Ehhem. Your Attention Please.

Trying to think of a name for a new site

2005-06-03T15:14:36Z

To hell with the "witty" quips that only confuse the masses (and myself, apparently). I suck.

more music goodies

2005-04-26T18:36:42Z

I'm infatuated with Lou Barlow's latest, EMOH. Chilling, bittersweet folk beauty. Much "prettier" than I imagined. Can't get enough of it. I like how his vocals are really prominant, cuz the lyrics are really good, and his voice is so pure.

Meanwhile, my mom's barn renter (she owns the farm I grew up on) made a 1-900 call at 2:00 AM earlier this month and she just got the bill for it (10 minutes for $35). How fucking stupid is this guy (he's a kid, really...younger than me)? I'm so disgusted that he jacked off in one of our buildings. Gross! He must have been drunk (there's been reports of him buying beer at 8:00 in the morning).

My poor mom.

guess what.

2005-04-22T23:11:09Z

I will be sitting (standing, screaming, singing...) 10 rows from the stage upon which Sir Paul McCartney shall stand on October 26, 2005 in St. Paul (heh), Minnesota.

that was a lot of prepositions

P.S. It's someone's birfday tomorrow. I love you!

totally Wired

2005-04-20T15:10:16Z

Lookit--some of my college buddies (and former crushes--eep!) have made it big.

Well, sorta.

Finding Gold in Found Video

Don't forget to look at the pictures! And apparently there's video as well, but I couldn't find it. Perhaps it's on the Cine-Magic site.

musical revelation

2005-04-19T14:56:32Z

I had been listening to Velvet Revolver because I used to be a big Slash and STP fan, but I was too tempted by Hank Williams III to continue down that road.

It's like old country & western. I lost my dog, my truck, and my woman. Now I'm crying in my beer.

And then it occurred to me--how is this different from the blues? Of course the sound is different, but the sentiment is the same. The lifestyles were only slightly different between bluesmen and traditional country folks, like Hank Williams III's grandfather. It's all about the pain.

And I like it.

I wonder if this Hank has any sons. Or better yet, a daughter.

onosideboards @ 2005-04-06T21:35:00

2005-04-07T02:41:23Z

Today, Mary Lucia of 89.3, The Current, said just about the funniest thing I've ever heard. It went something like this:

Mary (in as dry a tone as a DJ can get): Be the 10th caller and you'll get this pair of Gold Tickets to the Twin Cities International Film Festival. And now here's a new song from Lindsey Lohan.

Me: Lindsey Lohan??!!

Mary: [plays "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holly.]

Me: Burst into laughter and nearly miss my turn onto Cedar Lake Road.

recommendations

2005-03-01T19:06:02Z

So I'm totally sick of lefty politics. I listened to Air America Radio this week. I can't stand it. I guess I was mostly listening to the local side of it. Wendy Wild--puhlease, are you trying to sound like a shock jock? And some guy named Ed (I think) is actually Rush Limbaugh without the drug addiction. It's obnoxious. His little advert says "Some people say I'm opinionated..." WELL DUH, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ON TALK RADIO, STUPID.

I'm not trying to be all counter-intuitive here, or even counter-counter-culture. What I am saying is that the Left, in many ways, is no different from the Right. And it's sad. Maybe Howard Dean can help change that now that he's the chair of the Dems. Or maybe Russ Feingold will get louder. Or maybe John Kerry will toughen up. Perhaps John Edwards will start a new project. Who knows?

Grassroots, grassroots, grassroots. It means nothing until the big wigs in DC and in state legislatures actually get some integrity. You've got to play the game--but the game is played in DC, not Montana or Chicago. Whine all you want on the internets, but nothing will change until elected officials stand up for their beliefs. Sure, some aspects of the atrocities this administration have made were sort of brought to light by lefty bloggers, but then what? Nothing gets fixed. Bloggers keep whining. Protesters keep protesting. But nothing really changes. Is it doing any good?

Perhaps within the next few years, they will actually influence mainstream media in a good way. Not just get the media talking or bitching about bloggers, but actually change the way the media conglomerations are run, or change where people get their info. Still, the average person is going to trust NBC (or even CBS) over some blogger any day. And I'm that average some days, too. Cuz guess what--the bloggers are just as biased as the media is.

With that said...I need some new blogs to read. No lefty political blogs--it's boring and scary that these people get so hung up on this shit (even Tom Tomorrow is making my eyes roll). I want fun blogs, like the Sneeze or BoingBoing. Any recommendations?

did I cause this?

2005-02-24T20:36:47Z

On the second or third day after The Current's birth, I wrote to Pitchfork about the new station. I figured they'd dig it and said they should write an article about it.

And today, this appeared on the front page.

Of course, the title is a play on Morning Becomes Eclectic, KCRW's (LA's public radio playing rock) famous show. Very nice.

I'm not sure if they have the story totally right though...anyone else know?

who knew?

2005-01-31T20:10:09Z

I saw "Bad Education" and "The Aviator" this weekend. "Bad Education" is totally hott and if you enjoy looking at Gael Garcia Bernal and other beautiful men, you too will enjoy this film.

I truly loved "The Aviator", which sort of surprised me. It's such a typical "gimme an Oscar" film, but Leo's drive of eight years to complete a Howard Hughes biopic shows in his performance of the freakish man. I've been reading as much as I can about Hughes since last night--it makes me feel so sane. Of the best picture nominees, I'm now officially rooting for "The Aviator." Have any of you seen it?

I know 97% of you don't care or think I'm insane

2005-01-28T14:37:05Z

But this makes me incredibly gleeful:

McCartney Nailing Down North American Tour

Bitch better come to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Or else.

today is the greatst.

2005-01-23T18:44:22Z

It's my birthday.

I'm 27.

Serve me.

not what you think

2005-01-21T20:58:44Z

One would think this update would be about my recent trip to New York City. But no, this post is actually about Razzles.

First It's Candy...Then It's Gum

I had some of this candy/gum in 5th grade and thought it was so cool. I remember giving some to my on/off best friend Sara. I then mentioned that I thought this boy in our class, Josh, was cute. She suggested that I get his attention by giving him some Razzles. So, before we all left for the bus at the end of the day, I told Josh to wait a sec, because I had to give him this great candy. I was so nervous. He seemed weirded out by me.

And that was the end of that unrequited love affair.

This guy I work with always keeps candy on his desk. Jars of it. He felt bad that I hadn't stopped by for any candy lately, so I stopped by just now. He had Razzles. They're gross.

yeah, but...

2005-01-12T19:02:56Z

I don't fully get all the fuss about the new Macmini. Sure, it's cheap. But hello--that's because you have to already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse available. I know super geeks with garages, basements and scary apartments probably have these things, but not everyone in the market for a Mac is a super geek.

If the Apple engineers were really smart, they'd come up with a way to project the interface onto a foldable frame. Foldable keyboards are pretty cheap and common, so that's fine. And have a touchpad extendable from the bottom of the chassis. Add two square inches, it'd be fine. Sell that for $600 and I'd buy one. (Note: I just made all that up on the spot so don't bother critiqueing it.)

The dumbest part about this is that although the Mac mini is adorable and tiny, it is not truly portable. You cannot take this thing to the coffee shop with you, or work on it while you wait for your flight. They brag that now you can rearrange the furniture now with this tiny object...but hello, a laptop does the same thing and is actually portable.

onosideboards @ 2004-12-21T10:19:00

2004-12-21T16:19:40Z

free enneagram test

free enneagram test

If all of my (livejournal) friends were lesbians...

2004-12-18T03:38:00Z

If all your friends were lesbians...(Live Journal) by starsatnoon
Username
Favorite Color
Lesbian Witch	caseypossible
Stone Butch	huckfinn
Toothless Lesbian	forgottenpixel
Lipstick Lesbian	lizzybobizzy
Drag King	laursabeth
The "Bi" chick	supergoat
Lesbian Mom	aimeegee
Late Converter/ Divorcee	anne_jumps
Coffee Shop Lesbian	doctormidnite
Poet/Artist Lesbian	vfc

Quiz created with MemeGen!

HA!

POP

2004-12-17T21:43:29Z

This morning I caught a bit of Mad About You on Lifetime. I've always liked that show. And then it occurred to me--I don't think Jamie (the sporadically talented Helen Hunt) ever smiled on that series. Seriously. Can you think of an instance?

I think she was depressed about her bathroom situation--I mean, what girl wouldn't be? The bathroom was through the bedroom. So, any guests would have to walk through the sacred bedroom just to take a piss or get a piece of broccoli out of their teeth. And why did the set design people set it up like that anyway? Did someone actually have an apartment like that?

My other epiphany (of lesser sorts) was that at a funeral Paul and Jamie attended, the funeral director was on also an episode of the Golden Girls as a funeral director. I have not done the proper reserach on this actor yet, but I'm sure he's done other bit parts--I don't think all in the funeral business though.

I had a professor in college (a published poet and predicable alcoholic) who argued with the adage that America has only produced one art form (jazz). He truly believed that sit coms were America's other great contribution to Art. With sad, misunderstood characters like Jamie on Mad About You, I think his hypothosis can be confirmed.

year end special

2004-12-13T19:40:17Z

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Told someone I had a crush on them. Went to Portland. Got hit on (by a guy) in a bar in the United States. I'd never been told I was good at my job until I got this one. Went to a Jewish Lesbian wedding ceremony. Was a pall-bearer for my uncle.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I was going to keep a budget and work out more. I worked out some and just rewrote a budget (by hand) a few weeks ago, having never kept the old one.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I usually don't hang out with people who end up giving birth.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. One of my closests uncles.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the good ole US of Assholes. But I was in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oregon throughout the year. :)

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Hmm, I didn't really lack much in 2004. Oh wait, I know--a job to fucking last me ALL YEAR.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm terrible with specific dates, but Valentine's Day is pretty important.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Maintaining the mystique that I'm actually good at my job, being less timid.

9. What was your biggest failure?
We don't talk about the accident. Seriously, I need to keep up with my out-of-town friends more often.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not that I know of.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Laptop! Slip covers for my couches. Downloaded Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot--finally.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My girlfriend's because she puts up with me. I know she loves me, and it feels delightful.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Prez. And Kerry, to some extent.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent (but far less now!), bills, DVDs, CDs, gas, gifts for my lady, laptop, movies.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Prince concerts and Neil Young showing up during an REM concert here too. And my laptop.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
I think anything from RAM, which may seem odd but it totally makes sense to me.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? fatter :(
c) richer or poorer? technically richer, but its all relative

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading, watching movies at home, hang out with my old pal Nathan, having sex.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Pouting or being all grumpy.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Going home for just over a day, hopefully with my lady friend.

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Oh yeah, you could say that.

22. How many one-night stands?
None this year! We're back to normal now.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, any Cartoon Network

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really hate, but I like a few people less than I did a year ago...

25. What was the best book you read?
ummmm....did I read a book this year even?? I honestly don't think I did. Wow.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Wilco cuz I'm dumb and slow sometimes. Also the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson's SMiLE. And I had already known them, but I saw The Shins like 3 times this year.

27. What did you want and get?
Laura. This job.

28. What did you want and not get?
Even more money.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kinsey, Closer, I <3 Huckabees... there may be others.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26 and froze my ass off with my lovely friends at the Ice Palace in St. Paul. Dumb idea. Then thought I lost my digital camera at a nearby bar but retrieved it from said bar a few days later. We played BINGO at 11:00 pm where I promptly did not win a thing, as usual.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A vacation trip somewhere warm and nice...or England would do too.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
showin' the rack

33. What kept you sane?
Art, Laura (most of the time-ha), myself

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
JUDE LAW. I want to jump his bones so fucking bad.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
gay marraige, the whole election thingy

36. Who did you miss?
Angie, Shannon, Ben

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Jane

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Just do it.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting
While at port adieu or die

A choke of grief heart hardened I
Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry"

From Surf's Up.

onosideboards @ 2004-12-08T19:22:00

2004-12-09T01:23:15Z

View Poll: Things

a slip?

2004-12-01T19:03:49Z

From this BBC news story about Merriam-Webster picking "blog" as the Word of the Year:

In many repressive regimes and developing nations, blogs have been embraced by millions of people keen to give their plight a voice.

How many bloggers do you know in Africa or, say, Indonesia? Heh, the BBC basically dubbed America a repressive regime.

Or maybe I'm wrong.

it's time!

2004-11-21T04:45:28Z

I'm taking a break from packing. Laura and I have made a lot of headway after only three packing sessions. I've just got the food, some linen closet, and some bathroom stuff left. The rest is ready for the movers and/or me to deal with later.

We saw Kinsey last night. It's the best film I've seen this year. It didn't really WOW me, but the acting is wonderful and biopic stories always get me going. The truth truly is stranger and often more interesting than fiction. (Sorry, writers.) Plus, it's not animated--quite an achievement in film these days. The acting truly is great. Oscars will come of this. For once, Laura Linney didn't annoy me. Every since I first saw her in Tales of the City, as the naive midwesterner who moved to San Fran, I've found her so irritating. Her TotC character really stuck with me. Anyway, her acting really made the film, actually. And the makeup was superb. I don't normally notice makeup, but the aging process was so believable.

Anyway, this week is naturally a very busy one. I'm knocking off around noon from work on Wednesday to finally get my keys and sign the lease for the new place. Then I have to sign up at a new Credit Union, stop by my new insurance guy's office, and something else I keep forgetting. Then I'll move over some stuff maybe. Er something. Thursday I'm going to my brother's for Turkey Day, but just for a while. Friday morning, the movers come and so does Comcast for the cable shit. Time Warner is coming next Monday to set up my new stuff.

I'm watching SNL. What's with this "Debbie Downer" thing. It's the second time I've seen it this season. And I've only watched two episodes. I never know if SNL is funny any more. Not since Mike Myers left. I guess this is funny. But the sketches always go on for too long.

Well, I'm going to have some pumpkin pie with a very warm fork from the just-done dishwasher. 'Tis the season.

God spoke to me through a candy bar

2004-11-16T20:00:59Z

After a very trying experience with the benefits center trying to set up my 401(k), all I wanted was a Butterfinger Crisp.

Yum.

I grabbed 65 cents from my desk drawer, thinking that was all I needed. Alas, the price of a candy bar is 70 cents here. I debated on asking the painter guy near me for a nickle, but he walked away before I got the nerve.

Then I prayed to God for there to be a nickle in the other vending machines.

First machine, empty. Second machine, also empty.

Then lo--something in the third. It was a nickle!

Thank you, God, for not making me come all the way back down to my cube for the extra nickle. And thank you, stranger, for leaving your change in the machine. I will do the same next time.

Lesson #349898 of the 2004 Election

2004-11-10T19:06:52Z

Pay attention now, bloggers and media types:

Polls suck. They are not reliable. Yes, even exit polls.

Taking a "random" sampling of anyone in a country so divided will yield different results each time. Just like flipping a coin.

I'm not saying Bushie won the election fair and square, but it'll take more than just a few blogs whining about it to get any results. That's why I say, fuck you, big democrats, for letting this happen again. Where's the fight?

No more nicey nicey in 2008.

FIRST AVE CLOSES DOORS

2004-11-02T21:47:04Z

In a sudden, yet not surprising, move by owners, partners, and other assholes--Minneapolis' famous First Avenue nightclub closes its doors today. And padlocked them.

I heard it on the hourly news at 3:00 today on MPR.

I have two tickets for Le Tigre on Saturday...AT FIRST AVE.

This totally sucks. I feel like I lost a good friend. Not that First Ave doesn't totally annoy me sometimes, but it still is a fantastic place to see a show.

Prince should buy it so it will stay First Ave forever.

I talked to someone at the Electric Fetus. They gave me some more rumors, including that a simple name change or a renewed liquor license may solve the problems. Or, it may come back as a totally different club.

So everyone, please send positive thoughts and prayers (if you've got 'em) to Minnesota's coolest spot.

tomorrow

2004-11-01T22:06:46Z

You know what would be really funny tomorrow?

Bush wins popular vote and Kerry wins the electoral vote.

Ha. Ha.

vote out AIM

2004-10-31T20:03:05Z

I really wish more cool people would use Yahoo! Messenger. It's the best IM program, a thousand times better than AIM...yet no one seems to be catching on to this fact. AIM hasn't really evolved much since I first downloaded it like fiver years ago. Hello--time for change! A good model to follow would be, oh let's see now...Yahoo! Messenger!