the whrd its under me scratching me belly my eyes from behind the lantern you made me

sper

2005-01-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

so i cant do that now but i have this to worry about. tune in when the head scratch is truly over.

Rxn and Reactionary

2005-01-28T02:49:00.000-07:00

It is much too late right now to be woken up by people who dont even live in this building asking me about people that i dont even know. im thinking (loud tapping on my door), 'dont you know what time it is asshole?', but i get up.

I answer the door, "What?"
Old man, stumbling - skinny as me, taller, "Hey d'you know Rob?"
Impatiently, "No..."
He starts up again, "But he's... this guy...Rob... tall... white...."
I dont respond and rudely shut the door.

Im just not having it - im pissed frustrated (what is the word?). now im awake and i want to be asleep, (i wanted my bed all day today, but alls i got was a pile of snow and wind up my ears and nose all day long) but im now thinking, "well if he's your friend, why dont you fucking know where he lives" or something like that, or whatever the fuck; it's 2am and my body and eyes are tired, and all i seem to hear this night is that crazy low moan sound the owl on the roof makes mixed in with someone climbing the stairs in desperation of getting inside one of the rooms. oh well - this definetely happens frequently or other various nightly complaints from neighbors about noise or them just being damn nosey. not to mention the list of vagrants that regularly force there way in here - perhaps for friends, sex, drugs, or out of sheer need - all those things, and since my vices are perhaps not too far removed by the habits of my fellow residents i should prolly just learn to shut the fuck up.

Shut the fuck up lorenzo and go to sleep.

Disintegration Loop 1.1 (Video)

2005-01-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

William Basinski - Disintegration loop 1.1
Press Play to Start Video

Techthology 1

2005-01-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

SONY'S AIBO ERS-210

The future is a strange and odd fantasy, if place - that is if i can pretend that it does exist, and not just a mere misconstrued conglomeration of present states... however, being in the present i am constantly subjected by technologies triumphs and failures; only problem is i can't tell what is what anymore. *as you may be familiar with, Sony has been working on its line of Robo-Dogs for sometime now, with its latest second generation AIBO Robot, the ERS-210- this line of hardwared puppies are built with microphones that respond to both voice commands (as in call and response lines of dialogue) as well as to nearby sounds, interacting emotionally (ahem, that is if you can call it emotion - but i dont even want to bring up the AI controversy's surrounding this object) and physically in accordance to the five pre-programmed emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, and dislike.

These emotions are expressed through the robodogs ability to express in a tonal language (using sound and melody) as well as a body language that includes posturing, with complete movement available in its head, tail, and legs. *Even scarier - built in cameras are installed into the robot's "eyes" where face recognition software enables the ERS-210 to recognize its owners, as well as friends of its owners, and so on - attributing a response (what Sony Reps have described as "instinct" - which is as debatable as the hilarious assumptions of emotion that are already brought to front by the object as commercial product anyway -> alls im saying is that it is hard to emulate sentiment with a thirteen hundred dollar fabrication) that changes with the different visual stimuli presented to the robot.*Overall the Sony AIBO Robo-dog is quite a technological feet, however - (i am not impressed and am still awaiting for genetic engineering advancements that will allow for the minituarizing of giraffes that could be domesticized and sold to domestic housewives across the suburbs) at $1,300, the Robo-dog seems to be marketed to the affluent, the wasteful, or.... i am really not sure.

I dont know who would get a Robo-dog over a real dog, sure the robo can do a lot of tricks, but not anything that a real dog cant - except maybe shit all over the house. that and you dont have to feed it or walk it or pay attention to it, hell - you could lock it up in the closet until the battery ran out; sure that might seem horrible with a real dog, but not a robo-dog. i dont mean to offend small handicapped children (or for that matter any handicapped person, or any person...) who are horribly allergic to dogs.

Crank Heart [Live] (Video)

2005-01-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

Xiu Xiu - Crank Heart [Live]
Press Play to Start Video

This Old House

2005-01-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

Only three days remain - before i leave my first real home in Chicago. i am going to miss the public/shared bathrooms, the squirrels fighting for life between the ceiling and the rafters that make the roof, the white noised radiator that went along with any sound playing, the creepy steps of the long marches upstairs on that mud stained rug that countless lost and drunk souls have wandered perhaps without the help of a waiting light, or the desperate attempts of sleep after a day break consisting of bus snares and loud children crossing corners...
***
My long walk home tonite from Noah's, the snow was almost too unbearable - coming in sideways - i thought about taking the train but didnt want to sell-out, figured i could use the spare change in my jacket for a Vitamin Water, however that idea got quickly deflated as i haphazardly channel surfed onto a Jimmy Kimbel Live show where he was interviewing 50 Cent and they were discussing his business endeavors , one including his investments in Vitamin Water, and his plans for his own drink..., not to say that corporate ties have ever stopped me from giving my money up to certain groups - hell, i eat McDonalds (or atleast did, or atleast do when i have money) , but perhaps it just weirds me out to think that i share beverage tastes with 50 Cent//good night for the good night im turning into my pillow.

Song List For the Walk Home 10:34PM : Aphex Twin - Rhubarb, The Fall - Wings, Interpol - Roland, Don Caballero - Delivering the Groceries at 138 Beats Per Minute, Hope Sandoval - Drop, Boredoms - Super Good, Johann Johannsson - Part 3.

Ear Swab for the Music Snob 1

2005-01-27T00:48:00.000-07:00

Already the end of January - a month since the new year and i can't remember buying any cds this month - which, i think, makes it a grand total of four months without buying one. Relying only on the 'ol ipod and springing (whenever i can) on some vinyl to feed the addictive addiction (that's two for you mom) of music. But nonetheless, that doesnt mean the supply of good music has diminished- on the contrary last year (2004) was a highlight; at least for me anyway. *Here is my 2004 Top 10.

TOP 10 ALBUMS of 2004

1. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs (Fat Cat)

2. LIARS - THEY WERE WRONG, SO WE DROWNED (Mute)
On the Liar's debut, They Threw us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument On Top, singer Angus Andrew howls in his frenzied monotone, "I have my finger on the pulse of America." On their latest full length, that statement couldn't be closer to the truth. Heavily influenced by the Rhode Island/New York noise scene, and loaded with imagery spawning America's history of systems of control and fear, from the Salem Witch Trials to present day conflicts over money and oil, They Were Wrong, is a sonic mud of murky gray tones, organic tribal drums riding alongside fractured melodies and an alienating perspective of today's times and catastrophes. Perhaps this music should come with riot gear and daily rations.

3. Joan of Arc - Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain... (Polyvinyl)

Joan of Arc, atleast in my opinion, have seem to become a synonmous with a bad word in the world of indie-rock music (or whatever the hell you wanna call) by categorically dividing much of their fan base throughout their career. From the ashes of Cap'n Jazz, Tim Kinsella was seen as an early indie poster boy, especially here in his home city of Chicago, but now with the working band Joan of Arc and a shitload of cds in only so many years it seems that spotlight is much burnt out, but I really can't figure out why. Last year's In Love Terror Sex We Trust and the simulatenously released So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness were not mere companion pieces. The latter was a melodic pop record that was both clever and cunning - with no-so-neat but perfect hooks and off time arrangements; Terror Sex was much more (dare i say) 'experimental' in that hooks and choruses were not prevailent - hell, sonic landscapes take up the better second half of the disc - but its experimentation was from where the spirit of the record really reflected the subject matter of the album. *Both of these things are now true (in one record - or a pretty double LP with blue and white color vinyl) in the bands latest effort Joan of Arc... which fluxuates between song ensemblages that range from slow acoustic ballads (did i just say ballad?) to all out brazilian flavored mixed with tweeked keyboard skronk, to musique concrete tracks...

4. Mum - Summer Make Good (Fat Cat)

5. BLACK DICE - CREATURE COMFORTS (DFA)
Black Dice present a challenging opposition to the current slew of bands trying to retain that "garage sound." With a sole guitarist and no present "drummer," Black Dice produce a menagarie of dense and devastating sounds from an onslaught of analog processors and effects pedals. On Creature Comforts, the now trio follow the ambient-down of last year's excellent Beaches & Canyons, but replace the chaotic drumming with electronic ping-pong table aesthetics, while the guitarist enlists the spirit of Hawaiian and dub music, processed and alienated; creating a terrestial landscape not of our own - Yes, ladies and gentleman, this is the future of rock. (ahem)

6. THE WALKMEN - BOWS + ARROWS (Record Collection)
In an age of disposable, interchangeable playlists with the reach of twitchy and rattled ADHD fingers, the age of the classicist album faces an uncertain future. Postmodernist nonsense may challenge the concept of what Bows + Arrows does to a nostalgic ear, but in practice The Walkmen force their listener to accept the unquestionable presence of a sincere attempt by a thinking, feeling band to record an album that is just that. The Walkmen have done what few other New York bands have accomplished in creating a sophmore record that is as valiant as their first.

7. Robert Wyatt - Cuckooland (Hannibal)

I am quite new to the world of Robert Wyatt. Back a few months ago when i was manipulated (hahaha) into buying Bjork's Medulla (but honestly- its alright, but im just not able to agree that its better than Vespertine-or and of the other records...) I became quite obsessed with the song "Submarine" that appears on that record. The reason I bring it up is because Robert Wyatt, which I later found out- lookin' through the digipack's scrawlings, does backing vocals, or rather sings for most of the song while Bjork finishes it up. I was so smitten with this track, however, that when I went to Reckless Records and saw they had this disc on the new releases rack I picked it up without a hesitation - which rarely happens to me anymore, perhaps because the cost of chicken noodle soup or tuna is more important right now- damn, this record is gold. Albeit, this cd and the voice therein contained are damnright depressing, a voice somewhere caught between the nasal dippings of David Bowie and Syd Barrett, the songs are equally as mad and bleak. Following a direction of songs that are built upon modern jazz and containing tweaked keyboards very much align with the Canterbury Scene from which Robert Wyatt was apart of (Soft Machine) - but the words and music contained/ from "Cuckoo Madame" to "Warning" are vastly disorientating- like being in a Halloween mansion with the lights out, uncertain, thinking "are we ever gnna get out of here?"

8. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre)

Simple soft acoustic sometimes a 70's rock feedback jarring guitar soft as a whisper sound - and, oh yeah, he's a mighty christian talking about girls and how good they look naked.

9. Wolf Eyes - Burned Mind (Sub Pop)

Pound. Pound. Grunt. Grunt. I think i forgot my caveman self sometime ago but have to seemed to captured it, or atleast hauled back. With hundreds of releases before this on everything from vinyl, cdr's, and good ol' tapes these three mighty men from Michigan have come out with a fine release on Sub Pop; creating what for the most part (nod to "Dead Hills") is their strongest and most cohesive listen. That's that - enuff said.

10. Pseudosix - Days of Delay (54 40 or Fight)

Read with Honey 1

2005-01-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

[from Playboy, June 1972 pgs. 56-57]

THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR

What do you suggest I do about my girlfriend, who has become a Jesus freak? We have dated for many months and love each other, but now- because of her new-found beliefs- she insists that we no longer sleep together. She says that if I wish to bed down with other girls, that's up to me, but i prefer making love to the one I love. How can I convice her to see things my way?- H.C., Atlanta, Georgia.

Short of marrying her, it may not be possible. There is the chance that, with time, she may modify her attitude; but if right now she is dead set against having sexual relations with you because of religious beliefs, we advise you not to press it. The outcome will depend on how long she sticks to her present position and how long you can stick to celibacy.

I've been looking over my wardrobe for Spring and would like to add some slacks and a suit. The double knits that some stores have been pushing seem like exceptionally good buys, but before I take the plunge, I'd like to know their advantages and disadvantages compared with traditional weaves. Are they just another fad that will go the way of the Nehru jacket or are they here to stay? -F.M., Kansas City, Kansas.

The double knits are extremely comfortable to wear because the material stretches in every direction, whereas standard woven material stretches only on the bias. In addition, clothing made from double-knit material is wrinkle free and permanently creased. However, inasmuch as the fabric is made with smooth artificial filaments, it doesn't absorb body moisture very well. Also, in the winter, the smooth filaments do not trap insulating layers of air as do the fuzzier wool and cotton fibers. We doubt that double knits are a fad. The term, incidentally, refers to the fabric itself, which can be tailored in any prevailing stlye. And the great comfort of double-knit clothing, plus its ability to withstand repeated suitcase packings, makes it a good bet for popularity with people who travel a lot.

My fiancee and I have enjoyed a full sexual relationship for some time now. Recently, however, it seems that one of us has become inadequate. At one time, we enjoyed climax in unison, but now I find it most difficult to hold myself back to wait for her to reach orgasm. It takes some time for me to recover enough to reach a second orgasm for her benefit, and since we each live with our own parents, we usually can't take all the time we like. We feel that the entire act is losing the meaning of love that it originally had and have decided to cease our intimacies until we can find out what's wrong. What can be done to make the sex act perfect?-S.K., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Why bother? Seeking the perfect sex act is a one-way street to frustration and disappointment. Even if you found what you considered a perfect sex act, its repetitions would ultimately grow tiresome. Certainly, your search for simultaneous orgasm is self-defeating, primarily because it's so genital and goal orientated. If it occurs, as it has occurred with you and your fiancee, that's fine, but consecutive orgasms are also fine and sometimes without orgasm at all can be satisfying. Although you make love under hurried circumstances, there's nothing to prevent your using organs other than your penis - your hands, your mouth, anything at all - to stimulate your fiancee after you've ejaculated. But get your minds off the destination and simply enjoy the trip. It would also be advisable to seek a place away from home where you can both relax, take your time and fully enjoy each other. Take camping or other outings together, use a friend's pad or rent a hotel or motel room and have her visit you for the evening.

Is it correct to tip an airline stewardess who, upon request, goes out her way to prepare you a drink or otherwise make you comfortable? If so, what is the expected amount?-F.W., Little Rock, Arkansas.

You don't tip stewardesses. If the service was so exquisite that you can't bear either to let it go unrewarded or, for that matter, to rupture the new relationship, offer to take her to dinner.

When I was out West, I acquired a taste for Coors beer; on arriving home, I was disappointed to discover that it was unavailable. A friend tells me that Coors refuses to ship its product east of the Mississippi. He also claims that it's one of the best-selling beers in the U.S., which I find hard to believe, considering the distribution. What's the story on Coors and just how does it rank in sales with other brands? -T.F., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Coors, which has one brewery, in Golden, Colorado, can sell all the beer it makes in its limited distribution area of 11 Western states. Sales statistics are a closely guarded secret of the brewing industry, but the "Alcoholic Beverage Newsletter" published the following sales figure for 1971: Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser, Michelob, Busch Bavarian, Budweiser Malt Liquor), 24,200,000 barrels; Schlitz (Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, Schiltz Malt Lquor, Encore), 16,700,000; Pabst (Pabst Blue Ribbon, Andeker, Old Tankard Ale, Big Cat Malt Liquor, Red White and Blue), 11,800,000; Adolph Coors (Coors), 8,500,000. By brand, a reasonable guess would make it Budweiser, Schiltz, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Coors, in that order. According to Coors, it has no intention of increasing it's distribution area in the near future.

Cash in Mouth/Dollar at Hand

2005-01-26T02:18:00.000-07:00

Last night/this morning i believe i was bantering about financing ones consumption's and the perils of not knowing who and what one is financing with their own consumption, etc. *granted i would never see myself as a purist in any form; however the spread of information is great - and having found the following article buried under a pile of newspapers above my microwave i figured i would reprint for ya'll (or perphaps just for myself).

2000 Election Cycle political donations, as reported by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Retail Stores:

Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to Democrats;
Wal-Mart, $476K, 97% to Republicans;
K-Mart, $524K, 86% to Republicans;
Home Depot, $298Km 89% to Republicans;
Target, $226K, 70% to Republicans;
Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to Republicans;
Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to Democrats;
Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to Democrats;
3M Co., $281K, 87% to Republicans;
Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to Republicans;
Amway, $391K, 100% to Republicans;
Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% to Republicans;
Warnaco (undergarments), $55K, 73% to Democrats;
B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to Republicans;
Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to Republicans;
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to Democrats;
Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to Democrats;
Guess? Inc., $145K, 98% to Democrats;
Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to Democrats;
Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to Democrats;
Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to Democrats;
Olan Mills, $175 K, 99% to Democrats.

Drinks:

Coors, $174K, 92% to Republicans;
Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to Democrats;
Brown-Forman Corp. (Souther Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644K, 80% to Republicans;
Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to Democrats;
Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% to Democrats.

Food:

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% to Republicans;
Outback Steakhouse, $641L, 95% to Republicans;
Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% to Democrats;
Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87% to Republicans;
Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the Border, Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Bakery, EatZis), $242K, 83% to Republicans;
Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96% to Democrats;
Waffle House, $279K, 100% to Republicans;
McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% to Republicans;
Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% to Republicans.

Travel:

Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to Democrats;
Mariott International, $323K, 81% to Republicans;
Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to Republicans.

Tuesday Evening

2005-01-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

It's getting late here. atleast for my body, that has only been on for a few hours now (count them, yes - five) and already my eyes and fingers are ready for sleep. On the stereo i have that disc 'Cuckooland' by Robert Wyatt playing on indefinite infinite repeat, mostly because the sad bastards voice is matching my internal emotional climate. For dinner, which sadly was the only meal to be had today (sleeping through the first two) , consisted of toasted bread and chicken noodle soup and the last bits of that frozen bag of stick-em-in-the-oven french fries. *dosed them in ketchup and mustard, water to drink - haven't had the television on all day and that makes me feel quite confident, perhaps this bender ive been on is slowly evaporating.

First Day Out/Fish Out of Water

2005-01-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

I am gnna pretend from now on like i cant spell or that no one is listening and im not gnna tell anyone except for maybe you. but thats not gnna be the best of it or perhaps even the worst - im gnna expect nothing and insist on getting used to scratching my head with the floor or its vertical cousin the door, but perhaps still trying to reach out from all of it indefinitely, but struggling to keep some kind of control from my exposure and inihibitors and sources of informations. *starting, since today is day one,...