...and this brings it to 21

Okay, I've been thinking more about it and here are 10 more (with no explanations) to add to the list of best or favorite albums of 2006.

#12 - "Return to Cookie Mountain" - TV on the Radio
#13 - "Rabbit Fur Coat" -Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
#14 - "First Impressions of Earth" - the Strokes
#15 - "Syd Matters" - Syd Matters
#16 - "Are You Nervous?" - Rock Kills Kid
#17 - "Black Holes and Revelations" - Muse
#18 - "Without Feathers" - the Stills
#19 - "Supernature" - Goldfrapp
#20 - "The Warning" - Hot Chip
#21 - "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" - Neko Case

My 11 Favorite CDs of 2006

Why eleven? Because we always want just one more, don't we? Why now? Because looking ahead at the new releases, don't expect anything too wonderful between now and January 1, 2007. That said, here are my favorite albums of 2006.

#11 - "Under the Skin" by Lindsey Buckingham
It took several years to release this, his most recent solo disc, and it was worth the wait. It's somewhat sparse, but full of life. Favorite track: "Down on Rodeo"

#10 - "The Information" by Beck
He continues to defy categorization and to meld genres into the new post-rock. Bonus points for the cool customizable cover concept! Favorite track: "No Complaints"

#9 - "Yellow House" by Grizzly Bear
Dreamy and a little dark, this is a complex album that expands with each subsequent listen. Favorite track: "Plans"

#8 - "Writer's Block" by Peter, Bjorn and John
Interesting harmonies, edgy and yet simultaneously retro, this Scandinavian group's release (available as an import here in the US) is insanely catchy. Favorite track: "Amsterdam"

#7 - "Everything All the Time" by Band of Horses
Five of the ten tracks on this release are top-top-notch! One even features my favorite alt-rock instrument: the banjo! Favorite track: "Monsters"

#6 - "Begin to Hope" by Regina Spektor
Left-of-center and highly literate rock for those of us who love melody and smart lyrics. Favorite tracks: "Samson" and "That Time"

#5 - "The Trials of Van Occupanther" by Midlake
What if 1977-era Fleetwood Mac was actually an alternative rock band that often sang about country life in the 1800s? They might sound like this. Favorite tracks: "Roscoe" and "Young Bride"

#4 - "The Sound Inside" by Breaks Co-op
This New Zealand trio creates extremely well-crafted post-pop with soulful vocals and occasional Crosby, Stills & Nash-y harmonies... It's available as an import. Favorite tracks: "Settle Down" and "The Otherside"

#3 - "Derdang Derdang" by the Archie Bronson Outfit
I would call this alt-twang-folk-punk, and I really like it. Favorite tracks: "Dart for My Sweetheart" and "Dead Funny"

#2 - "Sancho Panza" by Mountain Con
More genre-blending, this time with a little bit of hip-hop (and a little bit is more than enough). Favorite tracks: "The Escape Artist" and "Apocalyptic"

#1 - "The Dust of Retreat" by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
I was a little disappointed in this alt-pop classic at first, but over the period of two weeks of increasingly frequent listening, I came to love nearly every song! I love when that kind of thing happens. Favorite tracks: "Skeleton Key", "Paper Kitten Nightmare", "Jen Is Bringin' the Drugs" and "On a Freezing Chicago Street"

Incommunicado

I have to apologize to my friends. Lately I've been incommunicado... This weekend, for example, I turned off my cell phone and just spent the weekend alone. I went out Saturday afternoon for lunch and stopped at Barnes & Noble, but otherwise I stayed at home, cleaned the garage and truck, and slept a lot.

I'm still adjusting to going off daylight savings time and that makes me just want to sleep. That and work has been so demanding. I sometime feel that I'm always put in the position of being in the middle of something. It's very draining sometimes. I know I had a couple of voice mail messages, but I was just not in the mood to talk to anyone. So I'm sorry for that. Be patient with me?

That and watching all the Sunday morning political shows has me in a very concerned and pensive mood. America cannot continue down the road 'king W. and his neocon cronies have led us. It verges on totalitarianism. I recall 'king W. said he was "a uniter not a divider", but all I see is him dividing and dividing, criticizing his critics, questioning the patriotism of anyone who disagrees with him, and telling half truths in order to manipulate the masses. I sure hope the masses of voters in America have opened their eyes and that they vote for change this Tuesday. Please!

Halloween 2006

"Halloween, strange things seen, ghosts may walk, skeletons talk...on Halloween"

I remember that line from a song back in grade school. Can't remember any more than that much, though.

This year Halloween is, again, quiet. That's fine. Back in my other life up north I used to host a huge Halloween party for adults. Funny how people eventually got into it. It sort of brought out the kid in everyone. I miss being that big dorky host!

So tomorrow is November 1, or as we Catholics know it, "All Saints Day", followed on Nov. 2 by "All Souls Day". It's also the time for the Mexican Day of the Dead, to celebrate the memory of loved ones who have died. Actually, although some see this as sort of morbid, it's a nice way to commemorate those we love and have lost in the past year. May our memory of them endure.

It's a nice day for a white wedding, it's a nice day to start again! (with apologies to Billy Idol)

Lyrics of the moment...Night Drive

I don't exactly know why this song resonates. It's from 2004 and I came across it as a "rediscovery" I guess. Hmmmm. "...You pierce my heart like a willing arm..."

"Night Drive"
By Jimmy Eat World
From the album Futures
(note: it plays on their main web page)

Lay back baby and we'll do this right
There's blankets in back we can use
I'll start the car, but we'll stay in park
The cold can kill us before fumes

Now's the right time for a good song
Got something to say what I can't
Do you feel bad, like I feel bad?
We'll pour us a road, we'll both drink and drive

Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made

Come alive on the driver's side
So close I taste your breath
Your lips go dry, but they're sweet inside
Wine must go right to your head
It'd be easy if you get mad
But three fingers point back to you
We could stay here
Stay out all night
No one will know, us and the moonlight

Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
I set my watch by a street-side clock
A needle in echo groove
You pierce my heart like a willing arm
Your ticking makes my blood move
There's no way out this fade out
Be happy to get what you do
Make him notice with both fists
Cause quitting alone will never get you dry

Never get you dry

Give me everything you've got now
I don't feel a single thing
Drag me out into the cold rain
Let it hover over me

Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made

Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made

Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made

...yep, still here...

So, according to my mother, I arrived into this world at about 10 minutes to 9 a.m. 40 years ago on October 25, 1966. Now, 40 years later on the eve of this milestone (having trouble typing this without smirking), I am still here. Okay, whatever. They say these decade birthdays are full of retrospection, introspection and any other kind of -ospection you can name. Probably true, but I do that all the time anyway. I have absolutely nothing profound rolling around in my head at the moment, but that's also not particularly earth-shattering to hear...

..yep, I'm still here...

Lyrics of the Moment...

I wonder who the leader is with the gun and "a bible in one hand" and who says "everything is safe"...

God is Going to Get Sick of Me
by Aberdeen City

Caught, caught in the way
In the way of a bus
The lease is up. The lease is up.
They break our legs to prove a point
The lease is up. The lease is over

A bible in one hand, he makes decisions
The lease is up
Ordered his gun and its done and its done and done
An Hysteric at the top
Saying everything is safe
Ordered his gun and its done and its done
Ordered his gun and its done and

God is Going to get sick of me
And the accident
That takes the beat from my heart
Will look like it was my fault

Spend one more day backed into a corner
The lease is up
Impossible to lose support gets stronger
Each time something frightens them
You'll set it right
I know I know

God is Going to get sick of me
And the accident
That takes the beat from my heart
Will look like his
You said I get it, i get it, i get it all right
And that nothing can be taken and that nothing can be taken from me
After I've stopped waiting for an ambulance to come and get me

God is Going to get sick of me
And the accident
That takes the beat from my heart
Will look like it was my fault

Countdown to 40...

T-minus 9 days and counting and yours truly will turn the big 4-0. I can't say I'll be able to make an entry each day before then, so I'll offer this as the first installment in a series of personal revelations.

I am only days away from being a forty-year-old man and...
...I still read super hero comic books and watch cartoons.
...the kind of car I drive means nothing to me, as long as it works.
...I don't have a bald spot on the top of my head yet.
...$50 is a lot of money to me.
...one of my favorite foods is still pizza.
...opening a new CD and listenting to it is important.
...I'm not sad that I don't have any children.
...life for the next 10-20 years will be considered "middle age".
...I'm in better physical condition than when I was 25 thanks to lifting weights (but I could still stand to lose 10-20 pounds).
...my brother and sisters are all in their mid-50s.
...1982's "Tainted Love" is still my all-time favorite song.
...I'm glad I'm not a high schooler in today's world.
...even though I believe in God, I believe there should be a VERY STRICT separation between church and state.
...I still haven't found what I'm looking for (okay, U2 said it better).
...my expectation is that I will never be able to afford to retire.
...I'm still waiting for that special someone.

More to come (maybe).

Lyrics of the moment..

I attended the funeral of my Aunt Marianne today. It was sad. She was a very giving person. Sadder, still, was seeing all the sadness of her children and grandchildren, family and friends. Fortunately, she left a very positive legacy.

These lyrics seem appropriate for the moment.

Do You Realize?
by the Flaming Lips

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize - we're floating in space
Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die...

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize?

A new hero

Yep, it's official: Keith Olbermann is my new hero, joining Jon Stewart in that hallowed pantheon. What an eloquent journalistic commentary (along with a second by Stewart, an able satirist)! Follow this link http://www.bushflash.com/ and find the Oct. 6 entry, "Two Wonderful Moments in American Television". Both segments are awesomely timed and capture my feelings better than I can myself. How can any sane person disagree with what both Olbermann and Stewart pesent here?

What am I?

"...I'm not what I was or what I will be..." -Psapp, from the song Upstairs

The other thought for the moment is that I've grown to really hate being on the receiving end of mixed messages. Really.

That is all for now.

Awaiting new L.B.

Am very eagerly anticipating "Under the Skin", the new CD by Lindsey Buckingham. Check out some of the songs at his website. "Down on Rodeo" is exceptional, and "Show You How" is too!

October 3 is going to be an expensive new music week for me...not only new L.B. but also new releases from the Killers, Beck, Jet, the Decemberists, and Robyn Hitchcock.

We are what we are...

I came across a quote that I love today while surfing various websites:

"We are constantly invited to be what we are" -- Henry David Thoreau

I have always loved this quote. While it may seem somewhat fatalistic at first glance, it is not. The quote is beautiful in its simplicity. In my humble opinion it implies choice: we can choose to be what we are or we can pretend we are something we are not. At the same time, the observation in the quote doesn't limit us from trying to change and grow. It does imply that there are ways or "invitations" for us to grow that lie within our authentic selves. Things tend to work out to a kind of equilibrium of that same authentic self versus any false facade we might create.

Every day I see Thoreau's observation in action. I'm as guilty as the next person of occasionally pretending to be something other than what I am. But it seems that pretense tends to dissolve (often quite quickly, sometimes painfully), unless it fits with our authentic self and whatever joys, sorrows or limitations that entails. It seems those who are happiest have embraced who and what they are and continue to build their world around that.

When you were young...

Lyrics of the moment...I listened to this song 11 times in a row! (and still loved it!) Yes, "...And sometimes you close your eyes and see the place where you used to live...When you were young..."

While the CD won't be released for a while, you can hear this song at the Killers' website: www.islandrecords.com/thekillers/site.html. There are strains of Springsteen...not that that's good or bad.

"When You Were Young"
by the Killers

You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now - here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young

Can we climb this mountain
I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy
Easy now, watch it go

We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young

And sometimes you close your eyes
and see the place where you used to live
When you were young

They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while

You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
(He talks like a gentlemen, like you imagined when)
When you were young

I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But more than you'll ever know

What can we learn from poor Pluto?

So what do we make of poor Pluto's demotion from planet to "dwarf planet" and striking from the list of official "full-blown, honest-to-goodness" planets? Well, work with me on this, but I find it interesting the Pluto is known as a god of the dead or of the underworld and, coincidentally, here in South Dakota we're struggling with a lot of death issues. There's the whole abortion issue, but also this week we are to witness the first person to be put to death in this state in over 60 years. So many folks who are "pro-life" are, perhaps, more accurately, pro-birth, because even though they are so staunchly against killing the unborn, so many of them are staunchly for killing the young man who killed another young man. They say it's justice, but I think it's still killing. Two wrongs don't make a right.

So what seems so black and white to some seems a bit grey to me. It's all in the catagorization, isn't it. Is it murder to kill the unborn or termination of a potential human? Is it murder to kill a murderer or justice? In either case the black and white issue is that something living is no longer living, erasing any and all potentials. The key is which is a person? When does a potential person become a person? When does an existing person lose the right to live?

So many of those who would arrest a doctor for performing an abortion are fine with a doctor (or someone else) performing an execution via injection. It's all in how you catagorize things, isn't it? Is Pluto a planet or a "dwarf planet" or an asteroid? There are always exceptions and shades of grey in this complex world and universe of ours. Isn't there usually an exception to almost every rule? A grey duck for every duck, duck, duck? A warm blooded reptile? A mammal that lays eggs? Infinite diversity in infinite combinations-let's respect that. Live and let live.

Very cool band websites

Below are some of the coolest band websites I've come across in the past few weeks. I love the fact that they are interactive, and their design values are very distinct.

The Shins: www.theshins.com
(newly redesigned to show the band in a library - click around for Easter eggs)

Athlete: www.athlete.mu
(okay, this one has been a long-time favorite - I love clicking on the wind-blown plastic bag)

Muse: www.muse.mu
(cool spinning branch menus!)

Guillemots: www.guillemots.com
(my current favorite! - very interactive and the day progresses - sun to moon, etc.)

Early August blahs...

Yep, I think I got 'em. Been restless and not sleeping well. The days are bright and sunny, but the nights are just lonely. Work is going relatively well despite all the challenges and stresses. There are enough successes to keep plugging away at least. I'm just not feeling great. I really notice the shortening of these beautiful atumn days. Maybe I just need a day off or a million dollars.

It's always been "adapt and win"

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman wants Americans to believe it's never been about "stay the course" (in Iraq), but rather "adapt and win". This said after every Republican leader has voiced the mantra "stay the course" vs. "cut and run" like those weak-assed, anti-war weenies, the Dems, would do. More revisionism!

"stay the course" "stay the course" "stay the course" "stay the course" "stay the course" "stay the course" "stay the course" oops, we mean "adapt and win" "adapt and win" "adapt and win"

Repeat things enough and people will believe you, I guess.

That's why we forget that the main reason the U.S. invaded Irag was because it had "weapons of mass destruction" - wait, no WMDs were found? Ahem...

The reason we invaded Iraq was because we wanted to "depose a terrorist leader associated with Al-Quaida" - wait, no actual ties to Al-Quaida were found with Saddam? Cough...Ahem...

The reason we invaded Iraq was to "bring democracy to the Iraqi people" - wait, Iraq never asked for this while there are other countries, like Tibet, that have been begging for U.S. help for decades? Uncomfortable silence, then "stay the course," don't "cut and run" - wait we mean "adapt and win" "adapt and win" "adapt and win"! Add "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" "9/11" (waves flag).

Whatever! Obey! Dissent is disloyal! Questioning Our Leader is dangerous! War is peace! Freedom is slavery! Doubleplusgood! ...suspending your rights for the duration of the permanent war! 1984? 2006? Mission accomplished!

Lyrics of the moment...

This one is originally by Kate Bush, circa 1985, and recently remade by Placebo.

Running Up That Hill

It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me.

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
Say, If I only could, oh...

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts.

Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, it's you and me.
It's you and me won't be unhappy.

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
Say, if I only could, oh...

You,
It's you and me,
It's you and me won't be unhappy.

"C'mon, baby, c'mon darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh..."

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

say if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

If I only could, I'd be running up that hill.
If I only could, I'd be running up that hill.

Thank God for Jon Stewart

He's so good at exposing the hypocrisy of the Bush Administration...

In the case of stem cell research on embryos that would otherwise be discarded "the simple answer is that he [Bush] thinks murder is wrong...he doesn't want human life destroyed..." but in Iraq, where about 30,000 citizens "more or less" have died in the war, it's not murder, but rather "a lamentable...side effect".

Blurry

Whoah! Where does the time go? Tomorrow is August 1. It's been a blur! Wasn't it just a few days ago that it was May 1, and shortly before that, January 1? I'm told that the older you get, the faster time seems to pass because your relative experience is greater than that of, say, a five-year-old. I guess I see that. Summers used to seem to last almost forever.

Lately, work has been intense, and that's seemed to cause the days and weeks to fly past even more quickly.

This past weekend I sort of just crashed. Slept a lot on Saturday, even more on Sunday. Maybe the heat also contributed to it all, but it felt like I almost had no weekend at all. Maybe if I had had a reason to go out and actually do something it would have helped. On Saturday night I was invited out to see a local band with some friends from work, but I just wasn't up to socializing that night.

I guess I just need some more people in my life at the moment. I'm going camping this weekend with my good friend Karl, who's more like a brother, and some others. That should be fun, except for the 8 hours I'll spend on the road to and from the campsite. I'm really tired of living alone.

Do Not Fold, Bend, Spindle or Mutilate

Well, we've got our first virtual art exhibit online at the Pavilion now! It's an interesting show in that all the art has been created on or with computer punch cards. We received over 400 of them from across the world. I actually submitted one and it made the show. A very small version is shown at right.

Check out the show and let me know what you think. My submission is located in the "vertical" section.

Best post-apocalyptic sci-fi kung-fu cowboy video this year

The band's name is Muse, and they're from the U.K. Their new video for a song called "Knights of Cydonia" is the best post-apocalyptic sci-fi kung-fu cowboy video I've seen this year. If they made it into a TV series, I'D WATCH IT RELIGIOUSLY. Now I know on first mention you might not think these things go together, but I gotta tell you they do--perfectly. From the opening sequence showing a mustachioed rider galloping past a desert landscape featuring the Statue of Libery a la the Planet of the Apes to our hero's kung-fu training moves sequence to the holographic juke box to the damsel in distress's Buck Rogers space uniform and rayguns, this one has it all. There's even a unicorn!

To top it off, the song plays like a six-minute soundtrack to the 1970's version of Flash Gordon - complete with killer-Queen guitar riffs. The end roll credits "Production Finance Services by Euro Ballistic Rockets & Aerospace FilmCo, LTD." How utterly appropriate. What else could come from an album named "Black Holes and Revelations"?

Watch it here.

Check out www.muse.mu for more information.
Note: stills are screen captures from video! Check it out, buy the CD!

I wanna be a cowboy!

The Wal-Mart-ization of America

On my recent travels, I was struck by just how eerily similar all the Wall-Marts in America seem to be. In the last three weeks I've been back home in Minnesota, where I took my mom to the newest Wal-Mart Supercenter (she wanted to go), I've been to the two that are here in Sioux Falls, I checked out the store in Brookings, S.D., and I stopped at one in Spearfish, S.D., on my way to visit friends in Montana. It was almost scary to see that each of these stores was almost exactly the same. I joked with friends that maybe there's really only one Wal-Mart that exists and the doors are just magic portals that take us from wherever we enter into the Wal-Mart Zone.

Now I shouldn't be surprised by this, I know. All big-box retailers (Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, K-Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc.) are like that in their own way, but it just became this sort of personal epiphany. In contrast, while in Bozeman and Missoula, I had the opportunity to spend some time checking out the character of the downtown of each city. Both had lots of smaller non-chain stores with lots of character. I found cool things you'd never find in a Wall-Mart, and the prices weren't bad. Rockin' Rudy's, the very cool music and "stuff" store in Missoula, totally rocked! I'd much rather support a locally-owned store or even a regional chain, knowing that I've contributed to the local economy rather than line the pockets of the richest people in Arkansas.

So why did I go into Wal-Mart in the first place? Well, among some of the things I collect are Marvel superhero action figures, and Wal-Mart has an exclusive line there. Unfortunately, they were all sold out. Generally, I really do try to support the locally-owned stores, but this was a special case.

If truth be told, I don't mind shopping at Target or Best Buy... Both are based in my home state of Minnesota, and from what I've read, both chains treat their employees and the communities they locate in pretty well, for a big-box store, that is. But if there was a Rockin' Rudy's here in Sioux Falls, I'd rarely set foot into Best Buy.

1,067 Miles...

I just drove 1,067 miles from Missoula, Montana, back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That's 1,067 miles and only stopping 4 times for gas and/or food. Very tired... Must get some sleep... More on my trip soon!

Band discovery of the moment

Very cool new band from New Zealand: Breaks Co-op. Seems they had one of the biggest hits of 2005 in Australia. I'd describe them as a trippy update of Crosby, Still & Nash in the best of all possible ways. The song "Settle Down" is pure excellence..see lyrics below. "The Otherside" also totally hits the best notes (it's the one that was the big hit down under). Their CD is not yet available in the US, but you can hear some of their songs on their website: www.breaksco-op.com. Definitely worth checking out!

Settle Down

(I love you)
Saw you on a tightrope, falling every time
Never looked so graceful, dancing with your life
Had I known the outcome would I have cut the wire?
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down

God you're looking perfect, reigned in silent days
Really was it worth it, to see you on display?
Shame it never hurt me, to stand by you and say
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down

Place you on a mantle, shower you with praise
Make you feel important, digging your own grave
Have you sucking lemons, laugh at you on stage
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more you suffer too, the more I settle down
Seems the more I hate you too, the more I settle down

I was a backseat brother, tryin to do it undercover 'til you told me to change my ways
Now I'm a cheerleader for the end of deceit that you practise to leave me amazed
And if I say that I love you it don't mean that I trust you or the way that you use the phrase
You were my next door neighbour 'til you did my girl a favour
Now it's you that's just a phase

If it all works out in the end that you and I cannot be friends
A day goes past, a day not ends that I don't think of you

If it all works out in the end that you and I cannot be friends
A day goes past, a day not ends that I don't think of you
(I hate you)

Numeric sequence...

Just created a piece of "art" for our upcoming punch card art show. I'll post a link to it soon... But somehow I was struck by the concept of the constellation Orion: the Hunter and a sequence of dates and numbers: 1066 1492 1776 1984 2001 9/11 911...

1066 - Norman conquest of England changed the English language and culture
1492 - the "discovery" of America by Columbus
1776 - the United States becomes independent from the British Empire
1984 - George Orwell's chilling novel about the "future"
2001 - a space odyssey
9/11 (2001) - destruction of the Twin Towers in New York
911 - universal emergency phone number

I'm sure there are more relevent sequences of numbers, but these seemed to stick in my head for some reason. Kinda heavy, I know. I suppose I could have also included 1966 for my birthday and the release of the Beatles' Revolver...we all live in...a yellow submarine...sky of blue...sea of green...

Read this every day!

Before I head out for the weekend, I want to encourage all three of my occasional readers to read Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish every day. He makes a lot of really good political points. Have a safe and happy weekend. I'll be thinking of you all when I visit my mom back in Lowry, Minnesota.

Rock on: \m/ \m/

Lyrics of the moment II

"You Could Be Happy"
by Snow Patrol

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wish I had not said
Are played on loops 'til it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
And not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

More than anything I want to see you go
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

Lyrics of the moment

"Obstacles"
by Syd Matters

Let's say sunshine for everyone
But as far as I ... can remember
We've been migratory animals
Living under changing weather

Someday we will foresee obstacles
Through the blizzard, through the blizzard
Today we will sell our uniform
Live/Leave together

Blizzard

We played hide & seek in waterfalls
We were younger
We were younger

Shelf life

I was reading something online where the writer described the relationship with his ex saying (rather too philosophically, in my opinion) "some things just have a shelf life." Hmm. "This relationship best before date on carton."

I hate that I'm at a point where so many of my friendships and relationships are seemingly nearing the end of their shelf life. It's particularly difficult for me because I tend to have a smaller number of very close friends in whom I invest a great deal, and it always takes me so long to build new friendships to the point where I feel comfortable.

I've tried very hard to stay in touch with so many people on so many different levels, but distance and time always seem to take their toll. It requires a great deal of effort, and I guess I'm on the short end of the stick. It's hard to maintain any kind of relationship when those involved see each other so infrequently. Everyone's grows and changes in gradual steps, but if you don't share time together you each have increasingly less in common.

Four things have caused my recent introspection and, perhaps, emotional wallowing (I will discuss two).

I spoke with my mom the other day. She's been having some health problems lately and lost my dad earlier this year. As she was going through some old photos, she was struck by how many of her lifelong friends have passed away. My parents basically moved only once after they were married and that was when they moved off the farm to settle into an apartment about 3 miles away from where they had lived for over 50 years. They never had to leave their friends, although their relationships all changed over the years. I've completely started over three times - when I started college, when I graduated and moved to Crookston, and when I moved to Sioux Falls. Each time has been more difficult to do than the previous. Still, I could relate to what mom said, since she's lost so many of her friends. At least I can still call most of mine, so I guess that's something.

A few weeks ago I went to see friends back in Crookston and a few weeks before that to see friends in Iowa. In many ways we picked up where we left off, but it was different. I can't say that I didn't enjoy the visits -- I did -- but it was too temporary. I came back to where I live now and the relative social silence. I know I can't go back, nor do I want to move back, but I miss the friendships. Phoning it in with a visit every 8 months or so isn't quite the same.

Okay, I will write a little about the third thing... another formerly very imporant friend got a new job and is moving to a new place. I sent an e-mail to congratulate this person, and I know it was received. But silence. I honestly don't know what I said or did to merit the lack of response...although our friendship was strained by an event in December. But I really tried to reach out in a conciliatory way.

Might as well do four... Today I received a short e-mail from a very close friend whom I hear from increasingly infrequently. It was so short and almost impersonal that it felt almost like it was from a random stranger. Funny (in a strange, sad way), becase at one time this person was one of the most important people in my life.

It's hard not to feel somewhat valueless when these kinds of thing happen. Is it a kind of slow, passive rejection or just the way life is? I guess the shelf life is nearing expiration on many of my friendships, and I don't know how to renew them. I really hate that. Really. If anyone reading this made it this far, sorry for the pity party.

Republican Jesus...

On the Colbert Report tonight I learned that (loose quote): "Telling people what Jesus said is small government; doing what Jesus said is big government." I know it's a comedic fake news program, but I found a lot of truth in that. No matter what the Religious Right-eous have to say (and they have a lot to tell us about how they think we should all live), I don't believe Jesus was a republican...

Dare I say it? Okay, I'll hazard it: my guess is that Jesus was a socialist or even, gasp, a communist! Egads! Think about it, though. Redistribution of wealth, giving everything to the poor, spending time with those who were marginalized in his society, healing the sick without asking for payment. I wish those on the radical right would care about these things instead of who one should be allowed to marry and what one should do with one's body.

On a side note, Jesus' General has some similar and more biting things to say in his blog.

Asking the right question...

So, watching one of the Sunday morning news shows (I honestly forget which one), there was a discussion of the religious right co-opting certain phrases like "pro-life" and "gay marriage" and using those loaded phrases against the liberal side. Who doesn't think life is a good thing? (Well, those same religious right-eous folks who support the death penalty, and I'd also add who isn't for choice, but perhaps that doesn't resonate as well - but I digress!) The commentator added, "gay marriage naturally calls to mind gay sex, and many people just can't deal with that." Probably true.

Instead, the commentator suggested that we ask the question "Do you want the government to be the source of your morals? To control your body or tell you whom you can or cannot love and marry?" Think about it. Any liberal would say no, and any true "the-best-government-is-less-govenement" Republican would say "hell no!" Framing it with these questions certainly brings it to the core issue, doesn't it?

Funniest line in a long time...

I've been watching all the episodes of season 1 of The Venture Brothers, an animated satirical take-off of shows like Johnny Quest and the Hardy Boys. It's been on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for awhile, and I was eager to get all the episodes on one DVD set. I was watching the bonus holiday episode, "A Very Venture Christmas," when I heard one of the funniest lines in a long time. Hank tells Dean "That gay albino is hitting on your not-girlfriend." I love this show!

Not only is The Venture Brothers filled with fanboy references to comics and other 70s sci-fi shows, but it also balances with fully realized character development. Dr. Venture is an insecure pill-popper. Brock Sampson (a bizarroworld Race Bannon from Johnny Quest)is his disinterested bodygard who never uses a gun. The next door necromancer is reminiscent of Marvel Comics' Dr. Strange. And Dr. Venture's arch-nemesis, the Monarch, is a bumbling supervillian whose squeeze, Dr. Girlfriend, has a deep voice with a distincly east coast accent. And the situations are damn funny!

I'm eagerly anticipating season 2 on Cartoon Network on June 25.

X-Men III - a worthy follow-up

I've been reading the X-Men franchise of comics since around 1975 and the age of 9, and I have to say the movie adaptations have been solid. I just saw X-Men III: the Last Stand, and I have to say it maintained the high standard of the other two films. I know there's always some changing in the translation to film, but the spirit has been kept intact. The newest film does a great job of keeping things moving and still balancing the characters (there are many, many characters). Nice intro to Beast and Angel. Kitty Pryde got some nice scenes, and it was great to see Colossus a bit more! The steel-skinned strongman has always been my favorite for some reason. I also liked how they brought in Juggernaut; it would have been nice to see him go head-to-head with Colossus. Overall, I think there will be a few more X-Men films! Cool!

Wisdom from Lost

"All we need to survive is one person who truly loves us..." --Penelope to Desmond in the May 24 episode of Lost. Well, damn it, I'm ready and waiting!

On tolerance

It seems that currently one of our biggest problems here in America is that some of those in power seem to think they can force their religious views (i.e. their often dogmatic, religious right-eous views) on the rest of the populace. Let's all take a breather and listen to a few words of wisdom...

"The highest result of education is tolerance." - Helen Keller

"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority." - Ralph W. Sockman

"Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population." - Albert Einstein

My own dang manifesto...

Came across the Euston Manifesto, an online organization that aims to create "a fresh political alignment" of progressive types. I kinda like what they had to say. I know I endanger myself (said with slight sarcasm, but only slight!) by outing myself as a liberal, but their manifesto holds a lot of things with which I agree...

I'm thinking (probably too much) these days about writing up a list of things that make up the core of my political beliefs...my own personal manifesto or personal platform, of sorts. I'll think on it a little more and probably share it here... Stay tuned; it should be slightly more exciting that watching paint dry...

And the Starlight Mints

Oh, and just in case anyone thought I was slipping, my new favorite song of the moment is "Seventeen Devils" by the Starlight Mints. Cool use of strings and stuff... No banjo, however, which is slightly disappointing. You can hear a sample here. I love the line "...all we ever wanted was the keys to everything..." Also cool, the song is from the CD Drowaton ("not a word" backwards).

Still loving Athlete

Here it is over a year ago that I picked up the then-new CD by Athlete (www.athlete.mu). I'm still listening to the CD on a very regular basis... Rediscovered the song "Half Light".

"Half Light" by Athlete, from the CD Tourist

The sun got stuck, as it's making it's way back down,
We find ourselves, in a familiar part of town

And all that I've seen means nothing to me without you

So when I see you next we'll make the most of it,
Tell the sun to start moving again,
The taste of your kiss I still got on my lips,
And ill take you there with me

My head crashed down, air conditioned myself to sleep,
The great night out, that will continue to the end of the week

And all that I've seen means nothing to me without you

So when I see you next we'll make the most of it,
Tell the sun to start moving again,
The taste of your kiss I still got on my lips,
And ill take you there with me

It's you and me connected to a satellite
It's you and me love through a machine
It's you and me connected to a satellite
It's you and me love through a machine

So when I see you next we'll make the most of it,
Tell the sun to start moving again,
The taste of your kiss I still got on my lips,
And I'll take you there with me

Introducing... Coca-Cola Blak

Ever the purveyor of new, interesting products, I came across something I had never thought to combine--coffee and cola--in the form of Coca-Cola Blak. Coffee. Cola. Not immediately an intuitive hit, but I have to say I kinda like it... Give me another day and a chance to swig a couple more bottles before I make a final decision.

Quote of the moment...

A new favorite quote of the moment:

"If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less."
--Retired U.S. Army General Eric Shinseki

We all need to evolve, learn, grow, change. It's inherent in being human. Change or die. We don't want to become dinosaurs, do we? I know change is often difficult, and at best only disconcerting, but it is a natural progression and evolution. Things change, people change, technologies change, hairstyles change... I recognize that I, myself, am resistent to change in certain areas, but I also realize that I need to keep learning and growing. Good thoughts to think on...

Is ANYONE worth this much money?

According to a recent Associated Press story, Exxon Mobil Corp. Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond, who recently retired, received a $69.7 million compensation package and $98 million pension payout. And according to a financial analysis by Brian Foley of The New York Times, Raymond was compensated more than $686 million by the oil giant from 1993 to 2005, which comes out to $144,573 per day of his employment.

Now I don't really want to get into the whole discussion of big oil executives defending their record profits and dodging questions of price gouging, although it is worth noting this in light of impending $3 per gallon gas prices. Also, I'm sure it's not an easy job to run a large multinational corporation. I'm sure other people have earned big money, Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, comes to mind. (Although I have to give Mr. Gates credit, as he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various charities, especially noteworthy are his donations to fight AIDS in the Third World--but I digress.)

Simply put, this amount of money is unfathomable to me (and, I hazard to guess, to most people). Most people I know make between $20,000 and $50,000 per year. Exxon Mobil's CEO made three times more money in a single day of work than most people in America (or the world) make in a year or more! Can you honestly imagine what it would be like to make $144,573 per day?!? You could buy a new house every day! Or two to three luxury cars every day! What else could someone do with this kind of money?

Just one day's worth of the Exxon Mobil's CEO pay could feed 18,071 people an $8 meal. (I wonder what kind of meal Halliburton could provide for $8 a plate? Digressing again, sorry.) Charity is good, but what about "teaching a man to fish" so he'll have fish to eat every day?

According to CNN, the cost of attending a four-year public university (including room and board) averaged $12,127 per year in 2005. At the Exxon Mobil's CEO pay rate, one month's salary could allow 357 students to attend college for a full year, or a year's worth of that salary could pay for 4,283 students to enrich their minds in college for a full year - imagine what they could do to improve the world!

I just realized I'm not really going anywhere with this post... Still, it boggles my mind. Is anyone truly worth $144,573 per day? I mean, really? Is anyone's knowledge or skill so god-like? And what does one do with that much money? I mean how many gold fixtures, summer homes, and recreational yachts can any one person really use anyway? Let's think about it... And there are people in the U.S. who go to bed hungry and uneducated every night. Think about it...

I likes me some 'o that Daylight Savings Time

Man, I love the spring as the temps get into the 60s and 70s and the days are increasing. It's great to get home from work and still have a few hours of sunlight. It certainly improves my mood. When I lived in northwest Minnesota 90 miles south of the Canadian border this time of year was always something to look forward to. I recall in June there was still light in the western sky at 10:30 p.m.! And when I visited my sister in Alaska in June, it was great because it never really got dark.

I'm fairly certain that I have SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm usually in the best mood with increasing daylight hours in April, May, and June. Conversely, I begin to feel increasingly ornery in October, November and December. I think November is the worst by far. Usually if I can make it through to Thankgiving I level off.

I'd be totally supportive if sunrise was always at 7:30 a.m. and sunset at 10 p.m. Oh well, cycles are nature's way. Without all the dark crappy weather in November, I guess I wouldn't appreciate the light happy weather of April as much.

R U ready 4 the Apocalypse?

Sorry about going all Prince in the headline, but it looks like we should all start partying like it's 1999. (Fu)'king Insane Emperor G.W. Bush ('king W. for short) is discussing a nuclear strike on Iran with his military buds. It's all over the Sunday news shows, and we all knew Iran was next of his list. Hell, it might even happen in time for Jesus' return on Easter Sunday this coming week!

The self-appointed Chosen One (and I'm NOT talking about Jesus here; Jesus is innately humble and peace-loving) and his cronies have done a lot to hasten the end of the world.

'king W. and his cronies have refused to acknowledge global warming and have set back environmental protections by 40 years or more, even allowing some of the worst polluters to keep polluting. He and his cronies have squeltched civil rights and eroded the wall separating church and state so it became easier to get all his Christianist buddies into power positions (note that I said Christianist, not Christian; Christianists are those radical fundamentalist politicians who are morally superior, extremely judgemental, and eagerly awaiting the Rapture - I'd love to see the looks on their faces when they get "left behind" for politicizing Jesus and judging lest they be judged).

There's more....

'king W. and his cronies have created a climate where questioning their actions is equal to being seen as traitor - don't question him or his plans or the terrorist win! He and his cronies have given the biggests tax breaks to the very wealthiest, so they can buy their stairway to heaven and eliminate the middle class. He and his cronies have cut funding for higher education and mandated the No Child Left Behind program in order to keep America's youth ignorant so they can easily be led...

But wait, there's more...

He and his cronies have gotten us into a quagmire of a civil war in Iraq and they all lied to get us there. He and his cronies have purposely leaked confidential information for political gain. He and his cronies have alienated essentially all of our world allies. He and his cronies have employed torture techniques and laughed in the face of the Geneva Convention. And now we hear talk about he and his cronies looking at options for various attacks on Iran, specifically NOT ruling out a nuclear attack.

Impeach him now before he pushes that button and unleashes the worst war in human history. You may think I'm overreacting, but I'm sincerely afraid that 'king W. and his cronies could really, really screw us all over TO THE MAX. Oh well, maybe in the resulting post-apocalyptic wasteland some of those nuclear zombies will attack his little protective bunker and eat his brains. Then the cockroaches can take over...

Oh, by the way, if I conveniently disappear for sharing this opinion, you'll know the Men in Black came for me.

More lyrics of the moment: Skeleton Key

I've been listening to a LOT of new music in recent days. This one struck me in particular... All the more interesting considering that a skeleton key is essentially a very basic key that can open virtually any door.

"Skeleton Key" by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's

I did a sick, sick thing to my love.
My lack of loyalty, it swallowed her up.
And she cooked me food.
She squirmed and turned like a skeleton key.
She left her man and attended to me.

Don't call me that. Don't claim you love me
'cause you know that ain't true.
My dire affliction I attribute to you.
And you're finally free
to twist and turn like a skeleton key.

You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.

I did a horrible thing to that girl.
I bred my misery and drowned it in her.
And she got me high, and I hardly noticed
there were tears in her eyes.

And I miss you less and less everyday.
This stream of whiskey's helped to wash you away.
And it's clear to see you're nothing special.
You're a skeleton key.

You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.
You've gotta let me know.

Whooo!

Lyrics of the moment...

Wow! The final episode of Six Feet Under is powerful. The final montage that reveals the fates of each of the main characters is backed by the song "Breathe Me" by Sia. It fits perfectly.

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

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

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

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

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

Six Feet Under

Last week I picked up season four of HBO's show Six Feet Under. I watched all twelve episodes in two days. Tuesday, I picked up the just released season five--the final season. I plan to watch one or two episodes tonight, I'm sure it won't take me long to go through them all.

I'm not sure what it is about this series I like so much, but it is addictive. There's a lot of sex, drugs and dysfunction, but I think the thing that gets me is that the characters are so strong. And despite all the problems they face and all the death that surrounds them, there is some sense of optimism in the show--they do come together as a family and accept each other. Dysfunctional, yes. Enjoyable, definitely.

Hard to lose...

It's hard to lose important people in your life. I've lost too many in the past three years. Lost Dad to Parkinson's Disease and, yes, I know he's in a better place. Lost some extremely important people in my life to distance--both literally and figuratively--and time and career. Lost my great circle of friends from my life in Crookston (I still try to keep in touch, but it's difficult and it's not the same).

Some say, "Just give it time, you'll make new friends." Maybe, probably. But I liked the relationships I had! In some ways I wish I was a superficial person, because it would be easier to not miss people... It takes me too damn long to build the trust I need to be friends and too damn long for me to let them go when they go. I know I've got to work on that, because it seems everybody always leaves or is left...

Sorry to be such a downer, but that's where I'm at.

Spammed poetry

I received an interestingly odd e-mail at work today. It was basically a spam message with an investment opportunity embedded in a randomly generated set of words. Somehow, the words seemed strangely poetic. I guess we humans try to find meaning in the truly arbitrary. You decide (punctuation mine):

Avoidable Lottery
Revive as trait, personal sarcasm confers uppity. liberally crime—-a persuasiveness—-and Polaroid bronco. Argument school as concentric sleeping bag. A gynecologist snowman is cocoa riddled with justification tabulation, indescribably of unprepared wire, to a wrongly bleached awkward hilarity. The diversion, insipid, owe on pedagogy, a forcibly slog was curry powder scrooge, and topsy-turvy a lifesaver congratulates as tonic water on us... reliant is grill that rat race of powder was that drudge to itself.

One word:

WHATEVER!

Cool discovery #78

Our CEO and director turned me on to a new DVD magazine called Wholphin, and I have to say it's pretty cool. He loaned me the first issue, and now I'm hooked. Really neat small films and other "unseen things".

I think my favorite video short was called "Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?". A very short film where we find a guy doing a survey and the main question is the title along with "How certain are you about that?" What an interesting question--sort of left me with a little existential longing. The first issue also includes an odd little film that details Patton Oswalt staring into the camera for about five minutes--no dialogue, just staring and a few funny faces.

These are odd shorts and video stuff that are just my cup of tea: quirky and mildly obscure...but in a GOOD way! Yet another thing I HAVE to buy on a regular basis. Damn!

Lyrics of the moment

Cool lyrics that seem appropriate at the moment...

Jenny Lewis - "The Charging Sky"
If I run uphill I'm out of breath
If I spend all of my money I've got no money left
If I place all of my chips on only one bet
I'm all in

And it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your almight
But I might as well as insurance or bail

Cause institution's like a big bright lie
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and God
But what if God's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare

For the Evangelists, the Communists, the Lefts and the Rights
And the hypocrites and the Jesuits and the blacks and the whites
It's in the belly of the beast
In the Atlanta streets
Or up in Laurel Canyon
The verge of Middle East

Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again
It's been 25 years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected

So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing Bob Dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the Orlando streets
In the belly of the beast

Saying something "unpopular"

Yes, freedom of speech MUST mean the freedom to offend, or the freedom to say something unpopular with the majority. I believe that more and more. If not, we cannot be considered a democracy, because in order to make a good, deliberate decision, we must hear all the viewpoints. That's the whole point of democracy! Sure, it's probably much easier to run a facist state - what the leader says goes, or else. The same is true of a theocracy - do what the religious leader tells you that God says, or else.

Democracy is hard because, first, we must allow all the voices to be heard and, second, we must not only make a decision by majority vote but also keep the minority protected. It IS difficult and it SHOULD take a long time. Squelching disagreement is NOT HEALTHY.
Thank you, Andrew Sullivan, for reminding us of this quote:

"If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - George Orwell

BSG! BSG!

Wow! Just watched the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica (BSG). It may very well be one of the best sci-fi shows ever, and it certainly ranks up there as one of the best current series on the air! I won't go into the plot, but the characterizations are top-notch. I love that in this episode we got to see a different, almost sympathetic side to the Cylons, the adversaries in the series. Excellent, excellent, excellent television! In my mind the only shows currently worth watching on a regular basis are BSG, Lost, South Park, the Simpsons, Scrubs, Mythbusters, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and maybe Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Tired and a little lonely

Wow! It's been a busy and stressful week at work--lots of little fires to put out, lots of politics, and just a sheer amount of stuff to get done! I'm wiped out when I get home, where I'm thankful it's quiet. I can just relax and recharge my batteries

Still, it can be too quiet. Lately there are moments when I really wish I had someone to share my life with--or even just a good friend or two to go have a beer with. Thankfully, I have received phone calls from a few very good friends who are, quite frankly, too far away for my preference. And there are a few people I miss who aren't that far away but are just too busy I guess.

I just haven't met "my kind of people" (and I use that phrase only because I don't have any better way to capture what I mean) here in Sioux Falls yet--not that anyone's been particularly unfriendly to me or anything--and not that I'm particularly snobbish (at least I don't think I am...maybe a little shy, but not snobbish). I just haven't met many people here that I can say I feel particularly close to, which is too bad, because I could really use a few close friends around me right now. I miss the people I called friends back in my "old life" in Crookston.

"The W.A.N.D."

New favorite song of the moment: "The W.A.N.D." by the Flaming Lips from their forthcoming album At War with the Mystics. Man, this song has a catchy fuzz guitar hook! Makes me eager to hear the new album, out sometime in April.
Very cool! Kind of a bizarre lovechild song if Black Sabbath and YES created a baby raised by Kool and the Gang?!?! (Okay, maybe not quite.)

Check out the Flaming Lips' website

Live and let live -or- I won't tolerate intolerance

Two things happened to catch my eye simulaneously this evening.. I was re-reading the newspaper while I had the TV on in the background. Just as I was scanning through an article about recent legislation signed by the governor of South Dakota that limits/prohibits protesting at funerals (the radical "Christian" God Hates Fags Church has been protesting at local servicemen's funerals because those servicemen died for America, which has the ungodly gall to allow homosexuals to live and, dare I say it, be treated almost like equals), I caught a moment of that stellar reality series "Wife Swap" where the two mismatched/swapped couples were experiencing their own levels of intolerance. One redneck husband was offended that his newly swapped wife asked him to take down the confederate flag in his yard, while his swapped wife was telling her equally mismatched new husband that the rule was that an American flag had to be put up in his yard. These two swapped couples, both from the South, were truly two ends of the spectrum: liberal, free-spirited, PETA vegetarians vs. flag-waving, gun-toting man-of-the-house conservatives.

What do these two seemingly unrelated things have in common? Tolerance, or, perhaps, the lack thereof. What happened to the semi-golden rule of LIVE and LET LIVE? Why has this contry become so incredibly polarized on every issue? (I thought 'king W., Our Leader, was a "uniter, not a divider"!?!) While I'm not a fan of the "Wife Swap" show, at least it requires the participants to walk 10 days in someone else's shoes. And, in the end, both families learned a little something and made a few changes. Imagine that an experience outside of one's own little world would open the mind!

That's maybe why I went back to reading the article about protests at funerals, shaking my head a little. I've recently read somewhere that the right to free speech essentially boils down to the right to offend. If we have strong opinions on something (government, god/God, abortion, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, red vs. blue, the earth is round) and we talk about them, we will, no doubt, offend someone. I have to agree that freedom of speech is essentially freedom to offend. And it does offend me that someone would picket a funeral with a sign that reads "God Hates Fags" and chant about how the deceased is going to go to hell for defending a country that allows "fags". And even though I have to grit my teeth and bear their opionions because I believe in free speech, it still riles me that this would happen at a serviceman's funeral or at a funeral for someone who may have been homosexual. What purpose does it serve but to bring more pain to the family that is already grieving? Funerals are not political hotbeds.

We all need to constantly learn and re-learn to live and let live, be tolerant and be tolerated. That's why America has been great. Tying it into one more current event, I worry about the riots by Muslims in Denmark over the publication of cartoons that depict their holy prophet Muhammed--apparently any representation of their prophet makes even moderate Muslims go ga-ga!--and the reaction of the Danish press and the media of most other Western counties backing off. This is where the freedom of the press begins to erode. What next, will the media back away from the tough questions for our president when it comes to his Christian background? Oh, wait, they already have backed off of the tough questions on every issue.

It's come down to the age-old battle of fundamentalism vs. freedom; unquestioned dogma vs. free-thinking inquirey; "God said" vs. what science shows us; theocracy vs. democracy. I hope we don't go back to the Dark Ages where everything was stifled because those in power would not allow dissent (blashphemy). How far are we away from reinstating the Spanish Inquisition?

Two final thoughts: 1) Watch more South Park - they offend EVERYBODY EQUALLY! 2) I hope that each and every one of those religious fundamentalists have to face a situation where a daugter comes to them pregnant and unmarried and/or a son reveals he's gay and/or one of their children has died fighting for this country. It may help them open their minds and wipe those scales from their eyes... Sigh...

I was never much good at goodbyes...

This past Sunday, my dad, Walter Francis Svec, passed away. He was going on 84 years old and had Parkinson's Disease, but the last time I saw him--about a week before--he was pretty lucid and asked me how work was going. I told him, "Busy, but good," and shortly after I said "See you next time." I was surprised to get the call on Sunday from my sister that Dad had drifted off at breakfast--calmly, just as if he had gone to sleep.

It's weird to think he's not here, physically, anymore. I cried a little over the next few days, mostly because my mom and sisters and brother were crying. But still, I didn't have a big crying moment. It's not because I didn't love him, I did. Then, when the coffin was lowered into the ground, I felt it: a wave of sadness, and I just let it out for a little while. I was sad for all of us, but deep down I knew Dad was at peace. Lately, his quality of life had been diminishing dramatically each day due to the Parkinson's. He was lucid, but often couldn't respond or couldn't respond quickly.

I'm thankful for having a good man like him as my father. He was a typical old-school, stoic farmer--a man of few words--but he was a very kind, gentle, loving man and he did everything for his family. I love you, Dad, and I'll miss you.

Rediscovering late 1960s/early 1970s movies

I've been on a bit of a movie kick lately, and, oddly enough, I've been gravitating to movies of the late 1960s/early 1970s. Actors like Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland and Alan Arkin are the stars I'm watching. Just watched "Little Murders" (1971), a sort of bizarro comedy/satire with one of the most interesting wedding ceremonies ever captured on film. I've also picked up "Catch 22" (1970) and am looking for "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" (1968), but I don't believe that's been released on DVD. These films are filled with satire (ALWAYS a good thing) and are sometimes a little dark, but that's okay with me. On deck for this afternoon: "Catch 22".

Not quite fitting into the early 1970s category, I also want to see Bill Murray in "The Razor's Edge" (1984). I remember seeing it back then, but being 18 years old at the time, I am sure I didn't really understand it. Here's the plot summary: Larry Darrell returns from the battlefields of World War I to America a different person. His fiance resigns herself to a delay in wedding plans when Larry heads off to Paris. There he finds he prefers a simpler existence and begins to read. One book inspires him to visit India and on to Nepal where he finds spiritual help from a lama. On returning to Paris he finds Isabel and some old friends. Everyone has changed.

America through 10 movies

A cool meme I will try my hand at...

"The challenge is to explain America to someone from somewhere else by giving them 10 movies to watch. The idea is not to give them a history lesson, so you don't have to start with The New World and end with Jarhead. What you're trying to do is give them a sense of who we are -- your take on our dreams, our attitudes, our idioms, what we think we are, what we are afraid we are, what we really might be."

Please note, I've tried to keep it to recent movies (no more than 20 years old) because I think the way we see ourselves is very temporal... So, here are my choices:

Garden State (2004) - it starts out a bit dark, but ends on an optimistic note - we all want that happy ending - its quirky characters ring true to the weird individuality that is America.
Rushmore (1999) - yes, we are all sort of enthralled by popular culture, and yes, Bill Murray's character is great at showing that capitalism can leave us unhappy.
American Beauty (1999) - the contemporary American family is far from perfect - an interesting analysis of individuality as opposed to true familiality.
Pleasantville (1998) - a great, lighthearted commentary not only on America waking up from the 1950s but also on personal discovery.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - more quirky families learning to accept each other, but done through wonderful storytelling.
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) - even though it's set n the early 1900s, it speaks volumes about friendship and loyalty.
Big Fish (2004) - are all Americans tall tale tellers? Are all families in America dysfunctional? Do all stories end happily? Yes, Yes, Yes/No. Discuss...
Far from Heaven (2002) - more self-discovery, this time mainly for a 1950s woman who learns how to be independent after her husband admits he's gay - there's also some hopeful interracial interaction.
Dances with Wolves (1990) - a western epic that explores a more realistic representation of Native Americans - also a great commentary on appreciating differences.
Ferris Beuller's Day Off (1986) - were all kids in 1980s America this precocious and/or neurotic? Also, is this what the American eduction system is like? Moreso that not, I'm afraid.

Most of these films are filled with flawed, quirky characters who, more often than not, learn how to accept and love each other. I guess that's what I've always believed America was about. Too bad the Republicans and Democrats can't learn that lesson...

Lies, lies, lies, yeah!

During a recent press conference where questions arose about whether George W. Bush, or as I like to call him, 'king W., had ever associated with "allegedly" corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, “The President does not know him, nor does the President recall ever meeting him.”

Well, that apparently, is a LIE. According to reporter Kim Eisler of The Washingtonian:

"The Washingtonian has seen five photos of the President with Abramoff or his family. One photo shows the President and Abramoff shaking hands at a meeting in the Old Executive Office Building, where a bearded-Abramoff introduced Bush to several of the lobbyist’s native-American clients."

Read the whole report here.

There have been so many statements of questionable truth from 'king W. and his entire administration on any number of things from 9/11 to torture of prisoners to WMD's in Iraq to basically anything the man says... In my mind, all of those hinge on whether or not we ever see those photos or hear from Abramoff directly that Bush knows him. If we find that confirmed, then I say IMPEACH BUSH for lying to the Ameican people. Because if he's lying aobut this particular instance, what's to say he hasn't been lying all along? Isn't "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness" one of the big ones, 'king W.?

By the way, former President Bill Clinton was brought to censure for lying about getting a blow job from Monica Lewinski. If that was the result from a years' long investigation and congressional censure all because of a lie about sex, shouldn't there be some major investigations going on right now about this lying about the really important stuff? Maybe not, especially if there is what seems to be a culture of corruption that pervades the Republican party in Washington D.C. You've got to keep your party's corruption covered up, especially when your party includes the president and the majority party... Wake up America!

Empirical evidence

Currently, I am a very big fan of empirical (relying on or derived from observation or experiment or verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment) evidence--empirical evidence about anything: evolution, global warming, WMD, nature vs. nurture, genetics vs. choice, a Higher Power, quantifiable public opion, projections based on past data averages, etc. Our fearless leader 'king W. does not appear to care or seem to need to care about empirical evidence. Most of our religious leaders are ignoring empirical evidence. My faith that the Higher Power actually cares or can do anything about our individual situations is at an all time low--currently I have no empirical evidence to support that assertion. Sorry, but that's how I feel right now. I hope I am proven wrong, but until then...gimme empirical evidence or get outta my face.

Pensive? Introspective? Me?!?

Came across this text on the web somewhere and it resonated somehow. I must be in one of my pensive, introspective moods. Or maybe it's just the January blahs... In any case, I kind of like what it says. I couldn't find an author, so I'll attribute it to anonymous (he or she's writte a lot of profound stuff over the years...).

It's been said that people come into our lives for a reason--bringing something we must learn. We are led to those who help us grow if we let them, and we help them in return. Well I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I met you. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed. It may well be that we never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart, and now, whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend.

Four things...

A recent circulating meme that seems appropriate for the new year...

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: Director of Marketing, Director of Communications, Webmaster, College Admissions Counselor

Four movies you could watch over and over: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back, Gladiator, Dodgeball

Four places you’ve lived: Sioux Falls, SD; Crookston, MN; Morris, MN; Lowry, MN

Four TV shows you love to watch: South Park, Lost, Battlestar Galactica, the Daily Show

Four places you’ve been on vacation: Alaska; Minnesota’s North Shore; Austin, TX; Cedar Rapids, IA

Four websites you visit daily: patriotboy.blogspot.com ; www.washingtonpavilion.org ; www.truthout.org ; uncannyxmen.net

Four of your favorite foods: Pizza, Chocolate, Lasagna, Chicken

Four places you’d rather be: in bed, at the beach, listening to CDs at home, hanging out with friends

Chain letter wisdom...

I don't get a lot of chain letter e-mail anymore, thank goodness, but I recieved one today that came just when I needed a pick me up. It contained a few pearls of wisdom that resonated, so I will share them.

>> The best relationship is one where your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

>> At least once a year go someplace you've never been before.

>> Don't let a little dispute ruin a great relationship.

>> Remember that NOT getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

If that last one is true, I'm one of the luckiest men in the world. Take care all!

...of vaccines and creationists...

Thanks, Gary Trudeau, for your Sunday comic of Dec. 18, 2005. You got me thinking that if creationists truly despise evolution and truly believe it is a fallacy, they should not choose to be vaccinated. Bacteriological science is based on the concept of evolution... that's why we have a new flu shot each year: because bacteria are perhaps the fastest evolving life form on earth.

Now before you send me hate mail, I'm not advocating that anyone be denied vaccines if they want them. I AM saying that it is quite hypocritical to say one is a dyed-in-the-wool creationist and then go out to get his or her vaccinations. If people's beliefs are stuck in the 15th century, should they really choose the benefits of the 21st century--especially those benefits brought about by something they don't believe actually exists: evolution? Just a thought as we enter the holiday season. ;)

What "war against Christmas"?!?!

For Christ's sake (no blasphemy intended) what that hell is up with Bill O'Reilly and some other Religious Reich people and their insistance that there is some organized "war against Christmas" conspiracy going on here? I don't seen anyone feeding Christians to lions or closing churches. By the way, to be persecuted, doesn't one have to be in the minority in some way? I just don't get this!

First off, a huge deal is being made that Target stores and some other larger chain discount stores are encouraging their staff members to say "Happy Holidays" to their customers instead of "Merry Christmas". Haven't people been saying Happy Holidays for as long as you can remember? What is wrong with that? Yes, Christmas is a major holiday at this time, but there are other holidays like Haunukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, and even the winter solstice. Note: because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the holy month of Ramadan now mainly falls in November. My question: what's wrong with a business (yes, Target is a business not a church, unless you mean a church of capitalism) trying to be inclusive and offer a generic "Happy Holidays" greeting?

Much ado about nothing is also taking place about the use of the term "holiday tree" vs. "Christmas tree". For God's sake, the entire tree thing is based on a pagan concept to begin with! Apparently the yule tradition in many Germanic tribes involved sacrificing animals and slave and suspending them from the branches of trees! (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree) Maybe it should be called a "Pagan Tree" for accuracy!

For that matter, Christmas was purposely chosen to take place right around the pagan celebration of the solstice in order to help Christianize the pagans. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9082431)

Perhaps I would agree with Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich that there truly was a "war on Christmas" if, indeed, the police were boarding up churches and/or arresting people for attending services or something like that. Such is NOT the case in my observations. The latest statistic I saw indicated that roughly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians.

Yes, there is definitely a Christian majority here. But there is a key point that Mr. O'Reilly and the Religious Reich seem to be overlooking: the U.S. is a democracy, NOT A THEOCRACY. We have freedom of religion and a tradition of separation of church and state (although that seems to be eroding a bit because of Mr. O'Reilly and the Religions Reich). So there is absolutely nothing wrong with businesses encouraging "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" simply because it prevents the awkwardness of potentially saying "Merry Christmas" to a Jewish or Islamic patron (not to mention the many other religions Americans subscribe to).

You keep watching, Mr. O'Reilly, and let us know when Christians are truly being persecuted! Until then, please shut up about it and focus your "news reporting" on the war against the poor and middle class, the war on education, the war on drugs, or maybe even the war in Iraq.

Favorite music - the 2005 edition

As we approach the end of yet another year, it's time for me to pull together a list of my favorite music. 2005 wasn't a bad year, even for mainstream music. Here are my picks from 2005.

1. "Warnings/Promises" - Idlewild
2. "Birds Make Good Neighbors" - the Rosebuds
3. "The Magic Numbers" - the Magic Numbers
4. "Lovekraft" - Super Furry Animals
5. "Paper Tigers" - Caesars
6. "Employment" - Kaiser Chiefs
7. "Spelled in Bones" - Fruitbats
8. "Illinois" - Sufjan Stevens
9. "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept" - Louis XIV
10. "The Alternative to Love" - Brendan Benson
11. "Urgency" - the Pale Pacific
12. "Psychology" - Discover America
13. "Guero" - Beck
14. "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" - Eels
15. "Why Should the Fire Die" - Nickel Creek
16. "You Could Have It So Much Better" - Franz Ferdinand
17. "Haughty Melodic" - Mike Doughty
18. "Gimme Fiction" - Spoon
19. "Aha Shake Heartbreaker" - Kings of Leon
20. "Get Behind Me, Satan" - the White Stripes
21. "Silent Alarm" - Bloc Party
22. "Oh No" - OK Go
23. "Out of Exile" - Audioslave
24. "Back to Me" - Kathleen Edwards
25. "Gone Ain't Gone" - Tim Fite
26. "The Bravery" - the Bravery
27. "Elevator" - Hot Hot Heat
28. "Stars of CCTV" - Hard Fi
29. "Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff" - Shout Out Louds
30. "Open Season" - British Sea Power

Best reissues: the Eurythmics back catalog with bonus cuts
Absolutely worst "song": "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas

Geek love: the Sharpies of our desire

So I was at Barnes & Noble today and I noticed the young woman who was serving as the check-out was using a green pen. In a chit-chatty way she commented that she really liked using that pen with green ink because is was distinct from all the other "boring black ink pens."

I commented that I, too, liked using pens with different colored ink, like purple. She came back with something to the effect that she really liked purple pens too.

Then, sensing a fellow pen geek, I confessed that my writing utinsels of choice were fine point Sharpies--to which she smiled and took out a black Sharpie and, waving it in the air with a slight flair, said, "Me too! It's cool that they come in so many colors now." I said,"Yeah, I like the olive green ones and the magenta ones." She said she had a pink one to do invoices.

We then stopped for a beat and sort of smiled at each other in smirky, knowing way, realizing we were both pen geeks. In a way it was awkward, but in another way, comforting, as in finding out "it wasn't just me."

I really enjoy life moments like that. Hmmm.

How can we go on?

Brace yourself. First it was Ben and J-lo, then it was Brad and Jennifer, now we learn that Nick and Jessica are breaking up. I just watched a nearly five-minute segment about it on the Today Show. I don't know if I can handle this. (I wonder if she is to blame? Damn, you, Angelina Jolie!) I just feel like crawling into bed and never coming out. How can we live in a world where celebrity relationships and/or marriages don't last?!? How can that kind of life be even remotely worth living? I will wear black today in honor of the love and convenient career advancement opportunities that no longer exist between Nick and Jessica. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the day without bursting into tears. Oh, the horror!

Okay, now I'm over it. Thanks. I'm sure there will be more celebrity marriages and break ups. What else would our news media do with all their time? Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful part 1

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me begin to offer a short list of things I am thankful for...

>> I'm thankful that the people of Dover, Penn., voted out all eight members of their school board who supported the forcing of science teachers to adopt intelligent design into their biology curriculum. Thanks for keeping God out of schools and keeping him in the multitude of churches that abound in this country. (Don't get me wrong, God is good and all, but religion just doesn't belong in science classes. I would be supportive of teaching a world theology course in all high schools so we could also better understand Islam, Buddism, Judiasm AND Christianity as well as other religions. Imagine how that would help America!)

>> Oddly enough I'm also thankful that goofy old Pat Robertson spoke up and said that since the residents of Dover, Penn., "voted God out of their city" they shouldn't come crying to him when a tornado or a hurricane or the bird flu (or maybe all three) destroy their town. [Sarcasm alert: Whew! Thank goodness there ain't no homosexuals living in Dover, or there just might be some fire and brimstone from the heavens too.] It just shows what a lunatic he is (and that he believes in an angry, vengeful God of the Old Testament). I'm sure the people of Dover are just as good or bad as they were before and are happy with the church and form of worship of their choice.

>> I'm thankful that my nephew Dan looks like he'll be making it out of Iraq in one piece and will be home for Christmas!

>> I'm also thankful that 'king W.'s approval rating continues to plummet. Can I say it one more time: Wost President Ever!

>> I'm thankful for my friend Charlie in Lincoln, Neb., for Chris & Heidi and the kids in Solon, Iowa, for Karl & Jody and the kids in St. Joseph, Minn., for Alex & Holly, Peg, Sheila & Marcel, Doc, Jeff, Owen, Pam, John & Deb, Sue & Paul, Rose, Stacey & Dan, Don & MaryBeth and everyone else in Crookston, Minn., for Doug S. in Las Vegas, and for Tim & Shannon in Houston, Tex. Thanks friends.

>> I'm thankful for Steve, Jane, Trevor, and Jon and EVERYONE at the Washington Pavilion. You are a great group of people to work with.

>> I'm thankful for all the GOOD music that came out this year [and that there was a bit less crap]... and most recently for the great remasters of all the classic Eurythmics albums. Look for a best of 2005 list soon.

>> I'm thankful for chocolate in all its wonderful forms!

Big Oil is the winner!

Wow, what an eye-opener! I just read that Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips, two of the biggest of Big Oil, have raked in their biggest profits in history! Exxon Mobil's profits were up 75% and ConocoPhillips' profits were up 89%. Hey, at least someone got something out of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita!

It's hard not to somehow feel taken advantage of, however--personally and collectively as part of the Middle Class (not to metion those who have even less than the Middle Class). It's just kind of hard to take when we hear of things like pensions being cut or frozen for workers at General Motors, like hurricane-displaced people struggling to make ends meet, and like the big cuts in health care programs for the poor and elderly. Oh, you didn't hear that the Senate Finance Committee's 11 Republicans outvoted the 9 Democrats to cut MediCare and MedicAid by $10 billion? Who says Republicans aren't compassionate conservatives?

I understand that natural gas prices are expected to increase 30-50% for this coming winter. Yeah, more profits for the energy companies! You'd think with such historic profit margins, they could cut us all a break. So much for all Americans pulling together in times of trouble. Oh, yeah, that's not an American ideal, that's either more of an ideal for the poor and/or socialists. Here in America, it's everyone for himself, Big Oil not excluded, eh?

Hammering nails and speaking in tongues...

Don't really know what the title of today's entry means, but sort of sounds cool together...It's a line from "Doesn't Remind Me" by AudioSlave.

I was really busy today at work, as usual. Never seems to be any time to breathe deeply and/or process information. It's always on to the next thing and then the next after that. I guess that's the benefit AND curse of working for a non-profit entity.

Decided not to head to Crookston this weekend, even though I'd really like to. The Halloween Party fell apart and I just have so much work to catch up on that I can't take this weekend AND next weekend off. If I can go in to work on Saturday I think I can make a big dent in the budget work I need to get done. That way it won't be hanging over my head.

I happier news, Miss Jane Hathaway brough delicious filled pastries to our meeting this mornign in celebration of my B-day. Thanks, Jane, that was very nice of you!
I will now go and read a magazine and drink a beer. Whoo-hoo!

Thanks to everyone who sent birthday well-wishes!

One last piece of "wisdom"

Okay, so in the last minutes of 38 I just have to say that from my observations when people break up, it's almost impossible to be friends. Does anyone know of a situation when that actually happened? Okay, now on to being 39. Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow...

39 is really, really old

Okay, so it's almost midnight and I am hitting the realization that 39 is really quite ancient. In fact, in the middle ages I'd probably be dead by now... Okay, now I'm over that brief bit of insecurity. 39 is great! (but it is really, really old)...

Oh by the way...

Oh by the way, I really like cinnamon rolls. Really. A lot. Just thought you should know.

39 and counting...

So, in a little more than 14 hours I will turn 39 years old (my mom told me I was born around 9 a.m.). One more year before that milestone of 40! Don't really have any problems with 39, or 40 for that matter, but it is a little odd to think about time and lifespan. Most of my friends have been married for a number of years and many of them have children who are as old as 10 or 11 or older. I don't have much to show for the carrying on of the ol' genetic material, but that's okay. There are plenty too many people in the world as it is.

Upon reflection I'm thankful for the many friends I've made in 39 years, most notably Charlie, Karl & Jody, Chris & Heidi, Alex & Holly, Peggy and so many more. Overall I'm thankful for my experiences at GHS, UMM, UMC, and now the Washington Pavilion. I'm thankful for my family--mom and dad, sisters and brother, nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles...

My wish for the coming year is to gain more confidence in my job and to try to eliminate debt. Here's to 40-minus-1!

...and I feel kinda crappy...

Yeah! October is here! My birthday month! Woo-hoo!

...and I feel kinda crappy... September is one of my favorite months; October comes after that. And despite the fact that it's my birthday month, I kinda always feel crappy in October--and let's not even talk about November, the worst month ever.

I'm sure it all has something to do with the diminishing length of the day. It's darker each morning and darker sooner each evening. Then daylight savings time ends, and it's even worse. I really hate late autumn and the resulting seasonal affective disorder it brings.

I also miss friends and relatives. My social life here in Sioux Falls hasn't really materialized. I don't really have anyone I can just hang out with here in town. Occasionally friends come to visit: Charlie from Lincoln every so often, Karl from St. Cloud once a year, a few relatives maybe once a year or so... Alex and Holly from Crookston came down in the spring.

Sorry, I know I'm wallowing a bit, but this is the most depressing time of the year from now until January 1. Only 80 days to go. Woo-hoo! >Sigh<

Cool music video alert

It's been quite a while since I've seen a music video that ranked as notable in my book. (MTV doesn't play music videos anymore, and VH1 only plays them during the later hours of the a.m. Anyway...) But early this morning on VH1 I saw the new video by that new new wave group the Killers: "All These Things That I've Done" It instantly brought me back to those days in the 1980s when a cool new music video was a major topic of discussion.

The video, shot mainly in black and white, is a surreal pastiche of women throwing boomerangs, band members as suburban cowboys, and falling. Not surprisingly, it is directed by Anton Corbijn, a verteran video director who also brought us the nifty video imagery of U2's "One" and Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence." You can see these videos along with the Killers' latest on a compilation DVD "The Work of Director Anton Corbijn" on PALM DVDs. Go out and buy it now.

I've had the Killers' CD in my collection for well over a year and, actually, about a year ago "All These Things That I've Done" was pretty heavy on my personal playlist. Glad to see it received a great video treatment. COOL BEANS!