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883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 05,August,2003 | Duf, we seem to be on the same wavelength this week (or maybe just notice the same pop culture phenomenons). I watched 2 episodes of that show last night and was completely delighted (I am delighted for 2 reasons: 1) because I even could watch it - I've never had cable, and in my new place I tapped into the line and am getting it free - shhhh! don't tell Comcast. 2) Watching these gay men make the straight guys really uncomfortable makes for some good comedy.) Not only do they help these guys with a make-over, but it seems they help them plan something nice for their significant other. For one, it was a marriage proposal. For another, it was learning to sing a song he wrote for his wife. I hope more straight men catch on and watch this show. So many guys out there need this kind of help, and I'm convinced these kind of positive changes will lead to world peace. Duf, you are definitely not alone. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 05,August,2003 | Anita Gaye By Duf Fer Apparently there is a new show on television's Bravo network where five gay gentlemens will do a life makeover for a straight gentleman. It's called 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.' I think I need to be on this show. First of all, I have been wearing essentially the same kinds of clothes since 1980 when I started to pick my own outfits. It is almost impossible to see me in something other than a polo style shirt and Docker's style pants (standard brown shoes by Vegetarian Shoes of London, thanks). I bought new glasses and was horrified by what I perceived as a radical eyewear departure, but only one person at work has noticed (props to HAL). In other words, my radical departure was not a departure at all. Second, my eye for interior decorating is not only color blind, it is blind, blind. So I could benefit from some fabulous direction as well. Third, when I go to a restaurant, I usually eat the same thing. In part this is because most places have 3 or 4 vegetarian choices, but it is also linked to my (mild) epicurean conservatism. I know enough not to embarass myself at a business dinner, but I could also use some culinary refinements (ex: we were at Savories in Stillwater last weekend, and when they brought out the figs with candied almonds and creamed gorgonzola as a pre-meal palate exciter, not only did I think it was tiny limes with whipped cream, but I didn't know if I should eat the entire fig or what...HELP!) Last, the only time I have ever changed my hairstyle was in college. I had a high top fade for a semester or two (and compared to Kid-n-Play it was more of a mid top fade), but other than that, I have sported to same doo since conception. I went to the urlLink show's web site , but to sign up for a makeover, you have to live in the New York area. Drats! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 05,August,2003 | BB, If I was in Minneapolis right now, I would personally bring shots over to your work place. And it sounds like the woman you work with could use a few as well. Either that, or a sharp, quick bitch-slap to the head. I HATE PHONE COMPANIES. Turns out, after much screaming and crying on the phone to these people, I'm still not going to have a dial tone (let alone, high-speed internet) for another week. Dicks. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 05,August,2003 | Shortly after I wrote my post, my friend Petey called and is going to make me dinner this evening since I haven't seen him in ages. HAL, I believe we're still on tomorrow night and I would like to partake of said drunkenness with you at that time. Open invite to Duf and DJS too! Let's discuss here tomorrow. Ciao. and thanks for listening to all my crap. -BB |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | Time and place BB, all I need is time and place. Duf' |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | BB - you don't have to ask me twice. I'm in. Beer, wine, and amaretto (sorry - we're not much for Hard A) are flowing freely post-working hours at my apartment. Just keep in mind, I have been swallowed whole by a new obesession - urlLink 24 . Blame DJS... he loaned me the DVD (all... twen-ty... four... hours) and my non-work hours have been devoted to viewing it. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | Last resort... I can't remember when I've been in this bad of foul mood. Everything is irritating me today. I can't stand my job - one coworker in particular - and I haven't slept peacefully in over a month. I think I will bitch about her here. She's the kind of person who gets caught up in details that she can't see anything else. She also insists on asking you about every said detail because she a) wants to seem like she includes everyone and b) isn't confident enough to make a decision. I can appreciate being included in the decision-making process if that does factor at all in her intentions, but C'MON...I can't tell you how it annoys the shit out of me to be bombarded with 8 questions about something that hasn't even been discussed in any detail with the client and she's asking these questions because she's not confident in being able to meet the client's expectations and she thinks they will leave us. She has no foresight to capture the essence of what the client wants if she can't include every component the client mentions in a brain-storm session. She does this with EVERY client and no client has left our company for this reason. She has no big picture skills or perception that this is a FUCKING WEB SITE. We are not saving lives, helping the poor, feeding the homeless, or even adding to the intelligence of the population. We're shlocking products to consumers. That's it. It's absolutely maddening and given my mentioned foul-ass mood, I've actually thought about picking up my computer and tossing it at her. I've got a hankerin to get drunk right now. Any joiners? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but I like havarti on Melba toast. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | Ive been to heaven, hell, and back again Greetings, Pandyland. I know, its been awhile. I missed you too. Dufs right. Im a changed woman. While walking through the U2 exhibit I thought to myself (swear to God), this is what heaven must be like. The only difference is in the real heaven, security guards probably dont ask me to remove my tongue from the display case. The only real downside was the other people at the exhibit. There is an area dedicated to U2 fans (zines, etc.) and you can sign a guest book, if you so desire (Desire, get it?? Like the song?). A woman (inexplicably, in her twenties) yelled, Mom, you have to read what people wrote! This stuff is hilarious!! Bono [she pronounced like Chers husbands name], I love you, will you marry me? Thats nuts!. Shut up lady, it came from my heart! If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday was heaven, OHare airport on Sunday was hell (I had to fly though there from Cleveland). Apparently, when scattered showers hit Chicago, all remaining humanity and kindness goes out the window, and chaos reigns. After being put on two flights that were subsequently cancelled, I was given a standby ticket for the last flight to Minneapolis that night. As a consolation, or additional kick in the ass, depending on you outlook, I was guaranteed a seat on a flight leaving Monday afternoon and given a discount coupon for a hotel. When I asked where I could get my bag for my impending unplanned for overnight in Chicago, the gate agent finally looked up at me, laughed, and muttered good luck. I mercifully landed a seat on that last flight, (leaving at 11pm) and got the hell out of hell. The cherry on top was the earache the flight gave me to remember it by. But as I finally got to my bed at 2am, I could not have cared less I was home!! Anyway... I'm never leaving Minnepolis again. It was a nice run. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | HAL has that glow about her... By Duf Fer Pandylandaz (don't hate) and devoted readers, Hal is back in the office and she has that special glow about her. Sure, she may be pregnant (there is no trick to getting her pants off, NO TRICK!), but really I think it has something to do with the everlasting high of going to Cleveland and seeing the U2 exhibit at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame (where visitors are advised to use their AAA discount - it's spendy). Alternatively, it could be a Burt Reynolds thing. Yours, Duf |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | Comics I'm addicted to urlLink this guy's web comic. I don't remember how I stumbled on it, but I read the first one, then went immediately to the archives to read all of his other strips. I swear, if I could draw half as well as he does, I'd 86 this blogging thang and do a web comic/journal-type thing. Genius. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,August,2003 | Flavored Pop and Friday 5 Duf, it's funny you mentioned that brand of soda pop. I moved last Thursday, and hired 3 large AfAms to help me out. Because it was a hot day, I asked them what I could get them to drink. I offered them my good imported beer, but they insisted on something else: Tropical Sprite Remix. They love(d) the stuff. To them, it was delicious. Duf, you must have more sophisticated tastes. All and all the move went well (other than the fact that they sent the elevator down with ALL OF MY SHIT - no one went down with it, some a-hole on the 4th floor called the elevator, and my stuff all fell out - but only a few things broke). I can't wait to be in Minneapolis, but I'm not looking forward to moving again. Oy. Now, on to the business... 1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings? I try to aim for 7am, but usually don't get my ass out of bed until 7:30-7:45. It's pretty nice working for a NYC-based company, cuz the hours are 9-5. I usually roll in about 9:15am. 2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late? It's hard for me to sleep past 8am, unless I was drinking heavily the night before. Visiting Lee Jeans makes sleeping in virtually impossible. He gets up at 5:30am during the week and is a real go-getter on weekends too - he insists on getting up, getting coffee, and reading the paper by 7am. What the hell? Needless to say, I can barely keep my eyes open right now. 3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning? Turn on music that makes me smile, turn on my computer to check my e-mail, and/or listen to NPR for the weather and quick news report. 4. How long does it take to get ready for your day? On the weekends I can get out in 10 minutes if I don't shower. During the week, I can take up to an hour if I take my sweet time. 5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast? The Bagel on Broadway - it's just down the street from me and is the best Jewish deli in town. No matter what time of the day, they put pickles and challah bread on your table. Nothing like pickles and coffee to cure a hangover on a Saturday morning. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 01,August,2003 | What's the Story Morning DJS? 1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings? Usually around 6:30am. It all depends if DJ LZ (who gets up earlier than me) brings Nigel upstairs and tosses him on the bed. If he scampers around and pounces on my face (which he did this morning, the son of a bitch) its quite a bit earlier. 2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late? I don't tend to sleep in on the weekends. I'm one of those people that think no one needs more than 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. I stay up late and get up early. But, if I were to sleep in late, it's generally not any later than 8:00am or so. I'm going to sound like a macho Navy-SEAL dick here, but: You can sleep when you're dead. 3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning? Groan, piss, moan. 4. How long does it take to get ready for your day? Usually, if I need to do the full-meal deal (shit, shower, shave) it'll take me a little longer. On a typical day, I'm out the door in about 20 minutes or so. That is, of course, if I don't dilly-dally. Me? No... 5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast? I'd say Jamba Juice if there was one on the way to work. Typically, I don't stop for breakfast. I know it's the most important meal of the day (blah, blah, blah) but I usually don't have the time. I am a big fan of McDonald's breakfast, though. Dee-licious. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 01,August,2003 | Not Such a Bad Friday Five By Duf Fer 1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings? It really varies. I have an alarm clock (her name is TinyE) and she goes off at inconsistent times. Usually it is between 6:00 and 7:00. 2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late? No, my alarm clock does not recognize weekends. I used to sleep in until like 8. Sometimes I get up super early (5:30) and play golf. 3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning? Void. 4. How long does it take to get ready for your day? It varies, sometimes I surf the web and that extends my prep time. It usually takes me about 30 minutes. It takes me another 30 minutes to get TinyE ready. 5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast? It's a three way tie: McDonald's (multiple locations), The Highland Grill (St. Paul) and The Louisiana Cafe (St. Paul). |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 01,August,2003 | I Don't Like the Sprite in Me The other day, I had a bottle of Tropical Sprite Remix (no, I'm not making that name up). You'd think I would like it. As an American Negro, I really connect to Sprite products generally (all their ads are targeted right toward urban blacks (of which I am both)). And, for those of you who don't know it, my people luvs them some flavored pop. If you've ever wondered who buys strawberry or orange or grape pop, its AfAms, baby, its AfAms! But I digress... Tropical Sprite Remix is the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth, and I am a cigar smoker, so that's saying something. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 30,September,2003 | Moving Woes When I think about the possibility of moving again, I need to remember where I made mistakes the last time around. Word to the wise: don't let your parents unpack your stuff. Sure they're helpful, but maybe a little too over-zealous in getting it all unpacked right away. 2 problems I encountered: 1) Mom & Dad unpacked my entire kitchen and it took me a good week to find out where everything was. I couldn't eat cereal for a couple days because I couldn't find my bowls. 2) I let Mom unpack my books, and she found urlLink this . Since my mom would never believe that her little angel would buy such a thing on her own, I just blamed it on my crazy Minnesota friends, telling her it was bought for me as a 'gag gift'. Sorry HAL and BB. I panicked and sold you down the river. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 26,September,2003 | It's good to know urlLink family values are still alive and well in America. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 26,September,2003 | It's getting cold in here. So put on extra clothes. I am gett-ing so cold I'm going to put more clothes on! With a little bit of hot tea And a little bit of coff-ee Let me read your mem-o With a little bit of hot tea And a little bit of coff-ee When you're done letmeknow |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 25,September,2003 | We'll settle all this over a burrito tomorrow. I gotta get on the road bee-atches. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | Just gross. Last night I took a certain New Jersey-based client out for drinks. Upon leaving the bar (around midnight), said client exclaimed, 'Ewww! There is an old guy making out with a girl in that car' and pointed out the car behind us. I looked over and caught a haggard-looking man who seemed to be around 70, smooching on a woman who was probably in her mid-twenties. I'm glad I wasn't eating at the time. I can only surmise that she was a prostitute, but the vehichle, woman, and location did not provide the context in which I would expect to stumble across someone turning a trick. That said, I don't think those two were exactly dating. As my companion pointed out 'oooohh, I think she's really drunk'. Ewwww! And you think Bob is a slut? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | The Debate, Settled By Duf 'The Judge' Fer I have to side with Panda. If she has a crush on David Hasselhoff, that's her business. I do find it odd that he is now going by Bob, but it is plain to me that the man pictured there is none other than the star of such hit shows as Knight Rider, Baywatch, and Baywatch Hawaii. Glad to lend a hand, Duf' |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | Panda - I know nothing about Bob, other than his dumb name and haircut, but considering he's on a show as daft as The Bachelor only stirs the embers of my dislike for the clown. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about imperfections. Some of the celebrities I've got crushes on are sometimes a bit out there. (Christina Ricci, Gina Gershon, Bea Arthur) But Bob just has one of those faces (from what I've seen) that you just want to punch and mash into paste. You know? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | The Man of my Dreams by Panda 'Ive Dated All Types' Bear Now, I'm not saying I know much about Bob Guiney. I admit I probably have gotten sucked into the media hype surrounding him, but there's a reason so many girls think Bob's the ideal man (or at least seems to be). He's not perfect. Not even close. He's clumsy, sensitive, and hilarious. He's divorced. He has a goofy haircut. He doesn't have tons of money. This makes him seem accessible to most girls out there. When a middle-of-the-road woman looks at a man like Bob, she probably thinks 'Hey, even I'd have a chance with that guy.' On the other hand, all the other Bachelors in the past were the exact opposite. They were rich, arrogant, too-good-looking clowns that were just looking for a hot piece of ass. Why would the majority of the women out there be attracted to that? Just cuz they have better haircuts? In my opinion, it's someone's imperfections that make him or her lovable. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | Panda - That guy was the man of your dreams? With that stupid haircut? And his name is Bob, for chrissakes... Jesus, I'll never understand broads. Confoundedly, DJS |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | Here we go again... Yet another season of The Bachelor has started. I thought urlLink Bob Guiney was the man of my dreams until they showed scenes from upcoming shows. You see him sticking his tongue in just about all 15 girls' mouths. Bob, you're a slut. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,September,2003 | Huh. I read that NY Times review, and any similarities are merely coincidental. I would also like to add that Lost in Translation is a really, really good film. I hope I didn't read that somewhere. :) |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 22,September,2003 | Moonlighting To read more of Panda's review of Lost in Translation, visit the urlLink Reviews section - New York Times. She writes under the pseudonym 'Elvis Mitchell.' Panda, you could have told your fellow Pandylandahz the real reason for your trips to New York...it's a pretty sweet gig! ;) |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 22,September,2003 | Everyone Wants to Be Found BB, I happened to catch that one a couple weeks ago. Bill Murray may get an Academy Award for this film since he didn't get one for Rushmore ...but his humor came through differently here than in his other movies. He perfected his sarcastic-lounge-singer-shtick on SNL, however during the most memorable scene of Lost in Translation , he sings a karaoke version of 'More Than This' with absolutely no condescencion. The electric chemistry between Scarlett Johansson's character and Murray's is also cemented during this scene. No doubt, anyone who sees this film will get lost in it. On a very different side of things, I saw urlLink The Magdalene Sisters last weekend. This movie is a fierce expose of Ireland's Magdalene laundries (which detained more than 30,000 morally 'wayward' women to labor indefinitely in convent purgatories, until the last was shut down in 1996). There were some horrific scenes in this movie that were just inexcuseable, driving home the director's obvious anger over this shameful blight in the Church's history. My feeling upon leaving the theater: sadness and a contempt towards the religious figures of my own faith that could have allowed this to happen. But this sort of thing has happened throughout history - women being proscecuted for being 'temptresses' to men. Maybe it's not the religion that's to blame; perhaps we should blame the men (and women) who went along with it without questioning their own moral implications. One movie you should NOT go see: urlLink Once Upon a Time in the Midlands . It's slow and not funny. Not even worth reviewing. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 22,September,2003 | HAL & I saw a movie this past Saturday, which we could both highly recommend. Check out urlLink Lost in Translation - well worth the money & time. Bill Murray is fantastic and the movie was just so real-life, I couldn't help but relate to both main characters. Really, really good film. :) |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 22,September,2003 | My Sports Fantasy Come True By Duf Fer This weekend: The KU football Jayhawks won. The U of M football Gophers won. The Twins swept the Tigers. The Royals bested the White Sox. The KC professional footballers won. The Minnesota Vikings won. But it gets better The K-State Wildcats lost and so did the Packers! This must be just like livin in paradise. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 19,September,2003 | Hey Panda - count me in on the Friday night fun! As for Sunday, I can't get drunk. Must be lucid for the Sunday night season 3 premier of Alias! Ow!! BTW, are Two Tickets playing? I could use a Styx fix... |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 18,September,2003 | News Flash PBJ3? or is it 4? I can't keep track. I will be in the TC on Sept 26 - Sept 29th. How about Country Bar on Friday night? I know BB is busy, but are the rest of ya? BB, don't be sad...I'll help you move on Sunday. Not as fun as the PBJ, but we could still get drunk? Holy O'Friday, friends! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 18,September,2003 | BB Boom Boom on the PP By Duf 'So Proud' Fer This morning, my little angel, mimmicking her father, disrobed, sat on her little poddy and, after bearing down, produced solid waste. I expressed happiness but did not over do it. I thought about yelling at her. See, some interpret Freud to say that scaring a child while he or she is using the bowl will produce an adult obsessed with neatness. Rewarding a child in that posture, will produce an adult who tolerates messiness and disorder. Happy Friday! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 18,September,2003 | This from my Concert Friend Who is One Sharp Cookie By Duf Fer ...in my opinion, the fact that we sat down for about 1/4 of the REM songs wasn't a reflection of us, but rather the songs. You really can't rock out to Nightswimming or Everybody Hurts. I'd say even 20 year olds would sit down during ballads. I also think in Minnesota, perhaps more than in other states, there is definitely a herd mentality. People stand up if others stand up and don't if they don't. I'm definitely included in that, myself. I feel a great deal of social pressure not to stand if the people around me, especially behind me, aren't standing. That was true 15 years ago and it was true Tuesday. I remember years ago going to concerts and wondering why no one was dancing. I do think a younger crowd is more likely to stand because young people are more self-absorbed than others. But no one sat during any of the Fleetwood Mac concert and as we've discussed, that was the very definition of yuppy concert. I don't think there was much sitting during the Paul McCartney concert, but I can't say for sure. I do remember there was a jackass talking loudly during a lot of it, which was VERY annoying! I think she is right. I feel that song selection was an energy drain, and R.E.M. has its share of ballads that really play well on enduring albums and can be fine in concerts. They have enough up tempo rocking tunes to keep things high too. I also feel pressure to sit if the people behind me aren't standing. I once had my life threatened at an Indigo Girls concert... |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 17,September,2003 | Thats weird. Today I folded and called the cable company to request hook-up. Lest you think Im frivolous, I signed up for the most basic service (less than $10/month) so that I can get decent reception (I cant watch The O.C. in black and white with snow, yo). I have guilt over all the DVDs I havent gotten around to watching, books I havent read, fresh air I havent had, and I think going without Comedy Central will open up about 17 hours in my week. Anyway, I spoke with Glen (who was very helpful), and curiosity got the best of me. I had to ask what the various levels of cable-dom would bring me. Apparently, there are 3 levels of basic cable (wisely called 1, 2 and 3). Im getting the first option. Glen explained what channels are available for each option and when he mentioned Fox News (part of option #3, FYI), he editorialized that, if you like news, thats a really good channel. Uhhh, thanks Glen, but Im doing just fine without Bill OReilly right now. Point of the story is this I get nervous around people that are enthusiastic about Fox News. Its one of my more recent phobias. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,September,2003 | Satisfactory in St. Paul By Duf Play Orange Crush, Damnit Fer Last night, at the R.E.M. show, I found myself thinking a lot about the event as a description of my demographic. The American middle class, ages 30 to 40, largely white (your humble author excluded), largely educated, largely interested in staying in touch with the side of self that rocked from time to time. What became apparent is that time has worn away our ambitions; we have aged with our performers. Michael Stipe and the gang came out and started off with three energy filled and older R.E.M. standards (I should look them up, but Im at work and need to hurry this along). Stipe was a whirlwind of energy dancing and throwing his arms, jumping and cavorting. He talked about his penis. But as the show continued on, his energy lagged. The overall energy lagged. Concert energy is a weird symbiotic thing. One can get bogged down in wondering whether the band creates the energy and the crowd feeds off of it, or whether the crowd creates the energy and the band feeds off it. Most would acknowledge that both the band and the crowd have the ability to create and kill a good vibe. The best shows are those where the two work together to create a phenomenal energy (see, e.g. the Pearl Jam show at the Xcel Energy Center this past June). Last night, in St. Paul, a great concert was made good by a lack of energy (HAL and Panda will recall our Coldplay show in Chicago where the band showed up to rock, but the fans did not). As I analyze what depleted the energy last night, what Im left with is the following: R.E.M. by its set selection, failed to follow a pattern that promotes an energetic response. For my money, the best concerts follow one of three formulas. Formula one: The concert starts kind of low (slower tempo song that scream warm up) and finishes high leaving an emotional peak at the end. This is one of my favorite models. The band knows their entrance is good for 15 minutes worth of energy, use that to play slow and low. Formula two: or, what I call the inverted bell curve: bands start high, bring things down a bit and then finish high again. Not a personal favorite, but I have seen it done very well. Formula three: is the (extremely difficult and rarely pulled off formula) of starting high and staying high all night. Bands that hope to pull this off need to draw on a number of things: a selection of up tempo rocking songs that they can play for two hours, a crowd that will, with them, keep things at a fever pitch, and an emotional hook (the loss of an important person to the band, or a homecoming, a reunion show, or a retirement show, anger, glee, drugs (not kidding) something, anything). Last night, R.E.M. followed what I call the EKG model where they vacillated to closely between up tempo songs and down tempos songs. Any D.J. worth a turntable investment will tell you there is a value in having some connection (in tempo or in theme from one song to the next). The EKG model is not conducive to good energy. At one point I felt like I was at mass. Sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up. Second, Stipe talked too much. I know that concert conversations can build intimacy, and his stories were great, but if cutting the comments in half would have allowed a couple of more songs (like, oh, say Orange Crush), I think we all would have been better off. Third, they did not play Orange Crush. Fourth, the show was not sold out that can keep a band flaccid like nothing else. In the age of $75 dollar tickets, it is clear that the stakes are higher. Concertgoers are right if they expected the band to do most of the heavy lifting. I also suspect that there is actuarial methodology around the benefits of having a nearly sold out show at $75 per seat instead of a sold out show at $50 per seat. While it is not egalitarian, my thought is that tiered pricing is the way to go it allows your fans to come without being limited by income restrictions. Sure, its yucky that those who have more money to spend can get better seats, but at least more people can go. In any event, the show was not sold out, and I think that contributed as an energy drain. Fifth, to dovetail on my opening comment, I think our beloved band, and its beloved fans, are part of a demographic that desperately wants to rock and truly wants to go all night long, but just cant do it. My concert friend (as my brother in law calls her) are thirty somethings, and we danced all night at Pearl Jam, but I think we were inspired by our younger co-goers who have the metabolism to rock non-stop. Without them last night, we were not ashamed to sit from time to time. But about my demographic: we have to recharge our Starbucks card, we have schedule maintenance for our traction control cars, and we have a spreadsheet due right after our 9:00 conference call. Like many of the folks at the concert last night, we want to think we can stand up for two hours of great rock and roll, but instead, our default setting is to sit for fine entertainment. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,September,2003 | Sick & Demented? urlLink or just a plain geek ? I got 7/10...can you do better? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,September,2003 | Been trying to obey Duf's 'no hating' mandate all day, but I'm spent. Not hating is tough work. Have fun, Duffy. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 15,September,2003 | I am, I am, I am Superman and I Know Whats Happenin By Duf Ive Been There I Know the Way Fer Tonight I am going to the R.E.M. show at the Xcel Energy Center (dont hate). Ticket price: $75 Ticketmaster markup: $215 Shipping fee: $10 Handling: $17.50 Now, for you younger Pandylanders, R.E.M. is an alternative rock and roll group. Rock and roll is a style of music that Duf listened to when he was your age. R.E.M. started in the late 70s in a town called Athens in a state called Georgia. While they have had many hit records, it could never be said that they are as popular as Brittney Spears or Justin Timberlake or anything. R.E.M. has a site where you can request songs for them to play tonight. I requested: Orange Crush from the controversial album Green 'Follow me, don't follow me: I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush.' Cant Get There from Here from the album Fables of the Reconstruction (certified Duf Platinum) 'When your world is a monster, bad to swallow you whole...' Saturn Return from their latest LP, Reveal 'Easy to poke yourself square in the eye, harder to like yourself, harder to try...' I will have a full review tomorrow. Yours, Duf |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 15,September,2003 | I Like the Soap Especially if it's Aveda...my collection increases by 3 this week since I'm in NYC through Thursday. God help me if I get stuck here because of the hurricane. I went to a brand new all-you-can-eat Sushi/Teriyaki restaurant last night. It was fabulous, but I think I overdosed on shrimp cocktail. We were the only Westerners in the place, so the food must have been pretty authentic. It's also fashion week in NY, so there are a lot of skanky looking model-types walking around. Robert and I saw one woman last night who had barely any clothes on except these weird, pajama-style flowy pants. She looked like MC Hammer's back-up dancer. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 15,September,2003 | I'm a Freak By Duf Fer Current status of my hotel lotion bottle collection: 17 bottles. Don't hate. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 12,September,2003 | We All Mourn in Our Own Way I may not have listened to much Johnny Cash in my day, but I do really like Bob Dylan, and from the little I know about Johnny, I'd say the two are fairly similar. They both have a huge male following, both write amazing lyrics (need I refer to my favorite Bob song, 'To Make You Feel my Love'), both have a dark side, and both have/had so-so voices. Also, the influence they both have on other musicians says a lot about their great talent. So I thought I'd mourn in my own way today at noon, by heading over to the urlLink H & M grand opening on Michigan Ave. The Midwest has needed this store for a while now, and it's finally here. You'd think I was in line with 12-year-old girls going to an N'Sync concert the way people were pusing, shoving, and carrying on. When they finally lifted the rope for me and my friend Kellie, we had to rush in and grab the first things we saw. There was no trying anything on, so I just nabbed a purse, bought it, and said good-bye to Kellie. She actually took the whole day off of work just to shop there today. What women do for cheap couture fashion. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 11,September,2003 | Duf...wow. That's easily the best thing about him I've read all day today. I was just telling a cubicle neighbor about why I like ol' Johnny Cash so much. You nailed it. If I were ever a musician, I'd totally want you to write my liner note thing-y for my CD. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 11,September,2003 | I Hang My Head and Cry By Duf Fer I am an alcoholic. I am a drug addict. I am a homosexual. I am a genius. -Truman Capote Im an artist, a poet, a genius, I know it. I dont buy cheeba, I grow it. -Adam Yauch The man in black is dead. I learned of it this morning while getting ready for work. If you dont understand Johnny Cash (my wife does not understand Johnny Cash. When I play his music, she groans audibly. I wont put her down for that. Johnny Cash is not the most easily appreciated musician of all time. He does not sing exceptionally well (and never really did). He is not exactly Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix with the guitar (though his gifts are ample). There is much about his life that is not glamorous or enviable. But if you dont understand Johnny Cash), if you dont get why he is so admired, then you owe it to yourself to try to understand him. He is one of the best songwriters this country has produced. He recorded music for almost fifty years. He is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a gospel musician. If you did a graph of the people he inspired and the people they inspired and the people they inspired, you would get all the way from Johnny Cash to Jack Johnson, and you would touch hundreds of artists in between. Justin Timberlake was apparently raised on Johnny Cash. The man in black was extraordinarily creative. Along with his wife, June Carter Cash, he recorded the hit song Ring of Fire which is about a couples love but is derived from a term that every birth mother knows quite well. By tying the two concepts together, the song asks what you would go through to create something meaningful. If there is a more succinct statement of the cost of love, I dont know what it is. Ring of Fire is also an apt description of the creative process or, at least, Johnny Cashs creative process. As further testament to his creativity, he recorded songs by Sound Garden and by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and made them his own. I adore Nine Inch Nails, but they will never own Hurt again; when Johnny Cash sings the needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting, somehow it becomes so much more powerful. Johnny Cash wrote books and studied the bible. He won a lot of Grammys and admiration in both Nashville and New York City. Hell, earlier this month he was nominated for 7 MTV video music awards. Johnny Cashs love for June Carter was so profound and sincere, it compelled him to quit drugs and drinking and turn to Jesus. He prayed daily and sincerely, but he would also kick your ass if you needed it. Every man should aspire to be like Johnny Cash; every woman dreams of taking a rebel hell-raiser like him and converting him into a family man. Though it is wrong of me to write it (I never met the man and cannot claim to know him). I wonder if asked to describe himself, like Truman Capote did, like Adam Yauch did, I wonder if Johnny Cash might not say that he was: An Alcoholic A drug addict A felon An asshole An infidel A divorcee A sinner A veteran A musician A songwriter A husband An uxorious husband A father A Christian A poet, and A genius So this morning, when I heard the news that Johnny Cash was dead, I thought about a couple of his own words. His words about love for his wife June: I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds... Because youre mine, I walk the line. For his love, he walked the line. Words are limited. Actions are too, but much less so than words. Songs about actions backed up by a life thats powerful and profound. Profound like his words about mortality: I hear the train a comin Its comin round the bend Then, of course, theres the gospel standard that the Carter Family made famous, but that Johnny Cash also recorded: I was standing by my window On one cold and cloudy day It was so fitting to learn that this great American Icon is gone on a cold and cloudy morning. R.I.P. Johnny Cash. [May] the circle be unbroken |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 11,September,2003 | I'm Dyin' Here! Have you heard the 'Real' Bud Light commercials on the radio? urlLink Here's a list of all of them! Fun for hours! (at least that's how long I've been laughing...) My faves: Mr. Bowling Shoe Giver Outer Mr. Souvenir Snow Globe Maker Mr. Edible Underwear Maker Classic. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | Speaking of small pleasures... urlLink This t-shirt is great. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | It's the Small Pleasures in Life So y'all might have read or even heard my complaints about my job. There are definite downsides to where I work: the constant travel, bitchy/demanding clients, horrible management, mediocre pay, impossibility for advancement...but I digress. There are upsides too: I almost ALWAYS leave the office by 5 (except for the days I'm traveling 'til 9pm), I get to play whatever music I want at whatever volume (unless Robert is on a conference call; then he gets pissed), sometimes we play cards or have arguments about religion or politics for hours on end without disruption from our bosses, Thirsty Fridays, and making fun of our weird co-worker J who always screws us during happy hour by ordering about 5 Chivas on the rocks and then splitting the whole bill 4 ways. But today is great. Today we finally got our phone headsets in the mail. You know, the hands-free headsets call center people usually wear. I feel like I need to call up someone and make a huge deal, all while making very dramatic hand gestures. I've been calling everyone I know, just to 'test it out.' Maybe I'll call Hal next. She loves to get calls at work. Or my brother, who I try to make laugh just because he sits next to one of the Presidents of the bank. Hands-free = good times. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | Closed Circuit to Duf... GO HOME. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | There are some things that I shouldn't read. I should just scan the headline and move on. urlLink This is one of them. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | A Little Griping By Cranky Duf' Last night, I caught a red eye in San Francisco (11:50) to come back to Minnesota (8:30 after the connection in Chicago) for a meeting with both of my bosses (one of whom was flying in from NY). I adore my bosses and feel quite fortunate to report to them. My NY boss, who could rival Panda for frequent flyer miles, is a bit of a fraidy cat when it comes to air travel. Anyway, he cancelled the trip and did not tell me. He claims he cancelled because the fare was too high (which is about like DJS cancelling because the Bjork show was too long of a car trip). But I think it is a 9-11 thing. That tragedy hit him really hard. Anyway, had he given me a head's up, I would have taken an alternate flight (there was one at 6:00 a.m. PST today, and another one at 2:30 PST - I could have worked a full day in San Fran and come home at a reasonable hour - alright, I could have done some tourist-y things instead of working and still come home at a reasonable hour). Instead I am at my desk and so tired that my whole body hurts. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | By Popular Request...(okay, just Bass Babe) Hiya kids. Been a long time since I rapped at ya. What's new? Well, let's see... - I finished the 3rd draft of my 2nd book. It's now available for people to read (no pressure, friends). I've been working my proverbial ass off for the last year (with a couple months off here and there) to get it done and it finally is! Now I'll give myself a breather before I start the whole process again. - Tonight I start my secondary career as an on-call firefighter/EMT. Well, tonight is my orientation, anyway. Turns out that there were 50 candidates and I'm one of 7 that made it this far. Cra-zy. I expect I'll have some interesting posts in the months to come. Stay tuned, Pandtastics! - I'm going to golf for the first time in my life on Saturday. I imagine it will also be my last itme golfing as well. I was cornered by some friends here at work and told it'll be fun and that it doesn't matter if I suck, since it's a best-ball challenge. Snick here at work claims I may just have a wicked 'short game.' What the hell does that mean? Also, I don't know if I play right or left handed. I'm not kidding. - Item! Anyone else stoked to see 'Once Upon A Time In Mexico?' Really? I'm the only one? Well, it's got Salma Hayek in it, plus lots of guns. It...can't...miss....! - I haven't been able to fight space aliens after the loss of Stoner in outer space combat. The academy has been calling for months, but I just can't seem to get it together and take to the stars as of late. Hopefully, this will change and I'll be able to save the universe again. - We're working on a video here at work. I wrote the script and cast over 24 people to appear in it, including our very own HAL. I even have a small cameo. If we get together for a Pandyland Burrito Jamborree 4, we might have to screen it before the boozin' and singing commences. Whattaya say? Okay...that's going to do it for me. Until next time, keep your pants on and keep reaching for the chips! Delicious chips, that is. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | C'mon Pandies! I want to see some posts out of you. We haven't heard from DJS in quite some time...hope he isn't off fighting space aliens. Please come back Captain DJS! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 10,September,2003 | urlLink This is a strange mix between 'Where's Waldo?' and the pictures that were circulating of that guy on top of the Twin Towers after Sept 11th. I like urlLink Picture #37 the best. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 09,September,2003 | Let Us Join in the Fight ...against those scumbags who take and take and take from the urlLink RIAA . This organization is going after those most dangerous: grandparents, unemployed people & children because the music industry cd sales are down. Interesting how the RIAA hasn't shed light on the fact that cd's are frickin' expensive [read: overpriced] and the economy has been in the toilet the last few years. Here's some funny articles & site about the 'plight' of the RIAA: urlLink The Register urlLink Corporate Mofo urlLink Boycott the RIAA |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 08,September,2003 | While TinyE eats her pb sandwich... ...I will eat crow. Damn Vikes. It's not that they played exceptionally well, the Packers just sucked balls. Big time. We got to the Lambeau parking lot by 8:30 AM . Mom thought it was way too early for grilling out, so what is the next best alternative for early morning tail-gating? Quiche of course! My little brother was not pleased about eating his slice of spinach quiche next to some Viking fans eating double cheeseburgers and fresh corn on the cob boiled in a garbage can (now that was hardcore). But it was great to see a game at Lambeau again. Heaven on earth, friends. Oh, and my 'rents met Lee Jeans. I think they liked him... |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 05,September,2003 | Yo, Where You At? Hey Pandies...it's long lost Bass Babe. Where have you been Bass Babe? one might ask. Well, I've also been suffering from the Blogger Blues and haven't felt like posting while I sort out my Jerry Springer-esque personal life. It's been a tough couple months but I think I've finally reached the clearing. No one has stolen my bike and I have a new gig to look forward to this evening. ;) (Shout out to Duf Fer!) So here's the Friday Five comin at 'ya. 1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? Dishes. I have a dishwasher, but I even hate doing the minimal dishwashing like when I cook something in a big pot. I also dislike unloading the clean dishes into their respective cabinets or drawers. Laundry also ranks up there because it's time consuming. 2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? I don't mind vacuuming and cleaning out my closet of all the clothes I don't wear anymore. I just did this recently and it was pretty great to downsize by 7 grocery bags full of clothing! 3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? Just clean as needed. 4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? Nothing odd. Just make sure the kitchen is clean. 5. What was the last thing you cleaned? My bathroom and kitchen before I went out of town last weekend. I, like Panda, enjoy coming home to a clean apt. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Hal, I'll have you know I cleaned my bathroom floor this morning with Scope. Oh wait, my bad...actually, that was Billygoat before we were engaged, when I told him I wouldn't come over to his place unless his bathroom was cleaned. Desperate measure for sure, but where was the logic? That shit was sticky for weeks. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Very timely. With the recent move, Ive been cleaning a lot, and having conversations with others about cleaning. During the course of one conversation, I realized that there is always one weird cleaning thing that someone likes doing (and everyone else hates). It was decided that several people should get together and go to each others homes and execute the task that we each enjoy doing. The theory was that everyone would be simultaneously be happy and clean. Ill report back with the results. 1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? Clearing clogged drains hate it. I also dislike dusting and vacuuming, but hate is too strong a word. 2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? Alright heres my weird cleaning thing I like cleaning dead bugs from light fixtures. Sorry, but I cant help it. I also dont mind doing laundry (including putting clothes away), unless I need clean clothes and I dont have time for laundry. 3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? No routine. But I am tidy. 4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? Not really. Before I go to bed, I like to straighten up (If Ive done the dishes, I make sure they are put away), but I dont know if that falls into odd territory. It's not like I clean my bathroom floor with mouthwash... 5. What was the last thing you cleaned? Last night I finally put my bed together and spent my first night in the new place (!!!). I cleaned the bedroom floor, and my parents graciously helped me dispose of the boxes and packing materials that took up my entire main room. Finally, I'd just like to say that I think the strong arm of the law came down on Phil because he didn't sell patriotic baked goods. Just my $0.02. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Best Album I've Gotten In A While Friends, I can't tell you how much I love the new Fountains of Wayne effort 'Welcome Interstate Managers.' Sure, you've probably heard their radio-friendly hit 'Stacy's Mom' but there's so much more to these guys that I can't even begin to tell you how much I dig this record. These guys, admittedly, are a band that knows how to have fun. That's not to say that all of their songs are about clowning around and recording tracks that are barely there in the effort to illicit laughs. Here are some sample lyrics. From 'Bright Future In Sales' - I gotta get my shit together, 'cause I can't live like this forever. You know I've come to far and I don't want to fail. I got a new computer and a bright future in sales...yeah, yeah. From 'Hey Julie' (my fav) - Working all day for a mean little man, with a clip on tie and a rub-on tan. He's got me running round the office like a dog around a track, but when I get back home you're always there to rub my back... Okay, I'm not doing any justice to them, but trust me. It's certified DJS Platinum. When Dirty and I go on roadtrips, we usually come back with a CD that was the 'Official Soundtrack of the Trip.' Fountains of Wayne won by a landslide. We played it non-stop, yo. Swing by for a listen if you're in the hizzy. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | 'When you lose a loved one to death [or to eviction], the event is ingrained in your memory for life. It is Your Story. Telling your story is the first step in healing and coming to terms with your loss.' Thank you, Duf, for urlLink telling your story . I hope it helped. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | La Morte d'Phil By Duf Fer Those of us who work in the International Plaza Building (DJS, Hal and me) have suffered a tremendous loss. Our beloved Phil, owner, manager, cashier, stock boy and conversationalist of Phil's Snack Shop, has been evicted. The Background: Phil was straight up weird, yos. He always ended any ring-up with '...is that all fer ya then?' Also, we were having an auction once, and we asked Phil for a $5.00 gift certificate, and he asked us to give him some time to think about it. The Recent Events: A couple of weeks ago, Hal and I were downstairs at our cafe. Phil had a lien notice taped to his door. It seems some chip maker sued him in small claims court seeking and obtaining a judgment against him in the astronomical amount of $275. The Sheriff posted a notice that Phil's failure to pay the outstanding amount left him subject to forfeiture of his property. Then today, I saw a sign indicating that the space that once held Phil's Snack Shop is now for rent. Our beloved Phil is gone. Is that all fer ya then? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Clean-up Friday Five By Obsessive Compulsive PB 1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? 1) Putting my clothes away. For some reason, the extra effort of hanging stuff on a hanger puts me over the top. 2) The bathroom floor. It makes me want to gag. 2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? Vacuuming is the best because it's minimal effort and makes the place look 10 times better. 3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? I usually keep things pretty tidy and picked up, but when I know I have guests coming into town for the weekend, the heavy-duty cleaning is done. It also bugs me if I know I have dishes to do, so that's something that I keep up with. 4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? The only way you can truly get a floor clean is on your hands and knees. Mops carry bacteria and just push the dirt around. I learned this from my Type A mother. 5. What was the last thing you cleaned? I made my bed, put away my laundry, and scrubbed my toilet. I'm going to be out of town this weekend, but for some reason it's always comforting to come home to a clean john. I'm weird, I know. Let me just add, the perk of staying in hotels half my life is that I don't have to clean up after myself. It's so satisfying to be able to use all the towels in the bathroom and then just throw them on the floor. Hell, I can use a towel for each body part and it doesn't even matter! Now that's living. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Friday Five By Duf 'Mr. Clean' Fer 1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? I don't like putting laundry away. I can't figure out what it is, but I have a real block there. It's horrible. 2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? I like to do the dishes. It is my favorite chore. I also like to vacuum, and I like dusting and using windex on glass and appliances. 3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? We don't really have a routine. It's just catch as catch can. We have a person who comes to help us once a week and she does all the heavy lifting (bathroom, floors, etc.). 4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? I am kind of fierce when it comes to scrubbing dishes, and I prefer hand washing to a dishwasher. 5. What was the last thing you cleaned? Last night I vacuumed to help fight cat hair - my new favorite babysitter has a cat allergy, and I want to help keep the dander down. This morning, after returning home from taking TinyE to daycare, I did the dishes and took some recycling out. I also made the bed. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 04,September,2003 | Mark Your Calendars for the 21st By Duf Fer (Roadie) The new Strokes album Room on Fire hits stores later this month. I just heard one of the tracks, and it's there baby, it's there. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 03,September,2003 | We All Walk Around with Thresholds By Dinosaur Duf Fer Here is the deal with me and the Violent Femmes. I think we are all allotted a maximum quantity of things in our life. We walk around everyday with a riding-a-bus threshold, a chick-flick ceiling, and a visit-to-the-mall cap. Everyone's threshold is different. For example, DJS's mayonnaise threshold is comically low, while my french fry limit is almost inexhaustible. My mother will not eat a hot dog, no matter what - she had to live on them when she was a poor college student, and she maxed out. Anyway, during my college years, I reached my Violent Femmes limit. I simply cannot hear 'Blister in the Sun' again (although, it must be written that 'American Music' is among the worst songs of all time - it ranks with 'H.W.C.' as being almost as bad as 'Paradise by the Dashboard Lights'). I have heard it 100,000 times already. It's not that I dislike the Violent Femmes, I'm sure they are just fine. It's more that I am past my limit with them. You never know when you are going to max out. It just happens. I hit my VF limit in 1987. I remember it like it was yesterday. It happened on March 15th at 10:17 a.m. I was late for my Current American Foreign Policy class, and I was drunk. My roommate Todd (late for his Comparative Lit class and stoned) took off my slightly warped LP of The Smiths' 'Meat is Murder' and put on the Violent Femmes. 'Gone Daddy Gone' was spinning on our turn table, and I realized I was done. I couldn't listen anymore. I'd maxed out. Historical note: For you younger Pandylanders a turn table is a machine that is used to play LPs (a.k.a. records). You see, before .WAV or the MP3 and before the mini disc, in fact, before the compact disc or the cassette tape, there was a music playing device called a record player. People used it to play records. You might have seen it at a club where a DJ is 'spinnin' and winnin'.' Anyway, Duf the dinosaur actually had a record player in college. As a side note, he graduated never having used a computer. That's right all of his papers were written on a typewriter, and he used the shit out of white out. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 03,September,2003 | I like it, Duf, except the first song I heard was a ditty by the Violent Femmes. I thought you hated those guys (or was it just 'Blister in the Sun')? I guess no radio station is perfect. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | My brother turned me on to urlLink this (no, it's not marijuana), and I'm totally hooked on it. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | Sorry... mine's the best. Hands down. urlLink What Is Your Battle Cry? L o! Who is that, running along the mini-mall parking lot! It is HAL , hands clutching a studded crowbar! And with a bloodthirsty roar, her voice cometh: 'This one's for you, mom! No flesh shall be spared!' Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ? created by urlLink beatings : powered by urlLink monkeys '> |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | I like this one. What Is Your Battle Cry? S printing on the tarmac, cutting down all who dare stand in the way using a piece of chainlink fence, cometh Panda Bear ! And she gives a gutteral howl: 'I'm going to transmogrify everything you hold dear!' Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ? created by urlLink beatings : powered by urlLink monkeys |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | What Is Your Battle Cry? S printing across the steppes, swinging a sharpened screwdriver, cometh Duf Fer ! And he gives a vengeful grunt: 'I'm going to smash you beyond your expiration date!' Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ? created by urlLink beatings : powered by urlLink monkeys |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | What Is Your Battle Cry? R unning on the tarmac, cutting down all who dare stand in the way using an oversized scalpel, cometh DJ Shovelpants ! And he gives a bloodthirsty howl: 'I'm going to hump you into the danger zone, then make toast!!' Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ? created by urlLink beatings : powered by urlLink monkeys |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | DJS Should Appreciate This I've recently applied for a position with a company (that will remain unnamed) in the Twin Cities. If I would get the position, I would report to a person with the last name of 'Bjork'. It's fate. Plus, how cool would it be to address my boss as 'Mr. Bjork'? I guess you'd have to be a fan to appreciate that. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | Wisco Never Sleeps This just in, from a fellow Wisco-nite we met on Friday after the Cubs game. Unfortunately, I don't remember what he looked like (give me a break, we were in the bleachers and my friends were buying the beers), but he sounds like fun. He e-mailed this note to me and the other Sconie girls I was with. Any of y'all who are in the Chicago area, should stop on by the Alumni Club on Sundays... 'That's right ladies - Wisco-Nation never lies down and takes a nap; especially on Sundays when perfection strolls out onto the field. Not everyone is perfect, not everyone can be Brett Favre. Actually, not everyone knows a lot about football. But I'm assuming that since you chosen few are from Wisconsin, you might know about a sport called football, and a team in northern Wisconsin that plays just about every Sunday through the fall. My job is to ensure that all people who enjoy viewing such a sport get the opportunity to do so in the right environment. Namely, with me and about anyone else I can scrap together in this God-forsaken state (damn FIBs). Seriously, since moving here I've trekked my ass every Sunday to the Alumni Club on Division for the games. It's a Bear hang-out, but the owner is from Wisco and plays Green Bay upstairs with the Bears downstairs. It isn't exactly the classiest bar in Chicago, but the beer is cheap, and I routinely get hammered and throw things. I've got a few people who are always there with me, and there are always a bunch of people from Wisco who will seem somewhat familiar to me since I got drunk with them 16 Sundays last year. Drop me an e-mail if you want, or just show up (by the way, I'm the guy from Guthrie's). There are many things for us to be proud of, being from Wisconsin, and none less than our ability to cheer for Green Bay in a victory, or cloud our brain so heavily with beer that we forget about the loss.' If my memory serves me right, he was the guy I took a picture with who kept making a 'W' gang-type sign with his hand and was incessantly yelling out 'go Wisco!'. I'll be the first to admit that Packer fans are obnoxious. Let's hope Lee Jeans can keep up with me and my family when we're all at Lambeau this Sunday. He has no idea what he's in for, poor thing. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | We have an epidemic on our hands. Don't you guys see? Someone (or an entire group of hatemongers) hates the Pandys, and he/she/they are stealing our bikes to get back at us. I don't have a bike to steal, but DJS and Bass Babe should be worried. Whoever this creep is, I hope he/she/they will just leave us alone!! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | Something About the Big City? Part of the reason I'm trying to escape the throngs of Chicago is because of the mistrust I have for the people around me. I've learned I can't trust those I work with, those who live in my building, the mayor (espcecially the mayor - he's a corrupt mob-boss), or even my mailman. Everytime I come home, I see a different note on the front door of my building from someone pleading to have a package returned. (Our stupid mailman puts our packages in a 'free-for-all' bin, which only encourages this stealing behavior. Moral of the story: I never have stuff shipped to my house.) I also recently saw a note on my neighbor's door that indicated it was a felony to steal a neighbor's newspaper (must be a lawyer-type). How much is a newspaper these days, $.35? What is wrong with these people? The last straw happened late last week. Someone stole my bike out of my building's supposed secure and locked underground garage. It was locked to itself, but not to anything else, so someone probably just picked it up and put it in their car. If my bike was a $2000 mountain bike, I could see why someone would want it, but it was a 1975 brown vintage Schwinn with a bent frame and shoddy gears. Maybe they really liked the Mickey Mouse bell or perhaps one can get big money for vintage bikes on the black market? Whatever the case, I hope whoever has it now is enjoying it. The thing is, I'm not mad about someone actually taking the bike. (Although there was a definite sentimental attachment to it - it was the bike my mom used when I was a baby...there used to be a baby seat on the back of it.) What bothers me is that people are that inconsiderate of other people's things. I know whoever stole it could probably afford to buy one on their own. Plus, they probably had a car, which I do NOT have. And now, I don't have a bike either. But what makes me saddest is to see posts like Duf's below, because I'm hoping when I move to the Twin Cities, I will not be surrounded by crazy, irrational behavior such as this. I tried to explain to my parents (who cursed Chicago when they were here over the weekend - they hate the traffic, lack of parking spaces, rude people, and now, especially, whoever stole my bike) that there are assholes everywhere. I'm just surrounded by MORE PEOPLE, and therefore it seems like there are substantially more assholes. I would bet the percentage of assholes in Appleton, WI is the same as in Chicago. I still can't wait to move out of this hole. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 02,September,2003 | He is Bad News/There is No Good Answer By Africanized Duf Fer It appears that we have a suspect in our garage break-in (and in the unauthorized use of our charge account). It is a family friend. Add to the list of lost items the last remaining (though microscopically small) vestiges of our innocence. Add to the list of things we have to deal with betrayal and heartbreak. He is bad news. I called the police and ratted out my friend. It is amazing how much more dishonesty and disregard hurt us when they come from the hands and words and actions of people who purport to love us. The friend is the son of a closer friend, and she is wrestling with the question of what to do. She loves her son, but she needs to get away from him. He is bad news. He lies to her more than he speaks truth to her. He steals from her. He defrauds her. He uses her love against her. She now cannot take him around her friends because he will do the same to them (he was painting our garage recently). He is bad news. She needs to simultaneously be there for him (the obligations of parenthood) and keep away from him (the obligations of tough love). There is no good answer. He is bad news. In other news, my niece is removing her eyelashes. Not a nervous habit, more like an indication of an anxiety disorder. She is 7 years old. Finally saw 'Bowling for Columbine' last night. The part that is really sticking with me: the whole business about the 'Africanized' Killer Bees. My next three messages will be shiny and happy. I promise. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 31,October,2003 | Happy Halloween, Pandies. 1. What was your first Halloween costume? It was either a tiger or a bunny. My mom made me and my brother these costumes and we each wore one or the other (we got to switch each year) until we were about 10. If you wore the bunny costume, you got pink lipstick on your nose (because all cute, little bunnies have horrible, bright pink snouts). If you were the tiger? Bring out the black eyeliner and you got yourself some whiskers. 2. What was your best costume and why? I wore a slutty nun costume freshman year of college. Mini-skirt, fish nets, low-cut body suit, and then the veil. It probably wasn't the best costume, but it definitely gave me a lot of attention. Especially from some guy at a frat party we went to who was dressed up as a priest. Of course, we had to make out... because WWJD? (I'm totally going to Level 9 of hell.) 3. Did you ever play a trick on someone who didn't give you a treat? Dumb question. Next. 4. Do you have any Halloween traditions? (ie: Family pumpkin carving, special dinner before trick or treating, etc.) Every year we would carve a pumpkin, making a huge mess in the kitchen with all the pumpkin goo. When my brother and I grew out of trick-or-treating, we would devise plans to scare the neighbor kids. One year my brother wore oversized clothes, stuffed himself with pillows, and wore a scary mask so he looked like a fake-scarecrow-type guy. He sat on the porch with the bowl of candy in his lap with a sign in it reading 'Take ONE, please.' Then our friend across the street hid next to the house with an ax. Any kid that took more than one piece (which was most of them - stealers) would get the scare of his/her life. My bro would stand up and bellow 'I SAID only ONE piece!' and would chase after them like a zombie. Then our friend would crawl army style across the lawn with the ax to get the kids from behind. One time a huge man and his daughter approached the house, with the kid in a wagon. His daughter was scared to take a piece so the dad said 'There's nothing to be afraid of, honey. He's not real.' When he went to get the candy, my bro stood up and scared him shitless. 'Hey man, that's NOT COOL. NOT COOL at all.' And he raced across the lawn with his crying daughter in the wagon. Comedy gold. 5. Share your favorite scary story...real or legend! Too busy. But here's a urlLink link . |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 30,October,2003 | No doubt on that one... Dirty Dog Duf Fer My life is rated NC-17. What is your life rated? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 29,October,2003 | Okay, so I'm lame and all I can contribute are these dumb quizzes. Sue me. My life is rated NC-17. What is your life rated? I didn't see this coming...and I swear I answered everything honestly. Weird. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 29,October,2003 | I screwed up on the cut and pasteing part, but rest assured friends, I am straight-up heaven-bound. I won't even have 20 minutes in purgatory. My favorite question? 'True or False - A pimp is a good thing to be'. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 29,October,2003 | Um I don't know what to say about this. My hedonism is catching up with me, and it's going to be a white hot after life for the ol' Dufster... The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Eigth Level of Hell - the Malebolge! Here is how you matched up against all the levels: Level Score urlLink Purgatory (Repenting Believers) Very Low urlLink Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) Low urlLink Level 2 (Lustful) Very High urlLink Level 3 (Gluttonous) High urlLink Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) Low urlLink Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) Moderate urlLink Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) High urlLink Level 7 (Violent) High urlLink Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) Very High urlLink Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) High Take the urlLink Dante's Inferno Hell Test |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 28,October,2003 | I guess I'm not as bad as I thought. The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell! Here is how you matched up against all the levels: Level Score urlLink Purgatory (Repenting Believers) Very Low urlLink Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) Very Low urlLink Level 2 (Lustful) Extreme urlLink Level 3 (Gluttonous) High urlLink Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) Very High urlLink Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) Very High urlLink Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics) Extreme urlLink Level 7 (Violent) High urlLink Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) Very High urlLink Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous) High Take the urlLink Dante's Inferno Hell Test |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 28,October,2003 | When was the last time you visited urlLink this ? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 28,October,2003 | Room on Fire, Reviewed By Duf Fer I got the new Strokes album, 'Room on Fire,' yesterday (its release date), and it is very darn good. I don't think it is as commercially viable as their debut 'Is This It?', but it is an impressive work. In my view, their technical skills are neither diminshed nor improved. They can still rock out, but they don't bring as much energy to the songs here as in the debut. I think this is intentional. They are quieting things down a bit, and just as 'Is This It' was a throwback to classic American Rock and Roll, this new piece is an extension with the lights adjusted to effect a different mood. The opening track 'What Ever Happened?' Seems like a VH1 joke disguised as a love song and is clearly the high point on the disc. 'I want to be forgotten, and I don't want to be reminded...' The low point? There really isn't one. 'Between Love and Hate' is another favorite. Overall 'Room on Fire' is a solid effort that does not topple the primacy or primal-cy of their original effort but establishes The Strokes as a band with its own distinct and wonderful sound and furthers their effort to resurrect pure American rock-and-roll. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 28,October,2003 | You Win Some, You Lose Some I was in Detroit the last couple days for work. God help Detroit-ians. That city, um...really blows. My boss is an avid gambler, so I was dragged to a casino on Sunday night. No, not the somewhat nice one across the river in Canada, but an awful hole-in-the-wall in Greektown. In fact, I think it was called the 'Greektown Casino.' It was, quite possibly, the worst casino ever. And this is coming from a girl from Wisco who's seen pretty bad casinos on Indian reservations. Granted, I'm no gambler. I headed straight for the nickel slots (in an area of the casino called 'Nickel Heaven.') My boss bellied up to the craps table and since it was obvious he had no desire to teach me the game, nickel slots were my best alternative. I was surrounded by blue-hairs, obscenely obese men, street people, and carnies. This ain't saying much, but I was definitely the most attractive person in the place. I had to ask some old ladies to show me how the nickel slot games worked - they had surprisingly complicated rules for only having nickel winnings. I won 250 nickels on a lucky pull. That's $12.50 in case you're interested. Since the smoke was really getting to me (one of the blue-hairs offered me a Parliament), and my boss was ignoring me, I thought it was time to cash out. Plus, they didn't even have free cocktails. I was lucky enough to get on an earlier flight yesterday to come home. I was excited to get out of that city ASAP. I waited by the gate (I was there about 45 minutes before flight time) and didn't hear my flight get called. All of a sudden, I saw the city change on the digital sign behind the ticket desk. I ran up there and asked what happened to the flight. 'We just closed the gate. You can't get on that flight.' 'But I had a ticket! I never heard you announce boarding!' *type, type, type* [No Apology] 'Here's a ticket for the next flight.' (3 hours later.) Now, I know I wasn't going crazy. There were other people around me that never heard them board the flight either. We were pissed. I called American today and got a $150 voucher and an upgrade to my status. It pays to be a complainer. *************** Duf, a couple things: how was the S&G show? Also, I have had the Strokes new album on my Amazon wishlist for a while and not one bite. Maybe I'll get it for Christmas? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 27,October,2003 | Maybe 'Concerned' Is a Better Word By Duf Fer I keep getting SPAM asking if I am worried about dick size. It really would not be such a big deal except that, truth be told, I am a bit worried about dick size. TMI? |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 27,October,2003 | Duf, what is a 'Tootsie' or a 'Kramer vs. Kramer'? Thanks in advance. And while we're on the topic of gratitude, thanks to BB for inviting me to my first gay Halloween party. I have enjoyed Halloween in the past, and I've also been to parties hosted by our homosexual friends. But put the two elements together, and, well... it's like Mardi Gras + Christmas x MAC cosmetics. A fun time. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 24,October,2003 | Life Without the Sun By Duf Fer Back in the days when Sun Country was operating, I could fly home to Kansas City for $89 - $119 (round trip). Now that Sun Country is gone, Northwest wants to charge $381 for the same flight. As a result, I have to drive home for Thanksgiving instead of flying. Thanks terrorists! |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 24,October,2003 | Room On Fire/400,000 New Yawkahs Can't be Wrong By Duf Fer The new Strokes disc: 'Room on Fire' is out tomorrow. Word is bond. Tonight, Mrs. Duf and I are going to the Simon and Garfunkel show in St. Paul. Simon and Garfunkel are a 'pop' duo that rose to fame in the 60's and 70's with hits like 'Mrs. Robinson' 'Sounds of Silence' and 'Bridge over Troubled Water.' One half of the duo 'Paul Simon' went on a fine solo career that included hits like 'You can Call Me Al' and 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes.' Simon and Garfunkel's songs were the soundtrack to the popular movie 'The Graduate' starring a young up and comer named Dustin Hoffman (who went on to star in such films as 'Tootsie' and 'Kramer vs. Kramer.'). S & G held a concert in New York City's fabled Central Park and 400,000 people went (it was free). Don't hate. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 24,October,2003 | I'm With DJS Getting old is a double-edged sword. I can't wait to retire. But then I can definitely wait to be put in a home to 'live' the rest of my days. Billygoat's poor grandfather is about 93 now. Whenever I ask him (BG) how his grandfather is, he says something (tragically) funny like 'well, he just had another birthday.' or 'My parents are basically waiting for him to pass away so they can finally go on a vacation.' (Grandfather lives with his parents.) The poor man seems to just keep on ticking. He has what BG's parents call 'mini-strokes' every other week. He recently had to get one of his legs amputated because of bed sores. He sometimes forgets he doesn't have this leg and takes a leap out of his chair to go to the bathroom. If I get to that point, bring me out into the backyard and take me out 'Old Yeller' style. Please. If you're bored today (like Rob and I are), check out urlLink these videos . Our favorite is 'Hey Ya.' Outkast is so great. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,October,2003 | I Don't Want To Get Old by DJ Shovelpants All right, I'm not saying I want to die soon or anything, but I really don't want to get really old...and feeble...and helpless. Last night I met up with my FTO (Field Training Officer) at the fire department to go over some stuff I missed in class on Monday (while I was rockin' with the EELS). I got to tear around town in one of the trucks (a DJS first) and go through an obstacle course we set up, open up a hydrant, spray about 500 gallons of water around, the works. It was a great night to catch up on stuff. Did it all in about an hour and a half. I got home and was about to turn around to meet DJ LZ and Darb at the local watering hole when my pager chirped: 'Station XXXX please respond to 123 Fake Address Drive for a medical emergency. 93 year old woman, vomiting, may be unconcious...' What to do? Do I go and eat chicken wings or do I head back to the station and possibly help save a life? I opted for the station. I got on the ambulance in the nick o' time and we tore off on a Code 3 (that's light and sirens). At the house, an old woman was hunched over the kitchen table with an oxygen mask on. She lived with her middle-aged plus daughter and immediately I could smell it. The smell of old age. Urine. Feces. Oldness. The woman was a withered and fragile husk of what she had once been and there was a crowd of people (police/paramedics, EMTs, us) doing all kinds of stuff for her. Because I'm still a trainee, I couldn't do much, but we loaded her onto the ambulance and I could smell that she hadn't asked to go to the bathroom. Some of the veterans in the department would call that a Code Brown. I guess it's funny when you don't smell it. The ride to the hospital was absolutely crazy. Doing 80 miles an hour, sitting around a poor old woman, who quite frankly, just wanted to die. The paramedic was asking me for help and I was almost afraid to do anything. I haven't even start EMT classes yet! 'Hand me 500 mg of sodium chlroride and tubing. When I give the signal, I'm going to need you to spike the bag, bleed it off and then hand me the needle.' Errr....right. The woman's arm was bleeding from a IV that didn't take and I was holding a piece of gauze on there. Meanwhile we're barreling toward White Bear Lake. The paramedic kept putting her hand on the old woman's head and assuring her that she was going to be okay. Oddly, I don't think she wanted to be okay. After all was said and done, we delivered her to the hospital, barely intact but alive. We talked a bit afterwards and the paramedic/cop asked me how long I'd been on. When I told her a little over a month and a half, she just about shit. With my FTO right there, she said I 'worked well under pressure.' Cool. But still...I don't want to get old. If I'm looking like I'm ready for the dirt nap. Just let me go, man... |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,October,2003 | I Can't Get Out of this City Quick Enough I've found myself profiling everyone I walk past in my neighborhood because of urlLink this . Each of these incidents has happened blocks from my house. This guy will rue the day he tries to attack me. My defense? Mace and a swift kick to the balls. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 23,October,2003 | Things to do on a Rainy Day urlLink Watch this. I saw it last night and even though it wasn't raining, the night felt cold and gloomy as I walked out of the theater. Scott Speedman (of Felicity fame) was in it (a little slice of sunshine), but other than that be prepared for feelings of peace, sadness, and inadequacy (Sarah Polley's character's strength was astounding). urlLink Listen to this. Mellow trance/ambient music from a great group out of Seattle. Even Hal liked this disc when I played it for her this past weekend. (And she can be very picky...) That's all. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 22,October,2003 | DJS, allow me to explain. Lost In Translation is a slow movie - you're not *missing* anything by walking away from it with that impression. In my opinion, it was blissfully slow. How do you convey boredom and isolation with a fast pace? You don't. While I didn't find it boring, I can see where others might. It's a quiet movie about having everything and nothing, being alone in a crowd, Japan, karoke, platonic love, marriage, and friendship. And Bill Murray. And fax machines. It's also an adventure movie - not in the 'Goonies' sense, but in the 'out with people you don't know, in an unfamiliar place, not knowing what the night will lead to' sense. So we will agree to disagree... I didn't find it boring. But we'll agree to agree that Bill Murray is beyond great. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | Thanks. I feel like I'm 112 years old. This aging shit is for the bird. For...the...birds. Let me throw some random stuff at you: Elliott Smith: Don't know him, didn't know him, probably won't miss him. He did some song for 'Good Will Hunting' which (the movie) was grossly overrated. Enjoy your time, El. Oops. Too late. Kill Bill Vol. 1: I thought it was fun. There were some parts I could've done without (see: Sonny Chiba scene about getting the tea) and others that I'll probably think about for some time. Yeah, it's not an important movie and one could definitely live without seeing it, but I thought it was a damn good time. (Closed Circuit to Duf: The nurse? That was Daryl Hannah) I'll take Lucy Liu any day...you know, if I wasn't engaged or what-not. Lost In Translation - Saw it Saturday night and I've took two things away from it. 1. Bill Murray is a genius. The acting was superb and I'd love to see him get a delicious nomination from his performance. 2. The movie was easily the most boring movie I've seen in some time. This must've been the pitch: Okay, so I've got this idea for a movie. Two people are stuck in Japan and they're bored. They sort of like each other because they've got a few things in common. What do you think? If I'm not getting something from this movie, go ahead and e-mail me and clear it right up. [email protected] |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | Hmmm... I guess that birthdays get less and less noted as one ages. Which means that DJS must be 112. Happy Birthday, DJS. Like the rest of Pandyland, I spent most of my weekend preparing for the Sunday gala event, only to find that he was off in Sconie. Figures. The Elliott Smith news makes the day grayer. What a way to go. And Panda, the 'Brat' stuff was our secret. Thanks. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | On a Serious Note... urlLink This makes me oh so very sad. How do I love thee, Elliott Smith? Let me urlLink count the ways . |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | Once Again Back is the Controversial By Duf 'I love DJS' Fer OK, ready? I saw 'Kill Bill, Vol. 1' and I thought it was OK just O...K... I liked it well enough, but in my view it was ice cold. There was not much warmth in it at all. I thought all the acting was good. I liked the fight scenes. The 'stylized' violence that everyone talks about was fine. I could look at Uma's butt for another hour or so at least. Even with all that though, I dunno, it's hard to explain, but Bill just left me flat. I read a review in the New Yorker (hated it) and one in the City Pages (loved it), and understood how both arrived at their different opinions. The New Yorker reviewer said that after he left, he felt nothing and even called the film crap. The City Pages mentioned the homage to Kung Fu cinema and Brian DePalma (notably the nurse scene - who IS that actress by the way?, I want to give up my current life and follow her especially if she will do that homicidal nurse bit for me) and the use of colors and angles. By the way, here is a quote from City Pages that will prove DJS right and prove me right too (just kidding, we all know critics are assholes, and only an asshole would quote an asshole to make a point): But I had no idea that Tarantino possessed the skills to sustain a near-unbearable emotional intensity at the same time. Kill Bill Vol. 1 isn't a career high: Tarantino's masterwork remains Jackie Brown, a haunting tale of careworn love buried in a pulp-novel graveyard. But in its meticulous craftsmanship and jacked-up cinephilic energy, Vol. 1 might be the most viscerally and emotionally overwhelming B movie ever made. I felt that Uma Thurman did a great job, and I am totally in love with Lucy Liu. I will see Vol. 2, but I did not think this was one of his best efforts. Opinion. DJS: That Eels show sounds like a little slice of heaven. Hal: I'm synchin' right now. Oh the joys! BB King: I miss you. Call or write. Panda: Sorry I missed your MN engagement (two nights only!). |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | It's Link Time, People. urlLink This year, I'm handing out bite-size pieces of whoop-ass . Any urlLink Stevie fans out there? Almost as freaky as urlLink another link I put up a while ago. Remember urlLink the theme to the Electric Company? (need a sound card) Hal may say her fave group is U2, but I have the inside scoop. Hal's first love is urlLink Da Brat . She's back, and better than ever. As Da Brat would say, 'It's my world and in my world, I am the best.' Word. I don't care what y'all say. I can't wait to see urlLink this movie. |
883,178 | male | 36 | Fashion | Aries | 16,October,2003 | Wow. Tough Crowd. Hey kids. Just got back from Madison, Sconie (ooh...I hate that) where I saw quite possibly one of the coolest concerts of my life. Of course, I'm talking about the EELS. Who did you think? The friggin' Eagles? Please... They played Monday night at a club called Luther's Blues which is like a cross between First Avenue and Chammps (you know, those restaurants?). Small, small venue. Just the way DJ likey. There was an opening act, DJ Honky, who is basically a side project for EELS front man Mark Oliver Everrett, also known as E. The guy was dressed like an old man who spun records and basically just smoked his pipe and stood there. Hilarious. Twenty minutes later, the EELS hit the stage. Kool G Murder on bass, Puddin' on drums, and some new guy called Chet the 3rd on lead guitar. But where was E? Coming through the crowd, riding on someone's shoulders and playing a harmonica was our lead singer. Dressed in jean jacket and tough guy glasses (which he never removed once) he took the stage and they tore through 5 songs before he even said 'Hello, Madison.' I went with my partner in crime Dirty Abbott (which makes 2 successful concert road trips this year) and we stood literally 3 feet from the Mr. E. They had set lists taped to the stage that were designed to throw people off. Namely, they didn't play a single song off the list. Classic. I scored a guitar pick and Dirty got hit in the face with a flying drumstick. He was asking for it. The EELS tore through many of my favorite cuts on their albums, including my favorite 'Mr. E's Beautiful Blues.' The smokestacks spittin' black soot into the sooty sky The load on the road brings a tear to the indian's eye The elephant won't forget what it's like inside his cage The ringmaster's telecaster sings on an empty stage Uh-huh God damn right, it's a beautiful day Uh-huh God damn right, it's a beautiful day, Uh-huh The real bonus? 4 encores, including one with the lights up and most of the crowd gone. 'Ladies and gentlemen...the EELS have left the building. Just kidding, here they are!' It's in the top 5, kids. |
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