Sunday, September 30, 2001
Subinev redesigned, and it's gorgeous. Go see it.
Garbage redesigned their website too, but it's pink and sort of ugly and the Flash version takes impossibly long to load on my fucked Internet connection. They have all of their music videos available to watch, but my connection is, again, too shit to work any of them right now. I fucking hate everything. I'm gonna turn on MTV2 and if they don't play the "Androgyny" video within twenty minutes, I'll go uptown and kill them all. It'll be good for me.
8:13 PM | e-mail |
Garbage redesigned their website too, but it's pink and sort of ugly and the Flash version takes impossibly long to load on my fucked Internet connection. They have all of their music videos available to watch, but my connection is, again, too shit to work any of them right now. I fucking hate everything. I'm gonna turn on MTV2 and if they don't play the "Androgyny" video within twenty minutes, I'll go uptown and kill them all. It'll be good for me.
8:13 PM | e-mail |
Strong introduction to Gavin Friday. I command you all to read this. What a magnificent fucking man.
Gavin Friday arrives, late, looking like a Eurotrash aesthete in his shades, cap, stubble and ponytail. He lights a cigarette and sips a cappuccino. Then he grins mischievously and opens his palm to reveal, scrawled in bold letters, the German word for art: Kunst. Friday may be here to talk about his forthcoming show on German composer Kurt Weill, but he can't resist puncturing his image with a tittering double entendre that would have shamed the Carry On team. "Everyone thinks I'm a pretentious f*****," he laughs. "But I'm not. I'm just stupid."
Via you-know-who.
6:02 PM | e-mail |
Gavin Friday arrives, late, looking like a Eurotrash aesthete in his shades, cap, stubble and ponytail. He lights a cigarette and sips a cappuccino. Then he grins mischievously and opens his palm to reveal, scrawled in bold letters, the German word for art: Kunst. Friday may be here to talk about his forthcoming show on German composer Kurt Weill, but he can't resist puncturing his image with a tittering double entendre that would have shamed the Carry On team. "Everyone thinks I'm a pretentious f*****," he laughs. "But I'm not. I'm just stupid."
Via you-know-who.
6:02 PM | e-mail |
Britain's Top Of The Pops is on its way to America. TRL's got competition. I am intrigued...
5:35 PM | e-mail |
5:35 PM | e-mail |
The Internet's back! All through the land, a cry of joy was heard. (Literally. Two girls from down the hall ran across the floor screaming "IT'S BACK! IT'S BACK!") My productivity is over (I was just about to start reading my Lit. Interp. assignment, ten poems by Marianne Moore), but I DON'T CARE. Woo-ha!
5:12 PM | e-mail |
5:12 PM | e-mail |
Apparently, it'll be a couple of days yet before the internet returns to my dorm. I'm in the Business School basement in what is clearly the shoddiest computer lab on NYU's campus. Ick. Tomorrow morning, I try very hard to get U2 tickets. Let our ulcers begin!
In any event, your link for the day: Britney Spears "too frivolous" for TV in wake of WTC attack. O...K...
12:42 PM | e-mail |
In any event, your link for the day: Britney Spears "too frivolous" for TV in wake of WTC attack. O...K...
12:42 PM | e-mail |
Saturday, September 29, 2001
Still no internet, back in the computer lab. They say it may take several days to fix. So this blog may be snoozy for a little while... whenever it's convenient for me to use a computer, I'll try to post here.
Of course, I've gotten up to all kinds of shit without my virtual womb -- don't have the mental energy or discipline to recount the events of yesterday to you now, but I already wrote it down on my laptop and will post it as soon as possible. We live in interesting times.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put my precious few minutes of computer time to good use: Looking up SimCity2000 cheat codes.
11:34 AM | e-mail |
Of course, I've gotten up to all kinds of shit without my virtual womb -- don't have the mental energy or discipline to recount the events of yesterday to you now, but I already wrote it down on my laptop and will post it as soon as possible. We live in interesting times.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put my precious few minutes of computer time to good use: Looking up SimCity2000 cheat codes.
11:34 AM | e-mail |
Friday, September 28, 2001
Sigh. As expected, no U2 presale tickets for me. After refreshing the page continually for ten minutes, I got one shot at the page with the ordering info, immediately punched in my password and number of tickets, selected "General Admission" from the pulldown menu, and clicked look for tickets -- all in about five seconds or less -- and bam, GA tickets were already gone. I tried to go back and look for any other class of tickets, but it was too late: the server was swamped and after seven or eight minutes of continuous effort, I wrote it off. No big surprise, I guess. Now I've got to try my luck with the unwashed masses... I ain't lookin' forward to that.
I'll bet you were wondering why I was up so early, eh?
So now that this little misadventure is done, the prospect of a whole day without the Internet dawns on me. It's terrifying. I literally don't know what I'll do with myself. I can read a good chunk of my school stuff, which is good, and perhaps work out some more, which is also extremely good, but then what? I don't want to spend any money right now, so that eliminates 90% of the fun in New York City, and it's cold out, so it's not even that much fun to just go take a walk or something similar. I don't know what to do. This is sad and strange and horrible, but true.
If you have any suggestions, send them to cjc259@nyu.edu -- that mailbox is on a local NYU server, so I can check it in my dorm even when the 'Net is down. Woooo.
Off to plunge into the great unknown...
9:15 AM | e-mail |
I'll bet you were wondering why I was up so early, eh?
So now that this little misadventure is done, the prospect of a whole day without the Internet dawns on me. It's terrifying. I literally don't know what I'll do with myself. I can read a good chunk of my school stuff, which is good, and perhaps work out some more, which is also extremely good, but then what? I don't want to spend any money right now, so that eliminates 90% of the fun in New York City, and it's cold out, so it's not even that much fun to just go take a walk or something similar. I don't know what to do. This is sad and strange and horrible, but true.
If you have any suggestions, send them to cjc259@nyu.edu -- that mailbox is on a local NYU server, so I can check it in my dorm even when the 'Net is down. Woooo.
Off to plunge into the great unknown...
9:15 AM | e-mail |
U2, The Who, and David Bowie on one bill? I AM SO THERE. (Led Zeppelin too, apparently, but I don't really care about them. Sorry. And a million other people.)
8:46 AM | e-mail |
8:46 AM | e-mail |
MICHELE'S GETTING MARRIED! Well, sort of. It's great news in any event. Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations! It's stupid to say "you'll be very happy together" because you already are. But still. ;-D
8:42 AM | e-mail |
8:42 AM | e-mail |
There's been a sudden spurt of activity over at New York London Paris Munich. And it's good. I must also be a whore and point out my cohorts' new work at FUCK MTV!, including Michael Jackson's "You Rock My World." Mmmm.
8:41 AM | e-mail |
8:41 AM | e-mail |
Now I'm writing from the computer lab on Washington Place. I really hate this, but there's almost no way I'm going to be able to complete my redesign if I don't have internet by this afternoon at the latest. So that might be delayed a bit, ladies and gentlemen. Sigh. Just when I was ready to get off my ass and work...
Oh well. At least I'm smarter than Miss America. (I got 7 -- stupid actresses with causes). (via After The Floods)
8:08 AM | e-mail |
Oh well. At least I'm smarter than Miss America. (I got 7 -- stupid actresses with causes). (via After The Floods)
8:08 AM | e-mail |
Thursday, September 27, 2001
I'm writing this from the computer lab at Third Ave. and 12th St., since my dorm floor is without Internet entirely right now. Technology is a lame, lame thing.
Of course, not having Internet allowed me to do many things -- shave my head, work out a little (some frankly embarassing push-ups and sit-ups, but at least it happened), and write a respectable chunk of code for the relaunch. It's nice to have the virtual pacifier pulled out of your mouth occasionally, I suppose... ain't nobody's fault but my own that I'm a 'net addict.
Funny thought of the day: My friend Jeremy and I used to know this kid named Robert Brenowitz. We had no idea what happened to him when he left our school after fifth or sixth grade (I can't remember. Maybe fourth.) We used to joke that he got trampled by buffalo. Well, one Google search by Jeremy later, and now we know. Ha ha ha ha ha... what a dickhead.
4:21 PM | e-mail |
Of course, not having Internet allowed me to do many things -- shave my head, work out a little (some frankly embarassing push-ups and sit-ups, but at least it happened), and write a respectable chunk of code for the relaunch. It's nice to have the virtual pacifier pulled out of your mouth occasionally, I suppose... ain't nobody's fault but my own that I'm a 'net addict.
Funny thought of the day: My friend Jeremy and I used to know this kid named Robert Brenowitz. We had no idea what happened to him when he left our school after fifth or sixth grade (I can't remember. Maybe fourth.) We used to joke that he got trampled by buffalo. Well, one Google search by Jeremy later, and now we know. Ha ha ha ha ha... what a dickhead.
4:21 PM | e-mail |
Wednesday, September 26, 2001
Spent today working on a project I'll debut alongside my new design, which I've provided myself a deadline for. The new site and content will be available October 1st. Hold your breath; I know you want to.
6:07 PM | e-mail |
6:07 PM | e-mail |
Between 11:45 PM last night and now, I have eaten an entire pound of Twizzlers. And it's not working out for me.
10:06 AM | e-mail |
10:06 AM | e-mail |
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
My roommate's website for his comic (which runs in the NYU newspaper) is open now -- check it out. He knows Flash and I am jealous.
9:46 PM | e-mail |
9:46 PM | e-mail |
Holy Fucking Shit: America Under Attack. The Onion goes straight for the WTC. Unbelievably great. I can't even start to describe it.
9:00 PM | e-mail |
9:00 PM | e-mail |
FUCK MTV!: I can't deny it, I'm not tryin' to hide it.
I'm reasonably sure that this one's pretty good, folks.
6:03 PM | e-mail |
I'm reasonably sure that this one's pretty good, folks.
6:03 PM | e-mail |
Shane MacGowan back with The Pogues. Didn't expect THAT. Of course, it reminds me of this...
4:27 PM | e-mail |
4:27 PM | e-mail |
Monday, September 24, 2001
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Guess what's back, folks?
Yes, it's been two weeks without a Doyoufeelloved.com Top Ten. So this week, I've doubled the length and provided as many MP3s as my limited file storage capacities will allow. Hopefully, I'll add more once my FTP stops being a bitch. These'll only be available for a week or less, though. So get going.
Note: These MP3s are no longer available. 10.01.2001
The Doyoufeelloved.com Top TWENTY for September 24th, 2001:
And now I'm ashamed of myself, because I should be providing pithy commentary, but I'm exhausted. I've got to get some sleep and wake up to run some errands, do some schoolwork, go to class, et cetera. Sigh. Enjoy the music, everyone. It's all good. In my opinion, of course. Which, for some reason, you come here for. Thanks for that, by the way.
Final thought:
WHAT? He's a lazy-eyed bastard who cries too much. I want no part of this! Where's Bono? ;-D
(via Prol)
11:44 PM | e-mail |
Yes, it's been two weeks without a Doyoufeelloved.com Top Ten. So this week, I've doubled the length and provided as many MP3s as my limited file storage capacities will allow. Hopefully, I'll add more once my FTP stops being a bitch. These'll only be available for a week or less, though. So get going.
Note: These MP3s are no longer available. 10.01.2001
The Doyoufeelloved.com Top TWENTY for September 24th, 2001:
- U2 - "Peace On Earth / Walk On (Live From A Tribute To Heroes)"
- Pulp - "This Is Hardcore"
- Hedwig And The Angry Inch - "Wig In A Box"
- KMFDM - "Material Girl"
- Failure - "Enjoy The Silence"
- Tori Amos - "I'm Not In Love"
- Method Man - "Judgement Day"
- Lamb - "Gabriel"
- Pulp - "The Fear"
- Kylie Minogue & Ben Lee - "The Reflex"
- Wu-Tang Clan - "Gravel Pit"
- Garbage - "Androgyny"
- Nelly Furtado - "Shit On The Radio (Remember The Days)"
- PJ Harvey - "Rid Of Me (Live From Shepherd's Bush Empire)"
- Pogues - "Rainy Night In Soho"
- Depeche Mode - "Black Celebration"
- Jay-Z - "I.Z.Z.O. (H.O.V.A.)"
- Blur - "Coffee And TV"
- Ramones - "I Remember You"
- Nelly Furtado - "Turn Off The Light"
And now I'm ashamed of myself, because I should be providing pithy commentary, but I'm exhausted. I've got to get some sleep and wake up to run some errands, do some schoolwork, go to class, et cetera. Sigh. Enjoy the music, everyone. It's all good. In my opinion, of course. Which, for some reason, you come here for. Thanks for that, by the way.
Final thought:
WHAT? He's a lazy-eyed bastard who cries too much. I want no part of this! Where's Bono? ;-D
(via Prol)
11:44 PM | e-mail |
All right, I'll admit it: As much as I love and idolize the man, I was very specifically avoiding reading Grant Morrison's column on the WTC attacks, simply because I dreaded hearing another hurtfully obvious liberal perspective. (I AGREE with you, you fuckers; stop self-righteously re-sharing the view that all sensible people have). But this is most definitely not that.
Or... here's my favourite solution, which would actually be much more effective than any other but who's going to listen to a loony peacenik like me?
We bring bin Laden back to the U.S. for trial and BEFORE locking him up, we keep him in house arrest.... IN THE PLAYBOY MANSION! Can you imagine how rapidly and thoroughly bin Laden's fanatical following would collapse if they saw pictures of him sipping cocktails by the poolside, surrounded by bikini-clad airheads? Can you imagine him trying to espouse his fundamentalist doctrines to a gigling gaggle of sexy Playmates ?..
"You don't understand. This is jihad! Holy war against American imperialist hegemony."
Blank stares from six perfect pneumatic blondes.
"Wow! You're so cool! You're rilly, like, a famous terrorist ? That is sooo cool! Would you like a blow job ?"
"ALLAH AKBAR!!!!" screams Osama as all his dreams come true in a welter of flying cum and breast enhancements.
Read it.
6:39 PM | e-mail |
Or... here's my favourite solution, which would actually be much more effective than any other but who's going to listen to a loony peacenik like me?
We bring bin Laden back to the U.S. for trial and BEFORE locking him up, we keep him in house arrest.... IN THE PLAYBOY MANSION! Can you imagine how rapidly and thoroughly bin Laden's fanatical following would collapse if they saw pictures of him sipping cocktails by the poolside, surrounded by bikini-clad airheads? Can you imagine him trying to espouse his fundamentalist doctrines to a gigling gaggle of sexy Playmates ?..
"You don't understand. This is jihad! Holy war against American imperialist hegemony."
Blank stares from six perfect pneumatic blondes.
"Wow! You're so cool! You're rilly, like, a famous terrorist ? That is sooo cool! Would you like a blow job ?"
"ALLAH AKBAR!!!!" screams Osama as all his dreams come true in a welter of flying cum and breast enhancements.
Read it.
6:39 PM | e-mail |
I'm reading HIGH FIDELITY and it's really fucking good. I can't believe it's taken me this long, but after reading ABOUT A BOY this summer I finally broke down. Hurrah, Nick Hornby.
Anyway, I figured I would share with you this passage in which I am perfectly described. No, really. He's writing about me. I swear.
My genius, if I can call it that, is to combine a whole load of averageness into one compact frame. I'd say that there were millions like me, but there aren't, really: lots of blokes have impeccable music taste but don't read, lots of blokes read but are really fat, lots of blokes are sympathetic to feminism but have stupid beards, lots of blokes have a Woody Allen sense of humor but look like Woody Allen. Lots of blokes drink too much, lots of blokes behave stupidly when they drive cars, lots of blokes get into fights, or show off about money, or take drugs. I don't do any of those things, really; if I do OK, it's not because of the virtues I have, but because of the shadows I don't have.
Ah, mediocrity. You've served me well. Though I must admit, I think I'm starting to tire of you.
3:57 PM | e-mail |
Anyway, I figured I would share with you this passage in which I am perfectly described. No, really. He's writing about me. I swear.
My genius, if I can call it that, is to combine a whole load of averageness into one compact frame. I'd say that there were millions like me, but there aren't, really: lots of blokes have impeccable music taste but don't read, lots of blokes read but are really fat, lots of blokes are sympathetic to feminism but have stupid beards, lots of blokes have a Woody Allen sense of humor but look like Woody Allen. Lots of blokes drink too much, lots of blokes behave stupidly when they drive cars, lots of blokes get into fights, or show off about money, or take drugs. I don't do any of those things, really; if I do OK, it's not because of the virtues I have, but because of the shadows I don't have.
Ah, mediocrity. You've served me well. Though I must admit, I think I'm starting to tire of you.
3:57 PM | e-mail |
Saturday, September 22, 2001
A topic of discussion tonight that I'd like to hear from you folks on. Have any of you out there EVER finished a game of Monopoly? Ever? Between the three of us, we realized that we'd never gotten through one -- somebody always quits in boredom or disgust and it all collapses. Turned out to hold true tonight, too. So. Anyone? You in the back there?
11:05 PM | e-mail |
11:05 PM | e-mail |
FUCK MTV!: You know who you are.
I've more or less resolved that FUCK MTV! will have at least one new review every day. Now that I've said it, I'm sure it won't come true. But we'll give it a go, damn it.
Now I'm off to track down a CD I want, then to meet Len and Jeremy for unspecified amusement.
5:16 PM | e-mail |
I've more or less resolved that FUCK MTV! will have at least one new review every day. Now that I've said it, I'm sure it won't come true. But we'll give it a go, damn it.
Now I'm off to track down a CD I want, then to meet Len and Jeremy for unspecified amusement.
5:16 PM | e-mail |
So I guess I should say something about America: A Tribute To Heroes, since everyone else already has. I will simply say that U2 performed EXTREMELY well, despite Bono's beleaguered voice (I missed it on air due to a laundry mishap, so I had to go for the video and MP3 -- thank you, Prol), and that Billy Joel's "New York State Of Mind" was exceedingly pleasant, even if he really did look like Orson Welles. Yeah, it was cheesy, yeah, it was probably self-serving, but a lot of the performances were very good (note: not Fred Durst's) and I'm sure a scad of money was made. I hope so, anyway.
Final thought: Nobody but Willie Nelson and one other guy in the army somewhere know the rest of the verses to "America The Beautiful."
12:37 PM | e-mail |
Final thought: Nobody but Willie Nelson and one other guy in the army somewhere know the rest of the verses to "America The Beautiful."
12:37 PM | e-mail |
Friday, September 21, 2001
FUCK MTV!: Through the heartache and trembling.
This is getting way out of hand.
12:14 AM | e-mail |
This is getting way out of hand.
12:14 AM | e-mail |
Thursday, September 20, 2001
FUCK MTV!: Oh no, what's this?
Another review over there? Wow, haven't I been... ahem... prolific. (Ahem.)
One final note: You may see that I've removed Infoshare from the sidebar. It'll be gone in less than 48 hours anyway. Like others, I removed it simply because the time for information about the attack is over, and the time for all this talk of war is beginning. And frankly, that depresses me and I don't want to be reminded of it. So, I'll just live in my own dream-world now. (You'll note that I've updated all of my media consumption, too. Ah, escapism.)
4:01 PM | e-mail |
Another review over there? Wow, haven't I been... ahem... prolific. (Ahem.)
One final note: You may see that I've removed Infoshare from the sidebar. It'll be gone in less than 48 hours anyway. Like others, I removed it simply because the time for information about the attack is over, and the time for all this talk of war is beginning. And frankly, that depresses me and I don't want to be reminded of it. So, I'll just live in my own dream-world now. (You'll note that I've updated all of my media consumption, too. Ah, escapism.)
4:01 PM | e-mail |
Wednesday, September 19, 2001
Via Cheesedip comes the meme you KNEW I had to blog:
Which X-Men Character Are You Most Like?
My results:
5:35 PM | e-mail |
Which X-Men Character Are You Most Like?
My results:
- Professor X
- Storm
- Jean-Grey
- Beast
- Apocalypse
- Cyclops
- Mystique
- Magneto
- Psylocke
- Sabretooth
- Rogue
- Wolverine
5:35 PM | e-mail |
Forgot to post these yesterday.
FUCK MTV!: Hip hip.
Also: Some shitty boring song I don't want to bother figuring out lyrics for.
10:21 AM | e-mail |
FUCK MTV!: Hip hip.
Also: Some shitty boring song I don't want to bother figuring out lyrics for.
10:21 AM | e-mail |
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Alright. My mind has been emptied by my hours of rage (now quelled slightly, thank God). So I'm going to fulfill a promise I made long ago.
MEATY SHANKS.
Are you happy now? (You know who you are.)
As for the rest of you: Nobody's making you read this weblog, you know. ;-D
9:24 PM | e-mail |
MEATY SHANKS.
Are you happy now? (You know who you are.)
As for the rest of you: Nobody's making you read this weblog, you know. ;-D
9:24 PM | e-mail |
In the wake of this week's tragic events in New York, Washington, and Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds have decided to postpone their entire North American tour previously set to run from September 18 through October 9. The new dates will be announced as soon as possible.
God, what a shitty day.
7:27 PM | e-mail |
God, what a shitty day.
7:27 PM | e-mail |
I hate all technology right now. A whole lot. In the last twenty-four hours I have been SEVERELY fucked over by Blogger, Live365, RealPlayer, and Windows Media. Nothing will fucking work right at all. And it's making me EXTREMELY ANGRY. HORRIBLY FUCKING ANGRY.
AAARRRRRRRRRGH.
4:48 PM | e-mail |
AAARRRRRRRRRGH.
4:48 PM | e-mail |
Monday, September 17, 2001
Interesting piece about rebuilding the Twin Towers, with some beautiful insights by the man who literally wrote the book on them.
7:24 PM | e-mail |
7:24 PM | e-mail |
Sunday, September 16, 2001
I have to ask, MTV2: Is "Rock The Casbah" really a sensitive song to be playing right now?
12:37 PM | e-mail |
12:37 PM | e-mail |
Happy birthday, Mena.
Feeling better right now than I expected to when I woke up... so that's a plus.
11:01 AM | e-mail |
Feeling better right now than I expected to when I woke up... so that's a plus.
11:01 AM | e-mail |
I am almost certainly coming down with a cold.
Fuck.
I saw a play tonight that I should really probably write about, but I'm too tired and sickly and bored of sitting in front of a computer (redesign continues apace). So now I'll go to bed instead.
12:35 AM | e-mail |
Fuck.
I saw a play tonight that I should really probably write about, but I'm too tired and sickly and bored of sitting in front of a computer (redesign continues apace). So now I'll go to bed instead.
12:35 AM | e-mail |
Saturday, September 15, 2001
Something that occured to me last night at Union Square.
I was watching the people in the song-circle singing inspirational Christian hymns. None of them were racists (many were wearing the flyers saying "Arabs Are Not The Enemy" being handed out around the park), all of them seemed like good human beings. The topic came up that they should sing a Muslim hymn or prayer song. Nobody, in a hundred-strong crowd of ethnically diverse New Yorkers -- the most cosmopolitan city in the world -- even knew where to begin. They sang "Climb Every Mountain" instead.
I took a class on the history of Muslim Spain last semester here at school, which involved a lot of backstory and conceptual discussion of the Muslim faith. It seems so callous and absurd to say "I took a class" and to suddenly feel like an expert. But I guarantee you, the few paltry scraps of understanding I have about Islam and its followers are more than 98% of America has.
I think that explains a lot of what's happening. Nobody ever bothered to learn about their neighbors, or about the countries we hear about on the news, and as a result, we're seeing our neighbors as our enemies and those countries as dens of evil. Everyone sees Islam as a fascist faith, but have you ever heard this tenet? "There can be no compulsion in matters of faith." That's one of the principal messages of the Koran. Does that sound despotic to you?
Don't confuse a repressive regime with a pure expression of the Islamic creed. The Taliban, as far as I'm concerned, is to Islam what the Inquisitional Church was to Catholicism. Few would continue to make the argument that Christianity is evil, and those who do are intellectually irresponsible and emotionally damaged. And nobody accused all white people of being terrorists when Oklahoma City was attacked. There is NO DIFFERENCE HERE. Oklahoma was attacked by disgruntled Americans who thought the government of America had ruined their way of life. New York and Washington were attacked by disgruntled Muslims (I am unwilling to point the finger directly at Osama bin Laden, whose guilt in this matter has been far from conclusively proven) who believed the same. Both of them had compelling arguments -- Middle Easterners, I think, have an even stronger one -- which did not justify their actions. Neither provide an excuse for race or religous hatred.
I'm speaking the blindingly obvious, but it's something I needed to get off my chest, I guess.
5:05 PM | e-mail |
I was watching the people in the song-circle singing inspirational Christian hymns. None of them were racists (many were wearing the flyers saying "Arabs Are Not The Enemy" being handed out around the park), all of them seemed like good human beings. The topic came up that they should sing a Muslim hymn or prayer song. Nobody, in a hundred-strong crowd of ethnically diverse New Yorkers -- the most cosmopolitan city in the world -- even knew where to begin. They sang "Climb Every Mountain" instead.
I took a class on the history of Muslim Spain last semester here at school, which involved a lot of backstory and conceptual discussion of the Muslim faith. It seems so callous and absurd to say "I took a class" and to suddenly feel like an expert. But I guarantee you, the few paltry scraps of understanding I have about Islam and its followers are more than 98% of America has.
I think that explains a lot of what's happening. Nobody ever bothered to learn about their neighbors, or about the countries we hear about on the news, and as a result, we're seeing our neighbors as our enemies and those countries as dens of evil. Everyone sees Islam as a fascist faith, but have you ever heard this tenet? "There can be no compulsion in matters of faith." That's one of the principal messages of the Koran. Does that sound despotic to you?
Don't confuse a repressive regime with a pure expression of the Islamic creed. The Taliban, as far as I'm concerned, is to Islam what the Inquisitional Church was to Catholicism. Few would continue to make the argument that Christianity is evil, and those who do are intellectually irresponsible and emotionally damaged. And nobody accused all white people of being terrorists when Oklahoma City was attacked. There is NO DIFFERENCE HERE. Oklahoma was attacked by disgruntled Americans who thought the government of America had ruined their way of life. New York and Washington were attacked by disgruntled Muslims (I am unwilling to point the finger directly at Osama bin Laden, whose guilt in this matter has been far from conclusively proven) who believed the same. Both of them had compelling arguments -- Middle Easterners, I think, have an even stronger one -- which did not justify their actions. Neither provide an excuse for race or religous hatred.
I'm speaking the blindingly obvious, but it's something I needed to get off my chest, I guess.
5:05 PM | e-mail |
Friday, September 14, 2001
Dear Chris,
You wrote this on Friday, September 14th, 2001, between the hours of 11:30 PM and midnight. You'd been out with Len and Jeremy that night; you had walked up to Times Square via 5th Ave. and Broadway, and when you and Len came back to Union Square (you'd been talking about Len's future as a rock star, and the relationship to *******), you came upon a massive congregation of people singing, beating drums, playing instruments, just generally being with each other. There were candles everywhere, flyers searching for the dead, and chalked graffitti promoting peace and love and the end of violence. Len joined in a group of about seventy people who were singing inspirational hymns and pop music; you felt that you could not participate in that, that it was not yours. I wonder if that's a feeling that will be familiar to you, when you read this message again in the future.
In any event, while Len sang, you walked among the people and took in the candles, the cries for help on paper, the inspirational philosophy of Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and the poetry of Ezra Pound and Rainer Marie Rilke. When you came back to your dorm, leaving Len to his song, you wrote this. You intended it as a song, to be put to music with a repetitive lilt to the vocal, and the central idea -- the childish phrase "too big" -- occured to you at Fifth Avenue and 14th Street, just after you left the park. You rattled it around in your head on the four blocks to home. You were not proud of it once you finished it, and when you read it now, in this future, you will probably not be proud of it then, either. Without music, it's a poem, of the sentimentalist kind you despise. But you did it, and whether it is an accurate portrayal of how you felt or not, it is here. It is this message to yourself that is the most important aspect of all this. No matter how embarassing the writing may be, it was the urge to preserve this that says much about you right now -- not necessarily about how you are reacting to the events of the past week, but about how you are reacting to yourself as an artist and a person. While this may not be the proper portrait of your emotions right now, it is a portrait of your mindset. Remember that.
You have saved this piece -- this song, this poem, whatever it is, as well as this letter to yourself -- on your computer, and even as you type these words, you are plotting to spontaneously post it on your weblog, which is the typographical equivalent of standing nude in the middle of Broadway. You think it will be good for you. You'll find out.
I have decided not to post the piece in question. I am, it is true, not proud of it as an expression of what I am thinking and feeling. It doesn't say what I want it to. But this letter, I think, is an important document of the way I'm trying to understand things. So. There it is.
11:23 PM | e-mail |
You wrote this on Friday, September 14th, 2001, between the hours of 11:30 PM and midnight. You'd been out with Len and Jeremy that night; you had walked up to Times Square via 5th Ave. and Broadway, and when you and Len came back to Union Square (you'd been talking about Len's future as a rock star, and the relationship to *******), you came upon a massive congregation of people singing, beating drums, playing instruments, just generally being with each other. There were candles everywhere, flyers searching for the dead, and chalked graffitti promoting peace and love and the end of violence. Len joined in a group of about seventy people who were singing inspirational hymns and pop music; you felt that you could not participate in that, that it was not yours. I wonder if that's a feeling that will be familiar to you, when you read this message again in the future.
In any event, while Len sang, you walked among the people and took in the candles, the cries for help on paper, the inspirational philosophy of Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and the poetry of Ezra Pound and Rainer Marie Rilke. When you came back to your dorm, leaving Len to his song, you wrote this. You intended it as a song, to be put to music with a repetitive lilt to the vocal, and the central idea -- the childish phrase "too big" -- occured to you at Fifth Avenue and 14th Street, just after you left the park. You rattled it around in your head on the four blocks to home. You were not proud of it once you finished it, and when you read it now, in this future, you will probably not be proud of it then, either. Without music, it's a poem, of the sentimentalist kind you despise. But you did it, and whether it is an accurate portrayal of how you felt or not, it is here. It is this message to yourself that is the most important aspect of all this. No matter how embarassing the writing may be, it was the urge to preserve this that says much about you right now -- not necessarily about how you are reacting to the events of the past week, but about how you are reacting to yourself as an artist and a person. While this may not be the proper portrait of your emotions right now, it is a portrait of your mindset. Remember that.
You have saved this piece -- this song, this poem, whatever it is, as well as this letter to yourself -- on your computer, and even as you type these words, you are plotting to spontaneously post it on your weblog, which is the typographical equivalent of standing nude in the middle of Broadway. You think it will be good for you. You'll find out.
I have decided not to post the piece in question. I am, it is true, not proud of it as an expression of what I am thinking and feeling. It doesn't say what I want it to. But this letter, I think, is an important document of the way I'm trying to understand things. So. There it is.
11:23 PM | e-mail |
Can you hear them?
The helicopters?
I'm in New York
No need for words now
We sit in silence
You look me
In the eye directly
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in and
The city sun sets over me
- PJ Harvey (and Thom Yorke), "This Mess We're In"
My friend Thomas caught the PJ Harvey show in Chicago last night. She opened with a solo guitar version of this song, which she did not play at the New York show I attended.
She did not, however, play "Kamikaze," one of the bigger blow-ups of the NYC show, which goes a little something like this:
How could that happen?
How could that happen again?
Where the fuck was I looking
When all his horses came in?
And he built a whole army
Of kamikaze
10,000 willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Built an army
To come and find me
Beyond all reason
Beyond all my hopes
The call of duty
Another war zone
(Makes me moan)
Kamikaze - you can't touch me, kamikaze
Eight miles high
He walks his path
And I follow mine
One tooth for one eye
He's come to find me
10,000 willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Here is his army
Interspace here we come
Kamikaze-you don't touch me
Space here we come
(Lyrics from the official PJ Harvey website)
2:50 PM | e-mail |
The helicopters?
I'm in New York
No need for words now
We sit in silence
You look me
In the eye directly
You met me
I think it's Wednesday
The evening
The mess we're in and
The city sun sets over me
- PJ Harvey (and Thom Yorke), "This Mess We're In"
My friend Thomas caught the PJ Harvey show in Chicago last night. She opened with a solo guitar version of this song, which she did not play at the New York show I attended.
She did not, however, play "Kamikaze," one of the bigger blow-ups of the NYC show, which goes a little something like this:
How could that happen?
How could that happen again?
Where the fuck was I looking
When all his horses came in?
And he built a whole army
Of kamikaze
10,000 willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Built an army
To come and find me
Beyond all reason
Beyond all my hopes
The call of duty
Another war zone
(Makes me moan)
Kamikaze - you can't touch me, kamikaze
Eight miles high
He walks his path
And I follow mine
One tooth for one eye
He's come to find me
10,000 willing
Pilots flying
Interfacing
Space and beyond
Here is his army
Interspace here we come
Kamikaze-you don't touch me
Space here we come
(Lyrics from the official PJ Harvey website)
2:50 PM | e-mail |
This is true, and this is horrifying. But this is good and reasonable and should be listened to. Obviously.
12:59 PM | e-mail |
12:59 PM | e-mail |
NYC Weblogger's Meeting tonight on east 12th Street. (Via Prol) I may go, I may not. I don't know. I know almost none of the other NYC webloggers, and while that shouldn't stop me... I dunno. We'll see.
Of course, if you're a NYC weblogger, I hypocritically urge you to go.
12:34 PM | e-mail |
Of course, if you're a NYC weblogger, I hypocritically urge you to go.
12:34 PM | e-mail |
I have beaten the JavaScript errors that were holding up my new design... I may unroll it within a week's time.
Rain in the city tonight, strong cool winds blowing it against my window. The dust cloud downtown is being tramped down by it, thank God. Its impact on the recovery effort at large remains to be seen...
12:48 AM | e-mail |
Rain in the city tonight, strong cool winds blowing it against my window. The dust cloud downtown is being tramped down by it, thank God. Its impact on the recovery effort at large remains to be seen...
12:48 AM | e-mail |
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Still on the redesign subject, I like May's new one a lot. Very clean, loads fast, no teen idols. All good. ;-) Have a great time in London, by the way. It's an amazing place that I want to see again as soon as I can...
9:25 PM | e-mail |
9:25 PM | e-mail |
You know, out of everything that's happened in the last few days, this Javascript thing is becoming the most stressful. I'm obsessing over it. I guess just because I need something to keep my mind busy, something that'll stop me from staring out the window towards downtown for the hundredth time...
8:06 PM | e-mail |
8:06 PM | e-mail |
Finally, on a subject that has nothing to do with the events of the last three days:
I'm back to work on the redesign, and this time I think I've well and truly got it. However, I'm trying to run the ever-popular Five Random Links javascript of Brainsluice fame (also seen on the former design of Prol's After The Floods), and it is NOT working out for me -- the links just don't appear where I'm asking them to. They don't appear at all. I've checked to make sure the link titles aren't using characters that dick up Javascript (which I learned the hard way this morning at Infoshare), so why isn't this working? Does somebody who knows more about Javascript than I (translation: nearly anyone) want to drop me a line and I can send you links to the files in question?
4:34 PM | e-mail |
I'm back to work on the redesign, and this time I think I've well and truly got it. However, I'm trying to run the ever-popular Five Random Links javascript of Brainsluice fame (also seen on the former design of Prol's After The Floods), and it is NOT working out for me -- the links just don't appear where I'm asking them to. They don't appear at all. I've checked to make sure the link titles aren't using characters that dick up Javascript (which I learned the hard way this morning at Infoshare), so why isn't this working? Does somebody who knows more about Javascript than I (translation: nearly anyone) want to drop me a line and I can send you links to the files in question?
4:34 PM | e-mail |
Salon: 300 march against mosque in Chicago
I want to vomit.
"I'm proud to be American and I hate Arabs and I always have," said 19-year-old Colin Zaremba
12:40 PM | e-mail |
I want to vomit.
"I'm proud to be American and I hate Arabs and I always have," said 19-year-old Colin Zaremba
12:40 PM | e-mail |
I no longer have much to contribute in terms of description of events. Life below 14th Street has, with the exception of extremely minimal auto traffic, returned almost fully to normal -- businesses are open all along University Place, I bought pizza at the northwest corner of Washington Square Park, and there's no smoke in the air.
In order to make myself useful, I'm now one of the bloggers contributing to Infoshare, created by Meg and a coalition of UKBloggers and now staffed by about a dozen bloggers from around the world. You can see it running up there on the top right. To add the script to your webpage(s), go to the site.
12:27 PM | e-mail |
In order to make myself useful, I'm now one of the bloggers contributing to Infoshare, created by Meg and a coalition of UKBloggers and now staffed by about a dozen bloggers from around the world. You can see it running up there on the top right. To add the script to your webpage(s), go to the site.
12:27 PM | e-mail |
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
We're watching Comedy Central with smoke in the streets, which, honestly, seems like the last remaining element of this whole affair. Perversely enough, at this moment, it feels like life has gone back to normal. Classes are cancelled, but as residents we seem to be able to move about lower Manhattan -- at least down to Houston Street, which is pretty much the end of the neighborhood I prowl anyway. Of course, I know that nothing's back to normal. But it helps to do my best to act like it is. However, standing by the elevators tonight we commented on the smokey smell, and a horrifying thought came to mind: We're breathing in people.
World New York, a site I've been visiting for some time but have neglected to link, has switched over to coverage derived entirely from the weblogs of New Yorkers, which I learned when I started picking up hits from it this afternoon. The stories being told there make mine sound like a tax form. What people have been through is truly the most-abused word of the past two days: unbelievable.
10:45 PM | e-mail |
World New York, a site I've been visiting for some time but have neglected to link, has switched over to coverage derived entirely from the weblogs of New Yorkers, which I learned when I started picking up hits from it this afternoon. The stories being told there make mine sound like a tax form. What people have been through is truly the most-abused word of the past two days: unbelievable.
10:45 PM | e-mail |
Tonight, we walked down the abandoned center of Broadway, one of those things we'll probably never be able to do again. No cars on the road, just people strolling the sidewalks and the streets. It was like the world's quietest street party.
It's hard to find entertainment in a ghost town, though. The United Artists theatre at Union Square was showing free movies but there was nothing we were willing to subject ourselves to, even for free, and they were packed and at bad times. So now we're in my dorm trying to rustle up some board games. Whatever it takes, you know?
The lights on the Empire State Building aren't lit, for the first time in my memory.
7:39 PM | e-mail |
It's hard to find entertainment in a ghost town, though. The United Artists theatre at Union Square was showing free movies but there was nothing we were willing to subject ourselves to, even for free, and they were packed and at bad times. So now we're in my dorm trying to rustle up some board games. Whatever it takes, you know?
The lights on the Empire State Building aren't lit, for the first time in my memory.
7:39 PM | e-mail |
Since returning to New York, I've added the caption "Mmm, skyscraper, I love you" to the title of this page. It has since been removed.
You know, the last book I read was Don DeLillo's Underworld, the cover of which is a photo of the World Trade Center, with one of the Washington Square churches in the immediate foreground. The book is partially set during the construction of the building.
It's easy to find synchrony in times of madness.
4:59 PM | e-mail |
You know, the last book I read was Don DeLillo's Underworld, the cover of which is a photo of the World Trade Center, with one of the Washington Square churches in the immediate foreground. The book is partially set during the construction of the building.
It's easy to find synchrony in times of madness.
4:59 PM | e-mail |
I'm back in my dorm -- so much for the "frozen zone" below 14th Street. We transferred to the A train at 59th Street and rode it straight down to West 4th, ten blocks below the supposed quarantine line. Jeremy's dorm is still closed until further notice.
If you're looking for the two posts I wrote last night without the benefit of Blogger, they're here.
Thank you to all of the webloggers and friends who wrote to me, who've expressed support. There are many, many others who need it more, though.
This New York Times article pretty much captures the way the city is working right now. The smoke isn't really visible up here in the Village yet -- there's a very light haze -- but you can certainly smell it, and we're told it's continuing to blow north. We're not allowed to open our dorm windows. People in the streets (presumably asthmatics, possibly some hypochondriacs) are wearing surgical-style particle-filtration masks. As can be expected, everything's very different. The streets are largely clear of cars, children are running skateboards and scooters down the center of Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The United Artists Theatre at Broadway and 14th is showing free movies and giving out free popcorn, so a large number of NYU students have gathered there. We might later in the evening, once we've gotten settled and talked to some people. Things seem pretty much OK, though. We're not worried.
4:28 PM | e-mail |
If you're looking for the two posts I wrote last night without the benefit of Blogger, they're here.
Thank you to all of the webloggers and friends who wrote to me, who've expressed support. There are many, many others who need it more, though.
This New York Times article pretty much captures the way the city is working right now. The smoke isn't really visible up here in the Village yet -- there's a very light haze -- but you can certainly smell it, and we're told it's continuing to blow north. We're not allowed to open our dorm windows. People in the streets (presumably asthmatics, possibly some hypochondriacs) are wearing surgical-style particle-filtration masks. As can be expected, everything's very different. The streets are largely clear of cars, children are running skateboards and scooters down the center of Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The United Artists Theatre at Broadway and 14th is showing free movies and giving out free popcorn, so a large number of NYU students have gathered there. We might later in the evening, once we've gotten settled and talked to some people. Things seem pretty much OK, though. We're not worried.
4:28 PM | e-mail |
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
This is unbelievable. I don't want to be here. Every sound overhead, every engine roar in the street, is terrifying. My best friend Jeremy went down to see what was happening and had to run from the falling building. He's safe, thank God...
10:00 AM | e-mail |
10:00 AM | e-mail |
I just watched World Trade Center One fall over. Not on TV. Out my window.
Jesus Christ.
9:05 AM | e-mail |
Jesus Christ.
9:05 AM | e-mail |
Sunday, September 09, 2001
You know, I don't actually like Macy Gray that much at all, but her new album has a song entitled "Gimme All Your Lovin' Or I Will Kill You." So I'm definitely thinking I should give it a chance.
12:54 PM | e-mail |
12:54 PM | e-mail |
God, I have absolutely no control over my spending. One stop at Virgin and I'm forty-something dollars poorer, though I am richer in music -- Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True (the new 2-disc Rhino re-release), Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde, The Fugees' The Score, and Billy Joel's The Stranger. What can I say, there was a three-for-$26 sale and I could've spent a whole lot more -- Jane's Addiction's Ritual De Lo Habitual, The UK version of The Clash, Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, etc. etc. This brings me up to twenty-one on the Elvis Costello list, for the record. He doesn't count his own albums, so no points for My Aim Is True, and The Stranger isn't on there either. But I consider them both classics. So I'm doing better now...
And on a final note, "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is a cheesy-ass song, but God I fucking love it anyway.
12:29 AM | e-mail |
And on a final note, "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is a cheesy-ass song, but God I fucking love it anyway.
12:29 AM | e-mail |
Saturday, September 08, 2001
Easily the best thing I've read on Barbelith so far: The Autopsy. Not for the faint-hearted, but completely unmissable. Tom, you were right to so shamelessly link it.
12:55 PM | e-mail |
12:55 PM | e-mail |
Friday, September 07, 2001
I've blogged this before, but I found it in my archives and it's just too cool to pass up blogging again: Elvis Costello Picks 500 Albums You Need To Live A Complete Life. I now have nineteen of them. It's getting there...
9:43 PM | e-mail |
9:43 PM | e-mail |
Had dinner tonight at a neat restaurant in Little Italy that I forget the name of, had FABULOUS dessert from Ferrara's, saw my friend Jeremy's rather nice new dorm, and now I'm just happily flopping around.
My sister has drafted me to puppysit/housesit for her and her roommate on the Upper West Side on Sunday and Monday nights, so I get a nice cool apartment all to myself for a couple of days. The subway haul down to NYU will be a bit lengthy, but y'know, come ON! My own apartment! Superb! And I'm even getting paid! Of course, I may not get to use my computer up there, but we'll see.
8:30 PM | e-mail |
My sister has drafted me to puppysit/housesit for her and her roommate on the Upper West Side on Sunday and Monday nights, so I get a nice cool apartment all to myself for a couple of days. The subway haul down to NYU will be a bit lengthy, but y'know, come ON! My own apartment! Superb! And I'm even getting paid! Of course, I may not get to use my computer up there, but we'll see.
8:30 PM | e-mail |
Well, I had a good shower this morning, so now I feel all clean again.
On the to-do list today: Shave my head, go to K-Mart and buy some shit, go to the NYU computer store and buy some printer cartridges, read more of FURY, clean my dorm room, call my parents, and hook up my computer speakers. Let's see how much of that actually gets done. I predict that only two of them will.
12:30 PM | e-mail |
On the to-do list today: Shave my head, go to K-Mart and buy some shit, go to the NYU computer store and buy some printer cartridges, read more of FURY, clean my dorm room, call my parents, and hook up my computer speakers. Let's see how much of that actually gets done. I predict that only two of them will.
12:30 PM | e-mail |
Thursday, September 06, 2001
Oh my God, it's all over and now I want to die. Thanks to everyone who linked to us, thanks to everyone who read, I hope you derived some enjoyment from it. I'm going to recover with SPACE GHOST now. It's the episode with Bjork and Thom Yorke. It's magic.
10:39 PM | e-mail |
10:39 PM | e-mail |
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
Big goings-on at FUCK MTV! today; we'll be showing how much we looooove the MTV Video Music Awards (heaping chunks of sarcasm) with a day-long video-reviewing marathon for the nominees, as well as a special one-time only LIVE simulcast blogging event during the VMAs, packed with snide commentary and bitchy quips about the wardrobes of the stars. Boy, I'm going to be tired of typing by this time tomorrow.
Rushdie info when I get a chance. I don't know when that will be, honestly. But it'll come.
11:54 PM | e-mail |
Rushdie info when I get a chance. I don't know when that will be, honestly. But it'll come.
11:54 PM | e-mail |
At this time of afternoon, the sun comes streaming in the window into our room (on the 14th floor). It's very, very pretty. Unfortunately, it's streaming directly onto my computer desk, and it's REALLY fucking hot.
Classes went quite well after the initial mishap described below. I've got a shitload of books to buy for them, as it turns out, though. I've already bought half of the shitload but there's still more to come, mainly for Irish Dramatists, though he said he'd be photocopying a lot of them and that we should wait until Monday to buy anything except the first play (SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER by Oliver Goldsmith). Fair enough. Along the way I treated myself to Naomi Klein's NO LOGO, which I've been meaning to read for a long time on the ecstatic recommendation of every weblogger ever, and I'll be picking up Salman Rushdie's new book, FURY, at 7:30 tonight when I go see him read (!!!) at Barnes & Noble on Union Square. if you're in NYC, come on down and see the man, you never know when he's gonna get shot. I'll be the tall chap in the red gorilla shirt.
All right, time to call some people and find a shadier spot, methinks. Report on the reading to come after the fact. Since it wouldn't do much good to write it beforehand, would it? Although I'm sure I could -- he's shorter than expected, his beard is very grey, he cracked some jokes about Islam, and there were a lot of bodyguards. There you go! All done! I can go to bed early tonight.
2:58 PM | e-mail |
Classes went quite well after the initial mishap described below. I've got a shitload of books to buy for them, as it turns out, though. I've already bought half of the shitload but there's still more to come, mainly for Irish Dramatists, though he said he'd be photocopying a lot of them and that we should wait until Monday to buy anything except the first play (SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER by Oliver Goldsmith). Fair enough. Along the way I treated myself to Naomi Klein's NO LOGO, which I've been meaning to read for a long time on the ecstatic recommendation of every weblogger ever, and I'll be picking up Salman Rushdie's new book, FURY, at 7:30 tonight when I go see him read (!!!) at Barnes & Noble on Union Square. if you're in NYC, come on down and see the man, you never know when he's gonna get shot. I'll be the tall chap in the red gorilla shirt.
All right, time to call some people and find a shadier spot, methinks. Report on the reading to come after the fact. Since it wouldn't do much good to write it beforehand, would it? Although I'm sure I could -- he's shorter than expected, his beard is very grey, he cracked some jokes about Islam, and there were a lot of bodyguards. There you go! All done! I can go to bed early tonight.
2:58 PM | e-mail |
So I fire up AIM, and the news-ticker pops up. The first headline:
Sharks Attack When Hungry, Expert Says
Wow, it's a good thing we have experts to tell us these BLINDINGLY FUCKING OBVIOUS THINGS.
Listen up, people. I am from Florida, so I know from sharks. The number of attacks we have had this year is NOT at all unusual, in fact we're still below where we were last year. The giant swarms of sharks off the coast (at one point, dead offshore of my own hometown) aren't out of the ordinary, either. That's common behavior. There are things in this world that can eat us, and really, that shouldn't be news to you. Get the fuck over it. Life sucks, buy a shark cage.
And if I hear one more dumbshit suggestion for "what to do about it," I swear to God I'm going to go Great White on the fuckhead in question and tear out his throat with my teeth. They're wild animals, YOU are in THEIR habitat, and you should accept the consequences.
By the way, wanna hear a funny story that never made it to the news in the case of the boy who had his arm bitten off? As it turns out, his uncle was CHUMMING THE FUCKING WATER when it happened. Interesting, no?
10:52 AM | e-mail |
Sharks Attack When Hungry, Expert Says
Wow, it's a good thing we have experts to tell us these BLINDINGLY FUCKING OBVIOUS THINGS.
Listen up, people. I am from Florida, so I know from sharks. The number of attacks we have had this year is NOT at all unusual, in fact we're still below where we were last year. The giant swarms of sharks off the coast (at one point, dead offshore of my own hometown) aren't out of the ordinary, either. That's common behavior. There are things in this world that can eat us, and really, that shouldn't be news to you. Get the fuck over it. Life sucks, buy a shark cage.
And if I hear one more dumbshit suggestion for "what to do about it," I swear to God I'm going to go Great White on the fuckhead in question and tear out his throat with my teeth. They're wild animals, YOU are in THEIR habitat, and you should accept the consequences.
By the way, wanna hear a funny story that never made it to the news in the case of the boy who had his arm bitten off? As it turns out, his uncle was CHUMMING THE FUCKING WATER when it happened. Interesting, no?
10:52 AM | e-mail |
*Sigh* Time to get up for your 11:00 class, Chris.
Find a seat, find a seat... hopefully this will be cool, I mean Beckett's alright but I've always been meaning to read Behan, and --
What the fuck did the professor just say? Does she have a speech impediment?
...wait a second. This is RUSSIAN.
What's that, advising center computer? My Irish Dramatists class isn't until 12:30?
:::sound of wrists slitting:::
10:29 AM | e-mail |
Find a seat, find a seat... hopefully this will be cool, I mean Beckett's alright but I've always been meaning to read Behan, and --
What the fuck did the professor just say? Does she have a speech impediment?
...wait a second. This is RUSSIAN.
What's that, advising center computer? My Irish Dramatists class isn't until 12:30?
:::sound of wrists slitting:::
10:29 AM | e-mail |
Tuesday, September 04, 2001
Polly Jean Harvey rocked my face off tonight in a MOST satisfactory manner. Beyond satisfactory; in a phenomenally great manner.
The opening act (Morris Tepper) was decent, nothing to write home about, although the woman behind me apparently hated him with a passion and loudly and rudely ensured that everyone around her knew it. Classy.
At about 9:30 on the dot PJ strolled on stage in shiny red top, gold sequined miniskirt, and absurdly thin black leather stiletto boots, and proceeded to Kick Some Ass. She strutted, she screamed, she shuffled and stomped, and generally she looked like she was having a really, really great time, which to be honest I didn't expect of her. She really has lightened up, hasn't she...
I couldn't tell you the full setlist in order offhand, and in fact in retelling it I'm completely butchering the order, but it opened with "66 Promises," "Big Exit," and "Good Fortune," and worked its way through "One Line," "Man-Size," "A Place Called Home," "C'mon Billy," "Down By The Water" (Unimaginably spectacular, and a *huge* crowd pleaser), "This Is Love," "Angelene," "The Sky Lit Up," "Kamikaze," "You Said Something," "Beautiful Feeling," "Somebody's Down, Somebody's Name," "Nickel Under Foot," and "The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore," as well as an older song that, to be shamefully honest, I didn't recognize. It was quite well received though; it may have been "This Wicked Tongue." I don't know, but I'll find out. The crescendo came with the second-to-last tune of the five-song encore -- nothing but a girl, her guitar, and her effects pedal blowing the shit out of "Rid Of Me" and howling "LICK MY LEGS, I'M ON FIRE, LICK MY LEGS, I'M DESIRE!" a capella to rapturous audience screams. After that came a mellow "Horses In My Dreams" and boom, we're out. I wanna go again tomorrow (today?). A lot. God help me, I just might... there were tickets available outside (I unloaded my extra to one of the scalpers at a slight loss, which I'm not proud of but hey, whatcha gonna do).
I was standing one person deep right in front of the stage, which was excellent, and I swear to God PJ was flirting with me. I know that sounds lame but it's true. Whenever she made eye contact with me, she broke out in a huge smile because I had a shit-eating grin plastered across my face through the whole gig. She also stared into my eyes for practically the entirety of "A Place Called Home." It's all just stage business but man, it was grand.
No "This Mess We're In," no "50 Ft. Queenie," and no "Sheela-Na-Gig" (which the crowd was, in fact, begging for), but honestly, it didn't matter, it was a spectacular show anyway and I had a great time. On to the next concert! (Possibly the Vigilantes Of Love at The Bottom Line tonight/tomorrow/whatever we decided it is. The 5th. There you go. And if not them, then Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on the 4th of October.) Ho!
11:11 PM | e-mail |
The opening act (Morris Tepper) was decent, nothing to write home about, although the woman behind me apparently hated him with a passion and loudly and rudely ensured that everyone around her knew it. Classy.
At about 9:30 on the dot PJ strolled on stage in shiny red top, gold sequined miniskirt, and absurdly thin black leather stiletto boots, and proceeded to Kick Some Ass. She strutted, she screamed, she shuffled and stomped, and generally she looked like she was having a really, really great time, which to be honest I didn't expect of her. She really has lightened up, hasn't she...
I couldn't tell you the full setlist in order offhand, and in fact in retelling it I'm completely butchering the order, but it opened with "66 Promises," "Big Exit," and "Good Fortune," and worked its way through "One Line," "Man-Size," "A Place Called Home," "C'mon Billy," "Down By The Water" (Unimaginably spectacular, and a *huge* crowd pleaser), "This Is Love," "Angelene," "The Sky Lit Up," "Kamikaze," "You Said Something," "Beautiful Feeling," "Somebody's Down, Somebody's Name," "Nickel Under Foot," and "The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore," as well as an older song that, to be shamefully honest, I didn't recognize. It was quite well received though; it may have been "This Wicked Tongue." I don't know, but I'll find out. The crescendo came with the second-to-last tune of the five-song encore -- nothing but a girl, her guitar, and her effects pedal blowing the shit out of "Rid Of Me" and howling "LICK MY LEGS, I'M ON FIRE, LICK MY LEGS, I'M DESIRE!" a capella to rapturous audience screams. After that came a mellow "Horses In My Dreams" and boom, we're out. I wanna go again tomorrow (today?). A lot. God help me, I just might... there were tickets available outside (I unloaded my extra to one of the scalpers at a slight loss, which I'm not proud of but hey, whatcha gonna do).
I was standing one person deep right in front of the stage, which was excellent, and I swear to God PJ was flirting with me. I know that sounds lame but it's true. Whenever she made eye contact with me, she broke out in a huge smile because I had a shit-eating grin plastered across my face through the whole gig. She also stared into my eyes for practically the entirety of "A Place Called Home." It's all just stage business but man, it was grand.
No "This Mess We're In," no "50 Ft. Queenie," and no "Sheela-Na-Gig" (which the crowd was, in fact, begging for), but honestly, it didn't matter, it was a spectacular show anyway and I had a great time. On to the next concert! (Possibly the Vigilantes Of Love at The Bottom Line tonight/tomorrow/whatever we decided it is. The 5th. There you go. And if not them, then Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on the 4th of October.) Ho!
11:11 PM | e-mail |
Monday, September 03, 2001
SHIT! I totally forgot it was Monday! I've been so busy working on a redesign for you folks. Be grateful. So this is a bit late... sorry.
The Doyoufeelloved.com Top Ten for August 28, 2001 - September 3rd, 2001:
And just for the record, I think I'll be uploading the #1 track every week from here on in to share it with you good people, whom I love dearly. "King Of Trash" was already on the server because of Paul, so we lucked out. Next week: Something new. Who knows what?
11:07 PM | e-mail |
The Doyoufeelloved.com Top Ten for August 28, 2001 - September 3rd, 2001:
- Gavin Friday - "King Of Trash" (download)
- Kylie Minogue and Ben Lee - "The Reflex"
- Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - "Right Now I'm a-Roaming"
- PJ Harvey - "This Is Love"
- U2 - "Beautiful Day (Quincey and Sonance Remix)"
- New Order - "Crystal"
- Stereo MCs - "Elevate My Mind"
- Underworld - "Mmm Skycraper I Love You"
- Basement Jaxx - "Romeo"
- Moby - "Come On Baby"
And just for the record, I think I'll be uploading the #1 track every week from here on in to share it with you good people, whom I love dearly. "King Of Trash" was already on the server because of Paul, so we lucked out. Next week: Something new. Who knows what?
11:07 PM | e-mail |
Sunday, September 02, 2001
Well, there's one reason to redesign: This site looks awful on this computer. The colors are all icky and the blog's right border is trashed. Balls.
I'd better come up with some ideas, haven't I...
11:58 PM | e-mail |
I'd better come up with some ideas, haven't I...
11:58 PM | e-mail |
I live! Happily!
My computer situation is still in flux right now, so you'll have to wait until sometime tomorrow for the resumption of a normal update schedule, but let it be known that after the last three days of frenzied fun, I am alive and happy to be back in New York. If you sent me an e-mail, maybe now I'll finally respond to it.
Three quick links to describe the last three days: This, this, and this. Which were phenomenal, smaller than expected, and delicious, in that order. More later.
11:42 PM | e-mail |
My computer situation is still in flux right now, so you'll have to wait until sometime tomorrow for the resumption of a normal update schedule, but let it be known that after the last three days of frenzied fun, I am alive and happy to be back in New York. If you sent me an e-mail, maybe now I'll finally respond to it.
Three quick links to describe the last three days: This, this, and this. Which were phenomenal, smaller than expected, and delicious, in that order. More later.
11:42 PM | e-mail |