Sunday, November 28, 2004time to sleepDidn't get much sleep over Thanksgiving, was out to all hours doing all sorts of nonsense, so I'll keep this short. Hope your vacation went well. Anyway, I did get a chance to start and finish about a boy. It was nearly identical to the movie through the first two-thirds, but the last third was nothing like the movie. Very fast and enjoyable read. Many parts were funny and sad, just because I act exactly like the 12 year old boy...I quote the below, and if you haven't heard the last line from me before, know that I say it all the time: Will: "What if Rachel and I don't split up? What if we stay together forever?" Marcus (12 year old): "Fine. Great. Prove it. I just don't think couples are the future." "Oh well, thank you....Einstein." Will had wanted his comeback to be sharper than that. He wanted to think of the name of some sort of socio-cultural marriage expert whose name two twelve-year-olds would instantly recognize, but Einstein was all he could come up with. He knew it wasn't right. "What's he got to do with it?" "Nothing," Will mumbled. Marcus looked at him pityingly. "And don't patronize me." "What does patronize mean?" Marcus asked, in all seriousness. So there it was. Will was being patronized by someone who wasn't even old enough to understand what the word meant. I still don't know what it means. Anyone have an example for me? Also got through about a third of Making Weapons, Talking Peace which is the autobiography of one of the physicists involved in the construction of the atomic and nuclear weapons. Very interesting, but a very slow read as well... posted @ 10:29 PM PDT [link] Wednesday, November 24, 2004happy thanksgivingWell, I'm off to the fine city of Turlock for Thanksgiving. I'm taking the train, which is always fun because I hate paying attention to the road. I think I'll be taking about a boy by Nick Hornby and a cd player, although I don't really like listening to headphones in noisy places cause I feel like I have to turn them up a little louder than I should (although I still never go over a 3 out of 10 :P) I love my headphones though, I really should use them more. Anyway, I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, I know I have much to be thankful for. Say hi to your family for me... posted @ 07:01 AM PDT [link] Sunday, November 21, 2004did you see my underwear...no? did you want to?You gotta take a hat off to Patrick, if a line like that doesn't work on the ladies, I don't know what would. I saw the Spongebob Squarepants Movie today, and it had some pretty funny parts. Warning though, lots of starfish related nudity, which according to my friend is what "made it so great". Anyway, it was good for a laugh if you find the show amusing, although some seem to have a problem with a show that features "Krusty Krabs" in a place called "Bikini Bottom" and has a main character with a homoerotic relationship with a big pink starfish. Go figure. posted @ 11:36 PM PDT [link] Friday, November 19, 2004i shouldn't go shopping whilst buzzedSo yesterday I went to Target with Sam to pick up some poker chips (the cheapy plastic ones). Passing by the cd aisle, I knew I had to get something. The only problem was, I really didn't want any cds. After wandering around a bit, I saw the new Hilary Duff cd...which reminded me of her song about the rain, which I kinda liked. The problem was, I didn't know what cd the song was on, or what the song was called. So I grabbed a copy of Metamorphosis and a copy of the self titled (they kinda look the same) and walked up to the first person I saw. I then confronted the young woman with a hearty howdy do, followed with "Excuse me ma'am, are you familiar with modern pop music?" (I don't know why I tend to get formal when talking to strangers) She replied that she was, in fact, familiar with pop music. She was very helpful and explained that the song I was looking for was called "Come Clean". Excited with my new purchase, I proceded to loudly play the tune while driving through Mira Mesa with the windows down. I don't think Sam was pleased. posted @ 11:26 AM PDT [link] Wednesday, November 17, 2004anyone have 20 million or so I could borrow?I really need this to add to my collection. I already have a can of tuna that won't rust, a buffalo wing shaped like the fat Elvis and a grain of rice that looks just like me if you cut off my arms, legs and head. posted @ 09:05 AM PDT [link] Tuesday, November 16, 2004guess whos backWell, after a long hiatus, I'm back from training in Los Angeles. Some highlights: Alex and I busting a move in the classroom. Watching the turtle races Going with my friend Jill to Maile and Larry's wedding banquet and seeing a dragon wag its tail Haven't had a chance to listen to much music lately, although I did find a copy of Low's new album, "The Great Destroyer" which is due in January. I like the new sound and I think this album is alot better than their last album, "Trust". Although its going to be hard to ever top "Things that we lost in the fire". Oh yeah, and as long as I'm posting pictures, here's my halloween costume... posted @ 08:51 AM PDT [link] Saturday, November 6, 2004hauntedI cannot for the life of me get this song out of my head..."My Angel Rocks Back and Forth" by Four Tet. I had liked their previous album, Pause, but I had never gotten around to hearing their followup album. I'm kicking myself for not checking it out sooner. Long story short, last night I couldn't get the song out of my head so badly that I took a detour on the way to a poker game to pick up an additional copy to listen to right that minute. When Best Buy didn't have it, I spent 35 minutes trying to find a parking spot near the Mira Mesa Edwards, tried paying people 5 dollars to go inside and check if they had the album, etc. Eventually got in and they didn't have it...I don't know why I was shocked that Barnes and Nobles didn't have an indie UK electronica album...But they did have a kiosk where you could listen to "any song in the world". And surprisingly, it was on there. I listened in bliss, it was the greatest feeling. So got to poker a little over an hour late, but proceeded to clean house (70 dollar pot, yeah!) Anyway, if you're looking for an amazing track that will stick with you, check it out. Four Tet makes some very intellegent electronica with subtle elements of glitch and reversed harmonies...gets better with every listen. posted @ 03:29 PM PDT [link] Friday, November 5, 2004encoreHow appropriately titled...Eminem's latest is much like his previous efforts. Inconsistent. Eminem managed to keep the album off the net until last Tuesday; I finally got around to listening to it in its entirety tonight. In case you missed it, the first two singles, "Just Lose It" and "Mosh" both kinda sucked. Neither had the appeal of "My Name Is", "The Real Slim Shady", or "Without Me" as lead off singles. I can't see people getting behind this album as much as the others without that leadoff must-have poppy track. As always, Eminem is at his best when he's speaking about personal issues, and this album is no exception. Give "Like Toy Soldiers" (about the Aftermath/Murder Inc beef) and "Mockingbird" (about how his rise to fame changed his relationship with his wife and daughter) a listen...they're the 2 best tracks and they tell interesting, insightful stories. Will this album sell big? Probably. Does it deserve to sell big? I don't think so. I think after 2 and a half years of waiting, the fans deserve better. Maybe its time for the next white rapper to come along? posted @ 12:58 AM PDT [link] Thursday, November 4, 2004the glove compartment isn't accurately namedSaw "Death Cab for Cutie" last night (time number four). Pretty Girls Make Graves opened up for them, and I thought they were good enough to warrant some further listening, although I don't believe the general populace shared my sentiment. Ben Gibbard has such a fragile sounding voice; I'm continually impressed that he's able to perform all of the songs without making any vocal misteps. Anyway, good show, although I wish they'd played "title track". As a sidenote, I must say...quite a crummy merch table at the show. Its bad enough that bands charge 20 or 25 bucks for a t-shirt (or 40+, I'm talking to you Brian Wilson), but its even worse when all the shirts look like something you would be embarrassed to donate to a hobo. Happy Thursday. posted @ 09:09 AM PDT [link] Wednesday, November 3, 2004smileGot back from a show in LA last night around 1:30, Brian Wilson's amazing performance of Smile. For those of you not in the know, Brian Wilson was the leader of the Beach Boys for many years and is generally considered one of, if not the greatest pop musician of all time. The album "Smile" was orginally supposed to be released in 1967 but due to internal struggles with the band, it was never completed and a watered down, (although still quite good) album "Smiley Smile" was issued in its place. Smile is definitely the most famous and talked about unreleased album of all time. (yes, even more so than Chinese Democracy). Early in 2004, Brian Wilson decided to finish his masterpiece and it was finally released in September to critical praise. If you're intersted in the facisnating history of Smile, there are many resources available on the web. About the show...it was incredible. It was at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (very nice venue, very modern architecture) and I had amazing fifth row seats. I went with my friend David, who first introduced me to the more experimental Beach Boys work about 7 years ago (thanks Dave!) We were literally 20 feet from the stage, and sat about 10 feet directly behind Van Dyke Parks (the lyricist for the Smile album). The only one who had a better seat was Elijah Wood, who we saw in the dead center front row singing along to "Vege-tables". At any time there were about 15 musicians on stage performing the various instruments and singing...Brian Wilson's compositions were very complex. The highlights of the evening were definitely hearing Smile ("Surf's Up" in particular), and hearing "God Only Knows". Anyway, fantastic show and probably a once in a lifetime experience, 37 years in the making. posted @ 08:58 AM PDT [link] Tuesday, November 2, 2004menschHerbert Groenemeyer is, from my understanding, the Phil Collins of Germany. (Don't hold it against him). Of the few songs I've heard from him though, he's a pretty pleasant listen. "mensch" is a pretty good track, and I think the lyric Und weil er lacht, weil er lebt, du fehlst. which means (according to my rusty German)... And because he laughs, because he lives, you feel. I think its a really neat thought that the lives of two people can be that intertwined, and I think its summed up in a poem I was recently introduced to, "love sonnet xvii" by Pablo Neruda. Now get out there and vote (cause I'm famous and I told you to). posted @ 06:55 AM PDT [link] |
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