Ghostland Observatory 12 December 10

Wow.  Wow.  I was expecting a mind numbing DJ set.  Wow.

Considering 80 percent of those in attendance were sporting glow-stick accessories.  Necklace, bracelet, earrings, glasses.  One girl had lights under her skirt.  The opener, who shall remain nameless, mainly because I was so bored I can't be bothered to remember his name, was a dull DJ.

Because of my lack of interest in electronic music, I've never witnessed a laser show.  So I can't compare this to anything.  But I think it's fair to say that their laser show is a force to be reckoned with.  It was like watching TRON sometimes.  And other times, you were just sure that if you jumped, just a smidge too high, you would be  eradicated by the beams.

There is a vocalist, with shrill tones, reminding me of Ima Robot.  He sometimes picks up the guitar.  His cohort, wearing a large red, white, and blue cape stood behind a drum kit and was surrounded by a number of keyed boxes and synthesizers.

Very entertaining.  Only improvements would be, a proper opener and a proper audience.

Important matters such as this.

I worked the George Clinton show last night.  This is not about that.  This is about more important things.

Got in about 4am.  For some reason got up about 8am.  Figured, I should eat something.

In Russia, they often eat simple open faced sandwiches.  They're called buterbrodi.  I had some salami and cheddar, figured I'd have a go at one that actually tasted good.

Step 1:  Toast a slice of bread
Step 2:  In one skillet, on low heat, warm up the salami.
Step 3:  In another skillet, warm up some olive oil and garlic salt.
Step 4:  Put the toast into warm oiled skillet and add the salami.
Step 5:  Turn up the heat in the now empty skillet, to medium and drop a slice of thick cheddar in.  Just for a second or two, slide out and flip and after a second or two, just when it starts to stretch, pull it out and lay it on the salami and bread.  (BE CAREFUL!)
Step 6:  Cover the skillet and let it warm together for a few minutes.
Step 7:  EAT!!!!

Let me tell you, de-lish.  For me the salami is key.  The fat adds a dimension not found in other deli meats that really brings everything together.

New Years Calling Day!

I came across an excellent old tradition today, New Years Calling Day.

I seem to recall that there is a tradition in Russia of visiting friends on New Years, bringing gifts, sharing food, etc.

This is similar, except it is more akin to courting.  A gentleman will make up a list of ladies he would like to call on and drop by, have a bit of a snack, chat a bit and then leave his card.  Mark Twain said that one New Years Calling Day he had about 30 ladies he planned to call on.  However, he enjoyed so much spending time with the first young lady, he "postponed" the others until the next year.  Of course he didn't actually, as he married this young lady soon after.

So maybe we should start this tradition again!  What better way to start a New Year than with Speed Courting!!

A longer explanation.

A note on Fashion

Nobody puked at the Kate Nash show!  Score!  I like her voice, but her genre's a fad and this style of dressing like a 4 year old has got to stop.  It makes my job difficult.  "I see you're drinking, are you over 21?" --   "Of course, I'm 37!" -- "Oh, it's just that you're dressed like a 4 year old going to her baptism. I'm sure you can understand my confusion."

Hack websites like Sartorialist are all about this fashion that I've termed "18th century homeless child".  Everyone is dressing like they sell "papes" on the corner and work in the coal mines on the weekend.  Sure, some parts of those outfits are neat, I like a jaunting cap, and reinforce those trouser knees!  But haggard ass ugly shoes that you paid 70 bucks for, just to look like you're wearing jazz dance boots while working at a nursing home?!

Squirrel!!

I can't say i'm thrilled with the way things are going.  Are we going to just see-saw back and forth for the next century?  Enact, repeal, enact, repeal.  Do people really think we have some gung-ho gun slinger in office doing things no one wants?


Is the only way to combat this to yell louder than the next guy?  To get some entertainer to corral people to another point of view by talking down to them?  Except the speakers I'm referencing (Beck, Rush, etc) aren't talking down.  I genuinely am starting to believe that they are talking on the level of their listeners.  Their listeners are just lacking in intelligence.  "Squirrel!"  And I hate to say that, but its becoming increasingly obvious.  


In discussions with apparent learned individuals, I come across basic facts, that they can't argue, they just were completely unaware of.  And when confronted with these facts, they acknowledge them, and then move on in their same direction.  If it doesn't back up their opinion, it must be irrelevant.  


Are you aware that there is a whole world out there?  People that do things differently, and they work!  


So it seems in order to combat the blatant, raging ignorance that is so popular now, we must lower our projected intelligence, use smaller words, louder voices, and flashier lights.  "Squirrel!"






"If you amplify everything, you hear nothing" -- John Stewart


How true.  How true.  


But what do we do?  How do we get our point across to people who make decisions with their bodily humors? 


Idiocracy is truly coming about.  I am sad.

The BBC seems to be age-matching now.  Listening to a report on housing problems for the elderly in China.  They dub over the Chinese ranters with sex matched pensioners.  I shouldn't laugh, but it's like some sort of awful theatrical production.

Working on rally pictures.

And watched about 6 movies last week.

Soon to be updates.

a Movie.

It's Kind of a Funny Story.

This is a cute movie.  Zach Galifianakis does an excellent job in a serious role.  Is this movie worth 10 bucks?  No, but it's definitely worth a Netflix or a Red Box.

Jeremy Davies makes an appearance.  For once on the other side of insanity, as an employee of a mental ward.  He seems to be patterned after Bob Forrest, the substance abuse counselor and radio DJ.  He's still Jeremy Davies.  That man only has one personality, and I love it.

Jim Gaffigan, another comedian put into a serious role.  Kind of a waste of talent on his part, but he does a fair enough job.

I'm a sucker for mental institutions, so I was going to love this movie anyway.

It's cute, it's not sappy.  Watch it.

In other news....RALLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy, The Roots.

Bringing the long zoom.

Feet Fetishists

Twice.  In a 24 hour period.  Twice my feet were the object of sexual deviance.

First:  I went to a bar.  Often these stories start like this.  I went to see an old-timey americana band.  Quite good.  The Hot Seats as well as Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three.  Innocent enough endeavor.  As I'm standing outside, the gentleman taking the money says, "You have pretty toes.  Are you married?"

weird.

but not as weird as

Second.  Yesterday evening.  Metro.  A miniature Spike Jones walks up. with the personality of Karl Childers or David Blaine. and the voice of Ben Stein.  He asks how I am.  I say, Fine, how are you?  He says good.  He looks away, I look away.  I'm already weirded out by this fellow.  He says, "Are those some sort of hiking sandals?"  I say, "They're pretty tough."  He says, "What size are they?"  I laugh nervously and reply, "Large".  He says, "About a 9 or a 10".  another nervous laugh.  I'm starting to think he wants to try my shoes on.
He says, dead-pan, completely seriously, very David Blaine-esque "Will you wiggle your toes for me?"  ...   ...   ...   ... yeah.  I just said, "I don't think I need to do that."

WHAT?!?!

gross.


i got the first volume of The Autobiography of Mark Twain.  It's huge.

i'm spending my weekend volunteering with an organization battling Modern Slavery, a shift at the Green festival, and helping to organize a volunteer appreciation party for a local neighborhood.  yeah, i'm busy.  oh yeah, i have an interview for a part time job somewhere in there too.

someone come clean my room before andy and kristin get here...

Dogs

Dogs.  I don't care for them.  You know who I care less for?  Dog owners.

On Sunday, a dog was shot at the festival I was working at.  Piecing together stories, including some from eye witnesses, a foster parent of an abused pit bull was walking the dog down the street...WITHOUT A LEASH.  Huge crowd, dogs everywhere, children.  And you want to bring your abused pit in here without a muzzle, much less a leash?  It attacked a smaller dog.  It may or may not have turned on the cop.  The dog is dead now, and it's the foster owners fault.

On a lighter note.  I don't even have grass in front of my apartment to be protective of.  But I walk past grassy lawns with nice signs saying, "No pets".  I.e., don't let your pet defecate and urinate on our grass.  At least twice a week I see someone letting their dog do their business within 3 feet of these signs.  And often, it's a tenant of the apartment building!  I realize there are not so many places to toilet your dog in the city.  So how 'bout you don't get a dog?  How 'bout you get a fish, a cat, a lizard, a bird.  All manor of pets that are suitable for a concrete jungle.  Or how 'bout you do a good self examination before getting this animal.  Will you take the time to walk it the blocks and blocks needed to A) find a suitable toileting place. and B) give it the necessary exercise it needs?  It's an animal!

With that said, here's a neat dog park:

Pooch Park

and a silly cat town

Don't lock yourself out on Rosh Hashanah

I have nothing to say. :(

My job is boring. But easy.

My apartment is falling apart. But easy...to get to the metro.

Here's a funny story:

I locked myself out of my apartment. There is a separate lock on my bedroom...well there was. I locked my keys in my bedroom. From work, I emailed the landlord...a landlord. He gave me the number of another landlord who tried to jimmy the lock with no success. I called a locksmith. I made an appointment for 6pm.

I left work to stop by my roommates work to get a key to the front door. En route I received a phone call from the locksmith, CANCELLING. Why? Because it was a Jewish holiday. And in her words, "98% of locksmiths are jewish". Apparently she was unaware of this when I called her at 3pm.

So I called another company...which turned out to be a front for the first company. So I tried another one. He said they didn't do houses, so gave me another number. I asked if this person was Jewish. He said, "No, he's black". I'm sure there are black Jews. In fact, I think this guy was one. Because I called 3 times, and left 3 messages, and got no response.

So I go home, and try to open the door with my grocery card. No workie. I'm prepared now to sleep in the hallway, but I go downstairs to ask my neighbors if they know any locksmiths.

SIDEBAR: my neighbor is a barber shop called Spott's. "Spott" is actually Lloyd, and Lloyd has two wonky eyes. He is the nicest guy on the planet, but I'm not sure I trust his hair cutting skills. There is another guy that works there who always yells, "Hey neighbor!!" when I come home. They are outside 75% of the time.

So they are outside, and they say they don't know anybody and just then a guy walks out from another house and they yell, "Salmon! You know a locksmith?!" "Salmon" walks over and says no, but Lloyd's not gonna let him go that easy. Lloyd convinces him to try to get it open for me. So after trying to climb the back wall, and beating and prying, my door is now open...and there is a huge hole in my door jam...

And "Salmon"'s name is actually Sammer. We also cleared that up.