ever feel kind shamful

when a horrible joke of a Canadian '80s band sums up your state of mind (and maybe capitalism/American society in general)?

(Why can't I just have some fucking Eddie Cochran in my head, at least!?)

Everyone's watching, to see what you will do
Everyone's looking at you, oh
Everyone's wondering, will you come out tonight
Everyone's trying to get it right, get it right
Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh
You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show

Come on baby lets go

Everyone's looking to see if it was you
Everyone wants you to come through
Everyone's hoping it'll all work out
Everyone's waiting they're holding out
Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh

You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go(quick break)
You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show

Come on baby lets go

You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go

Ubuntu!

Ubuntu...it's all you need. Leave it to Clinton to dazzle the public with his knowledge of a Nguni word/concept...

thank gawd fer Woodward

So exciting and just in time for the election! Woodward, thwarted before by the White House...comes up with this. So fucking needed.

From the New York Times, today.

September 29, 2006
Woodward: Bush Concealing Level of Iraq Violence
By REUTERS
Filed at 4:37 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is concealing the level of violence against U.S. troops in Iraq and the situation there is growing worse despite White House and Pentagon claims of progress, journalist Bob Woodward said in advance of a new book.
Insurgent attacks against U.S.-led forces in Iraq occurred, on average, every 15 minutes, Woodward said in a CBS ``60 Minutes'' interview taped for broadcast on Sunday.
``It's getting to the point now where there are eight, 900 attacks a week. That's more than a hundred a day. That is four an hour attacking our forces,'' Woodward said in excerpts of the interview released on Thursday before the release of his book on the administration, called ``State of Denial.''
``The assessment by intelligence experts is that next year, 2007, is going to get worse and, in public, you have the president and you have the Pentagon (saying) 'Oh, no, things are going to get better,''' Woodward added.
Parts of a National Intelligence Estimate that President George W. Bush ordered released this week showed an upsurge in Islamic militancy, while a new U.N. report said the Iraq war was providing al Qaeda with a training center and fresh recruits.
A senior administration official saw little new in Woodward's charges ``except that Bob believes he has a lot of making up to do since the Washington establishment criticized him for being too soft in his first two books (on the Bush administration).''
``We've seen this movie before, and we shouldn't be surprised of another critical book about the Bush administration 40 days before an election,'' said the official.
Bush's Republican Party faces a strong challenge from Democrats as it seeks to retain control of Congress in the November 7 elections. The unpopular war in Iraq is a major issue in the campaign.
The official added there was nothing revealing in Woodward's account of the daily attack numbers. ``You print them all the time.''
Woodward said Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney often met with Henry Kissinger as an adviser. Kissinger was President Richard Nixon's national security adviser and then secretary of state during the Vietnam War.
The reporting of Woodward and fellow Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein played an important role in exposing the Watergate scandal that forced Nixon to resign in 1974.
According to Woodward, Bush was absolutely certain he was on the right course on Iraq. The writer said that when Bush invited key Republicans to the White House to discuss Iraq, the president told them, 'I will not withdraw even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me,''' referring to his wife and Scottish terrier.

and no one cares

Whew. War is hell. Does anyone care? Check it out: Sixty-five American female soldiers have died in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Been a long time

too, terribly long, really. I feel shitty about it, too. I hate not writing. I've barely written in my journal... Makes me feel a that lil' sick kick inside. By not expelling it, it creates that knotty feeling in the thoat. To quote Bart Simpson, it feels like I swallowed a potato chip of shame sideways.

Been in the Moving Mode (I move to my very own, lovely studio in just 3 days. Feeling great about that, despite those moving woes...Stress, etc.) I've also been burning the candle at both ends, as they say.... But, things are tot on the up and up.

James and I saw my most favorite iconoclast, George Carlin, last night...which was just about the most wonderful thing ever... It was the second time for both of us, very necessary that we went this time together. [something of fascinating note: James had spoken to his mother earlier that day and mentioned our plans. She told him that she and his father had seen Mr. Carlin "probably 30 years ago" in MPLS. This was absolutely shocking and revelatory information...since his rents, very Catholic and (at least) somewhat conservative would want to be subjected to Carlin-style heresy! Maybe it's just that Irish Cathoic bond, man. Maybe they were really into the heresy! Loved hearing that piece of family history, though].

George was in great, fighting form, despite post-rehab sobriety and a bad back which made him a lil' crabbier than usual (only at the beginning, it seemed). He had a huge chunk of new material that was golden and he actually uncharacteristically used notes, even reading directly from them at times. I found it refreshing and fun to see a writer look at his written words. Carlin is so known for his intricate pieces he recites so precisely from memory each and every time he spews it. The guy is a fucking genius with language and really takes care to deliver it effectively.

It was just great to *see* him again... in his hunched-over, pursed-faced glory. To simply be in a theatre (the Orpheum) with all those other fans laughing our asses off at *crisp*, concise, brilliant rants about everything from why Catholicism is the only religion that doesn't have The Bomb to wondering why humans can't take a shit in the street, if dogs can...to all those great bits about *WORDS* ((sigh)) I adore him. He has consistently served as my personal philosopher on life, language and society since I got really into him in 1999.

As cynical and harsh as can be, he somehow always makes me feel better about things. Puts it all into perspective. Reminds us to *THINK* and write and examine and question...everything. And, yep, things are all really fucked up and the world might explode tomorrow, but learn that you gotta have a fucking good time, imbibe intoxicants, alright, and be sure to laugh, laugh, laugh.

Remember those seven words? (and the history he made):

• shit
• piss
• fuck
• cunt
• cocksucker
• motherfucker
• tits

ah. words.

....a young, scruffy, aloof, punk/nerd/poet/romantic/cynic

I am kinda (really) broke right now, so instead of blowing my usual re-dick amount of money at Borders' book shop on Brit mags, I sat on the floor yesterday and read the articles I couldn't live without (I had to get them in my brain somehow).

So, I didn't just read 'em, I also (freakishly/nerdily) took notes. I had to (!?).

The Q interview/profile on the Arctic Monkeys was fantastic. Brilliantly written.

these are from my scribbles:

after buying DJ equipment with *no* intent to be a "b-boy," Turner saw the Strokes and went out and bought himself an acoustic geetar and switched areas of musical pursuit after thinking that being a rapper would be daft (even though it's clearly his favorite music, he loves the "imagery")...at this time he also got a job in a Sheffield bar called Boardwalk (?).

the reporter says, "forget songs, when did Turner start *writing*? "While polishing glasses and serving pints, Turner started taking notes on his Nokia mobile phone. He wanted it to look like he was texting. 'Writing notes in a pad in a Sheffield bar might be life-threatening,' Turner says.

Yes, I wrote those exact words on a pad in Borders...heh. he is silly and insecure about his writing and how lauded it is. how big of a deal it was to actually "admit" to someone: "I've written a song."

*this is golden:*[after a show] a very drunk Noel Gallagher enters their dressing room. Noel has come to tell the Arctic Monkeys that they were so good tonight, he actually danced to 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.' 'If I'm moving me feet, then as far as I'm concerned a band are fucking 'avin' it,' he asserts. Though clearly drunk, he offers a lucid set of reasons for the band's success. 'We all thought the Libertines were it for about eight weeks, didn't we? They fucked it up. They turned out to be Suede. But these lads can't fail. They are Oasis's evil stepchildren. We haven't passed the baton. They've fucking grabbed it and taken it.' Gallagher believes the Arctic Monkeys has a better chance than Oasis for three reasons: they don't take drugs [um, reeeeally? hmmm], there are no supermodels to distract them and 'no brothers who hate each other's guts.'"

*sigh*... how is it, that Mr. Gallagher delivers such pithy, clever, grand statements (or at least is frequently quoted as such) that sum up everything I *wish* I could say on a wold stage? Amen.

a bit about how the lads actually listened to both "Rock'n'Roll Star," (*THE* Oasis Anthem) and "Pretty Vacant" (Sex Pistols) before a show. the reporter notes that these are opposing ideas. i don't really "get it" or "agree." hahaha. earlier, the "most punk" and most preppie-looking lad, guitarist Jamie Cooks laughed out the cliched (but great) line, "We haven't got a message. That's the message."

the end of the piece is stellar. after getting stuck on how uncommunicative Turner is, the reporter implies that the lad may just be shy and contemplative, rather than aloof. he answers a question from hours before, avoiding eye contact still, he quietly says: "I think if Oasis can be summed by the line, 'Tonight, I'm a rocknroll star,' then I reckon for us it's, 'Tonight, I've got no idea how I ended up here."

>>>>{{{{{{{{{>>>>>>>

oh, and not to erase all the good feelings....but, this was in the STrib. ~barf~ so sick...and just... nofair. it might be the thing I hate most that's as "popular" and "important"...to me, it's everything that's wrong with music writing, "taste-making" and all that hipsterbullshit that boils over with negative pessimism and self-righteous haughtiness. no enthusiasim, no passion... just bored, holier-than-thou SnarkTown. barf.

I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Brianna.

Try this! Just enter your name in the box and behold the mindless entertainment. And it's British! Yay!

(thanks to Sarah A. and fuckingmyspacewasteoftime!)

If you keep hitting "refresh," you get more slogans, too. Dunno why it's so addictive...hey, it kinda makes you feel good about yourself...in that consumerist-buy, buy, buy sorta way...like, hey, *I* sound like a good deal!

Like:
Brianna. Unscripted.
Grab Life by the Brianna.
Let's Face the Music and Brianna.
Great Brianna. Great Times.
Only a Fool Breaks the Brianna.
Do You Eat The Brianna Last?
I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Brianna.
You Can Be Sure of Brianna.
A Brianna Is Forever.
Brianna Prevents That Sinking Feeling.
Why Can't Everything Orange Be Brianna?
....and the best two : Brianna Stays Sharp 'til The Bottom of the Glass & Puts the Brianna in Britain.

"Who doesn't love Shakira?"

word.

I adore her. Yum.

(I always forget that she's half Lebanese! wowza.)

Bob Zimmerman, you shine on.....I vote for Gnarls; this summer's "Hey Ya"...and shouldn't the Lads *save* their $$$?

I'm happy for you, Bob! I think (hope) it says something about a need for him and his wacky, wise music.

(Also, here is a good BBC re-cap of the Rolling Stone rantings.)

Summer smash?

And...the Lads are also charitable?

guess I might need to get the new Killers' record

Paul loves Kate's stuff and I do too.

This is golden. In every-muthafuckin-way. (dig: her asides that *are* interesting and relevant, her appraisal and *explanation*...and just "this is not a double album" is enough for me.

...well, I lie. I do. it's the fucking Springsteen and Zepp and Sunset Strip shit...yeah.

*Paul, how did I miss this when you wrote it? wtf? I am lazy and blind.*

in yo face!!!

That is soooo righteous.

What? You thought I *stopped* being all insane into the Lads?! Are you smoking crack?

I'm not.

I love that band. And they deserve the "prestigious" shit. And I still wanna make out with Alex Turner. Just a lil' bit.

oooh, and I still ADORE that cover....and the witty, cocky, right-on-comments made by Mr. Turner (dig that quote about selling alllllll those records!) oh, and I fucking still can't get enough of all their songs, too.

Sept. 23

I will be seeing the man who I love.... The man who uses the English language like NO other to evoke laughter and provoke...and poke.

here's an oldie but a goodie: (not the same in ink. far better to hear George make all the voices and the faces--all fey and delicate for the baseball bits and all growly and tough for the football. of course.)

Baseball is different from any other sport, very different. For instance, inmost sports you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In mostsports the ball, or object, is put in play by the offensive team; in baseballthe defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed totouch the ball. In fact, in baseball if an offensive player touches the ballintentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally, he's out.Also: in football,basketball, soccer, volleyball, and all sports played with a ball, you scorewith the ball and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.In most sportsthe team is run by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager. And onlyin baseball does the manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do. Ifyou'd ever seen John Madden in his Oakland Raiders uniform, you'd know thereason for this custom.Now, I've mentioned football. Baseball & football arethe two most popular spectator sports in America. And as such, it seems theyought to be able to tell us something about ourselves and our values.I enjoycomparing baseball and football:Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoralgame.Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.Baseball is playedon a diamond, in a park. The baseball park!Football is played on a gridiron, ina stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.Baseballbegins in the spring, the season of new life.Football begins in the fall, wheneverything's dying.In football you wear a helmet.In baseball you wear acap.Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?Baseball is concernedwith ups - who's up?In football you receive a penalty.In baseball you make anerror.In football the specialist comes in to kick.In baseball the specialistcomes in to relieve somebody.Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, pilingon, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.Baseball has thesacrifice.Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail,fog...In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.Baseball has the seventhinning stretch.Football has the two minute warning.Baseball has no time limit:we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.Football is rigidlytimed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.In baseball,during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions mayrun high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.In football, during thegame in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you'recapable of taking the life of a fellow human being.And finally, the objectivesof the two games are completely different:In football the object is for thequarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerialassault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy inspite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes andlong bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerialassault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall ofthe enemy's defensive line.In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe!- I hope I'll be safe at home!