non-commute nonplus

over the last 6 or 8 months the idea has solidified in my head that living in the suburbs is only any good if you live there and vice verse. i live in the city, where i tend to find myself more happy. i dont have to go more than a mile to find most things that i need on a day to day, week to week basis. but my happy home in in Bloomingdale in central DC is not convenient to my job in Fairfax near the Dunn Loring metro.

possible commute reducing/ending options include moving to be close to the job, but then theres my distaste for the burbs and that coffee shops, bars, concerts are at my doorstep. so the next option is get a job closer to home. thats a big ole can of worms. i like my company. i like what i do for the most part. i dont want to start over again in a new field, so my options arent all that great. one, because construction companies usually own their headquarters in cheaper areas(burbs) to lower overhead, and two, because i am in the stage where im not a trainee, but i dont have all the tools i would need to step into a new company without much training. three, i dont have the credentials to get a cushy consultant job because of the limited experience ive had.

so i think im stuck. riding metro might be better for the environment etc., but it also takes twice as long as driving. meanwhile, my company is building us a new home. a brand new building thats going to be quite nice, though still rather distant from my home. and in this time of woe, i still have a good job. all this when i am thinking that decentralized office would benfit workers and the company. for one like myself who lives in the city and has most job sites there, i would spend a lot less time on the road if my office was there as well. and for those who live in the burbs and have jobs there, well, they can have their suburban outpost.

in the construction industry working 100% from home is not really an option. but working out of a few satellite offices would work. sure it separates various employees from each other, and maybe requires more than one receptionist, but really, one person can answer phones remotely. maybe im being too idealistic, but what is the detriment of having 10, 20, 50 people at a handful of locations rather than having 300 all together? especially when half of our staff are field employees who work from various job sites. alas, thats not the state of affairs today, and i dont have a solution to offer up. i could ask to work from home, but i dont think thats a good idea as ill just look like a lazy bastard and at home i probably would be.

i guess i just grin and bear it and hope one day to live a par five from work. and be happy i have satellite radio and an extensive music collection and NPR.

hey, dc, sign this

so WMATA thinks theyre better than google. all they have to do is provide their schedules in a google friendly format so that when you get directions on google, you can choose a 'get there by transit' option. among those participating are NYC's subways and commuter trains, and, well, pretty much every major system.

well GGW, an all around great blog, put this petition together. you should sign it and tell your friends to as well. especially if you live near here.

like a smokey bar and PBR

thats how well Kevin Divine and Manchester Orchestra go together.

Friday night i trekked down to Richmond's Canal Club to see Manchester Orchestra, who i have admired for about two years now. the club was great in ambiance and size, in a small old warehouse under the freeway, but was smokey like Detroit bars. DC's smoking band has spoiled me. Kevin Divine played as well, making the trip a must. i was giddy on my way to Fredricksburg to meet up with my accomplices.

we arrived in Richmond at 8:30 or so, half an hour after the doors were to open and Dead Confederate were in the middle of their set. i was a bit surprised as i thought another band was playing first. oh well, we still caught 6 or so of their tunes. i have to say that i did like them. i was only familiar with a couple tracks going in, and i think its safe to say ill be getting to know those guys better. since i know you rely on me for timely and accurate reviews of bands and why or why not to listen to them, i will tell you that they sound like Skynard crossed with Trail of Dead. in a good way. its southern rock like Skynard brought up to date with punk and melodic hardcore all really brought together by one helluva drummer.

Kevin Divine is a guy i think i should be more into. i have not heard anything that i have disliked, but moreover, i really like a lot of what i have heard. and no one has made a name for themselves by being adequate. hes definitely more than adequate. hes quite good. and maybe its because of the soulful way he presents most songs, and maybe its the couple whiskey drinks i had imbibed at this point, but his set more struck me based on the overall feeling rather than just the songs and lyrics. the visuals became as important as the sounds. standing to one side of the stage, watching him sing his songs with the stage lights behind him, silhouetting him with a colorful glow. his hair and beard, both just short enough not to be a liability in a fight, glowed with the green stage lights as he sang about the world he saw. anyway, despite my lack of description of the musical aspect, it was quite good. the music and booze lulled me into a kind of stupor in which i was observing minutia like the moon through the skylight and the green glow around Mr Divine. but it was, trust me, a good show. if you like Conor Oberst or Brendan Benson, youd like Kevin Divine.

by the time Andy Hull and company took the stage i had a nice buzz going but had managed to shake off the stupor i had during Kevin's set. they started by playing a number of songs from their upcoming album, which i am happy to report is coming out early in the spring time. i enjoyed the songs quite a bit, thought, if you are familiar with early, more rough Manchester, it took on that feel a bit. im unsure as to why, but they lacked the more polished sound of 'Like a Virgin Losing a Child.' i do have a history of finding myself disliking band who cannot live up to their recordings live. but Manchester doesnt fall into that category. the energy more than makes up for the rough aspect, and the older songs from Virgin were great and had the raw edges that make their songs so powerful. Golden Ticket was pretty much amazing to witness live.

in the end Andy and company put on an excellent show that made me marvel again that the kid is barely old enough to drink. the highlights came toward the end of the show as Andy sand solo a song for 50cent. it went something like 'its been two weeks since you gave me your numbers and after 17 calls im still waiting for you to call back.' i love an artist who can make fun of himself and others. it was hilarious. then during the encore, Kevin came back on stage for a rendition of the theme for the Fresh Prince. again, it was rather funny and awesome, and strangely beautiful.

i cant wait to get my hands on MO's new LP and collecting some of KD's various records. it was definitely worth driving 2 hours from DC and 13$ for the show, but guys, next time would it kill you to stop in DC? had it not been Friday, this show might not have happened. and i am oh so glad it did.

virginia is for suckers.

diclaimer: the folowing is chock full of hate and profanity. youve been warned.

its the day after thanksgiving. i just got a call from a collection agency. the lovely county of fairfax virginia wants $300 because i was unfortunate enough to call that dump of a suburb home for 6 months. six months of 2007. this was well over a year ago. and the only reason those ass clowns know i lived there at all is because arlington county, of the same bullshit state, ratted me out.

tax time last year, early spring, i was fortumate enough to move out of that particularly boring part of the south and into another particularly boring part of the south. also at this time, arlington came after me for unpaid personal property taxes on my truck. above all else, this has got to be the biggest racket in taxes i can think of. you pay income tax on your money that you make, then you pay sales tax on the car you buy, then the the fucking capitol of goddamned gridlock decides to charge personal property tax on your vehicle so that they can not plow the roads when it snows.

anyway, i fought with arlington and was able to prove that i left that county and only owed half of what they claimed. and im sure that those bastards sent that lease copy on to the ass clowns in faifax so that they could try and get their cut. but these fucktards arent smart enought to pick up a goddamned phone for more than a year. i moved out of that hell hole late last summer. i moved again since then, so evidently the snail mail theyve been tying to send me has gone to pevious addresses unanswered. lets see, try to get the money in a couple of letters and that didnt work. the next logical for a local government drone is to get someone else to do your work for you. a collection agency for 300 fucking dollars. you have got to be kidding me.

so this guy at the collection agency calls me. the day after thanksgiving he calls me. of course he cant fucking help me. ive got to call the black hole of time that is any given government office. no suprises here, theyre closed in observance of the holiday. i know from previous experience with arlington that this is going to take at least ten phone calls and probably as many faxes to prove that i dont live in thei shitty suburb and will no longer be paying them taxes and it will be terrifically difficult for me not to yell 'die in a fire!' into the phone while trying to minimize the damage to my bank account. because the holidays are the ight time to sick a fucking collection agency on anyone because youre too goddamned stupid and/or lazy to do your own job. all it took is a phone call. and since this collection agency is involved, fairfax might see a third of the money. my head feels like it will explode with the combination of bewildering laziness and stupidity in the part of fairfax va and the rage that all of this bings up in me.

fuck you virginia. fuck arlington and fairfax. someone please shoot me in th face if i ever move back to that state or, god forbid, those counties. but im sure the rampant MS-13 activity in those lovely burbs will be happy to provide that service.

never live in viginia. ever. just dont fucking do it.

doesnt follow directions

i just heard that Dan Auerbach is releasing a solo album called "keep it hid." being a fan of his well known work in the Black Keys, he has gone into his studio to make his first solo record. i imagine that this effort will be more wide reaching than the Keys' primarily blues rock style.

if you look back to my previous post on the Black Keys you will see that i was really impressed by the guy. he seems to have been born for making music. i hope he follows through on this threat: "This record is a mixture of things I like to listen to, psychedelia, soul music, country harmonies." it may sound odd, but i think its really going to be something. ill keep you all posted on this as the story develops. the record is supposed to drop February 10th, but you can bet ill be working the back channels for a preview... or pre-listen.

oh, and he's going to be touring with Hacienda, who i was turned on to by MOKB. check the link. the tour starts up in DC(me first) at the end of February. dont miss this one.

snow!

back in Detroit they call it an Alberta Clipper. its not a hair style or stylist. its a cold and dry blast of air coming out of the Canadian arctic that tends to drop temperatures significantly and frequently dump snow. the snow up north comes from the great lakes, which at this time of year are warmer than the air, so that this dry air picks up moisture, then cools again over land and the moisture falls as snow.

that little science lesson explains the chill here in the mid-atlantic. Canada is exporting its cold air to us. the snow flurries in the air that have us all excited, im not sure where that moisture came from. perhaps leftovers from the snow that fell in Detroit and Cleveland. anyway, for a boy missing the midwest the chill and flurries are a bit heart warming. reminds me of the homeland.

its times like this i start looking at the farmers almanac to see if perhaps its in the tea leaves for a good ski season. i hope so. it would be nice to get out on the slopes without having to get on a plane. im crossing my fingers for a snowy winter. at home, that means a bit warmer than normal as warmer air can bing more moisture and snow. here, that may mean a colder winter, but im from Detroit, i grew up with snow as a normality, life goes on. and if the roads are covered in a foot of snow, then its time to go sledding. who's with me?

photos

i added a photo over to your right that links to my flickr page. i got some nifty photos over tha last week and it reminded me that i like taking photos. some will surely appear here, but more will over there. ive got this idea of incorporating photos with some words, but im still working it all out in my head. anyway, check em out!

The Coup

im hyping hype here, but its not like hyping hype over Radiohead. what i am hyping is The Coup. they are one of those hip hop duos that should be more popular than they are. they are very smart and politically charged and not afraid to be very un-PC and ruffle some feathers. the released and album called steal this album. they also have a song called babyletshaveababybeforebushdosomethincrazy.asd

anyway, my old kentucky blog played my favorite mutiny on their blog radio session yesterday. its a good jam featuring Talib Kweli, but my favorite happens to be ass breath killers followed closely by laugh/love/fuck. check em out. Boots Riley and the Fucnkstress make some good tunes.

oberst in retrospect

ive been a mild fan of Bright Eyes for a few years... i guess like half a decade now. Conor Oberst is an incredible if emo songwriter. being one who has a dorkish love of language, im amazed by the way he says things. he is a true wordsmith. he follows a poetic tradition in saying volumes in a few simple lines. he can make you mind run for hours with lines like 'the whole loves you if youre a chic chameleon.'

so monday night, finally having the chance to see him live, i was admittedly a bit giddy. he had rolled through on tours before under the Bright Eyes name, but i either couldnt make it or was too poor to afford it. but this time it was Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band in a small venue with affordable tickets. and he didnt disapoint. but, first, lets give the opening acts their due.

first came Rig-1, this wierd hip hop group. but it was an emcee, a guy with a guitar that he played maybe six notes on and primarily pushed play on the computer supplying the beats, and a bassist. i enjoyed the first few songs, and the emcee's delivery was good, but i was really distracted by the guitar non-player. and as the set went on, it all blended together. all in all, not a bad act, but rather monotonous. they would do better to get a guitar player and a dj and brach out beyond the Garage Band beats.

next came The Felice Brothers. holy wow, they are good. you just cant mess with well executed home grown music, no matter the genre. these guys worked it out with the usual guitar, drums, bass combo, but threw in an accordian and a fiddle for good measure and a washboard in a couple of songs to bring home the flok factor. i am still unsure as to how to classify these guys. some songs were super folky, others were stright up rock with the addition of the accordian. anyway, it was hard not to get moving. they were so genuine, so real, and so good, that even the most uptight of hipsters(who tend to populate the d.c. music scene) were scene tapping their toes. and people like me, who forget to be self concious when the music is playing were bouncing off their neighbors and apppologizing during the breaks between songs.

and finaly Conor and the MVB came on. it was everything i could have hoped for. but i would like to start by remarking on how much of a rock star Conor is. i had assumed that he would be the type to shy away from the spotlight, stand back, and sing his songs. but to the contrary, he was front and center, with his hop-step swagger. he jumped up on the drum riser, at times i thought he might try to climb the drums. he didnt have the swagger of Jack White or Augie, but he carried the show like they might, all the while sharing the spotlight with his band mates and allowing them to shine.

as for the set, it was good, but i had hoped to hear some Bright Eyes tunes. i was not surprised that they didnt play any, but a bit disapointed. i really would have loved to have heard 'something vague' and 'well whiskey.' at any rate, the set came together really nicely. when he played 'cape canaveral' i got goosebumps all over. it was really moving. and really good. the execution of the show was pretty flawless, which is not really surprising since they guy has been at it since he was in middle school.

i think 'sausalito' and 'moab' are probably the most catchy songs on his most recent release, and they definitely got the crowd going. and being song i enjoy, got me forgetting to take pictures as i had wanted. but i did catch a few, which i hope to post over the weekend. but my favorite song on the album was also my favorite of the show: 'i dont wan to die (in the hospital).' i just love the dark subject with the uptempo rock feel of the song. and it hits home for me, because i spent 10 days in the hospital once and at times thought i might not see the outside world again. i dont want to die in the hospital. as performers do, he mixed up the song a bit. here is a point of contention with me. Conor pulled it off flawlessly, as have the Raconteurs, Okkervil River, and the Hard Lessons. but it doesnt allways come off so nicely. i once saw Rancid totally destroy an extended version of''ruby soho' which was a bit surprising, because they tend to be a stellar live band. anyway, its a risky move. the fans know and love the album version, so mixing it up can prove to be a disapointment. but if you have the chops to pull it off, it makes that great song even better.

in the end i was really happy with the show. ive heard that at times when Conor isnt feeling it, he puts on a terrible show. he was obviously feeling it as the show was great. he was full of energy and kicked beer bottles and threw a stool out of his way. more of a rock star that i was expecting from the guy who wrote 'make a plan to love me.' i dont think i could have asked for a better performance, perhaps a slightly tweaked set list, but all things considered, it was a great way to spend a dreary monday night in the district and well worth the ticket price.

so Rig-1 was so-so, The Felice Brothers we fantastic, and Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band were on point.

class is in session

well, it was. last Thursday to be exact. thats when The Hard Lessons came to Iota in Arlington and showed the headliner what rock and roll is all about. im glad to see that they are still performing very well and dont seem worse off after the loss of Christophe (aka The Anvil) behind the drums. im happy that THL seems to still be thriving, but its a bummer to see a cool dude leave the band, especially since he was there since the get go and he was more than eager to talk to me and others after the first show i saw them at and just about every show since.

anyway, its been a year or so since i saw them. i think it was thanksgiving time last year. now with the B & G sides released, they worked more of that music into their set, which is nice. its a little more complex and contemplative than Gasoline. Gasoline was straight up rock, soulful and heartfelt, but not really innovative. i like the the B & G sides from the get go with 'dont shake my tree' and 'see and be scene.' both of those are great rock songs, then the second edition came out and had 'i like your hair long,' which is a beautiful, sentimental song. what i'm saying is that the band grew, expanded their range, while keeping the soul and the sound true to where they began.

also on the third edition of the Sides was the full version of 'come back to me.' this song goes straight back to their roots, and is a crowd favorite where these guys are known, but even here, away from home, there were enough people who know the song and enough enthusiastic rock lovers to get some good participation during this number. and the live version of this song is even better than the recordings. some times i get goosebumps listening to Koko's voice, but every single time i see them live, she gives me chill.

on the final edition, the sound of coming down is great, beautiful, and like a lot of music ive been digging lately, has country and folk influences. like 'classic cars' on Bright Eyes Cassadaga, its a country influenced rock song. i really like this direction. i think it goes back to where rocks roots are in the 50's, when blues and folk music came together to spawn rock and country. if you look back to that era, you have two titans in both halls of fame: Elvis, and Johnny Cash. i dont like country music because of songs like 'she thinks my tractor is sexy.' anyway, bands like THL and the Raconteurs, and Ryan Adams, and Conor Oberst are making great music that picks up where those legends left off. my dad, who just turned 63, was surprisingly enthusiastic about Cassadaga.

i realize now, that i have completely wandered off on a tangent from what i meant to talk about, which was the show on Thursday night. but i think what i have been talking about is important. its proving that there is plenty of great bands and songwriters out there. and they are becoming more of a force and more popular. i didnt always know what this music was like, but i always knew that ricky martin was a piece of shit.

ok, now im going to bring this whole thing together... ready? bands like The Hard Lessons are what music should be: home grown, soulfull, real, and live. live music is what we should focus on. a band's real chance to shine is in live shows. a live show should be a great and better than the record. theres interaction, improvisation, and energy that cant be captured in a studio. go see live bands. check out new artists. support good music. buy tickets and merch and keep these guys out there touring. without our support, these guys cant make the music we love, and without them, you get junk like 'rock n roll jesus.'

fuck.

goddamned technology hates me. its kind of like accidentally CC-ing people by hitting reply all. except that i was sending the original email. and i made the list. its just that fucking constructware decided to insert some other emails in there and replace a few with wrong ones. what all this mean? i look like an ass hole as a bunch of people who were not supposed to even know about this job, now do and are pissed that i wont let them bid on the work. oh, and the bosses are having to deal with these guys calling them after i give them the bad news, because why would you beleive a fuck up like me.

sometimes these confounded machines really piss me off. but dont worry, Excel, i still love you. you'd never do this to me.

the girl aint preggars

i think this is possibly the best what to hype a song ive seen yet. so rather than blather on, just play the game and check out Grampall Jookabox.

listen to me!

if you like rock music, got to Iota in Arlington this Thursday. Detroit favorites, The Hard Lessons will be playing and rocking the socks of all within earshot. seriously, the lost and found will be full of socks with the occasional pair of undies. be there, or be without rock n roll.

one chance im givin to you, so come on! baby, come on!

anarchy in east LA

East Lansing, that is. in my old neighborhood. evidently there was some kind of hubub that resulted in some folks ending up in the hospital and the authorities trying to figure out who is the wrongdoer. this sort of shit happens every day in colleges all over, but i point to a couple things bringing this to a boiling point. first, Sparty lost BIG to OSU earlier in the day. that was a game most expected to be close and possibly determine the Big10 champ. but Sparty fell apart causing me to assault my couch and throw things. second, hockey players were evidently involved. im not saying that they are predisposed to fight, but ive been to a lot of games, and they do stand up for themselves and their teammates. i wouldnt fuck with them. and finally, the local residents were defending my legacy. according to the State News, it all went down at 130 Center st. i used to live at 135 and 140 Center st. so some foolish fool must have come in and bashed me or Steve or Steve's Tavern and the locals, understandably, took offense and felt the need defend our honor.

things could be much worse

much worse. the Cold War Kids were on point in their performance Saturday night. it was everything i hoped for and more. i dont know where to begin with this. i suppose the beginning will do.

AA Bondy opened, and did an excellent job. i had never heard of him, and im not sure how ive been missing out. seeing as i enjoy the songs of Conor Oberst and Ryan Adams and the rock of the Black Keys and the Racontuers, its seems odd that i didnt know about this guy who fits nicely in between. point being, hes good, check him out, and go see hime live too, because like many bands ive posted about, the live show trumps the recordings, as it should be.

and in that same tradition, CWK rocked my socks off. as i walked to a nearby bar to have a few pre-show drinks, through the insanity of Howard University's homecoming, the night seemed to have a full moon feel. people were excited, something was happening. for me that something took the form of kick ass high energy rock show. you know, the kind i like.

so i started watching the show on the balcony, having a pretty damn good view, and this was nice a for the first few jams. then the spirit began to move me. i need to move in response. so i told my compatriot 'im moving down to the floor, i need to rock out!' so he followed. i pushed through the crowd(sorry if i stepped on your foot), trying to locate a place move and dance and get down, but alas, i could not find any like minded folks. i found this odd. how is it that a sellout crowd, and a high energy rock band doesnt move your feet. why dont people dance? i mean, im a silly arhytmic skinny white guy, but its not how well you dance, its how the music moves you.

anyway, i did my thing, and i once again apologize to anyone i may have annoyed in the process. i just dont see how not to move. this is not to say that the crowd wasnt into it, they were. there were many hands in the air and voices singing along. and here is where i disagree with MOKB's ten commandmants of concerts: i think you should shake that ass, assuming its not on someone elses feet or involves throwing elbows, and i think you should sing along if the spirit so moves you. we all know these clubs are plenty loud enough to drown out the tone deaf. plus, isnt it fucking cool to hear a couple thousand people belting out 'we used to vacation?' i think it is.

and the boys did a great job playing old favs from Robbers and Cowards while mixing in new goodies from Loyalty to Loyalty. We Used to Vacation was sick. St John was pretty fucking sweet too, with its syncopation and whatnot. i really cant cite any problems with the show, other than that it ended. i am so happy i was able to go and that they played on a Saturday. weekend shows are the best, as i dont have to come to work the next day on like 3 hours of sleep nursing a hangover.

so in the end, we have another amazing show, and no wonder it was a sell out. if you havent already, go see them. you will be a richer person for it and you will have your socks and possibly your undies rocked right off.

homeless

warning: this post is kind of emo.

i feel like i dont have a home anymore. ive been feeling kind of lost and lonely the last few days. my instinct was to go home, to Michigan, where i seem to find stable ground. but i am becoming more and more aware that home isnt what it used to be. some many friends have scattered accross the country that last time i was home in July, i ran out of people to visit. its not the same home it once was.

when i first moved out here, visits back were overwhelming. i had so many friends and family to see i barely slept. i was inundated with love. now there are still people who live there and i certainly would have a good time, but it isnt what it once was. friends and family have peeled away to other parts of the country, kind of like me. and i still lack a solid base of friends here. i mean i have my brother and sister in law and the cousins, as i call them, and chris, who are all great, but i think what i miss is being able to go to a party and know everyone. to have bryan call me up and say hes having a party and i could show up and be surrounded with people i know.

that world seems to be gone. i dont know many people, and few very well around here. i threw a party saturday and got too drunk to enjoy it. i dont really know who showed up after like 10pm. i did some car bombs after i had been drinking since 3pm, and the next thing i knew i woke up at like 5 am. i dont know what happened, but evidently i passed out early. i was hoping it would be like the days of old, when i had a house full of friends around. might have been. but i dont know.

and that whole thing with blacking out a bit and waking up not knowing what happened and with a pounding head made me feel rather lonely. i was wishing that i had a girl to take care of me when i acted like and idiot. that would be really comforting. and i would be happy to do the same for her.

so rather than solidifying friendships at my party i made a fool of myself, passed out early, woke up lonely, and find myself feeling like an outsider, wishing i could go home where the world makes sense, and not knowing where that is. so i feel homeless, bumbling around, hoping to find something of comfort, wanting to go somewhere and not knowing where, not feeling like i belong anywhere. im and outsider looking in.

still things could me much worse
natural disasters
on the evening news
i still have my health(more or less)
my paycheck in the mail.

so ill look on the bright side. im going to see the cold war kids next saturday, the hard lessons the following week, a halloween party after that, then up to NYC to see laura, one of my oldest and best friends. you know, i probably shouldnt complain. something seems missing, as trite as it sounds.

quasi melancholy ruminations

im older than i was last week. not that this is anything unusual, time marches on, but the day passed when i add to the tally another year ive been bumbling around this planet. this birthday passed more or less like any other day. i think its the first year i can remember when i didnt feel a little bit better than everyone else or a little invincible. that birthday feeling.

other than that, it was a pretty unremarkable day.

having a birthday does kind of make you think about your life. im pretty proud of who i am and what i have done thus far in my life. thinking back over the years, i remember when i was turning 20 or something, thinking 'when im 25 or 26 ill have shit figured out.' now i realize thats never going to happen. you just react the best you can to what life throws your way.

i definitely still dont understand women. i realize that this rant has been covered, but i am talking about me, not them. while i do have a greater understanding, i think that the best i can hope for is to understand a woman. i think thats the trick. find a girl i like and try to understand her. if you can anticipate her idiosyncrasies and expectations and whatnot half the time, i think youll come out ahead. now i just need to find such a girl who happens to live somewhere that i can get to in an hour or less and not do it on a plane.

one thing i do know and learned over the last few years, is that youve got to be you and know and love who that is, otherwise, running around trying to find anyone to love you is doomed to fail. then youve got to find someone you can love and who can love you. three simple steps. easier said than done. you know how to find me if youve got someone to nominate.

DC in retrospect

i moved here two and a half years ago. i definitely felt like an outsider. part of that was living on the wrong side of the Potomac, and part was not having any friends that i wasnt related to. nowadays im living in the district proper in the kind of neighborhood that i think i have always wanted to live in on some level. so life is better now, but looking back, it never was that bad, but it wasnt a dream either.

at this point in time i realize that i have met some really cool people here and that DC can be a cool place. now that i dont live in suburbia, i can walk to good bars, concert venues, and basically dont need a car except for work. its pretty bad ass. i never would have met killer fucking people like Rob and Heidi, a fellow writer and blogger. unfortunately, due to the nature of this town, both have moved on to other opportunities and locales.

now allow me to rant on what still pisses me off about this town...

public transit: its so tantilizingly close to being good, but falls short in a few key ways. first, lack of coverage. there are large swaths of the city that are miles from a metro and the busses that are supposed to fill the gaps are so goddamned unreliable, you never know when or if a bus will come. now i realize that building new tunnels and shit is not only very time and money consuming, but it also costs a lot and takes years, but come on, if you want to calim to have one of the best transit systems around, back that shit up and start building. or at least get some bus routes that function on something like a schedule. catching a bus is like getting a cab, you just have to hope one comes by. and dont even get me started if you need to take public transit somewhere outside the city. the suburbs are a minimum of an hour away and cant even fathom what it would be like to get from Fairfax to College Park, its gotta take a damn day.

voting rights: this is supposed to be the fucking worldwide seat of god damned democracy and im not represented in congress? what kind of ass backwards shit is that? i really dont know what else to say... nearly 600,000 people without a voice. bullshit. and congress has the balls to try to dictate gun laws that affect us, not them, without even a single vote on it. how hard is it? can you even imagine is congress tried to tell Texas what the gun laws there were going to be? it would be a god damned nightmare. its complete bullshit.

traffic: seriously, fix public transit! i dont want to drive, but it takes too damn long to get where im going. i dont want to be on the road with all sorts of diplomat plates. they dont give a shit, theyve got immunity. not to mention that if theres weather, it takes twice as long to get anywhere. its like water causes retardation around here. forget about getting anywhere if its snowing. you might as well stay home and beat your car with a sledge hammer.

suburban jobs: my office is in Fairfax. fucking why? all our job sites are in the city, why cant our office be? i waste so much time and gas getting to and from work. if we were anywhere in DC, it would cut costs of commuting so much. unless you live in Leesburg or Stafford, but you have to be a special type of stupid and a bit masochistic for that. i like punishing myself with hangovers, not driving in traffic to a cookie cutter house in a land of strip malls.

the nationals: they suck. hard.

no one is from here: or fucking stays here. it seems like i meet some cool people, then they move. this town is full of transients. i mean i guess its okay, but it would be nice to have some constants.

but i do like the dive bars near me. and rock creek park.

2 years ago i would give this town a score of 2 out of 10. now, its more like a 6 or so. better than worse, but i wouldnt take you home without a serious set of beer goggles. and no, youre not meeting my family. youd be fucking lucky to meet my friends. get some exercise, get a hair cut, and a get a ride, you scrubby skank, and wash yourself off, then we will talk. you make me yearn for Detroit, for fuck sake, at least that town has a personality....

i dont even know what to say

I've been reading 'the Fool's Progress' by Edward Abbey the last few weeks. I liked it right from the beginning, which is hardly a surprise, as I've read a few books by him and enjoyed them all. What is kind of surprising is how much i like it and identify with it. Its just amazing in how beautiful, ugly, high, low and ultimately how real it is. i now have a favorite book. a more in depth review will follow once i finish it in a few days or a week.

fuck change.

thanks, Wondermark.

just think

i was on the bus the other day, and because its a pretty short ride, i didnt have a book or ipod or anything. i was people watching. the bus on my side of town is an interesting ride. im generally the only white dude on the bus, and many folks have cars and dont use the bus just because of the status thing. anyway, i hear a couple of ladies talking and one says that she was working for the Nats, but after the season she'll go on unemployment for a 'little bit,' but she'll get restless soon and go back to work. its an interesting point of view.

when i got laid off, people told me to get on unemployment. i thought about it. but i found a new job in 3 weeks. and this lady knew she had a seasonal job. its a whole different state of mind.

then this homeless guy got on the bus toting an old luggage bag and some heavy duty boots. probably everything the man could call his own. as he settled into the seat across from me, and brushed aside his greasy hair i noticed something: a wedding band. this guy who hasnt showered in at least a week, wearing dirty threadbare clothes, carrying his life with him in an improvised back pack, was still wearing a wedding band. a hold over and reminder of a previous life.

think of the cash he could get for it. a simple gold band could fetch $200 pretty easily at a pawn shop. and $200 for a homeless guy is a pretty hefty amount of money. i mean it is for me. something keeps him from doing it. the symbolic value is too great for him. despite living in the basement of American society, he clings to the symbol of love. who knows, maybe he sees his wife. it made me stop and think and really be thankful for who i am and what i have. and it made me realize that i have it pretty good. it also made me realize that i cant ever afford to end up there. i cant afford to be poor. my health has made that a non-option. so as much as an Edward Abbey hero's existence appeals to me, i dont think i can ever pull it off. even so, im pretty lucky to have what i do and be who i am.

damnit.

fleet foxes ans ratatat sold out already. i didnt even know tickets wee on sale yet. this makes me very sad as people are already offering 50$ for 13$ tickets on craigslist. buy me one for my birthday?

sad face.

im getting a bit giddy.

the next two months have large musical promise. i am going to be seeing Ratatat, Fleet Foxes, Cold War Kids, Conor Oberst and whatever other shows pop up. but really, the four names mentioned above all kind of make me horny.

im not real sure what to expect from Ratatat since their sound is more atmospheric to me. what i mean is that its great stuff to have on in the car, in the background when friends are over, or when reading, but i dont know how it will hold up as the main event. there are times when ill put them on and just listen, but it lacks the rock star aspect which may make it fall short. of course im hoping to be pleasantly surprised and have the show be totally sweet, and ill be sure to report back.

Fleet Foxes are probably my favorite band of right now. i heard them on Sirius' Left of Center, and thought it was pretty good. i had hear White Winter Hymnal, and enjoyed it, and thought i should delve deeper into them, and i am so glad that i did. the harmonies and song structure blow me away. ill be super impressed if their live show comes off as well as their recordings, seeing as the dont have rock power to fall back on as the Black Keys or Hard Lessons do. theyve just got what seems to be considerable talent, which should be enough. and please check em out, the song Ragged Wood off their self titled album is my favorite. having drawn comparisons to Band of Horses, Blitzen Trapper, and the Beach Boys, theyve got a lot to live up to and im excited to see them do it.

Cold War Kids have been a favorite of mine since i got my hands on Robbers and Cowards last year. Hang Me Up To Dry is still a fovorite somg of mine and We Used to Vacation is great, though i have not been super impressed by the singles from their sophmore release. No Sex For Ben is really trite. it seems like they were just trying to make a song, and not really putting all the work into it that they did with Robbers. i mean, the depth just isnt there. maybe the singles arent that good and when i get my hands on Loyalty to Loyalty, ill be more impressed. i hope so. at the same time that i have worries that their song writing has gone down hill, i am still certain that the force and feeling that comes through on tracks like We Used To Vacation will come out even more live and in preson.

Conor Oberst is Conor Oberst. 'nuf said. after a lifetime worth of work with Bright Eyes he has released a solo album, which strikes me as a bit odd, but thats another discussion altogether. i have been a fan through the years with certain songs really connecting to me (Well Whiskey, the Blue Song, Something Vague...........). but its widely recognized that Conor is one of the foremost songwriters and performers of our day with comparisons to Bob Dylan becoming fairly commonplace, and not undeservedly. i feel like this is a show that i can tell my kids about, like how i sit in awe when my father tells me about seeing the MC5(at the Grande Ballroom!!!) and Cream. anyway, if he is half as good as i think he is, ill still probably have some sort of breakdown right there. and it will be great.

EEEEEE! so much to look forward tooooo!

hobbled by irony

one of my company's safety inspectors just limped by, dragging a boot that typically results from an ankle injury. the poor fella seems to be a victim of irony.

oops!

i had a couple of close calls on the way home. first i was coming up 20th street and was in the right lane avoiding a FedEx truck blocking the far left lane and the center lane slow down that resulted. so im in the right lane where it meets up with Pennsylvania which is NOT a designated turn lane and as i accelerate after waiting for the couple cars in front of me the tour bus in the center lane starts coming into my lane as im about even with the door. so at this point i have to turn right into the wrong side of one of the busier downtown streets or gun it and try to get around the bus. i went with the second option. and in the process scared the wits out of some guy on the curb trying to catch a cab or something. he jumped out of the way as i dove back in front of the bus. sorry guy. i hope you didnt have a heart attack.

later in the drive, nearly home, coming up first street at Florida i almost got flattened by and ambulance. i didnt see or hear it and as i came up to the intersection the guy waiting to turn left made some wacky gestures at me, so i was looking for ward and left. the ambulance was coming from the right. oh, and i had a green, lets set that straight. anyway i did have the radio on, but not super loud, i mean i stopped for a fire truck about 10 blocks earlier. so anyway, i get into the intersection, then hear the siren. so i kept going to get out of the way and as soon as i glance in my mirror, the ambulance passes behind me. again, sorry, didnt meant to cut you off. and to the traffic gods, im glad i got home unharmed, but im okay with uneventful drives home.

i did open up a space in traffic for a cyclist to pass going down L street. i swear im not trying to be a dick. it just comes naturally.

near the confluence of Georgia and Florida

theres this local bar, its one of my favorites. its become my neighborhood hangout. nothing to do, head to the lounge. the barman makes sure i leave happy if the rest of the company disappoints, but it usually doesnt. ive wanted a place like this ever since i moved away from the Harrison Roadhouse in East Lansing. my bar. home away from home. if only they were open during the day. but theres another favorite 2 blocks away that could fill that void, i suppose.

lets top it off with a good drinking hymn...

Well I fell into prison about a quarter till three
Where I found in my cell a glass waiting for me
So I filled what was empty and I pulled up a stool
But he stood in the corner, the old devil wouldn't move
He said, "You drink when you're lonely."
No I drink when I want!
He said, "You'll never be sober."
Sure, why would I want that?
I only drink to be merry but unfortunately
I'm in the wrong prison cell and the wrong company

Grayskul - Bloody Radio

you may remember a couple weeks back how i raved about Grayskul after seeing them open for Aesop Rock, well i finally got a hold of their most recent disk. i wish i would have done this sooner. im loving it.

to begin lets start with some name dropping comparisons that have come to mind about halfway through, where i am in the album now. one of the duo, im not sure who it is, not only has a style reminiscent of my favorite DefJux rapper, Cage, but has a similar voice. the other fellow is remarkably fast and in this aspect reminds me much of Blackalicious aka Gift of Gab.

its obvious that these guys have been studying the folks on the east coast and have acheived even what some on DefJux havent thanks to their Rhymefest Brethren. its just more polished that Yak or Rob, and the style for me is right on. its no surprise that some of DefJux's best talent has lent their skill to this album. Aesop, Cage, and i think i heard El-P in there too.

ok, im back, 5 songs on, and its stayed awesome. and in the meanwhile ive used the tubes at my fingertips to do a little research. no surprises that their label is the home of some other established rappers that i like, say for instance Atmosphere and MF DOOM.

wow, good stuff. i finished the disc, and im glad i didnt post this too soon, beacuse the next to last song may just be my favorite. The Last Lulliby and Scarecrow stood out to me as my faves, but im going to set the record stright and say that this is going on my ipod immediately and i am heading back to the record store to make them get me their previous album, Deadlivers, and/or solo works.

which brings me to another point, i wonder how good their solo work is. i fear that it might be Black Star type of thing. i dig both Mos Def and Talib Kweli, but together, i heart Black Star. But who knows, maybe Onry Ozzborn and JFK are killer on their own. i dont know, but i intend to find out.

i will be sure to report back with any further findings on Grayskul, but please dont hesitate to support them or any other artisits. especially ones that i endorse, because i know whats best.

Grayskul on myspace
Grayskul on Rhymesayers

the downside of fall

in all my excitement for cooler temperatures, changing leaves, apple orchards, and pumpkins i forgot about the downside of fall. that would be the waning daylight. the last couple days its been real tough to get up because its still dark out. im really against being up before the sun, but we are entering that time of year when the sun rises after i do. it hasnt helped that the weather has been gloomy and rainy the last couple days, either. i still think all the other good stuff will make up for it. especially if i can find a girl who will go on fall type dates with me. c'mon, who doesnt like an apple orchard with the leaves changing and a pretty girl by your side? personally, i love it.

any asshole can put bacon on a burger...

whether youre a fan of somehow infusing meat into everything or not, this is at least entertaining and kind of interesting.

to me, the bacon craze is getting out of control. dont get me wrong, i think bacon is fucking awesome, but lets be reasonable. Wendy's Baconator is a bit much. BLT's are awesome. a breakfast of bacon with side of eggs and potatoes, brilliant. but be wary of too much bacon. not only will it most likely damage your cardiovascular health, but your intestines may protest as well. just ask my brother.(ill spare him internet fame for now. until he pisses me off or says i can post that story.)

the point is, bacon is awesome, but do we really need it in everything. i dont think so. still, like many meat fans, i cant help but be tempted to infuse some booze...

too soon

im probably jinxing it, but fall is coming! i was talking to my mother on the phone yesterday, and as is the case at this time of year in northern michigan, the leaves are beginning to change. then this morning its all cloudy and cool and reminds me of the beginning of fall up north. im guess any southerners reading this (do any...?) think im nuts. but i dont care what southerners think. i love fall! its all cool outside and you get to wear sweatshirts and pants and not be a sweaty mofo all the damn time! i cant wait. granted, its still August and last year i had my AC running into October. but its out there i cant freakin wait!

weekend recap

this weekend has been another flurry of activity. quite a good time.

it started about noon on Friday when the bosses took us peons out to their country club for a 'team building' outing. it struck me as a bit a of a ploy. it also struck me as kind of awkward ahead of time. it wasnt, other than the degree to which the staff wanted to do everything for you, just shy of toweling you off after you get out of the shower. im a big boy, i can take care of myself.

but it wasnt awkward other than the over the top service, which is what you pay for at a country club i suppose. to have that kind of money... thats a whole other world. anyway, the golf was fun. i had a number a of good shots, and a number of bad shots. ive determined that shooting like Tiger Woods isnt that hard. doing it consistently is. and then recovering without losing strokes when you fuck up is what separates he from me. but a gorgeous day outside and free flowing beers made it an enjoyable afternoon. the fillet and drinks at dinner certainly didnt hurt either.

i got home around 9:30 and called the local family. theyre all out celebrating. so what to do but join in? i change into something more comfortable and hop on my bike to meet them downtown. we go to a half dead bar and leave shortly there after to a crazy 'irish' bar that liked to play bon jovi and journey. the only item of note there was walking up to the bar, and while trying to get the barman's attention, these two girls keep staring at me. so im all touching my face to make sure that i dont have some crap on my face or my hair is all crazy. then im thinking that i have a sunburn from all the sun during the day. finally i order my drink and turn toward them as the barman walks away and look there way as if to say 'if youve got something to say, say it.' seeing this they do. they introduce themselves and the one closer to me says 'we think youre really cute.' im taken aback thinking that i look like a tomato with hair, but attempt some small talk. moments later they look at each other, nod, and one says 'okay, bye, were leaving.' it was all very random. but then drunk people are sometimes. and at any rate, i was happy to have some pretty good looking girls tell me such things.

somewhere during the second bar, Anne(the other youngest sibling) and i end up staying out past the other kids. were trying to figure out how to get back to my place since she doesnt have keys to her sister's and the metro is closed. and to make it more complicated, i rode my bike. so i ask a couple of cabbies if i can put my bike in the trunk, but they dont like that idea. its not like cabs ever have nice paint anyway... so we decide to see if Anne can sit on my rack and balance. this may have been an alcohol fueled decision, but it works for a few blocks til we hit a red light. then when i start pedaling again, were wobbling all over the place and suddenly the load gets lighter. Anne is on the ground laughing. 'well, it cant be that bad if shes laughing... and has all her teeth.' i think. we walked the rest of the way home. about two miles. so its 3am, ive been up since 6am and out playing golf, drinking, eating, more drinking, and walking 2 miles home. im surprised i got my shoes off before i crashed i was so spent.

9am comes along on saturday and its beach day as proclaimed by my brother. at least the walk home burned off a good measure of the booze and didnt have much of a hang over. Anne and i are off to meet up with Tim and Sarah, with the obligatory coffee shop stop on the way. we arrive at the beach, which is uneventful aside from a jellyfish sting(minor, no pee necessary). after sitting in the sun all day we pack up head back, deciding that we need to make a Chik-Fil-A stop. turns out the one on the way home is at a mall outside Annapolis. there are sailors all over the place. weird. i feel like if i was a sailor on leave, i wouldnt go to the mall. but, i generally wouldnt go to the mall. but i had to have my first chik-fil-a. on the way home Sarah asks how my chik-fil-a experience was. 'it was awesome. i got my chik-fil-a cherry popped and there was seamen everywhere.' i couldnt resist making one more seamen joke. who could? i could have made much worse jokes like 'did you see that girl holding some seaman in her hand?' but i didnt, because i a class act, ok? we were pooped when we got home and watched some youtube randomness and a movie and went to bed.

yesterday i did chores. but my place looks real nice. i might even let girls that arent somehow family in there. if they dont leave after hitting on me. fucking weird.

how alive? too alive.

last night was pretty kick ass. i went to see Aesop Rock. i went knowing that Aesop is great, that i like Rob Sonic and the rest, generally from DefJux, are at least decent.

i was very impressed by the first act, Greyskul. they were way too good to be an opening act. in my opinion. but evidently my opinion doesnt translate into mainstream popularity, except in a few isolated instances. but i digress, if you dig DefJux and underground hip hop stuff, even Talib Kweli and Mos Def, youd probably enjoy. they were real good.

up next was Yak Ballz. not my favorite, but consistent and good. he put on a good set. like i said, im kind of indifferent, but dont interpret this as a bad review, because i would rather listen to Yak Ballz than Kanye any time. but then, that goes for just about anything except for techno-polka, which i just made up.

finally Aesop and Rob came out. first, i must comment on Rob. hes a big fucking dude. think like a 6-4 white guy with a sloppy white guy fro who weighs at least 300lbs. but also think of a guy who is called Rob Sonic who can rap as fast as just about anyone. he seems to be little recognized, and ill concede that compared to others at DefJux like Cage and Aesop his subject matter is a bit trite. but thats the only way i can knock him.

Aesop is consistently awesome. i really enjoy his style and his shows, but his style is hard for me. its weird for me. i was thinking about this last night. his style is more like a cycle. the rhythm in his raps comes around like a hissing flat. its rhythmic as it spins, and theres no real stopping point. i feel like a lot of people, singers included, use more of a common ending point to their phrasing, rather than the cyclical style. think waves, rather than a cycle. as the waves roll up on the beach, on ends, then the next comes in and ends at more or less the same spot. i dont know if any of this makes any sense to anyone but me, but it does to me. its kind of like the different rhythms of different languages.

anyway, it was a great use of 20 bucks. i would highly recommend the whole group, with Greyskul getting the best review for coming out of nowhere and rocking my socks off.

close friends

i miss the friends of childhood. not the specific people, really, the the ease and convenience of it. when i was a kid i had like five friends within a couple blocks and a dozen without crossing a 'main road.' those were the days. now it seems like i am lucky as hell to know a few people on my block and have a friend within a 20 minute drive.

my current neighbor hood has made steps in that direction. a friend i had kind of lost track of over the last year lives a few blocks away. so thats nice. i have someone nearby to sit on porches with. also, the neighbors are cool. i end up hanging out with Lawrence across the street for a few minutes at least twice a week. its nice to have cool neighbors. and the roommates a pretty cool to. we sat around BSing last night. the point is its nice to be able to hang out with cool people and not have to drive across town.

helping out

i found out on friday that a bunch of folks i work with were going to be doing this 'buff and scrub' program with DC schools. the idea is that companies and individuals donate time and materials to make DC's schools all nice and clean and all that jazz so when the kids come back its nice for them.

im really glad that i was free, because for some reason i tend to get left off of lists that people send around the office, and i could make it. i ended up sort of helping to lead the effort. early on i was weeding the playground with some others and sort of telling them where to do it and then later i was paint foreman, trying to make unmotivated adults and unfocussed kids paint a few benches and stuff outside. in between there was a little landscaping and after lunch i was spotter as we added a couple of missing letters to the sign. i am happy that i helped and that i could help. i want to do more of these type things.

it was nice for two reasons. it felt good to help out the school and ultimately the kids, and it been a long time since ive been outside working and stuff, and it was a nice change from talking about work on the phone and through email. i like getting dirty once in a while.

afterward i went to a bar with a couple of other folks who stayed late and had a few beers, which turned out to be a lot of fun. then i went to ikea and bought a couch to take the place of my roommate who left last week. now i just need to get a tv, but thats going to cost more than the couch, tables, dining table and chairs i bought this weekend. i feel like such a consumer, but so nice to have that stuff, rather than having to improvise.

yup

thanks, indexed.

its been a while

my apologies. its been busy at work and not only have i not had time at work to goof around on the internet and espouse my various and sundry view points on the clock, but ive been spent and lacking in motivation to do anything aside from sleep.

that being said, i have continued to have opinions and find things interesting. as my world rounds out from its pear shape i will pick up where i left off.

Bright Eyes
so, over the last couple of weeks i have to give mad props to Conor Oburst for, in large part, preserving my sanity. ive been listening to Cassadaga a lot over the last few weeks and i love it more every time. and as time goes on, different songs stick out as the best. the Breakman immediately stuck me. its a great song and i feel like weve all been there at some point. more recently Classic Cars has been speaking to me. ive heard conflicting tales on who the song is about, but whoever it is has one beautiful song as a trubute. plus, Conor is ever the wordsmith with things like 'never trust a heart so bent it cant break' and 'the sky is torn up denim, and the clouds spattered paint.' that whole song is brilliant.

Benjamin Black/John Banville
one in the same. the first writes crime mysteries and the later writes crime literature. line in the sand. theyre both good. i just finished Christine Falls by Black and ealier in the summer read The Book of Evidence by Banville. i have to say Evidence was better. it was hard to put down. maybe im reacting differently that the rest, youd think the crime mystery would be more of a page turner, but Christine Falls seemed to get lost a bit from time to time. i think it may delve into too much detail and get distracted from the story. dont mistake, i would recomend both books pretty highly, but the Evidence is up there at the top of my list of favorites. it very much reminded me of Camu's The Stranger(thanks HeiDi). Christine Falls is a fine nove and all the while when i was reading it kept thinking it could pretty easily become a movie. now that im on that, so could Evidence, i remember having that thought during that book too.

now im on to The Fools Progress by Edward Abbey who i read a lot in college. im about 50 pages in and loving it. his writing style and view of the world just get me. i may have picked up some of both from his books.

Kwame
seriously? why did they let him out of jail? Detroit, i love you, but what the fuck are you doing? why does this many have any power left, much less respect? hes a lia-fucking-bility. dump his ass and move on.

when i grow up...

cawfey tawlk

in response to all this crazy hubbub about some caffeinated beverage, my local coffee shop wrote on their board the following this morning.

'you can order whatever you want from us on ice. we wont punch you anywhere unless you ask us to.'

yet another reason to like my local coffee shop, and wonder why people get so worked up- too much caffeine? however, i am probably more inclined to visit murky coffee after this, there arent many places like murky or BBC that do a really good job with coffee. its kinda like the soup nazi, if you want the good stuff, you play by their rules. and in this case its totally worth it for some great coffee.

...

ive seen these double decker buses cruising through DC for a while. i remember seeing one on K st after coming out of an underpass and wondering how it is those things get under bridges and whatnot without killing or maiming anyone who stands up.

well, my fears have come true. i didnt think signs and warning would be enough. especially on a shuttle to a ball game: you know people are drinking. c'mon, people speed all the time despite prolific signage, and theoretically, they havent been drinking. thats a nasty way to go and my sympathies to the families and witnesses. sad reminder to keep your wits about you.

data backs my rantings

ive been saying since i moved here that everyone on the road was either incompetent, an asshole, or both. and, that back in Michigan, people can drive and not run into shit, like say, other cars, pedestrians, and large decorative iron gates.

anyhow, now theres data to prove that im not just a whack-job with a web page, but a whack-job with a web page, and an ability to observe certain things with at least a modest modicum of accuracy. Detroit and two nearby communities were cited as being among the safest in the nation. thats as far as car wrecks go.

never mind that i imagine that with the way things have been in the last decade in the Detroit area, perhaps people are not reporting fender benders to Allstate, who collected the data, because either they dont want their rated going up, or they drive hoopties and will just drive it with a smashed fender, trunk that wont open, or doors from junk yards for that two-tone look they seem to love there. never mind any of that, because this data proves what ive been saying all along: im right and listen to what i say.

the right to bear arms.

flash fiction

the end

she walked up to me with a fire of passion in her eyes. before i could figure out if that was bad or good she seized me by the shirt and pushed me to the wall.

'what the fuck do you think youre doing!?' she demanded

i struggled to come up with and answer. she came at me out of the din at Sully's Pub. before i could think of what i did to instigate her fury she spoke again.

'youre a dick you know that!?' and kissed me on the mouth with a passion thats usually reserved for Latin American revolutionaries and Shakespearian tragedies for a few brief seconds and walked out. i swear i saw her crack a smirk.

Rob stared at me dumfounded. 'who was that? what just happened!?!?'

'a girl i went out with a couple times.' i said, still realing. 'i think she just broke it off...'

'WHY ARE YOU SMILING, THEN!?'

i started laughing. 'thats got to be the best way to end a fling. ever.'

say bye to the corner

Tiger Stadium is going, going, gone. i couldnt help myself.

the demo fence is going up. demo will begin in the next week or two. the comments ive heard have ranged from 'its a tragedy and a travesty' to ''bout time, no use in watching another abandoned building rot.' i have to say im going with the pragmatists on this one. the only halfway viable thing to do with it is to get a MLS team and play soccer in it. other than that its completely obsolete and entirely useless. that being said, its kind of sad. im hoping maybe to snatch a scrap of steel or a brick or something where im back in the D in a couple weeks.

now, what happens next? i know there have been all sorts of talks and perhaps a decision has been made, but if i address that how am i to give my opinion, which is more important. to me anyway.

way back when, before there was a Detroit Tigers, Bennet Field, MCS, or most of the buildings still standing in Detroit, it was Western Market. i bet Eastern Market makes more sense now, huh? anyway, the property has for all essential purposes been publicly used. why not turn it back into Western Market. one of the few things that Detroit has going for it is Eastern Market, so why not try a spin on that same thing. i dont know that theres the clientelle to use the same template, but a variation on a theme i think would be successful. use Eastern for foods and whatnot and Western for other sundries. althought the site is certainly big enough for both, i just dont want to ruin Eastern Market, as its one of the few good things Detroit has going.

anyway, its time to move on. lets say good bye, remember the good times, and look toward the future. i know its a hard thing to do in Detroit, but lets look ahead, rather than back, and maybe make something good out of this. or maybe some more condos no one wants. i guess we could do that too....

the pentogram strikes back... maybe...

Chrysler, not Wicca, is going to offer an option to turn your car into a WiFi hotspot along with some other stuff that will help it to compete with the Ford/Microsoft Sync system. my initial reaction was 'cool! that could be useful when out of town.' but then i thought that i generally fly everywhere except on camping trips, and then i dont really want the interweb following me. i also dont like the idea of paying a monthly fee for this on top of the sticker price.

some comment hecklers point out that Chrysler can put WiFi in a car, but cant make a car with any sort of fuel efficiency, which is a good point. well, they, Ford, and GM do make small cars, but the domestic little guys are now what the first Toyotas, Hondas, and VW's were: econo-boxes. except you can generally get a better deal from an import. its sad really. the domestic auto makers spent so much time catering to the SUV and truck market that they forgot how to make an attractive car at a nice price. now theyre scrambling to catch up and throwing in these gadgets to try and close the gap.

in my opinion, what would really help Chrysler is to broaden their relationship with VW, who is very successful in selling small and midsize cars. Chrysler is going to be producing the VW van line based on the very successful line Chrysler pioneered. now if Chrysler can get that going the other way on cars like the Rabbit, Jetta, Passat, and maybe even the Tiguan, then theyll have something on which nifty electronics may be the clincher. slick gadgets stuck on a Neon arent going to get me to buy a crappy Neon, tho. and somehow i doubt that VW is going to let Chrysler bastardize their sucessful designs.

i used to drive a Dynasty, and i LOVED that car. it was way ahead of its time, was shaped like a brick, could seat 14, had a trunck big enough to rent out as studio appartment and still go like 27 miles to the gallon. that was back in '89, when a computer was about the same size as a car. it seems like the rest of the industry has been moving forward while Chrysler made huge trucks and fought with the German cousins. i hope this thing turns around. Iacoca saved it once, i dont know if he can pull it off again.

whats this?

i dont know if any of the 3 people who read this will be able to tell me the answer this question, but what the hell is this!? this thing, fenced off, with some sort of silos from the last century and a bunch of posts. somewhat maintained, somewhat decaying, crumbling. its between N. Capitol and First St NW and Michigan Ave and Channing St. in Washington DC, just around the corner from me. does it have something to do with the reservoir thats also fenced off? indian graveyard? UFO landing pad? city owned chicken farm thats fallen into ruin? cheese aging facility?

it was bound to happen

if youre from or know the detroit area youll probably appreciate this. if not, it may not make much sense at all.

god rant

the Washington Post has inspired this with a couple of articles. first, this one telling atheists and agnostics that they are wrong. the second is this one which tells Christians and Muslims to get along for the good of the planet, and sure, its a good point, but it does little good without incorporating Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, atheists, and the innumerable others that i could not begin to mention.

the first brings up the thought of religious freedom and respect. Michael Novak attacks atheists and agnostics for not giving in to the 'inherent' belief in god. i cant help but take exception to this. Christians would not take such a broad accusation, that they are wrong in their faith, with good humor. he claims evidence is all around us that god exists. maybe for you it points to god. but it doesnt for me. to me freedom of religion also means the freedom not to have one at all. i dont go around telling believers of any faith they are wrong.

he cites 'prison writing' as evidence. that through this hardship faith is all people have. but thats just a few. im pretty sure there are people out there in prison who have faith in family, friends, and themselves to get through hard times. when i was dying in the hospital, i thought of god. i wished somehow, that i could take comfort in him. but he was absent. there is a void where many claim to find god. i found comfort and strength and courage to fight not in god, but in man. it was my family, my friends, and, in time, myself that got me through that rough period of life. ive never felt the guidance or comfort of god. thats not to say that others dont. for me, the christian god it about as relevant as Zeus, Apollo, or Athena.

i have faith in myself and my fellow man. i think it is in the human character to believe in something, but to say it is god is a mischaracterization. i think its easy to have faith in god, who cannot be proved wrong because he cant be proved. to have faith in man, both others and one's self is more difficult. man is inevitably fallible.

its hard for me to argue this kind of point because it is so insulting and baseless. some see beauty in blind faith, but to me its terrifying and the evangelism of it is despicable. if people are inherently faithful, as you claim, let them come to it on their own. it just pisses people like me off.

the second article is nice. its about religions respecting and engaging each other in order to benefit all. well duh. the problem i see is that everyone with their different religious beliefs thinks they are right, and therefore have trouble engaging and respecting faiths that are wrong. i mean, if you cant even pick the right god, how can you possibly come to understand the issues at hand?

in 'Dogma' Chris Rock, who plays the 13th disciple, says "I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier. Life should malleable and progressive; working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant."(thanks to imdb.com)

i have an idea, you have an idea. so what. but my belief is right while yours is wrong. theres a fight in that. we could all stand to back off our beliefs, start having ideas, and start treating other humans like humans. my fellow man is my brother, and i do my best to treat him as such. no im not perfect. and neither are you. were all in this together and i think it will work out a bit better if we can put our differences aside and see how alike we are.

i may have faith in foolish idealism, but thats more productive than insulting whole groups of people who differ from you. it all goes back to my theory that the world would be a nicer place if everyone just quit being a dick.

heavier than intended.

Shakespeare wrote in Richard III: 'hope to joy is little less in joy than hope enjoyed.'

i have this to add: hope destroyed is little less than joy destroyed.

sometimes my thoughts come out heavier than i intended, but its still true.

she observes the swimmers and sunbathers with the air of a queen deposed. once unconcerned for her own future who dabbled in matters of international policy, now forced to take a plebeian job to ensure her well being. and as a demoted executive might, she rules her fiefdom rigidly, at her will and whims and in strict accordance with the rule of law. yet something in her manner betrays an interest, a curiosity in her subjects. its as if now, with her lowered status, she sees them in new light and with a new respect. cracks in her haughty facade reveal a person, like the rest of us, who is trying to get a grip on her new life and how she fits in this foreign world. it appears that she wants a king, not a well bred monarch, but a wise to the world commoner who can ease her transition and respect her heritage. but how can she open the gates to one, and not all, and how to know which one? she eyes us hoi polloi, wondering for the first time perhaps, who we really are.

she sits there, poker faced, forcing visitors to sign her book, her stony manner betrayed by her cherub's countenance. she is young and her face smooth and round. like a toddler's, but with tired eyes. the sun gives her the permanent appearance of a flush. its as if she is ever embarrassed of what she has come to. her impression is further befuddled as she rises to walk. she has the body of a nymph. toned legs from use, not exercise. they dont ripple or bulge with muscle, but are smooth and steady. when she walks they carry her with no more effort than a breeze carries a leaf. she nearly floats, with legs to merely set the path. those legs, like her torso, are colored by the sun to an auburn glow, tinted pink at the end of the day. she sucks in her belly, ever so slightly, a chink in her armor of arrogance. she cares what we think, at least to some degree, and that small fact, unnoticed by most, makes her human in the eyes of those that do. presiding above her golden curves lie the two haves of a globe split to for her breasts. they float, defying gravity and challenging men in the vicinity to look without being caught by her fierce eyes.

i watch her through my dark glasses between passages in my book. i think she knows, and allows it, if not encouraging it, in fleeting glances my way. i admire her from my lounge chair. i wonder what fills her head. i crave access to her world. not like a drowning man craves air, but like a child craves ice cream. i want to know her mind and her body. id like to slip though that chink in her armor, help her through our world, if only, and most probably, briefly. like two roads we might join to bridge a river, then split on the far shore, our combination achieving what neither alone could do, but splitting unceremoniously, casually, and easily once the task is completed to return to our pre-stream headings, a bit wiser and richer.

now you probably think im a creep.

sometimes you just have to admit when youve been beaten. and its not always a bad thing. ive never been the best, nor the worst, at being succinct. i think that is a wonderful ability, to say something in few words that says it all. and ive been beaten, and i love it.

unicorn!

they do exist!

wholesale piracy

so i was reading my friend, Heidi's blog. she said how she wishes everything were blue. she pointed to Picasso's blue period, while i immediately thought of the song that follows. its one of two that really convinced me that i like Bright Eyes. the other is Well Whiskey. the whole Lua EP is pretty awesome. anyway, i felt a similar way a couple months ago, except i wanted everything to be green. it was right before spring, and i think i was in green deprivation.

and i basically just stole this whole idea, but im okay with it if one of you reads Heidi's blog. she's not as prolific as i am with my two blogs, but she more than makes up for it in quality.

and check out True Blue by Bright Eyes(Connor Oberst):

I am a blue blood I will admit that.
I dance in blue shoes and wear a blue hat.
Live in a blue house, on a blue street,
in a blue town by a blue creek.
I write my blue songs with my blue pen.
I sing the blue notes to my blue friends.
Now I don't know that much about you,
but I like you because you’re true blue.

I had a blue dream about a blue star.
In it I drove there in my blue car.
And when I got there, I met a blue dog
with a blue tongue, we had some real fun.
We bounced a blue ball. It broke a blue glass.
We banged on blue drums and called it bluegrass.
Guess the thing I'm trying to tell you,
is that it’s best kid if you're true blue.

Once I had gangrene, I got it real bad.
And so the Doc came with his black bag.
I said "You know doc, I don't feel swell.
If you had a blue bag I think I'd feel well."
So he came right back with a blue sack.
He said, "Will this do?" I said, "Why not? Yeah."
That’s how I am here today to tell you,
that it’s best man to be true blue.

Out on the blue sea I sailed a blue ship.
I had a first mate, always had blue lips.
His name was Bluebeard.
He had a weird twitch.
We flew a blue flag on a big stick.
And we ate bluegill and we ate blue chips.
Oh, I felt real blue eating that blue fish.
Because there ain't much that I won't do,
unless it keeps me from being true blue.

Once in a blue moon there’s a blue sky.
I wear my blue jeans and fly my blue kite.
Hangs like a bluebird until the wind dies
and then the tears pour out of my blue eyes.
If it’s your birthday, we'll bake a blue cake
and then we'll eat it off these blue plates.
‘cause kid I don't know much about you,
but I like you because you're true blue.
Yeah, I don't know much about you,
but I like you ‘cause you're true blue.