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.

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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.

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