some stuff from the 80's i remember pt. 2 - do you see?

total devotion to their craft! Hocus Pocus Alamagocus!

proper magical escapism circa 82-87, then re-runs. J.chula01 & J.Chula02 dominating some elementary school, then dominating some Today's Special- afternoon snack- watch out!! what?

Sam Crenshaw - you'll always be in my dreams - you old man, you.

something with the hat being removed, then put back on- from that day forward, i always wanted to live in the mall.

was it all just a dream?

i'll enter this day armed only with my wit! - & i'll leave this day wearing only my panties that i split, doing a split!

so i was thinking while reading, or was it the other way 'round? it doesn't matter, but my mind started to wander a bit, not because the book was boring, which it's not, it's fantastic, very clear & concise, yet still in-depth, very educational, deducing?, aware, .......but seriously, all that bollocks over there in the mother land could have been avoided, economy went to absolute shite, & the rest was pretty much history, talk about inflation, depression,..etc., etc., citizens were forced into desperate times, so on & so forth & a raging lunatic was granted power,..we must learn from our mistakes,..(see, history isn't boring)

but back to my original point, i wanted to make an announcement & hopefully get your help to bring certain fugitives to justice & also bequeath some personal possessions to you, my faithful attendees in case something terrible were to happen to me in '09.

let's just come out with it:

the following individuals owe me a pint of lager (est. 2 pound 50)

Chess Rucker - aka Alan Rucker, aka,..cheese - sorry bro to put you on blast like this, but a debt is a debt & I have a memory like an elephant,.....i think,...

Benton Edwards - aka Broken Blues aka Broken nose if you don't come good on your IOU. (cant remember the reason, but I'm sure of it)

Shaun Stidham - listen here you Liverpool scum, you guys will never win the title, so just give it up! Robbie Keane was a bust, Torres is a porcelian doll, so pay up,..i want my pint!

I here by bequeath the following to the following -

Robert Sutton aka ROBTRAIN - my Postwar Kurosawa box set that I was gifted henceforth last Christmas day. I've yet to watch it, but if something were to happen to me, please enjoy & write a review on it. ( also, I taped Dr. No off of BBCA last night, please come over & politely dispose of it)

Gina Cicala aka Gina Portnowitz aka #1 fan,..hhmmmm this is a tough one, ya know what? in case of my demise, I'm giving you What Became of the Likely Lad? please continue the spirit of all things beautiful, broke poems, writings, verse, rants, pictures, album likes/dislikes, i'll contact you secretly for the royalty rights & legalities.

Angela Chula aka "b" aka ang - this was also a tough one, but upon further thought, i'm leaving you my ass. yes you heard correctly, don't laugh. Think about it first,...I went to a specialist wax-ass sculptor this morning & had an ass duplication job conducted. if something were to happen to me, you'll be able to set up this fixture anywhere in the house & always remember me by it, well not me as a whole, it's just my bum you see, but hey what better way to remember your late husband than to walk by a squeeze my fine tush?

that's all i'm giving anyway right now, if you feel left out, don't! I promise i have each & every one of you in my thoughts,..with love & devotion & all things total freedom & beauty, i must get back to my book,...........




oh, & tools for the day -

iPod for writing blog-background music - check
silver bullet coffee thermos (full) - check
reading material - check
over-sized headphones, optional - check
satellite remote for football match - check
United scarf to drape for good luck - check
CHP sunglasses for indoor use - check
mini' black ninja throwing star for intruder apprehension - check



ok, ok, i'm good......

this could be interesting, quiet.

i think every single person i know is working today. no opportunities for mall-arcade hangouts. no milkshakes, no skateboarding,....

if you know me & wanna hangout later, give me a call. although i do have plans from 3-4:30 or so, the fellas are tking on Middlesbrough & I'm slowly getting mentally prepared for the importance of this match, I mean Chelsea dropped more points yesterday, so the chance is there, we must succeed & grab it. & then there's the simple task of taking over Liverpool which shouldn't be too hard, I still think they'll be found out soon, & I'm also hearing that this morning Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was arrested for his involvement in a brawl.

Interesting, if I'm one of the 5most famous/recognizable faces in all of England, I'm thinking to avoid any sort of violent conduct, especially in a pub situation. but things of interest to attend to.

i sit, hapless & alone sometimes,

but happy, or content i should describe -

that's a better word for my consciousness -

happy is a better word for

older people that are content.

but I am young, a young buck

if you will,...ready to pounce

on my prey at any moment -

i need only a second to

fulfill my objective, i will strike

unannounced & consume my desires,

interested with only my thoughts

for a moment's edginess -

totally in love with the sound of the

dishwasher swirling - selfish desires -

for me to have - have it all -

all this time away from monsters

makes one brave again -

strong & aloft,

but curious to a cause

i'm just waiting for you to come down,

to slow me up - to slow time -

to consummate this lust,

this lingering passion inside me

leftover from a previous statement of well-being

won't you please sit down?

have a seat - &

discuss thoughts of interest?

i see things, things all around me that i don't

understand - things i dont like, question,

contemplate, decide, wonder, perceive, assume,

(why am I always getting these weird looks?)

don't want to understand,

not interested in,

does it matter if i can produce

an answer for these riddles? or no?

who are we living for anyway?

would you like to enter into a debate with me?

the slowing of time - the speeding up of loneliness

wasn't it just a love story in the end?

a peerless production to pull at

your heart strings?

a statement of accurate intentions -

authenticated by our minds' connections,

no, i'm afraid it was more than that,

it was an epic answer to hate & war -

a brilliant explanation to life's charades,

shall we stop pretending now?

how do we fight loneliness?

smile all the time? or die trying?

the sun could very well not shine

on your side of the bed -

won't we all not sniff up sunshine into our noses

one day? can we believe differently?

can we see a reason not to?

that feeling, the lonely pain, endless hrs sharing

only your own mind with yourself - that's true

pain, that's the reason for our existence,

to fight loneliness,

to love each other,

& fight together,

& i suppose die trying to stay ahead of it all -

i wanna see someone

else's reflection from

time to time, ..............

you finish this now.

plans, or planning to gorge myself on boxing day,..or i sure didn't get that pink handbag i wanted.

ok so, you'll start to see, or you should already have seen some recurring themes here at the mothership, but i just set the coffee on, & am planning on gorging myself today, becaus it's actually a great day today called boxing day, which is celebrated mostly overseas, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, so on & so forth,....but in Eng;and they feel it appropriate to schedule a full day of Premiership matches, henceforth the gorging,...

but I hope everyone had a good Christmas, & received many Christmas wishes & such, I'm still barely clearing the cobwebs off but wanted to mention acqusatyion of (i know i spelled that wrong, but who really cares in the end?) of something that is equal parts dark chocolate & peanut butter. an amalgamation you see, a scientific miss match of compounding fortunes, a direct coming together of sources, a marriage, complete & beautiful, already consummated.

Ryan Giggs has just mis-passed again, therefore cheaply given away possession, so I'm going to go throw something & focus on the task at hand,.see ya soon,...............

christmas card

here's hoping you get that new ashtray you wanted,..

scratch that,..(i bollocks you not)

song of the yr,...listen to it all the way through, or die trying,...

scratch that,..

the emphasis on,..

come to me,

come to me,


come to me,



come to me,

but don't cut the strings
don't let me fall,
don't trip my desires,

the indie thoughts can't heal it all -
heal my wounds & tell a tale
of a sarcastic witch - a laggard's plight
been behind on this month's rent?
forgetfulness, obliterate, efface a dent.
the cosmos have aligned - you've been
found out - an ageing left back -
got skinned on the right - on your
way to a different day - it was:
Surreal,
surreal,
surreal,
surreal,
but not quite real -
as of yet undefined,
but in the queue
ya, know?
the old in-out, in-out,
skinny love with heavy hearts &
beating tides with telling starts.
the emphasis on,.....

ok, ok, so i feel like I'm back in a way,..ya know? 10 days worth of writing broke album reviews & trying ever so hard to do just a smidgen (sp?) of research on said gems, also punctuation, & the like, & so on & so forth - i guess i missed a babblng brooke - but as forseen, i picked 1 track from each for your discovery pleasure -have you listened to any yet? what are your likes & dislikes? maybe you'll find something that you lost along the way - who really knows in the end? right?

but i have 2 days,.....2! more days of work until some blatant & interesting time off from the ol' 8 to 5'er, & man do I need it. so i'll attempt to re-discover some peace in my life & get all Kerouac on you - maybe go climb a mountain or sumthin' (G,..he really is a hero of mine, just thinking about his pursuits gives me goosebumps..)

so anyway i figured i'd get all groomed up this morning& invite my buddy (he plays the flute on the iPhone,..you gotta hear this) over for a cup of coffee & photo myself- & may I say i was wearing one of my all time favorite & classic dark navy blue T's - love that shirt-the kind that you actually dont really even waer that often because you want to perserve it & such - t-shirts are not indestructable! (can you see toshiro mifune sneaking up behind me w/his samurai sword? or is that rob sutton? - nevermind)

'eehh, alright mate??,.eh-shena, come 'rop-round me flate mate,.'eehh

(revised)

2000 & 8 Spread

2000 & 8 #1

#1

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes


(forget Brooklyn, what's in the water in the Northwest?)

The last few years seem to have brought upon a return to a more vocal sound with a lot of bands. (see Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer, among many others) A Rolling Stone review of the album states "Indie rock is undergoing a folk renaissance, which has spawned some great harmony singing". Seattle's Fleet Foxes takes the reign with their rustic sounding, ultra harmonizing, folk rock. The vocals themselves in Fleet Foxes' debut self-titled album serve as vibrant colors to an otherwise modern day masterpiece of a musical painting.

What becomes of the debut is a record that sounds years older than it actually is. To attempt to describe the beauty in this album would be an injustice, one must hear for themselves to really understand. But Fleet Foxes do however play to their strengths, conjuring up imagery of an older time, of sun-soaked mountains, lost ancestors, the coming of spring, & the innocent beauty of sweetly singing birds. Take some moments from Blue Ridge Mountains for further proof:

"In the quivering forest
Where the shivering dog rests
Our good grandfather
Built a wooden nest
And the river got frozen
And the home got snowed in
And the yellow moon glowed bright
Till the morning light"

At it's best, Fleet Foxes displays all the warmth of a front porch on a Summer's night. Fleet Foxes succeed in making a brilliant debut album sounding as old as the hills, here's to the fact that they're all still in their 20's.

2000 & 8 #2

#2

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago


I'm trying to imagine the headlines when this album first came out & the reviews started flooding in,....

"quiet indie-folk soul man Justin Vernon escapes society & pens lonely, subtle masterpiece in snowy Wisconsin cabin,...."

or

"mellow-gloom ghost tunes conjure spirit of early Neil Young acoustic tracks after tense break up of artists' former band".

The album itself bears much resemblance to the physical location of its inception: isolation, beauty, & natural imagery, while also displaying a beautiful, but broken spirit- & who's this Emma chick? She surely enacted enough grief & sorry upon our hero for a record's worth of brilliant gems.

Bon Iver literally translates to something along the lines of "long winter" in French, hopefully we'll have another long winter with Vernon as his follow up to For Emma, comes out in early 2009. Oh & I just scored tickets to see Bon Iver tonight in Louisville, KY. How fitting!

2000 & 8 #3

#3

The Streets - Everything Is Borrowed


Ever since,........

("Geezerz need excitement
If their lives don't provide them this they incite violence
Common sense, simple common sense") - Mike Skinner

.........I have been pretty much hooked on The Streets lyrical ode to day to day life as a youthful middle class lad in Birmingham, England. But say it ain't so, The Streets brain child Mike Skinner has sadly reported that Everything Is Borrowed will be the next to last album for The Streets.

His latest effort has wowed critics & fans a like with it's over-whelming positive message & it's plain to see that Skinner has found happiness in his life. Skinner is a modern day story teller MC, who simply reports what he sees with an acute wit. His musical touch has grown as well from 2002's Original Pirate Material that consisted of mostly garage hip-hop beats & ska influences to his recent release of mostly rock, soul, pop, & even grand horn arrangements.

On first listen to any of The Streets records, Skinner's thick English accent makes for an interesting trip. But the clear & concise message he delivers makes him more than a modern day story teller, Skinner to many Londoners has cultural relevance.

2000 & 8 #4

#4

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular


(that may look familiar to you,.)

What a year for Brooklyn! I mean what are they feeding them fellas & gals up there? Let's see, I'll attempt to name a few of the "buzz bands" that have originated, or met up in this fine borough in the last few years: There's LCD Soundsystem, Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer, Gang Gang Dance, TV on the Radio, Interpol, The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, & like loads & loads more, but for the sake of time, we'll move on,...

Brooklyn by way of Wesleyan University, MGMT is the arty, prog-rock odyssey/psychedelic electro-clash invention of Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser. Pulling influences from every genre possible, MGMT succeed in making a record that resembles all things 70's, Bowie, funk, & electronic-disco-synth rock while poking fun at all things serious, take the words from the lead track, Time To Pretend for example:

I'm Feelin rough I'm Feelin raw I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music make some money find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin and fuck with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.

Yeah it's overwhelming, but what else can we do?
Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?

,........see what I mean?

Electric Feel wins song of the year for me, with it's swirling disco melody, funk rhythm guitar & throbbing beat, pure musical ecstasy is easily achieved. Enjoy,.....or don't.

2000 & 8 #5

#5

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement


What a record! To fans of great indie music coming out of the UK, this album serves as a sort of "super group" album. Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turning (oh! he's so dreamy) & the Rascals front man Miles Kane combine to form The Last Shadow Puppets, a side project that many critics find more ambitious & rewarding than the lads' main bands. (decide for yourself)

The Age of the Understatement "project" began with elements of doo-wop & late '60's-toned English groups, complete with symphonic, swirling strings & horns. Combined, the 2 succeed in making a more arduous recording than, "Arctic Monkeys with strings", as one dull review on the album stated.

I have a true affection for this record. Many of you know that Arctic Monkeys are my favorite band, & that Alex Turner & Co. can do no wrong. But Turner displays more musically with The Last Shadow Puppets, he's showing maturity as a songwriter & depth as a musician in addition to his mastery of all things garage, punk, rock & funk with the Arctic Monkeys. It can also be said that Miles Kane seems to have found a home with fellow UK'ers the Rascals, combining gritty & dirty indie rock with garage punk, it's all so effective,....

If you're worried that we're all stuck in an "indie ghetto", then you'll love this album because of it's brave step forward.

2000 & 8 #6

#6

Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

(translation: "With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly")

How do you say, "less is more" in Hopelandic?
(i stole that)

Such absolute beauty & grace displayed on this album, but a more direct approach for this Icelandic outfit to "play" with.

Sigur Rós have made a habit of going "big" with their sound, a sound that has definitely worked for them in the past. But with their 2008 release they've taken a more direct approach & scaled down a once epic sound to beautiful results. If 1999's breakthrough Ágætis Byrjun was conjured & broadcast live from a space station, then this year's release saw the band set up shop outside of the local pub & discover a more simplistic, even playful sound.

Sigur Ros haven't totally given into the new "economical" approach, there are still a few songs that flirt with the 9 minute mark, slowly building on singer Jonsi Birgisson's swooning, choirboy vocals - only to explode with that Sigur Ros signature that many fans are familiar with. Less are the deep & dark moments of slow moving gloom from albums past, & more are the bright & sunny moments of pure beauty that work for the band with in the confines of this record.

An album considered by many critics to be a safe choice, but if playing it safe means making some of the most blissful music of your career, then the risks are over for this band.

2000 & 8 #7

#7

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer



(this is starting to get really fun,..)

a fantastic surprise album for me in'o8, this indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec released their 2nd album to strong reviews in June. Recorded in Petite Église, the Quebec church owned by Arcade Fire, At Mount Zoomer is a proggy art rock album that at times feels unfocused but brilliant, calm but throbbing, & hectic but a bit calm.

The album also displays a small hint of the experimental side, which is a return to similar themes from their first album, Apologies To The Queen Mary. Zoomer extends a more spacious feel than its predecessor thus allowing the band to explore their sound with their 2nd effort.

If yesterday's Cardinology felt like a first album from a new band, then Zoomer feels just the opposite. Wolf Parade make leaps & bounds in their evolution as a band by discovering a more melodic sound with breadth & depth on their 2nd effort as a band.

2000 & 8 #8

#8

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology


solid rock tracks by newly formed
alt country rock outfit -
songs to grow with -
an album to grow on -
& a band that will grow,........

where do I begin? I've been a fan for so long,...Cardinology was probably my most anticipated album of 2008. I lucked into some pretty decent tickets to see The Cardinals in Cincinnati a month before the album came out. The sound they put out was simply amazing. Loyal readers of this blog have probably read my thoughts on that show, so I won't continue further, but what Adams has found with this new & improved line up of "red birds" is definitely something special. I know Cardinology will be the first of many great American rock records for the band.

the album itself is flawed slightly, (hence the 8 position) but the strong tracks on the album more than make up for the few odd moments. Cardinology sounds like a first album from a new band, & that's essentially what it is. I think the album was one that a lot of people loved to hate. Loyal Adams fans were hearing the album they didn't want to hear, they were hearing something new, a more straight ahead rock approach - Different from the tried & true alt country approach from some of Adams' previous records.

the album is definitely a grower, give it some time if you've quickly given up on it. There'll be more to come, I'm sure.

2000 & 8 #9

#9

Flying Lotus - Los Angeles


Ambient noise mellow atmosphere + instrumental hip hop beats with a broken sense of structure = Los Angeles, the 2nd full-length album from Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison). "Los Angeles is also prone to letting its beats hang loosely in the air", says one review from Pitchfork.

I think what I like most about the album is the ambient, mellow mood it creates, all while cracking & fuzzing enough to not sound too snobby. I can't remember how I found Flying Lotus this year, his sound is strangely reminiscent of fellow hip-hoppers, Madlib, MF Doom, etc., but this album at times displays such a crisp & sharp focus, while still not trying to0 hard to sound cool.

2000 & 8 #10

(see, I can keep my little titles short & sweet if need be,...)

So I begin this needless (who said that?) little countdown of the albums that I thought were good, interesting, life changing, thought provoking, not boring & overall cool in the Lord's year two thousand & eight.

I think when I'm all done I'll pick one song that I quite like from each album (like I did last year) & create a sort of playlist for those who haven't heard some of the bands. So look for that 10 days from now I guess.

Also before I begin with numero 10, I wanted to mention a small handful of albums that were really good for one reason or another, but didn't quite make the list,.........(for one reason or another).

Some of these picks came late in the year, were listened to way too much, or were really good, but for some reason didn't surprise me. Maybe I knew they were going to be great & were thus slightly overlooked while I compiled this list.........& Go!

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

TV on the Radio - Dear Science,

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Coldplay - Viva la Vida

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

So without further long "wind-ed-ness" here is the 10th coolest album of '08, (in my humble opinion) - Tune in tomorrow for number 9, & so on, & so on,.........

#10
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

easily recognized by their use of distorted vocals & samples, this electronic-thrash-punk-fuzz-nightmare-duo has a sound that combines ferocious video game bleeps & blips with seething female vocals.

'08 was a year I discovered a lot of electronic music & hip hop that I really liked. Crystal Castles led the charge in my discovery with their debut self-titled album. The Toronto based duo also performed the annual Glastonbury Festival in June where lead singer Alice Glass got their set cut short by concert promoters due to her on stage antics. ???? what ev's,...can't a girl have some fun?

when in spain I am a spaniard,...(proper 2 second blog)

so Spain was magnifico' this past weekend. I know none of you(s) partake, but I was over-whelmed w/joy on more than a few occasions.

Moment #1 Barcelona's dismantling of fellow top 4'er Valencia, 4-0. (Lionel Messi, you are a true inspiration to watch & one of my heroes, I would love to meet you one day, you are the world's greatest football, better than that diving-wanker (get on with it Cristiano) Ronaldo)

Moment #2 The Real Madrid v Sevilla clash. Oh my, (thanks ang for sticking with it) no lie, 4-3 was the final from the Santiago Bernabeu. Epic, I mean epic, gladiators, conducting a symphony of grand battle, the comeback Madrid put on was nothing short of a stimulating masterpeice on attacking football - only to be cut short by Arjen Robben's 2nd yellow card. We can always wonder what would have been.

Moment #3 Villarreal v Getafe' - Getafe took a 3-0 lead into the break only to be systematically thrown off the perch by an amazing 2nd half by the yellow submarine. 3-3 was the final, & Guiseppe Rossi's stopage time attempt hit the post,...(it would have been a 4-3 winner) but epic by it's own right,..I must run, just wanted to share beautiful things with you,..oh my, oh my, though,............Real Madrid & Barcelona to tangle this weekend at the Camp Nou.

How will I even contain myself?

akira kurosawa - It is wonderful to create - tatoo onmy left arm somewhere - jay z,...or, thoughts on slowly becoming a rip-off artist.

it can be said, or heard

that my mind can hold thoughts oft'thought absurd,..


this is who I am, or not,..


but remember:eminence grise

is a lingering thought -



(if you turn the volume up, & listen closely,
you can almost hear the ghost of al pacino
laughing at my absurdity, he's up on the
wall, always sentient & aware, looking over me,
speaking of ghosts,....)

yes - but in my dreams though -

more importaan-tantly -


this psycho, ghost lady, who haunts me,

&

fills my coffee with drain-o. thus attemptong to end my desires,


all that we hold good & true in art & writings & films & such n such n such-



w/love though (he he ha ha)(i'm dead)

jazz-hip hop riffs on a 72nd root tune, blues funk transit to downtown trek-
big city dreams in architecture scenes -

but adjust in thought process for a minute's sake! surprise meeting -
inspiration & overload of thought process - NY genius meet & talk
to converse & share &,....oh,..it was the way i felt afterward ,....



proper time warp amalgamation - left standing with mouth gaping wide-
yo! brooklyn! & man hattan! listen up, listen up!


did you see that? what?

continuing tales of madness -

well, 'allo - ya right? what? (he he ha ha)

any-old,..did you like my tale of Scottish magic, booze & pirate ships? I've always wanted to be a writer, which I'll never be, because I'm not good enough, but at least when I write, & can close my eyes & pretend & imagine that I am one, & then I'm halfway there - & now seemingly confused by the whole process - it's all about time I suppose - no really, I finished The Great Shark Hunt by Dr. Thompson, & it was fantastic (all 600 pages of it) - I mean he is a great writer - & man did that guy live a life! Probably lived too bloody fast (as David Brent once said) but he was able to totally devout his entire life to his work & writings - if he wasn't writing, he was traveling - which a pen pal friend of mine & myself see as the only real way to continue your education after college or whatever. Well, that & books!

but enough of that, I've contacted you for another reason today. As the last few weeks of '08 trickle down the stinky tube, I greatly anticipate compiling my sarcastic & brash opinions on the best that 2000 & 8 had to offer in the world of beautiful music. My hopes are that I'll inspire some of you to discover, if not my picks, then some picks of your own. (it seems I'm building this up too much, which in the end spells certain disaster by under-delivering, but any-old) So be on the look out & be open to my picks. I already know I'm going to be alone in some of them. (doesn't this pink writing suite me so well) what?? ya right? when?

Oh! one more thing: should I take ten or so days & report one pick per day? or post all 10 at once?

for in my dreams I am a Scottish pirate, solemn & alone,...I'll await my fate.

(yes, I don't know)

the south coast of france, 1818 -

our legion survived a quite anomalous battle with the english scum, but with bevy losses - "Come oan, get aff! Ye aff yer heid? - screamed the mid-shippmen, Pip Quarterly - the english cannon balls had been molotav cocktailing our lower deck since mid day proper shone bright - "Mind ye Pints & Quarts", sarcastically bellowed Quarterly. "We's hangs 'em by the baw bag", (scrotum) shouted a deck hand. "Away an stoap bumpin yer gums ya bletherin auld skite", I ordered the lads. (you see now, they were simply talking too much) the situation was getting more tense as the hours drew onward. the battle raged on with a precise intensity, one error conceded by the lads would spell certain devastation to the crew, ship, & even the local Scottish legion.

these boys wanted to get stuck in, & get stuck in we did! we gave those english scum-wanks as much 'ell as we could muster up- only to be battered like fishes into the wee small hours of the morn - laldy lucksie was on our side, as the last of many bomboozels racked our dack-shack, the Spanish fleet led by La Corazon, sneaky buggered up upon those english shite-scum-tossers & put the lackey in the backey -

"Viva la Espana", we chanted until dawns early light shone bright as this Scottish dream pirate ship was victorious! Onward we will march!! We will conquer!

often i'll slip away in a dream, & haze away. I'll be taken back to that ghastly horror of a day when so many of me daggies were lost in that rhabble. the stench of death was all around me, piss, bile, boak, & I even remember the fresh smell of buckie from the previous eve's piss up. I'll never forgot those english-shite-knobdobbers

bogus blog or internal hypothetical situation

dream internal espionage situation
transverse globe mix ingredient
omelet amalgamation - things of
interest - to study & debate -
Russian passport denied at gate
black trench coat bullet hole scope
cellular device reaches moon skill hope
remembrance of teachings & the like -
study the masters as to not cause blight
laser beam hope end international spy plight
communist regimes impose vice-like grip
external messages composed Dr. Nisbit -
space station mixer blends moon dust fight
double agent found out - killed in eye sight
team leads foreign agent, investigator, operative -
avocado spread slice thick nourish this emissary
decline my time in the end - "but at the end
of the day",..he's lost his will to live -

aaaaahhhhhhhhh,..back,....but,..aaahhhh, like proper football situation & decaf.

ok, ok, so hello to all, & I love you & such & it's morning & i've been up actually for a few hrs, but the fog is only now starting to lift, & it's only now that i am starting to feel proper love for so many of you. like i'm actually thinking about each one of your faces & the brightness that you have provided for me in my life, i.e., your qualities & such as i know you are reading my thoughts down on a page & I have music playing & for some reason a renewed since of hope,..

& well, what did you do with your time off? I hope you had some, I mean i kept it pretty low key & enjoyed some family on the 1st day,..& Oh!! i must tell you about this family picture that we took, ok, ok, I don't have it with me, but i'll try & share it soon, like me & ang, & mum, dad, bro's fam, like kids, wife, etc.,etc., & it appears to be totally normal if you look at it like from afar, just people looking goofy for the camera, & i dunno, supposing it's to be sent out for a christmas photo, so maybe you'll get one, but I digress & any-old,.....my beautiful little neice/hero, Chloe like just got yanked up from an afternoon's seista & was all droggy & a little bashful, but in this pic, (which I'll now have to show you for proof) she has her hand down the back side of her little brithces & I mean I was rolling for like minutes when I saw this. you have to see this photo & i'll try to provide it soon,.....but it brought such unconditional joy into my world, like no ifs ands or buts. (he he ha ha) aforementioned picture: http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg117/jchu02/fam-1.jpg

but here we are back to the grind, & I was finally able to experience some total freedom, if only for a few days, it was nice, almost through the great shark hunt, & the football situation was beyond proper this weekending, like the Manchester derby went my way, finally, & Spain was interesting this weekend, (watch out now for Barcelona, they are officially firing on all cylinders).

but remember not to get caught up in consumerism & bull & cheap merchandise. but try to focus on relationships & happiness & getting away from it all,....it will make you happier in the end,.. the next few weeks will be a telling time for all of our sanity, try to sit back sometime, maybe when you are out, & just watch people & their behavior & then you can contemplate why you would want to twofold that,...

& oh happy 5 yrs to me & the B, we have a lot more to do/see/travel/experience in the next 5,..& for some reason the decaf was helping me through the weekend, just wanted to metion that, ya know, gotta give love out to the decaf, what next? right?

nice day for a sulk, ya know,..? nice day for a mood,..

the sun won't be shining today,
that's ok though,
sometimes an overcast sky
can bring in a sort of subdued light.
"the imperceptible sun", kind of
reminds me of odd or weary news,
not a bombshell mind you, those
are saved for when there's not
a cloud in the sky, but I speak
of what we know as "news in passing".
the planting of a seed,
the state of affairs,
then what's rain, you ask?
brilliant little reminders.
stinging your desires,
keeping you at bay,
sometimes for the entire day.
but don't wait for thunderous
applause, it will not stand
for your ambition

what's with all these goose eggs recently?

so I know you woke up this morning & immediately checked this blog for last night's Manchester United result, & were thus disappointed, but know, your hero was too.

nil-nil at the weekend, & nil-nil again last night in Spain. So ya we tanked Stoke City a few weeks ago (5-0 at home), ya know that's to be expected, they've just come up from a lower division, the gulf in class is too deep. But a week before that, we went down to (what now looks like) a spineless Arsenal side, lacking direction & strength.

what gives? the problem is that I can & cannot figure out what the problem is. We're not scoring goals, which is obvious, but why? what's with the finishing? where is the link play from midfield?

Cristiano Ronaldo is too busy getting the S kicked outta him, Wayne Rooney is too busy coming back to center midfield to pick up the ball, Demitar Berbatov is too busy being injured, Nani is too busy just being worthless, Carlos Tevez is too busy running around like a mix between the Incredible Hulk & a feral child, lost, without a clue. & what about Tomasz Kuszczak in goal? My word,...what is he waiting on?? aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!

will someone sort this mess out before it's too late????

The Manchester derby is this Sunday at Eastlands. Last year City did the double over us which left United fans & yours truely none to pleased. Can I put out a call to the lads??

Sort it!!!!

my total hero (possibly # 1, 2, or 3) - he's up there,.

(Akira Kurosawa looking like the master he was)

but taking some time right now, & more soon, to re-visit certain films of the past. trying to focus on social issues/commentary & the like, i.e., Stray Dog, Drunken Angel & last night sat down to breathe in Ikiru. (which translates: To Live). failing to get all literary on you & write proper review/criticism (since I finished college already) but this is a beautiful film to check out especially if you are like me & get all hot, fiery, frustrated (sometimes) around this time of year. ya know, consumerism & such: buy this, but that, punch a total stranger in the face, "I'll cuss you out man, that was my rotating barbie", I'm just trying to avoid crowds right now to keep my sanity, any-old, I digress,...


("Busy, so busy - but in fact, this man does nothing at all. Is this what life is all about?")

Ikiru is the tale of an ageing bureaucrat/standard run-of-the-mill government employee who learns that he has stomach cancer & has a mere few months to live. the news triggers a sense of urgency in our protagonist, Ken Watanabe, who immediately begins a search for purpose in his life. the search pays well as Wantanabe spends his last days fighting a resistant government bureaucracy in order to complete a park project in a nearby slum. the beauty in the film comes through in the compassion & dedication Wantanabe exhibits in trying to fulfill his purpose. he's found himself in a position where he's making up for 30 years of doing nothing in his life, in his final 6 months.


("I realize what they say about the nobility of misfortune is true, because misfortune teaches us the truth.")

at times, the movie feels slow, but I think that's the purpose. would time slow down, or speed up for you if you knew you had 6 months to live, & have thus far completed nothing substantial in your life? I can only imagine that I would spend the first 3 months asking myself questions. essentially what we have here with this film is the first masterpiece of many to come from a master director, & the film feels just like that. enjoy, or don't.

crumbs,...

I came to this world with nothing,
& I leave with nothing but love
everything else is just borrowed

so I know I've mentioned that album before, & all it's brilliance but come on. Like I wish I could live like that. I think that line is too perfect, too hard to live by, ya know humans & all, selfish desires, hate, war, pain, hunger stuff like that, & I'm not trying to bring the mood down, but if you think about that, & try to implement that into your life, well, maybe you'll find some sort of peace, ya know we (as in humans) get so caught up in so many different things. & I'm not totally clean of it, I can't totally wash my hands of it, but I swear to you, i keep that kind of stuff in the front of my difficult mind, what am I even talking about?

Like the way our society is built almost entirely around money & more importantly greed, but also control. I mean we are a controlled society, I really think there is such a small portion of us that aren't & a lot of people disagree with me, I know, but you should at least be thinking about things like capitalism, & greed & government. I mean I'll never be an expert on that stuff, because a lot of it bores me or doesn't interest me & I have other things tugging at me, I mean would the iPod ever have been made if it wasn't for certain elements of capitalism? probably not so I understand the relevance of free-market business & such, but where do we draw the line?

so thanks for the advice ya know? It's amazing how a few words from a mate, or your bird, can totally get you out of trouble, like gutter trouble. Even if you already know it, maybe they'll approach it, or present it from a different angle, & words are powerful, I know I'm not breaking any ground here but keep it in mind, we should all help each other out more.

1970's television on a furry bright orange carpet rug -

ya, ha ha,...that's what I call "bombast", which is inflated language or speech. Like, Yo! Halla atcha' boi,..ahh yeah!. but this is a picture of me as a little tike. hhmm, let me think, I was about 1 in 1973. that handsome man is my long lost uncle ironically named: Bro-ski. Bro-ski disappeared without a trace in the 1978 train robbery of eastern Philadelphia landslides. It's rumored that Bro-ski did everything in his power to stop the train robbers from bringing harm to his persoanl hero who just happened to be on the train, one William P. Funk. Who was appropriately named after, ya, you guessed it,.....any-old.

Sharing & the like,..


What wasn't reported in the initial findings of the train robbery was the amount of sheer violence that the temporary residents of "B" car had to haplessly endure. I mean why don't they rob trains like they used to? Back in the day, a simple rogue would empty a six-shooter into the roof, snatch some pearls off the Dutchess of York, & be done with it. I'm like "Geez, it's 1978, what gives?" any-old,..

What are so things you remember from the '70's?

In the news today - President elect sparks local economy in unlikely manner - an unusual predicament from the news desk - (chicken little),...

reporting live via telecommunications electronic filing riddles

- President elect Barack Obama has quickly risen to cult status among a new demographic. This new development in his rising popularity comes weeks before his being sworn in as our next commander in chief. Most U.S. citizens are aware of his "rock star" persona, & immense popularity especially among young people & minorities.

But some may not be aware of a new column in the Obama support chart: Gun Owners. (Yes!) More specifically, gun shop owners, traders & collectors. You heard it here first. Gun owners in the local Lexington Metro Area have seen an unprecedented spike in the price of semi & fully automatic high powered assault rifles & handguns.

The appointment of our nation's first black president has caused a controversy in certain areas of the country, especially in the deep south. But the appointment also caused a stir in the national gun scene. Gun owners fearing a ban, have raised prices on assault weapons thus gouging local gun buyers, mafia hit men, & local militia.

This supposed ban which hasn't even entered into the form of a written document yet has sent the local gun economy soaring. Gun buyers are purchasing guns at an astronomical rate to pad their arsenal in hopes to avoid any further price increase. Some gun buyers are turning around & immediately selling for a profit to rare gun collectors.

WARNING; Barack Obama WANT TO IMPOSE A 500% TAX on AMMO & BAN the SALE or TRANSFER of AK-47's & SEMI-AUTO AK-47's - BUY!!

(- www.ak47world.com)

Looks like gun shop owners & traders who voted against Obama may very well be laughing all the way to the bank.

(tongue & cheek you cheeky bastard)

a total classic (ha, fooled ya)

but isn't hope a beautiful thing? I mean I wasn't even planning on listening to this album at all today, i guess it just kind of found me. total grace - total beauty in these songs. (both in full display) I guess this recording never had a true identity for me because I was gifted all 3 essential albums from this band at the same time, so all that early work seemed to just flow together -- aahhh Cocoon just came on - I may float away into eternal bliss. OK, this could lead me to a list, which is something I haven't done in like so long, forever & ever, but I'll get you started - & then you can go out & just be & exist & think things over & breath in the cool air, but top 5 monday morning mood albums - Go! I mean let me just go ahead & throw Castaways And Cutouts in that list.
mellow extreme exhibition
grace,
beauty,
tragedy,
(all on the first try)
you haven't lived or cried until you've listened to Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect sipping warm coffee on a Parisian side street, (well, I haven't done that, but I'm sure I would be enjoying myself)
But this entire record is a painting, each song, or each lyric even, representing a single brilliant brush stroke, all hashed together to create something bigger. something beautiful, a different world if you will,...but I should go now. But check this recording out & find these stories. I mean be prepared for Europe circa early 1900's & the like,...

I'm in football heaven right now,....(man you gotta take the good with the bad Chula, I mean last week you were down in the dumps: I know, I know)

but I guess the lads won 5-0 y-day, which was a treat, I mean this 17 yr old kid named Danny Welbeck came on late in the game, & scored a blinder, I mean a laser beam, "fantastic futuristic freak" is what I was saying to myself. but Hull city & Manchester city are locked up like 2-2 right now, proper football atmosphere. speaking of,.....I went to American football again last night. I mean I love the company, these are qualities mates & all, but the UK cats lack a friggin' spine, ya know? oh well, something else,.....we Americans love to BOOOO people. I've never been across the lake (which is a total dream of mine, I mean totally, on a differen tlevel to go over there & walk those streets, & experience, & live & breath & such, but i digress,..) but I know a little about that culture & these are some srrious supporters of a club slash team & we all know what went on in the 70's & 80's with hooliganism & mindless ridiculous (& what I sometimes call "alex behavior") but, but, but, even with all of that, you don't hear a lot ofBOOO-ing over there. & that is what it is, I guess I mean this ref last night "gifted" the game to the visitors I mean wrapped it up on a Christmas serving dish, & theseLex-tonians just BOOO'd all night long, now across the way they would chant "the referees a wanker, the referees a wanker" all night long, which i think is quality & more intelligent & better, but you know me, & you know that I am partial. But here is anothe rlesson I learned. do not, i repeat DO NOT!! wear chuck taylor's outside in 30 degree weather for 4 or more hrs. you might be able to get away w/it for 1 or 2, butjust don't put yourself in that kind of pain. oh these needles,.....oh ya & had some sushi with some nice company lastie as well, it warmed my heart, brought back nothing but fantastic memories. but I'm off for now, ( i may or may not have made another (what i think is a) good mixtape) oh ya the Rome derby comes on later,..Yes!!

my total hero pt. 37

hip-hop - mashup (black vs white - positive fist fight - both sides win - birthed a grey twin)

so I spent some of my life in a bubble (POP!) & thus have missed certain experiences, things of interest, etc., etc., (i was a late bloomer) (thanks to a buddy who told me about this,..) but in 2004 an interesting piece of music was created by Danger Mouse (most notably from Gnarls Barkley fame). He bravely took The Beatles 1968 masterpiece The White Album & mashed it with an a cappella version of Jay-Z's equally brilliant 2003 effort, The Black Album. The end result being 2004's The Grey Album. You simply must sit down & experience this for yourself. If you don't listen to at least a little hip-hop in your life, well you should. (& if you don't listen to The Beatles in your life, well you probably shouldn't be reading this blog, or you have probably never understood it.) but I digress,..(concerning hip-hop -)....It's poetry (which is good) & beats (which are also good). But this is just such a fantastic example of what's possible with music. Cliche' time: Music is the universal language, it transcends. This is your culture people, don't let it pass you by. Sit down, down load, insert over-sized headphones as close as possible to your sensory receptors, or brain, & think it through. (it's not that big a'deal people, work with me)

(got bored & figured I would make up some artwork for the album - psych!)

oh, & here are just a few tracks to wet your beak with - (i stole that last line from, hhmm, I think it was actually Godfather 2)

self-depiction

so here i am - sat fat in a dream - haze - centrifugal interpretation - eyes closed - mind open to alternate possibilities - acute, but never speaking in absolutes - forbearance from my forefathers - meaningful dialogue trapped in underwater tunnel - mind's devices shadowed by compact walls - closing in, conscious, exact & fearful - a failed escape - a doomed release - a clown's jovial prank - interesting results from introspective thoughts - a fall out - a cry for help - trapped inside a rancid interpretation - but aware, anxious with relevant anticipation - calm, while patiently awaiting my combustion - strong, while catering to my weakening desires - tall, while reading into shallow dreams - large, while enabling only a peep of my lioness roar - a floundering talent - haven't yet reached my full potential - all the while escaping the impossible - been alive 27 years - 18 & stopped shedding tears - feelings, emotions, trapped inside like a charlatan's fear - laying down to rest now - back & forth, but residing in my home town - the attempt to pick up what I've laid down.

got into some things this weekend with my boys,...

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so ya, have you listened to my playlist yet? no real theme, or meaning, just some random stuff that I have been digging lately, some stuff I have been digging for years though as well. I'll try to do that every once in a while. I would just love it if people who read this web log digital master class, you know if you were having a bad day or something, like some songs that someone else put very little thought into (me, not the artists) cheered you up a little. but i know, i know those days when it's all just falling down, like I had one of those days recently. Where you try so hard to not just lay in bed & stair out the window, but you're unable to muster, conjure anything positive whatsoever. well, just continue the fight is all I can say. easier said than done, there must be a better day ahead, ya know? remember your loved ones, & the ones that are close to you, they probably love you more than you even deserve sometimes. i'm not saying to hide away your feelings, but try to put yourself in someone else's shoes every once ina'...

i guess it's about perspective & trying not to fall back into your own selfish desires. i'm also aware that sometimes when i write stuff, it's just a reminder to myself. I wish i was a better writer, ya know. poems don't really come to me anymore, & you cant really force that kind of thing, no formal training, it's really just about understanding & writing about living, isn't that what all art is? just different ways to relate to being alive? since we all are actually alive, that's really the only thing we have in common with each other. that's the only thing we can really relate to, art is universal in that way. but anyways, that's just something i think is important.

so this is it?
look at all these trophies i've acquired
reminders for a gloomy day
road maps to my past
material things that just won't last
themes to set your mind to
your age found you on a rainy day
nickel & dimed yourself to get it together
a struggle constant & true -
bad vibes coming from the future
sleepy eyes to make it clear
a certain sense of uncertainty rings bright & bold
magnifying glass flipped around
it's on you now, time to decide
a decision must be made.
truths in riddles
unable to figure out
dread & fret like a painful clout
what can be done to clear webs?
fuzzy webs to get you through
a days mistake, so simple, so fluid.
buildings crumble around you
as you begin your slow & vivid
return to simple dust.

yes it's true, my love for you is real - please relax.

mara-rooney, or,...

somewhere, somehow, some goal keeper just had a fatal heart-attack, or some dude just rolled over in his grave. man, if we could roll back time,....

do you ever feel like this in your life?





I do.

like a big, violent crashing wave looming over my head, oh & what's more,...? that damn wave has little spikey claws about to scratch me eyes out! I'm going into hiding/hibernation. That's always been a dream of mine. Bears have it lucky. Let's just go,......

proper profound pressure cooker

ah ha! we meet again in this digital realm. did you see that park full of people on the lastie, (?) awaiting victorious words from a different approach! it was, it was, it was, I do believe, like a proper rock concert-gathering. the masses out en masse. i dunno - pressure. lot's of things to look at - to fix - clean - dust - but here I sit with some renewed hope for a few minutes. was my super hero joke funny? not at all? hhmm oh well - i was pleased with the effort. but anyway, I still feel like there are a lot of crooked people out there. we gotta watch out for each other. I mean I don't get into politics much, esepically on the state & local level. Living in the south or certain areas of this country, I mean I guess I don't relate much to those boneheads. Doesn't it seem like it's still one big ole' boys club? I mean I'm reading this amazing book by Hunter T., & he was going through the same type things not even an hr. & a half up the rd. in Louisville in the late 60's. ha - "These Things Take Time" remember? - but it's amazing how some things this country we're going through 40 or 50 yrs ago are still relevant these days. I guess we just gotta love each other - which is hard - I know - but remember your family - & a sense of community - even if you aren't really happy in your life -or your job - you gotta find a way to have a release every once in a while - & if that release comes in the form of some sort of hope from a new world leader, then so be it. it's up to you to find that place - I guess however you voted, at this point, it really doesn't matter - because how many people have said it?,......."We're All In This Thing Together" - & that's true - especially at this point. ok then,......w/love

I mean come on, think about it - Let's face facts
1. He's brilliant/educated
2. He's really rich
3. He has an outstanding record of cleaning up cities & fighting crime
4. He's a bachelor, thus no female to distract him
5. He's a proven leader (ask certain members of The Justice League)
All characteristics point towards Batman for our next president.
Please help me in this fight. Don't let The Joker, The Penguin & The Riddler take what we love about this country for themselves. Let your voice be heard. I'll be anxiously awaiting the results all day today. w/love - jesse

no, for real though -

(that was the worst rap/rhyme ever written, but anyway)
So stop by first thing tomorrow morning before you vote, because we def. should (vote that is). I'm just saying honestly, I hope I can sway some of you - I mean if you are leaning one way or the other & need some help, well look no further. I've been doing a lot of research for the past few months & have been remaining extremely quiet on the matter, like i.e., who I think is going to win - & all the important issues that we as Americans really care about. Because in the end, this is an important election & we seriously need some good, strong leadership. So tonight, think long & hard, but promise me that (if you can) try & read what I have to say, because there have been some really important issues that have been weighing heavily on my heart. I promise I won't take this lightly. I think if we can (try our hardest to) Unite as citizens of a great country, then we can really make a difference. O.K., then,............w/love

these beats (inspired funk) what? what? que the track

infectious beats - bangin' courageous feats -
hearing slime'd up rhymes - the litany - inspired concrete streets
the call - the acceptance - the answered back beats
head-throbbing flowing - the decision
with proper direct precision - chump gear action -
wanna-be honorable mention - delayed satisfaction
bring the funk - hear the flying duck - the audition
these beats cause infection - my intention
drop the pen - spontaneous BOOM - inflates ambition
brothas passing Scooby-Doo rhymes through the gate
Madvillain blockin' entrance witha' super hero cape -
yo yo, take this next verse -
& ya don't stop - halla chumps! we out -

(stop in tomorrow for my special election day pick)

electric current