Wednesday, September 19, 2007

What are you eating under there?

At work the other day the age old question "What is the green guy that isn't the grapes in the Fruit of the Loom underwear ads?" came up. After a little research I found the answer.

He's a leaf.
While doing the research I stumbled across, get this, a rock video. Quite a catchy little number as pop music played by four adult males dressed as fruit and greens goes.
So for you that are fans of the fruits I give you fruitguyfans.com. For those of you that are just flat out curious check it out as well. Just click the music videos tab and watch the neat video for Blue.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Aesthetic quality is an absolute value independent of any human view

These are the amazing drawings my niece Savannah did. She started the third grade today.

"Apple"
Crayon on heavy board stock, 2004

"Psychedelic Fish"
poster paint and pencil on heavy paper stock, 2006

"Snowman"
Poster paint and organic plant matter on heavy paper stock, 2005

Atari is a very sad story.

~ Steve Wozniak

Well I certainly have had a trip down memory lane this week. Cleaning out the closet at my Mom and Dad's house to ship to Oregon has unearthed quite a trove of 80's and 90's Electro treasure.

FOOLS DROOL!!

Controllers clockwise from left: ColecoVision, Jemstick (after market 2600), Intellivision and Atari.

Detail of the "Blister Giver" as I so fondly called the 2600 joystick.

Hey...It talks! Intellivision's Intellivoice.

In all I packed to ship: Atari 2600 first and second generation, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Sega 16 bit, Sega 32X and Sega CD. Quite a few carts for all of the games and joysticks and the Intellivoice seen above. Can't wait to throw them on a tv when I get home.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Stop in and experience a Guinness the way it was meant to be enjoyed!

The night I arrived in Wisconsin my brother KC took me to his favorite hangout, The House of Guinness.

Front entrance of The House of Guinness

Front of Menu

Ghostly figure at the end of the bar (Hey KC!) keeping my pint company.

MMMMM, Beer!!

This is a pretty special place with a colorful bar manager and great music KC says. His favorite is this kid named Hayward Williams. Check him out.

One stop shopping for some of the fundimental differences between Oregon and Wisconsin

I am now going to show some of you the first difference between Oregon and Wisconsin that I encountered when I arrived here in '98.

This is a CITGO convenience mart/gas station just outside Waukesha, the city where my brother KC lives and works.

1) Notice the Harley rider...NO helmet. There are still no helmet laws in the state of Wisconsin.

2) That's right people pumping their own gas. Pay at the pump 24 hours a day. So the only way some methed out grinder can put a ding or scratch or even dribble a little petroleum based paint oxidizer on the side of your car is if you are ganked on that stuff yourself.

3) Here is the one that would send OLCC official's heads-a-spinning for sure. A gas station, you know the kind on the side of the highway right next to the McDonalds, with a huge selection of wine and beer and do you see that? Yes, LIQUOR, right there at the front of the store near the Skittles. Not even locked up. Huh?!

Sunday, June 24, 2007

There can be no question, however, that prolonged commitment to mathematical exercises in music can be damaging


I am now digging what I think is going to be my favorite band (besides the old 80's standbys) for a while. Battles are amazing. Playing here on July 3 at Doug Fir


Atlas (youtube.com)

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I think people have had too much to think and ought to flex their magic muscles

Stumbled accross this today and thought I might share it with my fellow music lovers. Enjoy...
Captain Beefheart's Ten Commandments For Guitarists
1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere.
2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one.
3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A BUSH Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn't shake, eat another piece of bread.
4. WALK WITH THE DEVIL Old delta blues players referred to amplifiers as the "devil box." And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you're bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts demons and devils. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.
5. IF YOU'RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU'RE OUT If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.
6. NEVER POINT YOUR GUITAR AT ANYONE Your instrument has more power than lightning. Just hit a big chord, then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.
7. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CHURCH KEY You must carry your key and use it when called upon. That's your part of the bargain. Like One String Sam. He was a Detroit street musician in the fifties who played a homemade instrument. His song "I Need A Hundred Dollars" is warm pie. Another church key holder is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you want to look up her dress to see how he's doing it.
8. DON'T WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.
9. KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN A DARK PLACE When you're not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don't play your guitar for more than a day, be sure to put a saucer of water in with it.
10. YOU GOTTA HAVE A HOOD FOR YOUR ENGINE Wear a hat when you play and keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house the hot air can't escape. Even a lima bean has to have a wet paper towel around it to make it grow.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Heavy Metal People of Uranus wrapped in cool blue mist of vaporized bank notes

My friend Ward texted me today with awesome news. sunn o))), Earth, Weedeater and Wolves in the Throne Room are playing in town on July 6 @ Mt Tabor. I am asuming this is the Legacy which is the old Sabala's. Just thought you might like to know in case you need to find me on that night.