 Monday, July 15, 2002
Okay, so here's a list to the archives. I totally switched templates for this stupid web-site, so the old stuff is going to look "old", and the new stuff is going to look... hopefully better. Anyway, here's the complete archive of "old" stuff...
01/01/2001 - 01/31/2001 Sunday, July 14, 2002
I'm playing amateur detective today, trying to solve some riddles that have been preying on my mind of late. Such as: Who invented Ice Cream? And When? And this is one I haven't been able to figure out (at least not yet). If you know, send me an e-mail... Did people always call it "World War I", even before there was a "World War II", or was it just something simpler like "the big war" or "the great war", and they added the one and two respectively once a second great war was imminent? I mean, it would be like me going around calling myself "Brian the first". Unless there's a second, the descriptive "first" just seems rather silly. Anyway, just curious about that one. I watched Pearl Harbor last night -- pretty good special effects but an awful script. There was plenty of time in this waaaay tooo loooong movie to ponder such things. I went for a rather long run this morning and it was just beautiful outside. Not too hot, the sun coming up, and a whole big park all to myself, lush and green. I'm feeling a tad bit better today. Maybe I'll actually get a few things done... Or maybe I'll go see a movie. I haven't done that in a while. Saturday, July 13, 2002
I'm kind of in a funk today. These things kind of come and go, but I'm just in a lousy mood. I'm listening to moody music and reading Rilke, which is kind of like drinking a bottle of vodka with a handful of Seconal. Lethal, man, just lethal. Anyway, I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon, but it's just been a dreary kind of morning. Maybe it's the heat or the travel or something, but in my sleep, my dreams have been wild and disconcerting. I wake up feeling heavy and confused. I've managed to right myself (somewhat) with a few cups of strong, black coffee and though my perception seems to have improved, my disposition certainly has not. Anyway, that's that... Bear with me for a bit... Here's some things that have been marginally interesting on my radar screen. On July 30th, the complete Suburbs catalog is going to be reissued. I've been listening to some old Suburbs tunes on MP3 lately, and I think I'll definitely have to make a purchase or two once these records are released. I'm listening to Girlfriend right now, one of the few 'Burbs ballads and it's not helping my mood one bit. I definitely need to take a walk or something. Okay, so how about this? The last appearance of Richard Dawson on Match Game. Read the whole thing. I'm serious. At least I'm not the only one in a bad mood. Hunter S. Thompson doesn't have much nice to say in this letter to his manager. [Warning: If you don't know who Hunter S. Thompson is, or if you have an aversion to extreme profanity, you might want to skip the links...] Feeling lost? Find yourself at Found Magazine. It's an odd collection of random, anonymous photos and notes that have been "found". This is strangely fascinating site. This is actually somewhat consoling today. Maybe I'll read Moby Dick. Sounds fun... Thursday, July 11, 2002
It may not be up to George Foreman's "mean, lean" standards, but here's something my brother sampled over the 4th -- Taco in a Bag (yes, recipe included!)
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
 Yesterday was a pretty good day. I'm hanging out at the ever thrilling Cisco Networkers 2002 show in Orlando. Yesterday, during a brief break from the show, we were wandering around the hotel convention center. Off to one corner, next to an indoor ship and a small lake (this is a pretty big hotel, mind you), we saw a crowd. They were all huddled around a bunch of lights and booms and cameras and TV sets and people walking around with head sets. Are they making a movie? Right here???No, it was better. It turns out they were filming a new George Foreman informercial for his Mean, Lean, Chicken Roasting Machine. Cool or what! Yes, just a few feet away was the former world heavyweight champ and electric appliance mogul. I might write him a fan letter and ask him to produce a Mean, Lean, Prontopup Machine. With his backing, it just might work... So, that was my brush with greatness for the day. Today, it's another long session, then tearing down the booth and packing up, and then this evening we've got a party at Universal Studios. It's a pity, but to date I haven't been to any of the Florida theme parks. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. If I'm lucky I'll get to ride at least one good roller coaster before I go home... Wheeee... Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Yes, yes, yes... Postings are going to be almost non-existent this week. I'm currently in Orlando, FL until Thursday... Check back on Friday to hear about my wild adventures at Universal Studios... Friday, July 05, 2002
Happy 4th (well, post 4th, actually). I'm currently enjoying some music and fine Milwaukee beer at Summerfest. Yesterday we saw a bunch of bands that I've never heard of, and the highlight was catching the first few songs of Ted Nugent and then Tommy Lee. I think today's lineup of music is going to be just a tad bit better. (basically, it has to be...) How is Martha Stewart really living? This is either brilliant or ridiculous. Or both. The aquariass. Odd. Mickey Mouse vs. Donald Duck. Check it out. A new Arcata Eye police log... Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Okay, because I'm too lazy, I've clipped a couple of concert reviews (from alt.music.replacements) of the concert last night. Fortunately, it sounds as though last night was the best set (according to some guys that had gone all three nights). Wanna know what a Paul Westerberg concert is like? Here:
Paul's voice was a bit frayed around the edges but improved as the evening wore on. He did seem more relaxed than Saturday or Sunday. Still no sign of no stinkin' Dutch Film crew (maybe its like the Swiss Navy?) Just quick things that stuck in my head: He mentioned Bob, Tommy and Chris during the show and even asked "Chris are you out there?" [note: Bob refers to Bob Stinson, guitarist for the 'Mats who died of an OD in '95, Tommy is Tommy Stinson, Bob's little brother, 'Mats bassist and currently bassist for Axl in Guns 'N Roses, and Chris refers to Chris Mars, the drummer for the 'Mats who is now an artist in the Twin Cities] Paul was a bit looser and a bit more rowdy than Saturday or Sunday. He came out on stage smoking and lit up a big cigar a couple of times during the show. He even tried to sing with the cigar in his mouth for a while. That didn't work so well. He was pretty much surrounded on stage by the couch, table, and chair behind him and the amps and monitors in front. It seemed to me that he felt a bit restricted all three nights. Tonight he moved around on the stage more and even made his way into the audience to hand out sparklers that he could barely get lit. One stage he made himself some space - he knocked the lamp off the table after the first song and later tried to kick the monitors out of the way. For the last couple of songs and the encores he moved the mic a couple of feet in front of the monitors where he could move around a bit more. There were the usual good natured hecklers and song requests. Paul had a few good comebacks and a few laughs too. Here's a couple worth repeating: After Waiting for Somebody: Wait til I get paid for that Mother-F***er After All I Really Want to Do: Ever met Bob Dylan before? I think I have but I'm not sure. During If Only You Were Lonely: I feel drunk just singing it. After restarting Crackle&Drag because he forgot the words: That's why this one isn't on the record - its got too many words. After a request for All He Wants To Do is Fish: "Now that one has some really fine singing, Chris are you here?" Audience: Why sell Mono and include with Stereo and make us pay twice? Paul (in a politician-like voice): Well, I would really like to answer that question but... *points to audience like he's going to take another question* Sam Donaldson? Adding the line "cause I live in a city that rocks" in the middle of Lookin Out Forever which also ended with a great Westerberg scream followed by the smashed guitar. Of course I live in the Twin Cities... Finishing Jumpin' Jack Flash "I refuse to do the Stones' ending so that was the fade. Good Night" And the final quote "these were the happiest three days of my ... week" Set List (Monday July 1): 1) High Time 2) Mr. Rabbit 3) Psychopharmacology 4) Waiting for Somebody 5) Achin' to Be 6) Once Around the Weekend 7) Name? Bluesy song 8) Let the Bad Times Roll 9) Dirt to Mud 10) All I Really Want to Do (Dylan) 11) 2 Days Til Tomorrow 12) We May Be The Ones 13) Here Comes a Regular 14) If Only You Were Lonely 15) Crackle and Drag 16) Swinging Party 17) Eyes Like Sparks 18) Kick in the Stall 19) No Place for You 20) AAA 21) Best Thing that Never Happened 22) Skyway 23) Alex Chilton 24) In Between Love and Like 25) A Star is Bored 26) Looking Out Forever 27) Jumpin' Jack Flash
Tomorrow. Please.
Well, the Westerberg show last night was pretty awesome. It was all solo guitar/vocals and he played for about 2 hours. It's a good thing he's on anti-depressants, because he kind of trashed the stage. He kicked a broke a lamp on stage, and at the end he smashed (ala Pete Townsend) his guitar over his amp on stage. You normally don't get that intensity when a songwriter plays a solo, mostly acoustic set. But, that's Paul... I could go on, but read the reviews from yesterday if you want more information. Oh, one other little fun thing. In the middle of one of his songs, he paused for a long moment, and then added the words "...under God..." to the lyric. I thought that was pretty good. It added SO much meaning to the song. Other dumb stuff for today. Remember that show The Wonder Years? Remember Winnie? Well, it seems she just graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a degree in mathematics. Oh, and she's also a screenwriter. Not bad, Winnie, not bad... Have you ever watched a commercial and liked the song, but you have no idea who actually sings or performs the song? Doesn't that suck? Well, go check out the music from commercials database. It's not 100% complete. For example, have you seen the new Amazon.com commercial on TV where the guy is standing in a shop, at the counter, and nobody will help him? And the song is playing ("All my life, waiting for somebody -- Ah-ha-ha, come and take my hand -- All my life, waiting for somebody --Ah-ha-ha, whoa, yeah..."). That's Paul Westerberg...  |
