The audacity of joke?
Monday, November 17, 2008
New Riverboat Gamblers!
New Riverboat Gamblers!
The Riverboat Gamblers are one of my absolute favorite live acts currently in action and I've been anxiously awaiting their fellow-up to 2006's To the Confusion of Our Enemies. We're all still going to have to wait until March 10, 2009 for the new album -- Underneath The Owl -- but they're releasing the first single for free as of RIGHT NOW. It's poppier than I expected ... download it below!
MP3: The Riverboat Gambler "A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology"
(A warning about the audio quality ... the MP3 is at 192 kbps but I think it may have been ripped by the label at a lower bit-rate judging by the "splashy" hi-hat sound.)
The Riverboat Gamblers are one of my absolute favorite live acts currently in action and I've been anxiously awaiting their fellow-up to 2006's To the Confusion of Our Enemies. We're all still going to have to wait until March 10, 2009 for the new album -- Underneath The Owl -- but they're releasing the first single for free as of RIGHT NOW. It's poppier than I expected ... download it below!
MP3: The Riverboat Gambler "A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology"
(A warning about the audio quality ... the MP3 is at 192 kbps but I think it may have been ripped by the label at a lower bit-rate judging by the "splashy" hi-hat sound.)
Weekend desk report!
Weekend desk report!
It was a good weekend.
It was a good weekend.
- Betty the Beagle became a subject of fine art thanks to Lauri Apple's "Hipster Animals" series. She will gladly paint your/your friends' animals as hipsters for a reasonable sum. Also, if you can think of a catchy saying to along with Betty's image on a T-shirt let me know!
- Ran into unexpected visitors from a town down South and enjoyed spending time with them, although I think they were initially worried I might be annoyed due to the company they were keeping ... which couldn't have been further from the truth.
- The Lauren / Dawn / Jenny Evil birthday party was an unequivocal success, even if I did spend a portion of the evening wandering around shirtless in Keep's sweater vest while he wore my leather. Don't ask.
- Saw Tom Schraeder turn in an excellent set ... I'm beginning to think he might actually catch on with the larger public!
- Slept until 4 p.m. yesterday (!) and then spent the evening drinking wine and watching movies with GalPal. Learned two things: 1. Realized I am no longer as similar -- in the pathetic sense at least -- to the character of Rob In High Fidelity. 2. Just because a movie looks like it has a Flight of the Conchords vibe, that doesn't mean it's any good. In other words, avoid Eagle Versus Shark at all costs!
- Worked out a deal with GalPal ... she'll watch The Spirit and Watchmen with me if I agree to see The Transporter 3 and another movie of her choice with her. Despite her picking out Eagle Versus Shark, I agreed.
- Discovered Treat, this tiny little restaurant around the corner from my place, has FANTASTIC food. Even a picky eater like me was pretty blown away. Highly recommended.
- An extremely old friend I lost track of over a decade ago contacted me through Facebook, reminding me why I love that particular social networking site. It also reinforced my desire to keep that account "friends only" and keep away from bands or people I don't directly know or engage with.
- Bought Betty an anti-bark collar Saturday and got an email from the building's management company Sunday that unless things changed Betty would have to go. Hopefully this collar solves our problems. I gave it a trial run before leaving her alone today and it seems to do the trick.I am a bit worried though, since folks complaining are saying she barks for 12+ hours and that's just not possible since I don't leave her unattended that long. I understand people's frustration but wish they'd contact me so I can both personally apologize and outline what we're doing to try and solve the problem.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Livid!
Livid!
Cafe 200 in the Aon building has me so furious right now I can barely contain myself. Three times in the past week I've gone down there at 2 p.m. to get a grilled cheese only to be told by the dude manning that station that they're "closed." Look dude, I've worked in the restaurant industry as everything from a chef to a manager and I know "closed" means you've started cleaning the grill because you want to get out of there. I understand that. But if the cafeteria doesn't close until 2:30 p.m. you can't start cleaning the grill that early! Put away your food tubs and all that other crap, but you can't turn the grill off until the restaurant is closed!
And the fact that management there is so shoddy that this has happened three times is driving me absolutely insane.
So three times in the past week I've stormed out of there and headed to other restaurants in other buildings, even though other stations in the cafeteria are obviously still open and have food. Way to win and keep customers folks.
Insult to injury? Today I walked to a Quizno's in another building, got sass from the chick at the register for wanting a plain turkey sandwich -- we don't make those, she says ... really? -- and I just sat down at my desk to eat said turkey sandwich to find out she smothered it in ranch. Great. I guess I'm eating from the fucking vending machine today.
Cafe 200 in the Aon building has me so furious right now I can barely contain myself. Three times in the past week I've gone down there at 2 p.m. to get a grilled cheese only to be told by the dude manning that station that they're "closed." Look dude, I've worked in the restaurant industry as everything from a chef to a manager and I know "closed" means you've started cleaning the grill because you want to get out of there. I understand that. But if the cafeteria doesn't close until 2:30 p.m. you can't start cleaning the grill that early! Put away your food tubs and all that other crap, but you can't turn the grill off until the restaurant is closed!
And the fact that management there is so shoddy that this has happened three times is driving me absolutely insane.So three times in the past week I've stormed out of there and headed to other restaurants in other buildings, even though other stations in the cafeteria are obviously still open and have food. Way to win and keep customers folks.
Insult to injury? Today I walked to a Quizno's in another building, got sass from the chick at the register for wanting a plain turkey sandwich -- we don't make those, she says ... really? -- and I just sat down at my desk to eat said turkey sandwich to find out she smothered it in ranch. Great. I guess I'm eating from the fucking vending machine today.
Watcha gonna do tomorrow?
Watcha gonna do tomorrow?
Hey, check out the hot chick on the right ... it's GalPal!
Hey, check out the hot chick in the middle ... oh wait, that's no chick, it's Tom Schraeder. He's having a CD release party at Schubas tomorrow. You should go check him out.
Afterward head to Quenchers and goose my friends Lauren, Dawn, and Jenny Evil for their collective birthdays.
Hey, check out the hot chick on the right ... it's GalPal!
Hey, check out the hot chick in the middle ... oh wait, that's no chick, it's Tom Schraeder. He's having a CD release party at Schubas tomorrow. You should go check him out.
Afterward head to Quenchers and goose my friends Lauren, Dawn, and Jenny Evil for their collective birthdays.
Well I hope THAT series is over!
Well I hope THAT series is over!
Does anyone else out there have dream series with continuity? I have a few, and none of them are pleasant. Some are about serial killers, another is about a bunch of townspeople intent on my demise ... and all of them are in bright, clear Technicolor.
Wednesday night I zonked out super early, giving my brain plenty of time to torture me. A few months ago I had a dream where I accidentally killed a friend from high school -- don't worry, Mike is still very much alive in real life -- and covered it up by disposing of the body. Well, Wednesday picked up where that dream left off, and included a snooping detective with a nose for the truth. I was put on trial and it was a statement the detective got from my mom that finally did me in and tied me to the death. As i woke up I was on a bus headed to the prison.
I am SO hoping that's the end of that series and it doesn't pick up again!
Does anyone else out there have dream series with continuity? I have a few, and none of them are pleasant. Some are about serial killers, another is about a bunch of townspeople intent on my demise ... and all of them are in bright, clear Technicolor.
Wednesday night I zonked out super early, giving my brain plenty of time to torture me. A few months ago I had a dream where I accidentally killed a friend from high school -- don't worry, Mike is still very much alive in real life -- and covered it up by disposing of the body. Well, Wednesday picked up where that dream left off, and included a snooping detective with a nose for the truth. I was put on trial and it was a statement the detective got from my mom that finally did me in and tied me to the death. As i woke up I was on a bus headed to the prison.I am SO hoping that's the end of that series and it doesn't pick up again!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Riding the karma train ... to a party!
Riding the karma train ... to a party!
The candy in the vending machine on my floor tends to get stuck and doesn't quiiiite get pushed far enough 7 times out of 10.* This of course necessitates putting in another sixty-five cents to buy ANOTHER candy bar and push the first one out along with it. And no, shaking the machine doesn't help. That thing is the HEAVIEST vending machine I have ever come across.
Well, it happened again yesterday, only this time I decided to just leave the candy bar perched on the ledge and leave it as a gift for the next person. Hell, I shouldn't really be eating candy anyway, and hopefully I brightened some else's day.
In other news, I am DJing with Lisa and JB at Liar's Club tonight. We're scaling Bomb Squad appearances back to twice a month in order to get more folks and allow us to really throw a kick-ass party. We've taken the last few weeks off so I think tonight is the night YOU should make an appearance!
*Seriously, I'm beginning to wonder if the dude who stocks the machine is trained to put it in a certain way so that it gets stuck on the way out.
The candy in the vending machine on my floor tends to get stuck and doesn't quiiiite get pushed far enough 7 times out of 10.* This of course necessitates putting in another sixty-five cents to buy ANOTHER candy bar and push the first one out along with it. And no, shaking the machine doesn't help. That thing is the HEAVIEST vending machine I have ever come across.Well, it happened again yesterday, only this time I decided to just leave the candy bar perched on the ledge and leave it as a gift for the next person. Hell, I shouldn't really be eating candy anyway, and hopefully I brightened some else's day.
In other news, I am DJing with Lisa and JB at Liar's Club tonight. We're scaling Bomb Squad appearances back to twice a month in order to get more folks and allow us to really throw a kick-ass party. We've taken the last few weeks off so I think tonight is the night YOU should make an appearance!
*Seriously, I'm beginning to wonder if the dude who stocks the machine is trained to put it in a certain way so that it gets stuck on the way out.
Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
I was listening to the ol' tankPOD on shuffle yesterday when New Order's "Love Vigilantes" came on and reminded me of one of my least proud moments. It was near the beginning of my relationship with Photogal and it came on the car stereo, spurring her to mention how much she liked the song's happy ending. I corrected her and pointed out that the song in fact had a tragic ending, the narrator was not a hero returning triumphantly home but was instead a ghost lamenting his loss.
The second I said that I realized I wanted to take it back because I had just snatched something that made Photogal happy and turned it inside out.
I regret that moment to this day, and since then I've always thought thrice before disagreeing with someone's interpretation of anything, for fear I'll pop any other bubbles of joy. Who cares if I'm right and you're wrong anyway ... what matters is what makes us happy, right?*
*This is obviously not a 100% blanket statement. If you try and tell me something outrageous like "the sky is yellow and the sun is blue" or "George Bush did a good job over the last 8 years" I'm gonna disagree with you.
I was listening to the ol' tankPOD on shuffle yesterday when New Order's "Love Vigilantes" came on and reminded me of one of my least proud moments. It was near the beginning of my relationship with Photogal and it came on the car stereo, spurring her to mention how much she liked the song's happy ending. I corrected her and pointed out that the song in fact had a tragic ending, the narrator was not a hero returning triumphantly home but was instead a ghost lamenting his loss.The second I said that I realized I wanted to take it back because I had just snatched something that made Photogal happy and turned it inside out.
I regret that moment to this day, and since then I've always thought thrice before disagreeing with someone's interpretation of anything, for fear I'll pop any other bubbles of joy. Who cares if I'm right and you're wrong anyway ... what matters is what makes us happy, right?*
*This is obviously not a 100% blanket statement. If you try and tell me something outrageous like "the sky is yellow and the sun is blue" or "George Bush did a good job over the last 8 years" I'm gonna disagree with you.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
New political platform.
New political platform.
GalPal sent me the following video, and elicited the subsequent IM convo.
GalPal sent me the following video, and elicited the subsequent IM convo.
me: he's my hero! i would TOTALLY pee on grateful dead tribute band fans!
GalPal: HAHAHA
me: that would be my platform
VOTE FOR ME! I PISS ON JAM BANDS!
GalPal: HAHAHHAHA
I can't get enough of this hat!
I can't get enough of this hat!
I know I already wrote about it, but really, you HAVE to stand in awe of the hat!
And this is by far my favorite customer review:
I know I already wrote about it, but really, you HAVE to stand in awe of the hat!
And this is by far my favorite customer review:
"I have purchased a number of fur hats in my day but this is by far the warmest and most comfortable. Not only does it keep the back of my head warm but you can wrap the legs around your face to block the wind. The only reason this hat did not receive 5 stars is due to the fact that I was attacked by a bird thinking it was wounded prey while I was out for a walk. A rare but unfortunate occurrence when wearing an animal pelt on your head. Also great in the rain. Didn't smell at all after it was wet and it makes a great present. I'm getting one for my wife."I want!
I am Orson Welles.
I am Orson Welles.
O.K., if you read an article that quoted someone named Security Officer Toodle O'Gill -- and openly said he was made up -- you would realize it was a joke, right?
Um, apparently not.
O.K., if you read an article that quoted someone named Security Officer Toodle O'Gill -- and openly said he was made up -- you would realize it was a joke, right?
Um, apparently not.
The jam of the Winter part DEUX!
Jam o' the Winter part DEUX!
Thanks to the wonders of technology I have liberated this track from it's video backing. I played it last night in my DJ set. It was awesome. Ladies and gentlemen, download this NOW!
MP3: Hamster on a Piano
Thanks to the wonders of technology I have liberated this track from it's video backing. I played it last night in my DJ set. It was awesome. Ladies and gentlemen, download this NOW!
MP3: Hamster on a Piano
Meta-hipster.
Meta-hipster.
From this week's MyOpenBar newsletter (and if you're not already getting these, you really should, because whoever is doing the summaries is goddamned hilarious):
From this week's MyOpenBar newsletter (and if you're not already getting these, you really should, because whoever is doing the summaries is goddamned hilarious):
There will be a live photo booth here so that you can get your party photo taken at the opening party for a show featuring photos from parties taken by party photographers. If this doesn't cause the hipster culture to finally implode under the weight of its own self-referential irony, you'll have to get a picture of your face tattooed on your face just to keep up.That preview actually makes me wanna go!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Lasers and Fast and DJ.
Lasers and Fast and DJ.
One of my new favorite local bands --- Lasers and Fast and Shit -- asked me to DJ at their show at darkroom tonight and how could I help but say yes? Come on down, check them out, and enjoy some fine local music ... and kind of a crap DJ.
One of my new favorite local bands --- Lasers and Fast and Shit -- asked me to DJ at their show at darkroom tonight and how could I help but say yes? Come on down, check them out, and enjoy some fine local music ... and kind of a crap DJ.
Girl Talking.
Girl Talking.
Photos from Saturday's show are on Flickr ... and my write-up and a more targeted set (for those that would rather get a quick fix than wade through dozens of shots of dancing hipsters) is up at Chicagoist [link to come when it goes live at 11:45]. Also check out GalPal's review of the show.
Photos from Saturday's show are on Flickr ... and my write-up and a more targeted set (for those that would rather get a quick fix than wade through dozens of shots of dancing hipsters) is up at Chicagoist [link to come when it goes live at 11:45]. Also check out GalPal's review of the show.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Soliciting doggie bark advice.
Soliciting doggie bark advice.
I got home after seeing Zack and Miri Make a Porno* Sunday night and arrived to find an anonymous note taped to my door. It was a very polite anonymous letter from one of my neighbors complaining about Betty. I'm guessing it's a new tenant and it appears they are home during the days, and Betty is still barking. She had been getting better, especially after I decided to stop crating her in hopes that would decrease her anxiety level, but I guess she's slipping again?
So I've decided that it is time to try an anti-bark shock collar. Nothing else seems to have worked, and while I've been avoiding doing something like this, maybe it's time to just give it a try. Citronella spray collars don't work -- she figured out that they run out after 12-15 blasts, so she'll just bark and suffer through those to empty the collar's canister -- so I need to try something different. Has anyone out there used an anti-bark shock collar before? If so do you have one you would recommend, or do you have a compelling argument why they should NOT be used? I've been doing some research and it doesn't seem like they actually harm your dog, they just offer a little negative reinforcement not unlike techniques you use when training your dog in a controlled class and pull on their leash to snap their training collar, right?
*I'll write about Zack and Miri Make a Porno later, by the way.
I got home after seeing Zack and Miri Make a Porno* Sunday night and arrived to find an anonymous note taped to my door. It was a very polite anonymous letter from one of my neighbors complaining about Betty. I'm guessing it's a new tenant and it appears they are home during the days, and Betty is still barking. She had been getting better, especially after I decided to stop crating her in hopes that would decrease her anxiety level, but I guess she's slipping again?So I've decided that it is time to try an anti-bark shock collar. Nothing else seems to have worked, and while I've been avoiding doing something like this, maybe it's time to just give it a try. Citronella spray collars don't work -- she figured out that they run out after 12-15 blasts, so she'll just bark and suffer through those to empty the collar's canister -- so I need to try something different. Has anyone out there used an anti-bark shock collar before? If so do you have one you would recommend, or do you have a compelling argument why they should NOT be used? I've been doing some research and it doesn't seem like they actually harm your dog, they just offer a little negative reinforcement not unlike techniques you use when training your dog in a controlled class and pull on their leash to snap their training collar, right?
*I'll write about Zack and Miri Make a Porno later, by the way.
Mourning period? I think not.
Mourning period? I think not.
When I sent out a text to my family after Obama's win, my little brother shot back with, "At least we gave you a day to mourn when Bush was re-elected."It was meant to be funny, and it did make me laugh, but since then it has gotten me to think about Conservative reaction to Obama's win. For the most part, I haven't noticed any!
On one hand, I've unplugged from political talk over the past few days -- I just had to -- so I'm sure the 24-hour news channels and talk show circuits are probably still erupting, but fuck 'em, I'm thinking more of the general public reaction. And for the most part it's been muted. On one hand i think it's because most Republicans sort of saw this coming as McCain's campaign continued to crash and burn.
On top of that, things are so bad, I think most Republicans realized that anyone new in the White House would be a good thing. In fact my little brother made a point to me that what worries him most isn't Obama, but the Democratically controlled Congress, and I sort of agree with him. If the Congress can unite and help Obama to push good reform through, that'll be great ... but over the past two years Democrats have shown they can be just as stupid as Republicans when it comes to infighting and stalling each other's legislation in order to gain their own perks. And I am deeply worried about him bringing too many Chicago politicians with him to Washington, since that would be a possibly tarnishing distraction to Obama and provide an air of cronyism and entitlement he could -- and should -- do without.
Back to my main point though, and what led me to think about this in the first place. When Bush was re-elected I was seriously in a state of shock and couldn't at all understand how he got back into office, so yeah, I'm glad that I was given a day to "grieve" back then. However, with Obama's election, I don't think Conservatives need any time to "grieve." They're President and his ideology died a long time ago, and they should be happy that someone fresh and new is on the scene.
Obama can't fuck this country up any more than it currently is ... and I tend to think he might just improve it quite a bit. Even as economic news grows ever more dire, I sense the national mood has brightened just a bit.
When I sent out a text to my family after Obama's win, my little brother shot back with, "At least we gave you a day to mourn when Bush was re-elected."It was meant to be funny, and it did make me laugh, but since then it has gotten me to think about Conservative reaction to Obama's win. For the most part, I haven't noticed any!
On one hand, I've unplugged from political talk over the past few days -- I just had to -- so I'm sure the 24-hour news channels and talk show circuits are probably still erupting, but fuck 'em, I'm thinking more of the general public reaction. And for the most part it's been muted. On one hand i think it's because most Republicans sort of saw this coming as McCain's campaign continued to crash and burn.On top of that, things are so bad, I think most Republicans realized that anyone new in the White House would be a good thing. In fact my little brother made a point to me that what worries him most isn't Obama, but the Democratically controlled Congress, and I sort of agree with him. If the Congress can unite and help Obama to push good reform through, that'll be great ... but over the past two years Democrats have shown they can be just as stupid as Republicans when it comes to infighting and stalling each other's legislation in order to gain their own perks. And I am deeply worried about him bringing too many Chicago politicians with him to Washington, since that would be a possibly tarnishing distraction to Obama and provide an air of cronyism and entitlement he could -- and should -- do without.
Back to my main point though, and what led me to think about this in the first place. When Bush was re-elected I was seriously in a state of shock and couldn't at all understand how he got back into office, so yeah, I'm glad that I was given a day to "grieve" back then. However, with Obama's election, I don't think Conservatives need any time to "grieve." They're President and his ideology died a long time ago, and they should be happy that someone fresh and new is on the scene.
Obama can't fuck this country up any more than it currently is ... and I tend to think he might just improve it quite a bit. Even as economic news grows ever more dire, I sense the national mood has brightened just a bit.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
BAWK BAWK!
BAWK BAWK!
I live next door to a rooster (or did ... I haven't heard him in a while, hmmmm...) so I find this especially funny.
I live next door to a rooster (or did ... I haven't heard him in a while, hmmmm...) so I find this especially funny.
Friday, November 07, 2008
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