Guardian Unlimited | Arts features | 'I hate nothing more than art and culture'

Theatre talk from an important old guy!
Guardian Unlimited | Arts features | 'I hate nothing more than art and culture'

little to no

blogging today...
big boss is here...
sitting right behind me...
I'm hanging on by a thread here as it is...

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Audiofile - File Under: HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Audiofile

jesus h. christ on a discount pogo stick!

Salon is giving away mp3's from the ESP catalog...
and they are starting with AYLER!
AYLER!
AYLER!

go grab ghosts (version 1)...
yes, sit through the ad, or go buy a salon subscription and then you can start exposing yourself to some of the most important recordings of the 20th century...
really...

of course, the sad thing, the people who would be excited about this already have every ESP reissue they could get their hands on, bootleg or not...
and they rest of you, well, if you haven't encountered the little lable inspired by esperanto, it's probably not gonna be your bag...
but I'm pretentious enough to say it should be...

seriously people - this is your chance to expose yourself to some really amazing stuff, fer nothing! whattaya got to lose?

an exceptional weekend...

Friday - Ghost towns with Lisa D. and the IBP posse. Sunburned.
Romance novels free on the porch. DAIRY QUEEN! I didn't get chiggers.

then

Purple Reign at Diverseworks...
amazing...
all of it...

then - The Beer Cellar - too much whiskey and karaoke.
many of my favorite people were there...
why weren't you?
drank like it was the weekend,
which it was,
but then,
9:13 am Saturday -
the phone -
"Mike, you we're supposed to be on shift at nine o'clock."
shit.
ended up working the 11:30-7:30 shift and getting off late -
missed the big range show - Aileen's new piece, and one from Toni with Music by Misha -
got to go home for a few minutes...
then Jeff's surprise party at the axiom.
Wasn't drinking at all,
then had one,
then two,
then I was drunk...
two must've had more whiskey than I thought.
The Misfires rocked.
We showed BLP's latest - "Actorman! a day in the life of Jeff Miller"
and then the Dreambreakers played...
good night...
left around 1 and spent more time running over my monologues before I went to bed...
Sunday got up and worked the monologues till time for co-ops...
co-ops.
what a rush!
crazy crazy crazy...
get home and do nothing (I'm broke)
take a nap,
wait for TDU practice -
get a call - no bill today,
no ryan either,
jim and joe and charlie show up and we decide to blow it off,
so I head to barnevelder - see the show - whoohoo! Aileen is so freakin' talented!
good stuff...enjoyed the whole show! Toni's piece was great too, and Misha's music had some VERY cool stuff in it...I'll see if I still have a program when I get home, if so I'll post more about the pieces. Then to Atomic Cafe for Wayne's 40th birthday - arrive in time to hear the closing lines of the new BLP sketch "Walt goes to Modeling School" - damn! had some bar-b-q and visited with some folks for a while...ran into some peeps who had been in the audience at co-ops - word is I did good - I was told the second one (the pushkin) was not anything like what people expected or had seen me do before...whoohoo!
anyway, then I went home and to bed...
despite having to work hungover all day saturday it was still over all a pretty exceptional weekend...
hope your's was too..

(I'm still working on the Houston Music post...I'll talk more about Purple Reign in it...)

co-ops

Well, I just got back from co-ops...
I didn't get time called on me,
and I didn't make any obvious mistakes...
I did however in the middle of the second monologue
discover that I was more nervous than I'd ever been
performing ANYTHING.
By the time I walked out of Stages I was shaking
and my arms were NUMB. NUMB!
It was all very strange.
Over all it was definitely a good experience
and there were a few friendly faces in the auditing chairs,
so that helped...
Vocally I was pretty on,
but the space did throw off some of the physicality
of the pieces... It was such different circumstances,
that I forgot things like where I'd been looking, etc...
Maybe that just made it more "fresh" and "in the moment"?
who knows?
So, just so I didn't completely waste my time,
I'll do either of my monologues for anybody,
anytime, for a dollar...
how's that for a deal?

Space City or is it Syrup City? music.

This post is totally not done, but it never will be.
Here it is:


after my natural defense mechanism kicked in when Ron dissed Space City's music scene I said I'd post some links to good H-town music -
o.k.
here are some...


Rusted Shut

Here's the thing...even when I don't listen much to Rusted Shut,
I do deep down realize and acknowledge,
this is what Houston sounds like.
They're one of the last links to an age when GIANT BANDS
played the dives of Houston.
No matter what they do
or the personnel changes
they are always
Rusted Shut.

Two Star Symphony

Wow.
If you haven't heard ** Symphony yr really missing something...
They performed at the Purple Rain tribute at Diverseworks last night...
they did a medley of Purple Rain and Pussy Control.
It was the quartet plus Cathy Power, John Dubois, Kirk Suddreath, Chris Bakos, and on vocals none other than Charlie Naked...
and the dancers - Troy, Todd, Sherri, Aileen, and Melissa (as Appolonia)- made it more like a Prince show than anything I'd seen in a while...
or at least like a Prince video...
and there are their collaborations with Bobbindoctrin and their own
amazing stuff...
seriously...
these are some of the most talented and dedicated people I know...


Satin Hooks

The Kants

The Linus Pauling Quartet

Charlie Naked


Poor Dumb Bastards

The Mathletes

The Defenestration Unit

The Kimonos

Jana Hunter

The Sugarbeats

Freedom Sold

ASHS

TV show depicts 9/11 as Bush plot - The Washington Times: World - June 09, 2005

anyone know of any good German TV torrent sites?
TV show depicts 9/11 as Bush plot - The Washington Times: World - June 09, 2005: "According to the plot, which was seen by approximately 7 million Germans, the dead man had been trained to be one of the September 11 pilots but was left behind, only to be tracked down and killed by CIA or FBI assassins.
The woman, who says in the program that the September 11 attacks were instigated by the Bush family for oil and power, then is targeted, presumably to silence her. The drama concludes with the German detectives accepting the truth of her story as she eludes the U.S. government hit men and escapes to safety in an unnamed Arab country. "

The Raw Story | Pelosi interview, part three: The media, the memo, and Iraq

The Raw Story has an interview with Pelosi:
The Raw Story | Pelosi interview, part three: The media, the memo, and Iraq: "Pelosi: Well let me just tell you this first, John. The Republicans in Congress in significant numbers do not support contraception. People find that hard to believe, but I live with it every day here in terms of their votes, and their policy and their statements. And it’s a stunning thing, because if you want to reduce the number of abortions in our country, and we all do, you would say hooray for contraception. But that’s not where they’re coming from on it. And that’s why the Griswold anniversary is such an important one, because it’s not about abortion, it’s about contraception. And you see the numbers which are stunning in terms of what the American people say, so-called pro-life, I think we’re all pro-life, anti-choice and pro-choice alike when it comes to contraception. Sometimes I wonder if these people even know what’s going on in their own families, when I see that they’re willing to hold women, especially poor women in America and in the world, hostage to their radical views on contraception."

She really sounds like a leader...
I'm assuming you never get to hear her on radio or TV...
except maybe C-span, right?

Other than the president do we get to see speeches of any length given by actual elected officials anymore?

anyway, go read what Pelosi has to say, the quote is from and the link goes to page 3, but you should read the whole thing...

praise for the blogroll!

so, I finally updated my blog roll a few days ago...
still trying to keep friend and acquaintances up near the top...
other than that it's like the rest of my life - highly unorganized...

I check all the links to right once a day...even the ones that NEVER update...
some of my favorite blogs are near the bottom, and some are near the top...

For instance, I've been really digging "By the bayou". It's written by a fellow Houstonian (maybe I found it on H-town blogs) and he handles civil rights re: sexual orientation, or "the gay stuff" really well...
There are a couple of things over there right now you should check out (including this story of a teen sent to some scary gay re-education ministry/camp) of course he covers other stuff too (don't mean to be belittling or stereotypical)...anyway, everyday one or two entries, and a good read...


and up near the top, well the linkage shows how I feel about Real Art and Misc. Heathen so I'll tell ya about "Starfucker's Music Blog" first of all let me say that Senor Starfucker is a damned talented individual...knew he could act, sing, play guitar, but does he have to write better than me too? Whether he's writing about music I don't care about at all (read: The Grateful Dead - sorry, but it's true) or ghosts from my own private new wave past (read: The Thompson Twins - yes, I too owned "Sidekicks") his stories are fun to read and his writing is solid...go get an mindful of whatever he's rambling on about today...
you'll be better for it...

I'll try to focus on one or two of the links on the right once a week or so, till I've said nice things about everybody...or I've told them they need to update!!

anyway, try a few of those on the side you've never read...there's a lot of surprises over there...

Daily Kos :: Hollow Army: When Recruiters Attack File Under:OMFG!!!

GO READ THIS!
THIS IS INSANE!
Daily Kos :: Hollow Army: When Recruiters Attack:
"Next thing Axel knew, the same sergeant and another recruiter showed up at the LaConner Brewing Co., the restaurant where Axel works. And before Axel, an older cousin and other co-workers knew or understood what was happening, Axel was whisked away in a car."

yeah, they hate us for our freedom, right...
this sounds like freedom to me...

Click opera

Momus talks about Genie's and Math and Inequality and stuff:
Click opera:
"There's a worldwide ranking of countries by Gini rating here. The most highly unequal country is Sierra Leone (.62 of a genie), the most equal country Belarus (.21 of a genie). Japan is fourth lowest of the nations ranked in this table (dated 2004) at .24 of a genie. Gini is high in the US, about .4 and rising. (In the table, as soon as you go higher than the US you mostly see incredibly corrupt African countries.) The moments you're most aware of America's high Gini are when you're, for instance, passing through the poor parts of Brooklyn on your way to the rich parts of Manhattan, or when you're walking down a street in LA and see that every house has a sign planted in the lawn where a bush should be, a hard-ass sign saying that if you intrude a rapid response SWAT team will be dispatched to fucking fix you. You're aware of it when you see lots of private security guys, or when you're told that X district is safe but Y district is dangerous. People have a tendency to think that these are givens and that they apply anywhere in the world ('you've got to keep your wits about you, know the score, stay safe'). But in fact they're only issues in high Gini places. They're something we organize structurally, and something we can repair politically. The genie can be banished... if you want it."

do you come here often? - June 8th, 2005

Rhodri gets it:

do you come here often? - June 8th, 2005:
"I don't know whether I actually find the endless procession of appalling bands through London venues depressing in itself, or whether it's seeing the faux confidence on their faces, that misplaced self-belief which suggests that they think they're actually going to get somewhere. And where is somewhere? When are bands ever satisfied? If they've started rehearsing, they want to record. If they're recording, they want a record to be released. If they've released a record, they want it to be on the radio. If it's on the radio, they want to be in the press. If they're in the press, they want an agent. If they've got an agent, they want to be supporting a big act. If they're supporting a big act, they want to be headlining. And so it goes on, until they split up. And then what? What mark have they made? All they have left is the music that they've produced. Which is, of course, what they should be doing it for in the first place."

now, go listen to his band.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Cambodian troops Quarantine Quan'su

The possible advances in the field of Zombie technology are amazing...
maybe my zombie army isn't that far off after all...

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Cambodian troops Quarantine Quan'su

HEADACHE!!!

all day...
not getting better...
keeping me from thinking...
no posting right now...

M

Events Coming Up!

I'm a devout agnostic, a radical humanist,
and somehow I can't get excited about this...

Events Coming Up!:
"Sat, Jun 18
2:30 pm
The June Monthly Meeting of Humanists of Houston in the Unitarian Univeralist Fellowship at 1504 Wirt Road ...

Our speaker will be Roger Brewin, minister at the First Unitarian Church in Hobart, Indiana, and an impersonator of historic characters. He will appear as Clarence Darrow.

ROGER BREWIN has been portraying Clarence Darrow in his trademark rumpled suit and battered Borsalino hat since 1981.His presentation has been described as 'superb: interesting. educational, and funny.' (University Honors Program, Bowling Green, OH)

After this monthly meeting, those interested may join us at the 59 Diner for informal conversation over coffee and snacks.."

I don't know how to get people involved in humanism, but I'm pretty sure this ain't it....
We need X-treme humanism if we're going to survive in today's marketplace of ideas.

My first suggestion:

Let's meet in a bar.

and at night.

The only thing I like to do on Saturday afternoon
is recover from Friday night.

I need an army of young humanists to get this whole door to door prosletyzing for human potential thing going and I don't think I'm gonna find 'em watching a minister from Hobart playing Clarence Darrow.

Although I'm sure he's very good.

the weekend is over

and I'm here...
at work...

what did I get done this weekend...
a lot, but only a little of what I wanted...
didn't get much studying done.
Got one monologue memorized.

friday night - karaoke and drinking
saturday - recovery - studying - not much else
saturday night - night just before the forests, and danseparc (lots of drinking...lots)
sunday - studying - lunch with Margaret Two-Star - oh yeah and filming for a top secret private BLP production - more monologue work - studying - TDU practice (minus two members) and then waiting for someone to show up who didn't...
then more monologue work...
then not enough sleep...
whoohoo!

Spitzer Takes Down Racist Agencies

If you were wondering who Spitzer is and why I referred to him as a superhero in an earlier post - go read this.
Labor Blog

via Atrios

Eschaton - the job numbers...

are crap!!!
The Job Numbers

Republicans are NOT good stewards of the economy by any measure you care to name...

Halley's Comment: Holding Men To A Higher Standard

Breaking my own rule...said I wouldn't talk about chasing women on the blog, but I have to comment on this, and since Halley has comments locked down on her blog, I'll do it here...

Halley's Comment: Holding Men To A Higher Standard:
"Women are holding men to a higher standard -- the SAME higher standard women have been held to for years.

Women are expected to have:

1. good bodies
2. good clothes
3. cute shoes
4. good senses of humor
5. good manners
6. good jobs
7. good credit
8. nice places to live
9. be good cooks
10. be good in bed"

I'll just address there one at a time..

1. good bodies - yes, but good bodies come in ALL shapes and sizes...
2. good clothes - it's best they don't dress like a scarecrow, but if they can make that work that's even good...
3. cute shoes - um, no...ladies, other women are the only ones who care if you are wearing "cute" shoes...Sexy shoes are nice once in a while...but really I'm more interested in the feet inside...mmm....feet.
4. good senses of humor - well, yeah.
5. good manners - Um, considerate and nice? Yes. Knows which fork to use? couldn't care less.
6. good jobs - don't believe there are good jobs, so obviously no.
7. good credit - um, before I judged anyone on that one I'd need to remove the mote from my own bank account.
8. nice places to live - as long as it is not a bigger sty than my place, I'm fine.
9. be good cooks - nope, that's why there are restaurants...who has time to eat at home anyway? It's a nice plus, but certainly not expected.
10. be good in bed - yes. Nobody should have to accept bad in bed.

in a followup Halley says:
I thought men would be upset to read about women expecting so much more from them, holding THEM to a higher standard. Weirdly, I got push back instead on the notion that men are constantly judging and comparing women. A number of men said they don't do this. Huh!!!!???? This seems really strange to me.

I've heard men. I know a few men. They've told me what they really do when a bunch of women walk by. A lot of them can tell you a woman's bra cup size from 50 feet and I've heard them say it. Get real, guys! We know you're sizing us up. The idea that men are not judging women ... yeah, right, I say.

but what has that to do with good cook? cute shoes? credit?

umm...nothing...

Whiskey Bar: A Cox in the Henhouse

Whiskey Bar: A Cox in the Henhouse

This is awful.
I was a stockbroker
in the heady
day-trading
days.
They made adjustments
again and again to keep
the super-rich in charge
and the rest of us out of the
game entirely.
Still, the SEC occasionally busted up
some bad behavior on the part of the house of Morgan
or Goldman/Sachs...

REFORM people...
The Dems should really start pounding on REFORM,
and they should appoint some kind of superhero like Spitzer
to run the SEC when they get the chance...

this is awful.
They are going to be draining $$$ away from the rest of us
in brand new creative ways...
you won't even feel their hand in your pocket.