What blog?

I haven't been posting much lately, have I? In part, I've been preoccupied with a new online addiction called flickr, but mostly I just don't have much to say. This past weekend was spent solitary style. I watched Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man, took some photos, and talked to Wally. It was what I have termed a sleepy weekend.


So what does it mean when finding new music online is the highlight of your weekend?

The Pernice Brothers: Discover a Lovelier You
I've been waiting patiently for this one to come out. 2003's Yours, Mine, and Ours was one of my favorites that year, so I've had high expectations for the follow-up. While it's not to be released until June 14th, I found an “evaluation” copy over the weekend and have been really enjoying it so far. Chamber pop is what some people call it, I guess because it has strings and stuff. There's a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson vibe in there, apparently. I dunno, but they remind me at times of The Smiths, and one song in particular on Yours... sounds a lot like janglier moments (e.g. "Inbetween Days") of the Cure. Then again, I'm terrible at connecting the musical dots.

> Visit their official site.
> Listen to “There Goes the Sun”

Mice Parade: Bem-Vinda Vontade
Here's one that's already out. The sixth album from Adam Pierce follows in the footsteps of one my favorites of last year, Obrigado Saudade. This record is even more pop than the last, with vocals from Adam in just about every track and the return of Múm's Kristen Valtysdóttir. Doug Scharin, one of Chunklet's most overrated drummers, also appears. The vocals are good, but what I like most (after the overrated drumming, of course) is the dueling nylon guitars—flamenco style.

> Go here to listen to “Night Wave”

The Wedding Present: Take Fountain
WTF? I never got into this band and they've been around since the 80s. This is their first album since 1997 when Dave Gedge started Cinerama instead (thanks, AMG). What a poseur I am only getting into them now, after all this time (thanks, TIM). Just goes to show you that there are way too many good bands out there. Turns out these guys are playing on Sunday, so I might just become the ultimate phony fan and tag along with a couple of my housemates to go see 'em.

> Listen to “Interstate 5”

And hey, guess what? There's an awesome show tomorrow at Warehouse Nextdoor:

Uncut (see my blurb on the music page for a song)
A Place To Bury Strangers (ex-Skywave)
Ceremony (ex-Skywave!)

I'm gonna be brooding my ass off.

Beard Discussion

Instant Messenger conversation 01/05 (excerpt):

glueslabs (1:07:12 AM): i shaved my beard. you'll have to see it before i grow it back!
glueslabs (1:07:39 AM): my shaven face, i mean
[some girl] (1:07:57 AM): yikes
[some girl] (1:08:00 AM): !!!!
glueslabs (1:08:09 AM): yikes, what?
[some girl] (1:08:09 AM): why did you do that?
[some girl] (1:08:19 AM): im so used to you with the beard now!
[some girl] (1:08:35 AM): i mean when we were "dating" i was totally anti-beard
glueslabs (1:08:44 AM): i was tired of it and i thought i'd try something new. EXCUSE ME
[some girl] (1:08:48 AM): hahah
[some girl] (1:08:50 AM): thats good
[some girl] (1:08:55 AM): so how is that working out for ya
glueslabs (1:09:12 AM): i don't like it :-(
glueslabs (1:09:24 AM): it's beard season!
[some girl] (1:09:27 AM): yeah im not surprised
[some girl] (1:09:37 AM): i know all three of my roommates have huge beards
[some girl] (1:09:47 AM): because of "the winter"
glueslabs (1:09:55 AM): hell yeah
[some girl] (1:10:01 AM): i don't get it, but im a chick
glueslabs (1:10:16 AM): it's ok. just know that winter=beard season
[some girl] (1:10:22 AM): apparently
[some girl] (1:10:35 AM): i'll be warmer if i grow this huge disgusting beard?
glueslabs (1:10:52 AM): haha
[some girl] (1:10:55 AM): you don't see me growing my armpit and leg hair out to keep the heat
glueslabs (1:10:57 AM): it does add warmth
[some girl] (1:11:06 AM): so im told, so im told
glueslabs (1:11:08 AM): well, who knows. maybe you are
glueslabs (1:11:14 AM): we're not close like that anymore
[some girl] (1:11:15 AM): no way dude
[some girl] (1:11:24 AM): im anti-body hair
[some girl] (1:11:29 AM): in all forms
glueslabs (1:11:49 AM): uh huh
[some girl] (1:12:00 AM): well for myself
glueslabs (1:12:10 AM): whatever
[some girl] (1:12:23 AM): hahah
glueslabs (1:12:24 AM): you've offended me enough already
[some girl] (1:12:30 AM): huh?!?!?!
glueslabs (1:12:31 AM): begone with you!
[some girl] (1:12:33 AM): what?!?!?!
[some girl] (1:12:40 AM): im so non-offensive!!!
glueslabs (1:12:43 AM): uh...hello?!
glueslabs (1:12:49 AM): <----beard
[some girl] (1:12:50 AM): HI!
[some girl] (1:12:54 AM): yeah thats true
glueslabs (1:12:57 AM): <-----lots of body hair
[some girl] (1:13:05 AM): you were always an exception to the rule though!
glueslabs (1:13:10 AM): pffft
glueslabs (1:13:15 AM): try and cover
[some girl] (1:13:17 AM): don't pffft me!
glueslabs (1:13:41 AM): the old bait an switch
[some girl] (1:13:47 AM): hahahhahahah
[some girl] (1:14:15 AM): see jeffrey, my dear, with you i looked beyond the facial hair
glueslabs (1:14:24 AM): ohhhhhh
[some girl] (1:14:26 AM): i was like "well if it makes him happy"
glueslabs (1:14:27 AM): well, thank you!
[some girl] (1:14:32 AM): no problem!
glueslabs (1:14:38 AM): so gracious of you, my dear
[some girl] (1:14:43 AM): i know!
[some girl] (1:14:46 AM): im a real gem
glueslabs (1:15:08 AM): yep...a real keeper
[some girl] (1:15:14 AM): obviously!
[some girl] (1:16:13 AM): either way, it would vbe weird at this point to see you beard-less
[some girl] (1:16:26 AM): nice typing [some girl]
glueslabs (1:16:37 AM): anyway, i never had a grisley adams type beard. i kept it fairly well-groomed, thank you very much
[some girl] (1:16:44 AM): this is true
[some girl] (1:17:05 AM): it definitely worked for you
glueslabs (1:17:33 AM): ha
glueslabs (1:17:37 AM): nice cover-up
[some girl] (1:17:41 AM): no it did!
[some girl] (1:17:48 AM): im not lying or covering up!
glueslabs (1:17:51 AM): ....
[some girl] (1:17:58 AM): ..... right back atcha
glueslabs (1:18:02 AM): ;-)
glueslabs (1:18:31 AM): i'm cocking my hand like a gun and giving that chk-chk sound
glueslabs (1:18:40 AM): just so you know
glueslabs (1:19:11 AM): BEARDHATER
[some girl] (1:19:46 AM): hahahha
[some girl] (1:19:54 AM): i don't HATE beards
[some girl] (1:20:14 AM): i just think, in general, that boys look better without beards
[some girl] (1:20:18 AM): BUT
[some girl] (1:20:30 AM): it suits you
glueslabs (1:23:00 AM): go to bed!
[some girl] (1:23:01 AM): i know
[some girl] (1:23:09 AM): hmph!
[some girl] (1:23:13 AM): fine!
glueslabs (1:23:18 AM): you need your beauty rest. har har
[some girl] (1:23:19 AM): ill go to bed!
[some girl] (1:23:26 AM): yeah right
[some girl] (1:23:35 AM): my "beauty rest"
[some girl] (1:23:59 AM): = "my time to pass out and look like shit in the morning"
glueslabs (1:24:12 AM): just don't scare those toddlers
[some girl] (1:24:16 AM): no way
[some girl] (1:24:25 AM): the toddlers love me!!!
glueslabs (1:25:18 AM): uh huh
glueslabs (1:25:26 AM): i'll buy that
[some girl] (1:25:33 AM): for real, they totally do!
glueslabs (1:26:35 AM): i know.
[some girl] (1:27:21 AM): thanks dear!
[some girl] (1:27:31 AM): ok i should go to bed
[some girl] (1:27:34 AM): and you should call me
glueslabs (1:27:40 AM): ok
[some girl] (1:27:43 AM): GOOD
glueslabs (1:27:43 AM): maybe i will
[some girl] (1:27:47 AM): MAYBE?!?!?!?
glueslabs (1:27:49 AM): good night
glueslabs (1:27:51 AM): sleep tight
[some girl] (1:27:56 AM): what the fuck is that all about?!!??!?!
glueslabs (1:28:03 AM): what?
[some girl] (1:28:29 AM): oh im just giving you shit for the "maybe i will" comment
glueslabs (1:28:41 AM): well, i have to check with my beard first
[some girl] (1:28:45 AM): OH I SEE
glueslabs (1:28:57 AM): maybe my beard doesn't like YOU

Note to Self

Stop caring about politics. You didn't give a shit for 25 years——why start now? Worrying about something so utterly rigged and phony will do about as much good as a pile of baby mice on your pillow.

Four-twenty, duuuude!


Stop sharing your opinions so damn willingly. In fact, don't tell anyone anything. Oh wait——do you like feeling embarrassed? Go ahead then; tell strange women on the Internet anything that comes to mind. It won't turn out horribly, I promise. [Haha]

No one cares that you're sensitive. It comes off as neither deep nor interesting; it only makes you look like a pussy. Just remember: Wearing your heart on your sleeve is as effeminate as it sounds.

Never buy hot dog buns at Whole Foods again. Just because you're eating a tofu dog doesn't mean the entire package has to taste like crap.

Grow the fuck up, would you please? You've been coming-of-age for like two decades now. You're not Holden Caulfield, so please stop pretending to reject adulthood before you end up like Seymour Glass.

You think you're turning Japanese?!

You're not different. For everything you enjoy——the music, the movies, the books, the art——there's someone who enjoys it on a much deeper level than you. Ever heard of the Internet? Everyone knows about everything.

Honesty? Honesty is boring. Stop being boring. Ok?

And grow as many beards as you'd like; you're still never going to make up for the fact that you're going bald and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. You never had good hair anyway, so who gives a fuck? Oh yeah, and there are women who like bald men. They just love 'em. And they live in a magical land filled with unicorns and puppy dogs that never grow old.

Let the adventure begin.

Local and Sexy

Substitute Teacher Facing Sex Charge [W. Post]

A 24-year-old woman who worked as a substitute teacher in Fairfax County public schools has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student, police said yesterday.

Ok, I just want to get one thing straight here. A 24-year-old woman having sex with a 14-year-old boy is not sexual abuse—it's his ultimate fantasy. It may be illegal, and it may be kinda creepy (or perhaps a little pathetic?), but there's nothing evil or bad about it.

Unless this kid is mentally retarded, he knew full well what was going on, and I'm sure enjoyed all 2 minutes of it. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but let's just say that when I was 14, I couldn't keep my hands off my junk. And I'm sure, with hormones raging, I would've almost killed for the opportunity this kid has had. So let's not demonize this poor woman. Let's get her a date with a dude who can drink.

And yes, I would feel differently about this if it was the other way around. It's a lot different.

End of fucking story.

We Could Walk Together

Good news on two recent favorite bands of mine:

The Clientele are touring the states in June, including a stop at DC's 9:30 Club on the 3rd. Looks like they're playing in suppport of a another Merge Records band, Spoon.

I first saw the Clientele a few years ago having only heard a single song. My friend convinced me to go regardless. It was a good show (in fact, it convinced me to buy their excellent singles collection, Suburban Light), but having heard so little of their material prevented me from enjoying it as much I would have otherwise. I'm not too familiar with Spoon, but I'm planning to go just to hear the openers since I've now listened to just about everything I can get my hands on by them. A lot. Oh, and it looks like their second album will be coming out sometime later this year.

Another awesome Merge band, the Rosebuds, are set to release a new 6 song EP on April 12. You can stream the entire record from here. It's good shit. “El Camino” especially floats my boat. There's a Pitchfork review of the EP as well, if you care what they have to say.

No local tour dates from those guys, yet. Hopefully they'll hit DC sometime this summer.

You know what? Merge is a pretty damn good label. I mean, they've put out their share of crap over the years, and I was never really into Superchunk, but the number of their bands I really like is pretty impressive. I don't know if I could say the same for many other labels.

My favs:

The Clean
The Clientele
Ganger
David Kilgour
Neutral Milk Hotel
The Rosebuds
M. Ward

Blossoms

Holy hell, am I bored at work. This week won't end. And all this nice weather has been wasted on staring out to the hotel across the street and a paunchy Asian man in little blue shorts eating shirtless at his window.

In an attempt wipe this image from memory and fortify whatever semblance of inner peace I have left, I headed down to the Tidal Basin yesterday after work to see the blossoms and take some photos. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the crowd of tourists and their unappreciative kids running around. I walked one time around as the sun set before heading home.

Click through the picture above to see a small set of photos from my walk around the basin.

Why is it Not Friday?

Schiavo Memo Linked to GOP Senate Office
The office of Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida has admitted it was behind a controversial memo that said it would be in the political interest of the Republican party to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case. One line in the memo reads "This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue." For weeks right-wing pundits have suggested the memo was a fake. Martinez's legal counsel Brian Darling took credit for drafting the memo. He resigned on Wednesday. [DN! Headlines]

Shia named as Iraq prime minister [BBC]

Saddam 'upset' at Kurd's election [Guardian]

Why bloggers hate Blogger [Wired]

Sony patents tech to beam "sensory information" into brain [WMMNA]

Flagpole Magazine's Bush Adminstration Dictionary [via LHB]

Delocator finds independent cafes by zipcode [via DCist]

Wonder Showzen

Why have I not already heard about this? Tim and I were hanging around last night watching Aqua Teen when he told me about Wonder Showzen, this show on MTV2 he caught after watching Subterranean the night before (see my previous post...no, I don't work for MTV). Anyway, it sounded mildly interesting...a twisted kids show with weird puppets and little kids saying crazy shit, strange cartoons, etc. Well it happened to be coming on, so we stayed up to watch.

Let me tell you, it's fucking awesome. It's completely twisted and dark but so hilarious. The kids on the show are great. In one segment, a girl is on Wall Street “interviewing” businessmen, asking them questions like “How many people have you exploited today?” or offering them a napkin “for the blood on [their] hands.” Then there are these bizarre cartoons and old educational films overdubbed and re-edited, some of which are really brilliant. I laughed out loud I don't know how many times, and that just doesn't happen much when I watch TV.

It sort of reminds me of a cross between Robert Smigel's Saturday TV Funhouse and the “Druggachusetts” sketch from Mr. Show. Anyway, if you're into weird dark humour, I recommend it.

+ Go here to see the pilot episode.
+ MTV2 has some clips here.

Slabs of Glue Has No Standards

I realized last night that VH-1 Classic's The Alternative is much less fun to watch alone than with a friend. I mean, when something like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones comes on, who am I gonna talk shit with? My cat? Wally doesn't care about how annoying Eddie Trunk is.

Tim's got it right: They should just rerun every episode of 120 Minutes from beginning to end. That would be cool.

I keep meaning to catch this Subterranean show on MTV2. It looks decent, but for some reason I always forget about it. Oh yeah—because it's on right in the goddamn middle of The Alternative (Sundays at Midnight).

I need a DVR.

I'm a Pro

I decided to upgrade my flickr account to Pro. They cut off your photos at 100 for free accounts, so my older ones were being hidden away. Also, I wanted to be able to create more photo sets, and I have enough fun with that site to make it worth it.

A year's account costs $45+. Which is...not cheap. But, now I have the features I was looking for and instead of a 10MB/mo bandwidth limit, I have a GB/mo.

Click through the flying Snoopy to see some fascinating shots I took while cleaning my room yesterday.