World is Running Down
Can't Stand Losing You (really rough in parts, but cool extended end jam)
Roxanne
Impressions:
Just good ol' nostalgia, that's all
Las Vegas, June 15th??? .... this could really be the best concert year in a long time ... if I can get tickets. I will be in LV for the tentative VH dates, and the Police date ... add in HnH in NYC, and this year is shaping up ridiculously well
February 9, 2007
You're my friend, not their friend
I recall, as probably many of you can, those uncomfortable moments when you are growing up where you make choices or choices are made for you -- regarding whose friend you are going to be, and whose you will not be
It can be a very pressurized situation with very awkward results, as you realize that the "friend(s)" you chose, were not really the right friends to choose after all. Or maybe some of these "friend(s)" gave you an ultimatum, and you just went along. And, like in bad 80s teen movies, you realize that that really wasn't the right choice after all
When you are older, these things seem to fade in importance, as you realize that you can make your own choices, somewhat free of coercion ... or does it, really?
Interesting investor's article on EA related to them being choosing (forced?) to be the 3's friend ... rather than the Whee's friend.
Read it here.
February 8, 2007
UndergroundHipHop = NoWomen
Video from old style, new school rapper Pigeon John.
If you like old school flow and clever humor, check him out
The video is here
In case you are wondering why I am repping PJ or hiphop, he has done sessions on MBE as well. So there you go ... eatin bean burritos, eatin them well
His album, Pigeon John & The Summertime Pool Party is way too funny.
February 2, 2007
4NR presale
As you may know by now, that band with the classic album 4 is coming here in March.
Again, there is someone key missing from the picture ... but if you like the music, the new lineup is pretty solid with the addition of Jeff P (x-Dokken) and Jason B (son of Zep John). I guess if you know the history of the band, the band has had a few lineups over the years, so that may not be a dealbreaker
For us, just plain on the fence about it
Update:
Now here's some thinking out of the box ... if you can't sell the whole house, do you sell what you can? I looked at what ticket levels were available out of curiosity ... and they aren't selling loge or upper tix, only floor and riser seats. Interesting approach, I wonder if they get to rent the arena for 1/2 price too ... yes, rely on me for smartitude and ridonkulousness
February 1, 2007
Whee > 3
Interesting article in the NYT, discussing the rise of the Whee and the shaky start of the 3.
Read it here
At the end of the day, it seems that the point of the entire exercise of playing VGs is fun
An earthshattering conclusion, I must say ... Who would have thought that?
January 30, 2007
The week of confirmations
So we have heard this week that DLR in back in 3VH
Now some confirmation for the other reunion, The Police will play the Grammys in two weeks, with tour to be announced soon
I suppose, the downside about these two tours is that they are highly unlikely to reach our neck of the woods ... too bad
January 26, 2007
Betamax 2: the electric boogaloo
Again, let me say, that my days of vegging and really getting in some serious console videogame playing are LONG ... let me repeat LOOONNGGG gone, done, finito. As an odd note, I find myself at times falling asleep while playing, I mean how darn pathetic is that
So, today I noticed that PS3s are beginning to be sold naked ... yes, unbundled, no extra games commitment to own a system. For that matter, are there any games for this machine?!?!!?
I think that when the epitaph (aka writing on the gravestone) is done for this machine, the question will be ... okay, what was the hype about? ... and dos, game consoles require something ... hmm lemme think, I'm guessing games
See that tumbleweed go by? Yes, I know that this is a real dead time for game releases, but man, talk about me wondering if I need a $599 paper weight, dust magnet, bookend, space eater ... it plays games, huh? I say when
And that's where SILLY should be concerned, because the question is also WHO? as in who will buy these things, to play non-existent games, to pay money that could be used on a much more exciting thing like ... hmm, I'm thinking iPho
The dreamcast and neogeo may soon have a dining partner in failed console nirvana
January 24, 2007
An american thing?
As fortune would have it, I will be in that neck of the woods for the Radio City show. But something odd struck me about presales today
January 18, 2007
TdM
So today me and the colaborers went to TacoDelMar. I guess that it will always be with new things over here that the lines will be long with the curious and the hungry.
How is it? Well, if you remember the old BigBurrito franchise, the burritos are like that ... a ridiculously big 1-2 pounder wrapped in tear as you eat foil. However, there is no variety on the flavors of meats like BB ... just plain ol' mex. It also comes in a smaller size for a $1 less, but even the small one will work your appetite over and render you useless for the remainder of the afternoon/evening
I think that the burrito is the best value, the other things like tacos, enchiladas, and salads seem comparatively small in portion to the burritos. And it tastes okay, fresh tasting ... slightly better than generic TB, but nothing that one would mistake as authentic. The items are assembled from a subway-type ingredient line, some extras cost $1 more
Overall, it was an interesting tasting lunch, nothing I would rave about -- but it is a pretty good value alternative if you want different mexfood, that is fast and pretty good
January 9, 2007
Last to Notice
KROQ is now streaming ... who says I pay attention?
January 8, 2007
Random tidbit
From the folks at G4
A funny parody of the Mac-PC commercials, but this time involving PS3-Wii
View it here
January 5, 2007
Interesting Speculation
While planning out future travel plans, I happened to come across an interesting tidbit about a possible Police reunion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their first single, with possible dates in the US and UK starting up in May/June.
I don't see it happening ... well, never say never especially with the HFO moment impending reunion of Roth joining the all-VH new VH
Read about it here
Side note:
Note that at the time of their breakup, they were absolutely worldwide huge. If they had stayed together the whole time, like their contemporaries You, Too, who would people be talking about right now as the biggest band in the world? Yes, I think about such things
December 28, 2006
Breakfast with Ed
This morning around 9 our time, Maiden is on the Swedish woah-oh Radio
Update:
In a curious move, their set was all the new album and a few warhorses -- always surprises me when bands do this. Anyway, first time that I had heard tracks from the new album -- all in all, it's still IM, nothing will surprise if you have been listening to the band's approach BNW forward
December 27, 2006
MLD
If any of you are interested, there is a pilot on PBS during their Independent Lens program, about 25 minutes or so in, called "My Life ... Disoriented". I watched it last night, and it is good to see an Asian American centered television program. It has three airtimes -- unfortunately two were burned off last night.
So, one more chance to see it (or more like DV-R that sucker), 2 AM on December 31st ... that means late night this coming Saturday (as it turns into Sunday morning), I get confused about these weird times, too
And if you like it, the official website has links where you can let the PTB know that you support the show. That site is here.
Check it out, especially if you like shows on MTV, the old WB, CW, etc.
One more thing, there are two preview clips:
Clip #1
Clip #2
December 26, 2006
It Doesn't Add Up
091101=2973
122606=2978
2978+X > 2973
-OR-
2973+2978=5991
5991+X = ???
Either way, this W.o.T is extracting a huge death cost in lives
ADD in the people whose only fault is living in a war zone
5991+54500 = 60491
60491 + X = unconscionable massacre of human life, by any standard
December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas
James Brown is finally free ... and war is over (if you want it)
December 1, 2006
"One" Shining Moment?
Let me just say that one of the reasons why I am not in marketing is because it would never occur to me to come up with something like you will see here.
And that's your sense of humor check for the day
November 26, 2006
Forgiveness
(Courtesy NY Times)
November 24, 2006
Coming soon to a Hawaii near you
From the Make Poverty History concert in Oz, a certain band from Raintown, and a couple members from that little, obscure band from Dublin
Uptempo, rocking version of RIFTW
Here
November 22, 2006
Monte Moment
Pretty fun cover of the H&O classic Sara Smile by Monte Montgomery
November 21, 2006
FA@TM
My favorite artist at the moment (well actually, for most of the year) -- Brandi Carlile
A great live version of Tragedy (which a lot of people know from a great ep of Grey's A)
Music on boats, who knew
Here
October 31, 2006
Halloween Haiku
Last Stones show ever (riiiiggghhttt) ....
Goes to Vancouver, no show for us.
Too bad, trick or treat !!!
October 30, 2006
Rumor O' De Day
Hard to top the VH/Roth rumors of last week.
But, speculation is high that the Stones show here will be cancelled, due to some alleged scheduling shenanigans leading up to the documentary shows in NYC last night and tomorrow -- oh yeah, and no big f-n surprise, because the show is selling poorly ... I guess people finally say, too much is too much when it comes to ticket prices.
October 23, 2006
Monster Fest Time ... Woo Woo Woo?
Ah yes, it's that time of year again when AMC decides to run a marathon of classic horror movies ... going way way back and then hitting the classic 80s slasher shlumps
So actually being prepared this year, I thought that I would record some of the movies that I hadn't seen in a while ... and play them back at my leisure. Well, small problem, what the hark is the problem with transmission of AMC on OC, good jeebus!?!?
The quality of my recordings was the pits ... so I checked one of them while it was airing, holy crap, someone tune that channel in ... I am disappointed
October 18, 2006
Habeas Corpus No More
October 16, 2006
Verging on ridiculous
And by this, I mean this is turning out to be a ridiculously good year for big act/live music here on the quakeable shakeable. Just saw the announcement that PJ will be playing its own solo show (last for its current tour in support of its latest) in addition to its open-the-show for U2, one week before (12/2). Opening for PJ will be one of SL's favorite under the radar bands, Kings of Leon.
For those keeping score, the big show dance card looks like this:
Stones with Thorogood & the Destroyers --- 11/22
PJ with KOL --- 12/2
U2 with PJ and R&tDs --- 12/9
Ze Piano Man -- 12/16
Not mentioned are the little shows here and there with up and coming bands, like Blue October on WED at the Hale Koa, and the eight days later, the brilliant metal of KSE at Pipe ... not going to either, but I've been impressed with the amount of shows this year both large and small (yes, the Pipeline boycott continues)
You know, the only problem is cash flow ... these shows are all pretty pricey, and at the end of the day, it will be pick and choose, not go to them all ... ehhh, those high ticket prices.
October 7, 2006
Good times, good times
SD and I went to see Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo with the symphony tonight. Excellent, excellent show.
October 6, 2006
Tried a new product
On a side note, before I begin, did you know that Dr. Pepper concentrate is prepared kosher? Found that out today, interesting tidbit, no?
Anyways, within is a summary of consumer products that I have tried recently, and my impressions of them ...
October 5, 2006
More KO
A special comment from Keith Olbermann on the "truthiness" of El Busho
September 29, 2006
The Power to Mess Up Programs
Inadvertently X D
I went to the midweek site and got this message:
"You have caused a template loop due to improperly nested sub-templates"
Funny, because I think some surfers will think they caused it ... oh well
September 28, 2006
Son of Random Video
Ah yes, the love theme from "The Spy Who Loved Me"
From a most unlikely cover band
September 27, 2006
20 Years Later
RIP Cliff, the band ain't been the same without you
September 26, 2006
What's it all about?
What ever happened to the punk ethic of having cheap rock shows? I know, in the grander scheme of things, the affordability of concert tickets is hardly a blip on the scale of importance regarding world problems
It had occurred to me recently that some of the BIG bands realized that as their audience gets older ... they must have more money, so we will charge them accordingly. I read an article that within the past handful of years, ticket prices for the BIG shows have doubled ... and some more than that
September 25, 2006
More KO
A special comment by Keith Olbermann on the FOX Clinton interview
When Random Video Attacks
I remember this one from LiquidTV, oh so many years ago
Still cool, even today
Great stuff from Plympton
September 18, 2006
More KO
A special comment by Keith Olbermann about why El Busho should say sorry
September 11, 2006
Five Years Later
A special comment by Keith Olbermann on nine eleven, five years later
September 7, 2006
Can't pretend about things that are real
I find the allegations about the new miniseries on nineEleven (to likely air this weekend) highly disturbing. This past year has seen two movies related to the topic, and besides wondering if they are "too soon", there is always the question about if they are too fictionalized/dramatized a representation of the actual real events ... to be redundant, that actually happened
My three observations about the controversial miniseries
1. The series allegedly overemphasizes President Clinton and his cabinet's role in promoting the environment that lead to nineEleven, including fictionalizing events that suggest that we could have taken down OBL if the President wasn't so concerned about his personal Lewinsky scandal -- and that gross leadership misfeasance lead to missed opportunities to prevent terrorism
2. A major educational provider plans to give this movie to high schools as a teaching aid to learn about nineEleven. Again, this is a tricky fine line because this is not a historical movie, it is admittedly a dramatic interpretation of events. Given the historical importance of the event, would you want your child learning it from such a simplistic at best, and incorrect at worst, vehicle
3. Lastly, and I think this follows on with the first two points -- if it does fictionalize events to make the show more interesting, and if it takes a dramatic slant (some would say, right wing view) that the Clinton administration is largely to blame -- then it is not as the network claims, to be largely based in the nineEleven commission's report. So, it will drag a whole ton of people, ideas, and events through a dramatic reshaping ... and out of it will come (regrettably) some people's understanding of what actually happened, in other words, some people will learn the wrong thing -- and the network does not appear concerned about this eventuality
I just happen to think that no matter what the informational vehicle, the events of that day are too important to be reduced to entertainment, for entertainment's sake.
In many ways, I still do not feel that we as citizens know the answers to key questions as well. I don't think anyone is served by this kind of television, much less find it remotely useful to educate our children with about one of our country's seminal historical events
September 6, 2006
10:45
Did you know where your loved ones were last night?
If yours were like mine, they were stuck in the worst traffic jam in our island's history for six ... seven ... eight hours (minor, really). And there is more than a large part of me that feels that this could have been avoidable with some creativity and quick decision making on the part of our local government officials
September 5, 2006
When did?
This former sportscaster become the last of the journalists, actually doing NEWS on the tube ... actually raising questions about the direction of important issues facing this country ... actually informing us of things we should know
A special comment by Keith Olbermann
September 3, 2006
the D ~ TPoD
I actually want to see this -- disturbing, isn't it?
September 1, 2006
Good Times, Good Times
When seriously hip goes seriously wrong
Here
August 31, 2006
Don't Live There
I suppose that the worst thing about the redistricting a few years back is that I no longer live in district two for the congressional races here. Too bad, it seems like these have been ... and are again the best, well actually most interesting races
After watching the "forum" tonight, a few things were very evident to me:
"Young" did better than "Old" in the format, yet has the charisma of hmmm ... J. Kerry, comes to mind, in other words -- bland. Yes, handsome cannot save you if you are bland. Seeming more articulate than a 80-something is really not saying much, if you're bland.
What to say about "Old" -- you know, I think that there are other qualities of effectiveness besides I can speak on TV better than you -- a major basis for the election of our current gov, mind you. However, I think working behind the scenes in congress is a much more important criteria than speaking decent on TV
"Old" looked old last night, and "Young" looked well ... less old. That's about it, it was about as boring an hour of TV, I've seen in a long time.
---
In a related note, the commercial that "old" put out this week, to compare his effectiveness to "young" was ridiculously high on the unintentional comedy scale. I mean, it was basically, pick me ... i am the slightly less ineffective one -- I mean, those stats cited ... both of them are more than ineffective on the basis of the measurables, they appear to be incompetent according to the statistics. And the comparisons of "old" to other name democrats ... I couldn't laugh more, when you see names like JK, BO, all "presidential" candidate material supposedly
Ehhh, I don't live there ... that's good, I guess
August 30, 2006
Who really are the fascists and appeasers?
A special commentary by Keith Olbermann on the comments of Rumsfeld
August 23, 2006
Subbed > Dubbed
I saw an unexpected thing last night.
Crayon Shinchan has been added to the adultswim lineup.
It is dubbed in engelbert, with US cultural references added to the dialog, and a voice for CS that makes him sound like the nelson on the simpsons, post puberty ... in other words, he sounds like a dee-duh-dee
I was sitting there, thinking ... man, this show is so much better in the nihongo, oh well
And now, your reminder that we live in the last days
Here
August 22, 2006
Perspective (or lack thereof)
Ignorance is a killer, isn't it? Or, sometimes one's lack of perspective does cost money
There are ups and downs in life, that is one of life's great or harsh truths that we all must learn. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?
$3.00
August 6, 2006
Bon Dance: Many Years Later
Afterwards we went over to a bon dance at our temple. Maybe it's been a while since I've been to one, but wow, there were like 3-4 rings of dancers. I was surprised at how many people were there, and how hard it is to find parking in Manoa at night ... that's a story for another time
And what is it exactly that makes people want to go cuckoo for undagi at these things, that line was very long. The thing I have always liked to eat at our temple events is the fire grilled shoyu corn on the cob -- last night it fully lived up to past memories and then some, that was so good
I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere nowadays, but it seems like everyone has a greater awareness of taiko drumming ... and has some kind of exhibition, last night there was a taiko performance as well. Got to see my 2nd cousin perform and he is a pretty amazing drummer
And of course, you always see someone you don't expect to. Saw some family friends, hey you never know what people's hobbies are ... they like to dance, interesting
August 2, 2006
This is awesome
This dares to challenge the why of life ... with zest, wonder, and humor
Ham plus CD player equals good times
July 25, 2006
Killing my formative year icons ...
In a What If kind of way ... what if the black helmet cape guy were the manager of a supermarket. Want to learn more? Click here
Also, new ... well, err kinda new Yacht Rock!!! ... this time featuring the little known feud btwn the Dan and the Eagles. Last one ever, bummer
July 22, 2006
Completely Surreal
Thoughout my life, I've been to several "open casket" funerals ... I could never really put my finger on what I felt as I finally made my way to see a person lying in state, endless sleep.
July 20, 2006
Good things come to those
Who wait ?!?!?!?
I seriously have a rough time with managing my expectations about live entertainment here. In other words, I just go along like something will happen ... then hey, let's all get disappointed over something that smells of being a trial balloon rather than an actual commitment of some act to actually play here
Well, I think I have been fortunate to see more than a few exciting bills ... just lucky, coincidence. For example, when I saw the Stones in LA, they were taking Living Colour out to tour with them ... no one expected GNR, but they only played during the LA dates. Very Happy Coincidence
So finally today, after a four month hiatus filled with rumors about whether they would, would not, could, could not ... that little band from Dublin decided to play here after all in December. And along with the roadie band, we are getting a taste of the re-energized Pearl Jam ... again, this is a Very Happy Coincidence, if it actually comes to pass
The dog year is shaping up to be quite a year for live shows here ... and that's a good thing
July 19, 2006
Crumpled like paper
Worlds of wonder week continues for me. As I drove home this afternoon, there was some kind of accident on the onramp to the freeway. Lots of service vehicles were there, and a police car was blocking the lane you merge into from the on ramp
Because everyone was just going so slow, I caught a passing glance of one of the vehicles involved. Well, you heard of crumple zones, this car looked like someone crumpled up some paper ... then unballed it and you can see all the criss crossing of wrinkles and lines, dents, and puffs
The car looked like that and I wondered how did it get like that ... I mean usually it looks like one end or the body is accordioned ... this one looked like Godzilla walked by, and the evil lizard that he is, decided to crumple up a car in his teeny hands, then drop it back to the ground from his short alligator arms ... but I digress
Everyone involved looked pretty much okay ... and I suppose that is interesting, given how the one car looked.
July 18, 2006
YDSSLTED
Have you ever seen those shredded commercial truck tires on the side of the road, just strips of shredded rubber with steel belting all twisted and exposed?
While I was driving to work this morning, I finally saw what happens when a semi blows out a tire. It's quite an amazing thing to see -- it's like a tree chipper or something, there's like this whoosh sound, then pieces and bits get shot out and go flying everywhere.
The funny thing is, I don't think if you are in the truck you can tell until the whole tread path is ripped away ... so they just keep on truckin' along ... and then a second whoosh sound as the rest of the tread is chopped up and spit onto the road way. I guess after that happened, the driver felt it bumping along the road so he pulled off.
I guess I was lucky in that I was in the lane farthest away, but it was something pretty interesting to watch ... you don't see something like this every day.
July 11, 2006
Pie Game
Well, actually it's not really a game ... just some interesting factoids about children's issues
The mindfeeding time waster is here, courtesy our favorite socially conscious ice cream maker
July 10, 2006
Time Consuming Hobby
Okay, I admit, I would never ... ever think of doing this in 8 million years. But someone has, and truth be told, it's kind of a cool (slightly unfinished) idea. SW:ANH in ASCII ... it gets up to the point where Luke discovers the princess.
See it here
July 6, 2006
Tidbits
Just some things that I have noticed in my scan of sites and emails.
On a side note, I finally saw the whole P-a-n-t-e-r-a BTM on VH1. I wasn't the hugest of fans of their music, but I liked them well enough. The whole thing with Dime, problems with Phil ... very unfortunate, I always shake my head at how some great bands have such loyal fans but just cannot go on because of personality stuff ... and now death. And on an unrelated note, seems like rumors are flying that SOAD may be headed for breakupsville, too. I guess this is all par for the course in the world of rock
One night, I also saw the S-Te//ers on P-e-a-r-l J-a-m ... in my op, it didn't really add to my understanding of the band or its songs too much. If I were to sum it up, it had a very political bent (which I agree with); however, like I said didn't add too much to the overall program ... oh, and you learn that Alive is about Ed V. All of which added together doesn't really make me want to re-embrace a band that I really dug for two albums ... although I did give them a chance to win me over, when I watched the program. end of babble.
Apparently throat probs have relieved Steve 2 from the JRNY tour (curious to see if he will go the way of Tim-O and JP) ... the fill-in is the, to me, very serviceable JSS ... who I best remember as the vox on the first two Yngwie solo albums and of course, playing some shows with the remaining members of Q-u-e-e-n in the past
Here is an interesting snip of JSS doing an A-T JRNY classic
In a similar vein, there must be something about D/L festival ... last year, the stand-in drummers for Met as LU goes down with an ailment, this year K-o-r-n gets various vox to stand in for JD due to a blood ailment. WEIRD
I read that Mr. Sweet (vox for S-t-r-y-p-e-r) will be releasing a new solo album next month ... and of course, the much anticipated album from M-a-i-d-e-n will be out in September, with a single coming out soon. And, just in case you were planning to file them away in the 1HW category, new album is done for E-v-a-n-e-s-c-e-n-c-e, due in Oct, new song supposedly due the first week of Aug
And of course, T-o-o-l tix on sale this Sat for Fri and Sat shows in August at the concert hall ... and if rumors are true, the equally enigmatic M-e-s-h-u-g-g-a-h will open
RIP June
Excerpt from White Ashes from Rennyo's Letters (trans. by Hisao Inagaki et al)
When I deeply contemplate the transient nature of human life,
I realize that, from beginning to end, life is impermanent like an illusion.
We have not yet heard of anyone who lived ten thousand years.
How fleeting is a lifetime!
Who in this world today can maintain a human form for even a hundred years?
There is no knowing whether I will die first or others,
whether death will occur today or tomorrow.
We depart one after another more quickly than the dewdrops on
the roots or the tips of the blades of grasses. So it is said.
Hence, we may have radiant faces in the morning,
but by evening we may turn into white ashes.
Once the winds of impermanence have blown,
our eyes are instantly closed and our breath stops forever.
Then, our radiant face changes its color, and the
attractive countenance like peach and plum blossoms is lost.
Family and relatives will gather and grieve, but all to no avail?
Since there is nothing else that can be done, they carry the deceased out to the
fields, and then what is left after the body has been cremated and has turned
into the midnight smoke is just white ashes.
Words fail to describe the sadness of it all.
Thus the ephemeral nature of human existence is such that death comes to young
and old alike without discrimination. So we should all quickly take to heart the
matter of the greatest importance of the afterlife ....
June 29, 2006
We Get To Carry Each Other
I am a member of ONE, the campaign to make poverty history.
One year ago, America and the world's richest countries, the "G8", made historic promises on debt, aid and trade for Africa and the world's poorest countries. On July 15th, 2006, the G8 meets again in Russia. It is very important that America's life-saving G8 commitments are kept, both at this year's G8 and back at home where it's up to Congress to keep those promises.
The ONE campaign put together a petition asking Congress and the President to keep the promises America made a year ago. If you feel like making a difference with these important issues, you can sign the petition, too.
Click here or paste the following URL in your browser:
http://action.one.org/live8.jsp
Thanks.
June 27, 2006
Will they show up?
I think that if everything shook out the way that it should have -- this could have been one of the biggest years for live entertainment here in a great, great while. What once seemed like a hip-hop/RnB no show thing for us has now blossomed into a universal thing, and this year though very promising for rumors and announcements has been dampened by what have been too frequent cancellations and postponements for no transparent reason
Add to the upcoming (aka we'll believe it when we are in the seats and the lights go down) list of performances: Michael B., B-E-P, and for two shows at the concert hall in August, T-o-o-l (Tix on sale NEXT SAT) ...
(note: is it only me that finds this show at the concert hall to be a weird match? *shrug*)
Which brings us back to the eternal question ....
June 25, 2006
Soon you could have a B-R player, too
I have so much fatigue about the next great thing in home A-V tech ... I guess you can imagine my dismay when I saw the plasterings of the err umm, next level in greed ... oh, I mean home ent. player units for sale at your local electronics box store ...
This article pretty much covers how I feel about it
June 24, 2006
Took me a while ...
But, I finally got around to watching the NBC News Special of Bono in Africa. It was a really well made piece, makes you think, and makes you realize the world is smaller than you think
Great piece (even if the NBC correspondent's body language indicates he is either really uncomfortable ... or even better, he couldn't give a F-F), see it here for free ... requires iTs.
June 21, 2006
Now this is surprising
You know, I found myself actually digging this video ... even though the audio sounds like harmonic farting.
The Halen Bros. and Mr. Ex-Zelwhatever
Some observations:
1. The worst high-5 I've ever seen in my life ... someone may be drinking again
2. Perhaps the most energetic performance out of the enigma in about hmmmm, close to 15 years
3. It looked like a happy performance, so unlike some that I saw in the 04 Sam Halen shows ... ironic, maybe he shouldn't do it for the $$$
4. The whole do the modern-Santana album idea is really not that far off at all ... it has more legs than we realized
June 20, 2006
Return of the timewaster
It would be really funny as a satire ... sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
June 19, 2006
Out of touch with reality
Going the wrong way ... really fast. That's kind of how I felt looking at the impact of the fed budget on the land of 5-Oh
Are federal deficits really irrelevant? ... I guess we'll find out. The new national budget will add $300 billion to the deficit.
Is the war free (or perhaps low-cost somehow)? The budget lacks assumptions about the cost of the war in Iraq beyond 2007, leaving costs to be addressed by "supplemental appropriations" which masks the fiscal impact of the war on the U.S. national debt.
In other words, it's like you have a big credit card debt ... but once a year, your parent gives you a huge chunk of money, that you couldn't possibly pay out of your current salary ... and you use it to pay your debt down ... the impact of your full debt (or even better of your actions) seems less because you got money on the side
Other impacts on Hawaii:
- If the El Busho tax cuts are made permanent, Hawaii's wealthiest 1% would each get $9,684 in tax breaks, while middle income families get $54 ... what are you doing with your one tank of gas?
- Social Security privatization and cuts for current Social Security death benefits;
- $22 million less for children with disabilities in Hawaii than was promised for the program;
- Funding cuts of $1.5 million for Clean Water loan funds which help improve wastewater treatment -- less money, more doodoo at the beach?
- $2.1 million in cuts for Hawaii Social Services Block Grant funding, which helps disadvantaged people in Hawaii achieve self sufficiency;
- Eliminated almost $14 million for job training and employment services in Hawaii; and
- Eliminated almost $6 million in vocational education funding in Hawaii.
Global warming can't happen soon enough ... at this rate
June 12, 2006
Lazy Day Timewaster
Now here is a cribs that I would be interested in ... :D
June 9, 2006
B-B-C Fan
No, not of that broadcasting station across the pond
KCRW has a new podcast on iTs that actually is a music file called "Today's Top Tune" ... yesterday's top tune was clipped from Brandi Carlile's live performance on MBE ... "Throw it all away", nicely produced ... what an awesome voice
June 8, 2006
Once were Halen
Actually a pretty cool clip from the docu that recently aired on vee-aitch-one
Here.
Stuff like this makes me shake my head at two things:
1. Man, the 80s were wild and big in so many ways
2. That it is so very remote that V-H will ever play together again ... in any form
June 7, 2006
The Fifth Beatle
R.I.P. Billy Preston
The creative force behind "You are so beautiful to me", "With You I'm Born Again", and great keyboards and background vox on countless albums of the greatest artists
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1533724/20060606/preston_billy.jhtml?headlines=true
New Met
Well, as usual, some sneakymetallifans have captured Met playing a new song live
Links are here.
Very much a rough draft, kinda loses focus in some parts ... but I like the riff, like the solo, like the fact that it isn't ponderous, garagey, repetitive, like stuff off StA -- it has potential, haven't said that about new Met stuff in a while
June 6, 2006
Only now someone figures this out
Another sign that the apocalypse will be caused by err ummm ... I NO KEA rather than any anti-Christ with a snooty brit or elitey eastern accent
That's the story about everything in our nation ... not only is the economy trickle down takes a while for people to figure things out, like non-essential, non-Idol, non-gas prices, non-gay marriage things like the war is wrong, the administration is extremely incompetent and corrupt, that hmmm ... I think there's at least a shred of evidence, we tortured people at A.G ... Guantos ... and have killed no, not only 24 at H-city, but in the several tens or hundreds of thousands of civilians in this war on this conceptual term known as "Terror"
And you know what else irks me, how many critical new stories and their proponents are viewed as kooks, extremists, fringey, etc. ... you know what else is just freaking brilliant, how conservos and R-Wers ... and for that matter, just your average joe and jill cellphone just dismiss all this questioning and blindly follow
Add another thing to the list ... it's not like NO ONE said anything at the time, I believe the counting of electoral votes was stopped BUT then quashed by a vote of the House 267-31 and by the Senate 74-1... well no one who wasn't flakey, kooky, left wing, sour grapes, etc. SHEESH.... (on a side note, does it not bother anyone that 140 House members and 25 Senate members did not vote on this? -- must not be important, the democratic aspects of this republic)
Read it here.
The implications are very scary to me ....
Odds and Ends on Doomsday
For all my metalhead friends, have a happy National Day of Slayer ... and big party in Hell today, apparently
In other musical notes, I continue to be amazed by the MBE podcs of Brandi Carlile ... wow, that is one hell of an acoustic performance, can't stop listening to it over and over. Her acoustic version of Tragedy is incredibly good.
But back to doomsday, for a moment ... read here again about how the number is probably 616, but then there are numerous examples of superstitions and curiosities regarding the number of a man ... six hundred six score and six
Okay, so you read how scholars think Rev. 13 is actually calculated to 616 ... see here how this ties in with Barry Bonds ... kinda making sense now, no? HAHAHA
On a totally geeky note, 6 is the first of the perfect numbers. What is a perfect number, you ask? It's a number that is the sum of its factors. So, 1+2+3=6 ... and 6, of course, is divisible by 1, 2, 3. For the ultra pointy heads, another example would be 28. Doing the math again ... 1+2+4+7+14=28 ... and divide on your own -- plenty of fun for the life-less
June 5, 2006
Just what I was thinking about
I was thinking that in general, I'm not really an early adopter when it comes to electronics. I have had about a handful of bad experiences with various new tinker toys of (almost ... not) brilliance.
So, as I contemplated buying some new electronics lately, I was a bit gun-shy about buying some "older" technology -- what with all the new formats and (potential) standards on the horizon. I was just irked that every time a new format, a new standard, a new this and a new that come out ... eventually we all have the buy the same crap over again -- and if you're like me, you're a bit tired of buying something on vinyl, cassette, cd ... dvd-a (don't think so) -- or vhs, dvd, hd-dvd (I mean, are these guys serious?!?!?!?!) -- don't get me started with vidgame consoles (I think my days of buying them are officially over)
I think I'll be the fool on the hill about this, and wait out the bloodbath ...
Read the article here.
I guess, my feeling is similar with the upshot of the article ... sure, it's better but why should I buy it
June 4, 2006
Good Satire
Don't get wound up about race .... err, I mean, immigration.
Great satire, here.
May 31, 2006
If you missed a buncha important TV last week
Here's some recaps for you ... with a side of satire
May 29, 2006
New Yacht Rock
Skewering another icon of my formative years ... after a one month hiatus
May 22, 2006
Catching up
With my ever stacking music podcast subs on iT. After plowing through quite a few ... I have three artists to recommend
From the Morning Becomes Eclectic podcasts, Josh Rouse and Bitter:Sweet.
Josh Rouse has this great album called Subtitlo out, just great laid back, acousti-pop
B:S is a collab of one of the members of SBL and a great F vocalist by the name of Shana, that sounds a lot like SBL, PortisH, Morch, etc., very varied -- the constant is the sultry female vox, that we would expect from these bands.
From the WOXY Lounge-casts, Mason Proper. Really great indie pop rocks ... unfortunately only available right now at CdBaby ... with a few tracks available to d/l off their site and their mysp. But, I know that my readers are familiar with the service, so go check out the podcast ... and buy if you are so moved
May 17, 2006
Ask the economist
Heh ... that's what they are for
Stacking up the gaming consoles over time comparing prices
Here
I suppose, the upshot about this is not that current console prices historically are not out of whack, but that less people find that they are unwilling to dedicate that good chunk of "disposable income" for them
May 16, 2006
What nose cone?
Okay, so as we know the big news of the day is the finally released tape of the D-O-D building being struck
This clip is hilarious because there is a guy insisting he can see the nose cone ... I must totally be blind, check it here... maybe if you believe in something hard enough, you become suggestible ... and see things as they aren't
Here's the full clips from the watchdog group that made the fo-ya in the first place. I don't think this proves to anyone that things happened the way we were told they happened -- it doesn't make the alternative explanation for it credible either
(Oh and for those of you not familiar with the popular alt explanation, go here ... takes about 80 minutes)
At the end of the day, we've seen it before ... now with white blur.
May 13, 2006
4 D Geeq N U
Found this late last week, a bit too busy to play with it for a long time ... it is great if you, like me, were into those Don Bluth coin-op laserdisc vgs like Space Ace, Dragon's Lair, Cobra Command ... or Cliff Hanger (better known as the game based on the Jpnse Lupin series)
Check it out here.
May 6, 2006
National Comic Book Day
Well, as you all know, today is NCBD ... or what some cynical people call Free CBD, because you can get a free comic from participating comic book sellers
I've found a cool, unrealized feature on the Marvel site ... now it is much better than what it was before, free digital comics, some all-time classics, some new ... and of course, you can't complain with the great price of Free-99
Check it out here.
April 30, 2006
From the Henry show
I'm not really one for talk shows ... but Rollins new show on IFC is pretty cool to watch.
This is the interview he did with the legendary vox of the Sabbs
April 28, 2006
Matters of Taste
Today the work crew went to R's at Koolina to belatedly celebrate AdPro Day ... which if I recall correctly was Wed. R's is located in the old open air clubhouse area at the golf course. This was my, I think, third time to R's ... the other times I went to the HKai location.
April 26, 2006
Heavy goodness
In case, you haven't found out yet ... and like that earlyish Sabb and Zep sound of heavy guitar and banshee vox -- classic heavy rock, there is a free single this week on iTMS from Wolfmother. Been listening to them for a little bit now, we really like the sound of this band, glad to see them get some rub from iTs
April 13, 2006
To Sun or Not to Sun, Part 2
In the second of my tidbits about sensational stories of recent vintage, I found this article about the Columbine shootings to be quite interesting.
Basically, this is an article about the ongoing efforts to suppress "in the public interest" certain portions of evidence from the public related to the planning of the massacre ... read about it here.
Again, the eternal question is: is the public served better by knowing, OR should the public retain their only their horrified, initial impressions about the matter ... even if there are additional things that could be known if "released into the sunshine"
Do we as the public have a right to know these things?
April 12, 2006
To Sun or Not to Sun, Part 1
So in following with our controversial rainy day time waster, I began to think about what is it that we have a right to as the public in terms of information about recent sensational events.
Do we deserve full disclosure ... an airing of all information, no matter how controversial, into the sunshine -- so that we can learn un-MEDIA-ted information about events. In other words, have the information for ourselves to learn about it, without having some government or news group filter, cut, and choose what is important for us to know about
April 11, 2006
Double U -- Tee -- Eff, Mates?!?!?!?
As an initial note on current events, I must say this:
Why ever would Kween allow their music to be performed to ... on a show that is SO TERRIBLY AND 360 DEGREES OPPOSITE to what Kween was about ... has me dumbfounded and at a loss for words
April 9, 2006
Haven't been paying attention
Well, two weeks ago today, there was a new episode from the boys that destroy dubious icons from my formative years, one icon at a time
Of course I mean NEW YACHT ROCK!!
April 8, 2006
I want to believe
Okay, so if you didn't know ... goejijoose is the latest, greatest M-L-M piece of crap that supposedly can make you money ... but at the end of the day, will part you and your foolish ass of money ... Which brings us the, "will he ever change" person of the day
Not that I'm the smoekingunn or something, but this really reminds me of that song in the South Park movie where they have Saddam dancing around and singing "I Can Change" -- here
---
What I don't like about M-L-M's is that they prey on some of people's worst character flaws -- love of money/greed; exploitation of other's efforts/all the money, none of the effort; exploitation of another person's trust, etc. You know why many of them peter out, often causing people to go to jail in the end, it's a scam -- pure and simple.
April 7, 2006
Slow death
So, if you are like me and listen fairly regularly to the D-L-R morning show ... well, maybe you have noticed that it has had the steam taken right out of it, basically due to the "reorganization" of personalities on the show. There isn't really much to say when Dave spends a segment playing old V-H songs himself and singing to them
I can recall more than a few times in my "paying attention" (nah, not really ...) of local radio station programs, that this happens quite frequently ... where a show goes on for a bit, someone gets the great idea to subtract personalities or add other personalities ... and that ends up being the kiss of death
I'm not saying that the D-L-R morning show has been the best morning show ever ... there were many gaffes and missteps along the way, but it had ... yes HAD, that live performance feel to it ... that anything could happen, even big time goofs and awkward moments. The tragic thing is that sometimes, there was magic there, too. I really prefer it to the over-produced morning show stuff that you can get basically anywhere in the 50, including here.
Ah, well, life support has begun ... pay your respects while you have the time
Because it looks like sooner than later, it is going the way of the dinos
April 6, 2006
Don't be
Another go along with the crowd, gas cap hating person
But really ... I would like to know exactly WTF happened that caused the gas prices to go up to post-Katrina levels in the past month or so. C-B-S news has suggested that along with supply fears due to turmoil in oil producing countries ... oh so now, It's the gas futures speculators! They allegedly add 1/3 to the price of a barrel of crude, due to options and forwards on the future price of gasoline going into the "american driving season" and the "heating season" later in the year
Okay, so all that being said, coupled with the recent reports that hybrids "financially do not pay off" for the additional dollars on their sticker price, over the useful life of the car. I have this very simple observation.
It really all does not matter, when everyone grumbles about it ... BUT STILL BUYS IT / THEMS VEHICLES / LARGELY IS IN ECONOMIC TERMS "INDIFFERENT" TO HIGH PRICING. Car owner and buyer behavior has not changed -- and foreseeably will not change because people are still commuting in their full size trucks, suvs, neo-oversized American sedans -- recent public mass transit projects are NOT paying off as intended (see, monorail in LV, among other examples) ... as far as I can tell
Gas prices, caps, etc ... really now ... IS NOT NEWS, nor are jackasses with large vehicles grumbling at the pump during candid interviews. If the news purpose was, what makes Americans think that owning a large vehicle with high gas prices economically add up? --- you know, I would actually watch that news story
Moreover, if people actually started to care about what this all means, that would be news
April 5, 2006
Do cities go away
Not to get overly Seinfeld-ish, but it has occurred to me with the green light for the centennial festival this weekend after being postponed last weekend .... do certain cities just not make it?
I mean, are there some cities where they go ... gee man, we tried it for like three years and man, I think we should dissolve the city. Everyone scatter to the various ends of the earth from whence you came -- we're so sorry, we apologize for the inconvenience but this city will end by the end of the year
Is 100 years a big thing? And why is the city putting on this celebration, anyways. Here's what my superficial attempt at research suggests:
1. The city's own website says that no one really knows when Honolulu was founded ... okay, so this 100 year thing is related to some other date.
2. Did you know that the original county was the County of Oahu, as of July 1, 1905? That's not 100 years
3. Did you know that two years after the County of Oahu ... by my math, 1907, became the City and County of Honolulu?
Okay, so all of this info is on the city's own website. Is the city counting it Japanese style? Should we be superstitious about celebrating a 100th when it looks like the city is only 99
I don't demand answers about this ... I'm just saying
April 2, 2006
Matters of Taste
It certainly may not be often that this column is dragged out again. However, from time to time, when SD and I go to eat somewhere new ... you'll read about it ... (that is, if I remember to write about it ... ehh). And yes, certainly there are other local food blogs that go wayyy more in depth about places here than we will ever go ... so you know where to find those
March 26, 2006
Rainy day entertainment
March 22, 2006
World Water Day
In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated March 22 as “World Water Day” to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide. It is a time when we are encouraged to pause and consider the largest public health issue of our time – the global scarcity of clean water.
Despite the apparent abundance of clean water in the US and most of the developed world, more than 1 billion people world wide – 20% of the planet’s entire human population – lack access to clean, safe drinking water. According to the UN, this world water crisis leads to the death of more than 4,500 children every day and is a leading cause of poverty, disease, and social instability world wide.
This world water crisis isn’t confined to one particular region of the planet, though the crisis is most severe in developing nations and particularly acute in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Poverty, health, education, and economic growth all are impacted by the lack of clean water and sanitation in these communities, creating a perpetual struggle for basic survival.
(Source: World Water Day 2006)
March 21, 2006
So anyway, on the V-H front
Every so once in a very great while, I go check out the news sites to see if there is any information on the defunct band with the initials, V-H
Soooo ... after the RockStar rumors came and went away ... D-L-R got his own radio show and "mirrored" (an El Busho presidency term ... for not saying what you mean, but people will catch on ... then you can deny it later) on a few occasions for a reunion ... S-H keeps playing V-H tunes like they were his on any given night of the week
March 20, 2006
Every so often ...
Our fearless leader El Busho makes a claim so preposterous that even I can't let it go ... despite the fact that I think he and his administration are setting a "never to be broken again" pace of administrative incompetence and flat-out lying.
So the quote from our fearless leader today:
" First-just if I might correct a misperception, I don't think we ever said, at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September 11th and Saddam Hussein. "
Yeah, WE GOT IT WRONG, NOT YOU .... of course
Seriously, who the $@#! does he think he's kidding? The most offensive thing about this is how this administration thinks that we are just stupid.
Taiko Festival
Well, SD and I went to the taiko festival yesterday afternoon ... surprisingly, the rain had stopped already because as you may know, usually taiko brings rain (but that's another story)
I didn't really have any preconceptions going in, and for the most part, I found it to be fairly entertaining. I think we both agreed that the youth group performance was a bit more entertaining -- just because it was more dynamic, contemporary, and high energy
When the masters did their thing, it was kind of like taiko jazz ... and that was okay, too. There were some points that reminded me of noisescapes on classic rock albums like DSoTM. But all in all, it was a pretty cool thing to watch.
March 19, 2006
Rain without end
I was thinking today ... when was the last time we pretty much had rain for an entire month. I actually find myself checking the weather more because of it.
Anyway, here is a great weather page with all sorts of imaging by Edward Dung.
In the meantime, Oahu gets pounded by thunderstorms this morning ... ehhh
March 14, 2006
I must have become insane recently ...
And not noticed.
How is it that we can continue to grow here? Why is it that I feel no confidence in using theory du jour, "growth management strategies"?
March 8, 2006
No U2
Another major show doesn't quite make it out here
Our best to the member of U2 whose family member is ill
March 7, 2006
Because radio ain't "free"
This may show how much I am actually paying attention, but I noticed WOXY has now gone to a listener supported model paid through BPass ... not unlike KNAC has had in place for quite a while now. I guess with KNAC it seems a litle less obvious that they are pushing a subscription on you. But in any case, with both, you can still listen for free at 24k which is quite generous of them ... and can also be used for indecisive mooching, I suppose
March 6, 2006
Who do you want to parody today?
Parody of if MSlop marketed the iP here
March 3, 2006
I'm gonna tell
Well, I think most of you know that ... I, being a highly lazy peep, like to watch Countdown on MSlopNBC. Basically because it is a shorthand of most of the pertinent national news of the day ... ANDDDD it has no obvious political slant
Just when life couldn't become more bizarre, the nation's favorite pundit will turn your name over to bushy tail network security if you say KO's name ... damnnn, the collective intelligence of the world just dropped by negative IQ points
If you're curious, it's here ... be warned though, it requires MSlop Exploder, that alone should have precluded me, but I couldn't resist ... here
February 21, 2006
Full On Monsuun
Well, I should have known by today's weather at Kapolei ... the normally dry and windy place looked like it was enveloped by London fog early this afternoon and sheets and sheets of rain came down
Now, it's early evening and man, it is pouring something fierce ... and the lightning and thunder are lighting up the sky and shaking the jalousies. I guess, it's time to spin some Go Team and do some email ... hopefully the power doesn't get tripped
February 20, 2006
Big drops is falling from the sky
I got a new Gillette Fusion razor in the mail last week ... like manna from heaven or something. Totally unsolicited, here comes a FIVE blade shaver with top razor for tough spots on your face. After struggling with the Quattro for the past two weeks, let's just say its nice to get back on the G-razor bandwagon ...
February 3, 2006
Quickly saying nada
(Afternoon update: Looking like this will be another JB classic.)
Well, don't you feel good that finally we have nearly official confirmation that .... a) no Stones show here in April ... and b) no second U2 show. Because our life was so taken with the obsession over these things happening ... I think if anything, all it shows is that the RS have good business peeps looking out for them. I mean, why play a town that is broke from being concerted out in a one month period ... especially when you charge RS prices, hey people didn't exactly dig U2 prices for the heaven seats in the Homage to Rust. So everyone get ready for JJ and the KFest ... too bad I'm not going, oh my heart is breaking .... NOTT
February 1, 2006
BSL (Slight Return)
Haven't really been doing much other than the daily routine. The music pods that I have really liked in the past few days were the latest KCRW MBE pod of Blake of Rilo's side project, The Elected ... and after being into the Sundayrunners awhile back, nice to hear great new stuff on the WOXY The Lounge pod -- only three tracks, but really like the direction (even better than the tracks on their current album).
I've been picking off a few obscure tracks here and there, including a fairly good but odd cover by The Method and Result of H&O's Private Eyes ... another great cover that is slightly older is Kathryn Williams cover of Pavement's Spit on a Stranger ... and Margot & The Nuclear So and So's Dress Me Like a Clown. All I feel about my latest foray into finding music is that ... man, there is so much out there, but when you find something you like, it's worth it
The other thing I noticed ... is that while listening greedily to the DLR morning show, the guy struggles in some interviews with getting into a good flow and asking good questions. When it's just his stage, it's fine ... and Animal is hilarious, reminds me of a real life version of Tim M's Ladies Man
(afternoon update: Bono gave the keynote today at the National Prayer Breakfast, an interesting read if you go here.)
January 27, 2006
Just Shut Up
The title comes from perhaps one of the lamest stage names in entertainment ... and for some of us, we know it as a response to a dorky BBS poster who thought that the original stage name we just talked about was very cool
I don't know why it bothers me so much ... but here is my rant of the day. As you may or may not know, things like broadcast media belong to the public ... or in wing commander: all your air are belong to us
January 26, 2006
Briefly Shortly Little
Before I forget, for all you iTs MBE pod subscribers, there is a great session from buzzworthy Irish band, Guggenheim Grotto. Not knowing anything about them prior to listening, I must say it was a nice listen, very accessible. Also, a MBE session from UK breakthrough band, Arctic Monkeys, my first time to get a full taste of the AMs (not bad, at some points a little to hectic for my tastes, but some of their breaks and bridges are excellent).
I don't think I wrote about it but the WOXY Lounge pod featuring The Teenage Prayers ... that was good, too ... their cd is only available on cdBaby, btw. The other WOXY Lounge pod that I thought was really awesome was the one by Benzos.
January 23, 2006
Eighty One: Modern Day Anakin
Like killing the younglings at the Jedi Temple
Mamba
81
YAWWWWWNNNNNN ... the Laker boycott continues
(Oh, it gets better all the time, I forgot to mention it was in his 666th career game ... Coincidence? The gods must be crazy)
January 22, 2006
Believe.
(Image courtesy: AP)
January 19, 2006
It never ends
I have a feeling that someday we will all just die of flu, slowly. This year's flu is still not washed out of me, and this is now day 9 of slowly weakening symptoms.
January 18, 2006
3F
I had heard of this concept in a different context ... but I think that it seemed interesting to me to talk about the differences between fanatics, followers, and fair weathers
January 11, 2006
Been Around the Block Enough to Know
A somewhat enigmatic title, I know ... but like, there are some points in your life where you say, I know how this will shake out, so I don't need to pay some expert to tell me something ... well something they have told me a number of times before
So, as the new year's variety of flu strikes me ... I don't need to be put on hold at the doctor, to talk to a nurse, who will ask me questions, tell me to rest and drink plenty o'fluids, take some suda and tyle, and then be told okay, if you get worse, call us
Why would I? Same stuff, different year ... someone wake me when we discover the cure for the common cold
January 10, 2006
Study in contrasts
First, we have the show that no one knows about other than Steve M. Band will play ... that is the renewal of the D-Head Crater festival on ... perhaps the most ironic of days, April Fools. With so little info at this point, you have to wonder if this show will go off or not
One week later, those four guys that still haven't found what they're looking for will play here at the Homage to Rust ... and it seems like everyone and their brother abroad knows more about this than local people here. I fear one thing, and that is that local people AGAIN will get the short end of the stick and ultimately a great number will be shut out from the show ... not because of high prices but because of so many dikfors messing with the ticket pool and placing even fan club presale tix on eBay already, and so many people from here and yon need to GREEDILY see the band, 30 times on this tour
January 9, 2006
Land of Luxury
You know, I was in for an eye opening experience today as I was checking out some preliminary info on that band led by Paul Hewson at the Homage to Rust.
Well, can't say that it's about ticket prices ... I mean, expensive tickets to see top acts are not really that surprising to me
What was surprising was ETS, which also does these personalized once in a lifetime type trips to see the mega-acts like the Stones, and of course, that second band from Dublin after Thin Lizzy
Well, for two people, NO FLIGHT, four days in the Waiks, a "loo-ow" on Friday with the trib band the UnforgFire, a ride in a van to the show and back, and 2 seats in premium reserved ... came out to a lovely suggested price of $2118.00
It almost makes me stunned that our #1 industry is tourism because that is like full-on unconscionable pricing ... and I don't think that's really out of line for a "Owhyhee-ian" vacation.
DAMN! What would happen without tourism here ... I shudder to think
January 6, 2006
Power of Observation
I suppose I should say something about Bill O. on Letterman a couple of nights ago ... well, I was going to and then I couldn't find a suitable link that wasn't some pinhead spouting off garbage either way about who was right and who was wrong
Well I found a link and you can judge for yourself rather than have someone distort you into compliance. Yes, using your mind is good
January 3, 2006
By the way...
December 31, 2005
Big Dumb Noise (Quest for Fire)
The late hours of 2005 are not so far from Quest for Fire
I made fire
I made lot of noise
I cheer after noise
There's nothing about doing it on such a massive scale
that has anything to do with good luck ... apart from its
potential for harm, this "tradition" is just dumb
The Year In Review: Music
In many ways, this was an interesting year in music. Although the distinction had faded over the years with the rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. in the mid-90s bringing the alternative to the mainstream, this year again it seems that there is music for the masses and indie music
This year probably made the death of big music as we know it inevitable ... but that aside
December 30, 2005
The Year In Review: Tube ... (on DVD)
I cannot remember the last time that I watched something with regularity on TV. If I were to think really hard about it, it may have been NipTuck last year ... and of course, I still watch new SouthParks even though that it pretty hit and miss lately
What we have been doing over the past couple of years is watching a ton of TV on DVD. So here's TV ... err, on DVD for the year from our perspective.
December 29, 2005
Just over the horizon
As I drove up to my house yesterday afternoon, I saw something that really bothered me. Why it did bother me, I'm not really sure ... I guess I just had a feeling of impending doom.
December 26, 2005
It's That Time of Year Again
As I was cleaning up the cars for mochi this week ...
I saw my neighbors starting to throw firecrackers into the street ... now, I must be some kind of wet blanket because I do not know what compels people to need to light SINGLE firecrackers ... 5 days before the big annual nee-Beirut blast
You go buy them today, then all of a sudden ... gee, I FEEL AN URGE to play them ... one by one ... and have 4932 left over for Saturday
I really don't get it ... at all
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas
War is over if you want it
The world is better for JC being born
I'm not sure 25 years later the world is better with JLen dead
December 24, 2005
The Year In Review: Movies on DVD
I was surprised to see how many DVD movies we watched this year ... and not surprisingly a great deal of them were not really worth seeing in the theatre
So without further preliminary comments and ado
December 22, 2005
Three days ... so who's counting
You know it's a slow news day when one of the news items is ... U2 in negotiations with the Stadium, yes the gang that can't shoot straight about field turf, alcohol sales ... and still wants to repair the Homage to Rust ... but that's beside the point, the news was that negotiations were going well for a two show stand April 8th and 9th ... and if I remember correctly this will be the first time since they played here with Oingo Boingo in '82 at the NBC during the "October" tour
December 21, 2005
The Year in Review: Concerts
Ironically, we didn't see too many shows this year ... though it was a pretty busy show year overall for the town ... what with the nosties coming in full force, the Eagles, Jrny, Crue
I've never really thought about what that would be, I think we only went to two shows total this year. In hindsight, I haven't changed my opinion about the Norah show ... it was okay, solid, and eerily reminiscent of listening to her CDs ... it wasn't an adventure in improvisation, I think it would be foolish to have thought it would be
The show of the year (out of two LOL) was the Jason Mraz show ... and the more I think about it, the more I become irritated about how much time was spent by others on the bill. Definitely one of the better shows that I have seen in recent memory
November 24, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving
Hoping everyone has a happy thanksgiving
I have much to be thankful for and am very blessed to have a wonderful family, friends, a loving gf, and great place to work everyday
Thanks also to janitor for the update ... which enabled the new cleaner look
November 23, 2005
Difficult does not mean easy
Lately I have been reassessing the whole enterprise of being a cultural critic ... needless to say, I am the last person that should be considered one ... really now
I don't understand how it is that lately I've noticed that in general people who do criticism on their blogs are almost universally so entirely negative or positive that it makes you wonder what really is the value of having your opinion published on this vast expanse of anonymity known as the Internet
What is their contribution, if anything ....?
November 22, 2005
Eternally Ruined
I was thinking today that there are two songs that have been permanently damaged and unlistenable due to overexposure through karaoke ... these are loveshack and eternal flame
I am listening to some virgin uk this morning and here comes LS and ... I'm like damn, I really dislike that song
Have I ever written about the bangles wonderful contribution to k-parties involving local Js ... I mean, what would you, the avg. local J woman possibly sing without LS and EF ... yeah I thought so, so now you know ... bellbivdevoe
November 21, 2005
I guess not
The answer to the question of does MLB get it about associating itself with music stars as a method of cross promotion
I suppose this is a knee jerk reaction to how some perceive that the NBA went too far in associating itself with hip hop ... but I mean, what does baseball know about music, and since when is music really and truly associated with baseball
But if there is any among you that are curious, you can see two live tracks from the former lead singer of Alter Bridge ... err, I mean, Creed on MLB.com (and there is also streams for songs from his upcoming solo album ... who knew??? I wasn't paying attention)
What did I think of the music ... I must say, if there is a category for ho hum music, this stuff has it cornered, captured, beat down, and bought up. You listen to it and go, you know, there's quite a bit of dynamism but it just doesn't excite you ... you just go, okayyy
November 19, 2005
Cool find
I found out today that order on the Big I and pickup is actually a pretty good thing for some premium items that cost a buttload to ship
I'm a big fan of royalpurple oil for my car ... and usually you have to pay the shipping markup for local retailers here, which makes it like almost $100 a case ... well, using online and pickup with checker, it's only 60 something bucks ... that is a revelation, and the oil is just super in terms of maintaining viscosity and not turning dirty too fast
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Oh and congratulations to the UH hoopsters... they really blasted the crap out of the #4 team in the country today, 84-62
November 17, 2005
Non-stuff non-works
As recent circumstances have me involuntarily burning the candle at both ends, I have felt rather sluggish and fatigued ... or basically in need of an energy boost.
For some reason, we had that new energy elixir at home, the one that is non-caf, non-ephed ... largely vitamin based, and from its claims is good for five hours of energy
It's funny because it says that you can feel the rush almost immediately ... well, it is now three hours later, and no rush ... I think my body clock just needed to wake up, and that's why I feel reasonably up right now ... so on the issue of does it work, no I don't think it does
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In other news, I just noticed today that Amaz now discloses whether cds are content copy protected or not ... more info to the consumer is always good
And just when I was gonna break down and get that ImogenHeap cd, oh well, off to iTs I go
November 15, 2005
Who does it belong to?
I read a pretty sad editorial about how this person believed that the HI they grew up in no longer exists ... and this person was leaving, moving away to the continguous
It made me wonder about who exactly does this place belong to
November 8, 2005
While I was away
Made me think of those While You Were Away office notepads that you are supposed to write people messages on
October 27, 2005
I was thinking
Big news, huh?
No, I had to take a break this morning for the cleaning of my office ... so I got to thinking about why things stop
Earlier I was listening to Colin Hay (ex of MAtW) and the song that was on the GS soundtrack ... and yes, it's from 98, and yes I think the guy is now some comedian or something
But man, that song is great ... and MAtW, no matter what I may think of the cheese factor, had some really great songs over a two album period ... and then disappeared into the haze about 20 some odd years ago
What's my point? Make more music, mate
October 26, 2005
How Many More?
American Soldiers Dead: 2001
American Soldiers Wounded: 15220 (15000-42500)
oh and by the way ... since these lives are apparently not important to our media
Iraqi Civilians Dead: estimated between 26700-30800 (as high as 100,000)
October 25, 2005
Don't Stop Hidin'
I had heard that the White Sox were playing Journey's Don't Stop Believin' lately ... well, I suppose you would need an anthem too if you hadn't won a World Series since 1917
What I did not expect was to see Steve Perry in the crowd at the game ... yes THAT STEVE PERRY ... he was almost hard to detect with his baseball cap pulled down over his 1981 style long straight hair and ... and still looking as thin as ever ... it struck me that if you became famous, that's a good thing -- and it is what so many want ... then I thought, okay so what happens after you're an icon, you start trying to hide yourself with stuff that couldn't hide your identity in 8 million years ... well, it was cool to see Steve in public, for the first time since the walk of fame day
October 21, 2005
No need to report
Until we have something to report ... still enjoying Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie, I am Kloot, Spinto Band, Ben Folds, Bloc Party, New Order ... and of course, The Killers
Well, life has been going by in a busy blaze of busy work at work, lots of changes in the personal life, and off-and-on crises
Although I do not have any tremendously important to say about anything or to rant on anything ... I am experiencing a Rilo Kiley renaissance, and am just loving the little more than a year old, "More Adventurous" more and more.
Ironically, I never watched their performance on MBE until this morning off KCRW's site, and wow, it is just fantastic. It is just refreshing to see someone know how to write good songs, perform them well, and have a lot of interesting, very easy to get into, sonic variety ... just straightforward, symmetrical, hooky alt pop -- it amazes me that our local Star station only pushed "Portions ..." and not anything else from this great album
October 17, 2005
Now you've done it
I have really seen it all now ... I got this call from one of the credit card companies that I have a card from. A telemarketing call.
And the gist of the schpiel is that they would like ME TO PAY THEM ... wait, let me pause and try that again ... they would LIKE ME TO FKN PAY THEM to monitor my card for a monthly charge for identity theft related activity
UM, hello stupid card issuer ... YOU'RE FKN SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT ... this is just enough to make me cut your card into pieces, you fricken pieces of crap --- good God man, how these corporations think we're so stupid
October 15, 2005
Your choices are
I find it highly ironic when people want to pad their community service resumes ... so I got another ballot recently, this time with a ballot for the state retirement system trustee elections
Quite frankly, I would rather the Gov appoint someone ... oh wait, I just couldn't stand for her to Harbinize another flunky to a major position
Anyways, so my choices are ... a social worker, an engineer, and a cop ... to which I say, can we pass until someone with investing experience finally pops up on the ballot ... and all of them seem like the "I am out in the community type"
Well that's all nice and fkn good, but I would like to have some return on my retirement account investments ... and I think a psychic donkey could probably do as well as a "look at me and my 50 extracurricular ... err I mean, mature adult community service activities"
October 6, 2005
A word on ...
Being in a perpetual state of Sheryl Crow
I thought it was very funny today that while I was eating lunch, the custodian's phone rang ... and his phone's ringtone was the quasi-stereo MC Hammer's Can't Touch This
September 29, 2005
Morning Becomes Addictive
So words in advance of a rainy SLASH severe weather weekend ...
My Morning Becomes Eclectic fancy SLASH habit (or more like addiction) is now so easily supported with MBE podcasts on the iTs. So now, no need to go to the website to pull them with the RA (well, the podcs are a small part of the library of performances there
And the joy of it all is, that it comes in easily digestible 40 minute chunks ... so for most performers that's a good 6-8 tracks with blather with Nic H. This week I've seen great editions with Arcade Fire, Death Cab, and Brandi Carlile ... and of course, rewatched the M. Ward session
This morning's edition which I did not wait to be podcs featured Keane (notable to us because we thought it was co-best album of last year) ... they split tracks between stuff from Hopes and new stuff ... I didn't think the new stuff was that great
Well, if I haven't blathered enough about this, it is on via KCRW each morning at about 6-9 our time during DST ... a great source of discovering new music and hearing performances from bands and performers that don't get pub in our hiphop nation
September 27, 2005
More news
Hey let's get some from MTV, while we search the earth for interesting, yet irrelevant news
This one from one of our favorite STILL-rocking bands, the Supersuckers. What would have Gary done with Iraq or response to Katrina? Now, you truly see that this is one of the most pointless and shameless tidbits ever ... a new low for SL
September 22, 2005
All about the Cashish
Initially, I really liked getting mass email from issues based groups and from national leaders ... that was until I started to notice that the issues based email which I used to keep myself current, started changing with more regularity into CAN YOU GIVE US MONEY for this ... CAN YOU GIVE US MONEY for that
If you understand like me that the premise behind most of this is that they would like to raise awareness and MOBILIZE PEOPLE ... that to me, requires ways to persuade people to be active, not persuade people to give more and more
You can have access to my mind, but you can't have my wallet
September 20, 2005
Sad
I think I believe that most nostalgia tours are pretty sad and lame ... and usually bands that had their heydays 15+ years ago, can put their new stuff out there all they like but they are stuck like the late Bob Denver ... always Gilligan
After finding out just now who in excess picked as their replacement for dead Mike ... to record new music ... and tour ... I am like, could you have picked a bigger assclown
Well, not that I was going to buy their new stuff anyways ...
September 18, 2005
Catching up
I hope to do a review this week of Stryper's new one, also get down some words about Help: A Day in the Life, a benefit album for children affected by wars. Help features a number of tracks by today's top alt artists
None for me
I suppose I am one of a tired few that think that the whole reality TV thing is ... well for the sake of word economy -- not for me
As each new iteration comes forth, I think to myself, sheesh what it is about this "reality" TV situation that is even remotely interesting to me, and usually there is not anything there
I don't want to mention programs by name but let's just say I don't hang out on the former music television or the former soft rock music television cousin
September 15, 2005
And I thought that was expensive
Well, consider the silence broken ...
I went to see The Eagles at our local stadium close to ten years ago, and paid $85 bucks for a seat ... it was in the 9th row, and it quite honestly was one of the better stadium shows that I have ever seen
I really and truly am not one to shy away from paying high prices to see my favorite bands ... especially here in paradiso. I mean, how many shows do we get here at all, right?
September 11, 2005
In remembrance of the 2986
August 25, 2005
More Seminars and Comfort Food
Day 2 of the seminar went by really fast ... in the final analysis, I'm not sure I took anything away from it
August 24, 2005
Seminars and Fine Dining
Well today was day one of a conference that I had to attend for training ... and I was surprised that traffic driving into town in the morning today was really ... well, it certainly was there, but it wasn't so bad
August 23, 2005
Out of the loop
Well, I've been pretty out of the loop with what is happening in the louder genres of music
I was really surprised to read about the incident involving Maiden and Mr. Osbournes' crew or whatever
I thought this was the best account that I had read about it, that didn't involve denials or innuendo
It's really unbelievable ... and just sad
August 22, 2005
Observations
A lot of people make a ton of money more than me ... I thought this while I was pumping my precious near three dollar gas
I mean, could I possibly afford a Range Rover with $1000 rims ... and oh, putting in that ever so devil may care, more expensive middle grade of gas into my africansafarimobile ... I mean, perfectly decent five mile per hour freeway vehicle
Yes, at 25, I only wish I were more resourceful ... that being said, I think I am on a personal moratorium/boycott of native issues. I feel so numb after working on them for few years a handful of years back, and actually taking it personal about the cause ... at this point, with all the shenanigans, wake me up when September comes on this issue ... it's a non-starter for me at this point
The last thing I wondered about while driving to tennis ... was during our great governor's radio segment that I was listening to -- I frankly cannot think of anything that they have done in the past near three years except try to PR me to death/and put the shine over on us ... so I open it up to others to tell me what great and wonderful things they have done to deserve another term next year
August 21, 2005
It's been
Many days since I cleaned up my music collection ... and wrote an appropriate journal
Well, I discovered a few things ... one was that I have a metric ton of music files -- the other thing was that I have so much music that I can't really appreciate that I have really good music here to listen to
I've pretty much stopped gathering up new music going on three weeks now ... every once in a while I head over to s-gum to see what they are up to -- and hey, free-99 is always a good price, at least for new music
Up next is the always fun .. put the disk back into order after so much dumping
August 20, 2005
Fun with Incompatibilities
Well, this should be part deux of yesterday's entry
So tonight I decided to do a DW run on my hard drive after last night's great music and other files cleanup. As you may know, this requires a boot from the DW disc as the startup ... okay so after cleaning it all up fairly nicely, I can't switch systems back to the osx stupdisk
And why you ask? well, because of my fun wireless Microslop key and mouse set ... essentially if you are on the OS alt screen, well the maus and the keyboard are really limited down to common commands ... and arrows don't work
So I rack my brains for the eject command combo for about 30 minutes and then afterwards swear to write it down ... did I do that? actually no, but I think I can remember this time ... famous last words
August 4, 2005
Second City
Well, out here in the second city ... it's actually pretty nice. It actually could just be that I am in the environmentally controlled A/C environment ... but be that as it may, this place doesn't seem so bad ... compared to how built out the rest of this island is
August 3, 2005
Road Swing, Game 2
Same old song yesterday, the hole that starting pitching puts the team in from time to time
Inside, impressions of NYY at CLE (105/162)
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August 2, 2005
Another brick
In the wall ... or through the glass?
I think things here are really in for some changes ... just today, I saw that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the admission preference for KS. It is interesting to read of this ruling because the 9th Cir is regarded as "the liberal" court, and I think KS thought they could win both at the district court here (which they did) and at the Ninth, which has backed OHA voting restriction in the past
I really wonder what it means to have our state under the mainland "color blind" standard, which sounds so ironic to say it, because this place for so long has been the so-called model of multicultural society and "tolerance". It is almost a Bizarro implication, where a person who is a majority anywhere else in the US ... can force entry into a school set up PRIVATELY and intended to correct the social and economic difficulties faced by a group that once was sovereign here.
The sad and difficult implication is that it appears another leg has been kicked out of the efforts to right the political wrong of the overthrow of the former kingdom here. The road to justice appears to be coming to an end ... whether people here want it to or not
August 1, 2005
Identity Identifies I Don't Get It
One of the major things that I have been trying to get my mind around over the past several years is personal cultural identification. It sounds more boring or obscure than it should
July 28, 2005
Taken A While
Well, it's taken me awhile to write down some impressions of Mraz's new CD ... but let me get out a few tidbits that are Mraz-related ... before I go absentminded
July 25, 2005
Bizarre motivations
After making a key decision to reload the shuff up with metal tunes that really rock, I found that exercise was a breeze last night (which isn't surprising)
It made me want to upgrade some of my old cass tapes and albums to CDs, this is a very unfortunate side effect and turn of events LOL
July 22, 2005
King of Hipe
Yes, what do you get when you overhype ... you get tripe hype, so ouila, HIPE.
I feel like I'm really overhyping, but I can't get enough of this recent find (well, depends how you define "recent", I think I heard it on WOXY or did I hear it on iTunes sometime late May/June??)
We have been listening to our favorite Canadian artist at the moment ... specifically Feist's "Let It Die" for quite a while now, and I don't seem to be able to sit for any amount of time and write a review. But, I really love it alot ... in fact, the most apt comparison I can draw is that freshness when I first heard norah, and her voice is just amazingly dynamic and emotionally evocative
Great starter tracks to sample are One Evening, Gatekeeper, and Inside Out, but Now At Last and the cover of Secret Heart are equally good
What is even more cool is her acoustic set on M.B.E. (requires RealPlayer), which features some better arrangements of the songs on the cd ... and I suppose a great place to sample her music
July 21, 2005
Where I'd Been
Well, it's been a while between actual journal entries ... let's just say I was doing terribly grownup things that were work-related and now that they are reasonably under control again ... yeah, I actually feel like writing something
July 20, 2005
Can You Imagine
I suppose it is tremendously ironic to me to think of modern life today ... and think about how much personal "stress" we each have. There was a time when things were simpler, when all people were concerned about was a) what was for lunch? or food and b) trying not to be lunch to some predatory creature.
Now it's like we have artificial deadlines for this or that -- we place conditions on our happiness based on dubious criteria (e.g., how much $ we make, what kind of stuff we own, etc.) -- and we ultimately feel lost, when we have nowhere to go or nothing to do ... like we somehow need to be kept busy
The more I think about it, the more attractive voluntary simplicity is
July 19, 2005
Little tidbits
I just noticed that Athlete "Wires" has been the free download of this past week on iTs. Well, free is always good, so if you haven't grabbed it yet for a test drive, well we can't recommend that track enough
And our love affair with Morning Becomes Eclectic grows, there are great shows with performances by Bell X1, Feist (who we are calling the Canadian Norah), and great alt-balladeer Stephen Malkmus
There's still a few we have to catch up with ... I think we will be watching the Sufjan one sooner than later
July 17, 2005
Where's the rock at?
I think that watching the in-excess reality show has sharpened my taste for some straightforward rock ... so I find myself popping in stuff by the Stones and other straightforward rock bands
There's really not much of it anymore, is there? The old school rockers are putting out cover albums ... and the new school, well, it's just not as focused on rocking
July 16, 2005
Sun Dumb
Well, I had made up my mind to really do a thorough wash and wax to my car this morning ... or at least, I thought that I could avoid the harshness of the summer sun here
So I went out fairly early in the morning and got out of it very quickly, and reparked under the garage ... well I thought so, anyways. Little did I know, when I looked at my skin later and felt some discomfort around my neck that I got burned anyways. I wish I could say that the sun is somehow nearer to the earth or that the ozone layer really isn't what it used to be, but there is a part of me that doesn't really want to put on lotion for just 30-45 minutes of sun exposure
July 15, 2005
Realistically Not So Realistic
There is a place, we shall call it School A ... I suppose that School A is not very much different than other schools of its sort. It has it's own prescribed curriculum, and will never be flexible and adapt to current needs in life here, such as that people can't just stop working to go to school. All they seem to like to say is, well you can't do this, you can't do that ... and we can't make accommodations for you
There is a place, we shall call it School B. It has perhaps reached a bit too far to help working adults to attend school and get meaningful higher education credentials. It is hard for me to understand why it would be why more schools aren't more like School B nowadays, and get real that there really are not that many "pure students" that only go to school and do not work full or part time.
But what do I know ...
July 14, 2005
Unrealistic and sucked in
So I guess I'm another one of those easily dupe-able customers of the iT store. There really isn't much that I want right now, but I still try buying a single here and a single there. I am really wondering why big red fruit co. is trying so hard to boost sales numbers, is a key earnings report coming out? Why do they need a quick 20 mil in revenue? ... I wonder?
(Sunday update: well, no one from Hawaii won anything from this contest)
July 13, 2005
Pondering television
So, last night, I got to watch the tail end of the reality series that supposedly will help in-excess (phonetically) find their lead singer
SD and I couldn't help but wonder about one practical matter of this all ... say you were in your 40s or so, would you pick a full band member who was barely in their 20s (ed note: have found out the average age is late 20s-early 30s ... hmm, still smells like a one off pubstunt)
July 12, 2005
Passion Free
Today was usually a day where I would stop everything at the release of the new college football title for my sonyFATstation
I went in to go get it AGAIN this year, and stood in line again ... and listened to each customer get pitched to preorder the pro football game coming out in three weeks
July 11, 2005
Harm > Good
This is quite the inane thought, but when service tech people screw up ... wow, you can really notice it. Whether it is your car, the A/C in your office, or whatever ... in general, you can trust that these people will do the job right and life can go on
But, man, those few times they mess up ... well, the techs came to mess with the A/C in our office space. Now our central A/C blows unrestrictedly on high and at a pretty uncomfortably chilly temperature ... and we were told last Friday, it may be mid-week before someone comes to correct it
Bust out the parkas, it's XM in July
July 8, 2005
Reasonable is Good
I am always amazed with how reasonable my overall boss is -- I mean, I have never had a superior that I thought was wise, open, reasonable, practical, etc. ... I have had a few that were some of these things, but terribly lacking in other areas
Last Day
Of the work week, another time to reflect on a few things
So, let's get on with it