5 From 05
01/04/2006 11:13:39 PM
Hey Kids! Let's dig into the 2005 archives and exhume my five favorite entries from last year!
1. Cats: Our Cute and Pathogen-Rich Friends
2. The Kevin Tapes, Part 1 (and yeah, there will be a part two one of these days...)
3. Trout Fishing in South-Central Wisconsin
4. Presidential Mailbag
5. Illustrated Guide to Emigrating from Mexico
The sad thing is, there wasn't that much to choose from in 2005, since I barely did any weblogging at all last year. That is sad. I remember at one time calling myself the Hardest Working Man in Blog Business, but those days are long gone, my friends. Long gone.
2006 will be different, though. Maybe it's just the booze talking, but I really think this year will mark a creative resurgence from the ol' B'ster. For one thing, I'm calling myself "ol' B'ster." That has to mean something. Good, I mean. Fuck I'm drunk.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 01/05/2006 06:14:14 PM
#5 was my favorite by far.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/06/2006 01:59:34 AM
You know, that's a pretty solid lineup of entries, despite being chosen from a small field. It was a year of weblogging quality!
2005: The Year in Quiet Reflection
01/05/2006 01:39:35 AM
I know I'm kinda late with the year-end review thing, but cut me some slack, I'm just now starting to feel like I've got my feet under me. I did a lot of travelling over the holiday season, and for some reason it took me a long time to get my shit back together.
Despite the subject line of this entry, I'm not going to spend a lot of time reviewing 2005. Let me kick it real for a second. 2005 was a great year in some ways, and not a good year in other ways. Pretty mind-blowing statement there, huh? But what I mean is, and please keep in mind that I'm drunk as I write this, 2005 was a CRAZY ASS YEAR for me. And I mean CRAZY ASS year, not crazy ASS YEAR. I don't go in for the ass play. It was a nutty, nutty year. I think...it was the year I started to realize exactly what it is I want out of life. I mean started. Not completed. It's like I just sort of stuck my head out and saw what it was, and I recognized it, but if you asked me to describe it, I couldn't do it. You know?
THREE AWESOME THINGS I LEARNED IN 2005
1. How to drink a gigantic amount of booze without getting hung over the next day.
Two words: clear liquids. Vodka or gin. Minimal mixers. Martinis are best, or tonic water. No fruit juice or super sugary/creamy mixers. This was, for me, a truly revelatory discovery. The thing that, to date, has kept me from becoming a proper drunkard is the bloody hangover, so punishing, so nauseating, that it's hardly even worth getting drunk if you're just going to feel like shit the next day. Maybe if I were a genuine alcoholic, I wouldn't be daunted by the hangover. But I'm not an alcoholic. I'm just a guy who really likes getting drunk. And I'm not one of those lucky bastards with a cast-iron stomach who can slam pitcher after pitcher of beer without feeling like shit. So it's good to find a way to that place where I want to be that doesn't make me feel the next day like a pair of wind-up chattery teeth jammed into a rubber balloon filled with cat vomit.
2. How to not get colds.
The thing that really set 2005 apart from other years is this: I DID NOT GET SICK EVEN ONE DAY DURING 2005. And I don't attribute that to clean living or homeopathic remedies or whatever. I'm as likely to catch a cold now as I was in 2004. Now listen closely because this is probably the most important thing I learned this year. The only way to avoid catching a cold is to avoid exposure to cold viruses. It's that simple. It's not about shoring up your immune system or taking the right herbs or whatever. I read this article that blew my mind, about how, basically, if you're exposed to cold viruses you're going to catch a cold. Period. I'm too soused to look up the actual studies, but they found that pretty darn near everyone who was exposed to cold viruses caught a cold. Which to me is a fascinating factoid, because what it means is that the way to not catch a cold is to...not CATCH THE COLD. You take some basic cold-germ-avoiding precautions, and hope for the best. But here is the most critical piece of information I stumbled across in 2005, which everyone who doesn't want to get sick like a dog should pay heed to:
WHEN TRAVELLING ON AN AIRPLANE, ALWAYS ORDER YOUR BEVERAGE WITHOUT ICE. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES INGEST ICE SERVED ON AN AIRPLANE.
The basis for this rule is a study (again, too soused, look it up yourself) that showed that ice served in drinks on airplanes is UTTERLY FILTHY and riddled with pathogens. We're talking fecal bacteria. Since reading that study, I have specifically asked for beverages sans ice on airplanes, and I've told other people about this, and, get this, ever since they've started following this advice, NO ONE HAS GOTTEN SICK. These are people who used to get sick on a regular basis. So. Take that as you will.
3. Um, something.
Crap
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 01/05/2006 09:20:25 AM
This year has been pretty odd... I have a good list that I could compile, but this year (2006) is already going to kick off with some pretty deep stuff.
And as far as getting a cold, I avoided one ALL YEAR by doing just one thing. I quit bitting my nails. Turns out that there are more jerms waiting underneath finger nails than just about anywhere else.
gross, eh?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 144.92.45.157
URL:
DATE: 01/05/2006 10:54:44 AM
My goodness, that *is* gross.
I can attest to the wisdom of Teh B in the realm of not catching colds. Thanks to his tips over the year, I, too, have not been sick...maybe once. But most winters I am sick from November to March, and this one: NOTHING.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/05/2006 11:30:28 AM
Scott - yeah, I'll bet 05 was a weird year for you, and your soon to be expanded family! And yeah, the under-fingernail area has to be one of the grossest areas of the body, since hand washing rarely gets much soap/water underneath the nail.
Hannah - Avoiding exposure + frequent hand washing. Crazy? Like a FOX! Or foces.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jennifer
EMAIL: jenmoon@pacbell.net
IP: 169.237.72.102
URL: http://fullmoon.typepad.com/chaos
DATE: 01/05/2006 04:44:43 PM
Huh. I tend to chalk up my lack of sickness to zinc lozenges and keeping my throat moist and my nose un-snotty. I swear, you start to get a sore throat, or even a dry throat, and it all comes rushing in at you.
Alas, I can't claim to have managed to "just avoid sick people," because sometimes you just fucking CAN'T. The place I volunteer at has mandatory potlucks when you work nights and god knows there's always someone who's sick at that.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 65.34.55.10
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 01/05/2006 10:52:15 PM
Ahh, B, how we luvs ya. God Luv Ya.
I'm in Irishman. Well, actually, Irish-American, mixed in with a pinch of Welsh and a splash of German...but, never the fucking mind. Anyway, since you like the quaffing and all, I'd like to make you an official Irish brother. So, here's what you do:
Go out and get yourself lots of beer and some green dye. Drink several of them green beers real fast like and then run outside and punch a complete stranger in the snoz (perferably a big red one). Slowly piss yourself, then whip around crazily three times whilst screaming in your best falsetto: "I'm not in Dublin anymore, bloke."
Now, welcome to *my* ethnicity, my brother. And happy New Years, Lad.
L Man
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/09/2006 01:42:41 PM
Ah B! You crack me up: "3. Um something. Crap"
Drunk bloggin'. Nothing better. heh...
And thanks for all the info on colds! I DID NOT KNOW THAT (Johnny Carson voice)!
Now I'm afraid to go outside the house. O_o
(not really)
(a little, though)
How to Not Get Colds (Sober Edition)
01/06/2006 05:45:53 PM
It's been suggested to me that my earlier discussion of avoiding colds was lacking a certain...coherence, so I'm going to take another whack at it, sans gin.
In my view, the most important thing to know about colds, and the thing that most people don't know, is that you cannot "fight off an infection" -- the condition of your immune system makes absolutely no difference as to whether or not you catch a cold in the first place. Even some doctors spread the idea that, by bolstering your immune system, you'll somehow manage to ward off cold germs and keep them from invading your body. This is not true. The study cited shows that about 95% of healthy people exposed to cold viruses do become infected. So, if you think that taking the right herbs or supplements or whatever will keep you from catching a cold, think again. It's true that a healthy immune system can fight the cold back more quickly, but it's not going to prevent you from being infected in the first place. And even among the healthy, 75% of people infected get sick.
So, given that you're basically doomed to infection if you're exposed to the germs, the key becomes to avoid exposure in the first place. Here's my universally acclaimed five-point regimen for not getting colds:
1. Public places are the Casablanca of cold germs. When in public, avoid touching your eyes or nose. These are the primary entry points for the cold germs.
2. Wash your hands often, especially before meals, and carry some sanitizer with you and use immediately after leaving a public place.
3. When flying, always turn off the overhead air nozzle, as this increases air circulation around your seat, increasing the chances of breathing infected air from someone sitting near you.
4. NEVER, EVER, EVER have ice with your in-flight beverage -- the ice you get on airplanes is filthy and germ-ridden. This goes for airplane water in general (coffee, for instance). Drink bottled water only!
5. When staying in hotels, bring some disinfectant cleaning wipes with you, and wipe down the TV remote control (especially important -- this is gross as it's never cleaned by the chambermaids), doorknobs, and faucets. Get rid of the bedspread, because it too is rarely cleaned and usually crazy with germs and other things you don't even want to know about.
Now, I'm not claiming that following this five-point plan will guarantee that you won't get sick, but it will cut your chances way down. Listen to your unca B, you won't regret it!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/06/2006 06:15:14 PM
Wow, step 5 is pretty heavy. Once one performs this step, it is clear that he or she is serious about cold prevention!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Sherri
EMAIL: Sylkenvelvet@yahoo.com
IP: 68.59.165.165
URL: http://www.formyselfandstrangers.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/06/2006 07:31:03 PM
You make more sense sober, but you are funnier inebriated.
From personal experience, I'll second this. I don't work full time anymore so I avoid a lot of interaction with germy people.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Sherri
EMAIL: Sylkenvelvet@yahoo.com
IP: 68.59.165.165
URL: http://www.formyselfandstrangers.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/06/2006 07:34:57 PM
bah, what I meant to say before the reflex return key hit was -- I carry the wipes AND a spray can (you can get small ones) of disinfectant spray for those bedclothes. The blankets and pillows don't get washed often/ever, just the sheets. Wipe the remote, the TV, the AC controls, and the vents if you can reach them. (I stay in a fair number of hotel rooms each year because I travel for work.)
You can wipe things with alcohol (even the drinking kind) but it takes 10 minutes min for alcohol to kill germs.
You can use the wipes in a rental car, too. Think of the disgusting things you do while driving your own car and you'll start wiping.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: suzette
EMAIL: suzette.suzette@gmail.com
IP: 69.115.243.37
URL: http://suzette.typepad.com/suzette
DATE: 01/07/2006 04:25:48 PM
I am completely with you on the prevention check-list.
I'd go so far as to say drink only bottled water that you buy before you get on the plane. Have you ever seen one of those big bottels the flight attnedants cart around come down the aisle with the cap still sealed? I suspect they hold the empty bottles under the tap and refill them.
Ditto the hotel rooms. My boss travels with a clean t-shirt that she slips over the pillow before she puts her head down.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: VIETNAMESA
EMAIL: vietnamesa@gmail.com
IP: 71.198.6.132
URL: http://www.vietnamesa.com
DATE: 01/07/2006 05:06:28 PM
Maybe I should burn everything I touch?!? heheheheh
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 01/08/2006 12:32:30 AM
#6 Wipe down the handles on grocery carts. If you have a child, you can buy a grocery cart cover that fits in the child carry part.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 01/09/2006 02:39:38 PM
Oh yeah, hotel bedspreads. Barfola. Those things only get cleaned once or twice a year and they're swimming in dead skin flakes and bodily fluids.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Sandra
EMAIL:
IP: 199.72.200.163
URL:
DATE: 01/11/2006 08:25:06 PM
I have increased my efforts at avoiding the worst germ situations and have had excellent success. The keys for me: no ice OR WATER (in coffee, tea, etc.) on planes, and not touching my face until I have clean, freshly scrubbed hands.
I do also do things like taking off the bedspread and wiping down the remote and phone with a disinfectant wipe, but I don't think those things made nearly as much difference as the ice/water and germy hands issues did... as soon as I shaped up on those two, I stopped getting sick after every trip.
I take the extra precaution of not eating snacks provided on the flight, because this usually involves either my fingers touching food (then that food going in my mouth) or my mouth touching a filthy package of something if I try to upend the package into my mouth instead of using my fingers. Either way, I'm sure to get exposed. I have, however, pocketed snacks to take to the hotel so I can wash my hands and use my fingers.
The only one I am not so on board with is #3 -- I blast the airplane air fully on my face, and have had no trouble at all. Some of those flights are so unbelievably stuffy, I wouldn't survive the smells and heat if I didn't turn it on.
Marriott (and some other chains) have new beds that use all linen coverings that are washed after every visit (with the exception of a single, decorative runner that lays across the foot of the bed) and these are very very nice. The pillows are exposed (not under a cover), which is nice because I am always a little grossed out when I have to pull a filthy cover off the clean pillow.
Good stuff.
The 2005 Mix Tape
01/06/2006 06:59:56 PM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 01/06/2006 07:47:58 PM
Am I doing something wrong, or is that download link broken?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/06/2006 09:08:59 PM
Oops! Sorry, link was all goofy. Fixed!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 01/08/2006 12:22:31 PM
This is total sweetness. Great Mix! The wife gives it two thumbs up.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: curz
EMAIL:
IP: 71.138.69.23
URL:
DATE: 01/09/2006 01:43:51 AM
hey b to the 2, i changed my LJ username to alt_0169 awhile back.old info on side of blog.
MAKE SOME MORE COMIX!!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Ambe
r
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/09/2006 01:44:40 PM
*settles in to listen*
And ditto on the comix; I miss them.
OH! And DAN AND I ARE LIVE ON OUR BLOG!
Well, we're audio, at any rate. And lame. :-(
But you can *hear* us through the majick of the InTerNets. :-)
Punt!
01/13/2006 03:06:32 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 01/13/2006 06:50:38 AM
HOO, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, MAN.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/13/2006 11:11:53 AM
Drawing is indeed pretty cool. And I didn't even know it'd helps people write better!
About ketchup bottles: There are two techniques for getting them to flow easily:
1. Hold it at an angle, but still pointing downward, and chop it at the point at which the bottle begins to narrow. I guess you can sort of describe it as the "shoulder" of the bottle.
2. Jam a knife in there.
Hey, now you can get the ketchup out both literally and metaphorically!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: curz
EMAIL:
IP: 71.138.69.23
URL:
DATE: 01/13/2006 12:15:05 PM
wow that's cool. i wish i could write like that in a fashionably acceptable manner.
you need to post more comix b. this is my new year's request.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 01/13/2006 01:50:04 PM
This is a really neat entry. It combined words of substance with a fun format. Damn, I wish I could draw, like, AT ALL.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: e
EMAIL: newsyoucanuseornot@gmail.com
IP: 24.153.206.47
URL: http://www.allaboute.net/blog
DATE: 01/13/2006 03:36:38 PM
I heart this post, B. I'd love to see more like it.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 01/13/2006 04:59:21 PM
Beautiful indeed.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 01/13/2006 07:33:08 PM
This was a classic post... my favorite of 2006 so far! What did you use to make this? Whatever it is it certainly nurtures your creativity.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 65.34.55.10
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 01/13/2006 09:29:55 PM
Nicely done my brother B.
That gin bottle is indeed impressive. You clearly studied it for a long time. Didn't you now?
(I hope you had plenty of limes on hand.)
L Man
P.S. I want some more vocal postings. Something for my spanking new mp3 player.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Danny
EMAIL: danny@dannygregory.com
IP: 69.200.84.87
URL: http://www.dannygregory.com
DATE: 01/13/2006 10:18:11 PM
I have too been inspired by gin, by 3 am posts, by drawing, scrawling, squalling, and unseemly jerking. I am glad that it would seem that with this outpouring, your impasse has been broached. I look forward to more creative unbottling from you in the year to come. Please keep drawing and making stuff until you never doubt you can.
Your pal,
Danny
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/14/2006 02:23:56 AM
Thanks, Danny, for writing an awesome ass book! We did buy it, by the way -- we didn't just read it in the store!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/14/2006 04:34:22 AM
Also: thanks to youse guys for the supportive feedback!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jennifer and the beans
EMAIL: beanmom@beanmom.com
IP: 69.141.20.235
URL: http://beanmom.com/~beanmom/beandiary.html
DATE: 01/14/2006 11:14:30 AM
I just like to see you posting, however it may arrive... :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Ice Queen
EMAIL: screamforicequeen@gmail.com
IP: 142.154.111.135
URL: http://screamforicequeen.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/14/2006 11:23:53 AM
Huh? We have EXACTLY the same birthday. Maybe we're TWINS, separated at birth!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Houston
EMAIL: beaugeste@sbcglobal.net
IP: 71.139.198.84
URL: http:///
DATE: 01/15/2006 03:28:55 AM
We don't really know each other, but since we drink the same booze and know some of the same people, it must almost be like being friends, right?
Okay, here's my advice to you based on a cursory reading of your writing here. Keep on living, keep on loving, keep on worrying about it, keep on writing. You're good copy.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://www.livejournal.com/users/thynk2much/
DATE: 01/15/2006 08:14:35 AM
So I guess I should buy this book.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Dave
EMAIL: dcaolo@mac.com
IP: 65.96.48.172
URL: http://dave.typepad.com
DATE: 01/16/2006 10:43:55 AM
If it's any consolation, I've felt that way since about, oh, 1994 (college graduation). Being an adult sucks.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Collin
EMAIL: collin@fizzleandpop.com
IP: 207.201.211.58
URL: http://www.fizzleandpop.com
DATE: 01/16/2006 02:09:08 PM
Huh. I think I'll check that book out. And good luck getting the creativity flowing again.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: j-a
EMAIL: jeonga_kim@yahoo.co.uk
IP: 66.171.3.59
URL: http://www.whatarewedoinghere.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/16/2006 08:45:07 PM
this is cool.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Rengirl
EMAIL: spamthis@pixelsensei.com
IP: 65.197.232.3
URL:
DATE: 01/17/2006 07:09:00 PM
It doesn't look like you have a creativity problem at all!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: D Bunny
EMAIL: drunkbunny@gmail.com
IP: 24.8.21.81
URL: http://drunkbunny.org/
DATE: 01/18/2006 10:50:51 PM
Your intelligence and creativity is why I love you with my whole heart, you internet stranger! And now to find out you have awesome penmanship? Good lord!
So, did you use a wacom tablet or what?
I wish I had a wacom tablet.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/19/2006 06:07:22 AM
I don't know why anyone thinks my handwriting looks good -- it looks like crap to me! Anyway -- I don't have a Wacom tablet as I gave mine away. All's I did was write it all down on paper and scan it, then in Fireworks I used the Marquee and Convert to Alpha tools to make the background transparent. Easy peasy.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: verybigjen
EMAIL: jen@verybigdesign.com
IP: 65.189.43.237
URL: http://www.verybigblog.com
DATE: 01/25/2006 10:23:15 PM
hey AB, you and me both, on all that. I haven't had a creative urge in months, and I have a gig I'm supposed to be doing and can't get motivated. it's like I have creative depression. I htink I need a real job again, I miss working with people.
How Not to Catch Colds Update
01/17/2006 04:48:06 PM
I missed this story when it hit the news sites:
Being cold or chilled really can make you get sick!
They did a study in Wales where they chilled up a bunch of volunteers and then tracked them to see how many got sick versus a control group. 29% of the chilled subjects became sick, versus 9% of the non-chilled group. Yikes!
This is shocking to me because I just recently came around to accepting what all the doctors have been saying, that the "catch your death" thing was just an old wives' tale.
The explanation discussed in the article that makes the most sense to me is that you aren't actually more susceptible to catching a cold when you're chilled, but that the cold causes blood vessels in the nose to constrict, preventing white blood cells from reaching areas that might be "lightly" infected, thus allowing symptoms to develop.
This is why it's important not to tell your friends to "chill out" when they're upset, because you're actually just encouraging them to lower their body temperatures to levels that could lead to serious illness. And why freedom of speech is more important than ever, because if infringements upon that freedom lead to a "chilling effect" on speech, speech could become more susceptible to diseases such as avian flu, in which case we're all screwed. Stay warm, folks.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/17/2006 05:56:28 PM
That's pretty enlightening. From now on, I will use "chill out" only on my enemies!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/17/2006 06:00:08 PM
Yeah, I think the more appropriate phrase for loved ones would be "warm out" or "be well, brother and/or sister."
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.114.238.99
URL:
DATE: 01/18/2006 02:00:17 PM
that is some excellent george w bush reasoning you have there at the end - applause!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/19/2006 02:52:44 PM
I just heard about that too! Seems like more and more "old wive's tales" are coming true these days.
Those Old Wives and their Tall Tales; quite they wise bunch after all, weren't they? *grins*
An Intimate Evening of From-the-Gut Indie Acoustic Music
01/19/2006 01:49:35 AM
Miss H and I went to Indie Coffee to see Jason Anderson (aka Wolf Colonel), with Chris Otepka (aka The Heligoats featuring Chris Otepka, formerly of Troubled Hubble, honestly I have no idea what these names signify, if you do you are truly hipper than I). Neither of us was familiar with these fellows or their music; Miss H, who has an unerring psychic ability to detect and root out awesome-ass live music (but not awesome ass-live music), was the one who suggested this jaunt. We went super early because I have a pathological fear of places to where I have not before been, so I have to go early and scope out the situation. Indie Coffee is super tiny -- it looks like this:
Pitchfork calls Jason Anderson (aka Wolf Colonel) "almost pathologically earnest." A recent review goes on to say: "His is the rare personality where a Zen-like awareness of the sanctity of the moment, an unremitting gratitude for the gift of existence, and an ostensibly genuine capacity to love strangers are combined into a sort of super-empathy that verges on the grotesque." (Read the full review @ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/a/anderson_jason/wreath.shtml) This'll be an intimate evening of from-the-gut indie acoustic music.From-the-gut, for sure. Talk about intense. With acoustic guitar in hand he kicked off the festivities with a medley of 80's/90's covers including such enduring indie folk-rock classics as "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and that one Spin Doctors song. RAWK! Having thoroughly warmed up the audience, he launched into an amazing, hyper-energetic set, jumping around (amazingly, given the close quarters, without bashing anyone in the face) and commanding the puzzled, wonder-struck crowd to sing along with his lively, funny/wise/moving songs. Tongue-in-cheek childhood reminisces (my favorite was a long, meandering monologue about a video from the 80's with cheesy pop songs playing over footage of basketball superstars doing their thing, that finally segued into a raucous group rendition of "The Warrior" by Scandal) shared the plate with uplifting pep talks on surviving Bush's America.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 146.244.137.126
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 01/19/2006 09:42:31 AM
Dang! That sounds like that was fun performance to witness, but I agree that getting too involved without consent in an act can be un-nerving. I was dragged onstage by Penn and Teller two years ago and I realized that there are some walls that I am perfectly fine keeping up.
But, if New Seoul University Choir and Orchestra ever kicks off, I will help set up a nice perimiter for crowd control.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 01/19/2006 09:46:03 AM
My favorite part is where you drew the chairs actual size. Because that is so true.
(No, this is an *awesome* re-cap.)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 195.82.115.163
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 01/19/2006 11:12:32 AM
"I think that's why, whenever I'm in close proximity to a famous person, I get the urge to punch them."
This is AWESOME.
Also: Enquiring minds want to know - DID YOU SING ALONG.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/19/2006 11:41:02 AM
"Indie Coffee"? The namers aren't afraid of genericity! But then, maybe they're being secretly ironic.
Excellent drawings. The illustrated Wolf Colonel looks very genteel, like a colonel in a Jane Austen book. Except that he's a wolf.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/19/2006 02:59:42 PM
Like Hannah, I *loved* the part about the chair too!
And I hear you on being too close to musicians to really get into the music.
We saw Chris Issak years ago at a dinner venue. Everyone sat at a dinner table and sort of shifted sideways towards the stage when the show started.
My ex and I were the only ones at our table-for-four and, much to my shock, Chris ended up jumping on the empty chair right next to me while madly flailing his guitar.
In his white glittery suit.
Sweating profusely.
So close to me, I thought some sweat off his face would get ON me or something.
I just froze. I had to crane my neck way back to look at him and suddenly I had a strong urge to reach out and push him off the chair. Dunno why; I like Chris and I'm an attention whore, too.
I LOVED the fact he was standing there singing right in front of me out of hundreds of people. YAY ME!
But my physical boundaries were a bit put off too. Plus, we were both bathed in this brilliant white stagelight and I was uncomforable.
So I scooted back my chair as far as I could scoot, like he had cooties.
Poor Chris. :-( I'm sure I broke his heart. ;-P
I have to say, B, you do not come off like you are Asperger-y at all in your writing! Or when I've listened to you speak; are you SURE you're not over-exaggerating a wee tiny bit? :-)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/19/2006 03:53:03 PM
Scott: Ugh, yeah, getting dragged onstage is a whole other province of hell! I have some unfortunate experience with that.... Penn & Teller...hehe. I feel your pain.
Hannah: I don't think I drew the chair accurately, but the size is indeed exactly the same as the actual thing.
Leslie: Luckily, I've been able to restrain myself so far...especially lucky in the case of John Doe and Exene -- I don't even want to imagine the beatdown those two would have dealt me. To answer your question, I did sing along, although I was thinking "I am not even close to being drunk enough for this."
Jim: Haha...yeah, I love that "Indie Coffee" name. I was wondering if they call it that because they host a lot of indie music acts or something. This makes me think of my favorite Madison business name -- a tiny little Thai restaurant called "I'm Here."
Amber: Yep, I can totally relate to your Isaak experience. As for the un-Asperger-iness...that's the magic of the internet -- I can come across just fine as long as I have total power to compose and edit my thoughts! I've also had many years to adapt and compensate for the AS traits, so it's really only apparent in person, after I'm comfortable enough around you to unleash my full freakishness.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Stephen Thompson
EMAIL: idislikestephen@gmail.com
IP: 66.188.135.38
URL:
DATE: 01/23/2006 12:55:06 PM
Thanks for the smart, funny review. I was at this show, and you summed it up beautifully. I go to Indie Coffee all the time the people who run it are so nice that I'd sit on hot coals to visit the place, but you can usually grab a cushy chair and this was the best event I've caught there since... well, since Eef Barzelay from Clem Snide played in October. Glad you had a good time.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/23/2006 02:15:35 PM
Glad you enjoyed it too, Stephen. I liked Indie Coffee quite a bit, and was there just last night. The people who run it really are super nice -- it's a great place to hang out. I'm sorry I missed the Clem Snide guy! I had no idea he was there -- I'm definitely keeping an eye on Indie Coffee for future events.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 01/25/2006 01:11:38 PM
Ahh, there's never enough buttal area on chairs... Damn the skinny lolipop heads for that!
Colin Meloy at KEXP
01/19/2006 05:49:41 PM
Colin Meloy of The Decemberists is on a solo acoustic tour, and gave a short in-studio performance and interview at Seattle's KEXP radio station yesterday. In case you missed it, a kind soul over at the Decemberists' forums recorded it and offered up an mp3 collection, which I promptly grabbed and now pass along for your listening pleasure:
You can also listen to the streaming audio directly from KEXP's archives. You have to do some digging, though -- go to the archives and search for the 1/18 program at 3pm. (The program will have a bit of audio from another song before the Meloy stuff starts up.)Colin Meloy, Live at KEXP 01-18-06
[mp3, 32 mb zipped file] TRACK LISTING
1. Intro
2. Devil's Elbow
(from Meloy's earlier band Tarkio)
3. The Engine Driver
(from Picaresque)
4. Interview #1
5. Barbara Allen
(by Shirley Collins, English folk singer covered on Meloy's concert-exclusive CD on this tour)
6. Interview #2
7. Everything I Try To Do, Nothing Seems To Turn Out Right
(from the Billy Liar CD single)
8. Clementine
(from Castaways & Cutouts)
9. Outro
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Barbara
EMAIL: fakesocks@gmail.com
IP: 68.121.87.79
URL:
DATE: 01/22/2006 07:39:14 PM
Hey, B
I smell curry. Every time I smell it I think of you and how you hate it and the story you told me about the roomate who ate curry and spilled it on the sofa.
See ya.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/22/2006 11:16:21 PM
Ugh, yeah...whenever I eat curry now I think about sofa upholstery. It's hard to enjoy a dish when you associate it with something that has people's asses on it.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 01/25/2006 01:14:28 PM
Bitchin' thanks for the download. I've seen the Decemberists play a couple of times and they are well worth it.
Morning Meh!
01/23/2006 10:16:11 AM
1. Sick/Not-Sick.
Update: If this is in fact a cold, it is without doubt the wimpiest cold ever. Aside from some post-nasal drip, I feel completely fine. I think this might have actually been an allergic reaction or something. This has to be the most boring weblog entry I have ever dared publish.
I think I might be coming down with a cold, which is hilarious since I just posted all that stuff about how not to catch colds. But it just goes to show how hard it is to avoid getting sick. Germs are everywhere. Crawling over every exposed surface...lying in wait for the warmth of human flesh...wriggling like malignant spermatozoa into the moist heat of your mucous membranes..... Ew. However, what is vexing is that I can't tell if I'm actually sick or not. When I catch a cold, it usually hits me fast and hard -- sneezing, stuffed nose, sore throat, etc. But my throat isn't sore, exactly, more like irritated, like when the air is dry and you wake up in the morning with a sore throat because of breating in dry air all night. I've been sleeping like crap for the past few days, so that's contributing to the run down feeling. So, I dunno. Anyway: meh!
2. Lazy Science Reporting.
NYT: Men enjoy seeing bad guys punished, women don't. In this study they found that when witnessing people "perceived as bad guys" receive electrical shocks, male brains lit up in the pleasure centers, whereas female brains did not. Also, female brains showed more empathy activity. That's fine, but the question is, how do they define "bad" behavior?
This study revolved around a money-based strategy game, where the "bad" players were the ones who behaved selfishly and hoarded money. It seems like sloppy science to make broad generalizations about men and women based on this test. All it seems to show is that men are more measurably outraged by financially selfish behavior than women, not that men necessarily are more vindictive or vengeful. You could as easily conclude that women's maternal, nurturing instincts make them more tolerant of people who behave in childish, self-interested ways. Or that women unconsciously like people who hoard money. Who knows? There's so much going on here, it's ridiculous to reduce the data to one simplistic conclusion.
The study would have been more interesting if they had used a variety of "bad" behaviors. What if the "bad guys" had been shown to be abusing animals or children? Or cheating on a spouse? What if the "bad guy" were a child? The last time I read a news story about animal cruelty, the most bloodthirsty responses I read were from women, by a wide margin.
Maybe men are more vindictive than women, but this study doesn't even really show that. But hey, don't let that get in the way of a juicy water-cooler-chat-friendly headline. Conclusion: meh!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.114.238.99
URL:
DATE: 01/23/2006 04:26:11 PM
i think scientists need to go back to the days where they had subjects actually do things in their tests rather than just get hooked up to machines. for instance, the study where people thought they were giving other people electric shocks while they (the other people) pleaded for them to stop (and the scientist kept encouraging the administration of the shock) is a good example of a nifty study.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/23/2006 05:16:16 PM
Scientists' agendas should be driven entirely by standup comic cliches! Next: Are women crazy or what?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/23/2006 05:17:58 PM
And then after that, the next hypothesis should be: Am I right or what? Eh, guys? Yeah, you guys know I'm talking about!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/23/2006 05:27:32 PM
I'm still waiting for Johns Hopkins University to publish the results of their study on what, exactly, IS the deal. And I hear MIT has nearly isolated the identity of the ad wizards who came up with this one.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/24/2006 01:01:17 PM
I'd be gleefully zapping them myself just to see them jump around.
But then, I don't think I'm typical. :-(
;-)
What!
01/23/2006 05:49:57 PM
You ever have an identity crisis that hits you from out of nowhere, just BLAM drops down on top of your head, and you think, what the hell am I doing? What is this road I'm on? And you're thinking about this and you're still moving, still coasting, still going forward, but you don't even know why anymore, you're just on automatic pilot while this stuff that suddenly happened in your head starts to unfold and you're like oh yeah, I see...right and you get it, that the things you've been doing are not the things you really want to do, but the things you think you ought to do, or that someone (anyone?) else wants you to do. Not that the stuff you've been doing is worthless, but it's not the work that's making you happy, that feels worthwhile, even if other people think it's fine. And it doesn't make sense and you feel foolish for doing it, but you have to do it if you're in any way going to live the coming year being true to yourself. The latter part of 2005 was a lot of coasting for me and doing some of this and some of that trying to figure out what I really want to do. And I'm a little late but I think I'm finally feeling 2006 and I want to make some changes. Nothing earth-shaking or dramatic. Just changes.
Happy New Year!
01/28/2006 04:37:13 AM
He's got a kind of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake kind of thing going. I like it, but the album as a whole does give you a bit of an "Elliott Smith Lite" impression. Elliott Smith Elliott Smith Elliott Smith, Nick Drake Elliott Smith Nick Drake. Drake Drake Elliott Elliott Drake Smith Drake.Ashton Allen, "Counting The Cost" (8.5 mb mp3)
from the Dewdrops album (2005)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/28/2006 04:46:57 AM
Testing...yes, it's yet another redesign...what can I say...
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 01/28/2006 10:30:34 AM
At least one girl and two cats say: it's grrrrreaaaaatttt!!!
One thing. The Work-Safe What! is only for the old What?
I LOVE the translated headers. If that's what they're called. We're not up to that part on the tutorial yet. :D
p.s. the connection between cat poop and schizophrenia is kind of "not proven." So, there.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 01/28/2006 03:02:13 PM
Whoa! Thanks for the heads-up on the worksafe page. And yes, the cat poop/insanity connection is not 100% proven, but it makes sense!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 01/28/2006 04:49:00 PM
Good thing my cats poop outside! YAY for Cat Doors and suburban backyards! Heh...
And my GOD! That IS Elliott Smith/Nick Drake!
You can't fool me. I refuse to believe it's this "Ashton Allen" fellow. That's a pseudonym.
It's ELLIOTT/NICK! *screams like a fan-girl* Welcome back, dude! I knew your death(s) was all lies and evil rumors.
...and I hope you feel better soon, B. :-)
Crazy, Random Randomnesses
01/31/2006 12:16:10 AM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 01/31/2006 01:19:59 AM
That's a lot of miscellaneous coolness. Especially the angry earwig! I feel a bit like him right now, except that I have no hostility toward you, even in cartoon form.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 195.82.115.163
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 01/31/2006 06:56:16 AM
God, the comix are always my FAVOURITE. I'm sitting here with my hand like a fist over my mouth, making sortof snorting noises in an attempt not to guffaw out loud among my colleagues. Well, not right NOW, I'm not, I'm typing right now. But I WAS. OMG Nyquil Comix, that's sooooo been my January. It should also have a colleague saying "Have you thought about going to the doctor?"
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 01/31/2006 03:48:35 PM
Alex Trebek!!
B, you fucking rock.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 02/01/2006 03:46:28 PM
Tedious Introspection Comix is scary real in this house. Damn!
And I see you switched back to JD. *grins*
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: oldtimey
EMAIL: bdee@intranet.org
IP: 68.255.73.98
URL: http://www.three-rings.com/b
DATE: 02/01/2006 05:03:14 PM
That bottle-swigging fez-wearing thing is the best photo of you I've ever seen!
My Lungs Feel Like Two Moldy Balls of Goat Cheese Slowly Melting Into Gray Slime Behind the Refrigerator
02/02/2006 01:50:51 AM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Dave
EMAIL: dcaolo@mac.com
IP: 65.96.48.172
URL: http://dave.typepad.com
DATE: 02/02/2006 12:00:17 PM
It's the yellow that kills me.
Forgive my ignorance, but do you draw these?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 02/02/2006 01:45:30 PM
Oh no, these comix are all ripped off. This one is a Mary Worth strip. However, sometimes I do make some modifications, like the NyQuil bottle, which I did draw, hence the crappy looking NyQuil bottle.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 130.191.152.129
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 02/02/2006 03:13:45 PM
Yes, that yellow touch-up was totally unneeded! Eww..
Get better soon...
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 02/03/2006 08:27:52 AM
Whoa, thirteen days? That is a very long time to suffer. Not even the magical oil of Chanukkah lasted that long! The least you should get it is a holiday celebrated by some religious minority.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: d bunny
EMAIL: drunkbunny@gmail.com
IP: 24.8.21.81
URL: http://www.drunkbunny.org
DATE: 02/03/2006 09:43:59 AM
Unsolicited nursing advice about stuff that you probably already know:
1) Nyquil doesn't have an expectorant. If you have junk you're trying to get out of your lungs, buy some Mucinex and drink plenty of water with it.
2) If you don't have junk coming from your lungs (i.e. if the snot is from your head/sinuses), or if it's a leftover cough from bronchitis, then leftover Lortabs or Tylenol #3 are your friend for cough suppression/breaking the cough cycle.
3) Humidifier, blowing right on your face while you sleep. Clean thoroughly with hot soapy water every 24 hours.
4) If no junk coming from your lungs, you may be having an occult sinus infection causing drainage down the back of your throat, triggering your cough. If cough persists after six weeks, ask your doctor about antibiotics for sinus infection. (I coughed constantly for six months before my doctor found the right antibiotic to clear up my sinus infection that I didn't know I had because it didn't show up on x-ray).
4A) Neilmed sinus rinses every day.
5) Coughing from bronchitis can last up to six weeks. It sucks.
6) No alcohol for now. Sorry!
Call or email me with questions if you have any.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 02/03/2006 04:23:33 PM
I might not be a doctor, but I play one on tv.
Drink booze, booze and more booze. Stay up really really late. Eat lot's of junk food. In other words you have to make you body a toxin. Not just filled with toxins, but a toxin that no germ can survive in.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 02/03/2006 04:31:24 PM
After careful consideration of all the treatment options, I'm gonna have to go with monkeyinabox's advice.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: groovebunny
EMAIL: wabbit@groovebunny.com
IP: 68.224.168.139
URL: http://www.groovebunny.com
DATE: 02/05/2006 04:33:29 PM
LOL OMG you are a genuis! Even when sick. I hope you feel better!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.10
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi/
DATE: 02/06/2006 10:59:45 PM
EURGH....the green stuff is just gross. well done, B man.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: verybigjen
EMAIL: jen@verybigdesign.com
IP: 65.189.43.237
URL: http://www.verybigblog.com
DATE: 02/08/2006 08:19:00 AM
Mucinex my man, Mucinex, it's the shit in those nasty tasting cough DM medicines. My doctor has recommended it a couple times now.
In Praise of NeilMed Sinus Rinse™
02/03/2006 03:15:22 PM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 02/03/2006 04:48:44 PM
HAHA.
You are the funny.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: D Bunny
EMAIL: drunkbunny@gmail.com
IP: 24.8.21.81
URL: http://drunkbunny.org/
DATE: 02/04/2006 11:05:47 AM
Miss Hannah is exactly right. The pulmonologists at National Jewish recommend it to all of their patients, especially those with asthma. All the nurses I work with (former National Jewish nurses) all do it, and make their kids do it too. Working with all the ex-NJ people now, it's like I've joined some weird water-snortin' cult.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: groovebunny
EMAIL: wabbit@groovebunny.com
IP: 68.224.168.139
URL: http://www.groovebunny.com
DATE: 02/05/2006 04:30:24 PM
So it's basically an enema for the sinus cavities? lol I cringe though at the thought of anything that's been in my nose coming out my mouth! Maybe I can stuff my mouth with cotton balls beforehand to absorb all the grossness.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 02/06/2006 11:15:57 AM
Groove, it's truly not gross like that. Plus, you do know that the stuff goes down your throat on a regular basis, right? At least when it's rinsed out your mouth you're not swallowing it!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: verybigjen
EMAIL: jen@verybigdesign.com
IP: 65.189.43.237
URL: http://www.verybigblog.com
DATE: 02/08/2006 08:15:39 AM
ya know I was talking about rinsing out my sinuses last week and went "crap, thats it, I'm old. I'm talking about nasal spray like it' the bomb."
Now that I've coped with that, I have to get this shit!
jen
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Lenka
EMAIL:
IP: 128.135.47.218
URL: http://farkleberries.blogspot.com
DATE: 02/23/2006 10:47:38 AM
Ah see...so it's a newfangled version of those Ayurvedic "Neti pots" they sell at hippy co-op stores? ;) Cool.
Salman Rushdie on Not Being Liked
02/06/2006 04:36:23 PM
"One of the things you become resigned to, when you've got a few books under your belt, is that there are going to be people who just don't like your stuff. The things you write are not to their taste. It's one of the strange things about reading a book, that if you don't like it, you often really hate it. You get so close to a book. It's such an intimate experience that happens inside your head. So if you don't like it, you feel invaded. And that makes people very rude in response: Get out of my head! It's not the same thing as going to a movie. The movie is over there. The book goes inside -- and that can be annoying. This is why, I think, sometimes book reviews are unusually vitriolic, even if the people writing them are not usually like that."Salman Rushdie
Criminal
02/08/2006 01:20:41 AM
I Can't Sleep
02/11/2006 04:30:31 AM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Lauren
EMAIL: web@feministe.us
IP: 12.208.61.160
URL:
DATE: 02/11/2006 11:40:08 AM
DEFENESTRATE!
When I was in high school a friend made me an "Ask Me About Defenestration" t-shirt (my favorite word, obviously). Unfortunately, people actually stopped me on the street to ask me about defenestration. There was nothing to say.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 65.34.55.10
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 02/11/2006 12:12:37 PM
Damn, I was coming all up in here to brag on your ass for dropping "defenestrate" on us, but someone beat me to it. So I guess I'll just have to drop a standard old compliment: Nice post B. When are you coming to FLA? A tall cool one awaits you on the greens! (everyone is flipping out around here because the temp is going down to 30 tonight. 30!)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 65.34.55.10
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 02/11/2006 12:14:04 PM
By the way, as I was posting the last comment I noticed the half weenie drawing below. Is this a self illustration? If so, looks like your balls need a shave.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL: http://www.hannahwalraven.com
DATE: 02/11/2006 02:53:05 PM
i really like the font of the date and title on this entry.
did i miss a whole page o' hyperlinks?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 02/11/2006 03:28:01 PM
I'm glad you guys are keeping the spirit of defenestration alive and well! I think. There's a joke in here somewhere but no. L Man -- believe me, I'd be down there right now if I could! Hannah: if you like this font, keep an eye open for the next Illicit File Sharing Club post.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 68.55.206.72
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 02/11/2006 08:49:32 PM
Man, I know what you mean about getting the too-late inspiration. I'm always deathly afraid that I'm not actually going to do whatever I'm inspired to do if I wait, and I'm often unforunately right.
About the consistency of dreams: Yeah, what the hell? They're like Ed Wood movies.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.114.246.23
URL:
DATE: 02/12/2006 10:08:31 AM
inspiration sucks - it jsut makes me want to do stuff. however, i find that i can usually fend of inspiration with alcohol and hard drugs, or, if i am too uninspired to search out alcohol and large drugs, i find lying down on the couch for an hour with a remote control in hand usually does the job.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Sandra
EMAIL:
IP: 65.193.162.220
URL:
DATE: 02/23/2006 05:15:25 PM
Was it a REAL cat?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 02/23/2006 05:32:23 PM
A real, pooping cat!
Creative Outlet
02/13/2006 05:52:29 PM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL: http://www.hannahwalraven.com
DATE: 02/13/2006 07:00:34 PM
I, too, concur.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.114.238.99
URL:
DATE: 02/13/2006 08:12:14 PM
dang, that pac man is a bastard. next time i play the video game i am not going to help him get away from those ghosts.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 02/13/2006 10:21:04 PM
For the record, eating Robot Abe Lincoln is very much a way to become satisfied. Poor robotic bastard.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 68.55.206.72
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 02/14/2006 10:43:55 AM
Oinka boinka! That's the best Pac-Man onamatopoeia I've ever heard.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 02/14/2006 01:49:53 PM
Word.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.90.126
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi/
DATE: 02/16/2006 10:33:57 PM
GREAT STUFF! ha ha ha...
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Angela
EMAIL: ienjoyfarting@yahoo.com
IP: 68.102.172.30
URL: http://theshakedown.diaryland.com
DATE: 03/22/2006 07:58:41 PM
and you remain dee supa geniouso!!!
why didn't you tell me about the return to christianity thing, you butthead! we totally could be picking each other's brain's. i'm still trying to find my way spiritually. i might email you sometime.
Love Is...
02/14/2006 09:52:56 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 68.55.206.72
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 02/14/2006 10:37:51 AM
Doh! I was thinking of Photoshopping "Love Is..."!
Well, at least they did an awesome job.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL: http://www.hannahwalraven.com
DATE: 02/14/2006 10:46:23 AM
Awwwww! So Sweet! I don't know what to say except that I'll get the instrument ready for solos during dinner.....
New Journalish Thing
02/17/2006 04:46:53 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: filmgoerjuan
EMAIL: fgjuan@telus.net
IP: 207.81.159.182
URL: http://blog.filmgoerjuan.com
DATE: 02/17/2006 04:56:54 PM
Can more B2 be a bad thing? :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jima
EMAIL: jima@legnog.com
IP: 69.8.212.254
URL: http://www.empty-handed.com/
DATE: 02/22/2006 01:17:22 PM
I don't know! Why don't we asked the disembodied floating head of Thucidydes?
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PING:
TITLE: Still suffering from the same old sickness
URL: http://rulebrittaniea.org/index.php/2006/02/23/still-suffering-from-the-same-old-sickness/
IP: 67.28.112.51
BLOG NAME: Rule, Brittaniea!
DATE: 02/23/2006 01:45:36 AM
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. I chose journalism over, say, an English major because at least journalism is a real job, but I quickly learned that it’s pretty demoralizing to get paid $8 an hour to put all of yo...
The De-Ballifcation of Elvis Costello
02/25/2006 01:29:01 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Susan
EMAIL: tundrababe@livejournal.com
IP: 68.119.31.9
URL: http://tundrababe.livejournal.com
DATE: 02/25/2006 06:13:32 PM
I like Diana Krall, but yeah, I don't like what she's doing to Elvis. That album with the Brodsky Quartet is still my favorite of his, though.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://www.livejournal.com/users/thynk2much/
DATE: 02/28/2006 12:07:42 PM
I have to say I freaking aDORe "The Delivery Man". But it took about four listens. But it's one of my most-listened-to discs over the last year.
Still, point well made. Also, I kindof think everybody who remakes their own songs should be shot. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Police!)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: groovebunny
EMAIL: wabbit@groovebunny.com
IP: 68.224.168.139
URL: http://www.groovebunny.com
DATE: 02/28/2006 11:12:42 PM
I have to agree with ya B. I saw Costello live a few years ago and when he played Watching the Detectives, there just wasn't that spunk from the orginal. It was like he playing dinner theatre.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: dayment
EMAIL: dayment@daymented.com
IP: 24.80.121.147
URL: http://www.daymented.com
DATE: 03/16/2006 11:16:51 PM
I thought I was the only person on the planet who loved the Juliet Letters, Susan!
Happy Ash Wednesday!
03/01/2006 03:43:04 PM
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.It's too bad certain of our national leaders don't observe Lent. Or, if they do, they certainly aren't paying much attention in church.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.
Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL: http://www.hannahwalraven.com
DATE: 03/01/2006 03:52:37 PM
Wow, that is an intense litany. In a way, though, I find it comforting that other people, throughout history, confess these sins and shortcomings -- they're all very familiar!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: KevinRazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 03/01/2006 07:26:31 PM
I like this time of year. Things in my life get a bit simpler and it seems like I'm cutting out what would essentially be something superfluous anyway. Besides the usual no meat on Fridays, I'm planning deferring on eating out during lunch time. By the time it's Easter, the money I'd otherwise have spent on lunches goes to charity.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Dave
EMAIL: dcaolo@mac.com
IP: 65.96.48.172
URL: http://dave.typepad.com
DATE: 03/01/2006 09:14:05 PM
Remember, B, our President likes to talk and talk and talk about Jesus. And, as well all know, the more you talk about Jesus, the less you have to act like him (or so it is w/George at least).
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: ed
EMAIL: ed@edrants.com
IP: 64.81.242.197
URL: http://www.edrants.com
DATE: 03/03/2006 10:55:16 PM
Yo, B, I've been trying to email you about the Oscar blog and your emails keep bouncing. Please get in touch with me. Because I'd like to have your involvement.
All best,
Ed
Thot for Thursday
03/02/2006 12:12:04 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 130.191.153.130
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 03/02/2006 12:24:31 PM
There was this little pink fuzzy and loud thing at my house that sucked away those days from me. I really don't remember much other than the fact that I didn't get much sleep.
There was some moments of calm... I remember that. And there was a bunch of milk that was "urped" but it is still a bit fuzzy to me.
Does that help?
Any little pink bundles suck away your days?
No?
Hmmm.....
Couldv'e been a time-warp continuum thingy. Those can do it too.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 03/02/2006 02:16:53 PM
I don't know, but lately it has seemed like there seriously needs to be a rigid audit of time!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Susan
EMAIL: tundrababe@livejournal.com
IP: 68.119.31.9
URL: http://tundrababe.livejournal.com
DATE: 03/02/2006 02:43:40 PM
I dunno, but I applaud the return of the Thots guy!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL: http://bakiwop.f2o.org
DATE: 03/03/2006 05:37:14 PM
frock?!?!?! what the frock's a frock?!?!?! and monday?!?!?! is it monday already?!?!?! or is it wednesday?!?!?! and why the heck is wensday spelled wednesday?!?!?!
shoot, my new dealer must have given me some bad smack. darn it all to heck!!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 03/04/2006 02:31:15 AM
I'm glad I'm not alone in my disorientation.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 03/04/2006 02:46:16 PM
definitely not alone. sometimes i like to embrace and coddle my disorientation, wearing like a warm coat on a cold day, but most times it is just a pain in the butt.
darned disorientation and the disoriented orientations it causes.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL: http://www.hannahwalraven.com
DATE: 03/09/2006 03:23:45 PM
ha ha, it's Thursday AGAIN!!
Oscar Party!
03/04/2006 02:26:37 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 03/23/2006 05:09:19 PM
hello? you are missed!
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 03/25/2006 09:32:14 PM
I think you're right that V is as much like the Joker as he is like Batman, but as crazy as he is, I got the impression that he wasn't motivated 100% by the vendetta. He seemed to really care about changing things for the people under the government.
Pushing his craziness was indeed a huge risk in the story. And it seems to have made a lot of reviewers very uncomfortable. I read a few reviews that looked like they may have been shying away from endorsing it because they don't want to look like they're endorsing terrorism.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 03/29/2006 09:51:05 AM
i thought it was an apt way of putting it - V = Joker.
they shouldn't have put in the Evey and V as lovers idea. that was just BAD. otherwise, i enjoyed it.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott _D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 03/29/2006 12:24:21 PM
I have never seen a regular movie on IMAX... does it take up the whole screen like other IMAX movies?
If so, I gotta see that....
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 03/29/2006 04:15:24 PM
Jim - Yes, you're right, he was motivated by more than just revenge. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise -- I was trying to draw a distinction between "justice" and "vengeance," that (I think) V believed that the government had done far too much irreparable harm for justice to be possible.
marshmallow - Yeah, that one moment toward the end hit a sour note for me...but did it mean what I/we thought it meant? I'm not totally sure. I'll have to watch it again.
Scott_D - No, conventional movies on IMAX are (usually - I can't think of any exceptions) shown in their original aspect ratio. Which really cuts down the advantage of IMAX over a traditional large screen, since part of what makes IMAX so awesome is the height of the screen. The IMAX screen here in Madison is four stories tall, but slightly narrower, I believe, than the largest conventional movie screen in town (the Point UltraScreen). Since AFAIK the films are blown up but not remastered in HD or anything, image quality is good but not exactly mind-blowing. I think the main benefit of seeing a "regular" movie in IMAX is simply that you're more likely to get a good presentation, with a clean print, adequate brightness, and awesome sound. I don't know that it's worth the extra cost, though -- when Superman comes out this summer, I doubt I'll bother seeing it on IMAX. But I believe James Cameron is shooting his next film in high-def 3D -- assuming that comes out in IMAX, I'll definitely check that out.
Last Snow
03/29/2006 03:48:55 PM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Lenka
EMAIL: reznicek111@gmail.com
IP: 128.135.47.218
URL: http://farkleberries.blogspot.com
DATE: 03/29/2006 05:36:04 PM
"Aaaagh! I'm meeeeelting!" *Pfllldt*
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 70.127.225.198
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 03/29/2006 06:32:14 PM
Wow, you can almost see the greens.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net/
DATE: 03/29/2006 11:23:15 PM
I'd be tempted to put a lighter to it to put it out of its misery.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 03/30/2006 07:26:03 AM
about bloody time.
An Evening with Neko Case & Martha Wainwright
03/31/2006 05:02:11 PM
The Pabst Theater is gorgeous. I couldn't get over just how fantastically gorgeous it is. The ceiling alone made me want to weep. Truly. I also couldn't get over how amazingly quickly I would die if for some reason I fell from the gigantic chandelier on the domed ceiling, all the way down past the three balconies and onto the lovingly restored theater seats, where the blood from my broken body would mingle with the velvety red of the luxurious upholstery. Gross, I know, but it's just the kind of thing you can't help thinking about when you see a ceiling this tall.
I mean, yes, you don't get the benefit of the actual presence of the actual star, the visual impact and little details of manner and voice that you'd get from the real thing, but assuming he's going to say pretty much the same thing at every performance, would it really make that much difference if they got a guy who more or less looked and sounded like Mitch Albom to say the stuff Albom would be saying anyway? I mean, how many people even know what Albom looks or sounds like, anyway? Well you do now because I posted his picture. But you see what I'm saying?
Hannah and I had barely gotten into our seats when the all-important topic of alcohol came up. Drinks: now, or later? Later -- but not too much later.[h] Also: this being the Pabst Theater, would they only sell Pabst Blue Ribbon? This prospect alarmed both of us, since, given the fact that we go to shows by the likes of the Decemberists and Jonathan Richman, we're already in constant danger of being perceived as hipster poseurs. Pabst Blue Ribbon? Cripes, why don't I go ahead and buy an ironic trucker-cap and a Strokes album on my way back with the PBRs. Hipsters are teh sux0r. [h] Our fears were only heightened when we saw several über-hip types walking around with the dreaded Blue Ribbon emblazoned cans. But then, to our relief, we saw some other people with plastic cups of wine and cocktails. I went out to the lobby to get some "mixed drinks...or beer -- in a cup" [h] and discovered that, not only did they have a makeshift bar in the lobby serving a variety of alcohol-based beverages, including microbrews, but there was also an actual pub inside the theater. Which made sense, I mean the Pabst theater -- duh. So I got a couple of $8 (!!!) martinis.
Apropos of nothing, do you ever get a random craving for fried calamari? Man, could I go for some right now. Holy schneikies. With, like, chipotle aioli. Mmmm.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinRazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 03/31/2006 06:50:46 PM
So I wanna know if Pabst Blue Ribbon is the official beer of the Pabst theater?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinRazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 03/31/2006 06:54:01 PM
My bad I misread your paragraph on cocktails. I can't believe though that you'd even turn down a frosty cool Pabst Blue Ribbon.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 03/31/2006 07:13:27 PM
I just want to say that I find *nothing* wrong with anyone who wants to drink Pabst (or anything) because they like it. I just know that some of those scenesters we saw walking around with tallboys were first in line to drink microbrews back when no one had heard of Anchor Steam yet. If they honestly like Pabst now, that's cool...but I think it's no coincidence that The Onion mentioned PBRs by name in that poseur article.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 03/31/2006 07:14:59 PM
I like my calamari with a yellow curry aioli.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: mike
EMAIL: mike@whybark.com
IP: 66.213.242.235
URL: http://mike.whybark.com
DATE: 03/31/2006 07:51:17 PM
we caught Neko out here at Neumo's last year with Dexter Romweber. I was right up front and shot a bunch of video:
http://mike.whybark.com/archives/001966.html#001966
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 68.111.191.131
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 03/31/2006 11:10:44 PM
Man! That looked like it was a great concert! I have to say, concerts in theatres like that make them all the more special sometimes. The last time I was in a theatre like that I was watching a live performance of Prarie Home Companion.
It was a ton of fun.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/01/2006 12:04:56 PM
Sucka butts!
Low light photography is tough, but once you start trying it, for some reason, you keep trying no matter how much you suck at it. Every time I consider using the flash, this Gollum-like response shoots up: "No! We hates the flash!"
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Kathy B
EMAIL: kmbone@earthlink.net
IP: 24.8.124.20
URL:
DATE: 04/01/2006 02:06:15 PM
I think quite a few people know what Mitch Albom looks like and sounds like. He's on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" on a regular basis.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/01/2006 02:20:34 PM
Kathy B - True, very true. I didn't think most of the people reading this were ESPN fans, but that just shows you what I know.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Susan
EMAIL: tundrababe@livejournal.com
IP: 66.188.151.82
URL: http://tundrababe.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/01/2006 04:41:12 PM
Ooh, I love those women. Sounds like a great show! Nice venue too. One of my favorite songs is "Favorite" by Neko Case - did she sing that one?
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Dave
EMAIL: dcaolo@mac.com
IP: 65.96.48.172
URL: http://dave.typepad.com
DATE: 04/01/2006 08:00:37 PM
I am so exceedingly jealous that you got to see Neko Case. God, I hate where I live.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: groovebunny
EMAIL: wabbit@groovebunny.com
IP: 68.224.168.139
URL: http://www.groovebunny.com
DATE: 04/03/2006 01:17:24 AM
Wow what a beautiful theatre! And it sounds like it was a great show as well.
It's Never "Too Soon" for Quality Entertainment!
04/03/2006 12:59:07 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 04/03/2006 05:52:32 AM
coming up next - "terrorist snakes on a plane"
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 04/03/2006 09:18:15 AM
The thing that surprised me about that trailer was the image of one of the hijackers with bomb-like materials strapped to himself. I had to look up stuff this morning to verify my suspicion, which is that though one of the highjackers claimed to have a bomb (in a box) no one (in any of the calls from the plane) claimed to have seen it, and the FBI said there were no bomb materials in the wreckage. All this is up for debate by 9/11 conspiracy theorists, and we may never know the truth. But I think it's really irresponsible for the filmmakers to dramatize the events in such a way that will rewrite history in the minds of many people.
-----
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/03/2006 10:13:52 AM
I'm gratified to have read in a couple of places that some people are booing the trailer, so I'm not the only one who was appalled. It's not necessarily the idea of profiting from human suffering and tragedy that bothers me -- I didn't hear anything about the makers of Hotel Rwanda donating all their revenue to Rwandan charities, but I still think it's a valuable and worthy film as it brings much-needed attention to a criminally neglected story. (Same thing with movies about the Titanic or other historical or lesser-known tragedies -- it's worthwhile to bring these things before the public eye if they've forgotten or never paid much attention to them.) It's the fact that they would use, well, first of all, any footage at all of the Trade Center destruction (does anyone really need to be reminded?), and moreover that they would use real footage of people dying to sell their movie. Which I find tasteless and offensive in any context. (If Hotel Rwanda had used actual footage of people being massacred, I would have been bothered by that, too.) Maybe it's not a logically defensible line I'm drawing, but it's a real line for me.
There's also the question of why this movie is being made in the first place. 9/11 isn't like Rwandan genocide, where the world pretty much ignored it. Unless you've been in a coma for the past five years, you know what happened, and what happened on United flight 93. Their tagline for the movie -- "Never Forget" -- is almost comically absurd for one of the most heavily televised, recorded, and disseminated events in world history. Some people are defending the film by pointing out films about Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust that were released soon after the events. Well, the difference between the 1940's and today is that in the 40's they didn't have cable news and satellites and the Internet. Information had to travel more slowly, and without the level of hyper-repetition that we "enjoy" today. You could make a valid case that movies dramatizing current events played a role in educating people and providing emotional catharsis, because movies, more than any other medium of the time, were something that everyone in the country could share simultaneously. Yes, there was radio, but radio couldn't do what the movies could in terms of bringing unseen events to life. I see no reason why this movie is necessary, other than to mine this disaster for money and cheap sentiment. It's grief porn.
And yes, it's irresponsible. Nobody knows everything that happened on that flight, so there's a lot of room for artistic license that the filmmakers are apparently making the most of. Unverifiable things like having the hijackers strapping bombs to themselves only muddy the truth while needlessly pumping up the dramatic impact -- another warning sign.
Do people now have the memory capacities of gnats, that they need this reminder of this incident after five years? I doubt it. Anyway. I'm not saying the filmmakers should have been prevented from making this film. Obviously, they have a right to do so, and for whatever reason the families involved have given their blessing to the project. (Haven't heard anything about whether the families of the people killed in the real-life footage approved of this film or the use of this footage for a Hollywood movie.) I just personally find this thing grotesque and offensive and will be seeing something else that weekend.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: glibbidy
EMAIL: glibbidy@hotmail.com
IP: 209.198.73.28
URL: http://www.basementbrewer.blogspot.com/
DATE: 04/03/2006 10:43:22 AM
I don't think the dead people will really care.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 04/03/2006 11:01:57 AM
Really? Thanks for the insight!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/03/2006 01:42:42 PM
glibbidy - Well yes, of course, the dead are beyond caring what happens to them. I believe apathy is one of the seven warning signs of death. But, generally speaking, in most American communities, we the living do care about the dead and how they're treated and how their memories are honored. That's why it's usually frowned upon to, say, have your dead grandparents stuffed and mounted on La-Z-Boys in your living room. And why the word "ghoul" is often applied to grave robbers and those who desecrate the dead.
Like I said...the families of the people onboard flight 93 gave their consent to this film, so they're evidently OK with how the memories of their departed are being used. If the movie focused exclusively on the passengers, I still wouldn't see it, would still question its reason for being, but I wouldn't find it upsetting. However, since the filmmakers have evidently chosen to use actual 9/11 footage in their film and in promotional materials for their product, with which they hope to make millions of dollars, my concern is with the families of the WTC and Pentagon disasters (were the families of the passengers on the other planes contacted? I don't know) and with those not directly involved, but for whom 9/11 was a traumatic event, and may find it tasteless to use this material to help sell a commercial venture. (Would anyone defend McDonald's if they put out an ad for a "9/11 Burger" that showed planes crashing into the WTC?)
Bottom line: if you don't care, you don't care. I'm just giving my personal reaction to this thing, on my personal site. You wanna see the movie, knock yourself out. You don't, then don't. Think this is no big deal? Fine. I'm not going to be picketing this movie or anything. I'm just not going to see it.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 04/03/2006 06:51:00 PM
people have been doing this kind of stuff since there have been people. every time there is a white suburban wife that disappears and is murdered, everytime a little white suburban kid gets kidnapped - i bet that the first time a cavewoman got bonked on the head by a caveman some other cavemen put on a play about it and charged for t-rex meat and gave away little club necklaces as momentos.
something is built into us to do it.
and my guess is they'll go with the diet pepsi tie-in.
123456
04/05/2006 01:02:03 AM
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/05/2006 02:34:17 AM
Argh! I was thinking about this earlier, then forgot! I think I was trying to get some "ill-gotten" software to work at the time.
Canciones del Amor y de la Tristeza
04/05/2006 02:14:36 AM
The inspiration for this latest volume in the ever-unfolding saga that is B's Quest to Become the Most Redesign-Crazy Weblogger in the History of Weblogging comes from a 1938 book by the late Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit. In her chapter entitled "The Tigers of Wrath Are Wiser Than the Horses of Instruction" (a proverb from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell), Ueland, one of the most no-nonsense, spiritually centered writers I've ever read, says this:
For I know that the energy of the creative impulse comes from love and all its manifestations -- admiration, compassion, glowing respect, gratitude, praise, compassion, tenderness, adoration, enthusiasm. Note that Ueland writes "compassion" twice up there. Typo? Maybe, but I doubt it. What she's advocating, I think, in this book, is not carelessness over precision, but love over logic, passion (wrath) over reason (instruction). Reason here being distinguished from understanding, as she quotes Blake: "What we so often call Reason," Blake said, "is not the Understanding at all but is merely derived from the experience of our five senses, derived from Earth and from our bodies."Ueland isn't telling us to go crazy or lose control of ourselves. She wants us to simply be who we are, without the self-consciousness, the need to impress, the need for approval, that obstruct our imaginations and stifle the real voice that is within us. It's pretty heady stuff if, like me, you spend an inordinate amount of time caring very much whether or not people think you're a jackass. And it's surprisingly hard to just "be" without a lot of soul-killing analysis of just who or what we "are" -- or maybe more accurately, (just) who we think we "are" (anyway). I always know I've been honest, and true to myself, in a piece of writing, when I wake up the next morning thinking, "Oh, holy crap, please tell me that stuff I wrote and posted on the Internet last night was just a terrible dream," and "I wonder if I can delete it before anyone actually reads it?" I guess that's something I need to get over at some point, if I want to be a writer of honest, true-to-oneself words. Failing that, there's always the option of just giving up and settling for being a hack, and why does a solidly constructed piece of hackwork not give me the morning-after frisson of horror that I suspect it should? Most of the time I either don't know what I want to do, or I want to do about five things at once. But maybe that's okay. Here's what Ueland says about consistency: "Later if you find what you wrote isn't true, accept the new truth. Consistency is the horror of the world." So maybe tomorrow or in a week or three months I'll tire of what I've been doing and want to do something else. But this is what I want to do now. If that's okay with you. Wait -- okay? What? I don't care if it's okay with you. Screw you! No, no, no -- I love you. I love you! See, writing is hard. |
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 04/05/2006 06:53:35 AM
Oh, super cute tiger. Super. Cute.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 70.127.225.198
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 04/05/2006 07:07:34 AM
Great post B-ster.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Robin
EMAIL: velvethellvis@velvethellvis.com
IP: 192.152.100.150
URL:
DATE: 04/05/2006 08:37:53 AM
What about the ligers of wrath? That's probably like my most favoritist animal.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: e
EMAIL: newsyoucanuseornot@gmail.com
IP: 24.153.206.47
URL: http://www.allaboute.net/blog
DATE: 04/05/2006 08:58:32 AM
Shouldn't it be "tygers" burning bright?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/05/2006 11:10:24 AM
That is such a damned cool weblog name. Tigers! Of Wrath! It has two of my favorite words: Tigers and wrath. Of is not bad, either.
The idea of Horses of Instruction is pretty interesting, though. In Soviet Russia, horses instruct *you*!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/05/2006 12:44:45 PM
Re: Ligers/Tygers/Horses (oh my): Wiseacres. For the record, though, I decided to spell "tygers" in the American style, (a) according to my (possibly nationalistic) policy of using American spellings when quoting foreign texts, unless doing so would significantly alter the meaning of the word; (b) in my mind, it's more like an allusion than a direct quotation anyway, so my intent was to suggest rather than convey the original; and (c) hey, whoa there Professor, just whose weblog is this, anyway???
Speaking of professors, the topic of William Blake reminds me of a class on Romantic Poetry I took in college. We had an in-class essay exam covering Blake, and as usual I hadn't read any of the material until, like, the morning of class, and bluffed my way through the whole thing. I thought I did a good BS job, though, and walked away feeling mighty self-satisfied. The next week, I got the exam back, with a big old "D" on it. Shocked, I read the red-ink comments inside to discover, to my everlasting mortification, that every time I meant to write "William Blake," the Romantic poet, I had instead written "Robert Blake," the "Baretta" actor. Kids: listen to the advice of William Blake: don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 04/05/2006 01:49:01 PM
B, for some reason this made me think of you. I hope you won't take that as an insult, because it's totally not meant to be. It just reminded me of your posts about cats and their germs.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/05/2006 01:55:42 PM
Cat ass!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Whitey
EMAIL: askwhitey@yahoo.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL: http://bakiwop.f2o.org
DATE: 04/05/2006 04:21:06 PM
Whitey says - rock on with your new bad self!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: e
EMAIL: newsyoucanuseornot@gmail.com
IP: 24.153.206.47
URL: http://www.allaboute.net/blog
DATE: 04/06/2006 09:54:46 AM
Robert Blake instead of William Blake? Awesome. Hahaha.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Marissa
EMAIL: erin.powell@news-star.com
IP: 216.116.252.50
URL: http://www.feelingismutual.com/blog.php
DATE: 04/06/2006 10:01:17 AM
They're two different guys? Pshew...that clears up A LOT of confusion for me.
Nice post and lovely layout. Well done. You get an A+
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/09/2006 06:45:50 AM
Eeeeeeeeeeee I love that Ueland book. I could type out like every sentence as a quote.
Blake: you know, as much as I love his writing, I love his art even more. They rotate tons of his stuff in the Tate all the time here, as they have a huge collection. He was so crazy! just totally OTT in the most awesome, uninhibited way. Love. Him.
I keep having stress dreams lately that people whom I don't want to read my LJ have left comments there. Although the dreams are anxious I think it means I'm getting closer to something.
2 a.m. in the Garden of Macromedia & Adobe
04/06/2006 02:00:29 AM
| A trusted friend who shall remain anonymous (let's call her "Hannah") felt that my previous "tiger wrath" design was too similar to the one before it, and needed a little jazzing up. Let's hope this one takes! I feel like the Roman Empire during that period after Nero when they went through a flurry of emperors, some of whom lasted only weeks on the job before being assassinated. Or do I really? Am I making any sense at all right now? How should I know -- it's two in the morning! Gosh! |
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 04/06/2006 06:45:18 AM
Now with more The Greens!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 130.191.152.61
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 04/06/2006 11:29:45 AM
Ah! This looks great!
I too have been living inside of Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks for a couple of days and my latest attempt looks horrible. (I put it up to test yesterday) I am thinking of scrapping the whole look and starting over again.
Love this look, though!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/06/2006 11:57:12 AM
There is a twist to 2 AM in the Garden of Macromedia and Adobe - Adobe bought Macromedia! It turns out you were in just the Garden of Adobe! Dant dant daaah!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/06/2006 12:04:17 PM
Jim - Yikes, that's right! I feel like someone who drinks both Coca-Cola and Mr. Pibb.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 04/06/2006 03:58:53 PM
Scott, I really like the banner (or whatever it's called, forgive my deeesign ignorance) on your site. I love the rollover changing the image in the box. I also like the austerity of the black and white. Don't give up!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/06/2006 04:10:55 PM
Yeah, the black and white is cool, and I also like the banner and navigation -- very clever. Don't scrap it!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/09/2006 06:48:44 AM
Is the Garden of Adobe like the Garden of Gethsemane? but w/ more pixels?
Grazing
04/06/2006 11:15:31 AM
This super-fancy and ostentatious dish will awe and enrage your guests at your next dinner party.
Ingredients: 1 crapload of raw vegetables, washed and chopped Lately, following the example of Miss Hannah, I've been getting back into the vegetarian thing. (Sort of -- since I'm still eating seafood, dairy, and eggs, I guess I'm more of a pesce-lacto-ovo-vegetarian, or in layman's terms, "fake vegetarian.") As someone who will eat practically anything, anytime, anywhere, and in any quantity, I'm pretty adaptable when it comes to dietary changes. Now, I'm not saying I won't sneak the occasional slice of bacon, or the odd leg of lamb, but I think it's okay to cheat as long as you're up front about it and willing to commit the moral and ethical sin of financially supporting a rapacious, amoral meat industry that tortures millions of animals daily for the sole purpose of exploiting our craving for the muscle fibers of formerly living animals. Mmm...plump, juicy muscle fibers. As part of this plan, what I've been eating for breakfast (when I remember to eat breakfast) is a simple bowl of raw vegetables. I like it because, as someone with a gastrointestinal system testier than Angry Asian Man at a frat party hosted by Adam Carolla, I do better with veggies in the morning than the usual egg/sausage protein-fest. There's also a fresh, clean simplicity to unadorned, raw vegetables that's not unlike the feeling of eating really good, fresh sushi. And once you get past the idea of eating plant matter that hasn't been steamed, roasted, glazed, creamed, curried or sandwiched between two white-flour buns and 1/3-pound of fried ground beef, it's weirdly fascinating to think about how many kinds of vegetables you usually cook but can eat completely raw. Just about anything, I guess. Squash, cabbage, that kind of thing. Stuff I almost never encounter in any other form than a soggy mush. And I can just pull it out of the fridge, rinse it off, and eat it. Try doing that with raw bratwurst! (No. Not really. Don't try that. Weirdsmobile™ does not recommend the consumption of raw or undercooked meats, no matter how delicious they might be. Mmmm, Carpaccio. Wait, no. Yuck. Ptui! Gross, gross meat.) |
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 04/06/2006 01:45:47 PM
Except artichokes. Raw artichokes doesn't work.
I love raw veggies and eat almost all of my vegetables uncooked, but vegetarianism is not for me. And you can have my cheese when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/06/2006 02:33:37 PM
june - Ah, yeah, I don't suppose raw artichokes would taste too good. Or raw potatoes, for that matter. Would eating raw potatoes make you ill? What about raw corn? I want to draw a distinction between edible plants that could make you sick if you ate them raw, and plants that merely taste like crap in their raw form. There are vegetables, like squash, that I would never have considered good eating raw, until I tried them. I draw the line at potatoes, though. That's just gross.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 04/06/2006 03:50:52 PM
Raw corn tastes sweet but a little gritty or something. Starchy. I used to love raw potatoes and eat them as a child. I checked this with my mom, and she said, yep, she let me eat them, because she, too, liked them raw, but she didn't let me eat *too* many because she thought they might be poison.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 04/06/2006 08:19:40 PM
actually i think the potato eyes are poisonous. i generally don't like a lot of raw vegetables (even if i am a fake vegetarian - i eat fish, but no meat) - it's well cooked ones i go for.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 04/06/2006 08:21:26 PM
oh and i forgot to say - great tiger.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Smivey
EMAIL: smivey@gmail.com
IP: 167.246.33.124
URL: http://smivey.blogspot.com
DATE: 04/07/2006 12:44:33 PM
Yo, b. I finally got around to seeing what everyone else has been writing. I see you're still on your game. I've been on a similar diet for many years (only I don't cheat). The only difference is, it hasn't helped my stomach problems one bit. Hmmm.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/08/2006 09:38:43 AM
Smivey - Hey man...yup, still slogging away...the fact that people respond differently to this kind of eating bolsters the idea, I think, that there is no one ideal way of eating that applies to everyone. I'm sure genetics has something to do with it, or at least early childhood eating habits. I come from a family (and culture) that eats more vegetables in proportion to meat, so I do a lot better with a diet higher in vegetables, but I know some people who need a different balance to feel healthy. I guess the bottom line here is, McDonald's is Satan.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: anniek
EMAIL: anniekennedy@comcast.net
IP: 67.176.74.211
URL:
DATE: 04/08/2006 09:52:41 AM
try fingerling potatoes (why does that sound slightly pervy?) if you can find them. Very tender, thin skins--you can eat the littlest ones raw, and the larger ones will soften with just a little cooking.
they're the veal of the vedgetable world!
Pluto or Bust!
04/08/2006 09:24:22 AM
How crazy is this:
NASA's New Horizons probe has left the inner planets of the Solar System behind as it streaks toward a rendezvous with Pluto and its moons. The probe is going to reach Pluto in July of 2015. Nine years from now. 2015! Where are we even going to be, in 2015? What's the world going to look like? What are we going to be watching and listening to and talking about? How many of us will be married, or divorced, or have children, or be living in another state, or another country, by 2015? Imagine where you were nine years ago. Your life will scarcely resemble what it is was then or now. |
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/08/2006 11:33:55 AM
Man, I fear that my life actually won't change by 2015. OK, I vow to actually be something by the time New Horizons hits Pluto!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 72.199.137.125
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 04/10/2006 12:19:06 AM
that is totally crazy... I have no other clue to where i will be in 9 years besides driving my daughter to grade school.
I just hope the thing won't break!
(the above link was in bbc code as a guess) Edit by B: FYI: Tags in comments here should be in HTML, not BBCode.
(and my blog is almost finished!)
(woot!)
Read-a-thon!
04/10/2006 03:41:18 PM
| On April 28th, Hannah and I are going to be participating in a 24-hour Reading Marathon here in Madison, to benefit the Madison Area Literacy Council. What the Literacy Council does is provide free, one-on-one tutoring for adults who want to improve their English skills in reading, writing, or speaking. I think it's a terrific organization, one that does a lot of good, especially for recent immigrants whose English is not so good, and who have a hard time doing basic "life" things like filling out forms, or whose lack of English proficiency makes it difficult to get or keep a job.
The Read-a-thon is going to be held at Borders, and since I'm always saying that I could easily spend an entire day just hanging out at the bookstore, it's time to put that to the test! In all honesty, I would probably do this Read-a-thon even if nobody sponsored me (I do have one sponsor so far), but if anyone does want to lend support and help out this worthy cause, you can do so with this handy dandy online form. Be sure to specify Team Weirdsmobile as the "person or team" you're sponsoring! Time to stock up on coffee and Visine.... |
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/10/2006 05:01:09 PM
That's awesome. I'd much rather do this than a walk-a-thon or something.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: e
EMAIL: newsyoucanuseornot@gmail.com
IP: 24.153.206.47
URL: http://www.allaboute.net/blog
DATE: 04/11/2006 11:58:50 AM
I wish they'd do one in Austin!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 04/12/2006 05:31:39 PM
i am so emvious. i've got a body built for sitting in soft comfy chairs and eyes for holding a book close to my face so i can read it.
good onya mate!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 04/17/2006 10:51:50 PM
i'd do a readathon! much easier than a marathon!
No Time for Love, Doctor Jones
04/13/2006 09:00:13 AM
Thursday, April 13
In case you haven't seen this yet:
Raiders of the Lost Ark: the Animated GIF!
Edit: Not that anyone has said anything, but since this entry is being linked to from a number of sites, I want to make it clear that this awesomeness is not mine, but the work of one FoldsFive, who has more coolness at his site, including a hi-larious animated-GIF version of Aliens.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jima
EMAIL: jima@legnog.com
IP: 69.8.212.254
URL: http://www.empty-handed.com/
DATE: 04/13/2006 09:16:20 AM
And it's only 257 K! Imagine how much easier file-sharing would be if ALL movies were that small.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/13/2006 09:27:03 AM
You ain't kidding! And more time-efficient viewing, too. I'm hoping they put out a GIF version of Das Boot next.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.171.82
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 04/17/2006 11:59:32 AM
Now, finally a way to watch a movie for people trying to GTD.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: groovebunny
EMAIL: wabbit@groovebunny.com
IP: 68.224.168.139
URL: http://www.groovebunny.com
DATE: 04/18/2006 11:37:15 PM
Best animated gif ever! :)
An Evening with Eef Barzelay
04/20/2006 11:57:02 PM
A Selection of Excellent Clem Snide Songs For Your Enjoyment |
 The door to the Café Montmartre. This is of great interest. You are fascinated by this. We are off to a rollicking start.  The Café Montmartre, or "The Momo" as we're asked to think of it, fashions itself a kind of bohemian, upscale-shabby jazz cafe/wine bar/art gallery. What this means, basically, is that they can take a hollowed-out, run-down former retail space, slap track lighting on the exposed brick, and charge $10 for a  Oh, and let's not forget the $7 martinis. I realize that these prices aren't much to you big city swells, who'd probably pay this much for a Coca-Cola without blinking an eye. But it's kind of spendy for Madison, which, as Eef jokingly reminded us later that evening, is what's known in the touring biz as a "secondary (tertiary?) market." Anyway, if you're poor and want to have more than a token drink at a place like this without going broke, you pretty much have to SIYOB (Sneak In Your Own...Bottled "Water").  Mmm...delicious "water."  Here's the authentically bohemian shabby restroom. Sorry -- I meant to say "jazz defecation and urination space." Listen, I know what you're thinking, but I just got this camera and I'm still in that "oh my God, I can't believe I can just point this 'Photo-Graph' device at something and it will actually capture the image of that thing for my later amusement!" phase, so please bear with me. I -- hey, look! Food porn!  This Chocolate Pecan Pie is so decadent and rich, had it been around during the French Revolution it would have been immediately guillotined. And then eaten.  Here's the view from the window above our table. You may think this is an artistic black-and-white photo, but no -- this is what Madison actually looks like from October to early May.  We sneakily sneaked this super-sneaky spy photo of Tag Evers, big-shot local music promoter. Tag books something like 90% of the out-of-town touring acts, so he's at practically every show we go to, schmoozing with the talent. Tag is our enemy (long story), but I guess we have to be glad that he does what he does. He's still kind of a jackhole, though. At this point my camera's batteries petered out, so I had to go track down a couple of double-As. I ended up walking all the way around the frickin' Capitol building and a few blocks down State Street to the Triangle Market. However, it did give me a chance to take some night pix of State Street. |
I also took a photo of the State Street Arcade, the venerable porno shoppe, but I accidentally deleted it, possibly out of a subconscious sense of propriety.
 I got back with the batteries in time to catch Eef setting up his equipment. I like this photo, which -- like most of these pix -- I took in "night" mode (I'm still figuring it out), because he moved his head suddenly as the shutter snapped, creating that wacky Picasso-esque double exposure.  An actual semi-non-blurry photo of Eef, as he's tuning up.  Eef Barzelay is the singer and mastermind behind the supa cool alt-country band Clem Snide. Unlike most of these indie types, Eef is a natty dresser, decked out in a tastefully dark suit and dress shoes. To me he looks sort of like a cross between Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello, and the type of nerdy, vaguely yuppie-ish dude you would totally see at a place like "The Momo," and be all, "dude, check out the yuppie nerd trying to look like Elvis Costello."  This photo of the audience would be a lot better, I think, if it wasn't a frickin' Amstel beer ad. Anyway, it was a good show. I wasn't that familiar with Clem Snide or Eef Barzelay before last night, but I'm now a fan. He's an interesting musician, equal parts sardonic and earnest, with a quirky, eclectic style that incorporates folk, country, indie-rock, jazz, and the odd bit of 50's rock 'n' roll. My favorite song of his set was this one called, I think, "Mike Kalinsky," about a kid with asthma who grows up to front a punk band (the song's punchline is priceless). I'm pretty sure Hannah's favorite part was at the very end of the evening, when he tacked on a fragment of Neutral Milk Hotel's "Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2" to his last song. As for the Momo, the place annoys the hell out of me, but I know I'll keep going back there because they keep booking incredible bands, the bastards. I'm listening to some Weepies now (see the flyer Tag's putting up in the above pic). Not bad. Damn you, Tag!!! |
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinrazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 04/21/2006 12:52:59 AM
I love it! Your description of that pecan pie is an instant classic. Did you run into any drunken Scotsmen taking dumps in the bathroom?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 68.117.140.74
URL:
DATE: 04/21/2006 07:23:35 AM
Wow, you're like my own personal Kodak, for the times of my life! Excellent recap. I would like to add that I, too, loved Mike Kalinsky, even though I was the only one laughing my fool head off at the end, and it seemed that everyone else around us somehow didn't get that the song was funny. And you're right about my favorite part....Two-Headed Boy part 2 is one of my favorite songs of all time, and it was such an unexpected pleasure it was made all the better. P.S. This redesign looks beautiful!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 72.199.137.125
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 04/21/2006 11:03:11 AM
That seems like it was such a fun night! The wife and I used to do that kind of an outing, but we have to make our own pecan pie at home... And I have never heard of Chippewa spring water... that must be a local non-Coke/Pepsi affiliated drink.
In four years, mark my words... we will move from Alaska to Portland and we shall have a plethera of babysitters at our disposal!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/21/2006 03:17:45 PM
I wonder what it would be like to eat fine pastries like that while also enjoying live rock and/or roll? That sounds like a pretty interesting experience.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/22/2006 08:26:39 AM
Awww love this post. Also: all promoters are pretty much jackholes, I think it's part of their job description. It's such a love/hate relationship, as you described.
BestFriend and I used to take Jack Daniels into clubs in a baby bottle tucked away at the bottom of my handbag. The bottle lid doubled as a handy shotglass!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: vietnamesa
EMAIL: VIETNAMESA@GMAIL.COM
IP: 71.198.6.132
URL: http://www.vietnamesa.com
DATE: 04/22/2006 01:15:09 PM
What an excellent description! I almost thought I was there with you! But here's a question: Why is the whipped cream melted on the pecan pie? It looks scrumptious (the pie) but they could have used some fresh cool whip!?!?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Bob
EMAIL: bobbieg@gmail.com
IP: 72.68.198.146
URL:
DATE: 04/22/2006 11:02:17 PM
I've never been to Madison, but it looks pretty cool. I'm thinking I should plan a trip. And the SIYOB "Water" idea is great.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: L Man
EMAIL: littlemanclan@gmail.com
IP: 70.127.225.198
URL: http://littlemanclan.typepad.com/
DATE: 04/23/2006 09:34:02 AM
Hate to sound like a broken record, but the MOMO sounds like a perfect venue for the greens. $7 martinis in Wisconsin? Nonsense.
Me likey Clem Snide.
BTW, aren't we morally obligated to despise people named "Tag"? Especially if they're a hipster music promoter? Or is that just me?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: marshmallow
EMAIL: pmarshmallow@gmail.com
IP: 66.171.3.56
URL: http://www.tabulas.com/~koyangi
DATE: 04/25/2006 10:23:20 PM
$7 for a martini would be pretty cheap in manhattan, yes. but we don't get to see the lovely Clem Snide or Cafe Montmartre, do we! fun pics.
An Evening with Rhett Miller
04/25/2006 11:16:47 PM
A Selection of Excellent Rhett Miller Songs For Your Enjoyment |
Y'know...I've been doing this "web-blogging" thing for nigh upon six years now, and let me tell ya, there are two things about weblogging that never change. One is that people never get tired of flapping their gums on the subject of weblogging. The other is that they always say the same damn dumbass things.
Take this recent Slate piece by a weblogger on her decision to quit her blog. Nothing wrong with the article, really. Good read. Check it out. It's the dumbass reader comments in "the Fray" that have me seizing my leg in outrage like Rumplestiltskin.
Two particular Fray-tarded statements, which I've been hearing since -- ahhh, forget it! I'm not even gonna bother. Frickin' people. Argh.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 195.82.115.163
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/26/2006 10:48:02 AM
I guess this is the appropriate place for me to express my lengthy and articulate thoughts about Rhett Miller's songcraft, energy and talent?
Which would, of course, be "RHETTTTTTT!!! SQUEEEEEEE!!!"
Yeah, he's an amazing show. I haven't seen him in TOO long.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/26/2006 02:37:41 PM
Whoa, I totally forgot that this month is ROOOOCCCKKrippril!
Taking pictures of special events is tricky. When I attempt it, I just choose not to try so hard that interferes with my enjoyment, and if it doesn't work out, oh, well. That way I win, either way.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 04/27/2006 10:49:56 AM
I love Rhett Miller and YOU introduced him to me, B. Thanks again. :-)
As to the blogging statements, I don't know which ones pissed you off, but I generally get pissed off whenever anyone assumes *anything* about blogging whatsoever. Like if you blog, it's automatically a launching platform for becoming a "real" writer.
Or all bloggers are political watchdogs.
Or ALL bloggers are anything, really. They're just people, that's all, expressing themselves in whatever way they choose to.
A blog is just a damn blog and whatever focus the blogger wants to use is just as VALID as any other focus. The mommy bloggers or the cat bloggers or the kids blogging about their classes during college have just as much value as the ones whose egos get all blown out of proportion from a little media attention and then they think they now wield a bigtime political voice or whatever, yatta-ta-yatta-yat. Blech.
Blog or do not blog; who cares.
Now you kids get off my lawn....*grimaces and shakes fist repeatedly*
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/27/2006 11:01:29 AM
Nice! I'm happy to spread the Rhett-sweat.
Re: blogging, it bothers me when people try to impose some rigid definition of weblogging and then judge the medium by that definition. I can't believe anyone would say that he/she feels "constrained" by the blogging format. There IS no blogging format. Just because the majority of people write a certain way doesn't mean you are under any obligation to follow suit, and it's certainly no reason to complain about not having freedom to write whatever you want, however you want.
Bad Erotica #4
04/27/2006 01:54:55 AM
4/28: The 24-hour Read-a-Thon for the Madison Area Literacy Council kicks off this evening. I'm taking a long ass nap (literally...my ass is going to need some rest before all that sitting) in preparation. Wish me luck! And again, you can sponsor me if you like -- enter "Team Weirdsmobile" on the online pledge form.
Here's what I'm taking with me to read, not that I'll actually get through all of this with my slow-eye:
This Is Not a Novel by David Markson
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
Red Thunder by John Varley
and of course whatever I can browse for assuming they let me browse.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 04/27/2006 08:18:10 AM
I'm not even kidding when I tell you that the song that came on while I was reading this is: "Fucking in Rhythm & Sorrow" by the Sugarcubes. The climax (as it were) of the chorus is the line "life's both sweet and sour." Which is exactly how I felt reading this hi-class erotica.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 67.176.255.173
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 04/27/2006 11:01:23 AM
Heh, heh, now when I see "ABS" I'm going to think "Anal Butt Stuff!"
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/27/2006 11:08:34 AM
hannah - I did in fact find myself feeling intense sorrow after writing this.
Jim - Gives a whole new meaning to "ABS brakes," though I'm not sure what that new meaning is.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 04/27/2006 12:41:19 PM
Okay, so I laughed hysterically and very LOUDLY all through this. Thanks B!
Required reading for anyone who wants to try "Da Buttsex". Um, Reality? Check, please.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 04/27/2006 02:41:02 PM
Bad erotica is SO AWESOME!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 130.191.153.132
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 04/27/2006 03:17:49 PM
ABSolutly fabulous! I laughed out loud in the library because of this...
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/27/2006 03:36:58 PM
I choose to perceive this as a response to the possibility that someone from high school may stop by your website at any moment.
If this is true, consciously or subconsciously, it's fucking awesome. HA!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinrazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 04/27/2006 04:51:35 PM
Leslie, I thought the same friggin' thing. I think I need to do something similarily raunchy and offensive on my site too.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 04/27/2006 05:17:07 PM
Leslie/The Raz - You know, you're probably right. Welcome, fellow alumni! Look at all this quality entertainment you missed out on by not talking to me in high school!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 04/27/2006 05:45:12 PM
I am alternatively posting some nuclear-level angst. I figure that will (1) accurately represent my true self and (2) scare them off. ;)
But perhaps I should post some ABS instead.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: vietnamesa
EMAIL: vietnamesa@gmail.com
IP: 204.181.181.10
URL: http://www.vietnamesa.com
DATE: 04/27/2006 06:19:09 PM
OMG! That was so 90210-porn style!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Ricardo Pants
EMAIL: ricardopants@tinydeadbunny.com
IP: 69.2.242.194
URL: http://www.tinydeadbunny.com
DATE: 05/02/2006 10:14:18 AM
Golly, I find your erotica pleasurable. I enjoy the feelings of sex and strengthened man-meat that arise when reading it. Perhaps I will relax the gentlemen's way later, when I find the time convenient.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Marissa
EMAIL: erin.powell@news-star.com
IP: 216.116.252.50
URL: http://www.feelingismutual.com/blog.php
DATE: 05/02/2006 05:44:04 PM
That was the most beautiful thing I've ever read. Thank You.
They Shoot Readers, Don't They? (Part 1)
05/03/2006 02:25:22 PM
This is the journal I kept of the event (some edits made for clarity and sanity). I'm glad I kept some kind of notes, because especially towards the end there, I couldn't tell you now anything I was thinking or reading then. In fact, that's true most nights that I go to the bookstore, so I think I'm going to start keeping a regular bookstore journal.Hour 1 :: 5:00 pm Arrived about 5 min. late (my fault). Parking lot packed! Some jackhole saving the one good space. Prob. for a celeb (there are celeb readers). Brief debate b/w H and me regarding whether celebs entitled to special treatment (me: pro-celeb due to possibility of one day becoming a celeb). Love this clipped "journal" style writing! Found seats in the café. H estimates 30-40 ppl. We have decided to eschew the celeb readings for now. Why am I not reading? H: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer B: This Is Not a Novel by David Markson Hour 2 :: 6:00 pm H: Artemis Fowl B: This Is Not a Novel Interesting thing learned: St. Jerome said that unmarried women should not bathe, and should keep themselves in the most loathsome condition, so as to avoid stirring up temptation. Two Korean women sitting near me, complaining. Hour 3 :: 7:10 pm H: Artemis Fowl B: This Is Not a Novel Interesting thing learned: Auden called Rilke "the greatest lesbian poet since Sappho." Also: There is no mention of writing at all in the Iliad. H has crazy legs (already?). Will she last? Super fidgety! Hmmm. The "Borders Guy" [guy who is at Borders all the frickin' time, or at least, every time I'm here, which according to H makes me the "Borders Guy"] is here. Hope he stays for the R-A-T! Tennessee Williams died from choking on the cap of a nasal spray. (No shit? That is bizarre.) There is a lot of free food they have laid out. • Bagels (sesame, blueberry, etc) w/cream cheese • Vegetable tray (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli) w/dressing (ranch?) • Fruit tray (watermelon, canteloupe, honeydew, grapes) w/strawberry cream dip • Pita bread w/hummus • Brownies, blondies, some cakey looking things • Punch, coffee I WANT TO EAT IT ALL SOLELY BECAUSE IT IS FREE. I AM NOT EVEN HUNGRY!!!  I must focus. "On principle, Bertrand Russell gave away all of his considerable inherited wealth in his late twenties. And earned his own way thereafter." Hour 4 :: 8:00 pm H: Sour Puss by Rita Mae Brown B: This Is Not a Novel S is coming w/salsa & chips. I'm looking forward to the salsa since apparently it is quite special salsa. It was the belle of the ball at S's recent office potluck. I feel like I'm spending too much time goofing off instead of reading. Also, I am sleepy. You know I would not be if we were just here to read. Maybe there is something about being here for a purpose instead of just hanging out that makes me lose focus + want to goof off? Damn, that would suck. But on the ther hand, at least I haven't gone for any free food in an hour... "There are so few people who know how to make art." -- Julian Schnabel "One less than he thinks." -- Robert Hughes "Splended rooms and elegant furnishings are for people who have no thoughts." -- Goethe
Hour 5 :: 9:00 pm H: Sour Puss B: T.I.N.A.N. Making slow progress through this book. Next I think I will just graze a little. Really interesting book, though. It's "about" a writer (called Writer) who is trying to write a novel about nothing, with no plot or characters. The book is sort of a notebook crammed with factoids about authors, musicians, artists, etc., occasionally interrupted by brief notes by the "author." Most of the factoids are about how the writer/artist died (Sherwood Anderson: peritonitis from swallowing a toothpick). The book does end up having a character (the author himself) and, I think, a plot, although it emerges almost subconsciously. I feel like there is some kind of overarching theme (other than death, obviously) but again, it seems to lie just outside my awareness. Or maybe I'm just too dumb to get it. Anyway, it's a great book for someone with attention span problems. Kind of a bathroom book, really. The most depressing bathroom book evar. Hour 6 :: 10:03 pm H: Sour Puss B: T.I.N.A.N. "The long martyrdom of being trampled to death by geese, Kierkegaard called reading one's reviews." "Samuel Johnson, on criticism: A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince, but one is an insect, and the other is a horse still." "Obstinately cross-referential and of cryptic interconnective syntax. Here perhapes less than self-evident to the less than attentive." Markson -- or rather, the Author, or the Writer -- is getting kind of snarky in this latter seciton of the book. I think (& this is confirmed by the "obstinately..." etc.) that if I really wanted to put in the effort, I could -- or more honestly, I couldn't, but a better educated reader could -- figure out all the connections between the references, snippets of literature, and authorial comments. Sort of like looking at a page of math equations, I know there's a fascinating puzzle here (oh good gravy look at that portly bearded man in the pink cardigan w/sleeves rolled up) but it's not for me to figure out. I am a lazy reader! But one thing that is emerging for me is the idea that these aren't just randomly selected info bites. There is a reason the author chose the things he chose. Character is emerging from the apparent chaos of the torrent of information. Also he snarks the crap out of Harold Bloom, which is always cool. Part of what's coming out of all this is the author's fascination/obsession with death -- especially young or pointless death. Maybe tied to his fears about failure as an artists (several anecdotes about artists who died penniless/unknown) and the limited time we have in which to create and do our life's work. Death, illness, suffering, ignominy, disrespect (by critics), lack of humility, etc. etc. etc. It's all pretty dark and oppressive, esp. in one sitting. I'm glad this is a short (190 pg.) book! Abba Kovner <-- why is that name familiar? Google! [edit: Kovner was a Hebrew poet/writer and one of the leaders of the Vilna ghetto partisans during WWII. I remembered the name because I recently watched the Partisans of Vilna documentary.] I like this line: "Is there a single Jane Austen volume that manages not to bring up the subject of money before the end of page one?" Har. The couple at the next table were reading books on "better sex." Then they started getting all lovey on each other and left shortly thereafter. What makes this cute to me is that they both looked like nerdy book-geeks. As I write this, they're probably doing some kind of obscure Tibetan sex act on a kitchen chair. Ew! But also Aw. Or not! But that one quote ("obstinately") is still on my mind. Why put that in there? Maybe to justify what he's doing here? I mean the book could seem pretty random unless you know or are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that there is some underlying method to this. Hour 7 :: 11:04 pm H: Cat book B: Bitterness book Wow -- six hours! And I am getting a little tired. Only a quarter of the way through -- long road ahead. Almost done with this book, though. I want to read magazines next but I should save the "lite" stuff for later. "This is also a kind of verbal fugue." <-- musical term...Google! <-- Wait -- I am in a FRICKIN' BOOKSTORE  Finished T.I.N.A.N. I dunno. Definitely intriguing, kept interest, informative, challenging, but toward the end, a little too whiny/anxious but not in a way that elicits sympathy. Which may be his intention, I dunno. I'm just sayin'. Okay, what's next? Think I'll go browse a bit.  I think it's gonna be Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi (author of Persepolis), but I'm not sure. We'll go out for some coffee and see where it goes. Dude, I still haven't hit the coffee yet! Well, not mostly, but I did get an espresso shot with this Kahluah freeze monstrosity that S bought but rejected. Did you know that espresso shots contain less caffeine than a cup o' regular java? So it's not really that hardcore. If you want a real jolt, instead of a "redeye" (coffee + shot) just drink another damn cuppa joe! My browsing was hampered by this couple -- nerdy dude, nerdy girl in a leopard print coat -- for some reason slow dancing in front of the political science aisle (I had to avoid them). Note that this is the same aisle where, on TWO occasions, I saw (heard) men walk past and FART LOUDLY. It is the crazy zone of Borders West. |
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net
DATE: 05/03/2006 03:09:44 PM
Reading about the drop in politeness in inhibition at Borders is interesting. I hope it continues.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: KevinRazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 05/03/2006 05:02:26 PM
A Read-A-Thon sounds like a windfall bonanza for optometrists. I hope your vision hasn't changed from all that eye-exercise!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.35.42.193
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com
DATE: 05/03/2006 06:25:22 PM
I pronounce this post to be AWESOME.
That thing about Rilke is great. As is the Hughes quote. I can't tell if I want to read that book or not.
I am totally stealing the medical term "crazy legs".
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 130.191.152.187
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol
DATE: 05/04/2006 12:36:04 PM
So, how many people made it all the way to the end? Did your desire to read engaging material change as you got more tired?
This would be a blast at Powells in Portland. That bookstore is a monster... and it is constantly filled with book-nerds like me.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 05/04/2006 12:43:59 PM
The number of people waxed and waned over the course of the night, because there was no requirement that you stay for the whole time. You could sign up for specific hours, so most of the participants I think were just "short-timers." There were only about four or five of us that were trying for the whole 24 hours.
The kind of stuff I wanted to read definitely changed over the course of the night. I thought it might, which is why I started out with the more mentally challenging book and saved the magazines for last. At some point though my brain just stopped taking in new information. I could read words but I wasn't really comprehending anything I read. That's why this first installment of my read-a-thon journal is probably more interesting than the later parts.
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PING:
TITLE: b's read-a-thon diary
URL: http://jumbledpileofperson.typepad.com/nichole/2006/05/bs_readathon_di.html
IP: 204.9.178.8
BLOG NAME: nichole's auxiliary storage
DATE: 05/03/2006 09:07:27 PM
Over at the tigers of wrath, blogger b posts his journal of the Madison Area Literacy Council Read-a-Thon: they shoot readers, don't they? (part 1). I just couldn't wait for part 2.
They Shoot Readers, Don't They? (Part 2)
05/04/2006 01:44:34 PM
<< Part 1 Hour 8 :: Midnight H: Cat book B: Embroideries OK, I have settled on Embroideries. It's a good balance of heavy/light. I need something a little "lite-er" after that frickin' "Compendium of Artists' Horrible Deaths." So with Embroideries you've got a Not feeling too bad. I think I'll head upstairs...the Found magazine guy is the celeb reader this hour I guess. Maybe he'll read some Post-It he found in the Borders parking lot?  Found mag guy...Davy...Rothman? [Edit: Davy Rothbart.] There was a guy who looked like Bruce Davison sitting by the podium that I thought was actually Davy, but no. Davy told a funny story about being stranded in an airport (Detroit?) and having to bum a ride from a stranger who was sure Davy was gonna rob him. Then he went around and asked everyone what they were reading. He seemed like a really cool guy, although it's a peeve of mine when people applaud themselves...what are they applauding for?
Then we ate egg sandwiches (H and I, not Davy and I), or were they "Denver Omelette Biscuits" whatever. A nice Borders employee microwaved them for me. "To speak behind others' backs is the ventilator of the heart." -- Marjane Satrapi's grandmother Hour 9 :: 1:05 am H: 100 Strokes of the Brush Before Bed by Melissa P. ("So boring I can't read it." -- H) B: Embroideries The book H is reading sounds hilarious (not in a good way) though I could not possibly bring myself to read it. Some kind of memoir by a teenaged girl about her sexual exploits or something. "My cheeks flushed again, but now I felt my fireplace about to blaze." Yoiks! Anyway, back in real book land, I'm enjoying Embroideries...very different (so far) from Persepolis, more relaxed and folksy. In it Marjane is part of a female get-together along with her (opium-addicted) grandma and other friends and family, sharing stories about their relationships with men -- the bastards! Very chick-lit-y, but not in a bad way. I like Satrapi's drawing style...deceptively simple, like anyone could draw the way she does, but not really...she can capture some amazing nuances of character + emotion with her stark b&w, ink-heavy drawings. I wish I could draw like that!  There was pizza from Glass Nickel...excellent...and FREE! Man I thought I was going to spend all this $$ on food, but no way...excellent...  1:25 am I think what makes me mad is not that I'm holding up OK, but that there's any question about whether or not I am holding up. I mean, it's only 1:25 am. Normally I am still going strong. I think I'm psyching myself out with this all-nighter stuff. Again, if this were a normal night out at the bookstore, I'd be FINE! The mind is a crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy ball of craziness. Oh yeah -- also, Madison: the city that Oh -- H just pointed out a phrase from this book (And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now) she's reading: SEW TROO. I think that concept explains my tiredness t/n. I am hoarding my energy like a miser, so therefore I am all tired b/c I'm not giving myself any of that energy 2 spend! DAY-UM! Well "F" that "Noize"! I'm a spend me some N-R-G raht now Ah tell yew whut! Hour 10 :: 2:12 am H: Drawing from Life: The Journal as Art by Jennifer New B: 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (and Al Franken is #37) by Bernard "Whiny Bitch" Goldberg I've decided that, as a gimmick to help keep me awake, periodically I'm going to read (as much as I can stand) a book that I think will make me SUPER MAD. So now I'm a read this dumbass rightwing dickwad book. C-YA L8R.  OK here is #1 on my list of what pisses me off. When they try to front like they're "not pontificating...just speaking common sense," "tellin' it like it is," "plain truth"..."straight talk." When you hear any of these phrases issue from the mouth/pen of some blowhard, you may be ASSURED that whatever else this person is going to say will be PURE BULLSHIT. And you know it's invariably some smug right wing prick using the "common sense" façade to excuse his poorly-thought-out, knee-jerk, dipshit pronouncements. PFEH! --> Here's a good one -- he's talking about the fact that Repubs are a minority on college faculties. Why? Naturally, because of anti-right-wing discrimination! Not because, say, most people who are intelligent + intellectually honest enough to seek truth instead of justifications for their ignorant/hateful views tend to lean left when they realize what's really going on in the world. Nooo, it's because BOO HOO everyone hates conservatives sob whine whine! Actually, it is true that people hate conservatives, but the reason is that far too many of them are whiny defensive bitches like Bernard Goldberg. Grow up, asshole! Pfah. H wrote here while I was in the restroom: "Also known as whiny ass titty babies. Ladies and Gentlemen: Your Republican Party!!" <-- Ha ha I mean it's like this...Repubs are always all, "Liberals...all they can do is call Repubs names..." Yeah well frankly, we're just calling it like we see it. If I see a dickless baboon, I'm gonna say, "Hey look, it's a dickless baboon!" And if that dickless baboon gets all pissed and all, "Heyyy, is that all you can do is call people dickless baboons?" Then I'd be all, "No, I only call dickless baboons dickless baboons...you dickless baboon." And of course, dickless baboons never think of themselves as dickless baboons. I mean of course not. Yet that's what they are. Hey sorry man, that's just COMMON SENSE. OK I'm gonna stop reading political shit because it's gonna make my head esplode. Btw, when I was over there in the politics section I felt this uncontrollable urge to fart. |
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: KevinRazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 05/05/2006 04:52:05 PM
Amen, brother.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 72.199.137.125
URL: http://www.duringflight.com/groundcontrol/
DATE: 05/06/2006 10:22:17 AM
being in the presence of dickless babboons makes me want to fart as well. so true.
They Shoot Readers, Don't They? (Part 3)
05/09/2006 11:47:34 AM
<< Part 1 :: Part 2 Hour 11 :: 3:00 am H: Mind Hacks B: Embroideries "When the snake gets old, the frog has him by the balls." -- Marjane's grandfather OK, back to the regular books. Finished up Embroideries. I really liked it. Much lighter than Persepolis I & II though still with a sharp feminist/political edge. I felt kind of excluded due to the "girls only" vibe, but that's OK, I guess it's kind of the point of the book. Now what....hmmmm...I'm not gonna go to magazines until later...last resort....maybe when I'm too far gone even to write little ellipses between utterances...or even know what "ellipsis" means...I am constipated... Hour 12 :: 4:05 am H: Caricature by Dan Clowes B: ??? Dude, the guy who looks like Bruce Davison is still going strong, as is (I think) the weird pink-sweater-bearded guy. Place is pretty empty. I went 2 Sentry a few mins ago for some vegetables. Fiber will remedy my constipation! Sentry is unbelievable...$14.99 for a frickin' vegetable platter? And just like yr basic broc-caul-carrot combo. For $15 I better get radishes at the very least. Anyway, instead I picked up a bag o' vegetable medley (b/c/c) for $2.50 plus 2 "Naked Juice" Green Superfood juices. Resistance from H on the green juice ("blue-green algae?!?!") but all is now well. The lady came down just now to get us to see this hour's speaker. No idea who she is. She's reading from The Tao of Pooh. Maybe I will go up and check it out since I like that book, also I just saw it on the shelf which is maybe a sign. 4:4[0] am - Well, that was cool. A nice lady from Group Health Cooperative read from Tao of Pooh (the part about wu wei), then we (she plus 3 others plus me) sat around for a while jawing. Nice break from the readin'. Nothing much on the constipation front. Not sure what to read next. At this hour everything feels too demanding. Hm hm hm...... Dang, almost gagged on some broccoli! Better watch that. Choking to death would put a damper on the 'thon. Although I think the pledges would still be active. OK now whut.... hmm uh At this point the decision was made to go get some damn sleep. However, a few hours later I woke up and got all fired up again. Hour 19 :: 11:40 am H: The Creative License by Danny Gregory B: Red Thunder by John Varley Well, hours 13-18 passed in a blur...of sleep! At around 5 am H & I decided to pack it in for the night/morning. I think physically we could have pushed through, but we figured, why do this if it's not going to be in any way pleasurable? Plus, neither of us could actually piece together written communication at that point, as I realized when H pointed out that I'd written "4:40" as "4:4."  A few hours' sleep, and I'm all rested, mostly, and ready to get back into the fray. Something this experience has taught me is that, at 37, I'm not as willing to suffer needlessly as I was at 27, or 17. I don't know if that's a bad thing, really. I think it's true that, as you get older, you hae a better idea of what you want (and don't want) and feel less weird about having it. When I want to do things I'll do them; when not, not. So: Red Thunder. Hour 20 :: 12:04 pm H: sketching in her sketch book B: Red Thunder I've only gotten through the prologue of this book. (I love prologues. They're just so portentious.) But, I'm already relishing the idea of reading this. It's supposed to be sort of an homage to the early juvenile SF of Robert Heinlein, those boys' adventure stories like Have Space Suit, Will Travel (which I have read at least 20 times) and Space Cadet. So far it's not exactly like Heinlein (nor should it be) but it has the same "can-do underdogs" spirit. It's about some misfit types who build a rocket to Mars. Very Space Suit-like. Also, remember that 80's (70's?) TV movie, Salvage One, about the guy, Andy Griffith, who builds a lunar spacecraft out of junk? Aw Yeah. Hour 21 :: 1:03 pm H: Entertainment Weekly B: MacAnswers (Mac magazine) I'm at a point (chapter one) in Red Thunder where I know I'm a get super into it, so I'm taking a magazine break. Here are the mags I'm reading: MacAnswers MacWorld Entertainment Weekly National Geographic's Guide to Digital Photography Kind of techy and "lite," but there aren't any new issues of Believer, etc. Earlier, H executed a table switch from a crappy little table to our former awesome digs, in a maneuver (which I shall dub Operation Freedom Café) pulled off with military precision. Ah, now S is here. Hour 22 :: 2:20 pm H: Red Thunder S: Chris Ware monograph by Daniel Raeburn B: MacWorld Ah....yes. Not much to report. Just readin'. Hour 23 :: 3:30 pm H: Red Thunder S: Lone Wolf & Cub, Vol. 16 by Kazuo Koike B: Entertainment Weekly ... Hour 24 :: 4:00 pm H: Red Thunder S: Kare Kano Vol. 1 by Masami Tsuda B: Time Travelers Strictly Cash by Spider Robinson Reading Time Travelers Strictly Cash, a book of short stories by Spider Robinson. At H's recommendation (Red Thunder is partially dedicated to Spider Robinson). Funny stuff. I've never read Robinson before though I've heard his name mentioned all the time. These stories I guess are part of his "Callahan's Bar" tales...I know nothing about this...must check it out. It reminds me a little bit of Robert Aspirin's "Myth" series. Last hour. I slept before, but my brain is still turning to mush. I did get in 18 hrs of reading though. It was fun. And I've certainly gotten the bookstore out of my system for at least one week.
So that's how it went, more or less. I enjoyed it, but I wish I had been more "on" during those late night hours. Isn't that really the appeal of something like this -- the idea of being "locked in" at the bookstore all night? I think next year (and the impression I got from the organizers is that there will be another read-a-thon next year), instead of trying for a whole 24 hours, I'm going to just show up at midnight and hang out for those all-important graveyard shift hours. It's funny, but 24 hours seems like a long time unless you want those hours to last. |
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 05/09/2006 02:04:18 PM
I really enjoyed Red Thunder and just finished its sequel, Red Lightning, last night. I read it thinking, wow, this was published pretty quickly for such a thinly veiled criticism of the gov't response to Katrina.....well, he wrote the LAST chapter of the book in the first weeks following the devastation, which means the whole idea (and the whole book) came before the water. Eerie.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL: chaos@corrupt.net
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net/
DATE: 05/09/2006 02:27:57 PM
That's some good looking pizza.
I've experienced the same "Eh, forget it" avoidance of suffering at B-Fest of late. I used to only sleep 1-2 hours, but now I'm all too willing to sleep six hours and miss four movies. Sleep is valuable!
Monday Mix Tape 05.09.06
05/09/2006 03:04:06 PM
01 The Weepies, "Somebody Loved"
02 Jack Johnson, "Banana Pancakes"
03 Thee Shams, "Love Grows & Grows"
04 Rocketscience, "She's My Girl"
05 Math & Physics Club, "You're So Good To Me"
06 Robyn Hitchcock, "Heliotrope"
07 The Boy Least Likely To, "My Tiger My Heart"
08 Devics, "Song For A Sleeping Girl"
09 Jamie Barnes, "Patient Lover Be"
10 Rilo Kiley, "Let My Love Open The Door" (Live)
An Evening with The Weepies
05/10/2006 04:25:23 PM
A Selection of Excellent Weepies Songs For Your Enjoyment
Gotta Have You
Vegas Baby
Take It From Me
Somebody Loved
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: fortycalibernap
EMAIL: litvas@gmail.com
IP: 69.115.102.129
URL: http://www.fortycalibernap.blogspot.com
DATE: 05/11/2006 09:11:56 AM
they're called earth shoes.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 05/11/2006 09:19:39 AM
Aha! Thanks for the info!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 05/11/2006 12:32:04 PM
WHOA Isn't that what I said when you said "those shoes hippies wear?"
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 05/11/2006 12:42:24 PM
That's right -- I guess you did know what they were, after all.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL:
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 05/11/2006 03:53:17 PM
oh, no, I didn't....I was just remarking on my associating "Earth Shoe" w/ "Hippie," and that being what they actually are! That means you knew what they were, even though you meant Birkenstocks!
Sometimes You Just Gotta Take the Long Way Around
06/08/2006 11:12:26 PM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Wendy
EMAIL: wendy@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 66.229.40.128
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/wendy
DATE: 06/09/2006 12:01:59 AM
Thanks for coming back! I like the design a lot, but it's the content that always attracted me more than anything else.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 12:06:28 AM
Thanks dude! Hey, when are you updating your own blog? Eh?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Christina
EMAIL:
IP: 210.123.18.95
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 03:35:33 AM
Yay~ You're back!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jima
EMAIL: jima@legnog.com
IP: 69.210.250.75
URL: http://www.empty-handed.com/
DATE: 06/09/2006 05:39:13 AM
Like that Demond Wilson series! Baby, I'm Back!!!!111
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Susan
EMAIL: tundrababe@livejournal.com
IP: 66.188.145.234
URL: http://tundrababe.livejournal.com
DATE: 06/09/2006 07:31:09 AM
I love that photo of you in the fez drinking whiskey! WHAT!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 67.187.234.102
URL: http://www.dadinalaska.com
DATE: 06/09/2006 10:48:24 AM
I totally understand how this goes. Honestly, I am just really happy to see you back. I am still working the kinks out of mine still.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Leslie
EMAIL:
IP: 82.45.212.208
URL: http://thynk2much.livejournal.com/
DATE: 06/09/2006 11:03:36 AM
I just want to take this moment to pat myself on the back for not ever contacting you to say "wtf when are you coming back?"
I did think it once or twice but then I walked a mile in your moccasins and figured there must be a reason. And it doesn't have to even be a good reason. Just a reason.
WHAT!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.168.161
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 06/09/2006 11:15:16 AM
Good blogs are like herpes. They never go away.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 11:23:35 AM
Thanks for the weblove. Althou OH MY GOD I JUST TOOK A WELLBUTRIN TABLET WITH HOT TEA AND IT FUCKING DISSOLVED INSTANTLY AND TASTES LIKE CRAP holy shit don't ever take an uncoated tablet with hot drinks oh my god I have ass in my mouth
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 11:35:16 AM
Holey moley where was I. Oh yeah. monkeyinabox: Best analogy evar. My blog didn't go away...it just went into remission.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jennifer and the beans
EMAIL: beanmom@beanmom.com
IP: 69.141.20.235
URL: http://www.kjsl.com/~beanmom/beandiary.html
DATE: 06/09/2006 12:09:17 PM
WB, B2.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Smivey
EMAIL: smivey@gmail.com
IP: 24.126.173.160
URL: http://www.smiveysucks.com
DATE: 06/11/2006 08:17:09 AM
Just to let you know, you have achieved bonus points for the obscure Mad TV reference. There is nothing funnier than a coked-up fat man dressed in drag.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: gene
EMAIL: spinward@hotmail.com
IP: 71.134.217.68
URL: http://www.somethingoutofnothing.net/journal
DATE: 06/14/2006 07:56:30 PM
More ms comic sans please
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/16/2006 09:32:32 AM
There's always more MS Comic Sans!
Self-Troubleshooting
06/09/2006 12:14:34 PM
ME: Hi, this is B² technical support. I'm B², how can I help you?
MYSELF: Hello?
ME: Yes, how can I help you sir?
MYSELF: Well I seem to have developed this nasty hacking cough.
ME: I see.
MYSELF: Yeah I just keep coughing violently and hacking up phlegm. It's so bad I almost vomited a few minutes ago.
ME: Wow, that sounds awful. Where are you now?
MYSELF: I'm at my computer.
ME: Uh huh, and what were you doing when the coughing started?
MYSELF: I was on the floor underneath my desk, adjusting some cables.
ME: Okay, and that's when the coughing started?
MYSELF: Not right away. I was down there a while, because the cables were really tangled, and it was hard to see clearly because the fan was on HIGH and really blowing in my face.
ME: The fan?
MYSELF: Yeah, in the summer I keep a box fan under the desk in front of my computer, to ventilate it because it tends to overheat.
ME: Isn't it dusty back there behind your desk?
MYSELF: Oh hell yeah. It's not like I ever vacuum back there, ha ha. I should, but my dust allergy is so bad I can't even vacuum it up without feeling sick.
ME: Let me make sure I have the correct information. You were underneath your desk, where it's extremely dusty, with a large fan blowing on HIGH directly at the most dusty area of the floor. You have a severe dust allergy, and now you're wondering why you have a persistent hacking cough. Is that correct sir?
MYSELF: That's right.
ME: Sir, do you have any prescription medications in your household?
MYSELF: Uh, well I'm taking Wellbutrin, and there's some old Lorazepam and Vicodin around here somewhere.
ME: Okay great. Now what I want you to do is take all of your prescription medication bottles and empty them out into a container.
MYSELF: Okay.
ME: Then I want you to ingest all of those pills with a bottle of strong whiskey or other hard liquor.
MYSELF: But won't that make me overdose?
ME: Yes. Based on the information you've just given me, I've determined that you are too stupid to live.
MYSELF: Wow, okay, thanks.
ME: No problem. Is there anything else I can help you with tonight?
MYSELF: Nope.
ME: Okay then, thanks for calling. Good night.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL: http://community.livejournal.com/heavycream/
DATE: 06/09/2006 12:39:04 PM
I like that homunculus, but does he also have one in his own head? And so on? Into homunculus infinity?
Welcome back :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 01:26:11 PM
Yeah, he's kind of like your Long Eye homunculus, but in my brain. He's pretty helpful, but the wait time is ridiculous. I don't know if that homunculus also has a homunculus. He probably has a bunch of them, actually, and they're always stuck in committee meetings which is why I never get anything done.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: june
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 06/09/2006 02:40:42 PM
This LJ friend of mine, he works in tech support for a big international food company, and he's always getting help desk calls by mistake. One time an old lady was complaining that her frozen dinner was full of sticks and wood, but the best was the guy who got a bagel stuck in his printer. A BAGEL. STUCK. IN HIS PRINTER. Questions as to how this could have possibly happened aside, why would you even call the BAGEL company's help desk for that? Wouldn't it make more sense to call the PRINTER company's help desk??
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL:
DATE: 06/09/2006 03:07:56 PM
june: Maybe he was more worried about his bagel than his printer!
I want to know about that old lady with the frozen dinner full of sticks and wood. I wonder if she accidentally bought one of those aluminum pans of wood chips for grilling.
One time I was working at a tape backup drive company, and this woman called up asking if we carried some weird product name that was obviously completely unrelated to tape backup drives. When I tried to explain this to her, she asked me if I thought she was pretty. I said, "I have no way of determining that over the phone." She asked me again if I thought she was pretty, and when I said again that I didn't know she started crying and hung up the phone.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 67.187.234.102
URL: http://www.dadinalaska.com
DATE: 06/10/2006 10:08:01 AM
When I worked for the very super cool and not-at-all-lame company Gateway, (sarcasm) I had a woman call me up and ask why her credit card wont eject. When I asked her how she was trying to purchase something she exclaimed that the ATM on her computer must be broken. She had shoved several credit cards in her A: drive and couldn't get them out again.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 67.187.234.102
URL: http://www.dadinalaska.com
DATE: 06/10/2006 10:10:20 AM
note: The above comment was longer but it got converted to HTML in a way I didn't expect. =( IM CALLING TECH SUPPORT!
Note from B: It should be fixed now. :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Smivey
EMAIL: smivey@gmail.com
IP: 24.126.173.160
URL: http://www.smiveysucks.com
DATE: 06/11/2006 08:06:36 AM
Ahhh your blog has taken on yet another form. Well done, B². Well done.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: wilhelm
EMAIL: wilhelm@tinydeadbunny.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL: http://tinydeadbunny.com
DATE: 06/12/2006 06:55:01 AM
man, you have a cool little guy with computer controls in your head? all i have is a little hamster that runs in a wheel.
Yogurt Experiment
06/16/2006 10:58:33 AM
Devendra Banhart, "I Feel Just Like A Child"
While I'm not much of a yogurt eater generally, there's one yogurt I really love -- Stonyfield Farm Organic Whole Milk Yogurt. It's organic, it's the only yogurt I can find around here that is made with whole milk, so it's creamier, and there is in fact a rich layer of cream at the top, which you can eat or mix into the yogurt (I eat the cream layer by itself).
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim
EMAIL:
IP: 65.167.132.200
URL: http://chaos.corrupt.net/
DATE: 06/16/2006 01:14:02 PM
And you've uncovered the useful fact that you need to eat natural yogurt fast to avoid grossness.
Next you should find out how it tastes with those Smarties mixed in.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 06/16/2006 02:12:32 PM
I concur with Jim's scientific experiment suggestion. And I have a suggestion myself...rethink the epithet "ass yogurt?"
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amblus
EMAIL:
IP: 141.166.112.97
URL: http://amblus.diaryland.com
DATE: 06/16/2006 02:25:14 PM
Sweet diagram!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jennifer and the beans
EMAIL: beanmom@beanmom.com
IP: 69.141.20.235
URL: http://www.kjsl.com/~beanmom/beandiary.html
DATE: 06/16/2006 02:56:33 PM
I can confirm that the structure is the same for the Whole Milk Coffee flavor, although I have not been able to access this flavor in quite some time, which makes me sad. Incidentally, the day I realized I enjoyed coffee yogurt is the day I realized my childhood was fully over, which also made me sad. There is much sadness in yogurt.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Susan
EMAIL: tundrababe@livejournal.com
IP: 66.188.145.234
URL: http://tundrababe.livejournal.com
DATE: 06/16/2006 05:50:00 PM
Hmm...I don't think I could eat yogurt without fruit in it! Or little chocolate chips and stuff. I guess I don't really like yogurt that much, but I like it fine with stuff mixed in. And at that point, the caloric intake might be so high that I'd be better off just eating a candy bar and forgoing the yogurt experience altogether.
Sorry about that tangent, you just got me thinkin'. Good to know! French vanilla does sound good, but I'd probably add something unhealthy to it to make it tastier. Mmm...chocolate chips.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.168.161
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 06/16/2006 06:25:52 PM
THANK YOU. Yogurt science rules! I got some cheap stuff from the store, and I bet the flavor isn't throughout, but the cheap grossness is.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinrazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 06/16/2006 07:23:34 PM
You also have to try Brown Cow yoghurt. Also organic, also scrumpalicious! Available at fine health markets everywhere, like Mothers, Henry's etc.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amblus
EMAIL:
IP: 24.125.227.243
URL: http://amblus.diaryland.com
DATE: 06/20/2006 09:45:48 PM
Yogurt is for pussies. Oh wait, I meant cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is for pussies!
I think it's past my bedtime.
A Free Man Proposin'
06/19/2006 03:36:29 AM
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Consuelez
EMAIL:
IP: 58.240.168.82
URL:
DATE: 06/19/2006 03:58:27 AM
B! Congratulations!!! I don't know you in person, but I feel like I know you through your writing. So I am genuinely excited for you! I'll break open the PBR for you.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Dave
EMAIL: dcaolo@mac.com
IP: 65.206.41.230
URL: http://dave.typepad.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 06:38:03 AM
Wow, congratulations!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: nichole
EMAIL: jumbledpile@yahoo.com
IP: 198.150.40.60
URL: http://www.madisonatoz.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 08:00:54 AM
Congrats!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Lenka
EMAIL: reznicek111@gmail.com
IP: 128.135.47.218
URL: http://farkleberries.blogspot.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 10:02:28 AM
Congratulations (and felicitations) to you both, B! and Miss Hannah!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: monkeyinabox
EMAIL: chris@monkeyinabox.net
IP: 216.228.168.161
URL: http://www.monkeyinabox.net
DATE: 06/19/2006 11:41:37 AM
Powered by booze still and happily forever after.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: April
EMAIL: thisisnotapril@gmail.com
IP: 24.160.111.18
URL:
DATE: 06/19/2006 11:47:07 AM
Congrats!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Marissa
EMAIL: erin.powell@news-star.com
IP: 216.116.252.50
URL: http://www.feelingismutual.com/blog.php
DATE: 06/19/2006 12:15:57 PM
Hey neat! Seems to be the hip thing to do these days ^_^ Congrats!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jima
EMAIL: jima@legnog.com
IP: 69.8.212.254
URL: http://www.empty-handed.com/
DATE: 06/19/2006 02:06:55 PM
Congratulations! I can only hope that this means yet another blog redesign.....
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: gene
EMAIL: spinward@hotmail.com
IP: 71.134.217.68
URL: http://www.somethingoutofnothing.net/journal
DATE: 06/19/2006 02:41:03 PM
Wow, neat. More MS Comic Sans!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 06/19/2006 03:00:06 PM
Thanks, dudes! And yes, all the kool kidz are getting hitched nowadays, it seems. Marriage is the new orange! I may in fact have to redesign the blog in commemoration of this event. Maybe something with a ball and chain motif ha ha. In any event, MS COMIC SANS could be incorporated depending on how much I've had to drink beforehand.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Rengirl
EMAIL: donnalatto@gmail.com
IP: 65.197.232.3
URL:
DATE: 06/19/2006 03:25:38 PM
BADASS! Congrats to both of you!!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 06/19/2006 03:56:18 PM
ball and chain ha ha
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: B²
EMAIL: b@weirdsmobile.com
IP: 24.183.56.113
URL: http://www.weirdsmobile.com/b/
DATE: 06/19/2006 03:59:28 PM
yes dear
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: jennifer and the beans
EMAIL: beanmom@beanmom.com
IP: 69.141.20.235
URL: http://www.kjsl.com/~beanmom/beandiary.html
DATE: 06/19/2006 06:44:25 PM
Congratulations! :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: mike
EMAIL: mike@whybark.com
IP: 66.213.242.235
URL: http://mike.whybark.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 07:46:46 PM
HUZZAH!
The marriage, it is a good thing, for it allows us to be more of our natural selves and at the same time we are prevented from indugling in depressive oversleeping and ill-advised drinking bouts.
You've made sure that NaDruWriNi is exempted from wifely cancellation, have you not?
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Skipper
EMAIL: elizabeth.skipper@gmail.com
IP: 65.189.25.67
URL: http://teachmetobehave.blogspot.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 08:42:58 PM
Congratulations! I'm thrilled for you!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Scott D
EMAIL: scottdonaldson@gmail.com
IP: 12.180.35.229
URL: http://www.dadinalaska.com
DATE: 06/19/2006 09:45:45 PM
CONGRATS!!!
HOLY CRAP! That is soooo freaking awesome!
I feel bad for not being at the top of this list of people saying congrats because I read your blog before anything else...
This is sweet news. Please email us (when you get it figured out) your "wedding wish list" so the wife and I can send ya something.
Too cool!!!!
-Scott D. (and Shana 'the wife')
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: zahed
EMAIL: zahed@altmuslim.com
IP: 217.150.117.174
URL: http://www.altmuslim.com
DATE: 06/20/2006 04:09:13 AM
excellent! just in time for the 20 year high school reunion, methinks...
congratulations!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: ed
EMAIL: ed@edrants.com
IP: 64.81.242.197
URL: http://www.edrants.com
DATE: 06/20/2006 06:54:33 AM
Holy shit! Congratulations!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: hannah
EMAIL: misshannah@livejournal.com
IP: 128.104.96.160
URL:
DATE: 06/20/2006 09:16:16 AM
mike: I would *never* cancel NaDruWriNi. I just bought a huge bottle of Rootbeer Schnapps for the occasion! Even though it's still months away!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: termagaunt
EMAIL: gaunt@termagaunt.com
IP: 209.176.7.251
URL: http://www.termagaunt.com
DATE: 06/20/2006 09:19:17 AM
Adding another cheery toast of holy-shittacularity to your collection. Bravo and badass and holy shit.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: BoyKani
EMAIL:
IP: 199.4.18.2
URL: http://www.boykani.com/weblog/weblog.htmv
DATE: 06/20/2006 11:19:50 AM
SUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Only kidding -- well done, B!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: junve
EMAIL: sarah.kg@gmail.com
IP: 65.172.197.33
URL: http://livejournal.com/users/pinstripe_bindi
DATE: 06/20/2006 03:19:36 PM
The proposal immortalized in comic! It's not entirely accurate though, since comic groom-to-be is wearing pants.
Congrats again!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: The Raz
EMAIL: kevinrazban@cox.net
IP: 70.181.106.210
URL:
DATE: 06/21/2006 12:29:05 AM
Wow, congratulations! I'm really happy for both of you! Best wishes on a beautiful future together! Erin and Kevin.
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 06/21/2006 06:58:38 AM
that's wonderful. congratulations to the both of you!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: bakiwop
EMAIL: bino1@hotmail.com
IP: 68.117.20.217
URL:
DATE: 06/21/2006 07:07:45 AM
I should warn you though, I think you are behind a trend. During the dot-com boom it was cool to put pictures of your pets on,ine (as long as it was on your blog), then a few years later it was cool to put pictures up of your wedding, and now it's cool to put pictures up of your kids.
you got some work to do! ;)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Christina
EMAIL:
IP: 210.123.18.95
URL:
DATE: 06/21/2006 08:35:02 AM
So happy for you!! Congratulations!!!!!
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jacky 'n Jimy
EMAIL:
IP: 198.232.250.21
URL: http://jackynjimy.wordpress.com
DATE: 06/21/2006 09:37:41 AM
That's great, congratulations. I may do that again to after my divorce goes through :)
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Amber
EMAIL: amusicbuff@gmail.com
IP: 209.204.185.110
URL: http://aspectsofamber.blogspot.com
DATE: 06/22/2006 11:31:37 AM
OH
MY
GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so HAPPY for both of you! I have the BIGGEST GRIN on my face right now!
YAYYYY!
YAYYYYYY!
YIPPEEEEE!
Congrats congrats congrats! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs to you both}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
(Geez, I write like a 16 y/o MySpace-er...but who CARES!)
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ***applause***
Monday Mix Tape 06.21.06
06/21/2006 02:12:19 PM
01 Rufus Wainwright, "The Origin Of Love" :: [video]
02 The White Stripes, "Apple Blossom"
03 Lucksmiths, Great Lengths
04 M. Ward, "I'll Be Yr Bird"
05 Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, "'Cause I Love You" :: [video]
06 Mason Jennings, "Grow Old With Me"
07 The Damnwells, "I Will Keep The Bad Things From You"
08 Ben Folds, "The Luckiest"
09 Eels, "P.S. You Rock My World"
10 Electric Six, "Danger! High Voltage" :: [video]
[View File Directory]
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Marissa
EMAIL: erin.powell@news-star.com
IP: 216.116.252.50
URL: http://www.feelingismutual.com/blog.php
DATE: 06/22/2006 12:15:41 PM
Aw man...where were you two weeks ago when I failed at recording a wedding mix tape for chris? I feel a "two week anniversary" mix coming up.
My Dad
06/28/2006 03:10:25 AM
Sunday, July 2nd
Update: I'm alive and well and in Las Vegas, of all places. I'm having to do Internet stuff at Panera because my parents don't have net access. Is that weird or what. It's like not having a phone or something. I'd call them crazy Luddites except that they have a big screen HDTV and 2,000,000 cable channels. Wacky priorities.
Until things get more normal, I'm going to be posting updates at my PolkaBoy LJ.
- - - Comments - - -
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: e
EMAIL: newsyoucanuseornot@gmail.com
IP: 24.173.99.235
URL: http://www.allaboute.net/blog
DATE: 01/02/2007 08:24:13 AM
Best wishes for 2007, B! I hope you get back to blogging soon . . .
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COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Barbara
EMAIL: fakesocks@gmail.com
IP: 24.205.9.15
URL:
DATE: 01/30/2007 05:31:53 PM
Hey, B, happy belated. my b-day is coming up and you're invited. there will be booze and twister. and i plan on making a seven layer cake.
