Nerd2thend's Blog

End of October Music

2006-10-29T18:11:00.000-05:00

September Listening

2006-10-04T17:37:00.000-04:00

What I'm Listening To

2006-09-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

"The hand never lets go."

2006-07-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

And even more music

2006-06-26T18:33:00.000-04:00

More music

2006-05-26T16:25:00.000-04:00

A Musical Update (Is there any other kind?)

2006-05-11T13:25:00.000-04:00

some people think I'm pessimistic, but they'll probably die first

2006-04-07T16:03:00.000-04:00

and I'm here

2006-04-06T00:22:00.000-04:00

My 3 LPs

2006-04-04T20:11:00.000-04:00

They give me joy.

Going away for a bit. Be back soon.

2006-03-30T23:07:00.000-05:00

an update of sorts

2006-03-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

This awesome item on eBay caught my eye. If the bids stay low, I may just be in possession of my second vinyl: a single limited release of Arcade Fire’s Rebellion (Lies) with original art and a B side live version. AND it’s a kick-ass white.

With dual Wilco shows under the belt, it’s on to the Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie show at Duke. More mainstream than my taste usually allows, but good music is good music.

WILCO

2006-03-10T01:43:00.000-05:00

I Bet You Look Good...

2006-02-26T23:11:00.000-05:00

Getting on the bandwagon for a good reason.
Sorry about that last, irreverent post. In my defense, it had been a long day.

Sidenote (I have never met Napoleon, but I plan to find the time)

2006-02-23T17:29:00.000-05:00

The concessions of our humanity and failures of endurance limit our capacity of humans. The scale of personal measure is very a narrow scope in the grand scheme of things, only doubling or halving almost any of our strengths or weaknesses. As such our existence is predefined as futile and our meaning must come from within, since no answers lie outside of our personal perception.

Olde Fonts

2006-02-22T12:03:00.000-05:00

And all at once,
everyone abandons their blogs.

Not If You...

2006-02-18T01:07:00.000-05:00

More filler.
Currently recovering.

If done right...

2006-02-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

It seems fate has intervened with my iPod. Since my 3G one died a month ago, I was posed to get a new one soon.
Lucky me.
Apple has something else on the way. If they can make this work, touch screen and all, I will retire my lusting after new technology. Here's hoping.

Music Related Blurbs

2006-02-08T12:42:00.000-05:00

In honor of my music collection surpassing 60 gigs, I'm asking for everyone's recommendations. I don't care what your taste is, or how obscure the band or album: let's hear 'em!

Reward for anyone who can give me a decent quality, acoustic version of the Lemonhead's My Drug Buddy. I lost this when my iPod went bottom up and want, nay, need this song.

In the meantime, We All Will Become Silhouettes.

Also, I have a Wilco ticket! [Insert insane-happy look here] Big thanks to some girl that I work with (I forget her name).

SnapDragon

2006-02-07T00:24:00.000-05:00

A Man Without A Country

2006-02-03T14:51:00.000-05:00

I meant to recommend this one a while ago, but it got lost in the shuffle of the last few months. Perhaps the most insightful work of nonfiction I've read in the last year, this book hits on modern times in a way only great writers can do. The Twain of our times, Vonnegut creates an enjoyable rant that can be knocked back in a few hours. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Alpha Build

2006-01-31T20:01:00.000-05:00

Messing around with the new computer, seeing what I can do.

While it's still in infant stages, I figured I'd go ahead and use an idea for a film as creative fodder.
Digging way back to my old short stories, I put together an outline for low-budget horror flick. Whether or not it ever gets made, I still have some kick ass stuff for it.

Also, props to Hannah for showing me Mandolux~, where all the images abover were taken from. No copyright worries, it's not going anywhere else.

Oh, and for those wondering what Carrion means:

car·ri·on
n.
1. Dead and decaying flesh.

adj.

1. Of or similar to dead and decaying flesh.
2. Feeding on such flesh.

Requiem for an iPod

2006-01-29T23:18:00.000-05:00

"Alas, poor Yorick!
I knew him Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy."

SLIMER R.I.P.
March 2004- January 2006
He was a good iPod, and I'd have gladly had him at my side for another two years if not for a weak hard disk. He will be missed.

The mess

2006-01-28T11:58:00.000-05:00

Cleaning this up before I can make a true update.

Hell Yes

2006-01-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy.

Nights Of The Living Dead

2006-01-04T23:23:00.000-05:00

"Well the high school kids they're all fucked up.
Touching each other, oh my god.
Yeah and forty ounces was never enough.
We want to pass out in your yard, we want to pass out.
Dressing in drag your best friend's clothes,
while boys kissed boys in hotel rooms.
Oh and just when we thought we were no longer lost
they kicked us into the dirty streets of Atlanta.

So it's Friday night down on North Avenue,
where the gas station parking lot prostitutes
tried to fix their hair in our rearview mirrors.
You know we're just trying to get to the club and shake our asses.
A caravan of kids, some big old mess,
on an old wooden dock, oh we're bored to death.
We've got a bottle of wine, a fresh pack of smokes.
We're going to end up screaming about some midnight garage sale.

God, put down your gun can't you see we're dead?
God, put down your hand we're not listening.

The microphone cut off so we're screaming at the top of our lungs.

We are born so fresh, a golden prize,
until you scrape that knee and quickly realize
that you're lost in a fog on your way to death.
Oh a thick black line, a thick black line.
So you better speak up, better raise that voice.
Come on, scream loud all you girls and boys.
Let's get wild, wild, wild. Let's rejoice.
C'mon, c'mon. I want to hear that fucking noise.

Oh the push and pull of everything, oh this nightmare of electricity.
We are the living dead, yeah the living dead.
That's the way it is. That's the way it's always been.
Oh that snake slithered past my house today.
Oh I heard he caught you on a dark highway.
No the clouds didn't part they just grew into a storm.
I can still hear the sound of the rolling thunder.

God, put down your gun can't you see we're dead?
God put down your hand we're not listening.
God, put down your gun can't you see we're dead?
I said, God put down your hand we're not listening.
Oh we never were.

I want to fuck it up.
I feel so alive.
And I feel.
I want to fuck it up."

This Year's Model (work in progress)

2005-12-27T01:31:00.000-05:00

(To Be Completed)
This year closes on an off note. The trip up north included food poisoning and becoming very acquainted to worshiping the porcelain throne. But that aside, twelve months is a long fucking time and there's no way to eloquently put this: you people exhaust me, for better or worse. Phew! Well, the one thing that's been fantastic throughout is the music, so I'll put up my favorites this year. I love John Allison's list's so I'm doing one of my own. Note: not all were released recently, but give me a little while to catch up on all the good stuff out there.

13. Weezer, Make Believe
I'll admit it. I've never sat down and listened to Pinkerton from start to finish. I know this is horrible and awful, especially since Pink' would crack my top twenty all time albums. But Weezer was never meant to be a Sgt Peppers experience, a start to finish sitting. There are certain tracks that are great for closing the albums, but aside from that, all the rest could be shuffled and enjoyed.
Make Believe is no exception to this rule. While the radio is slow to pick up the best singles (Perfect Situation, We're All On Drugs), Believe cranks out a good dozen of them. Weezer lacks any sense of a singular style in this one, proving one thing: they can rock and hit that sublime note of true, good emo.

12. Franz Ferinand, You Could Have It So Much Better
Hype! Hype! Hype! And then some. We all got hooked on Take Me Out and then sat around salivating over the mere prospect of a sequel. When the advance single Do You Want To? came out mid year, I baulked at the non melodic noisiness mess of the thing, convinced the whole work was going to be a commercial and artistic bomb. Oops.
Unlike the more accessible hits from the 2004 release, Franz Ferdinand made an uncommon decision for a sophmore album: they took something that was their own and ran with it. While it's not totally original, they do make a good show ofcreating a nice blend of Mod style, early 80's pop and good old fashioned fun. Anyone who doubts the bands ability as legitimate musicians need only to listen to Eleanor Put Your Boots Back On some cloudy day.

11. Beta Band, The 3 EPs
Opening track is Dry the Rain. Need I say more? Oh, and the rest of the album keeps up the same pace. How do they do it?

10. The Killers, Hot Fuss
Maybe the only CD more commercial than Demon Days on this list. Hot Fuss is one of those albums everyone owns (or at least downloads), and for a good reason. Before they got pegged as the next It band by the TRL crowd, it was just a fresh sound. The flaws (some songs are melodic one trick ponies) and radio overplay aside, there's a lot of hear and some good, loud music. So forget that Mr. Brightside is now all but the official O.C. theme song, slip on some good headphones and look out into the night. I promise at least one chill.

9. The Bravery, The Bravery
Speaking of the 80s making a comeback...
This album is about as punk/goth as the Cure. And I mean that in a good way. While even I was quick to bash the Bravery's attempts at pop-like sound (Public Service Announcement, Swollen Summer), we all must remember the most Goth of all bands gave us Friday I'm In Love. Chuck Klosterman hit it right when his diffused the myth about those original punks (not in the true sense) that all those Hot Topic bands imitate: true nihilism doesn't give a damn, that includes caring about the darkness of a song.
Anyway, the Bravery are at their best when they kick it off (Honest Mistake) and cool it down (Tyrant). And please refrain from second-coming parallels (too late).

8. The Black Keys, The Big Come Up
Like early White Stripes, you get it or you don't. First person to make a "they really need to add a bass player" gets slapped. Yes, it all sounds the same. Yes, it's not "fresh". But you know what? The Black Keys rock in the truest sense of the word. No frills and "mid-fidelity" recording give the whole album a great hidden gem quality to it. If I could to buy one album on vinyl, this would be my pick. Crank up the midalbum Heavy Soul and if you can't appreciate it, we have nothing to talk about.

7. Arcade Fire, Funeral
I discovered this one just a few weeks ago, so it's saying a lot it's this high up. The ultimate backseat-car trip album. It's so dense it's impossible to keep count of which track you're on without checking and so beautiful you don't care. Headphones are a must: the muddled sound is perfection and it's a pity to miss one iota of it. I'd also recommend the best place to listen to it, but telling people to drive to the Pennsylvania mountains at dusk during snowfall is just impractical.

6. Spoon, Gimme Fiction

Spoon's been around for years, straddling the line of “mainstream” and “indie” sound. Gimme Fiction is more on the rolling side of rock, keeping things brisk and simple with catchy hooks and such. Though it drifts into mediocrity from time to time, the simple brilliance of a few songs (Summon You, I Turn My Camera On, Sister Jack) are enough to push the album to that overused instant-classic status. Grab the bonus piano and acoustic demos for this album for a real treat.

5. The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow
This first album I really sunk my teeth into in 2005. Yes, I only picked up the album after I saw Garden State. While the sound borrows a lot from the whole Belle and Sebastian vibe, The Shins own it and make it into a Simon and Garfunkel thing. The songs stay on the mellow side, the brilliant exception being So Says I with its meandering lyricism. I swear this band's going to end up with a Greatest Hits collection after three albums.

4. Belle & Sebastian, Push Barman to Open Old Wounds

Wow, I can't believe I've been missing out on these guys for ten years. If you're a neophyte like myself to these melodic dreamers, do yourself a favor and grab their early stuff first. While If You're Feeling Sinister is and always will be their crown jewel, B&S rivaled their best LP work by compiling all their EPs onto this two disk set. Beautiful and an alternative take on The State I Am In won me over immediately, slow building songs with wonderful pay off. If you have a few hours to spare in the car or on the stereo, simply pop in this one and let it go. Who knew fake children's music could sound so good?

3. Beck, Guero

2. Gorillaz, Demon Days

1. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot/A Ghost is Born

My most prized Christmas presents:

X X

Ones I'm getting to but haven't had time for: Deerhoof, the Flaming Lips, Kean, Spiritualized, Pinback, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Caribou, New Pornographers, and the Dandy Warhols. So quit bitching, I'll get to 'em.

Tis

2005-12-20T21:22:00.000-05:00

Like the new look?

Up in New York for family, be back at the end of the week. Been rather busy, so not too much happening in any sort of a post. Short hair, Christmas CD, Great Grandfather passed away and many apologies to this crazy loser. That's all I got. Now other people need to update.
Goodnight everybody!

Apolitical Moment

2005-12-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

An era is ending in American economics.

Not, not the dissolution if international trade restrictions, nor the fabled utopia of the future. Ok, so the media’s sensationalism tends to desensitize our concept of awe. All that’s happening is the retirement of the FED’s chair, Alan Greenspan. While not too much will be published on the transition (compared to say inflation or the Goggle business model), the changing of the FED’s guard is as solid of a marker one can find in modern times. Recessions and booms can’t be seen until months after they begin, trends are evaluated and reevaluated for decades and congressional legislation from over twenty years ago is now given credit by some for the late 90’s economic growth. In short, modern times have very few sure things and the FED’s chair is a biggie. While it appears that we the American people have been in touching distance from every crisis and success imaginable in the past 20 years, thing seem as benignly chaotic as when Mr. Greenspan began his stewardship.

So while our heads are still spinning from watching too much MSNBC, the man behind the curtain is poised to exit as quietly as he operated. Greenspan showed amazing restraint in keeping the cards hidden, and the nuggets of advice he has left over the years show equally impressive wisdom. His addresses to congress about “consumer exuberance” hold up in the rough waters of time, and though the talk of the goose that laid the golden egg ends with a beheading, I’ll be damned if we didn’t really want to get our hands on that bird. Hence I’m openly asking Mr. Greenspan on behalf of all us perplexed history and news junkies, let’s see your hand. I promise to buy a copy of the book in hardcover if you can offer some answers to the past years. Was the dot com boom/bust really that predicable, or even better, was the hard come down so inevitable? Are the times really a-changing with the realms of world and domestic economy blurring even greater, and if so, is that a good or bad thing? Before we begin scratching our heads at another opaque office, let’s resolve the mysteries of the last one. That was a long strange trip, Mr. Greenspan. Can you give us the what and why?

Reject False Icons

2005-12-11T18:02:00.000-05:00

No, it's not a real post. Still treading the proverbial water so expect something later in the week. In the meantime, here's an early Christmas present. Enjoy!

Digimon porn, here we come!

2005-12-09T21:23:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm number 4 in altavista's returns for "girl bound in ducttape". Thanks Conrad!
Tasteless jokes, no matter how smart, come back to haunt you. (The digimon thing is explained without perversion.)

Undone (The Sweater Song)

2005-12-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

Screw the MySpace style load, just click here. (Beware of popups and tygers.)

I "heart"
=w=

Dare

2005-11-30T22:53:00.000-05:00

Enjoy.
(opens Windows Media Player in new window)

It's here....

2005-11-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

Sputtering to life

2005-11-20T23:51:00.000-05:00

For some reason I can produce a blog about a million times faster than any essay. So using the old “we must strap cats to buttered bread” logic, I’m going to use Ranting and Raving as a template for my History homework. Oh fun, I know.

Just to get a number of things out of the way, I wish to inform anyone who is going to be in Chapel Hill next weekend that the Dandy Warhol’s (hell yeah!) are playing with something of an after party at Westgreen. AIM, email or phone are open for more information. All welcome, etc. This will double as a sort birthday celebration for a “special” friend of mine, so guys feel free to hit on her. Remember she was seventeen yesterday, so it’s totally ok now. You have been warned and you will be harassed by me (if you’re reading this, then yes, I will) so you may as well come up with a good excuse now. If you are in Chapel Hill, this IP checker will verify if this does indeed apply to you.

Unceremoniously, I’d also like to take this time to let you know the trumped Version 4.0 has been finished for a few weeks now. If you have no idea what the hell I’m talking about, don’t sweat it. The site will be revised with this sometime soon: the MySpace account is about as altered as I’m going to bother with. The flash will have to wait until 4.5, but I’ll make it look nice until then.

I’m producing a new mix album, the first full work since back in April. The working title is __push play, a playlist on my iPod I set up a while ago to pick 15 random tracks from my most played and recently added. I realize that this is also the name of a crappy Areosmith song, so I may need to ditch the title fast. A bit of a preview of what may be on it. As you can see I have no f*cking idea what it’s going to sound like.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Matthew Sweet
SNMNMNM (I may just save their cover of Father Christmas for my annual holiday mix)
Kanye West
Iggy Pop
Spoon
Belle and Sebastian (if I can find a leaked copy of their new, January release)
Franz Ferdinand
Deerhoof
Marvin Gaye
Beck
Wilco
Interpol
Dave Brubeck

Also, I move that we all enter a sate of sympathetic, nihilist relativism. That seems to be the way to go. You know with all the finals coming up. Don’t worry we can find God and the meaning of life after we finish our paper. And this latte. And Halo 2.

Crappy History Essays 4: Great Depression

2005-11-20T22:04:00.000-05:00

One would be apt to hesitant in calling the economy of the roaring 20’s a bubble economy. The use of the term tends to conjure an image that goes with its use in modern news programs and textbooks. While the economy of the 1920’s was in fact “bubble” in an economic sense, it was unlike the more recent dot-com bubble and housing market.

In fact, the hollowed out and ultimately fallible bubble markets of the 1920’s are the same ones we consider legitimate today. The stock market was then a relatively new creation, mostly over priced and built on false credit. Today, the same factors that brought down the economy in earlier half of the century are actually relied on to great extent. So, when one calls the 1920s a bubble economy, they must realize they are discussing a very different industry than the one we take for granted to day.

The economy was much too bravado in the credit and loans and the lack of government regulation and self checking industry was kept to a minimum. Much of what is considered now to be obvious in terms of restrictions and safeguards were discovered and justified in the period. Furthermore, the integration of industry, investment and agriculture was surprisingly underdeveloped for the short period of time in which all of these markets failed. Truly, there are three different factors at work here:

First, the aftermath of the First World War. The state of international business and friend investment was both highly unstable and grossly mistrusted. The Great War marked the end of t of the growth of imperialist systems. Europe was struggling to recover from the devastation to population and resources while Germany, a modern history economical powerhouse, was struggling under the burden of unreasonable debt and blame from the European struggle. Exacerbating this international situation was the shuffling of colonial resources and the first signs of turmoil for the western hold on developing countries. India would begin its revolution and Africa would and South America would provide equal if not greater challenges than the subcontinent.

Second, the development of then-new markets domestically. Prior to the industrialization of most of America in the late 1800’s there control and availability of market was limited to a select small percent of the population. Subsequent jumps in technology allowed the deployment of an open stock market, making investments all the more common for middle class Americans. With this new development, however, came a hurried and unsecured development of banking systems and credit loans on an unheard of scale (previously). While, there as serious development in many sectors, as well as many legitimate business practices, the lack of any federal regulation (deficit of any) ensured catastrophe if there was any significant failure of the poorly self regulated investment system.

Finally, the agricultural failure of the 1920’s proved a fatal blow to the majority of the land. Unbeknownst to many settlers in the Midwest, the Great Plains was an extremely delicate ecosystem. While many farmers were able to sustain a multiple generational way of life, they were really working off of a freak chance of unusual weather: the plains were prone to long dry spells, making extended farming of the area dangerous on any large scale. The overdevelopment of the plains led to the Dust Bowl, not only depriving the country and the farmers of any crop, but utterly destroying much of the established infrastructure essential to effective farming. Drought and foreclosure forced countless families to seek work in already hard hit costal areas while the consolidation of family farms by the foreclosing banks and trusts saw to it there was no future for the these displaced people .

Though the Great Depression hold’s fast in American memory, the economic and political conditions of the 1920s and 1930s go beyond the oft recollected Black Tuesday, Roaring Twenties and prohibition. The political climate was considerably tumultuous, giving the US its long forgotten First Red Scare and seeing a period of executive and congressional pacifism that current American climate is unaccustomed to. The most simplistic impression of bubble economy and subsequent recession should be spoken with regard momentous undercurrents in United States politics and society.

Crappy History Essay 3: Pearl Harbor

2005-11-20T22:01:00.000-05:00

After reconstruction, perhaps the most obvious event on this list would be Pearl Harbor. While the events of the specific day are well known, the implications in the aftermath are much more important. Before discussing the effects of the bombing, however, the setting for US’s road into WWII must be detailed. By December of 1942, there was a clear administrative push for US participation in the European theater.

The lend-lease programs had not only established America’s allies but also showed political willingness for military participation. While American foreign policy drifted to direct involvement, the country was not unified enough to jump into massive militarization. Study of the period’s political climate showed a vocal and large minority voice that decried early involvement as hawkish and an unnecessary endangerment to the country. Isolationists with a bitter taste left from World War I saw America’s domestic problems as too pertinent to put on the backburner for a war not even in the same hemisphere. Even FDR’s clear support was not the blessing it once may have held a few years earlier, the country still struggling in depression after years of public programs. With the executive office beginning a slide from its once massive favor and congress holding split, without a shove the US’s involvement was relatively faint and its full militarization was far from guaranteed.

In a repeated trend, it was the idea of mutual defense that guaranteed Japan’s declaration of war with the US extended across the Atlantic. It is interesting to note that Germany’s agreement to take war against Japan as war against the axis is now viewed as a blunder. While it is obvious at this point in time that the United States was not going to ally with Germany, the official declaration of war between the two countries moved American involvement into Europe instead of possible distraction in the Pacific. Hence, Japan’s unilateral decision to attack a nation split on war shifted the battlefield worldwide.

On the following side of the attack, America entered a period of militarization it would never truly reverse. As was customary practice among western nations, in times of peace, arms production and enlistment was only a fraction of full capability. This trend can also be seen in Great Britain, which was able to pull off nothing shy of a miracle in creating a formidable air force nearly from scratch in a matter of weeks. The United States was able to pour massive amounts of capitol and population into production, creating a war-ready nation effectively overnight. While the intention was defense of both the nation and our allies, the side effects were much further reaching. The economic depression that had mulled the country evaporated, replaced with a powerhouse of industry and production that would carry into the 1950s. Perhaps more importantly military industrial complex that arouse out of this momentum would both willingly and unwillingly fuel the Cold War.

Furthermore, just as WWI established the US as a world power, WWII would up the status to superpower. The USSR, whose efforts won the war more than anything else, was the only other nation to receive such a benefit in the aftermath. While the other allies all walked away with a black eye (Great Britain losing control of its imperial status, France being occupied or collaborating and Russia losing genocidal amounts of its population), the US was able to come off with essentially a clean victory. The Pearl Harbor can be attributed for allowing America this level participation, and as consequence can also be tied to a number of other outcomes that would not have happed in a more gradual or later participation. In retrospect, such things as the Manhattan Project, US neo-imperialism, the outcome of China’s civil war, the geographical positioning of the Iron Curtain and the end of European hold over many African, East Asian and South American nations can be attributed to the quick entrance of the US into WWII.

Crappy History Drafts 2: Frontier

2005-11-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

The next definitive moment came rather soon after Reconstruction: the closing of the American continental frontier in the 1870s. Up until this period, the idea of westward movement was a source of hope to many people: For the lower and middle classes, it was a definite alternative to their life on the eastern (and later western) cost. The idea of renewal and striking out on one’s own was essential in creating the popular concept of Manifest Destiny. Not only did this idea saddle itself to American borders, but to political and economical foreign policy. The grievances listed by the Continental Congress, the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, the Monroe Doctrine and the tensions between north and south leading up to the Civil War were all driven by the unsettled territory to the east of the United States. While the existence of this constant frontier was influential in America’s history, its dissipation has arguably been the most severe factor in shaping the past century and a half.

The concept of expansion and the US’s alleged divine right to pursue it was potent enough that once the valve was closed, overflow became severe. Earlier immigration policy became obsolete without open space to fill. There is an interesting trend corresponding to the shrinking of the frontier and the arrival of more condensed urban ethnic foundations. Perhaps, with no where to stake their own on a massive scale, late 19^th century immigrant populations found the east cost a more reasonable location to root.

However, the back flow was not limited to immigration by any means. The lack of continental development made idol hands of American foreign policy: many of the countries allies and enemies had been created in negotiating and warring for what are now the 48 contiguous states. France was our ally for helping defeat the British (who limited colonial expansion over the Appalachians) and sold us huge amounts of land for nearly nothing. Mexico stood in the way of our southern border, resulting in both Texas’s sovereignty and the 1860s Mexican American War. With the Midwest and West cost first won over, then settled, it seemed that satellite territories would be the next leap. The Spanish American War was primarily a reassertion of Manifest Destiny by way of Monroe Doctrine: motivation of securing a new US state by the guise of protecting our South and Central American interests.

While the earlier years of this thinking was met with mixed results (Cuba remained independent, Hawaii became the 50^th state), the idea transformed into the undertone of 20th century America: a land of opportunity, hopes and, perhaps most importantly, a divinely backed international developer. Current political leaders and pundits are known to reference God as our champion in spreading democracy and opportunity. One can only imagine what American participation in the World Wars would have been if Canada still had yet to be settled.

Crappy History Drafts 1

2005-11-20T20:38:00.000-05:00

The most import events in history are the most difficult ones to write about. The more important an event is, the greater the shadow it casts on the world that will follow. Naturally, in selecting only a few occurrences to define a nation's history, the impacts of these events may supersede the actions themselves. Taking this logic a step further, it is also necessary to contrast the world before, as to grant a better contrast of before and after. While there is always a tendency to view the current as unprecedented complex, there is little argument against the last century and a half's radical speed of change and conflict.
From the standpoint of the United States, the modern world began it's gestation following the Civil War. There are obvious and nuanced details that can be attributed to the before and after of this conflict, but the vast majority of them can be explained by what people identified themselves as. Prior to the Civil War, it was customary to refer to oneself not as an American, but as a Carolinian, a New Yorker and so forth. The idea of a union over the idea of statehood was not a new one, but it was not prevalent enough to shape the language of everyday life and, in some cases, politics. In particular, the Civil War was impressive for the crossing of state lines to solidify a national, abet polarized, identity.
When the nation finally laid down arms in the bloodiest war it had ever seen, the Union had been persevered. The greatest hurdle was the reincorporation of the southern, confederated states back into the country. This process, Reconstruction, was not only an attempt to rebuild the south's economic infrastructure and rewrite slavery laws, but to move forward the national identity that was defended at such great cost.
A great deal has been studied of Reconstruction, beyond the scope of any single essay to do such an enormous event full justice. However, there are several very important trends that can be drawn in crude form to represent the south's journey to re-admittance back into the union.
First is the imposition of Martial Law on rejoining Confederate states, significant not only for the first large scale use of the constitutional power, but the show of the Federal government’s new strength in the post-war US.
Secondly, with Martial Law came a restructuring of localized policy and subsequent attempts to reform the area's more racist nature. While there was still a great deal of turmoil left in the African American population, the ten years following the war and the abolition of slavery represented the largest stride to equality in American history: with associations of the defeated Confederate Army and Government barred temporarily or permanently from voting or holding office, black representation congress and governorship was at a historic high. Unfortunately, the nature of Reconstruction proceeded in repeated leaps forward followed by three backward steps. The return of African American oppression appeared first in barring blacks from voting based on such laws as slave heritage or reading tests. Socially the situation was at nadir: perhaps the most shameful chapter in American history with Jim Crow laws taking effect and lynching occurring at a disturbing level.
Yet the more tumultuous this was the endurance of pursuit of equality is all the more impressive. From this phase marks the first in a long line of significant social changes. In a broad sense, the disturbance from Reconstruction provided a momentum that went unbroken in the US until climaxing in the 1960s and 70s. With this, Amendments to the Constitution and inspiration for women's suffrage followed, giving the 1860 the prestigious honor of birthing America's age of social progressivism.

A penguin.

2005-11-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

A penguin. The patron saint of caffeine. Not to be confused with the saints of late night studying (Mr. Pep-pill) or of sugar highs ("Buzzy" the Hummingbird).

A buddy icon for the one person who'll use it.

2005-11-14T23:09:00.000-05:00

What I really look like.

2005-11-14T23:08:00.000-05:00

Byproduct

2005-11-14T23:05:00.001-05:00

Entropy in action: after.

2005-11-14T23:05:00.000-05:00

Entropy in action: before.

Out of Sarcasm

2005-11-03T13:29:00.000-05:00

Why are the maudlin thoughts the only ones that are transcribed? In this day and age’s world of emo, livejournal and pop existentialism the depressed reign supreme. We all feel as bad as you do.

So in consequence, apathy is the new cool.

Thank you, all you wonderful bloggers.

We are a nation of intrinsically narcissistic pseudo intellectuals. Too busy self actualizing. All falling impossibly short of a fully stabilized psyche. Eradicating pursuit of any concept near nirvanic balance.

In one of the great paradoxes, our personal critique is now inhibiting any self fulfillment, secular or spiritual.

Or is that just me?

Signing off until a later day when I learn flash.

-Henri

2005-10-27T22:21:00.000-04:00

Just saw Trainspotting for the first time. I'm rocking out to my own soundtrack mix from the movie (my unoriginal but personal cover is shown above). The site is still "down" for now untill further notice, sorry.

2005-10-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

2005-10-11T01:06:00.000-04:00

Uncanny isn't it? An update as well as some nice html layout later in the week.

Tupping Liberty (Part 2)

2005-09-21T22:14:00.000-04:00

Why is it the only people who update their blogs regularly seem to fall on the most shitty turn of events? Not naming any names here *cough*anitamyskylerrie*cough*
(I’ll slap, the first person to point out that people who are self reflecting are more likely to suffer from existential crises. I know I’ve overused this phrase lately, but there are no good synonyms!)

Well, I’m breaking the trend!
First here’s linkage to John Allison’s Blog. Always entertaining.

Next, we have a start to a cynical story that I began but never went anywhere with!

See this is “fun”!

Yeah, I know, this post kinda sucks...

Go listen to some good music. Be merry. Etc. You know the drill.

Reality Check!

2005-09-19T23:58:00.000-04:00

The "mix" below's cover.

The State I Am In

2005-09-19T19:42:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't you like to get away?
Give yourself up to the allure of
Catcher In The Rye

***

Walk away from any conversation that devolves to you defending nihilism against generalized spirituality. Friends don't let friends debate existential perspectives.

***

If you were to ask me to make you a mix in the next few weeks, it would be some arrangement of these songs. These are all new to me, so no comments on my rampant eclecticism. (I feel no shame about putting Jamiroquai on there.)

The State I Am In Bell and Sebastian
Heavy Soul The Black Keys
New Pollution Beck
~~Woke Up This Morning~~ Leonard Cohen*
Jesus Etc. Wilco

Heavy Metal Drummer Wilco

Spiders (Kidsmoke) Wilco

Dog's Got A Bone The Beta Band

If You’re Feeling Sinister Bell and Sebastian

Seeing Other People Bell and Sebastian

No Digity Blackstreet

Take Your Mama Out Scissor Sisters

Season of the Witch Donovan

Canned Heat Jamiroquai

Halleluiah Rufus Wainright

She’s Not There The Zombies

Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd

Hewlett's Daughter Grandaddy

*note: the version of this song I had was mislabeled and therefore dropping the "new" status. For the best recording of this tune, download A3's extended (5:15 playtime) version.

Why I hate little kids.

2005-09-13T16:35:00.000-04:00

This was a short story I wrote back in middle school. Now it's easy to see the undeveloped writing style and numerous grammatical errors, but I still get a kick out of the dialogue. Enjoy.

The sun rose even higher as we hiked on. It was a Saturday and our small group of ten seemed to wilt in the heat. Every time I looked back to the worn, dusty trail that led to the cars, I reminded myself that I was getting “community credit” for this treck. When I had signed up to be “helper” for the overnight, fourth grade hike back in May it had seemed like a good idea. The poster depicted a teenage boy sitting around a campfire with a pitched tent in the background and a marshmallow on a stick, with the words “Two days of wilderness fun!” in bold purple letters. Now, with a fifty-pound bag on my back and nine eight -year-olds whining at my ankles, I wish I could have told that councilor she should take a hike.

The scout leader had already forbid any sort of combustion on this trip, let alone a campfire. When dusk rolled around, I found myself eating a peanut-butter sandwich and sitting next to a halogen lantern. The tent that the scout leader provided for me, that was probably older than my five-year-old brother, reeked of mildew and wasn’t waterproof. I had been promised a new tent and an inflatable mattress when I had first signed up, but the little demons had their parents make sure that the scout leader had enough bee-sting kits and two way radios for all of them, so the budget had been dispersed. And of course, at about ten o’ clock, there was a brief, soaking downpour.

It must have been near midnight when I was awakened by a violent shaking. I sat up straight only to see two small silhouettes against the tent. My eyes adjusted quickly, and I saw two of the little kids looking at me with grins. “What?!” I whispered so not to wake anyone else.

“We’re going.” the slightly taller one said.

“Good for you.” I mumbled. Maybe one of them would get lost in the woods.

“No, you don’t understand,” he said again, “WE are going.” I raised one eyebrow at this response.

“What if I, don’t go? Are you going to beat me up?” I said sarcastically. The grin faded to a scowl.

“Then I tell Mr. Scout Master that you hit Mike over here.”, the tall one said and tilted his head in the direction of the other kid. I had no reply, and his frown grew to a smirk.

****

Half an hour later I was standing in a clearing full of mounds of rust the size of houses. “This is it.” I said flatly. “What is it? The secret heavy machinery burial ground?”

“No,” the tall one said, “This is Cloud 9. My dad told me that there was once this small amusement park up here that closed about 50 years ago.”

“Aw, were you hoping to go on the “Marwe Go Wound”?” I said in my best infant voice. The kid continued like he hadn’t heard my comment.

“They claimed it closed because not enough people came, but there was a paved road that came up here, now grown in, and I have my own reasons to believe it was something else.”

I made an anonymous sound and waved my hand. “Now, we go in there.” the kid said pointing to an old sign that had Haunted House written on it in peeling paint. I started to object but in the moonlight I could see a tear forming in Mike’s eye.

The ride was still relatively intact, despite its age. It was quite an ingenious design. The cart in which the rider was in followed a track that started at the platform, then took a short drop into an underground tunnel, where the rest of ride took place.

While the boys amused themselves in the cart, I tried to figure out an aging sign painted behind them. The moon had gone behind a cloud and it was too dark to make out some of the letters. So far all I had was “GO” and an “AND”. All of the sudden, a metallic clang shot through the air and the chain beneath the cart and the boys started to move. I ran up to the cart and yelled at them to get out. The tall one turned to me and stuck his tongue out. There was another ten feet before the car entered the cave.

I jogged with the cart trying to coax the boys out of the cart. “OK, you’ve had your fun, now lets go.”

Eight feet.

The large metal door at the end of the ramp opened automatically to reveal a entrance to the ride.

Five feet.

I grabbed one of the boy’s arms and tugged, ripping the sleeve of his plaid shirt. The entire ride was apparently automated, so what could have started it, a short?

Three feet.

“The ride is probably falling apart!” I yelled, but it was a futile attempt. The cart entered the dark, which engulfed the two boys in a shroud of shadow.

It hadn’t occurred to me that the drop was so sudden. Without slowing my pace, I followed the cart through the open door. At the speed I was going, the floor seemed to give out beneath me. A sudden panic shot through my body. For a second I was free falling into, what seemed to be, oblivion. In an obvious adrenal spasm, my hand caught hold of the cart. Pain ran through my arm as I tried to pull myself up. Courtesy from a dim light in the distance, I could see Mike’s face looking down on me, or rather, beyond me, in sheer terror. Still hanging on, I used every ounce of strength I had to pull myself up into the cart.

Once I was in, the two boys seemed frozen in place. The cart itself was completely metal, save the padded seats, whose cotton innards were spilling out. The cart moved at a steady five miles an hour, but all my hopes of going back were diminished when I heard the door close behind us. Still unsure of how elevated the track was, I picked up a stone from the floor of the cart and tossed it over the edge. About ten seconds later I heard a plunk.

As we passed by the flickering yellow light, our car slowed down to a mere two mph. We turned the corner and we were completely deprived of light.

“M-Mr.…I’m sorry.” Mike said to me in a scared voice, “I wan’a leave.”

“Shh!” I could hear the other kid say, “You hear that?”

“Roger, stop scaring me.” Mike said, “An’ stop tugging on my arm.”

“I’m not tuggin-“ The air was suddenly filled with a high pitched scream. I could feel Mike being lifted from next to me. I reached for him, but found only air. His scream continued from behind us for a few moments before it was silenced by a gut-wrenching crunch.

I could feel Roger huddled up against me, trembling.

***

It must have been a half an hour later when the next light came by. Roger and I hadn’t said any thing to each other since Mike had disappeared. I was relived to find that, to my count of turns, we were approaching the platform. Our car had lost momentum, though, and we stopped below the light. Ahead I could hear the wirr of the chain that would take us back up to the platform. The wall had become increasingly close to us, and the supports were only a few inches away. There was a strange minute where Ralph just looked at me.

Our silence was broken by a heavy thud behind us. I froze. There was another, and Ralph cowered into the cart. Soon I recognized them as foot steeps, drawing ever nearer to us. I refused to let my mind wander on what could be making them. They were out of our light’s reach, and I could not confirm, or disprove, my fears. I looked at Ralph and mouthed “push”. He was bewildered for a moment, but then saw me pushing our cart by bracing the side of the wall. The footsteps were still growing close, but our cart had already hit the chain.

We were finally getting out and as the metal door opened, a breeze rushed over us. Our cart was on the platform and I let relief come over me. However, as the metal door closed behind us, something unexpected happened to our cart. We were not slowing. A booster we had overlooked earlier gave us an unwelcome burst of speed. As I rushed by, the moonlight caught the sign I had not been able to read.

“GO N E AND ET A RE ID G N ”

“GO ONCE AND GET A FREE RIDE AGAIN!”

The metal door slamming shut cut my scream short.

Sympathy for the Devil

2005-09-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

Blog on an indeffinite hiatus. Too little free time and too much drama to do justice.
TTYL.
-Henry

Ugggggggggggggg

2005-09-10T13:58:00.001-04:00

Written at 2 AM on a Friday night. Anyone who wishes to maintain that I’m a sweet, innocent individual stop reading this. Anyone who does read this, by noon tomorrow I’ll be over it so don’t take this too seriously.

Things I’d like to make clear tonight:

If someone in customer service goes out of their way to help you, after their store is closed, the correct response to “I’m sorry we can’t make any more espresso,” is NOT “Fuck this shit, screw y’all.”
THREE people MUST close EVERY night at Caribou. I don’t care if it’s slow at 10 PM, you NEED that extra person so you can get out before 1 in the f*king morning.
There is no point in LOCKING DOWN COMPANY SYSTEMS so standard procedure can’t be finished. Why the hell would anyone do this, it makes no damn sense.
If you wear a Ralph Lauren Polo, you are a f*king asshole. If you wear one on Franklin street and lure DRUNKEN FEMALES away from THEIR group FRIENDS, congratulations, you’re the biggest asshole in the world.
The worst thing you can do to anyone is stop talking to them and just ignore them. Telling them off is at least forthright and honest. Just pretending the person isn’t trying to get your attention or apologize is f*king childish.
CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF IN A PUBLIC PLACE.

That’s it for tonight, I’m going to get up at 6 f*king AM to go BACK TO WORK after closing at ONE THIRTY AM. ARGGG!

DMC Memo: We're allergic to life's bowl of cherries.

2005-09-07T01:14:00.000-04:00

Ok, screw my site.
Read this and listen to this.
Thanks again to Conrad for being mature beyond his college years.

None of the above. F*k it cut the cord and turn that shit up.

2005-09-04T15:37:00.000-04:00

Now Playing

(CLICK ON ALBUMS FOR EXTRAS)

Schindler’s Essay

2005-09-01T13:08:00.000-04:00

Often cinema’s greatest images pass before the viewer without more than a blink of an eye. While many movie goers in my generation walked out of the Matrix ranting and raving about the bullet time effect, they fall asleep watching the camera follow the waiter’s tray around the crowded restaurant in Citizen Kane. The hard angles and framed screens of Sin City are no comparison to the selective cuts in Psycho’s shower scene. In truth, the greatest talent of many classical directors was to create a film that was so deceptively inconspicuous in its shooting, as to not draw the viewer out of the movie’s world.

In a sad irony, Stephen Spielberg is often given a commercial wrap: aspiring directors can cite his name as influence to no effect. He is not considered bad, by any means. Any one who attended this summer’s adaptation of War of the Worlds can attest to his ability. “But,” one may ask, “where is his style? His originality and creativity?”

Well, much like the late greats of cinema’s pre blockbuster age, his greatest work is attested to by not being in-your-face apparent.

Anyone who doubts Spielberg’s genius has either never seen Schindler’s List or spent the entire movie, trailers to credits, making out. The movie hits hard in the sprit without ever giving the viewer a feeling of manipulation, like some dramas (see: I Am Sam). The acting is suburb, the story is one of the greatest tragedies ever told and the direction is impressive. One could continue giving Schindler’s List general praise for hours, but I’ll simply point to the seven Academy Award wins (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, ect.) and five additional nominations and let the film’s reputation stand for itself. It’s really good, ok? What’s the most impressive about this film, though, is not greatly apparent in a casual viewing.

The story goes that when Spielberg was talking to studio executives in the earliest days of preproduction someone told him, “Why don’t you simply make a donation of some sort rather than wasting everyone's time and money on a depressing film?” To be honest, it’s natural to question the shamelessness of any individual who will put the greatest tragedy of the 20^th century on a weekend box office chart. (Spielberg didn’t profit from this film personally, claiming it would be “blood money”. He opted instead to use proceeds to start the Shoah Foundation to “to collect and preserve the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses.”) Schindler’s List, almost in response to such critics, is an amazing achievement outside of lone narrative. Spielberg uses technique to great success, creating subtle yet brilliant nudges throughout the movie.

The first, and perhaps most obvious of these effects, is the use of color. The opening of the film is, sadly, forgotten by many, having no clear narrative connection. This, with the exception of the very end tribute to the Schindlerjuden (the individuals he was responsible for saving), is the only piece of the film in full color. Less shrewd viewers may miss several important pieces of this scene.

First, the wardrobe and set are clearly not modern, reflecting a 1940s or 50s style. Second, the ceremony is to mark the start of the Sabbath, done on Fridays and beginning prior sunset. The family is gathered around the two candles, representing, traditionally, remembrance and guarding, very appropriate to the message of the movie. Finally, the candles are left as alone onscreen, the family surrounding it earlier now out of frame and presumably the room.

Here Spielberg grants a context to the film: this family could be one remembering the recent events, or, more intuitively, practicing one last, undisturbed tradition before the direct cut to the arrival of displaced Jewish families in Krakow. As the peacefulness of the family dissipates, the world becomes a gray, the twirling smoke of a candle replaced with the harsh steam of a German train, and melodic verse of prayer cut by mechanical sounds of oncoming industrialized war. With amazing craft, we are told by all cinematic fronts: the storm has come.

Unceremoniously, a teller proceeds to set up a typewriter and addresses the Jewish families approaching. The camera uses a wide-angle lens, giving a sense of space and leaving the crowded station in full focus. In a technique repeated many times, Spielberg lets the view simply become overwhelmed in the detail of the crowd, then cutting to close-ups of the individuals. Switching back and forth between the two, he creates the most effective scope of the situation: hundreds upon hundreds of displaced persons, but each so clear they seem unwilling to merely fade into a crowd.

This theme of individuals within a crowd pushes the film to one of the most effective uses of color in a predominantly black and white movie. During the most chaotic scene of the film, the ghetto liquidation, a single girl is granted bold red. Her coat distinguishes her from the equally focused horrors surrounding her (see next paragraph). This use of color adds an entirely new dimension to the film without using cheapening special effects or forced perspective by focus. Instead, we are given a view into Schindler‘s eyes as they track the girl without breaking from the massacre occurring.

This unflinching look at the terrors happening within the film is used again and again. At the empty factory following the ghetto liquidation, every soup pot is in sharp view while an equally prominent Schindler looks down. Following Stern’s near shipment and Schindler’s subsequent rescue, the objects and personal belongings being sorted by the Nazis are in full detail, once more allowing the viewer to simply be overwhelmed by the scale of it all. Most effective, however, is the use of wide-angle lens during the Krakow work camp. Whenever Amon Goeth (the camp’s cruel commander) is on his veranda (be it downing alcohol or sadistically sniping) the sheer cliffs and gated fences below are given equal focus to the foreground.

In the hands of a less skilled director, this overuse of the long shot would simply be muddling to the film and the characters would simply be lost in this open setting. Spielberg fortunately does amazing work with set, lighting and overall mis en scene. In order to accommodate this persistent deep view, he switches lighting and shooting styles repeatedly. For example, tense scenes, such as Amon’s unnerving confrontation with his maid Helen, the composition of the final list and the climatic last minutes at the second factory, use heavy contrast lighting reminiscent of the Noir era. On the other end, the ghetto liquidation scene, while heavily shadowed, devolves to much more documentary style in camera work. Anyone who has seen Gillo Pontecorvo’s masterpiece The Battle of Algiers will instantly note the 1940’s newsreel influenced cinematography.

In one of the most subtle tricks of the movie, the director uses mis en scene to great effect in close quarters dialogue. During Schindler‘s many early conversations with Stern, the shot is framed perfectly mid with great symmetry in the room. Schindler face is always half lit, from the background, and nearly always on the right side of his face. Speculating, this is to show the two faced nature of the man in his starting motives. About one hour into the film, however, just prior to the ghetto liquidation, both Schindler and Amon are show shaving. As the scene progresses and the camera moves around, we now see Schindler fully illuminated, perhaps a sign for the character’s coming change of heart, and now Amon is given a face splitting shadow. These framing lighting changes are then carried over to the two men’s mis en scene dialogues, reminiscent of Schindler and Stern’s near the films start.

The director gives no rest effort, adding another major theme into the movie. Remember back to the opening’s train station sequence, each person giving his or her name to the clerks who place them onto a simple list. Without too much effort the viewer realized that the list dehumanizes, taking each face, each history and reducing it to simple text on their typewriters. Later in the movie, while Schindler is making the famous papers to save each Jew, he is apparently undoing the process in this first scene. While he and Stern file through their workers, they attempt to bring humanity back to the condemned and catalogued masses.

Barely scratching the surface of the film's many technical and thematic achievements it is clear to see Mr. Spielberg has certainly done his homework. The constant use of wide-angle lenses to give an encompassing scale of the setting, using subtle lighting tricks to emphasize character’s motives (and different scenes’) feelings, and the brilliant control of color all attest to the film’s amazing success. One could write a decent sized book on cinematic technique based on the varying styles and sweeping humanistic themes found in this film alone. In short, Schindler's List does, and will continue to, stand as a great piece of cinema on many, many levels.

Foamy the squirrel.

2005-08-30T23:01:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen this, you're missing one of the best things on the web. Cynical beyond all belief.

2005-08-30T21:03:00.000-04:00

There have been a lot of spamming comments recently. I'll do my best to clear them off as they come, but please discourage this by not clicking on any of their links.

Delays due to construction.

2005-08-30T17:19:00.000-04:00

If you’ve visited the site in the past day or two, you may have noticed repeated pictures of myself or a scrambled page altogether. I’ve been tinkering around with the template code (mostly to no avail) and finally compromised with the current format you see now. No, I’m not an egotistical bastard for putting my photo up: this is actually the same layout Newsweek uses for editorials. If you have a problem with this, take it up with George Will. If you missed it, I posted an explanation on reformatting the sight.

Also, since I’m lacking the hours right now, I’ll sample out some coming posts which may or may not make it to here by the end of the week.

Schindler's Essay: My essay on technique and cinematography I have to write for film class… Watching a 4 hour movie about the holocaust twice in a week. Answers the question: Why does god hate me? Why?!

A View To A Kill: The best bad movie ever. Answers the question: Who is the coolest Bond villain ever? (Hint: he’s got a fever for some cowbell.)

Walken this way

Last but not least:
My’s Birthday: according to her the apocalypse is scheduled on August 31^st. Stay tuned as we cover it.

Hell is an iced latte.

2005-08-28T22:46:00.000-04:00

Take a moment to image the worst possible way a day at work can go. Now, I’m not talking about a fire or a robbery, but just one of those calamity ridden, mediocre shifts.

Got one in mind? Good.

Mine was worse.

Opening at 7:30 and going until 4. One fridge that stopped working (the one with all the milk and Chai in it). I was restricted in computer authorization. A good chuck of the bakery was expired. My co-opener didn’t know most of the procedures, from restocking to making Cooler ^TM mix. The coffee overflowed. Whipped cream was made using half and half. Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria.

Enough, you get the point. Top all this off with more customers than I have ever seen at Caribou (Ever, the previous total was 29 transactions per half hour. Our numbers read 14, 25, 27, 34, 20, 19, 24…) and you have the makings of a nervous break down. I picked a hell of a day to start running two miles when I wake up.

Before you start sending sympathy comments (yeah, right- editor), let me finish. While you might think I would be in the mood to cry in back or kill someone outright, I actually enjoyed it. A lot of the student regulars came back, I got a few hugs from them. The crew that ended up taking over for me at 3 was amazing… we had four people working as opposed to two and they brought a catchy 80’s mix. So, even though the store was busy as hell, I was in such a rush that I really had fun. I was friendlier than I’ve been in months.

Just goes to show you….

I don’t know what the f*ck it shows, but I’m sure it’s good.

I don't care if the promotional catchphrase is right, I can still hate it's smug 'effn guts.

2005-08-28T22:28:00.000-04:00

nerd2thend: Wait how do you spell your last name? I need to curse it.

A Ghost is Born: an update on updates

2005-08-27T14:47:00.000-04:00

My first instinct in writing this is to place the blame on My. Of course, I’d do it in good humor, half joking, as to not seriously offend her, and also give the whole post a lighter note. This would, hypotheticly, be followed by numerous quotes and slightly non sequitur jpegs and links. And I would wrap it all up in a cliché little note of ambiguity, something along the lines of “Or I could just be full of it.”

Let’s try something a little different this time.

I never mention it, but nearly all of my blog entries are copied from little rants I compose in Word, ussualy when I’m stuck someplace without internet access or I’m trying to avoid doing homework. Most of the rants I compose get deleted, too fragmented in thought or broken in grammar to ever make sense to anyone else. A select few (one out of ten or so) make it to a folder in My Documents called “Ranting and Raving”.

As I’ve stated in my mission statement to this blogger page, I don’t enjoy reading or posting anything too deep or personal. No he-said-she-said and very little off the cuff remarks on events in my life. I lack the bravado of Tim, who puts a “love it or leave it” warning on his site and posts any damn thing he thinks of, good and bad. I also fall short of Anita and My’s quick updates about personal moods, thinking I’d come off as too needy. This is not saying I think less of their postings: the contrary is true, I check these three sites more than any. If anything I respect them more for being able to lay their lives out so confidently.

To the point, I’ve noticed a recent trend in how I’m viewing other people’s trials and tribulations. More and more I seem to experience feelings of befuddlement over the most serious problems in friends and close acquaintances. “Why not?” and “And..?” have leveled up to become the most used phrases in my vocabulary. My sympathy still goes out, but it seems that the greatest obstacles people have encountered are their own glass ceilings.

Now here’s where I’m cautious. Whenever I write one of these “too serious” monologues, I remember an email I received from an old friend in middle school, where he waxed on and on about the importance of keeping close friends and so forth. To be honest, it scared me that anyone was talking a light matter so seriously and just creeped me out in general.

What the hell does this all mean? Well, boys and girls, let me point it out to you. Stop worrying so much. Cease with the soliloquies and heartfelt proverbs. We’re twenty for gods sake. I can’t write an essay that does justice to Imanual Kant’s rules of Metaphysics, so I can be sure as hell I can’t write a proverb on my Xanga that will enlighten anyone.

I realize in writing this, I’m going against all the things I just ranted against. So sue me. You need to follow the law in order to change it. I’m saying to hell with the deep questions about life and so should you. You know why?

1. You are good looking. You may not be incredibly attractive at this very moment, but I’d say close to 95% of your looks can be controlled through effort in being healthy and having a fashion sense.

2. You are intelligent. You went to East Chapel Hill (or similar), the high school equivalent of MIT: if you had been in any other normal school in the country, you would have graduated top of your class.

3. The only difference between you and the Jocks/Nerds/Plastics is that they care more about Muscles/Education/Looks than you do. See numbers 1 and 2. Oh and the reason they’re more successful or get the girl/boy is that they don’t worry too much about it: they Just do it ™.

4. Everyone thinks about the Big Question, and no one has the answer. Do you think if Einstein, Plato, Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Socrates and Da Vinci couldn’t get it, you can? If you want to still think about it: read what they said, they put more into a book than you can deduce in a lifetime.

5. Wear sunscreen. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Ok, so there you have it. And from now on I’ll post those fragmented thoughts. The most interesting Blog I’ve read in the past few months began with the title “Anything that makes a girl want to suck my d**** is ok with me.” and gave an opinion of women’s beauty magazines that would have made Jonathan Swift proud. So, I’m changing the title of my blog to “ranting and raving”.

If I’m just full of shit, I can live with that.

(Also, this Wilco album kicks serious ass.)

2005-08-26T17:16:00.000-04:00

Trivial. A quick mix I made for My the other night. I know, I'm ripping off Margo's theme.

2005-08-23T12:38:00.000-04:00

Closer to what I wanted. sorry Rie, it's not really you. Now if I made a devil one...

2005-08-23T12:37:00.001-04:00

This is what I do in my spare time.

2005-08-23T12:37:00.000-04:00

Mr Birghtside Remix... it takes some getting used to, but it's cool.

2005-08-20T20:04:00.000-04:00

By far the coolest mix cover I've ever seen.

2005-08-20T20:02:00.000-04:00

2005-08-19T01:41:00.000-04:00

Heaven Sent

T-shirt graphic, work in progress (thanks to Rie for letting me steal the characters).

They let Lisa go blind.

2005-08-17T16:44:00.000-04:00

I was going to add the new Killers music video to my site, update on school and work and make the site a bit cooler. Ooops. Guess I'll have to do that later. Currently in the first week of a 16 credit hour semester, training for a promotion at work and being very short on time. After I finish closing, going to Bio and doing a few hours of homework I'll update. 'Till then, just take my word I'm frustrated I can't find time to talk to y'all. (Yes, even you.)

Beach Trip: Part 4

2005-08-08T21:47:00.000-04:00

(Bell and Sebastian cover art)

Back from the beach. I was able to plow through Harry Potter 4 & 5 as well as The Poisonwood Bible. I'd recommend all of them, but I think the Harry Potter takes a backseat to Barbara Kingsolver.

The Poisonwood Bible: better than Harry Potter

Acquired a "tan" (burned like a mother f*cker), and I'm planning on withholding as many pictures of me shirtless or otherwise until the aloe does its job.
My came to visit my lonely ass for one night, I think it's sweet and a little questionable that she drove about 5 hours each way just to spend about twelve hours at the beach. The stars were amazing... I should know: I got lost for about 3 hours on the beach, traveling about 6 miles of swamp/dunes without any sign of human life. It was unnerving as hell to be on my own during a new moon in wetlands with only a maglite and a bottled Frappuccino, but the sky was breathtaking.

my map...

and the fine print I missed: "3 miles to beach"

I'll put up some pictures, but My has a nice little album set up. You need an account: if you just put in an email and username, you’re golden.

Not the most flattering shot of me looking like a beach bum.

My on the ferry back.

Also, I'm going to put up my "new music" recomendations. If you have the time and the bandwidth, give these a play:

1. All These Things That I've Done, The Killers
2. My Doorbell, The White Stripes
3. Theologians, Wilco
4. Shrek, The Beta Band
5. I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix), Jackson 5
6. If She Wants Me, Belle & Sebastian
7. Troll Doll Jingles, Jimmy Fallon
8. Crosstown Traffic, Jimmi Hendrix
9. Diamonds and Guns, Transplants
10. The Crystal Lake, Grandaddy
11. Beautiful, Belle & Sebastian
12. Since They Wanna Know, Obie Trice

2005-08-08T18:04:00.000-04:00

Beach pictures and updates coming soon.

2005-08-08T17:09:00.000-04:00

Bell and Sebastian cover art.

Lolita

2005-07-30T22:36:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one who catches these errors at Amazon? I blame society and Anita for making me perverted.

Once more, with feeling....

2005-07-30T18:48:00.000-04:00

This is from Anita’s request that I update more. If you find it sad I’m doing this, blame her.

As you can tell from the posts below, my cousin Brynne visited last weekend. I hadn’t seen her in about three years (back when I was a, *gasp* senior in high school!) and we both admitted to being that the other cousin had gone all weird in the past years. As it turned out, it was a great time: she loved Chapel Hill and got along rather well with my friends. (Side note: thank you Tim for not hitting on her.) Hoping to see her again sometime soon.

Class is over with, now on with the fall!

Ok, that’s about it… My had some good quotes last night:

(taken from the record due to friendship being at stake - editor)

Yeep, lots o fun…

Other random thoughts:

The Sims 2 will mess up Anita’s little sister.

This music video rocks.

This song rocks too (brief nudity warning).

The best album of 2000 you haven’t heard of (unless you’re Margo or Mark).

This is where I’m going to be October 8^th.

This is the best non-fiction book I’ve read this year (thanks Courtney).

I miss Rie (repeat from last post).

I look "more mature" in this picture.

I would suck on a blind date.

I suck on first dates.

John Cussack is both my hero and my reason for failing in life. (See the best book thought.)

I’m at the beach this week.

Peace, biatches!

-Henry

2005-07-30T15:43:00.000-04:00

beach ready

2005-07-30T13:06:00.000-04:00

Big update coming soon. (No, really it is)

2005-07-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

another pic I messed with... this one of my cousin brynne

The Rolling Stones

2005-07-26T08:35:00.000-04:00

The Rolling Stones are coming to Duke this October!

... wait... I don't think anyone else I know actually would shell out the $60...

Who cares, Stones! Whooo!

(you guys suck. :P )

2005-07-20T00:20:00.000-04:00

2005-07-19T23:46:00.000-04:00

Proof of life: Rie is alive and well in Japan, or so we assume from this low res camera phone picture.

2005-07-19T23:45:00.000-04:00

Got my hair cut [ like you really care ;-) ]

Ego boosts

2005-07-13T00:27:00.000-04:00

Totally corrupted another individual. Another monster created... oh my god, what have I done.
Oh and Anita, what does that make? 6?

To Rie

2005-07-10T16:42:00.000-04:00

Shamelessly copy-pasted from a email to Rie.

Ok, so here’s the long version of an update.

So, no I wasn’t drunk/hung over from Tim’s party: he did have alcohol there but both Cat and I tasted it. We thought it was shit and just stayed sober for the night.

My, Cat and I all chipped in and got Tim speakers for his car, since he has the nice CD player but shitty speakers in there now. Strange enough, I don’t think anyone else brought him a present, go figure.

My showed up late to the party (11ish), and then was stranded b/c she and Jenny were going to go to Charlotte that night or something. I don’t really know, it was late when she explained it to me. Basically she stayed in the guest room from 4 AM to 7AM (I was asleep upstairs, always the helpful host), strange huh?

In all there were about 15-20 people, but I mostly bugged Anita, Cat and My. Much more fun than my birthday party, you would have definitely had fun. Oh, I also got a new outfit, kinda in the same style as my present, you would be proud: I looked “hot” :-D

Outside of last night things have been busy but pretty unexciting. Dima, My, Cat and I watched a scary movie after work Thursday night. It sucked, wasn’t scary. You would have hated it, but it was fun to hang out with D. The next day I went to go see Dark Water (another remake of a Japanese horror movie) with My at Southpoint. After, she had to work, so I met up with Cat and grabbed lunch. (Starting to see a trend here? I’m now stuck with your loser friends. :-P ) Later, I went to go see the Fantastic 4 with Tim and Mike.

Bored yet? No? Good.

Work has been slow, even slower than usual. I covered a shift over in Cary Saturday morning, and comparing the amount of customers, I’m starting to worry our store may be *too* slow. (Like going out of business slow.) Well, it is summer and it’s always bad, so I shouldn’t worry.

I’ve been messing around with a new Illustration program on my computer and I’m starting to think I’d like to study Digital Arts as a minor (first I need to get into a program that supports it).

Long story short: NOTHING MUCH HAS HAPPENED. It’s boring and I miss you.

Get your computer up and running as soon as you receive it.

<3>

Henry

2005-07-07T00:18:00.000-04:00

EVIL!

Like I said

2005-06-24T17:16:00.000-04:00

Ok, ok...
If anyone did see the first post for today, I apologize. I should really adhere to Scott Kurtz's 24 hour rule of waiting till you post about something that pisses you off. If you really want to see it, I archived it here, but I'm going to consider it deleted.
Well, I guess my fan base is beyond the East Chapel Hill crowd (thus cw spake, I'm looking at you). I really should address all this recent drama, like the stuff over on Tim's site, the letter I had dropped off today, my birthday... but screw that! I'm going to the beach biatch! Haha!

peace- Henry

2005-06-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

Doing a "stylized" series.

(Edit: This was recieved as a funeral picture.... back to the drawingboard)

2005-06-18T09:25:00.000-04:00

Just fyi, I'm updating a bunch of pictures, not all in final form. Ignore the last/next few "posts". I'll fix this later.

2005-06-18T02:33:00.000-04:00

Rie

2005-06-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

Matt

Na Na Na Na Na...

2005-06-15T09:30:00.000-04:00

Geeking out all over this... as typical, more later.

Fingertips (Part 1)

2005-06-15T03:04:00.000-04:00

As typical, it’s been a while since any update. Figures, huh? Well dear readers, I guess I should pay respect to the last month or so. Summer is consisting of work, a four credit class and whatever else randomly happens.

Work has been stagnant. A lot of cool people are leaving midsummer and the new manager seems to be constantly rubbing everyone he wrong way. I try not to get too much into any lemming mentality, but he seems to have everyone pissed for one reason or another. In spite of or because of this, Caribou just ain’t what it used to be. There are a bunch of corporate measures that make it more McDonald’s –esq. I can’t seem to deliver a day’s work without complaining. Essentially, me being senior there is the only really great thing (besides putting on good music, espresso and the co workers... which goes without saying).

Class is a joke. Really, it is. What makes it all the more frustrating is that I’m in it on my own accord. Last week, I was showing Rie how simple the concepts are, essentially repeating Soderberg’s class from my senior and her sophomore year. In the middle of my ranting, she asked the obvious question: “Why are you taking it then?” Of course, I knew that I never took Calc in high school and that these survey courses fulfill credits for my minor. But at the moment, I didn’t have a good answer. I knew that this class would most likely repeat the material when I signed up for it… Honestly, I don’t have anyone but myself to blame for this. So I’ll stop bitching, take the easy A, and relax, because I’ve finished the homework.

(To be continued, with less depressing topics.)

2005-06-13T22:06:00.000-04:00

An ok picture.

I'd like to buy the world...

2005-06-10T10:04:00.000-04:00

Beach. Now. Ok, it can't be now, but soon. Who's up for it?

By the way, is it strange when a Coke ad makes you want to go out and "live life"?

night ranting again

2005-06-09T00:35:00.000-04:00

Friends were bitching I didn't have any new posts. Yes, people do read this. Yes, I do have friends...
Very nice night with Josh, Anita and Rie, though Dima, Cat, Tim and My were also supposed to be there. GTA San Andres rocks.
Insecurity is apparently my greatest fault, which makes me more insecure.
'nuff said for an exhausted rant.

These people are cool:

Coolness under questioning*:

*not really

Shout outs.

2005-06-05T15:20:00.000-04:00

Recent Blog Watch:

Anita. xanga.com/ani0417
After much badgering, she’s finaly posting on her xanga again. Now if only she could find time to write…

Conrad. dynamarscorporation.blogspot.com
The most professional blog I’ve seen to date. Make sure you find time to read through the whole entries; they’re long but very well thought out. I don’t know if he orrignaly wrote these for school or for the hell of it. Either way, this man needs to use this talent professionally.

Jane. jellybeaner10.blogspot.com
My little sis, all grown up and ranting just like me. *Sniff* I’m so proud.

Lynn (aka Babbs). livejournal.com/meenah
Though she’s kept a journal going longer than anyone I know personally, I lost the address over a year ago. Now you can browse recent or archived. Bonus: Lynn is now working over the summer at Earlham Computing Services, my old stomping grounds.

Tim. captainobvious79.blogspot.com
After abandoning his Myspace account, he’s back at it. I don’t condone the first post, but I’ll live.

Final versions.

2005-06-02T23:54:00.000-04:00

The final cut. I've put a lot of time into this one... hopefully it's as good as I think it is at 1 AM.

The disc.

2005-06-02T23:52:00.001-04:00

The cover.

2005-06-02T23:52:00.000-04:00

Reverse side of the cover.