I'm From There...

October...

2010-10-09T11:38:00.003-04:00

Sounds like it's time for a U2 song. Or not. Every October I set out to watch a whole bunch of "scary" movies. Generally, it never works out. Maybe it's the ADD, maybe the fact I have no one to watch them with, or have other stuff to do...or whatever. I seriously doubt it will be different this year. Especially after finally watching Rob Zombie's, "The Devil's Rejects". Or should I say lasting through it? I bought this 2-disc, Unrated gem years ago at Circuit City for $3. Thank god I didn't pay more. For someone that enjoys all genre's of film, including horror, this was an ordeal I wouldn't wish on most. Just 100 minutes of being bludgeoned to death (haha, get it?) with gore, nudity, profanity (in a lame, high-school kind of way), and over-the-top bad acting. Kind of like post-Texas Chainsaw meets Pink Flamingos...and not in a good way.

D-

2010-09-06T01:46:00.000-04:00

I may never get what I want
But I'm happy just to die trying
And I hope I ain't done nobody wrong
But I miss you smiling
And I'm looking for a cure cause I'm bored to tears
And I'm stuck in here, stuck out here, stuck in here

We lived through another day
It's a good excuse to celebrate
Take a number knock on wood
We'll find a reason to feel good

I know you know I wanna know how I feel
I can't even tell (3)

No one knows nothing about me
I'm guessing I'll just keep 'em guessing
No one sees what I see
This is my blessing
And I'm looking for a way to get out of here
Get me out of here, out of here, out of here

We lived through another day
It's a good excuse to celebrate
Take a number knock on wood
Find a reason to feel good
I know you know you wanna know how I feel
I can't even tell (3)

I'm out of here, out of here, out of here
I know you know I want to know how I feel
I can't tell
I know you know I'll tell you if it's real
It sounded like a bell
I can't even tell
I can't even tell

- Soul Asylum

2010-08-16T21:52:00.001-04:00

Well you're back in your old neighborhood
The cigarettes taste so good
But you're so misunderstood
You're so misunderstood
There's something there that you can't find
Honest when you're tellin' a lie
You're hurt but you don't know why
You love her but you don't know why
Short on long term goals
There's a party there that we oughtta go to
Do you still love rock and roll?
Do you still love rock and roll?
It's only a quarter to three
Reflecting off the O.C.D.
You're looking at a picture of me
You're staring at a picture of me
Take the guitar player for a ride
Cause He ain't never been satisfied
He thinks he owes some kind of debt
Be years before he gets over it
There's a fortune inside your head
All you touch turns to lead
You think you might just crawl back in bed
The fortune inside your head
You know you're just a mama's boy
Positively unemployed
So misunderstood
So misunderstood
I know you've gotta God shaped hole
You're bleeding out your heart full of soul
So misunderstood (x4)
I'd like to thank you all for nothin'
I'd like to thank you all for nothin' at all
I'd like to thank you all for nothin'
Nothin' (x4)
Nothin' at all
Nothin' (x3)
Nothin' at all

- Wilco

2010-08-15T10:57:00.001-04:00

2010-08-15T10:17:00.001-04:00

I never thought I'd die alone
I laughed the loudest who'd have known
I traced the cord back to the wall
No wonder it was never plugged in at all
I took my time, I hurried up
The choice was mine, I didn't think enough
I'm too depressed, to go on
You'll be sorry when I'm gone

I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn't wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over we'd survived
I couldn't wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone

I never thought I'd die alone
Another six months I'll be unknown
Give all my things to all my friends
You'll never step foot in my room again
You'll close it off, board it up
Remember the time that I spilled the cup
Of apple juice in the hall
Please tell mom this is not her fault

I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn't wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over but we'd survived
I couldn't wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone

I never conquered, rarely came
Tomorrow holds such better days
Days when I could still feel alive
When I can't wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
The tour is over I survived
And I can't wait till I get home
To pass the time in my room alone

2010-08-07T01:38:00.001-04:00

So a day when you've lost yourself completely
Could be a night when your life ends

2010-08-03T02:15:00.001-04:00

I'm gonna miss you
I'm gonna miss you when you're gone
She says, "I love you
I'm gonna miss hearing your songs"

And I said, "Please,
Don't talk about the end
Don't talk about how every living thing goes away"
She said, "Friend,
All along I thought I was learning how to take
How to bend not how to break
How to live not how to cry
But really I've been learning how to die
I've been learning how to die"

Hey everyone
I got nowhere to go
The grave is lazy
He takes our body slow

And I said, "Please,
Don't talk about the end
Don't talk about how every living thing goes away"
She said, "Friend,
All along I thought I was learning how to take
How to bend not how to break
How to laugh not how to cry
But really I've been learning how to die
I've been learning how to die"
Die...Die...
I've been learning how to die

- Jon Foreman

J. Scott Sahl (1/8/76 - 8/16/10)

2010-07-26T09:48:00.002-04:00

2010-07-26T09:36:00.000-04:00

So I'm not sure why it always flows downhill
Why broken cisterns never could stay filled
I've spent ten years singing gravity away
But the water keeps on falling from the sky

And here tonight while the stars are blacking out
With every hope and dream I've ever had in doubt
I've spent ten years trying to sing these doubts away
But the water keeps on falling from my eyes

And heaven knows, heaven knows
I tried to find a cure for the pain
Oh my Lord! To suffer like you do
It would be a lie to run away

So blood is fire pulsing through our veins
We're either writers or fools behind the reigns
I've spent ten years trying to sing it all away
But the water keeps on falling from my tries

And heaven knows, heaven knows
I tried to find a cure for the pain
Oh my Lord! To suffer like you do
It would be a lie to run away
A lie to run
It would be a lie
It would be a lie to run away

It keeps on falling
It keeps on falling
It keeps on falling
It keeps on falling
Water keeps on falling from my eyes

And heaven knows, heaven knows
I tried to find a cure for the pain
Oh my Lord! To suffer like you do
It would be a lie to run away
It would be a lie to run away
It would be a lie to run away

2010-07-12T03:00:00.001-04:00

You're a few years overdue.
I spent them waiting here for you.
Now your charity's refused,
I can name a penance for abuse.

Twenty four years overdue,
what kind of role model are you?
Very least learn not to do,
I think I might be over you.

Do hope I won't
Learn to make
The same mistakes,
That you would
Make me aware
That only fear,
My only hope,
Is letting go.

Went on a limb for you,
Capsized when I turned twenty two.
Did it burn as bad for you?
No bottle serves to soothe my wounds.

Do hope I won't
Learn to make
The same mistakes,
That you would
Make me aware
That only fear,
My only hope,
Is letting go.
My only hope
Is letting go.

You're a few years overdue.
I spent them waiting here for you.

- Get Up Kids

2010-07-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

My old man had a pistol
Never carried around
Never taught me to use it, yeah
No blood on the ground

Images of a family
Somewhere deep in the South
Wished that girl taking pictures, yeah
Drag me out

Stand inside
Knees fall to the ground
I pray take me far away
From everything that I am

Must have lost all my memories
Must have blacked 'em all out
Thank god for the pictures, yeah
Didn't burn in the house

Stand inside
Knees fall to the ground
I pray take me far away
From everything that I am
I pray take me far away
Everything that I am

Escape is the only way out
Escape is the only way out
Escape is the only way out

Only way out

- The New Amsterdams

2010-07-04T21:37:00.001-04:00

One...Two...One...Two
Know a man
His face seemed pulled and tense
Like he's ridin' on a motorbike
In the strongest winds
So I approach with tact
Suggest that he should relax
But he's movin' much too fast

Said he'll see me on the flip side
On this trip he's taken for a ride
He's been takin' too much on
There he goes with his perfectly unkept hope
There he goes

He's yet to come back
But I seen his picture
It doesn't look the same up on the rack
We go way back
I wonder 'bout his insides
It's like his thoughts are too big for his size

He's been taken...where, I don't know
Off he goes with his perfectly unkept hope
There he goes

And now I rub my eyes, for he has returned
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles... And he's still strong
Nothing changed but the surroundin' bullshit
That has grown

And now he's home and we're laughin'
Like we did, my same old, same old friend
Until a quarter to ten
I saw the strain creep in
He seems distracted and I know just what is going to happen next

Before his first step, he's off again

- Pearl Jam

2010-06-22T23:59:00.002-04:00

The world begins
With new born skin
We are right now
You're a needle girl
In a haystack world
We are right now

You're breathing in
The highs and lows
We call it living

In this needle and haystack life
I found miracles there in your eyes
It's no accident we're here tonight
We are once in a lifetime

Don't let go
Don't give up hope
All is forgiven
You're breathing in
The highs and lows
We call it living

In this needle and haystack life
I found miracles there in your eyes
It's no accident we're here tonight
We are once in a lifetime

All is not lost
All is not lost
Become who you are
It happens once in a lifetime

In this needle and haystack life
I found miracles there in your eyes
It's no accident we're here tonight
We are once in a lifetime alive
We are once in a lifetime

In this needle and haystack
(We are once in a lifetime)

- Switchfoot

2010-06-20T13:50:00.000-04:00

What hurts more than being alone...is to be forgotten

2010-06-20T08:56:00.000-04:00

I don’t believe in unity
It’s just one more abandoned dream
Once the people get together it’s easy to see
It’s just a matter of time before they come after me

But it must be pretty cool to be you
With your brothers at your back protecting you
It must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life
Counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes, I’m envious, it’s true
But it must be cool to be you

You’ve got a loving family
To give you everything you need
My family loves each other so much
We live a thousand miles away and never stay in touch

But it must be pretty cool to be you
With a home and a family to go home to
It must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life
Counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes, I’m envious, it’s true
But it must be cool to be you

What can I do?
I know this bitter jealously is wrong
Maybe I’ll move and find a brand new place I don’t belong
Some friends I’ll never know
New places I can’t go
‘Cause everywhere I’ve been is on the outside looking in

You’ve got a deep, sustaining faith
A lord who listens when you pray
I was raised in the church and I was told to believe
I wonder if god believes in me

It must be pretty cool to be you
With your holy faith sustaining you
It must be pretty cool to know you belong
Isolated my whole life
Counting scars in the land of the smiling knives
Yes, I’m envious, it’s true
But it must be pretty cool to be you
It must be pretty cool to be you
It must be cool

-Descendents

2010-06-18T01:40:00.000-04:00

6 AM and at it again
It's over
A lonely outside is rolling by
It's over
A car in the snow loses control
It's over
The head of the home is hurling the phone
It's over

Bruise up blue
Come right through
Welcome to another end

We know that you know the finishing blow
It's over
A lineup of lights is firing the ike
It's over
The point in time when everything dies
It's over
Nothing is wrong
We're getting along
It's over

So bruise up blue
Come right through
Welcome to another end

An open door
A note on the floor
It's over
The loneliest night is taking flight
It's over
Waving in grief
Watching it leave
It's over
Up off the ground
The city is out
It's over
Nothing is wrong
We're getting along
It's over

- Hey Mercedes

2010-06-15T05:08:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I think that I know
What love's all about
And when I see the light
I know I'll be all right.

I've got my friends in the world,
I had my friends
When we were boys and girls
And the secrets came unfurled.

City of brotherly love
Place I call home
Don't turn your back on me
I don't want to be alone
Love lasts forever.

Someone is talking to me,
Calling my name
Tell me I'm not to blame
I won't be ashamed of love.

Philadelphia,
City of brotherly love.
Brotherly love.

Sometimes I think that I know
What love's all about
And when I see the light
I know I'll be all right.
Philadelphia

- Neil Young

2010-06-14T05:27:00.001-04:00

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care 'cause I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun...

When I was a very small boy,
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
That's the price that we all pay
Our valued destiny comes to nothing
I can't tell you where we're going
I guess there was just no way of knowing

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun...

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
The chances are we've gone too far
You took my time and you took my money
Now I fear you've left me standing
In a world that's so demanding

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun...

- New Order

2010-06-12T22:32:00.000-04:00

We said we'd walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as we're walking a hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me

We swore we'd travel darlin' side by side
We'd help each other stay in stride
But each lover's steps fall so differently
But I'll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
[If I Should Fall Behind lyrics on http://www.elyricsworld.com]

But you and I know what this world can do
So let's make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There 'neath the oak's bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin' I'll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me

- Bruce Springsteen

2010-06-11T02:59:00.000-04:00

I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath
Before I start off again.
Driven on without a moment to spend
To pass an evening with a drink and a friend

I let my skin get too thin
I'd like to pause
No matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim
Who learns to transcend
Learns to live as if each step was the end

(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away

I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes
Let my defences down
All those wounds that I can't get unwound

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around

(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Freeze this motion a little bit longer
The innocence slips away
The innocence slips away...

Summer's going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away...
The innocence slips away

- Rush

2010-06-06T00:30:00.001-04:00

I'm watching the world go round
I'm watching the world's end
And i could get lonely
If this is a lie she said

This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends
This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends

Mary don't know me
Mary don't owe me time
Promises don't come
Miracles leave me blind

This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends
This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends

I'm watching the world turn
I'm watching the sun go down
I'm watching the sky fall down like rain
And i see my way
Nothing can save me now
No one hears you fall
And who cares anyway

Mary don't know me
Mary don't owe me time
And i could get lonely
Watching the world unwind

This is the end

Fall on tears all my friends
This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends
This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends
This is the end
Fall on tears all my friends

- Love Spit Love

2010-06-04T23:20:00.000-04:00

When we were two brothers forever through the dark and light
We had our fights against the world, against each other
We traveled in the night
So many roads, so many shows together
Far apart we grew, isolated but still together

When we were two brothers forever through the dark and light
We had our fights against ourselves, against each other
We were afraid, afraid of so many things
It was a fight to overcome ourselves and see clearer

We are two brothers forever through the dark and light
We had our fights against the world, against each other
Time has opened my heart
I don't want to hold on to that past
I don't want to live in isolation anymore

There's nothing left to do, but to kiss that life goodbye

Goodbye...
Goodbye...
Goodbye...

We are two brothers forever through the dark and light
We had our fights against ourselves, against each other
There's nothing left to do, but to kiss that life goodbye

Goodbye...
Goodbye...

- Bouncing Souls

2010-06-02T14:43:00.001-04:00

Jesus, Jesus help me
I'm alone in this world
And a fucked-up world it is too.

Tell me, tell me the story
The one about eternity
And the way it's all gonna be.

Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man.

Jesus, I'm waiting here, boss
I know you're looking out for us
But maybe your hands aren't free.

Your Father, He made the world in seven
He's in charge of heaven.
Will you put a word in for me?

Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man.

Listen to the words they'll tell you what to do
Listen over the rhythm that's confusing you
Listen to the reed in the saxophone
Listen over the hum of the radio
Listen over the sound of blades in rotation
Listen through the traffic and circulation
Listen as hope and peace try to rhyme
Listen over marching bands playing out their time.

Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man.

Jesus, were you just around the corner?
Did you think to try and warn her?
Were you working on something new?
If there's an order in all of this disorder
Is it like a tape recorder?
Can we rewind it just once more?

Wake up, wake up dead man
Wake up, wake up dead man.
Wake up, wake up dead man.

- U2

2010-05-31T22:13:00.004-04:00

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

- Sia

2010-05-30T01:45:00.001-04:00

Well a person can work up a mean mean thirst
after a hard day of nothin' much at all
Summer's passed, it's too late to cut the grass
There ain't much to rake anyway in the fall

And sometimes I just ain't in the mood
to take my place in back with the loudmouths
You're like a picture on the fridge that's never stocked with food
I used to live at home, now I stay at the house

And everybody wants to be special here
They call your name out loud and clear
Here comes a regular
Call out your name
Here comes a regular
Am I the only one here today?

Well a drinkin' buddy that's bound to another town
Once the police made you go away
And even if you're in the arms of someone's baby now
I'll take a great big whiskey to ya anyway

Everybody wants to be someone's here
Someone's gonna show up, never fear
'cause here comes a regular
Call out your name
Here comes a regular
Am I the only one who feels ashamed?

Kneeling alongside old Sad Eyes
He says opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut
All I know is I'm sick of everything that my money can buy
The fool who wastes his life, God rest his guts

First the lights, then the collar goes up, and the wind begins to blow
Turn your back on a pay-you-back, last call
First the glass, then the leaves that pass, then comes the snow
Ain't much to rake anyway in the fall

- The Replacements

2010-05-28T23:57:00.000-04:00

I'm waking up in night terrors
Can't stop the future
Keeps pushing me ahead
I feel the weight of the world crushing down on me
And time seems so linear
Decisions seem so absolute

Yeah it's a harsh realm
Yeah it's a harsh realm
Don't abandon me
Don't abandon me

There's a million things to get done today
I can't calm down, I can't think straight
You give a little bit of time everyone you meet
And what do you say for yourself?
How much money do you need
To give yourself a sense of security?

Yeah it's a harsh realm
Yeah it's a harsh realm
Don't abandon me
Don't abandon me

- Tom Gabel

2010-05-25T18:30:00.001-04:00

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2010-05-24T11:34:00.001-04:00

i look out my window, i'm catching the view
where queen street meets chestnut one block west of you
these strange conversations will set our hearts free
these strange conversations lift burdens from me
my friend, come back again

now we're back at my place with morrissey on play
and you missed your ritalin, you're truest this way
our strange conversations will leave us amused
you're faster and clearer, you seem less confused
my friend, ...

what you're impressed by
i get depressed by
and what we rely on
is the strength we get by on

- Denison Witmer

2010-04-29T23:32:00.000-04:00

"The Rest Of My Life"

I fell asleep last Saturday
Underneath polluted skies
I walked alone on those Jersey nights, and I
Saw the boardwalk start to fall
The emptiness starts to drown
The quiet corners of this town, and I...
Late last night, I made my plans
It was the only thing I felt I could do
Said goodbye, to my best friend
Sometimes there's no one left to tell you the truth

It's gonna kill me... The rest of my life
Let me apologize while I'm still alive
I know it's hard to face all of my past mistakes
It's gonna kill me for the rest of my life

This is my all time low
Somehow it feels so familiar
Somehow it seems so familiar
I feel like letting go
And every second that goes by
I'm screaming out for a second try
Said goodbye, to my best friend
Sometimes there's no one left to tell me the truth

It's gonna kill me... The rest of my life
Let me apologize while I'm still alive
I know it's hard to face all of my past mistakes
I've got to live with them rest of my life

This is the mess I've made
These are the words I can't erase
This is my life support, shutting down, for the final time
And it twists like a blade
And kills me for the rest of my life

If you won't forgive me
The rest of my life
Let me apologize while I'm still alive
I know it's hard to face all of my past mistakes
It's gonna kill me for the rest of my life...

-Less Than Jake

Words...I wouldn't mind being directed at me at this time...

2010-03-23T21:26:00.003-04:00

Gonna save you fucker,....not gonna lose you
Feeling cocky and strong,.. can't let you go,...
Too important to me

Too important to us,... we'd be lost without you
Baby, let yourself fall,... I'm right below you now

And fuck me if I say something you don't wanna hear
And fuck if you only hear what you wanna hear
Fuck me if I care,... but I'm not leaving here

You helped me when I was down,... I'll help when you're down
Why are you hitting yourself?... c'mon hit me instead

Let's pick up your will,... it's grown fat and lazy
I'm sympathetic as well,... don't go on me now

And I'm not living this life without you, I'm selfish and clear
And you're not leaving here without me, I don't wanna be without
My best... friend. Wake up, to see you could have it all

Cause there is but you,... and something within you
It's taken control,.. let's beat it, get up let's go!

Oh you're in your own world, let's see the whole world
Let's pick up your soul

And fuck me if I say something you don't wanna hear
And fuck me if you only hear the treble in your head
Please help,... me,... to help you,... help yourself

Help me help yourself,... please want me to,... please let me to

- Pearl Jam

34...

2010-01-08T11:10:00.000-05:00

Thirty-one (34) today
What a thing to say
Drinking Guinness in the afternoon
Taking shelter in the black cocoon

I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
But it's not, and I don't know where to turn

Called some guy I knew
Had a drink or two
And we fumbled as the day grew dark
I pretended that I felt a spark

I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
But it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn

Easter comes and goes
Maybe Jesus knows
So you roll on with the best you can
Getting loaded, watching CNN

I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
But it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know

- Aimee Mann

2010-01-06T01:02:00.001-05:00

Favorite TV Shows of the Decade
I didn’t/don’t watch a whole lot of television. But when I do watch I know what I like. No specific order here.

24: Seasons 1-5 – Kiefer Sutherland’s career was in the tank. I don’t mean it wasn’t going so great, I mean It was in the tank. Either box-office duds or straight-to-dvd masterpieces. This changed everything. I admit that I didn’t watch the first episode. A new show with Kiefer sporting a Limp Bizkit song during the previews, didn’t catch my interest. But my dad watched the first episode and convinced me to watch the replay. Amazingly not peaking until Season 5, sadly it’s been all downhill since. Season 6 was downright god-awful, with 7 not being much better. Here’s hoping that season 8 is a return to form.

The Wire – One of the many shows that I didn’t watch on television, but on dvd. Hey, if you seldom have cable , and never have premium cable with the exception of a month or two as a intro special, what are you going to do? DVD it is. David Simon’s show was nothing short of the best crime drama television has ever seen. A show that should have made career’s out of all the major characters (only Lance Reddick has moved on to a regular role in Fringe)…because all of the character’s were played just that well.

Alias – A former friend of mine recommended this to me but it had scheduling conflicts with Criminal Intent originally (tivo, whats that’s?). Okay, so the last season was a little sub-par. But getting there was a hell of a lot of fun. Another show I never watched while it was on tv; it was on at the same time as Criminal Intent. The action and drama was interwoven well and never delved into sap…except for that last season. Was it a little fantastical? Of course. But when you are having this much fun it doesn’t matter.

Six Feet Under –The acting and writing on SFU was top-notch. The characters were beyond memorable. The Fisher family and its funeral home started off every show with a death that that particular episode was loosely based around. It was well-done. However, the arc of the 5-season story is what you really tuned in for. It reminded you of your own family, because things were so far from perfect. Death, heartbreak, sex, drugs, and on-going conversations with dead people, SFU had it all. Though I have a feeling that if a lot of the frat-boy mooks that enjoy Michael C. Hall on Dexter, would balk at that show if they watched Hall’s immaculate performance of the in-the-closet David Fisher, lol. Why Peter Krause hasn’t hit gold elsewhere is beyond me.

Law and Order Criminal Intent: Seasons 1-5 – I won’t pretend to be impartial regarding Vincent D’onofrio and his acting. I believe he is one of the great underrated/underappreciated actors of our time. Needless to say I have immensely enjoyed his Robert Goren character throughout the run of the show. Due to the fact that D’onofrio was involved in most of the scenes of the show because of how it was shot, he was essentially exhausted and burned out by Season Five. Since then, Vince and his capable partner Kathryn Erbe have shared the seasons with another duo in alternating episodes. Who will partner Jeff Goldblum next year has yet to be decided, but I think Jeff is up to carrying the mantle. Goren’s character will wave good-bye with a two-episode arc at the beginning of the coming season. Will Nicole show up? Not sure. But I know Bobby will be missed.

The Shield – Yes, we all remember The Commish. Within one episode Michael Chiklis’ Vic Mackey character instantly made you forget it. I understand that a lot of people are turned off by the anti-hero. However, a lot of people also like rooting for the bad guy. Vic Mackey is like Stone Cold Steve Austin taken to the extreme. Oh, did I mention the supporting cast and the writing was great too? As essentially morally corrupt Vic Mackey and his team were, they were played so well that I still became emotionally vested in them and couldn’t help rooting for them.

Dexter – Those who watched Six Feet Under and David Fisher’s character didn’t see this coming. While Dexter Morgan is still socially awkward, he takes matters into his own hands unlike David – even if he is essentially programmed to play a murderous justice seeker due to what happened to him as a small child. What is often the case on cable, the supporting cast is essential to making Dexter work, and this one is no exception. A slow-burning anti-climactic 3rd season, gave way to what was possibly its best act this year. To my knowledge, Dexter is not scheduled to be renewed past its upcoming 5th season. While it will be missed, it will be nice to see it go out on top – another common factor among great cable series, not living out their welcome.

The Office (BBC and BBC Only) – It doesn’t matter how many people tell me how funny the U.S. version of this show is. It’s not. And yes, I have seen several movies in which I have enjoyed Steve Carrell’s performances (Little Miss Sunshine and Dan in Real Life among them). However, Michael Scott absolutely pales in comparison to Ricky Gervais’ David Brent. And the rest of the cast does the same, it just tries toooooo hard. As with what I mentioned with Dexter, the beauty of the UK version is that it only lasted two seasons with an elongated special and went out at the very top of its game. Seinfeld only wishes it came remotely close.

Lost – Lost is hard to explain unless you’ve watched it for several seasons. I didn’t finish Season 4 until about 3 weeks into Season 5, so I am still about 2/3 of a season behind. Numerous people have said that Lost trusts its viewers because of its complexity. I agree. Which is difficult, because it is confusing as hell. If you thought coming into the middle of 24 was difficult, I think Lost is more so. Hell, its hard to keep up even if you’ve seen all of it. I can’t explain its popularity. Most shows like this don’t survive their first or second seasons because the viewers give up. Perhaps it’s the magnetic characters and performances. Or maybe it’s the fact that you feel like you are never sure who you are rooting for, because a twist on a character is just around the corner. Either way, did you ever think that you’d ever see a Party of Five member featured prominently on a good show...and acting well no less?

Mad Men – Maybe it helps you to still be shocked by the misogyny, the carousing, the drinking, the smoking, etc. Cause, you know, its only the 60’s…right? This stuff doesn’t happen now, cause we are all so evolved…right? Haha. Now, legally you can’t smoke virtually anywhere anymore. But the rest of men behaving badly does. We just pretend it doesn’t. Maybe Mad Men needs to have commercials sponsored by the “Ad Council” legislating morality for before and afters, lol. Hears to hoping it continues to offend our sensibilities.

Gone before they had a chance…Kidnapped, Journeyman, My Own Worst Enemy. Before you start, I never saw Pushing Daisies, Saving Grace technically isn’t over yet, and I think Arrested Development is overrated. Good, but overrated, and I still haven’t finished watching all 3 seasons. And then someone will start telling me how Jesse Eisenberg is the poor man’s Michael Cera…okay, I’m digressing. Notice a trend about any of these shows? NBC. The network that used to have must-see Thursday’s, has been in the ratings dumper for awhile. I admit that all three of the shows I mentioned had more complexity than what was the norm for television. And when you have that it’s going to take a little time. It’s also going to take some decent marketing. The marketing for all of these was just a dud. And not seeing the ratings they wanted, after not giving them the time they needed to grow (and marketing them like a turd), NBC pulled the plug. Thankfully, they allowed Kidnapped to wrap things up in 13 episodes, something they did quite well. Get it on dvd if you haven’t already, its only $15 or so on Amazon. SFU alum Jeremy Sisto and Linus Roache have gone on to help revitalize Law and Order, in spite of Dick Wolf’s 9th grade politics. Journeyman and Enemy weren’t so lucky. It was easy to tell a five-minute segment was written into the last episode of both as some sort of open-ended wrap up. Neither has been released on dvd, I’m sure Enemy never will.

33 or so music faves of '09

2009-12-20T21:37:00.003-05:00

Anchor & Braille – Felt
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Austin Lucas – Somebody Loves You
Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 – White Lies for Dark Times
Bouncing Souls – Ghosts on the Boardwalk
Buddy and Julie Miller – Written in Chalk
Butch Walker – Sycamore Meadows (late ’08)
Chuck Ragan – Gold Country
Converge – Axe to Fail
Cracker – Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey
The Dear Hunter – Act III : Life and Death
The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock
Frank Turner – Poetry of the Deed
Gallows – Grey Britain
Gasoline Heart – Cucumber Riot
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Ian Brown – My Way
Joe Henry – Blood from Stars
The Lemonheads – Varshons
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Manic Street Preachers – Journal for Plague Lovers
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
P.O.S. – Never Better
Pearl Jam – Backspacer
Placebo – Battle for the Sun
Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down
Riverboat Gamblers – Underneath the Owl
Steve Earle – Townes
Strike Anywhere – Iron Front
The Thermals – Now We Can See
Thrice – Beggars
U2 – No Line on the Horizon
The Vaselines – Enter the Vaselines (Compilation)

2009-10-15T12:02:00.000-04:00

Kambei. The K-man. The leaper. The explorer. The go-getter. The swimmer. The Tri-athlete. You’ve left a hole in all of our hearts. A hole that won’t be filled. But there is a reason for that. It’s because you were loved, a lot, especially by your human and doggeh mamas. As the U2 song goes, “only love can leave such a mark, only love can leave such a scar.” We watched you grow up from the day you were born. Oh how we all worried about you because of your heart condition. We didn’t need to. You gave that heart condition the finger from the day you were born. Your energy knew no bounds. I called you the K-man, because you were indeed the man of the house. You made sure to show your brother and sisters how everything was done. You made us smile, laugh and at the end, cry. M and VG were very lucky to have got to meet you in person. The rest of us didn’t have that chance. Not here anyway. Any reunions we have on earth will be missing something. A very important something. You. But I am confident we will have a reunion with you across the Rainbow Bridge, and that you will be the first one there to meet us and show us all the new tricks you’ve learned. So with a few more words from Bono I will leave you buddy, confident that “I will see you again when the stars fall from the sky”…because “I know that this is not good-bye”.

gack!

2009-10-13T00:11:00.002-04:00

Another month of nothing. Though when you are without the net at your main residence and have no netbook...it can cause some issues, lol. Someday...here. But really, why bother writing?

Hey, I tried

2009-09-05T00:45:00.000-04:00

I wrote about moving forward in January. I tried, but with all the bullshit from this congress and the current leader of the country, it can't be done. No, don't start telling me about Bush. I hated Bush. Still do. But that doesn't mean I have to appreciate the current person in office, who has accomplished nothing outside of apologizing for all things American. Bush and a Republican congress set the ball rolling on spending and debt and the current administration just picked it up and ran. Oh well. What can ya do, right?

Life...

2009-04-11T14:48:00.002-04:00

sucks...yes, it does...

Someday...

2009-03-15T14:17:00.002-04:00

Oh to write again. Though I often ask myself, "Why bother?" I'll think of something here in a few days, even though I'm pretty sure that no one is actually reading this. But when everyone else is boring you to hell, then you kind of feel like writing something yourself. Do people really read reviews after 2-3 paragraphs? Can anyone answer that? I mean, unless your also someone that has no expertise in brevity? Anyway, back in a few, if for nothing more than to amuse myself. Oh, that last post? Bang up job Barry, lol.

So...about today...and tomorrow

2009-01-20T14:32:00.000-05:00

To use an empty phrase of rhetoric myself, all I can do is hope today. Yes, hope. I know, odd word coming from me right? But at this point I have no other choice. I've put aside my disagreements with our new president and "hope" that he can lead this nation in the right direction.

We can all sit here and debate whether Obama's proposed programs are good or bad, socialist, liberal, conservative, whatever for days. We can sit here and bitch and moan about it and how the country is now in the pit of hell, blah, blah, blah. Like it wasn't already? Obama supporters can sit here and tell us how Bush is responsible for it all in the end and its all on him. We can see the people watching the inauguration who are so ready to "move on" do nothing but boo Bush and Cheney whenever they were on the screen today and show us how they aren't really ready to do that. We could concentrate on any number of these things, but we shouldn't.

If we really believe in a higher being (I'm assuming that many of you I went to high school or college with do), then its a matter of accepting that God has put the man in charge that he wants there at this time, just like the previous 8 years (for you Bush haters or the last 16 for you die-hard GOP nuts). We can "if, but, or what about that", but we shouldn't. We can continue to point out everything with which we disagree in regards to our new president and we can continue to point out everything that was a supposed fault of the previous one, but we shouldn't. Life is seldom black and white. Republicans ruled congress for the majority of Clinton's 8 years, and for the majority of Bush's as well. Good times, bad times. The economy tends to be a cyclical thing, and one that the president actually doesn't have a whole lot to do with, there are simply too many factors in this country and around the world.

But it's time to forget about that. It is. I did not vote for Bush in either of his elections for for Obama or McCain this time around. I voted for 3rd-party candidates who I felt were more in line with my supposed values or thinking. I feel fine with having voted for them. And in disagreement with many, I did not "waste" my vote by voting for the person I was most in line with. But those elections are over, especially the previous one. Unless I want to actually change the way things so and enter the realm of politics in one way or another (and believe me, after thinking about it way too much, I really don't), it's time to shut up and look elsewhere for a way to make this country and the world a better place. I don't know exactly what that is yet, but I know that it is time. Once again, we can concentrate on all of the negatives, but we shouldn't. Instead its time to embrace the countless positives that we have in this country, regardless of how we feel about who is in office and to forget about the whole country being in hell thing. I hope you will join me in moving forward.

MVP???

2008-12-31T12:41:00.001-05:00

So the Colts finished 12-4. It's not as stunning as the 11-5 of the Dolphins or Falcons, to be sure. We could argue -- and you might win -- that Miami without Pennington and Atlanta without Ryan would have been 5-11 or worse. But I simply will not accept that coaches who proved themselves very resourceful (Tony Sparano, Mike Smith) would have been hapless without their quarterbacks. Miami would have played Chad Henne earlier. Atlanta would have ridden Turner to a few wins. Indy? Without Manning, I say a team that ran the ball in quicksand would have been 4-12. - Peter King

Peter King is a blowhard who is more than full of himself (but then I guess that is par for the course for anyone on Sunday Night Football, no?). Tony Dungy is not resourceful? Are you serious? Peyton Manning despite of all this shit with his knee is sacked how many times in 15+ games? 14. 4th least in the league. They only rushed 3.4 yds/c because they often abandoned it. It's obviously not about an offensive line that can protect someone that is about as mobile as 3 day old turd. They had the 3rd fewest carries in the league, while Manning is in the top 5 of pass attempts. Sounds like the Cardinals to me, with a better O-line. Kurt Warner was sacked 26 times.

They should have been 0-4 but were gifted games by the Vikes and Texans at the start of the year. Then there is the 9 game "winning" streak. One good win out 9. That was Pittsburgh, the second victory. The rest of it, a Patriot team that was mediocre at that time of the year, Houston, San Diego (in mid-season downward spiral), Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jacksonville, and a Titan team that played no one in the last game.

Yes, without a doubt, Peyton is the obvious choice for MVP. Please. Should he be considered? Yes. But to call him the obvious choice over the likes of Chad Pennington, DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner (how do you think Matt Ryan looks his rookie year without him?) and others is just naive.

They say...

2008-12-13T22:11:00.001-05:00

That the new U2 album now has a release date of the Feb. 23...so I'm guessing we should probably see it by July 4th.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/12/new-u2-album-no-line-on-the-horizon-gets-feb-23-re.html

As the puppies leave...

2008-12-05T14:55:00.001-05:00

Puppies are weird. People have different reactions to them. Granted some people are dog people, and some are cat people. Some don’t like animals at all. And if you are male, make sure nobody knows that you are too much of an animal person, cause then that would make you gay or a serial killer. I think I can accept that from other people, lol.

I don’t want to call this a tribute or anything…perhaps a rumination. Erica Anderson-Senter introduced me some 6 weeks ago to the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam). I’ll just say it’s been a blessing. And for someone whose life is in the shitter and likes to bitch, that’s saying something.

I’m not sure how many people were familiar with the Shiba Inu breed before the web explosion of the puppy cam (I have a feeling not that many). Adult Shiba’s tend to come across as aloof and selfish. Of course it varies, as it does with all dogs. You will never get a Shiba confused with a Golden Retriever or a Lab for personality. However, if they are properly raised, trained and socialized while growing up, chances are they will be a pretty cool dog, loyal to it’s owner. My favorite? The female “runt” of the litter, Ayumi, now minus her yellow collar.

I’m not sure exactly why other people are watching. I get some ideas with the comments that are posted on the cam site. For me, it is probably the simplicity of puppy and/or dog life. That and the love, energy and innocence that they exude on a non-stop basis. Things I see glaringly absent from my own for a long time.

So the time has come for a few of the pups to leave for their new homes. I imagine that quite a few viewers will be sad this weekend. I know I will be. And if you’re watching are honest with yourself, you will be too. Just some thoughts. Thanks again Erica, for helping forget things for a while.

The Big 12 and the BCS Thing

2008-11-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

I will not pretend to be a sports expert by any means, though chances are you will be hard pressed to find someone that knows more about tennis than I do. As for college football, and what was supposedly "found out" last night about Texas Tech and Oklahoma, I disagree with the majority of what is being said. Sorry if you are an Oklahoma fan. But the whole Texas Tech is a poseur and Oklahoma is the real deal...sorry I don't buy it. And more ridiculous is the idea that Oklahoma has now proven themselves better than Texas and because Texas is idle, that Oklahoma will jump them in the BCS and the Polls.

Now here is the thing, I am not saying that Oklahoma isn't better, for this week, but not much. I simply ask people to look at the schedules. First Texas was asked to go through Oklahoma on a neutral field, Missouri, Ok St. and Texas Tech in Lubbock in successive games. This argument has been used to discredit TT's win as Texas simply ran out of gas. Texas Tech was asked to go through Kansas @ Kansas, Texas, Ok St. and Oklahoma in Norman in successive games. I tend to think the week off hurt Texas Tech regardless of having to go through that schedule. And then there is Oklahoma. They lost to Texas on a neutral field, beat the then slumping Kansas team by 14 at home, and then had two wins over the clearly lesser teams of Kansas State (5-7) and Nebraska (7-4)...and then had two weeks to prepare for Texas Tech at home. And apparently, it is a forgone conclusion that they will go to Oklahoma St. next week and win easily.

When I look back on all of this...perhaps it is more an indictment of the BCS than anything else. It all depends on when you lose and how your schedule shapes up, etc. And we can look at the ACC where no team apparently is good enough to win more than 2 games in a row and ask how in the hell is any team there going to a BCS game when once again an undefeated Boise St. team will be shut out. I think Bob Stoops can tell you that they are worthy of a BCS game. So what does it all mean? Not much I guess. Politics and computers win out. Oh by the way, one if not two of Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech will not be going to a BCS game. Make sense?

"This is Just the Beginning"...hopefully

2008-11-06T13:07:00.000-05:00

“This is just the beginning of the new Libertarian Party,” says Bob Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party nominee for president. “In these next four years, there will be an even greater need for a political party fully dedicated to lower taxes, smaller government and more individual freedom—a voice for liberty.”

“This year, we set a solid foundation for freedom, on which we will build a strong and united political organization that advances freedom and liberty in the United States,” says Barr. “I, and all Americans who support true liberty, owe a great debt of gratitude to our staff, donors, volunteers and voters who helped support this campaign.”

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Congressman Barr was the 2008 Libertarian Party Nominee for President.
The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Find This Odd?

2008-11-05T14:49:00.000-05:00

Obama won the election last night. 52-46% of the popular vote. Not exactly what I would call a mandate. But a reasonable difference. A little bigger than Bush's win over Kerry. I have a question though...does anyone find what happened in California a little odd? Barry beat John 61-36% in the vote, and that is a lot of people voting. However, the gay marriage ban that was on the ballot passed. How is that possible? It wasn't an amendment to approve gay marriage, but to ban it. Perhaps I do not understand how so many people that voted for Barack would vote for something like that...progressive thinkers that they are and all. Oh, did I mention that issue 4 did not pass? Abortion is acceptable in all ways (and yes, I know its not a black and white issue, there is plenty of grey area)...but keep those damn queers away from the chapel. Right?

So This Is It...

2008-11-04T03:08:00.001-05:00

Election day is here. I won't kid you and say that at this point in my life I am not a pessimist. I am. I've been through too much shit...and am still going through it on a daily/hourly basis not to be. I won't pretend that what I am going to say is some polished, deep argument. If my mind was in a better place, then perhaps it would be.

I can not in good faith pull the lever for Obama or McCain. Rhetoric is nice and makes you feel good, but that really isn't what being president is about. I think. Obama has largely gotten a free pass from the media. Please don't try to make an argument that the media is not left-wing. It is. I know too little about Obama, and no one is going to bother to investigate. They have signed off and thrown any thought of inquiry to the wind. As for the so-called associations, I won't harp or anything to that extent like some right-wing blowhard (cuz I'm not one). I'll say that Barry was either naive knew damn well what these people thought, which is unfortunate, or he is very naive (which is scary). I think he is too smart of a guy to be naive.And on top of that I really don't like or believe the policies. There is simply not a way to pay for all of the programs he states he will enact by simply increasing the tax rate by a small percentage on those making over $250K...or is it $200K...or is it $150K...or well, I guess if the number keeps going down far enough, maybe it will.

I can not vote for McCain either. If McCain was the person I thought he was in 2000...well, probably not then either. But I can't vote for him. He did what he to do...saddle up with the Republicans more so than he had in the last few years. Make amends with Jerry Fallwell (asshole). Be gung ho on going into Iraq. Make like a socialist and approve the bailout and speak of buying up the defaulted mortgages. And choose a VP candidate that...while she makes a nice piece for SNL has done little else. And with that completely shot to shit the argument about Obama not having enough experience. Oh, did I mention that Obama (the true believer in change that he is) went with Joe Biden for his VP? The true fighter for the common man? Right.

So...being more inclined toward smaller government and somewhat of a libertarian in my way of thinking, I will be voting for Bob Barr. Well, that and the fact that I no longer have any idea what Ron Paul is trying to accomplish. I'm not overly thrilled about Barr, who used to be a Republican and originally voted for the war. But I guess changing your position at some point is better than staying with it til' you've driven everything into the ground. I'm sure those who are voting for Obama/Biden can appreciate that in relation to Joe's voting record.

I am a big fan of many, many musicians and actors/actresses. However, I do not need them telling me that I need to vote the Democratic party-line every election. That is simply insulting. It is. Collages for music videos interspersed with "yes we can" and such...no thanks. I understand you think the country is in the toilet and that every word coming out of Barack's mouth is gold. Sorry. Can't buy me. That all being said, I really am not enthused about the thought of waking up Wednesday regardless of which of the big two win. I still believe that 3rd-party voices need to be heard, even though I know that they are also far from perfect. I used to have somewhat of a love for politics, but by the end of this election season, I really don't know if I want to think about it ever again.

I thought I liked Hines Ward...

2008-10-21T14:27:00.003-04:00

Being a life-long Bengals fan, one never has a whole lot of love for the Steelers...'cept for when they play the Browns. This year is without a doubt the most difficult to have been a Bengals fan. Yeah, we've sucked bad and started out 0-7 before. But not when there was a decent amount of talent on the roster. I could lament this for paragraph's, but I won't.

I always respected Hines Ward in the past. A WR that could block and block well, and not bitch, cry and moan about calls and hits. But I've noticed an increasing need for him to block and block hard, well away from the action...not "illegal", but questionable. This last Sunday he levelled a hit on Bengals rookie LB Keith Rivers, when Rivers at worst MAY have pushed Big Ben out of bounds, that wound up breaking River's jaw and sidelining him for the rest of the season, and then celebrating after it was over. Steeler's and Bengal's will give you various opinions on the "dirty" or "clean" argument. You can guess which side most will take, depending on their affiliation. I've seen it. At best, its questionable, at worst its helmet to helmet (or helmet to jaw if you'd like to call it that), that was completely unnecessary. I can guarantee you this, Hines. When the second meeting rolls around, Bengals players on defense will not think twice about penalty or suspension when you are rolling by. And as for me being a fan of yours...well, I can still respect your ability, which I do, but a fan I am no more.

I take it back...

2008-09-29T11:49:00.002-04:00

...what I had said before about the homeowners. My bad. This obviously wasn't about helping them out. From the looks of things it is about saddling the taxpayer with a bigger burden and helping people that were making a lot of money...to...keep making a lot of money. And of course we are once again "helping" people to get loans for cars, houses, credit cards...loans that some of those people will pay off but a lot of them won't. So...once again, we stare greed right in the face, and it is the person with common intelligence and those who are prudent with their finances that have to blink.

I ask people who are eligible to vote...to vote!

2008-09-25T11:25:00.004-04:00

I feel that it is probably best for me to shut up about the presidential race at this point. Call it running away if you want, I know there are people out there that gladly will say that about me. Call it political burn-out. Call it whatever you like. That's fine. I have been put down quite a few times for mentioning the mere idea of voting for a 3rd-party candidate. I've been told the vote is a throwaway and that the idea of voting for a 3rd-party candidate is once again, "a vote that doesn't matter", that you should only vote for someone that has a chance of being elected, and that I am an idealist, a dreamer, blah, blah, blah. Okay. I disagree with that entirely but people are entitled to their opinion. And I am kind of tired of getting into arguments and making enemies, not friends. I'm not going to tell you that you have to vote for Bob Barr or Ralph Nader or any other available candidate.

The point is this, I know time is often short in these days for people, even though we often somehow find time for tv, email, net surfing, texting, etc. But I simply encourage everyone out there to research the candidates that are running (here is a nice non-political site on issues, voting records, etc. http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm), and make the choice you feel is best for you. You do not have to vote for McCain or Obama regardless of what people tell you. No vote that you will cast is a "throwaway". However, if you feel that they would be the best candidate for you after you have looked them over, then please vote for them. Don't take the privilege of voting for granted.

I know...

2008-09-22T21:22:00.008-04:00

I should quit bitching. About some things. Probably a lot of things. But I can't. I'm not even sure that it is fun anymore. A few random thoughts though...

Most horror movies are awful now. And its not just because they lack plot and suspense, its because they are PG-13. And somehow this is supposed to make us believe that they are more suspenseful, than those just relying on gore for that "R". Wrong. Simply making your movie fit into the framework of a PG-13 rating, does not make it scary. And then releasing it to dvd as "Unrated" while providing an additional 10 seconds of footage not seen in theatres? That really doesn't cut it either. After watching the "Unrated" version of "Prom Night" the other day on dvd, I am completely in the dark as to how something this bloody horrible can gross over $40 million. I am speechless.

The Reds and Bengals will get better. No. They. Won't. I'll give the Bengals credit for their effort against the Giants yesterday. I'll give Carson and Marvin credit for showing no comprehension of time management at the end of the 4th quarter, and not allowing themselves a shot at the endzone. I won't blame Carson for calling heads on the coin toss before OT. But seriously, the Bengals are 0-3, and while it looks like they can take care of the anemic Browns, from the looks of their schedule a 4-12 record for the season is very, very possible. And will the Brown family do anything to change this in the future. You're kidding right? Which brings us to the Reds. Hard to believe they swept the World Series in '90. The Reds have been consistently awful, while stopping just short of worse than dog shit. Meaning the fans, the bloggers, etc. will keep telling you that with just this and this change they can make the playoffs next year. No. They. Can't. The Reds have very little in the way of offense. The pitching is decent enough, as long as Dusty Baker (who should be fired at the end of this year but won't be) doesn't complete destroy the arms of Volquez, Cueto, and Harang. I give him points for effort though, he definitely has tried to destroy all 3 of them this year. With Dunn and Griffey gone, I can hope for a decent middle reliever under the age of 40, and some offense, but I doubt it. It'll be the same next years, avoid the 100 losses comfortably, but still win no more than 75.

As for politics...sigh, I hate it. I think if I was able to be objective and look at it simply as poly-sci, I would probably find it quite amazing. Or perhaps that more of sociology, or both. Why people do the things they do, vote for who they do, and why the parties run the shows they do. But for now, I am mostly disgusted. I don't trust either of the two major party candidates or their running mates. And in turn, will vote 3rd-party once again. Even though I have been told that my vote doesn't matter. I believe those who say that are misinformed. Really, if you are holding your nose while you push the ballot, namely "defensive voting" - as stated here http://www.ontheissues.org/askme/split_vote.htm, isn't that really the best way to waste your vote?

Lastly, Jeremy Schoolfield has very, very few original thoughts or ideas about bands or music. But anyone reading this either doesn't know who he is (you're lucky) or knows that I'm right anyway.

Peace.

Dear Congress and G.W.,

2008-09-20T10:06:00.007-04:00

I am writing you about a small request that I have. Can you please get the credit card companies and Honda Financial...oh what the hell, throw Sallie Mae in there too, to forgive me some of my debt? I'd like to be reimbursed for say, just the last two years (c'mon, I'm not asking for all of it). I mean, its not my fault, right? And why in the hell should I not be forgiven while you are buying up $700 billion in crap mortgages that people can't pay? Oh, that's right, you are going to tell us that this is not their fault. That people don't need to take responsibility for their actions. And that is in turn the responsibility of fellow taxpayers to bail them out and the country out. Does this mean that I don't feel bad about these people, who got in way over their heads? No. I do. Thinking twice about that bankruptcy bill you so championed and pushed through, Senator Biden? Of course not. 'Cause you don't give a crap either. Just focus on the fact that Barack wants to overturn it now. Sweep your history under the rug. Just like all those campaign contributions Barack has from Lehman Brothers. No biggie.

David Foster Wallace

2008-09-14T23:08:00.002-04:00

I won't pretend to have read every word David Foster Wallace wrote. And I admit I have gone back to re-read passages because I just didn't get them the first time. But what I have read I have liked. And I share, or I guess I should now say "shared" a connection in that we were both regionally ranked junior tennis players (him, a bit higher than me) and both of us had/have a special love for that sport. A sport many don't understand.

And likewise, David and I shared a love for those players with artistry and grace. Those like John McEnroe and Roger Federer. Not the boredom-inducing bashers that are all so prevalent today, like Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick of present, and Agassi and Courier of yesteryear. Doesn't mean I don't like them as people. Well, okay, I can't really stand Roddick. But their games just bore me to tears.

The other thing that David and I have shared, now a bit more obvious than before, is a serious battle with depression. I can't pretend to know that inner workings of David, but according to his father, depression had been a real battle of his for some 20 years or more. The last few apparently worse than the others. I can relate all too well. I won't go the TMI route for now, but things have happened, as well as some events in childhood that I have struggled with, the last 4 years have been...dark as midnight without a moon. So far nothing has worked to bring me out of this. Every day is a struggle and I don't pretend that the possibility doesn't exist that I won't join David in similar fashion one day. But for now, somehow, I'll make it through one more day. And then another. I wish you were still here David. May your soul be in peace.

For some reason...

2008-08-29T23:44:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to stop playing "Lord, I'm Discouraged" from The Hold Steady's latest, "Stay Positive". Perhaps its just very...er...relateable now.

I'm impressed...

2008-08-27T00:14:00.001-04:00

Hillary managed to fall on her sword tonight...well, somebody's sword anyway. At this point I can't determining exactly whose it was.

BTW, what's the chance of an old Republican getting away with calling Obama that "black boy"? Apparently Jimmy Carter can.

But back to the issue at hand. Joe Biden? Are you fucking kidding me? This guy is as crusty as McCain and is a complete credit card company whore. "Change I can believe in?" Please. Oh wait, I forgot about those hair transplants. Lookin' good brother. But you knew it was coming didn't you? All that talk about being outside of the D.C. mainstream and what not, you knew it was all bloody nonsense didn't you? I know what your thinking. Your thinking about all those lame-ass excuses you're going to have to make to anyone with common sense about how your still pimping Barack. He's not McCain...he wants to "change" America...he's about the "future"...and "progress". Mmhmm. I understand, you already ordered all those bumper-stickers. And really it'd be a waste not to decorate with them.

Can I still like Indy?

2008-08-23T11:34:00.000-04:00

I could use this question to answer all things Indianapolis/Indiana. But that would be pretty short, since the answer is just plain "no". You've probably figured out that I'm referring to Indiana Jones in some fashion. I still have yet to see whatever this new one is called that came out this summer. I guess I have a hard time justifying paying full-price for movies these days. And even though the 4th installment hasn't made box-office for crap in a month, it still isn't in the cheap seats. So after perusing the walls of Hollywood Video for something decent that my bottom-of-the-barrel MVP program would allow, I hit the library section and went back and got "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Okay, I got Nightmare on Elm St. 2, but that's another story.

I remember liking ROTLA and TOD a lot. Not so much for the Last Crusade. And I meant to buy the box set on dvd if it was ever on sale for something decent. Nothing working there either. So, after probably a decade-plus, I thought I'd see how much I could still have with Raiders. And well...after watching them again, I'm not sure if they hold-up to anything that could be described as classic status. The dialogue/jokes at times are...lame. The action sequences are okay, but often so fantastical that it goes beyond "well, it's supposed to be ridiculous" territory. And the acting is...eh...Harrison Ford no doubt carries both of these and Karen Allen and Cate Capeshaw are definitely respectable with what they have to work with, but the rest of the casts? Jonathan Rhys-Myers as Sallah is decent, but the rest of them I can't tell if they just can't act or the scripts are just blah and the characters are so stereotypical (you know, especially the bad guys). And the jingoism? I'll stop there. Oh wait, there is the endless repetition of the theme song that made me wanted to carve my ears off with a knife by the end of TOD.

Are they still fun? Yeah, to a point. Let's just say after renting them on the Hollywood MVP plan, my previous desire to buy the dvd-box set has definitely been quelled. In another 5 years I'll check these out again and see if my stance has lightened. Don't hate me if you still think they are beyond reproach classics.

That kind of thing "is above my pay grade"

2008-08-18T17:36:00.000-04:00

Are you serious? You knew he was going to ask you this and that was the best you could come up with? I'm surprised he didn't tell you that was a "homerun" as well, lol. Sorry, Rick Warren is a bitch.

A few selections to remember the day my life ended (8/16/87)

2008-08-16T04:32:00.000-04:00

Well it's been ten years and a thousand tears
And look at the mess I'm in
A broken nose and a broken heart,
An empty bottle of gin
Well I sit and I pray
In my broken down Chevrolet
While I'm singin' to myself
There's got to be another way

[Chorus:]
Take away, take away
Take away this ball and chain
I'm lonely and I'm tired
And I can't take any more pain
Take away, take away
Never to return again
Take away, take away
Take away this ball and chain

Well I've searched and I've searched
To find the perfect life-
A brand new car and a brand new suit
I even got me a little wife-
But wherever I have gone
I was sure to find myself there-
You can run all your life
But not go anywhere

[Chorus]

Well I'll pass the bar on the way
To my dingy hotel room-
I spent all my money
Been drinkin' since half past noon-
I'll wake there in the mornin'
Or maybe in the county jail-
Times are hard getting harder
I'm born to lose and destined to fail-

-- Social Distortion, "Ball and Chain"

I see lives crash like waves on the shore again and again
In an endless cycle of join and pain
Inside one day your whole life can change innocence torn away
Trust gives way to a thicker skin
A shield from pain? or a trap that keeps it all in.
They tried to break me down - i had to break away
I woke up from that night mare to start another day

I wanna be a simple man with a little peace of mind
Live a simple life, in a place thats kind

I see lives crash like waves on the shore again and again.
No poetry, No symmetry, nothing left inside of me
What happened to that feeling of invincibility?
Broken up caught under the load
Broken down by the side of the road
They tried to break me down i had to break away
I woke up from that nightmare to start another day....

-- Bouncing Souls, "Simple Man"

I know I should...

2008-08-12T21:36:00.000-04:00

write something, but I feel completely uninspired. That and the fact that there is a 21st anniversary of the worst moment in my life (and a moment that has fucked-up my life for those 21 years) pending on Saturday. Not looking forward to that.

So...back again for the last time?

2008-08-03T22:31:00.000-04:00

I'm probably only here for one reason. Dawna. That somebody actually gave me the encouragement to write again, even though I suck at it (or so I think). Yes, I do have a B.A. in English Lit, though I'm not sure why anyone has ever equated that with the ability to be eloquent. I'm not. I tend to write what I feel. Though I will try to leave the very personal behind here, as that has been a problem in the past. Or at least leave it to another blog.

Thankfully, I do at least tend to be short, as in not lacking in brevity (though occasionally I can ramble on). Something I can't say for some other people. I mean, do you really think that people want to read paragraph after paragraph after paragraph of your review? Doubtful. The best thing that Dr. Doughty taught me was to say your piece and then shut up.

So...maybe I'll fill-in little details here and there. But I promise nothing. Promises are easy to break. Anyway, enough of that.