Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Take it for a spin
I haven’t done any CD reviews in awhile. Probably because nothing new I have been listening to has warranted any hype. But I got one for you. Faithless is *huge* in Europe. Right now, they are getting a lot of pub for the single “Mass Destruction” on their new album “No Roots”. I admit that I haven’t really heard much of their earlier work, just whatever songs that Midori plays on Big Sonic Chill. But after listening to “No Roots”, I think they are worthy of the hype. The single is really good. Definitely has the euro house thing going. I really like Maxi Jazz’ voice. It kind of reminds me of Tricky...actually, when I first heard “Mass Destruction”, I thought it was Tricky. The songs are really good without being “cold”. I have a tendency to not like music in this genre because it feels soulless. And I don’t get that feeling when I listen to this.
Other standout tracks are “Love Lives on My Street”, “No Roots” (featuring Dido, her brother Rollo is in the band and Dido has been the vocalist on a few songs on previous albums), and “Everything Will be Alright Tomorrow”.
More info on the band (links courtesy of
FM 94/9 because I was too lazy to look some up for myself.
Faithless Bio
Listen to "Mass Destruction"
Rolling Stone's review of No Roots
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Monday, August 23, 2004
Office mo-ron
Hey, this was funny and entirely accurate.
Which Office Moron are you?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey: jamming your photocopier one tray at a time.
I’ll smoke you a kipper, because you’ll be back for breakfast. You’re the cult television show quoting, user account deleting, soap loathing IT Manager.
Something in your childhood has made you the way you are. You’ve been hired to provide a service to everyone else in the office - you make the computers run, and you make them run well. You’ve streamlined everything; you’ve removed all the viruses and installed all the firewalls. The only trouble - the only hole in your veneer of digital perfection - is the way you laugh at everyone.
If someone doesn’t know UNIX, you laugh at them. If they lose their password, they laugh at them. If they visit a website using Microsoft Internet Explorer and their computer succumbs to an Internet worm, you laugh. Then you take a swig of your Coke, and with another hearty chuckle tell all your friends on IRC about the idiots you have to deal with.
Maybe it makes you feel better about yourself, although let’s face it, you don’t need help in that department. You’re great, you. Fantastic like burning cool. If only those luddite office fools would let you play Unreal Tournament in peace.
All right. Everything but the video game stuff. We all know that I take tests when I am bored at work.
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My very own test
My test got approved on OK Cupid.
Go take the Which SATC character are you? test.
For guys...pick the answer that you want your woman to be like and then you’ll know which character you would most want to be with!
My results...not a surprise since I wrote it:
You are most like Samantha - the sexpot. You like your men young and hot. Hopefully you can find one as hot as Smith was. And you are a good friend - especially when your friends need advice about sex!
The weekend blur
Blurry weekend. Partly because I laid low and partly because I got a good buzz on last night. I couldn’t get *too* crazy this weekend because I was the manager on call for work. What do I do that makes me have to be chained to a cell phone? I work for a company that sells in house software and hardware solutions for Credit Unions. So when we get calls after hours, it usually means a system is down and members can’t get to their money. So I get called to make executive decisions and to get bitched at by clients when it takes too long to help them. This weekend was not too busy, but of course when I decided on Saturday that it was safe to go out to Java Joe’s to see Sean O’Donnell and Anya Marina play, I start getting work phone calls. *Sigh*. At least it was later in the night and I got to hang with Ali, Joelle, and DJ Drew before it was time to cut out. And both Sean and Anya’s sets were really good, so I am really glad I went to see them.
But Sunday was relatively work free and I ventured out to Sidebar early for BSC. DJ Drew and Heather were already there. And Ali showed up shortly thereafter. So I stuck around for a couple of hours. Kipper, Maria, and Matt showed up. And I also ran into a guy that knows me from the Lamp and Tattoo Dude. (I can never escape the Lamp, can I?)
I had made plans to meet Boytoy at the Lamp, so three martinis and some pizza later, I bailed the Sidebar and rolled down there. Russ was working and Tommy was there, so we hung with them. I got to sing Dido’s “Thank You” and No Doubt’s “Spiderwebs”. And I lost track of how many Amstel Light’s I had. Damn that shot of Jager!
But I am glad I got to hang with everyone before I leave. I am really going to try to be good this week and get what I need to do done so that I am not freaking out on Wednesday night when I have nothing packed and need to get up in a couple of hours to make my 6.30 am flight.
Yeah. Hope everyone had a fab weekend!
Friday, August 20, 2004
Which Element are you?
It’s Friday and I am at work early again. I just finished writing my own test for OK Cupid, which I will unveil once it’s approved. So to satisfy your addiction to these, here’s a good one…
Which Element Are You?
Fire
You scored scored a 50%!
You resemble Fire. Fire people exhibit righteousness. These people conform to the standard of moral law. They do what is right and are known for their sense of fair play. They are truthful, straight-forward, just, upright and virtuous in their dealings with others. They demonstrate courage, fortitude, zeal and pugnacity. They have the mental and moral strength that enables them to venture into unknown waters and to persevere and withstand danger.
They seldom show fear and are confident in their actions. They have mettle, resolution, and tenacity. They can face danger or difficulty without flinching or retreating. They will fight for their principles and have a stubborn persistence that is unwilling to recognize defeat. They have grit, back bone, guts, and are willing to keep fighting under all odds. They are aggressive and thrive on challenge. They have a nature that gives them physical energy, strength and vital powers. Their essential characteristic qualities are liveliness, energy, ardor, enthusiasm, courage and action. They have a firm, courageous and assertive disposition which is their most characteristic qualitiy. These people like to win or be the best in anything they pursue. Their aggressive nature makes them just one big ego. There is nothing more stimulating to them than to win, and there is nothing more depressing to their ego than to lose. They strive to be the center of attention and are at home when showing-off. They are determined, spiteful and revengeful. When angered, they will go to almost any extreme necessary to get revenge, and that revenge will more often be at the moment of the anger. When they're mad they want everyone around them to be mad. They are spiteful and will deliberately and openly do things which irritate someone to the point of anger. They are very short-tempered and anger easily. They are straight-forward and have no reservations about hurting the feelings of others, and they are prone to inflict physical pain as well as mental pain. Just as the main virtue of this sign is being just and right, its main fault is deceit.
Hmmm. See what happens when you haven't had coffee? Interesting that I am Fire since in Chinese Astrology, I am a Water Rat. My East-West balance is all off today.
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Thursday, August 19, 2004
7 more days and I’m outtie
Next week at this time, I will be on a plane headed for Seattle. 10 days in the Pacific Northwest with Norma and Bob and their kids, Andrew and Anneka. They will be picking me up in Seattle and we are going to hang for the day and do stuff like the Space Needle, Pike’s Market, and Experience Music Project. We will be staying in Port Townsend on Thursday and Friday night. On Friday, we are heading to Victoria, Canada to check that out. Then on Saturday, we are driving down the 101 to Oregon, through Astoria and then to Seaside.
Seaside is only 2 hours away from Portland, so we’ll be heading there off and on throughout the week. I have a really good friend that lives there and we also have a former client that has invited us over for dinner. And there are some cool things going on in Portland during the week we are in Oregon. Jem is playing at one of the best venues in town, the Crystal Ballroom. And for the sports chick in me, the Padres’ AAA team is playing a game that Friday.
I love being a tourist - travel journal, guidebook, and camera in tow at all times. But mostly, I am excited to get out of here and to be able to see another part of the country. I have never been to Washington and have not been to Portland and Seaside since 1991. And since I am going to be with Norma and her family, this trip will be mellow. I can save the nightlife for my trip to Vegas with Karaoke Heather.
If I am not around much the next week, it’s just because I am getting ready to go and I have a gazillion things to do before I leave. 
Oh and before I forget, go visit Rock the Walk. I’m really hoping that promotions at FM 94/9 will get on board with this, so I will be pimping it as much as possible. I am so glad that The Q are playing. (Gotta give Kipper some love!) Joelle and Ali get much props for staging this.
That’s it. If you have any suggestions for my trip, let me know. I am always looking for things to do and restaurant recommendations. Cool.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
I’m the Girl Anachronism
So last night I went to the Casbah to see the Dresden Dolls. I got there early because I did not have a ticket, so I did not want to be one of the unlucky people that did not get in if it sold out. And the freaks were out! There was one chick that was in a wedding dress type get-up, complete with a white parasol. And a guy in low slung pants with a big belt, who was shirtless, wearing a harness and carrying a rainbow hula hoop. BSC Heather was there working the event for FM 94/9, so I hung out with her for a bit and bought some merch - Dresden Dolls sweatbands. Very cool. Then Maria and Matt from BSC showed up so we found a prime spot on the left side of the stage. The Hula Hoop dude introduced the opening acts, Channing Cope and Bunky. They were all right. During Bunky’s set, Jeremy and Owen showed up, so Heather and I headed over to hang with them. And since Heather wasn’t working, we went and had a red headed slut. *Oh yeah*. Travis finally showed up and I went to say hi to him. Then after Bunky’s set, there was a gothic belly dancer interlude. Interesting. Like I said before, the freaks were out.
Dresden Dolls did not disappoint. To those unfamiliar with their music, they are a chick on keyboards and a dude on drums and that’s it. Garett’s promo for the album calls them “part goth, part cabaret.” I think that’s a pretty fair description. So for half of the show, I was on the floor with Travis and Heather. And “Coin Operated Boy” was really good. But there’s only so much of the floor that I can take. Really people, you go to a small venue like the Casbah, you really should shower and wear some deodorant. (Though I do admit that I love hooking up with a guy that has that sweaty concert smell - it’s way primal. But smelly sweaty is a no go.)
So I ended up outside with Jeremy, who was smoking a cigar. Much better to be outside to listen (and inhale second hand smoke...that was a good cigar) than to be with a bunch of smelly people. And Travis ended up outside with us a couple of times as well. The show ended pretty late (12.30ish). Then it was home for a few hours of sleep before dragging myself to work.
If you're curious about the band, go check out the
video for "Girl Anachronism".
For those interested in the definition of anachronism:
a·nach·ro·nism
n.
The representation of someone as existing or something as happening in other than chronological, proper, or historical order.
One that is out of its proper or chronological order, especially a person or practice that belongs to an earlier time: “A new age had plainly dawned, an age that made the institution of a segregated picnic seem an anachronism” (Henry Louis Gates, Jr.).
Yeah, I would say that
Amanda fits that bill.
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