...on a lighter note...(pretentious drivel)

The DC streetlamps hum with a dingy orange glow. This light results from a wavelength developed specifically by government scientists in the 1960's for the city of Washington, D.C. to illustrate that even warm colors (red, orange, yellow) can be cold and sinister. The embers of an extinguished campfire emit a smoldering reminder of the shadows it once cast on the forest floor. The warmth and light have reached the limit of detection. Such is the light of a DC street lamp.

The ill defined shadows cast by DC streetlamps move contrary to their objects. For example, a man out for an evening stroll may see shadows adjusting in a strobe-like fashion with the furthest extended shadow behind him lasting a bit longer than expected. Suddenly, surprise overtakes the man when the shadow snaps to his front, implying that the paces intended to take the shadow from point A to point B meant absolutely nothing. The wind betrays the light as well. A dogwood, stripped bare of its leaves and petals, sags and adjusts to the wintery breeze, yet the shadow remains etched and unmoving against the neighboring brownstone.

The unnecessary light of sleep touches my face from between the molding and the blind. It sneaks between my eyelashes and eyelids and agitates my dreams. Again, the dampened light does not wake me, but it keeps me restless and moving. Instinct takes control, allowing me to block the streetlamp's light with my arm, but as I drowse and sleep, I let my guard down again and again...until I awake suspicious of the true morning sun and its alibi.

On this day in History: January 30, 2003

On this day in blog history:

Beaverhausen writer John reported the juxtaposition of macho gay men everywhere who enjoy a beer and Monday night football while co-creator Ben analyzed the dilemma that midwestern schools faced when confronted with the possibility of a gay club.

Chrisafer coincidentally blogged about the possibility of a gay sports bar and even pitched the name "Catcher" musing over the advertising blitz: "Come get Pitchers at Catchers." Reference to Jimbo.

JimboInfo blogged about heading out with a straight boy to a gay bar. I'm not sure what location this entry was written from but he was obviously travelling and OUT to his co-workers. Reference to Chrisafer as well as long time recurring friend Gurl. Sportsbar blog not to appear until January 31, 2003

You guys all have rockin' blogs!

Flavors of the Day

For those who care what I've been listening to lately, here's the scoop:

1) Komeda - "Binario"
2) Le Tigre - "Deceptacon"
3) Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"
4) Of Montreal - "Lysergic Bliss"
5) Komeda - "It's Alright, Baby"
6) The Killers - "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine"
7) Interpol - "Obstacle 1"
8) Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)"
9) Of Montreal - "Eros' Entropic Tundra
10) The Futureheads - "The City is Here for You to Use"
11) Bow Wow Wow - "C30 C60 C90 Go"
12) Jennifer Gentle - "I Do Dream You"
13) Styx - "Too Much Time on My Hands"
14) Arcade Fire - "Une Annee Sans Lumiere"
15) Bucci Bag - "More Lemonade (Scissor Sisters Sticky Tits remix)"
16) Brazilian Girls - "Les Sirenes de la Fete"
17) Le Tigre - "Tell You Now"
18) Kylie Minogue - "I Believe in You"
19) Cut Copy - "Future"
20) Scissor Sisters - "Take Me Out"

Regrets:
The Killers "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" - This song offers me nothing new.

Wishes:
21) Brazilian Girls - "Don't Stop"
22) Esthero and Sean Lennon - "Everyday Is a Holiday (With You)" - Sean Lennon? Who'd-a-thunk?
23) Erasure - "Let's Take One More Rocket to the Moon" - Instant Nostalgia
24) Doves - "Black and White Town" - Someday
25) Nina Simone - "Funkier than a Mosquito's Tweeter"

Grits, Grits, Grits

Given yesterday's blog, I haven't been able to get out of my head the possibility of actually kissing grits. I explained to Chris and Ben yesterday the non sequitur which made me think of grits in the first place.

Listening to "Too Much Time on My Hands":
"Styx are still cool. They are Timeless...I don't have enough time on my hands to enjoy Styx."
"What do people in the mid-west listen to these days? I mean, what is the future of classic rock? Is it Good Charlotte?"
People in my highschool who wore jean jackets and T-shirts with Iron Maiden on them were known as "grits." Grits in Jason's highschool were known as dirtheads.
"Kiss my grits."
What would it feel like to really kiss grits?
What about french kissing grits?

I think when my thought process leads me to grits, it is generally a dead end...there's no where else to go. So, today I woke up with the thought in my head that I would head down to the cafeteria this morning and buy some grits and kiss them. I think that the warm glutanous texture would feel very nice against my lips...especially since the temperature is so cold these days...I need a moment alone.

Haiku for Flo

With a steaming bowl
I leaned forward, lips puckered
And I kissed the grits.

Culture of Strife

Bush announced by telephone from inside his warm house to pro-life advocates, who were able to brave the cold, blue of Washington, DC, that the United States should foster a "culture of life". Ironically, it was Iraq's alleged "culture of life" that allowed Bush to invade. Talk about a one issue voter.

How I spent my life's fortune: A chain blog

From: Kyle
To: The Little Indie Boy that Could (I hope my poppy selections won't bring you down)

...take one down and pass it around...

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
72.8 GB exist on my computer. My iPod is underused.
2. The CD you last bought is: The last CD I bought was Le Tigre's "This Island" as a gift. The last CD I bought for myself was Rufus Wainwright's "Want Two"...I guess the bonus DVD that I haven't watched yet dragged me under...The last digital purchase was Komeda's Kokomemedada.
3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?
"I'm So Excited" by Le Tigre - This song that used to make me gag a deep esophogeal gag now makes me happy.
4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you:
Pounding - The Doves - Thanks John
I Believe In You by Kylie Minogue - Thanks Kyle/Chris
Love Profusion - Madonna - Thanks Vijay
Tits on the Radio - Scissor Sisters - Thanks me
Better Future (Air remix) - David Bowie - Thanks Didier
5. (I'm adding this one) Write down 5 albums that have meant a lot to you throughout your life.
a) Styx - Paradise Theater: This was the first album I ever loved. The back of the LP had an oil print of these two women like the ones at the front of boats and I thought it was the coolest thing. I was too young to know that it was a concept album, so I spent many nights crying over the fact that Paradise Theater had closed down and I would never live to see it's beauty. I recently held an LP in my hand. I forgot how artists used to print the lyrics in the middle of the bifold cover...made me nostalgic
b) Rufus Wainwright - Poses - This all goes back to my first snowy weekend with Jason.
c) Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters - This album helped get me out of my musical rut and have fun again.
d) David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars - "I'm an alligator. I'm a mama papa coming for you. I'm a Space Invader. I'll be a Rock 'n' Rollin' bitch for you..." apologies if I misquoted.
e) Nina Simone - The Ultimate Nina Simone: Nothing evokes more emotion for me than Nina's voice.
6. Who are you going to pass this stick to? (3 persons) and why?
John, because he tends to accumulate the best of the best.
Bob Mould, because now dancing bears are not just for the circus...
DJ Bryan - Even though I don't think I've met him yet, this boy's got sass and great taste.

btw, TivoToGo arrived today!!! hip hop hooray!

SNL Fey-vorite's Upcoming Film

Soundtrack: Vic Thrill - "Wailing Wall"
For those of you interested in hearing the original story behind Tina Fey's upcoming movie, check out Act 1 of This American Life's "My Experimental Phase". It starts at about 7 minutes.

ATTN: My Fellow Red Blooded Americans

"Seize the day!" you rag tag bunch of party animals. With your cowboy hats, bowties and furs, you've taken over the blue-est city in America. So, while you're at home teaching your kids to play cowboys and Arabs, Basquing in the warm red glow of victory on the coldest blue day in history, I salute you with mittens held high so there is no way that you can tell me:

How many fingers am I holding up?

Outside the box pt 1

The moment I was born, I learned to think outside the box.

I learned to never lift weights when I have diarrhea.
I learned never to buy a prepackaged food product named THE BOMB.
I learned that the road to financial success does not involve reselling vintage Garbage Pail Kids trading cards.
I learned that following my dreams doesn't mean that I should walk into an exam completely naked.
I learned that White-Out can definitely save the day when you have unsightly stains on your underwear and you're headed to the doctor's office.
I learned that you can never force a pun and sometimes the best puns are the ones people don't even catch. (Yay! Puns!)
I learned that crying at the end of a Nanny 911 episode is not only pathetic, but therapeutic as well.

Subtle Perfection

The following is a list of songs that offer a short instance of genius that pushes them over the edge for me - feel free to add your own.

Arcade Fire - "Une Annee Sans Lumiere" - @ 1:50 and 2:15 in the song lead singer whoops amidst droning background. The calculated contrast of this sound to everything else that goes on clinches it for me. Notice any similarities between pictures?

The Doves - "Black and White Town" - "...you should follow your way down..." @ 2:25 lead singer provides gorgeous mini-trill causing lump in throat and pants. So beautiful...(pic for John)
The Doves - "Pounding" - The entire song is driven by a "pounding" bass drum leading into a brief U2-like guitare solo. @ 3:58 the music diverts from its original uphill path exploding into what I can only describe as musical flight. It makes me feel for a split second like everything is going to be okay.

Nina Simone - Four Women - The song tells the story of four black women of different but tragic lives ranging from Sephonia, the daughter of a rich white master who raped his slave to Sweet Thing, a prostitute. The song ends with a tale of a woman filled with hatred who thirsts for blood. The music crescendos @ 4:08 to announce the name of the woman in a voice that portrays the murderous rage contained within its mistress "MY NAME IS PEACHES!!!"

Interpol - "Take You on a Cruise" - "...I make money like Fred Astaire..." All I needed to hear to love this song.

...and on the flip side, there's subtle rejection.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars - "Celebrity Sanctum" - Who is Angela Jolie? I'm far from perfect, but something sounds wrong there... I liked the song until I figured out the Angelina Jolie issue and now I can't really listen to it anymore...tant pis cause otherwise it's a fun song...

Cheeky

"...I love you more than shoulders, legs, and eyes..."

When I backpedal on my bicycle, it generally gets me nowhere.

Westward, Ho Ho Ho!

Opening Credits: Poison - "Every Rose has its Thorn"
I finally purchased milk which expires in 2005, the dried out Christmas tree has finally met its maker, and I've set up my lawn chair along the parade route for optimal tomato(e) tossing accuracy.

I had fully intended to write a tell-all account of my trip out west to visit the in-laws in Iowa but the moment has kind of passed and the holiday season is long gone. Instead, I will share various fascinations I have with Iowa.

1) In Iowa, the toilet is called "The Stool."
2) Iowa has got THE best junk food. I would like to describe a few items that granted me extreme happiness.
a) Potato Skins - Potato Skins are my favorite trashy bar appetizer. The potato skins I ordered in Iowa were not the typical potato shells. They were the actual skins of the potatoes piled high with the sour cream, cheese, bacon and jalapeños piled on top like nachos. So delicious!
b) Loose Meat Sandwich - The loose meat sandwich, dubbed "great taste on the loose," is
similar to the sloppy Joe except there is no sauce - simply delicious chopped hamburger meat
served loose on a bun with lots of spices. The one I ate was strangely sweet; however the
original is apparently not.
c) Deep Fried Burger - I did not eat one, but rumor has it that there are deep fried burgers in
Iowa.
3) In Iowa high schools/middle schools, girls don't get pinned, they get cattle tagged. That is to say that girls have taken to writing their boyfriends name(s) on cattle tags and wearing them around their necks. This fad was then taken a step forward by decorating the cattle tags with sequins and stickers.
4) Northeast Iowa is often used as a test market by food manufacturers. Last year I was introduced to Hershey "Swoops" (the chocolate pringle shaped candies). This year I tasted Reese's Pieces covered peanuts as well as Hershey's newest candy bar "Take 5"
5) Not specific to Iowa, but staring into a night sky unhindered by light pollution makes me want to support the Georgia textbook sticker initiative.
6) Finally, Gabbin with Gary.

Fade Out: Guns and Roses - "Civil War"

The Doves

"Black and White Town" single available for listening at Filter magazine. Check it out.