Sunday, May 27, 2007

Their Prey Gather in Herds of Still Knee-Length Skirts and White Ankle-Socks

Minneapolis, or Bloomington rather, welcome to the Mall of America, self-touted the largest shopping center in America, and a great place for kiddos to go to have fun. The retail centers are that which are in every shopping mall around the nation....anyone need a Journeys? how bout a Hot Topic?

I just can't seem to get one of these family pictures right, lookin' like Uncle Lerch in all of them.


There are the pictures, a sorta theme park inside the mall, even a big Ferris wheel, as the Grinch would say, o the noise noise noise noise. I walked the length of the 3 1/2 stories in just a tad bit over an hour at a brisk pace, stopping only for a pizza and mountain dew.

Grant and I have a fictitious band named 'Cecil Flesel' goin' on, and we try to 'one up' each other in dialogue. For instance, I will tell Grant, yea I saw the band just perform an acoustic set on the thrid floor. His response, oooo, I think I heard it, did they play that song, 'I Want it All,' and my counter-rebuttal, 'no, I think they played track 3 on the album first, you know, the one with the great guitar solo'.....and so on and so forth.



The night couldn't be complete without a night of excess in downtown Minneapolis. I met up with a long time friend of mine Jolen and she showed me the ropes downtown. We checked out a few Irish type pubs, have some Stella pints, got to ride a lightrail, and got a ride home from a cab driver from Kenya. Rollin' in as the sun is coming up, Mummy asks, where the heck you been all this time?

This is the 'target center' downtown I believe, but they had all the lights off at closing time.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Come Out of Things Unsaid, Shoot an Apple off My Head

Another day in Denison bonding with the family, bow shooting with Todd of all things, yes, I tried to get my brother in law to let me shoot and apple off my head, but considering this was the second time ever shooting one of these things, he didn't like the idea.

First time I shot one, around age ten, my buddy 'Boobs' and I 'dared' each other to shoot it straight up into the air, well we did, running for cover in fear of an arrow thru the skull, we wait for it to land, only realizing it came down, foot deep into the neighbors roof, yea, I put that bow up after that.

Here's me gettin' my gear on,' at the local Archery Club. In medieval times, I would have been a longbowsman, just like 'Fagalos' in Lord of the Rings.


As time went on, I got better at this stuff, and I never popped myself in the arm, this means that I got a 'good release' so I'm told. On the day, we hit some targets, that got boring, so we moved a BIG BEAR out there, after I got the kill shot, I aimed for the bears privates, I got close once, landing an arrow in I guess what would be a bear hip. We also brought out the wild hog, turkey, and we rounded the evening out with a skunk. Pepe Le PEEE-U!


Then we visited the 181 acres of beautimus family farmland. My great uncle took a chance, back in the day, the rumor was that you could get paid a lot more money raising corn in Iowa than cotton in Texas, so he loaded up the truck and moved to Denison. Terraces, timber, CRP, etc, there's a lot to learned in this neck of the woods.


Then there's CRAZY MUMMY who took some deer horns out and posed with them. The Texans coming to represent in Iowa have ZERO hunting experience, but we listened intently and did our best to understand.


There's a 'gator' and a 4-wheeler out there on the farm, cousin Todd asked mummy, wanna go for a ride, she said, YEA!, Todd was in disbelief that mom accepted the offer, but within' minute they were hotroddin' down the trail.


Somewhere in the mix, the gang went to see this OLD church, 200 years or something, that was uprooted from one area and moved to another area. Sure looks like the one Slash played his geetar in front of in the desert in the November Rain video.


Random walking time around Denison, Meagan is being a princess, trying to polarize boys vs girls, being gruesome, and lookin' at her dad as if he was insane rollin' down the hill.


Last but certainly not least, we couldn't leave Denison without Todd's promised trip to a 'Gentleman's Club,' in this case, 'Big Earl's Key Club.' I must say this joint is uber seedy, but they had an 'internet jukebox,' and before they knew it, the crowd was switched from AC/DC to Australia by The Shins. I even got a nod from one of the 'wait staff,' as if the say, 'good choice.' Too much silicon for me, but a wheat beer or two at a few different places made for a great nightcap.


Up next, twin cities, Mall of America --- maybe I'll buy me a pair of long pants, gettin' a bit chilly up ova here.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Mandy's in the Backroom Handling Out Valium and Sheriff's on the Airwaves Talking to the DJ's

The family vacation continues, drivin' cross country in the Chevy Van. Little Miss Sunshine you might say?

The dreaded Iowa sign, its nice to hop out at these things, snap a picture or two while cars whiz by going, 'Ha Ha Ha, Ho Ho Ho,' cough cough '*#$(%) em.' Iowa IS filled with fields of opportunities, just ask the Fast Food Nation peeps about the 'Mexicanification' of Iowa. Don't ask me what I was doing in this picture, perhaps taking a gander at my growing 'man boobs.'

We arrive in the quaint city of Denison, Iowa, their claim to fame, home of Diane Reeves, which is the 'Buffalo Gal' in 'Its a Wonderful Life,' it has consistently been a favorite movie of mine, and I've often been compared to George Bailey.

Today me and my second cuz Nick went to play some tennis, snapped this picture of the water tower.

The arrival to 'Neumann Acres,' our relatives posh abode on Maplewood Drive, lots of room, this crib we're at is the bomb, amazing accommodations, some amazing food, 'fresh meat', literally. No, their ain't any burnt carpet grass in the backyard with ants and stickers, this stuff is the real deal.


My uncle Harvey and aunt Leora both passed away a few years back, haven't been to see the family since before their passing. The family dedicated a bench to them on top of 'Yellow Smoke' Park, when I die, I'd like to get a bench named after me, with a comparable view to this.

The main line of the Union Pacific has trains rollin' thru the city about 88 times per day I'm told, reminds me of Taggart Transcontinental in Atlas Shrugged, as I hear the horn of the train, surely doesn't make the imagination wonder.

Here we are, well some of us at least by the bench, myself, Doris, Darryl (who's lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 30+ years, fun person to talk to), Lowell, Meagan with some surprise devil ears, mummy and Jr.


That's all for today, tomorrow is filled with more surprises in Denison before heading off to the Mall of America, and hopefully and Ozomatli gig at Harmony Park, Geneva Minnesota

Thursday, May 24, 2007

I Walk These Streets, A Loaded Six String on my Back

Being on the road is inspiring and refreshing, despite a bad day for snappin' pictures, especially the 'before' picture which i forgot to take after being extremely drowsy after an all nighter.

Holla from Wichita Kansas, not a lot going on in this neck of the woods, but the Day's Inn is nice, and the staff here at the hotel are extremely tolerant of our loud 10.30 pm antics at the pool.

The cheese ritual is to snap pictures at the state lines, well, since the rains' came down and the floods came up, here's the best we could do.

at the time of the snap
Sitting in Row 1 - Brother in Law and Sis
Sitting in Row 2 - Mummy and Meagan
Sitting in Row 3 - Myself and Gavin
Sitting in Row 4 - Jr and Grant


Oklahoma, or moblihoma as my longhorn friends would say. I've had some fun times in the past here, most recently a Ben Folds slingshot trip, a trip to see John's band play at Okie Noodling at Paul's Valley (an eccentric little place), when I was young going to learn about Will Rogers, and for some reason Dad took us out to Oral Roberts (don't hold it against me folks, and Folds. Anyone Flaming Lips fans? Well the Fearless Freaks hail from OK City, many football zealouts in Norman, and but certainly not least, a man extremely ahead of his time and atmosphere, Woodie Guthrie, had the pleasure of driving thru Guthrie today. It would have been interesting to stop at Oklahoma's Turner Falls for a benchmark for Niagara, I'm wonder if superman is going to save anyone while I'm there.


Almost rollin' into Kansas, we see the noteworthy sunsets, I'd say this picture captures the essence of the area, nice sunset and surroundings, 'humble housing,' and truck stops.




More explorations to come. When my relatives came over on the boat, there were 4 brothas, 3 were in Texas, 1 in Iowa, we are going to make a pit stop in Iowa next for a day or so and play catch up with the family there. My cousin Todd promises me a good time, although google earth doesn't see too many hot spots around Denison.


The soundtrack of the trip thus far, Paolo Nutini, what can I say, I'm addicted to the new album, a heartfelt / clever dude from Scotland.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

We Passed the Hash Pipe, And Played our Doors Tapes

Tomorrow myself, my brother, sister, brother in law, mummy, and nieces and nephews Grant, Meagan and Gavin are heading on a trip towards Niagara Falls.

For those of you who understand the eclectic-ness of the family, any adventure of this sort is an adventure, but rest assured there will be no hash pipes or Dorrs tapes, but perhaps a nice Billy Joel tune or so. I think Billy Joel is great for the road trips.

Here she is, the van of all vans, the one that's gonna bring to the other side of the continent. Jr and I spent an hour or so de-stinkifying the seats that have been in the shop for a year or so, not just febreeze, but AUTO febreeze :)


Here's the tenative route, sorta, I know we're hittin' some family in Iowa, I know we're hittin' the mall of America (nice when I got about 200 bucks in the bank account), Niagara, and a podunk town in Ohio.

And yes, this lovely drawing was done with Google Earth and Pbrush.


Tomorrow at 6am, I grab my sack full of technical gadgets of GPS, cameras, phone, blah blah blah, and my sack of a shirt or two, pants, shorts, sock and underwear and take what will be an epic journey across 13 or so states.

Stay tuned for pictures of me in front of cool shit :)

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Red Blood's a Powerful Fuel, Sweet Love Tasted Blood - My Heart Overfloods

Sittin' here digesting 'Love is a Mixtape, Life and Loss One Song at a Time' --real content of true passion, not only in the music element, but also the human element. A tragic story of love and loss, and recollection and reflection thru mix tapes. Many of us have made mix tapes for people, for all occasions, here's a short depiction of what it means to me.

To preface, I write postings like this by design, of what the Dahai Lama told Mike P and I....he reminds us to explore the small area between our ears more than we explore the vast outreaches of space and time.

Music is a commodity these days, with it comes mixed sentiments. Everyone needs music, hence enlightenment in their lives, and its marvelous to see that in this day and age it is pretty much available for anyone in the developed world to explore different likes and dislikes, to push the envelope of creativity, and find themselves in the process.

Finding one-selves, that's a tough one, the influx of music I feel has created some sort of identity crisis for people who 'consume' music to be 'open' and 'cool.' Just look at people's last.fm pages, there's a lot of 'experimental listening' going on. Artists that have no business being represented together are being combined in a 'as a matter of fact' way.

Somewhere in the 'music metasystem' of how it relates to your soul, I think there's some sort of 'base' that you as an individual come back to for comfort and your true identity. For instance, I dabble around in everything, but at the end of the day, the last 10 miles of the race, I come back to the mellow-contemplative-introspective-white-boy-music-genre, merely because it gives me insight into a lot of things, and one thing I believe we're here on this earth to learn, and consequently (I think), rather than coincidentally these bands are the progressive ones, because they strike the tuning fork in the hearts and minds of mavens.

Sent the 'hey guys, yall should check out this book email to my peeps,' this came back from my brother in law, the most frequent feedback contributor. He once said I married my first love after dating her for a loooong time, don't ask me about problems of the heart.....well, one thing I must say he's good at observation, and that's worth at least a gold bar or two.

We had nothing in common, except we both loved music. It was the first connection we had, and we depended on it to keep us together. We did a lot of work to meet in the middle. Music brought us together

Strikes me as a line that Robert B. may use one day when he finds the love of his life..

My response, damn right! I feel it extremely important to connect with someone on this level, for its extremely important and valuable to my life. It's my #1 source of knowledge and wisdom, for the most part, I ain' lookin' for shit that got a beat, I'm lookin' for someone who has something to say, that says it in a way that's concise, mysterious, entertaining, and articulate and most importantly personal. I'm looking for people that identify with the nuances of these thoughts.

It's really not about music, who cares for who, who does what to who, who can hurt who the most, its about achieving a state of mind, a state that's neither good nor bad, but a comfortable corner niche you find yourself in at the end of the day and at the end of life.

I agree with M Ward, its great to be alive, and it's sad that I'll have to give it up one day. I look back with no regrets, and I've taken perfect advantage of my youth (and still am). The future is what it is, I have a wealth of options to steer, polish, cultivate, and choose who is (to take a bad clueless reference) much more to me than a pair of shoes, hence I'll be picky about it.

The universal constant is that it is inevitable that the relationship with the 'dream girl' / 'ram to butt heads with' will ultimately revolve around music, and we'll make the rest up as we go along.

There IS a reason why music is the most popular thing in the world. From American Idol to the 'Band-Aids' at the concerts, it strikes a hunger and passion in each one of our souls. I've reached down into that metadata, and reached the correlation, and it makes me marvel at the sheer chance of a connection like this.

In the meantime, we all hop from Beyonce to Buckley, to AC/DC to The Shins, to Bon Jovi to Black Sabbath, Garth Brooks to Steve Earl and everything in between. We're tribal, we need organization, just remember the base for happyland, and broaden your horizons only after you've fortified your boundaries, hop into the metadata, make your connection on music, hope, and true love in the end will find you.

Welkommen, Welkommen, Shame About the Weather

Loads of fun to spending the evening with the AMF volunteers over bowling balls at the Dart Bowl.

Pictured, the heart and soul of the non-profit I volunteer with, both pillars. Amy my friend in the middle is going on a European stint for about a month, coming back for the summer, then going to study in Scotland for a long time, how awesome, mad props to her!

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Masquerading as a Man With a Reason, My Charade is the Event of the Season

Love pullin' up the stop lights, windows down, blarin' some 'good ol' 80's nonsense, lookin' (un)cool, checkin' out responses, etc.

A Dallas pub crawl, of sorts, The Old Monk , The Slide In (or something like this), a jump start at Home Depot, The Elbow Room, Lucky's to eat, The Blarney Stone, and then some tejano'ish bar made for a great night in DTown. Not quite the debauchery as this hometown crawl, but surely deserves reference.

Let it be known, that on this day, Saturday the 19th, that a slew of Texas State Alumnists got together for some beers, dialogue and an overall good time. Who needs to hook em' horns when you can throw up the claw in one hand, and the state of Texas in the other :) --

Friday, May 18, 2007

Lisa Bonet ate No Basil

Pure brilliance, both videos, the Weird Al version, all palindromes! This ranks up there with Christmas at Ground Zero and Mr Frump and the Iron Lung.

Bob (parody)


Subterranean Homesick Blues (original)

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Soccer / Futbol - Mumbai - Bombay, Whateva the Hell You Call It

A quick update on Toshi, who's representin' down in Mumbai / Bombay whateva you call it. I enjoy or occasional MSN messenger talks, he's always full of interesting stories, and I'm always being lamo and boring.

I have to start gettin' my (l)earn on because I'm runnin' my mouth on these extravagant trips I'm promising my peeps. First IS Japan, within' 10 years a trip to India with brother in law and Brandon, and I've been runnin' my mouth for world cup 2010 in South Africa.

Toshi, third from the left, top -- he got a new haircut, didn't even recognize! Anyway Toshi, I miss you bud, wish you were still here kickin' my ass in squash and making me eat 'crazy' food! hahaha

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

I'll Sing Statistics, and Hide the Truth

A night of contemplation, hence general rambling, I can derive some meaning and talking points from the below lyrics, M Ward of course.

------------------------------------------------
'Where you're locked in coverage falling in time, and it’s hot enough just to let your ideas go by'

'the hardest thing in the world to do is to find someone who believes in you'
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Expectations -- If you can't have them when the stakes get higher and higher in a relationship, friendship, business endeavour, etc, what's the use of upping the ante? I'm blessed and cursed with what I consider a commodity of close friends of whom I drift in and out of 'intimacy' in conversation, hopes, dreams, ideas, etc. I'm tenacious about going out of my way to make people comfortable and accommodating, in doing so I'm a happy. Why more often than not does this put people out of their 'comfort zone' if this has to be reciprocated.

Collaboration -- Why is it so damn difficult to find people to collaborate with in business endeavours 'when to going gets tough,' and what's up with all this instant gratification attitude we all seek these days. Why is it so difficult to organize a weekly same bat time same bat station geek session? Why is it when you get a group of what seems to be good friends together everyone is scared that their ideas are going to be ripped off, and whats so intimidating about putting your best ideas out there on the blogosphere for everyone to read?

Trolls -- I used to be under the impression that a good critic was beneficial to a circle of ideas, I understand now that all it does is stifle communication, or starts a downward spiral of criticism which leads to no, no, no. Why does it have to be black or what, why do we have to hurt one to love another....you get the picture.

Mixing business with pleasure-- I'd say one of my strengths is getting people who have no business getting together and hang out, communicate, integrate and buffer conversation until conversation stands on its on. In a business environment I think this is grand, in social context it takes on a different meaning. I constantly think hard on this, and only come up that circumstances are always case specific.

Individualism -- Lots has to add up with people to create 'synergy' time and place, collaboration skills, no trolls, and a willingness to raise the ante --- yes this is a lot. You can't control the movements of people, but you can certainly control the movements of yourself. Knowing yourself, you can build the next Rome or at least your Rome, and then order of business then is who's on the Senate, or do we just skip that part?

True indeed, the hardest thing in the world to do is to find someone who believes in you, so believe in yourself.

True indeed, life circumstances get hard amongst peers, true indeed, that ideas of life and the human element and business ventures should still flow freely.

Monday, May 14, 2007

how the water can flow like it's streaming out a fountains and all you got to do is find a sword and stone

Boy have I ever mentioned how much I love M. Ward, on a scale of 1 to 10 on the bad-ass-o-meter, he's a TWO BILLION. Today I strolled down to Waterloo and picked up an older album of his, Transfiguration of Vincent, truly amazing stuff.

Listening to this album made me remember this picture of my Iowa uncle Harvey (accordion) and his buddy Les. This was a magical day, the two playing a beautiful love song, and Harvy singing the words in German, then translating it. Harvey died a few years back, but his memory lives on.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Now My Bad Dream is My Best Friend

The boys from the Old 97's played Gruene Hall, I love it out here, all hail margaritas and bud light.

New song about pirates and the lord which was brilliant, and ran into some old friends. It's amazing how if you religiously follow a band around, you see lots of the same faces at the gigs. Also seems like the band is your friends, and not really the band anymore.

One time when the world was bad for me, I thought these guys were the only ones who 'understood.'

Not quite the front row, but close enough.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Importance of Content

Living in the digital era, it's safe to say that producers of content have a leg up on the competition so to speak. It's easy to start a blog, it's hard to be tenacious about it, my thoughts are because of the difficulty in organizing one's thoughts.

It's a long road of trial and error, one in which you learn along the way. If you 'don't know how to write,' after years of working at it, you become more skilled. If you blog about your life, there's plenty of self enrichment to be had, as you work thru things out loud, and often times get loads of feedback from friends.

My personal blog, something I'm not looking to per se aggregate an idea, but rather cultivate strong relationships with the people around me who care to be engaged with my life. I'd like to believe it draws people closer to me, my thoughts, feelings, all that touchy feel-y stuff. I feel as if I spit a lot of content on the page, and the people who have the patience and tenacity to read these thoughts and ideas are probably some of my best friends. Just being engaged, knowing what's going on in someones life, and showing a genuine interest builds the relationships that can move mountains. It all starts with one sentence or two, I wish more of my friends would blog, I'm genuinely interested in what yall have to say, and what's going on in yalls heads.

Random Blogging, is something I've picked up lately, blogging politics, blogging technology, this is the viral stuff I'm going to work hard to aggregate, for name recognitions sake.

Either way, ideas are being spread, and they will be picked up by people if you sustain the effort and actually have something to say. Thru the years as I blog, I hope to get some 'breaks' and some luck and acquire opportunities and friends, just by producing content and putting some brain power behind it.

I Look Around for Faces I Know, I Never Ever Want to Go Home

I stayed away from facebook for the longest time, but tonight I bit the bullet and joined the social network everyone is raving about. It used to be for college kids, but now it's opened up for the world, weird / verging on scary auditing capabilities, and I can only imagine the drama that goes on with these networks and circles of trust.

Well, I don't know if this link works, but if you're on facebook and need a friend, click on me.

Normally I'm an early adopter, guess I fell of the bus on this one, but better late than never.
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Humor: I've come to love 'beer drinking songs' over the years, here's a 'cute' german one. I sure wish i could post it somehow, it's much funnier when you hear it.

Eisgek Hlter Bommerlunder

The lyrics are....
Eisgekühlter BommerlunderBommerlunder eisgekühltEisgekühlter BommerlunderBommerlunder eisgekühltund dazuEin belegtes Brot mit Schinken(yelled) Schinken!Ein belegtes Brot mit Ei(yelled) Ei!Das sind zwei belegte BroteEins mit Schinken, eins mit Eiund dazuThis is then repeated over and over, each time

the singer reaches "und dazu" the song is sung quicker, and higher, until they can't sing anymore.

Translation
roughly translated, the lyrics are:
Ice cold Bommerlunder(a type of schnapps)
Bommerlunder ice cold(repeat)
and with it
one sandwich with ham
ham!


one sandwich with egg
egg!
those are two sandwiches,
one with ham and one
with eggand with themetc.

Borat would have to say 'Very Nice' on this one.



Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Ride On, Ride On

Life is interesting, people are interesting. Something occurred to me on my drive home from Crown this evening, the two buzz words sensibility and sensitivity.

Sensibility -- what can I say about it other than in the last almost a year staying with sis I've gained a tremendous amount. My days on Rolling Ridge have dried me out, in a good way, and certainly have put things into perspective for me, and when I move back to a nice small inner city dwelling I'll be able to take this sensibility learned out here 'on the road' with me, it all works for a reason, like the feather flying around in Gump.

Sensitivity -- Geeze, how do I explain this, other than a spiral of conversations I've had with people over the years on what this means, most noteworthy, a nice country drive with a bud back in Shiner a year or so ago. The question is 'why do people engage in actions that desensitize the human emotions that are so genuine and real to them. Where the hell did this 'as a matter of fact attitude' come from in everyone? Why do people insist on diluting deep and genuine connections with others and engage in the casual state of affairs known today.

I've vowed to keep thinkers close to my heart, and that has kept me out of awkward situations, and its really made me a happier person. I've vowed to be patient and stay true to my guns, and for the first time in my life I'm able to be truly mentally independent from the desolate thoughts of insecurity, loneliness, desperation and confusion.....I don't test for echo anymore, but I'll knows it when I sees it.

I think meantime, I really have no concern as to where to 'plug Robert in at,' I'm comfortable in my own skin, but more than most of the time I'm not comfortable with the world around me.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

And the Ditches on the Highway, Read Between the Seasons, Under the Bridges in Valleys, Till the Winds out on the Prairie, Wipe the Tears from My Eyes

86 miles on the bike. I must say this was no picnic, intense headwind the entire trip, Texas humidity, and a route that seemed uphill the entire way, for us non-traditional bikers, well, it spelled disaster, Here's a how it unfolded rest stop to rest stop.

1 -- Beginning to Fiesta Market -- The crew was yippie, we're doing the GASP, this is cool, giddy out of the starting block, surprisingly, lots of puke around mile 10, I saw it least 4 different piles along the way. You also notice all the roadkill around 183 and the other big highways. First rest stop, 100's of people, signs of achievement, etc -- and the saving grace, the 'power bar goo' with caffeine and carbs and all that other stuff athletes need (I guess). First song played on the antipod, Weezer, and 'The World Has Turned and Left Me Here.'

Here was the crew out of the starting block, left to ride, my nephew Alex, Red, Garth and Bob.


2 -- Fiesta Market to Rest #2 -- This is the part where I'm thinking, 'yea, this is going to be the 'hilly part,' and 'eventually this has to level out,' as the hills brought on more hills, you see a hill in the horizon, and think, geeze, this is gonna be tough. Here's where the separation takes place, Bob blazes the trail with Garth close behind, me hanging about 500 yards back, and Alex no where to been seen in the background.

3 -- Rest #2 to McMahon General Store -- This the part I had to prove that I was cool and 'lead' this portion of the race, so for hype music I popped in Greenday's Dookie and paved the trail, thru the hard drizzle. I even kept up and 'drafted' with some computer geeks who worked for a consulting firm in Austin.

On arrival to the general store ahead of the pack, I'm beat, I see Bob coming and tease him about how red he was, well, I wasn't much better.


4 -- McMahon General Store to South Texas Wood -- My O my, this is when it got interesting, just tough conditions, and a few massive hills left me fighting it, I see all the 'sag wagons' picking people up, and I kept thinking, I gotta make this, we're more than half the way there. I lose all my compadres, so as I head up a hill, I notice this other dude struggling, we befriend each other and make our way to the next rest.

5 -- South Texas Wood to Cistern Church -- The ride gets better, the power goo seems to be holding me up, I got a new buddy that rides at a leisurely pace, the road is good, it's in the county so no exhaust spilling SUV are blowing sut in my face, very scenic landscape, I'm thinkin, yea, things are good from here on out, peace, tranquility and a coast to Shiner.

6 -- Cistern Church to Downtown Flatonia -- All it takes is a turn, and hell comes with it, that's the oddball Highway 95 for you. Sinister uphill, wind blowing so freakin' hard that you actually have to pedal downhill, and the road, let me tell you about the road, its one step up from gravel, and it's pounding the hell out of you the entire time. It's not fit for man nor beast.

This is me, around mile 72, ain't no joy on my face, and for the most part, I'm riding alone, not too many peeps in site, my buddy 'sags' and the others I pass look absolutely miserable, almost like this self portrait I took on the camera phone.


7 -- Flatonia to Moulton -- I've probably done this drive in a car 1 million times, but on a bike, it truly makes you respect geography. After a 45 minute meditation session to 'wish the pain away', I partook in this 9 mile journey to Moulton, still bad road, still big hills, I think I can I think I can I think I can.

8 -- Moulton to Shiner -- Like the song 'runnin on instinct,' that me at this point, not too much on my mind, just remember I put on 'Travis's' The Man Who album to coast me in to Shiner. A woman passed me, said I was doing great, and said, 'Just remember, the mind gives out way before the body. I roll into Shiner, a LOT later than most, but I finish, the 'welcome wagon' of clappers has thinned down to a spatter as I roll in, unhook from the bike and grab me a Shiner Light.

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Well, the muster was tested and I survived, yea, I'm proud of myself. I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore biker, and I did something that I felt was a bit hardcore in that realm, and that a lot of people wouldn't even attempt.

I'm getting 'nice biker legs,' but I don't want to turn my already fat legs into fat muscular legs, so I'll find the proper balance, and probably move on to another hardcore thing to do in another discipline and see what sticks, hopefully I'll have a lot of my life defined by 40 or 45 with this mentality.

Lots goes on in your head when you're tired and pushing your body to the limits, and I'm glad to say that for a spatter of time I'm content, maybe even a bit happy.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Know a man, his face seems pulled and tense, Like hes riding on a motorbike in the Strongest Winds

What can I say about the Pearl Jam song, Off He Goes, it meant so much to me as a young lad (21ish). I can imagine by this time tomorrow the face will be pulled and tense, because of strong winds, hot and humid Texas weather, and 86 miles from Shiner to Austin NOT on a 'motorbike', but rather a pedal bike. Got that right, it's Shiner GASP time.

Another point of interest, I read the Freakonomics blog all the time, and they hired a new editor, she writes for Opinionistas, sometime I look forward to reading in the future. Her advice on success, 'ditch your social life,' and surprisingly for the most part that's what I've done in the last few months, and it has seemed to work wonders on some part of my soul.

I'm sure missing out on a lot of Cinco de Mayo events, most particular, the St George's shin'dig where my nephew Collin goes. Kudos to Jeannie and Robert for all the hard work the put into this.

Time to load the antipod full of 'happenin' tunes for the ride to Shiner. Helmet, gloves, snap in pedals and the world, like Jenny on gump would say 'Dear Lord, make me light (haha) and flexible and get me to Shiner in one piece.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

My Drunk Heart Won't Sit Still

Lawrence Lessig wrote a book, How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity, he puts his money where his mouth is, produces good content, releases it under Creative Commons, I stand by what this man says, especially about 'free', not in the sense of 'lets steal all this digital content', but free as in freedom, as a nation, transparency of laws, etc.

What has the advent of digital music, hence the advent of music as a commodity done for me? Well, the first song I ever downloaded was 'Last Kiss', the Pearl Jam version, I was in love with that song, couldn't buy it, it came on a 45 for the Pearl Jam fan club, so I downloaded the tune, rushed to compusa, bought a 350 USD 2x CD burner, and rolled thru town blarin' last kiss on cd, boy did I feel cool.

Creativity, the wider availability of music has certainly made for a more cultured society, and has further thrust what used to be counter culture into pop culture, and yes, this is a good thing. I've often been criticized by na-sayers 'why do you listen to those crappy named bands,' well those crappy named bands often have a lot to say, and the average person is not exposed to them unless they get some MTV airplay.

As I listen to The Cardiagans, I recall how I was exposed to back before the evil MP3, it was thru their 'pop' hit 'Lovefool' that was played on MTV, which really has no correlation to the actual substance of the band.

We all know big media doesn't care about introspection and artistic merit unless it can make a buck, myspace says come on ova, anyone, everyone, and yall can sift thru all this and make judgements yourself.

These peeps would be strummin' their guitars weather they get paid or not, and there needs to be a revenue model that can accommodate art as a commodity, but is the model the actual music, or in the future is that a marketing tool for shirts, gigs, puma contracts and corporate sponsors, that's my guess, as long as the pirates are around.

Its really done a lot for me, opened my eyes to society, gave me different perspectives, tore my heart up, built my heart back up, la-de-da, only to make me a better person, truly empathetic to people who feel tough emotions.

As it pertains to the current music industry, The Fraunhofer Society changes all of that with the invention of the MP3, leaving non-value-adding-people-with-big-houses-on-sides-of-lakes shaking in their Cole Haan's. Where does it all go? It paves the way for people to be more enlightened with music, if they do so choose, it enhances its popularity while making it a plentiful commodity, and its sending tons of 'old school' legislation and bureaucracy and to file 13.

This leaves a heart to heart bond with me, and an artist that understands me, perhaps in Norway, Russia, or anywhere in the flat world. In the new and improved model, the funds WILL come for the artist and those who truly help the them, anyone else can go copy papers or something.

All the purists in the industry, live by the zen proverb, leap and the net will appear.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Hear You Laughing and my Soul is Saved, On Forgotten Graves You Cry

Yea, Chris Cornell comes to town, he's the guy that church in Shiner thinks is the devil, perhaps the preach caught the Black Hole Sun video watching M2 one day, o wait....what would he have been doing watching M2.

Sunshower (love that song), Can't Change Me, Hunger Strike, Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Cochise, they're all there on my you tube.

The gospel according to Chris himself, tellin' us how it us.


Here's what capacity Stubb's BBQ looks like from the 5th row looking back, intense audience, even a bit of crowd surfing broke out. Really, how 'old school' is that?


Seeing this actually sent shivers down my spine, lots of high school memories, boy did that sure pave the way for a lot of garbage.....cough cough, 'Creed' --

Yep, I'm goin' hungry. Tom, guitar player/.....who?

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Climax and the Human Spirit

Howard Roark builds the skyscraper to represent the human spirit, Dominique meets Howard at the top, and the two are left with the sky and the sea, along with peace and human understanding. The best visual / symbolic climax I've ever seen in a book.

Today I finish The Fountainhead, lots of stuff to be taken away and woven into life. It's got a Hollywood love affair, theories on human motivation, uncompromising character, etc as the great hero and the great equalizer rise to the top with objectivist thought.

I used to wish this stuff didn't make so much sense to me because of its numbing effect, now I've come to embrace the thoughts. For what it accentuates, the thoughts are dead on, it addresses the nuances of life at the 'topmost' level, and truly has provided a moral and ethical barometer to deal with the white noise of the world.

The actions in the book happen over a long period of highs and lows, small, humble victories that lead to a seat on the top of the world, now that's inspiration.

What I can do? Forget the speech and move the stone.

Friday, April 27, 2007

No le hace si no sabes moverte güerita, baila conmigo y pareces latina

One of my rare 'paint the town' nights,

1. Grupo Fantasma at La Zona Rosa for AMF with Maudi's Food.

2. Lomita at Beauty Bar

3. Bavu Blakes and Tee Double at Flamingo Cantina

4. A few bud lights as a nightcap at Logans

Fight, Fight, To Win Back your Heart Again

Last night I watched the dems 'debate,' 30 second soundbytes, actually useless, people speaking in generalities about complicated issues.

All partianship aside (as I think it should be), I applaud honesty and 'non-traditional' politics. Hence, I support Obama.

A simple example, when asked 'Did you inhale?' The response, 'I thought that was the point.' This insignifigant issue then isn't perpetuated, an honest answer to a simple question ends 'speculation.' Bush and Clinton (which both have) wouldn't answer this simple question, therefore allows media cash cows to 'dwell' in this nonsense.

This along with MANY other 'soundbytes' leads me to like this man, the same stir I hear from conservatives and liberals alike. Weather he can do it or not, he's the only one that speaks of uniting the country, and that's why he's got my vote.

From citizen journalism, here's the facts.


And here are the attacks.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

How Long Till My Soul Gets It Right

How weird that as on my 30 mile bike ride this evening I'm recalling the Indigo Girls? What can I say, I like em', they're stong and proud.

Hey big shot in the Mercedes, the bike lane is a bike lane, and you know what, the voodoo doll that I got at SXSW goes to you, so voodoo spell on you, me hope you like you're new skin rash.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

There Were Bells, On A Hill, But I Never Heard them Ringing

Just when I start bashing Beatles cover bands and cover songs, I find Meet the Smithereens, and it's a blast, what can I say! They got it down!

Life is strange, thanks again sis' for putting up with me, I'm picky about it all, and I'm excited about how my life can and will change on a dime sooner than later.

Thinking about that, I've decided to do a SWOT analysis on my life.

Strengths - Well, talking to recruiters, many tell many that I've got some of the best people skills of any 'IT Geek' they've ever talked to, and I know I can read people well, I know myself, I know boundaries, and I'm confident. I have a lot of FRIENDS, not contacts. I'm genuinely interested in what people have to say. I think I'm a good listener if there's something actually being said.

Weaknesses - How many times have I heard, 'you're flaky.' I constantly have friends saying what a bad friend I am, hopefully jokingly, but there's truth behind every sentiment like that. I have too many coals on the fire, which sometimes goes to say I don't ever get anything done. I'm a slacker by every sense of the world (motivated yet unmotivated, defiant yet devoted, and in essence, hard to 'manage')

Opportunities - Wise folks say 'go for the big bucks,' and also 'there's a narrow window you have in your life to do extraordinary things', and that time is right now, no lease, no girl, no babies, no nothin'. I could essentially get one of those sticks and a blanket, throw some jeans (or dress pants) up in there and head whereva, and that's what my gut tells me to do, so we'll see where that lands me.

Threats - Yea, then and there, again, my own hand holds me down. I'm STUPID in the head, and I'm extremely idealistic, and its my own worse enemy along with being a strength, so it's hard to clump this stuff into categories. The threat is no balance in my life, the threats are stomach ulcers, going down a hill at 45 mph on my trek 1500 fallin' and bustin my head open, and professionally, there's nothing that a good 'flexin' wont' do for me.

All of this leaves me with visions of an eccentric, eclectic, and engaged life, still being able to keep my probing ability, diggin' and diggin', always to find that life isn't really all that bad.
-------------------

I guess def leppa says it best....

"Pull it, pull it, cmon trigger the gun
cos the best is (a) yet to come"

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Na Na Na Na Na

One good Shins concert deserves another and another and another and another, even if it's to brave the rain and an MTV event.

Bless this Frenchy who does this, following bands around the lovely city of Paris. Just look at these Shins havin' a good time, even Mercer looks a bit happy. Notice Spoon playing at the beginning.

A 'take away' show!!! check the link!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

I Dream, I Am a Circle Lost in the Clouds

Doom and gloom, easily the most depressing thing I've ever read, The Sorrows of Young Werther. Astounding how a piece of literature can make the suicide rate increase on its release.

Simply AMAZING piece of literature, written in 'blog format' as his regular account of his life which lead to his demise. I'm of the opinion that you have to tear yourself down with this stuff, only to rise up more vibrantly than ever.

Here's a passage, unfortunately some indisputable grim realities in here ----

"When I observe the restrictions that lock up a person's active and probing powers, when I see how all activity is directed toward achieving the satisfaction of needs that in turn have no goal but to prolong our miserable existence, and that all reassurance about certain points of inquiry is only a dreaming resignation, since one paints with colorful figures and airy views the walls within which one sits imprisoned -- all that, Wilhelm, makes me mute. Again, more in presentiment and obscure desire than in portrayal and vital power. There everything swims before my senses, and so dreaming I smile on in the world."

Friday, April 20, 2007

He's just a Singer, Natural Born Guitar Ringer, Kind of a Clinger to Sad Old Songs

'people want nothing but mirrors around them. To reflect them while they're reflecting too'

Reflections on society, the media, corporations, art -- started blogging about this, it became too cumbersome, so, random person, random topic was.....

Bed Bugs - which turned into monsters to dragons to princesses.

I used to not hang my feet over the bed, for I feared something evil was looming below ready to grab me. I think its silly thoughts everytime I hear the once 'edgy' words of Metallicock say 'hey little baby, don't say a word,' etc.

Monsters, princesses, and heroes....do these Disney heroes even exist anymore, or does the 'wussification' of society lead the man (or woman) to climb the mountain to save the partner, only to be met by, what the hell are you doing here?

Reflections are good and all, but I'm still in the old fashion mosh pitting mode, head butts and all.

------
oooo, and happy 420 to all the dopeheads

Thursday, April 19, 2007

When he says "voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" -- Run For Your Life

Maybe he is a smooth talker with the ladies, o wait, Nikkita, the cat that I live with is a female, and a wonderful kitty indeed. I think she's goin' on about 12 years old or so.

Every now and then she gets a haircut, and it makes her look like a lion sorta cat, which trips me out big time.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Driftin' Upward Gently Lifting Lazy on the Wind, Rollin' Over Turnin' Slowly Beginning and the End

Goin' thru the motions, evolution slightly greater than zero, I know, repetition, but I love that.

Mr Dressed Up today, the nicest I've been dressed in years, and it's not even dressed up....I could get used to it.....NAW....no, really I guess I could. And the charade goes on......so tell me a bit about yourself?.


Laster (I mean later, yea I know I made lots of those errors in the blog) in the day, me and Bob and my nephew Al meet up at CABELLAS (or however you spell that, its your one stop shopping for all things redneck) for a bike ride.

Here Al is pictured with one of the million dead, slaughtered and stuffed animals on the wall. What a sharp well rounded guy! Sorry in advance for clumpin' you with the poetry below!


Tonight its been a healthy dose of The Toadies and T.S. Eliot. During my 20's I'd say I pissed a significant amount of time away reading poetry, hasn't helped my 'advancement' in society, but I don't think I'd trade in the thoughts burned in my head for a fatter wallet.

T.S. Eliot was my favorite, I sat down and re-read this tonight, and it sent shivers up my spin, b/c I remembered the time and place I first read it, what was going on in life and love and the daily grind, even in the darkness it is what gave me a nice dose of peace. Boy would my old English teacher Lena B. be proud.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

LET us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question …
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit.

In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.

The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.

And indeed there will be time
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.

In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

For I have known them all already, known them all:—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?

And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
And how should I presume?

And I have known the arms already, known them all—
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
[But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!]
It is perfume from a dress
That makes me so digress?
Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.
And should I then presume?
And how should I begin?

Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets
And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes
Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?…

I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.

And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!
Smoothed by long fingers,
Asleep … tired … or it malingers,
Stretched on the floor, here beside you and me.
Should I, after tea and cakes and ices,
Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?
But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,
Though I have seen my head [grown slightly bald] brought in upon a platter,
I am no prophet—and here’s no great matter;
I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.

And would it have been worth it, after all,
After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,
Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,
Would it have been worth while,
To have bitten off the matter with a smile,
To have squeezed the universe into a ball
To roll it toward some overwhelming question,
To say: “I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”—
If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: “That is not what I meant at all.
That is not it, at all.”

And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
“That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all.”

No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.

I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

And If Life is Really as Short as it Seems, Then Why is the Night so Long

It's been about about 8 months now since I've invaded my sisters house and nephews bedroom, while entertaining romantic notions of 'anything but where I currently' am, could be stirring ambition, or it could just be that I'm not happy with myself, or probably a mixture of both. Something's gotta give, as always chance favors the prepared mind, that's what I've been doin' these days, joggin' the mind, even though it'd rather be chuggin' a Guinness.

Mr Smarty Pants says sometimes you have to fail to succeed, and this maverick says if you can't offer an honest opinion, say nothing. I agree with both.

There's no Scooba Steve, but the toys in the tub remind me of the days of innocence, when I had the battleship and other toys. I love watching young folks figure things out for the first time, stunning revelations to them, and a wonderful way for us adults to stay in touch with childhood.


I'm going to miss the days here, but my nephew needs his room back, and I need to start working on my rock garden.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Two Drifters Off To See the World, There's Such a Lot of World to See

Often times I ask people, 'What is your favorite song?' More often than not I'm met with the answer, 'well that ones too hard, I have too many favorite songs.'

When I'm asked this question, I usually answer with 'Moon River' of course, the amazing tune by Henry Mancini. The song captures a magical essence. I've never seen 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', although it's on the 'to do' list.

Just check out this beautiful woman's version of this gem.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

You Chased the Sun Around the Cote d' Azur, Until the Light of Youth Became Obscured

Some things are just way too beautiful for words. Yea I walked along the Seine River in Paris many moons ago, and if I would have saw this street performance, I could have just died and gone to wherever. Reminds me of the Bryan Adams lyric, 'Baby, thought I died and gone to heaven.'

These people have fun, that's really what its all about.


Another heavenly site, comes straight from Dublin, two of my heroes on the same stage at one time, Neil Hannon singing 'B*tches Ain't Shit' with Ben Folds. One of my buddies mom's HATES it when she hears this song on pool nights, its so funny. Funny little C-Am-Em tune to play on the guitar too.

Love it when Ben says, 'All the children sing,' and Neil says things like 'whatever that means', and 'what's a proton'. PERFECT :) Another 'baby, thought I died and gone to Heaven' youtube. Such an 'evil' song done is such a satirical way, absolutely beautiful. :)

Friday, April 13, 2007

Havin' Her On My Brain's Like Gettin' Hit by a Train, She's Gonna Kill Me Oh Celeste, oh Celeste

Tonight we braved the elements of rain to watch the show at Stubb's BBQ. Amazing Texas weather, 1 minutes its HOT AND HUMID, the next minute, the trees look like they are all gonna blow over. Didn't matter for Steve and I in the 2nd row. We gave it a valiant effort, trying to wait out the rain, but eventually nature called, and we lost our spot, only to find.....

Some work friends, that are many pay grades above me and intense Old 97's fans. I learned a lot that night about the boys.

First -- Timebomb, was written for a 2nd grader. Rhett promised to play her a song, and he forgot, so he wrote this 'hit' as tribute to her.

Second -- Rollerskate Skinny -- Written about a date he went on with Wynonna Ryder, so funny.

Third -- He's from a proper and well established 'Texas Family,' no formal education, and other things.

Absolutely amazing all the time. If I were the frontman of a band, I'd have fun and 'market' myself just like him. Head bangin', jammin', offbeat random geetar strums, you name it, they've got it. How bout those big brown eyes, from the cheap seats.

You've got your pride, and a blue-steel '45, And you're waiting for the other shoe to Fall

Gearin' up for the perhaps rained' on Old 97's gig at Stubb's, and maybe a 'special seat,' I browse youtube and giggle at the calamity that surrounds the regulations or lack thereof of digital content.

Rhett makes lyrics like having a blue steel '45, just like the gangstas!

The cat's out of the bag, might I suggest liberal and realistic laws, and a burger king application for many 'industry professionals'?

EFF is buttin' heads with the RIAA, MP3 blogs getting popular, file sharing runs rampent, and now, take a gander at this 'video' on youtube, all the comments, interaction, and how many times its been favorited.

Just how in the hell and who in the hell should regulate this??

Thursday, April 12, 2007

I am One of Those Melodramatic Fools, Neurotic to the Bone No Doubt About It

What a topic, The Fountainhead brings it out of me, and Brea, I commend you for reading this, is an amazing book, spanning many complicated human elements.

Patience, courage, strength, balance, and going with your gut feeling is some of the stuff I can think of off the top of my head, and of course, I identify with Howard Roark. ;-) haha


Gut feeling, it tells me to never compromise that gut feeling, and if you don't, don't expect to win any popularity contests, don't expect to truly belong to ANY cliques, just become mechanical in objectivist though.

That all works fine and dandy on the topics portrayed in the book, even the oddball sexual encounters. It doesn't work with the vast flurry of human emotion however.

What it tells me, make the tough climb up the moutain of objectivist thought, look down that mountain at everything around you, meet people up there, and climb down to where you want to be, and compromise your principles where you see fit. Don't pull a Peter Keating and but find your happyland somewhere in between these two protagonists.

Also, everyone wants to identify with the hero in the story, I identify with him, but I lack the innate talent, I have to work at this, I'm passionate and somewhat intelligent. I'm not that selfish, and I don't have THAT much courage, even though on the courage-o-meter I think I'm pretty high up there. The thougths in the book, great place to set the bar.

Balance, if you see the world as a mathametical equation that has to stay balanced, ellsworth toohey, domique and peter and most of the rest of the population have to band together to even try to keep up to the worth of Roark, and to an extent, that's inspiring. Roark goes directly to the top, fights and wins that battle, and the rest trickles down.

Character development, great, each character struggles with their own set of well developed vices, and it all meshes together, and you can see it in society and relate based on your perspetive, perceived self-worth, and the amount of work you put into life.

Mohon, my buddy told me the quote evolution must be slightly above zero, and for the most part, this is how a comfortable society operates. Swimming upstream.....we'll see where it goes.

Life to me right now is about learning, listening and growing, a phase change, letting the underlying tone in me be about songs of love, but tooling my life to a more practical reality in many respects, and chewing like hell the nuggets of incite, perspective, intelligence and wisdom of adult situations the world throws at me.

Where do you go to find human motivation AND human passion in it all? I hope to be there one day.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Is It Too Much To Demand I Want a Full House and a Rock and Roll Band

Sittin' here at Flightpath, piggin' out on some Pee-can pie and a mango smoothie, waitin' for Mike P to play ketchup on our MCPD studies, listening to Shatner, I'm catching up with random correspondence and random web surfing.

Searching for psychohistory, I came upon a nice graph that describes the evilution of societies and individuals. I would say this is a pretty accurate accessment of things.


I can vouch for all of them in my life cycle except abandonment, and I've had strange phases of ambivalance, but I wouldn't quite call it that.

Laika Flew Through the Inky Blue, 'Til Laika Neared the Atmosphere and Laika Knew, Laika's Life was Through

Laika, I love reading about stuff like this, simply because it crosses so many disciplines. Laika was a dog sent up into space, and was the first living creature to prove that living creatures could live in outer space.

1. I think that would have been AWESOME to live during the space race, a time where vessels that explored the great beyond were reflective of societies achievements.

2. Wonder if PETA would let that happen now, what rights would the dog have, and the ethics of it all in this day and age. It reminds me of when Ali G asked 'Do'z you'z thinks that FOX woulds like his skin to be'z on P' Diddy'z back during his world premiere video?' to an animal rights activist.

And then there's always Billy Bragg's ironic sentiments on outer space in the song 'A New England' -- Wonder if wishing on space hardware actually makes your dreams come true??

I saw two shooting stars last night
I wished on them but they were only satellites
Is it wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish, I wish, I wish you'd care

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Cause the Ride Home is Long, And the Birds Will Sing a Song

Kid Theodore's I am a Moth....occasionally a song comes along that touches the heart of a cynic, and makes you wonder, where and how did he pull that one out of the air.

It's a gem, I marvel at it's simplicity and uplifting nature.

When it's all said and done, it's all about the song, when the band, industry, gigs, etc have all gone home, the song remains the guiding light. This one is the lantern on the jagged coast.

Just ask most people who sings 'Brown Eyed Girl,' and see how many actually know the answer.

------------------
'These Streets', Paolo Nutini is a grand tune too...

Monday, April 09, 2007

Stumble Across Another Poor Old Soul from the Dreary Old Lanes to the High-Street Madness

Paolo Nutini and Casey Dienel are occupying my time tonight as I try like hell to find part two of this graph.

David Byrne gave this presentation at SXSW about record companies, here's the 'old model,' then he put one up of the 'digital aggregate model', and I can't find it for the life of me. There's a lot of merit in expanding this model and predictions on 'future models', putting an interactive wrapper on it, and seeing if it flies, or sticks, or whatever.

With Your Big Brains, and Your 'Know How'

Diggin' thru my old college SHIT, I found a nice paper that one of my favorite CS teachers gave us back in the day as a class, which further influences my disdain for academia.

Here it goes .....

Things you Didn't Learn in School
By Bill Gates

For college graduates, here is a list of things you didn't learn in school. In his book, Bill talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a full generation of people with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in 'the real world.'

Life is not fair; get used to it.

The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

You will NOT make a lot of money right out of school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you EARN both.

If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He / she doesn't have tenure.

If you mess up, it's not someone else's fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Your school may have done away with winners and loser, but life hasn't. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. The doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one (and they are the ones who come back to the school reunion rich and famous!)

Sunday, April 08, 2007

motoring -- what's your price for flight

Not Hammer Time, It's Easter Time. And no, I didn't wear a gay a$$ pastel shirt either.

A little somethin' somethin' creative on my sisters part, the 'bunny tracks' leading to the fireplace that yields EASTER BASKETS!


The usual 'hunters' Kman and Collin, posed after the eggs were all found, except for a few I found tonight, because I was hungry for a bite size snickers bar or two. :) --- And yes, my neighbors other car is a tractor. :)


The hunt even brought kman into the backwoods, behind the shrubbery, yea, I don't think the 'human easter bunnies' weren't ambitious enough to hide them back there!


The 'funnest' part of the day for the kiddos is smashing the eggs on our head, with ME being their favorite. I guess they like it because it makes such a clean impact on my bald head!.


Finally I got the approval to put a picture of my brotha Gery and his girlfriend Jamie on the blog....Well, WELCOME TO THE BLOG :)


How bout some 'playboy bunnies' next year? Hell, if Weezer can have em' in a video, why can't we have em' in Shiner.?

We Questioned Religions, Fed Bread to the Pigeons, We Learned How to Pray

Today we celebrate Easter. The cynic in me says, what does the Easter bunny have to do with it all, and why do we as society take 'special' occasions and dilute their meaning, especially when it comes to organized religion. Kids is why I suppose, It's always fun watching them hunt Easter eggs, I recall last year my nephew Kyle smashed one on my head, he loved it.

The ol cliche says, 'there are no atheists in foxholes', my rebuttal, don't get in a fox hole. However, the point is made when thinking about the benefits of spirituality. I've always thought there are 'crutches' in the world, crutches like significant others, and the existence of a higher power, etc. These things are normal, but when you're swimmin' upstream on these issues, one could view them as crutches, a finely tuned jealousy as the manics would say.

Point is, there are voids in your life that can only be filled with spirituality. If you've ever looked into someone's eyes you cared deeply about and saw fear and uncertainty about the future, this can only be combatted with the answer that lies in the clouds. If doubt creeps in with these other factors, its 3 strikes you're out.

What do I believe, in a nutshell, reincarnation, a means that says life recycles itself in ways known to us, yet unknown to us, and I believe it to be pretty simple. I think it covers 'just enough' of my psychological needs of morality, respect, certainty, and hope for an afterlife. Does it carry on with it a soul, I guess that just depends on your definition of what that is. If you define soul as energy, I certainly believe that.

Maybe I wasn't a cat in another life, but I do think there is some sort of correlation between my heroes and friends in today's life, and how there was a bond between this energy in a previous life. I like Bon Jovi for a reason, same with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Michael J Fox, and others. Perhaps we were best friends, cousins, neighbors or even brothas in a different life.

Today, as we celebrate an organized religious event, the only part I can really 'bash' is the organization. Religion ('the search for truth') and spirituality (what happens after worm food) are of the utmost importance to consider and respect as the years go by and your life is enriched.

So, hats off to the Easter bunny, and let's hope the global warming (or cooling) lets off for today so we can have a decent egg hunt!

Saturday, April 07, 2007

I'd hammer out danger -- I'd hammer out a warning -- I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters -- All over this land

That's it, that's all that's been on the 'entrance' to my bathroom for the last couple of years, a nice screen. No privacy, no 'odor controls,' not the most favorable of experiences when using the washroom.


Thanks to the Cowans -- Jason, Bob, and Garret, we now have a door, equipped with privacy and all.


Time to go check out the new bathroom, If I'm not out in 30 minutes, send someone in after me!...

Friday, April 06, 2007

Telephones Make Strangers Out of Lovers, Whisky Makes the Strangers All Look Good

Tonight the Beast and I made track to Moulton town to meet up with Manuelabor. Always nice hanging out with Manuel. It was pointed out that his name is 'Manuel,' not Man-Well, as I've been pronouncing it all these years.

I will also make a broad-general comment that this area is TOXIC for nightlife, absolutely TERRIBLE, and I'm one step closer to boycotting going out in this area FOREVER, yea, I'd rather sit and home and re-lace all of my tennis shoes.

I've found over the last month I've had the best times curling up with a good book, or random geeking out on the inter-web. Friends....how bout a beer at the house from now on, we'll thank ourselves at the end of the day.

Once There Was a Time I Could Find Pretty Words to Sing

Nate Dogg, an Army Man --- I wish you love and wish you well buddy.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

And When I see Mr Frump in His Iron Lung, This is What I Hear Him Say

The Trek 1500, family, don't even ASK what I paid for this, but put it this way, I got it on a 12 month interest free payment plan, and the frame and components are going to last longer than me. Just look how few spokes in that wheel, it boggles my mind how it holds my fat a$$ up.

You have to put a 90 mile bike ride into perspective, every like bit helps. For common folks, this is pretty hardcore, in the perspective of things I guess its pretty 'sissy,' but I sorta see it as a 'rite of passage' into bike manhood. I plan on doing sever rides like this over the years. Why? It's actually nice to experience all 5 senses on the open road, and you catch things you wouldn't under other circumstances.


I also bought some shirts with extra padding, they feel GREAT on a hard bike seat, but when walking.....well, it feels like you are wearing a soiled diaper.

There's a rest stop every 20 miles on the bash, or gasp, or whatever they are calling it this year, and hopefully yall wonderful friends / family of mine will meet me at the stops for some moral support. I'll post the route soon, it's a beautiful stretch out in the backwoods of Texas.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Then some skinny b*tch walks by in some hot pants and He's Runnin' out the Door

This is a song for the fellas, but ladies, listen up! Javis cocker has something to say to the gal in the back of this taxi, while he accidently runs people over. Boy do I love the British gals accent when she says my favorite word 'whateva.' Boy do I like the geekiness factor.


Sure does remind me of driving my under the influence brit friends home one night, shifting with left hand, driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, roundabouts and all--

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Behind Window Bee, Explaining Patiently How She Needs to See Six Forms of ID

What can I say, I LOVE POP MUSIC, in an underground sorta way, the stuff that gravitates to me is stuff like this new Fountains of Wayne album, its just so damn good!

Tonight I went out to an Austin Music Mixer, lots of cool people, and a very eclectic mix, and not to mention the best crawfish po boy in town at Shoal Creek Saloon.

After that, I met up with some buds to discuss doing an 'interactive website' for next years SXSW festival to score us a badge, in the coming weeks I'll blog about some of the ideas I got runnin' thru the head, but lots of the inspiration comes from this dude's talk at SXSW.

Well there's my what did I have for dinner post? Did anyone have a good meal tonight?

Monday, April 02, 2007

When We Arrive Sons and Daughters, We'll Build our Homes on the Water

I'm keepin' up with Berlin these days, even if I never will live there, I think its one of the coolest cities in the world, and probably my favorite of anywhere I've been. I like to hear the translations of bands like the Avocadoclub, it reminds me much of how the lead singer of the Scorpions knew little English while he was rockin' America like a Hurricane.

I've always had an affinity for history, and for high places. This, taken from the TV tower at Alexanderplatz in East Berlin, brings warm and fuzzy memories. I've been to Berlin a few times, and I love just sitting in the area which once was the busiest part of the east. The circle on the left has a waterfall with the devil in it, and the circle on the right has a bunch of postmodern art. Yea, just turn your monitor 90 degrees counter clockwise.


The people of Berlin have character, at least that's the vibe you get from walking around. It's cool to see the regional rivalries that exist between Berlin and Munich, I guess sorta like an LA vs New York. Berlin is a perfect example of the clear cut 'winner' between communism and capitalism, and it remind me of a Teaching Company lecture I once spent an insane amount of time studying.

The Decemberists, yea, a rock band, but also a band of nobles and intellectuals who attempted to overthrow the Czar at the time. Fantastic tales of a history of humble peasants, an expansionist and militaristic government, peasants get shit on all thru history, communism takes over, then shits on nobles and oligarchs, and then the communists eventually get the shaft, which leaves a blurry form of capitalism, in which the 'mafia' and 'cartels' control a lot of the commerce, and yet the new 'czar' plays favoritism. Ahhh, Russia, a fascinating place. Please don't quote me on these facts, but I think this is for the most part how it went and goes, in a massively general way.

Germany on the other hand, I've asked the question, how long for 'reunification' to take place, and I get the answer many times over 'several generations.' Meanwhile, a lot of fascinating cultural 'things' are taking place there, in my opinion making it tops for understanding the cultural elements of how government, economy, religion, etc affect human lives and motives.

Well, that's it, my nostalgic ramble for the motherland.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Standing with my back to the wall minding the sky as it's falling all around me

Listening to the existentialist debate rage on in Mason Jennings latest work, and the elegance of Nellie McKay (who's much better live than portrayed on cd), and hearing sentiments of my brother in law, I've come to see how life works in cycles. When its bad, it can get really bad, when it's good, it can get REALLY good.

Life is surely in a trough at the moment, for no matter how I try, I can't get those cycles in the head to conform with the world around me, and as I know its only a matter of time for the upswing, I'm constantly reminded in actions of my stagnation from all the close friends around me, not by words, but those facial expressions that show 'suck it up hero' looks.

I try to figure out what's not tickin' up there that makes me perpetuate a self defeatist attitude. I do that with my professional life and personal life to an extent and wonder, hmmm, what self help book can I get go help me figure this one out, but then again it always comes back to the answer lies inside of me, and perhaps I'm STILL not old enough to accept it. Mother nature is forcing me to except the fact that I can't party like a rock star anymore, and friends climbing further up the ladder of success fires up that competitive nature in all of us that says, damn, I don't want to be left behind.

Problem is, 'success' always comes at a price, and it surely comes down to what eggs do you want to put in what basket. Parts of me feel guilty and apprehensive of a pending fat salary increase, for I'm like, what makes me deserve this, and what are my responsibilities and what do I have to sacrifice in wake of these news responsibilities.

What is the key to happiness, in my case, I have no idea. I know I'm a passionate idealist, and I think for folks like that, it takes a long time for things to click in any direction chosen, and whatever direction chosen, the decision more than likely isn't going to be good enough.

So where does it all end me up? Right here, right now (as Jesus Jones) would say, I'm where I need to be, and I'm going where I need to go, just following the impulses, thoughts, predictions, and guts, and I have no idea where that is going to lead me, but I'm sure its going to be something exciting :)