Monday, July 31, 2006
my thoughts on the various Andruw-to-Boston rumors
ANDRUW JONES for...
COCO CRISP and JULIO LUGO: no way.
COCO CRISP and MARK LORETTA: just fuckin' retarded.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and CLAY BUCHHOLZ: eh... I'd rather not.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and BRANDON MOSS: again, no thanks.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and JON LESTER: I guess so.
GABE KAPLER, LENNY DINARDO, and JOHNNY PESKY: getting warm!
GABE KAPLER, LENNY DINARDO, JOHNNY PESKY, and THE HEAD OF TED WILLIAMS: BY THE EIGHT-LEGGED STEED OF ODIN, YES!
ANDRUW JONES for...
COCO CRISP and JULIO LUGO: no way.
COCO CRISP and MARK LORETTA: just fuckin' retarded.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and CLAY BUCHHOLZ: eh... I'd rather not.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and BRANDON MOSS: again, no thanks.
COCO CRISP, CRAIG HANSEN, and JON LESTER: I guess so.
GABE KAPLER, LENNY DINARDO, and JOHNNY PESKY: getting warm!
GABE KAPLER, LENNY DINARDO, JOHNNY PESKY, and THE HEAD OF TED WILLIAMS: BY THE EIGHT-LEGGED STEED OF ODIN, YES!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
A streamlined account of McDan (no spoilers)
Sorry for the delay. I had to hit the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix the morning after McDan. What a trip! But that's another story and another post. Here's what you've been waiting for--
5 o' clock rolled around and it was time to start seriously jamming. Should I change into my light blue shorts and beach shirt in my office bathroom. Fuck no, if anyone saw me on the elevator afterwards they'd think I was fucking crazy. Maybe they already do. I decided to take a whiz even though I didn't have to because when you're about the enter a serious hammjamm, having to piss only deters the jam. One can't be bothered by anything except awesome things like whistling, smooth attitudes, drinkin', eatin', smokin', relaxin', relagin', ragin', and of course- jammin'.
My ears popped as I shot down the 27 floors in that elevator. Good deal, ears. Now I had pristine audio straight to the mind. Brah, Thrill, and this dude Jason were waiting for me outside. Thrill and Jason were looking pretty smooth. Thrill had on some shorts and a nice button-up buttoned-down and some tassled loafers. Jason looked pretty similar, and he gave off a smooth vibe. I had never met the dude before but he turned out to be a nice addition to the evening. Brah fucked up and wore jeans and some kinda black dr. martins shit and a normal-ass looking button-up shirt. "Is that what you're wearing?" Brah didn't really say much in his excuse effort and just knew how to smooth everything over with me. He held out a TWO FOOT LONG HOMEMADE PARTY SUB. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
This dude just took this trip up a notch from its already far too lofty expectations.
We strolled to Marj's car and she wass waiting for us with the vehicle running. We piled up the car (we're going to jam tonight), and after a not-so-quick stop for beer and chips, we were off. Let me tell you if you don't already know: San Francisco is possibly the weirder weather place in the known world. A typical summer day is in the 60's (nice, but it's total bullshit to have to wear a jacket most nights during the summer). As we drove out of the city, the temp ratcheted up to normal summer weather. I'm talking, you drive ten miles out of the city and it's ten degrees warmer. So now it was 80 degrees all of sudden, stuck in traffic. Brah already handed me a beer, we're already jammin' Can't Buy A Thrill, but that wasn't enough. I changed clothes in the passenger seat and now, NOW, I was in full jam mode. No lookin' back.
We were jammin' a little too hard, and we totally got lost. Where the hell were we? Where was the Shoreline Amphitheater? Fuck, where was the city of Mountain View? We stopped at a gas station to take some pisses and get some advice. The dude pointed Marj in the direction of Mountain View. We done passed it,and were on the wrong fucking freeway to begin with. Shit. We turned around and barreled down the road according the the gas station dude's directions. We found the road to Mountain View, but how the hell would we get to the Shoreline? I started blasting some McD and hoped his voice would lead us. No Lookin' Back. We saw an exit for Amphitheater Parkway. Takin' to the Streets. We saw the Amphitheater itself. Minute by Minute. We found the free parking lot and did it. We made it.
We rolled down the windows and blasted that shit. Started chugging some beers. Brah broke open the party sub and poured some shroom dust on part of it. Brah and I powered that shroom sub. Sounded like a band was playing, but it was only 7:15. I checked my ticket. McD at 7:30. Kinda sounded like McD though. We started getting a bit anxious and I called Z-brah, who I needed to meet up with to give him his ticket. He was almost there. We kept jammin' that parking lot. 7:30. Z-brah had parked, but it turned out they were in a different lot. Shit on a brick. We grabbed the rest of the brews and headed to the front gate to meet him. On the way there some cops were lookin' for people with brews--- THAT'S ME. I had a pretty full one so I decided to play cards with Satan. I kept walking with the open brew on the opposite side of me from the cops. A Shoreline employee caught me, but instead of taking the brew from me, she told me to "chug it, FAST!" and told me to watch out for the cops. This shit just got taken up another notch.
We got to the gate and didn't see Z-brah anywhere. We worried that he could be at the other gate, and just when I started walking over it he appeared in pleated khakis and a pink button-up. Now we were jamming, but shit! That was definitely McD singing. 7:48. We got in there and make a jamline straight to the lawn and entered the amphitheater during a crucial track. Pretty much the best song to enter a concert during, but I don't want to spoil anything. The lingering fear in the back of my mind was how much McD did we miss!?!?*
This place was bigger than I'd ever imagined. The lawn itself was like a city of jam cadets in training. The seated section looked far away and unattainable. Populating the stage were specks. Where were my glasses at? Oh, I had them on already. Yes, that shit was far away. You could look at one of the many screens and switch back and forth to the stage to deduce who was who. We stood at the front center of the lawn, just to try to size up the situation and creep into this world. But then McD started talking and I was entranced. This was it! This was Michael McDonald talking. And the next song..........HOLY FUCK.
So after he started doing the inevitable Motown crap, we started looking for a place to set up camp. I started calling the people from other cars to try and meet up. Virginia had a heck of a time finding me because I really did look EXACTLY like half the males there. Flowing beach shirt, light shorts, boat shoes with no socks. Eventually the 13 of us met up and found our little lawn spot. There were some yacht rock dudes sitting near us too, but mainly it was 50-somethings sitting on blankets.
We lit up a joint or two and just jammed some McD as the sunlight waned. Danced a little bit to some McMotown cheesiness. Bought a 24 ounce ten dollar beer. Then out of nowhere an upper lever hammjamm broke out. A crucial track started. A couple of us got up and started dancing so hard and so smooth. I started high fiving everyone around me, and for some reason the people sitting down all thought I was trying to take their hand to get them up for dancing. So I just kept at it, and all of sudden there were twenty of us just dancing. Really, really into it. And could you believe it? The middle-aged people around us didn't get annoyed and try to tell us to sit down (at this point we were pretty much the only people dancing on the lawn). NO! They got up and started dancing too. So it was just spreading throughout the lawn until McD hit us so hard with another song. Everybody was just screaming and the lawn was on fire. People were just dancing so hard- singing along. When I was looking for a setlist later on, I found this on some blog-
Half way through the set, I left my assigned seat and went up to the lawn where it sounded much fuller and there was actually much more crowd energy and vibe.
We did it.
So McD finally finished after we just about couldn't take it anymore (the ending was exhausting- a strange medley of sorts). We had to recharge. I went to buy some more beers and take a leak. When I returned to the lawn, people were just hangin' out and smokin' and just loving life so much. It was probably the only time I've ever been to a concert where I was startled when the next band took the stage.
The crowd starting cheering and we were like OH SHIT I GUESS STEELY DAN'S ABOUT TO START WHAT THE FUCK MCD JUST ALMOST KILLED ME AND I ALMOST---ALMOST FORGOT STEELY DAN WAS PLAYING. So everyone but Becker and Fagan came out and just started a jazz jam. There was nothing we could do but jam along. Jazzdance. Then Becker and Fagan came out and they launched into the consensus worst Dan song. Time for more brews. Time for more recuperation from McD. But the songs got much, much, much better. Some songs I didn't know, some ultimate hits, some rad non-hits. We are just jamming and smoking and dancing and congratulating each other and the rest of the crowd and Steely Dan on a night to remember.
They broke into a song I wasn't too crazy about, so I decided to take it in from the back end of the lawn. Couldn't really even see the stage. Maybe it was time for another piss. I made my way accross the lawn and realized how dark it was. Nobody was really that close to me, so I just took a piss right there on the lawn and just acted like I was jamming it to Steely Dan. Completely out in the open in front of thousands of people. It was a unique sensation.
I tried to buy another beer but they'd cut everyone off. Oh well. I had a flight at 9am the next morning, and I was already going pretty great so no big whoop. My next bright idea was to try and sneak into the seated section, which was a cinch. I went all the way to the second row of second level of seating and took in some killer Dan. What happened next was something I believe to be exclusive to the bay area show, so I'll divulge this one little strange detail: Bonnie Raitt came out and sang "Dirty Work." What?! Yes.
What happened next made me so excited that I had to be back on the lawn with my brethren. I tore out of those seats and RAN up to our spot. This took about five minutes, no joke. That's how far away the lawn was. But hell, at this point it was just free flowing ultimate mindblows and taking it past the limit. When the last song was being played, I felt a little sad that it was over, but what a night.
What a god damn rad fucking night.
*Turns out we missed only one song.
Sorry for the delay. I had to hit the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix the morning after McDan. What a trip! But that's another story and another post. Here's what you've been waiting for--
5 o' clock rolled around and it was time to start seriously jamming. Should I change into my light blue shorts and beach shirt in my office bathroom. Fuck no, if anyone saw me on the elevator afterwards they'd think I was fucking crazy. Maybe they already do. I decided to take a whiz even though I didn't have to because when you're about the enter a serious hammjamm, having to piss only deters the jam. One can't be bothered by anything except awesome things like whistling, smooth attitudes, drinkin', eatin', smokin', relaxin', relagin', ragin', and of course- jammin'.
My ears popped as I shot down the 27 floors in that elevator. Good deal, ears. Now I had pristine audio straight to the mind. Brah, Thrill, and this dude Jason were waiting for me outside. Thrill and Jason were looking pretty smooth. Thrill had on some shorts and a nice button-up buttoned-down and some tassled loafers. Jason looked pretty similar, and he gave off a smooth vibe. I had never met the dude before but he turned out to be a nice addition to the evening. Brah fucked up and wore jeans and some kinda black dr. martins shit and a normal-ass looking button-up shirt. "Is that what you're wearing?" Brah didn't really say much in his excuse effort and just knew how to smooth everything over with me. He held out a TWO FOOT LONG HOMEMADE PARTY SUB. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
This dude just took this trip up a notch from its already far too lofty expectations.
We strolled to Marj's car and she wass waiting for us with the vehicle running. We piled up the car (we're going to jam tonight), and after a not-so-quick stop for beer and chips, we were off. Let me tell you if you don't already know: San Francisco is possibly the weirder weather place in the known world. A typical summer day is in the 60's (nice, but it's total bullshit to have to wear a jacket most nights during the summer). As we drove out of the city, the temp ratcheted up to normal summer weather. I'm talking, you drive ten miles out of the city and it's ten degrees warmer. So now it was 80 degrees all of sudden, stuck in traffic. Brah already handed me a beer, we're already jammin' Can't Buy A Thrill, but that wasn't enough. I changed clothes in the passenger seat and now, NOW, I was in full jam mode. No lookin' back.
We were jammin' a little too hard, and we totally got lost. Where the hell were we? Where was the Shoreline Amphitheater? Fuck, where was the city of Mountain View? We stopped at a gas station to take some pisses and get some advice. The dude pointed Marj in the direction of Mountain View. We done passed it,and were on the wrong fucking freeway to begin with. Shit. We turned around and barreled down the road according the the gas station dude's directions. We found the road to Mountain View, but how the hell would we get to the Shoreline? I started blasting some McD and hoped his voice would lead us. No Lookin' Back. We saw an exit for Amphitheater Parkway. Takin' to the Streets. We saw the Amphitheater itself. Minute by Minute. We found the free parking lot and did it. We made it.
We rolled down the windows and blasted that shit. Started chugging some beers. Brah broke open the party sub and poured some shroom dust on part of it. Brah and I powered that shroom sub. Sounded like a band was playing, but it was only 7:15. I checked my ticket. McD at 7:30. Kinda sounded like McD though. We started getting a bit anxious and I called Z-brah, who I needed to meet up with to give him his ticket. He was almost there. We kept jammin' that parking lot. 7:30. Z-brah had parked, but it turned out they were in a different lot. Shit on a brick. We grabbed the rest of the brews and headed to the front gate to meet him. On the way there some cops were lookin' for people with brews--- THAT'S ME. I had a pretty full one so I decided to play cards with Satan. I kept walking with the open brew on the opposite side of me from the cops. A Shoreline employee caught me, but instead of taking the brew from me, she told me to "chug it, FAST!" and told me to watch out for the cops. This shit just got taken up another notch.
We got to the gate and didn't see Z-brah anywhere. We worried that he could be at the other gate, and just when I started walking over it he appeared in pleated khakis and a pink button-up. Now we were jamming, but shit! That was definitely McD singing. 7:48. We got in there and make a jamline straight to the lawn and entered the amphitheater during a crucial track. Pretty much the best song to enter a concert during, but I don't want to spoil anything. The lingering fear in the back of my mind was how much McD did we miss!?!?*
This place was bigger than I'd ever imagined. The lawn itself was like a city of jam cadets in training. The seated section looked far away and unattainable. Populating the stage were specks. Where were my glasses at? Oh, I had them on already. Yes, that shit was far away. You could look at one of the many screens and switch back and forth to the stage to deduce who was who. We stood at the front center of the lawn, just to try to size up the situation and creep into this world. But then McD started talking and I was entranced. This was it! This was Michael McDonald talking. And the next song..........HOLY FUCK.
So after he started doing the inevitable Motown crap, we started looking for a place to set up camp. I started calling the people from other cars to try and meet up. Virginia had a heck of a time finding me because I really did look EXACTLY like half the males there. Flowing beach shirt, light shorts, boat shoes with no socks. Eventually the 13 of us met up and found our little lawn spot. There were some yacht rock dudes sitting near us too, but mainly it was 50-somethings sitting on blankets.
We lit up a joint or two and just jammed some McD as the sunlight waned. Danced a little bit to some McMotown cheesiness. Bought a 24 ounce ten dollar beer. Then out of nowhere an upper lever hammjamm broke out. A crucial track started. A couple of us got up and started dancing so hard and so smooth. I started high fiving everyone around me, and for some reason the people sitting down all thought I was trying to take their hand to get them up for dancing. So I just kept at it, and all of sudden there were twenty of us just dancing. Really, really into it. And could you believe it? The middle-aged people around us didn't get annoyed and try to tell us to sit down (at this point we were pretty much the only people dancing on the lawn). NO! They got up and started dancing too. So it was just spreading throughout the lawn until McD hit us so hard with another song. Everybody was just screaming and the lawn was on fire. People were just dancing so hard- singing along. When I was looking for a setlist later on, I found this on some blog-
Half way through the set, I left my assigned seat and went up to the lawn where it sounded much fuller and there was actually much more crowd energy and vibe.
We did it.
So McD finally finished after we just about couldn't take it anymore (the ending was exhausting- a strange medley of sorts). We had to recharge. I went to buy some more beers and take a leak. When I returned to the lawn, people were just hangin' out and smokin' and just loving life so much. It was probably the only time I've ever been to a concert where I was startled when the next band took the stage.
The crowd starting cheering and we were like OH SHIT I GUESS STEELY DAN'S ABOUT TO START WHAT THE FUCK MCD JUST ALMOST KILLED ME AND I ALMOST---ALMOST FORGOT STEELY DAN WAS PLAYING. So everyone but Becker and Fagan came out and just started a jazz jam. There was nothing we could do but jam along. Jazzdance. Then Becker and Fagan came out and they launched into the consensus worst Dan song. Time for more brews. Time for more recuperation from McD. But the songs got much, much, much better. Some songs I didn't know, some ultimate hits, some rad non-hits. We are just jamming and smoking and dancing and congratulating each other and the rest of the crowd and Steely Dan on a night to remember.
They broke into a song I wasn't too crazy about, so I decided to take it in from the back end of the lawn. Couldn't really even see the stage. Maybe it was time for another piss. I made my way accross the lawn and realized how dark it was. Nobody was really that close to me, so I just took a piss right there on the lawn and just acted like I was jamming it to Steely Dan. Completely out in the open in front of thousands of people. It was a unique sensation.
I tried to buy another beer but they'd cut everyone off. Oh well. I had a flight at 9am the next morning, and I was already going pretty great so no big whoop. My next bright idea was to try and sneak into the seated section, which was a cinch. I went all the way to the second row of second level of seating and took in some killer Dan. What happened next was something I believe to be exclusive to the bay area show, so I'll divulge this one little strange detail: Bonnie Raitt came out and sang "Dirty Work." What?! Yes.
What happened next made me so excited that I had to be back on the lawn with my brethren. I tore out of those seats and RAN up to our spot. This took about five minutes, no joke. That's how far away the lawn was. But hell, at this point it was just free flowing ultimate mindblows and taking it past the limit. When the last song was being played, I felt a little sad that it was over, but what a night.
What a god damn rad fucking night.
*Turns out we missed only one song.
Now THIS is what I've been waiting for...
WONK WONK
As a Mets fan, I've been waiting years for this. The Braves to fall; the Mets to rise to glory (and if I'm lucky enough, both in the same season).
But it's been a bit anticlimactic, hasn't it? It seemed like the Braves were hovering a few games back of the Mets until early June when the Mets went on a tear and the Braves went on the polar opposite of what one would define as a tear (and it wasn't even the postseason yet for the Bravos).
All of a sudden I realized the Mets were ten games up on the Braves. "Is that it?" I thought. "Is that how it's gonna go down?" I had been envisioning some sort of fight to the end, with it coming down the that last face off in September. With Brian Jordan crushing a grand slam off of Wagner in extra innings. I wanted something dramatic, and I feared the results, but the Braves just seemed to completely fall apart.
Flash forward to the all-star break. The Braves came out scoring tons of runs, and winning almost every game. The only problem for them was that the Mets were pretty much matching them. This series seemed to be their last shot, and the players seemed to be pretty amped up about it going in:
“I absolutely think the Mets are still looking over their shoulders at us. They know what our track record is. And if we do what we have to do this weekend, they'll be looking even harder over their shoulders. They know where we are…
“Before we think about kissing our sister with the wild card, we have a division to think about.” -Marcus Giles
“It's a longshot to win the division, but I've seen teams collapse plenty of years. Look at the White Sox and the end of their year last year. I know you're a New York writer. Hopefully for us, they will take that turn." -Brian Jordan
“We’re still the team to beat. We’re always the team to beat." -Andruw Jones
Well, it doesn't look like a dramatic dogfight to finish the season is possible. And after this sweep, it looks pretty damn unlikely the Braves have a shot at the wild card either. So, I will have to take this. And it feels good. Finally, after all these years, and all the shit-talking------
BRAVES SUCK. METS ARE AWESOME.
WONK WONK
As a Mets fan, I've been waiting years for this. The Braves to fall; the Mets to rise to glory (and if I'm lucky enough, both in the same season).
But it's been a bit anticlimactic, hasn't it? It seemed like the Braves were hovering a few games back of the Mets until early June when the Mets went on a tear and the Braves went on the polar opposite of what one would define as a tear (and it wasn't even the postseason yet for the Bravos).
All of a sudden I realized the Mets were ten games up on the Braves. "Is that it?" I thought. "Is that how it's gonna go down?" I had been envisioning some sort of fight to the end, with it coming down the that last face off in September. With Brian Jordan crushing a grand slam off of Wagner in extra innings. I wanted something dramatic, and I feared the results, but the Braves just seemed to completely fall apart.
Flash forward to the all-star break. The Braves came out scoring tons of runs, and winning almost every game. The only problem for them was that the Mets were pretty much matching them. This series seemed to be their last shot, and the players seemed to be pretty amped up about it going in:
“I absolutely think the Mets are still looking over their shoulders at us. They know what our track record is. And if we do what we have to do this weekend, they'll be looking even harder over their shoulders. They know where we are…
“Before we think about kissing our sister with the wild card, we have a division to think about.” -Marcus Giles
“It's a longshot to win the division, but I've seen teams collapse plenty of years. Look at the White Sox and the end of their year last year. I know you're a New York writer. Hopefully for us, they will take that turn." -Brian Jordan
“We’re still the team to beat. We’re always the team to beat." -Andruw Jones
Well, it doesn't look like a dramatic dogfight to finish the season is possible. And after this sweep, it looks pretty damn unlikely the Braves have a shot at the wild card either. So, I will have to take this. And it feels good. Finally, after all these years, and all the shit-talking------
BRAVES SUCK. METS ARE AWESOME.
Friday, July 28, 2006
no static at all
Mesmerization Eclipse, WZBC 90.3 FM, 3 to 5 pm.
Nothing special planned, other than an interview with Floyd Landis.
Mesmerization Eclipse, WZBC 90.3 FM, 3 to 5 pm.
Nothing special planned, other than an interview with Floyd Landis.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
new link
We've added a link to your right, to Ms. Coke Bref's new webthing Talking Radio Towers. It's nice. Wives need to blog more. I think mine's planning a pod-cast, or something. About ghosts.
We've added a link to your right, to Ms. Coke Bref's new webthing Talking Radio Towers. It's nice. Wives need to blog more. I think mine's planning a pod-cast, or something. About ghosts.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
OH SNAP!
Just saw that Shellac is playing in Athens on the 28th of August...does anyone give a fuck about them anymore? Just curious. I love 1000 Hurts...that album slays.
Just saw that Shellac is playing in Athens on the 28th of August...does anyone give a fuck about them anymore? Just curious. I love 1000 Hurts...that album slays.
athenic yuks
There's no comedy scene in Athens because there's a strong disconnect between the senses of humor of those who would make the comedy and those who would consume it. I'd think a comedy scene would need to interest the general student body to really thrive, but that would probably require well-meaning folks to go more low-brow than they'd like. Frat guys and drunken college kids think comedy means dick jokes and physical degradation. The people I've known in Athens who care enough about comedy to want to create and perform generally have too much self-respect (pretension?) to resort to that stuff. That's why the almost comically awful DAMN show is the only comedy project of note to ever come out of Athens.
"“I’ve always been struck by a kind of weird lack of a comedy scene here; I suspect because our music scene is so lush, it kind of darkens out other things.”
There's no comedy scene in Athens because there's a strong disconnect between the senses of humor of those who would make the comedy and those who would consume it. I'd think a comedy scene would need to interest the general student body to really thrive, but that would probably require well-meaning folks to go more low-brow than they'd like. Frat guys and drunken college kids think comedy means dick jokes and physical degradation. The people I've known in Athens who care enough about comedy to want to create and perform generally have too much self-respect (pretension?) to resort to that stuff. That's why the almost comically awful DAMN show is the only comedy project of note to ever come out of Athens.
GIVING A SYSTEM OF TUNNELS THE FINGER: DAY 2
Another day, another non-death.
I'm gonna drive through a Big Dig tunnel 'til I die. Or 'til the wife gets back from Florida and commandeers the car again.
Another day, another non-death.
I'm gonna drive through a Big Dig tunnel 'til I die. Or 'til the wife gets back from Florida and commandeers the car again.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
HAROLD REYNOLDS IS DEAD.
At least to ESPN, he is. They fired the guy last night. I wouldn't say I liked him, necessarily, but he was easily the least offensive of ESPN's regular analysts, especially among the former players. No idea what the dude did yet.
UPDATE: Deadspin is speculating that it was sexual harassment what done HR in.
At least to ESPN, he is. They fired the guy last night. I wouldn't say I liked him, necessarily, but he was easily the least offensive of ESPN's regular analysts, especially among the former players. No idea what the dude did yet.
UPDATE: Deadspin is speculating that it was sexual harassment what done HR in.
I Drove In A Tunnel Today
AND I'M STILL LIVIN'!!!
Take THAT, Big Dig.
Ain't no UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY gonna wreck me!
AND I'M STILL LIVIN'!!!
Take THAT, Big Dig.
Ain't no UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY gonna wreck me!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Dumb In '01: Scrubs Is Good
I watched half of a couple of episodes of Scrubs the first month or two it was on the air. I thought it pretty much sucked. The narration, the speed and density of the dialogue, and the fantasy elements all annoyed the hell out of me. In 2004 I randomly caught that episode with Clay Aiken, the "My Life In Four Cameras" one, where they mocked standard sitcom conventions; I thought that was really great, but wrote it off as a gimmick. I started watching it occasionally, though, when I had nothing better to do, and by this past season I enjoyed Scrubs enough to consider myself a fan.
So. Last week we got the first season from NetFlix (newly memberized for the second time). We made it through the first two discs these last two nights, and now I'm wondering what the fuck I was thinking back in '01. This show was already plenty great from the very beginning. It's one of those rare show where I like every single character and actor. The overreliance on musical interludes can be a drag, and it's almost always schmaltzy at the end; still, the treacly endings counteract the generally cynical and unsentimental fifteen or so minutes that precede them. Anyway, I regret my past self's poor judgment.
I watched half of a couple of episodes of Scrubs the first month or two it was on the air. I thought it pretty much sucked. The narration, the speed and density of the dialogue, and the fantasy elements all annoyed the hell out of me. In 2004 I randomly caught that episode with Clay Aiken, the "My Life In Four Cameras" one, where they mocked standard sitcom conventions; I thought that was really great, but wrote it off as a gimmick. I started watching it occasionally, though, when I had nothing better to do, and by this past season I enjoyed Scrubs enough to consider myself a fan.
So. Last week we got the first season from NetFlix (newly memberized for the second time). We made it through the first two discs these last two nights, and now I'm wondering what the fuck I was thinking back in '01. This show was already plenty great from the very beginning. It's one of those rare show where I like every single character and actor. The overreliance on musical interludes can be a drag, and it's almost always schmaltzy at the end; still, the treacly endings counteract the generally cynical and unsentimental fifteen or so minutes that precede them. Anyway, I regret my past self's poor judgment.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
here's some relief.
Braves get Bob Wickman for single-A catcher Maximiliano Ramirez. Wickman's been mostly good for the last eight or nine years; he hasn't been so hot this season, but he's still a damn good bit better than anybody else they've tried this year.
Braves get Bob Wickman for single-A catcher Maximiliano Ramirez. Wickman's been mostly good for the last eight or nine years; he hasn't been so hot this season, but he's still a damn good bit better than anybody else they've tried this year.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Greatest Comic Book Ever
In America comic books are about grim'n'gritty superheroes living in a world that's lost its innocence. In Japan comic books are about the development of the freeze-dried noodle cup.
In America comic books are about grim'n'gritty superheroes living in a world that's lost its innocence. In Japan comic books are about the development of the freeze-dried noodle cup.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
live futureheads mp3's
Bradley's Almanac is a fine, fine website. They've got the Futureheads' show from the Paradise on 07/02/06 for download, a show I regrettably missed. I was too busy getting completely trashed and inadvertantly insulting friends of friends to make it down to Allston that night. It's a shame, as everybody says their shows are highly substantialicious.
Bradley's Almanac is a fine, fine website. They've got the Futureheads' show from the Paradise on 07/02/06 for download, a show I regrettably missed. I was too busy getting completely trashed and inadvertantly insulting friends of friends to make it down to Allston that night. It's a shame, as everybody says their shows are highly substantialicious.
I HAVE WATCHED A MOVIE
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a seriously good movie, folks. WATCH IT. It's got two dudes I like doing good stuff together, and a nicely attractive lady. It's post-modern retro noirishness (with a certain Tarentinosity) that DOESN'T SUCK. Not that Tarentino sucks, but every movie that could be described by that last sentence pretty much does. Anyway, rent it, if you like enjoyment and/or pleasure/enjoyment.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a seriously good movie, folks. WATCH IT. It's got two dudes I like doing good stuff together, and a nicely attractive lady. It's post-modern retro noirishness (with a certain Tarentinosity) that DOESN'T SUCK. Not that Tarentino sucks, but every movie that could be described by that last sentence pretty much does. Anyway, rent it, if you like enjoyment and/or pleasure/enjoyment.
Last Week's Playlist
I haven't posted one of these in a while.
Mesmerization Eclipse Playlist
Friday 7/14/06 3 to 6 pm
Archers of Loaf “Web in Front”
Trans Am “Extreme Measures”
Parts & Labor “New Buildings”
Laddio Bolocko “Goat Lips”
Janus “Bubbles”
Excepter “Second Chances”
Pere Ubu “Ubu Dance Party”
Epidermis “Prime Origin”
Comets on Fire “Holy Teeth”
Gary Higgins “Thicker Than a Smokey”
Robert Wyatt “Song for Che”
Faust “It's A Bit Of A Pain” from IV CD ALBUM (Virgin w 1974)
Robert Pollard With Doug Gillard “Pop Zeus”
Mudhoney “When Tomorrow Hits”
Major Stars “Syntoptikon”
Silver Apples “Lovefingers”
Rocketship “We're Both alone”
Triple Burner “The Wherewithal”
Arcesia “Desiree”
Avarus “Loylyvesi”
Unrest “Vibe Out”
Icy Demons “Track 5” from Fight Back!
Need New Body “Popfest”
Bablicon “Pigeon Of Doom”
A Place to Bury Strangers “Never Going Down”
Embryo “Dreaming Girls”
Life Without Buildings “Is Is and the IRS”
Lou Reed “Men of Good Fortune”
OMD “Genetic Engineering”
Monoshock “Model Citizen (Nitroglycerin)”
The Clean “Whatever I Do It's Right”
Husker Du “Celebrated Summer”
Red Krayola “Cruise Boat”
The Incredible String Band “Koeeoaddi There”
The National Gallery “Barbaric Classical Solemn”
Oneida "High Life"
Pink Floyd “Interstellar Overdrive”
I haven't posted one of these in a while.
Mesmerization Eclipse Playlist
Friday 7/14/06 3 to 6 pm
Archers of Loaf “Web in Front”
Trans Am “Extreme Measures”
Parts & Labor “New Buildings”
Laddio Bolocko “Goat Lips”
Janus “Bubbles”
Excepter “Second Chances”
Pere Ubu “Ubu Dance Party”
Epidermis “Prime Origin”
Comets on Fire “Holy Teeth”
Gary Higgins “Thicker Than a Smokey”
Robert Wyatt “Song for Che”
Faust “It's A Bit Of A Pain” from IV CD ALBUM (Virgin w 1974)
Robert Pollard With Doug Gillard “Pop Zeus”
Mudhoney “When Tomorrow Hits”
Major Stars “Syntoptikon”
Silver Apples “Lovefingers”
Rocketship “We're Both alone”
Triple Burner “The Wherewithal”
Arcesia “Desiree”
Avarus “Loylyvesi”
Unrest “Vibe Out”
Icy Demons “Track 5” from Fight Back!
Need New Body “Popfest”
Bablicon “Pigeon Of Doom”
A Place to Bury Strangers “Never Going Down”
Embryo “Dreaming Girls”
Life Without Buildings “Is Is and the IRS”
Lou Reed “Men of Good Fortune”
OMD “Genetic Engineering”
Monoshock “Model Citizen (Nitroglycerin)”
The Clean “Whatever I Do It's Right”
Husker Du “Celebrated Summer”
Red Krayola “Cruise Boat”
The Incredible String Band “Koeeoaddi There”
The National Gallery “Barbaric Classical Solemn”
Oneida "High Life"
Pink Floyd “Interstellar Overdrive”
Sunday, July 16, 2006
SUBSTANTIALICIOUS!
The new Snickers outdoor advertising campaign is pretty awesome. Are they running these down in Georgia? "Substantialicious" is my favorite, but "Nougatocity" is a pretty close second. I couldn't find any images on-line, but maybe tomorrow I'll get some photos of a billboard or bus ad or two.
The new Snickers outdoor advertising campaign is pretty awesome. Are they running these down in Georgia? "Substantialicious" is my favorite, but "Nougatocity" is a pretty close second. I couldn't find any images on-line, but maybe tomorrow I'll get some photos of a billboard or bus ad or two.
Friday, July 14, 2006
me on radio
UPDATE: Forgot to mention I'll be on 'til six tonight. Tracey's out of town, or something. Finishing up her "Philosophy of The Matrix" book.
Mesmerization Eclipse, 3 to 6 pm, WZBC 90.3 FM.
If you're lucky you might get to hear me cough up a lung.
UPDATE: Forgot to mention I'll be on 'til six tonight. Tracey's out of town, or something. Finishing up her "Philosophy of The Matrix" book.
Mesmerization Eclipse, 3 to 6 pm, WZBC 90.3 FM.
If you're lucky you might get to hear me cough up a lung.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Crews On The Radio Right Now
We always forget about him, so Crews wrote to remind us that he's "jammin on WXDU right now". Go take a listen.
We always forget about him, so Crews wrote to remind us that he's "jammin on WXDU right now". Go take a listen.
another comic review
GLA MISASSEMBLED
Somewhere down in Georgia I have a copy of the West Coast Avengers issue that introduced the Great Lakes Avengers back in 1989. If you don’t know, and I imagine most of you don’t, the Great Lakes Avengers are a group of marginally powered individuals from Milwaukee who decide to form a super-team, and figure there’d be no harm in borrowing the Avengers name. Their leader is Mr. Immortal, who has no special abilities other than the inability to ever really die. You can kill him, but he’ll get back up as good as new after a few seconds. He has some gymnastic talent, but other than that, he’s just a dude. Other members include Doorman, who can become a temporary door when standing against any solid substance, and Big Bertha, a beautiful model who can make herself grotesquely obese at will. It was total goofball stuff, goofy even for the time, but still awesome, and exactly the sort of thing I read comics for. It’s still a good idea today, if you ask me. Dan Slott got to bring the team back a few years ago; he’s the dude to go to for fun comics that harken back to the days of yore, so this miniseries seemed like a sure success. And hell, it is. What’s surprising though is how it affected my overemotional self. Superhero comics were better when they were fun and goofy, when they were written for kids and young-thinking adults and not just lame-ass thirty-year-old nerds. This is my firm belief, but it’s a tough conviction to defend, I think. There’s definitely a place for grimmer, more mature superhero comics, when they’re done well, which unfortunately is not very often. For every Watchmen and Doom Patrol, you get Punisher War Journal, or the entire early ‘90’s Image line. Obviously comics should be allowed to grow as an artform / medium, even superhero comics, and in the hands of talented people like Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and ‘80’s Frank Miller good, serious, adult-minded superhero comics can be made that transcend the genre’s juvenile roots (Of course the best works by Moore and Morrison both transcend and celebrate those roots, merging ridiculous [and awesome] superhero bullshit with real-life context and consequences, but that’s beside the point). With GLA Misassembled, Dan Slott’s typical light-hearted, old-school style acts as parody and critique of both the controversial Avengers Disassembled storyline and modern-day “serious” superheroics in general. It’s a genuinely funny comic that openly decries the adult subject matter and graphic violence that have overtaken the superhero industry, most pointedly the rape and murder of a member of a beloved cult character’s support cast that was the focus of DC’s Identity Crisis cross-over. Slott wonderfully and succinctly displays how far comics have strayed from their fun-loving, convenience store past; he doesn’t go so far as to say that the industry should fully revisit those days, but he does lay out that there’s more than enough room for both styles to coexist. Some of the comedic devices Slott employs are cloying, like the running commentary from Squirrel Girl’s rodent sidekick Monkey Joe, but they’re not overly distracting. The worst you can say about GLA Misassembled is that, like most of Slott’s work, its heavy reliance on Marvel continuity and obscure references might make it somewhat opaque to newer readers. Still, regardless of how well-versed you are in the back-alleys of Marvel history, the humor is self-evident.
GLA MISASSEMBLED
Somewhere down in Georgia I have a copy of the West Coast Avengers issue that introduced the Great Lakes Avengers back in 1989. If you don’t know, and I imagine most of you don’t, the Great Lakes Avengers are a group of marginally powered individuals from Milwaukee who decide to form a super-team, and figure there’d be no harm in borrowing the Avengers name. Their leader is Mr. Immortal, who has no special abilities other than the inability to ever really die. You can kill him, but he’ll get back up as good as new after a few seconds. He has some gymnastic talent, but other than that, he’s just a dude. Other members include Doorman, who can become a temporary door when standing against any solid substance, and Big Bertha, a beautiful model who can make herself grotesquely obese at will. It was total goofball stuff, goofy even for the time, but still awesome, and exactly the sort of thing I read comics for. It’s still a good idea today, if you ask me. Dan Slott got to bring the team back a few years ago; he’s the dude to go to for fun comics that harken back to the days of yore, so this miniseries seemed like a sure success. And hell, it is. What’s surprising though is how it affected my overemotional self. Superhero comics were better when they were fun and goofy, when they were written for kids and young-thinking adults and not just lame-ass thirty-year-old nerds. This is my firm belief, but it’s a tough conviction to defend, I think. There’s definitely a place for grimmer, more mature superhero comics, when they’re done well, which unfortunately is not very often. For every Watchmen and Doom Patrol, you get Punisher War Journal, or the entire early ‘90’s Image line. Obviously comics should be allowed to grow as an artform / medium, even superhero comics, and in the hands of talented people like Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and ‘80’s Frank Miller good, serious, adult-minded superhero comics can be made that transcend the genre’s juvenile roots (Of course the best works by Moore and Morrison both transcend and celebrate those roots, merging ridiculous [and awesome] superhero bullshit with real-life context and consequences, but that’s beside the point). With GLA Misassembled, Dan Slott’s typical light-hearted, old-school style acts as parody and critique of both the controversial Avengers Disassembled storyline and modern-day “serious” superheroics in general. It’s a genuinely funny comic that openly decries the adult subject matter and graphic violence that have overtaken the superhero industry, most pointedly the rape and murder of a member of a beloved cult character’s support cast that was the focus of DC’s Identity Crisis cross-over. Slott wonderfully and succinctly displays how far comics have strayed from their fun-loving, convenience store past; he doesn’t go so far as to say that the industry should fully revisit those days, but he does lay out that there’s more than enough room for both styles to coexist. Some of the comedic devices Slott employs are cloying, like the running commentary from Squirrel Girl’s rodent sidekick Monkey Joe, but they’re not overly distracting. The worst you can say about GLA Misassembled is that, like most of Slott’s work, its heavy reliance on Marvel continuity and obscure references might make it somewhat opaque to newer readers. Still, regardless of how well-versed you are in the back-alleys of Marvel history, the humor is self-evident.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Honoring the "France" Era of WUOG
Apparently there was a "'France' Era" at WUOG, according to this commenter over at The Day Jobs. That's overstating things pretty ridiculously, as several dozen people who had absolutely nothing to do with the France were far more integral in making WUOG the great station that it was back in the late '90's. I know nothing about whatever problems might be plaguing the station right now (well, except for that weird chemistry experiment thing), but if these haters are correct, then hopefully shit can get straightened out soon enough. By the looks of it, though, they're as overheated as the person responsible for the above-linked comment.
Apparently there was a "'France' Era" at WUOG, according to this commenter over at The Day Jobs. That's overstating things pretty ridiculously, as several dozen people who had absolutely nothing to do with the France were far more integral in making WUOG the great station that it was back in the late '90's. I know nothing about whatever problems might be plaguing the station right now (well, except for that weird chemistry experiment thing), but if these haters are correct, then hopefully shit can get straightened out soon enough. By the looks of it, though, they're as overheated as the person responsible for the above-linked comment.
borrowing comics is better than spending money on them
Fables Volumes 2 and 3
I wrote a little bit of shit about Fables a few weeks ago. Since then I’ve read through the second and third trades, and it does definitely get better. My initial reaction to the second trade, Animal Farm, was a little irrational; I don’t like seeing cute talking animals get killed, and that happens a lot in this one. The story and characterization are mostly big improvements over the first volume, though, and there’s not as much self-satisfied cleverness mucking up the whole enterprise. Also Reynard the Fox, the best character to date, is introduced, and should’ve immediately become the focus of the book. The third volume, Storybook Romance, is a collection of shorter stories, including a four-parter that deals with some of the ramifications of Animal Farm. The issue with Jack cheating Death while masquerading as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War might be my favorite single issue thus far, if only because at one point Jack utters my mother-in-law’s favorite swear word, “shit-fire”. Still, I think Bill Willingham is focusing on too narrow a cast of characters, which is probably the main reason the one-issue asides with Jack and John Barleycorn stick out as the best of the run thus far. These issues are the only ones that don’t feature Bigby or Snow as the main protagonist, and are a nice change of pace. Bigby continues to become a more interesting character, even if he is veering a bit too close to Wolverine territory. Snow White, though, has hardly been developed at all, and bounces back and forth between two stereotypical roles, the uptight ice-queen and the beautiful damsel in distress. The best moments remain the glimpses of the larger Fable community; as such, this should definitely be more of an ensemble book than it has been thus far.
Fables Volumes 2 and 3
I wrote a little bit of shit about Fables a few weeks ago. Since then I’ve read through the second and third trades, and it does definitely get better. My initial reaction to the second trade, Animal Farm, was a little irrational; I don’t like seeing cute talking animals get killed, and that happens a lot in this one. The story and characterization are mostly big improvements over the first volume, though, and there’s not as much self-satisfied cleverness mucking up the whole enterprise. Also Reynard the Fox, the best character to date, is introduced, and should’ve immediately become the focus of the book. The third volume, Storybook Romance, is a collection of shorter stories, including a four-parter that deals with some of the ramifications of Animal Farm. The issue with Jack cheating Death while masquerading as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War might be my favorite single issue thus far, if only because at one point Jack utters my mother-in-law’s favorite swear word, “shit-fire”. Still, I think Bill Willingham is focusing on too narrow a cast of characters, which is probably the main reason the one-issue asides with Jack and John Barleycorn stick out as the best of the run thus far. These issues are the only ones that don’t feature Bigby or Snow as the main protagonist, and are a nice change of pace. Bigby continues to become a more interesting character, even if he is veering a bit too close to Wolverine territory. Snow White, though, has hardly been developed at all, and bounces back and forth between two stereotypical roles, the uptight ice-queen and the beautiful damsel in distress. The best moments remain the glimpses of the larger Fable community; as such, this should definitely be more of an ensemble book than it has been thus far.
Syd Barrett RIP
Maybe if he hadn't lost his mind the world would've been spared one of the worst bands of all time.
Maybe if he hadn't lost his mind the world would've been spared one of the worst bands of all time.
Monday, July 10, 2006
In Los Angeles It Costs $12 To Work Out With Richard Simmons At His Gym. He Plays Vinyl During The Workout.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
workplace relations
We've been watching a lot of Newsradio lately. It's the best live-action sit-com of the '90's, easily. It got me thinking, though; I've never become friends with any of my co-workers at any of the office jobs I've had. I've never been a part of a crazy collection of work-room cut-ups, each with a broadly defined personality and appeal to a specific demographic category. My offices have always been staffed by a bunch of lonely, bored people who can't wait to get home. You watch tv shows and everybody's always hanging out and getting drinks after work and driving each other to the airport and throwing surprise parties at home and shit. Nothing like this has ever existed between me and any of my coworkers, not even something on as casual a level as getting a drink after work. I think this is probably as odd and unrealistic as the whole "coworkers as best friends" thing on tv. But so, my question: how many of you people are good friends with your coworkers? It doesn't count if you were friends before you worked together. I'm interested to see if any of our regular commenters ever hang out with their coworkers.
We've been watching a lot of Newsradio lately. It's the best live-action sit-com of the '90's, easily. It got me thinking, though; I've never become friends with any of my co-workers at any of the office jobs I've had. I've never been a part of a crazy collection of work-room cut-ups, each with a broadly defined personality and appeal to a specific demographic category. My offices have always been staffed by a bunch of lonely, bored people who can't wait to get home. You watch tv shows and everybody's always hanging out and getting drinks after work and driving each other to the airport and throwing surprise parties at home and shit. Nothing like this has ever existed between me and any of my coworkers, not even something on as casual a level as getting a drink after work. I think this is probably as odd and unrealistic as the whole "coworkers as best friends" thing on tv. But so, my question: how many of you people are good friends with your coworkers? It doesn't count if you were friends before you worked together. I'm interested to see if any of our regular commenters ever hang out with their coworkers.
