Category: General

Just a quick update before I have a chance to write more words on the topic:

Friday night Tracy, Gina and I had dinner, then rocked out to Harvey Danger at the Doug Fir. So good. Sean Nelson, I think I’ve now seen you live in concert more times than any other performer. Well done, sir.

Then Saturday I took the train up to Seattle to see Bad Religion fill a tiny little club with their challenging and acerbic music, to the delight of several hundred sweaty punk rock fans, including myself. So hot inside, and black as pitch. The security was spraying down the crowd with cold water. That felt good after being in the pit, moshing and laughing.

I think I’ve figured out why moshing is so exhilarating to me: I’m so bipolar when it comes to contact and touch, that being in a crowd like that, having almost no control and being pushed and pushing back, just takes me beyond my normal boundaries. And there’s a combination of the feeling of “danger, danger!” and the, yes, friendliness of the crowd. I fell once last night, and the crowd immediately made room for me, and a giant of a man reached down and pulled me to my feet almost before I knew I was down. We’re happy maniacs in there. Feels damned good.

Today I’m taking the train back. Kinda glad I brought a change of clothes – I was soaked with sweat and water last night.

Rocket is promising a real unicorn. That, on top of the fire and strippers and chance to help out a fellow traveler, should be all you need to know.

When I saw the movie “Fletch” for the first time, I loved it. I dug Chevy Chase, and I loved the idea of the investigative reporter who is a) hilarious, and b) challenging to authority. Oh, and he got the chicks.

When a friend pointed out that the movie was based on a book, in a series of books, I knew I had to read it. This wasn’t a novelization of the movie, made after the fact, a hack attempt to cash in. The character of Irving M. “Fletch” Fletcher started on the page, in the mind of Gregory Mcdonald. And so I read “Fletch”.

And then I read “Confess, Fletch”. And then I read “Fletch’s Fortune”. And then I read “Fletch and the Widow Bradley”… and on and on.

And as much as I loved Chevy Chase’s take on the character, I realized that Mcdonald’s written version of the character wasn’t the same at all. On the page, Fletch was more vulnerable and somehow, more charming. Chase’s Fletch stumbled sometimes but he was always the master of the situation. In the books, we had access to Fletch’s thoughts and feelings, and it gave me more insight into the mind of a caring con man, a schemer for justice, if you will.

And it was all done through Mcdonald’s marvelous dialogue. Real, funny, and it always drove the plot and defined the characters.

Which is all to say that I’m going to miss Gregory Mcdonald. I didn’t know much about him as a person, but I loved the stories he told and characters he created. He was an inspiration to me.

Goodbye, Mr. Mcdonald.

Republican co-worker in conversation with like-minded libertarian co-worker on Monday:

“Palin? McCain? Of course they’re lying. What does lying get them? More money in the bank and a boost in the polls! It’s OK! There’s a war on, and whatever it takes to win…”

Republican co-worker in conversation with friendly but opposing Democratic co-worker on Wednesday, in reference to Joe Biden’s gun control position:

“He’s been in the fight but he’s never told the truth. We don’t like liars.“

…at which point I busted up laughing and practically shouted at him, “You don’t like liars?”

He replied back, “Show me a documented instance of–“

I cut him off. “How about McCain and Palin?”

“Uh, uh, well, no, I’m talking about–“

“Whatever,” I said. “I need coffee.” And I walked away.

Felt good to catch him in a direct contradiction. That might’ve made my entire week.

Rocket has put together a fund-raising benefit for Cricket, to help with medical expenses.

The benefit is Thursday, September 25th, 9:00p – 2:00a at Devil’s Point.

Cricket is an energetic and positive performer. No 23-year-old should have fuckin’ cancer.

Bring your friend Benjamin!

Edit: fixed the links to Rocket and Cricket’s MySpace pages.

I’ve never seen Bad Religion live. According to my Last.fm page, they’re one of my top-played bands. I love them.

So when I heard they were playing a show in Portland in support of their new album, I snapped up tickets. The Roseland, Friday night, bitches. Mosh or die.

It’s somehow fitting that they’re playing on September 12th. Greg and the boys were warning about what’s come to be known as “post 9/11 thinking” since Ronald Reagan was in office.

…and then Tracy found out that one of my other top-played bands was playing a show in Portland.

On September 12th. At the Doug Fir.

Oh, snap.

Butbutbut… I’ve never seen Bad Religion play. I’ve seen Harvey Danger play many times – it’s a benefit that they’re semi-local (regional?).

I wish there was a way I could make it happen to see both of them…

Hmmm… Checking Bad Religion’s schedule, they’re playing a show in Seattle on the 13th. Maybe it’s time for a road trip?

So when Republicans talk about “executive experience”, what they mean is “experience in abusing power, banning books, not issuing any orders to military or paramilitary units under their command, and covering up a multitude of scandals“.

Right?

I love Mythbusters. They’re doing actual science but in a very accessible way.

Here’s part of a demonstration Adam and Jamie did… somewhere… that demonstrates the difference between serial processing, and parallel processing. Watch and learn and be in awe.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKK933KK6Gg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1]

They get to play with the best toys.