The 7th of March, Two Thousand and Eleven

Posted in Daily Pictures, Reflections on March 10, 2011 by Verge

Head Up Your Ass University

The first sentence of this article reads, “As legislators nationwide debate whether to legalize medical marijuana, colleges and universities in states where laws have been adopted say their campuses will remain drug-free.”  You’ve gotta’ be kidding me, right?  Deans actually believe that by not allowing those who medically NEED marijuana for diagnosed illnesses onto their campuses and into their dorm rooms, that their colleges will then be “drug-free.”  Seriously, the only thing that this can accomplish is to drive the price of medical marijuana higher because it will be a slight but more difficult to obtain while on campus.  In fact, I’m pretty sure, regardless of their policies, when someone really needs to score some pot, a college campus might us a  solid place to start asking around, if you know what I mean.

not sure I'd be tweeting in my last few days, but I'd probably blog about it

This story may or may not have turned out to be true, I don’t know.   But, I do applaud states that have a law allowing people to end their own lives with dignity.  Not that it shouldn’t be signed off on by a doctor, which in this case, it has to be.  You must see a doctor to get the prescription for enough pills that will be fatal if taken as prescribed.   This particular man had terminal cancer, and wanted to die lucidly and wanted to put an end to the burden and suffering he knew he was causing his family.  He stopped his pain killers, and started sharing his business with the world.  Don’t know if he’s dead yet or not, but like another very sensitive subject, I’m glad the law was pro-choice and not pro-“you can’t make decisions about your own” life.

honestly, some of the more fascinating programming to come from NPR was a result of this hidden camera expose

A showdown over NPR funding continues.  First of all, I don’t know why this idiot’s boss was forced to resign, and the man himself still has a job, but I guess that’ll all be worked out.  Second, he must absolutely be fired, but not for what he said.  He’s entitled to his opinions, whatever they may be.  He should be canned because why on Earth would someone who is the VP of NPR talk to people he just met about anything “off-the-record” let alone controversial views.  Honestly, I can’t say everything he said was crazy.  But when you’re accepting money from the federal government, and you’re employed by them, you have to be smart enough to keep your opinions to yourself if it might put your own job in danger.  I can’t see that their funding won’t get yanked from the budget at this point, but I’m positive that private donors will more than make up for the money they’ll be missing.  And, when the funding gets pulled, NPR can be free to be as liberal as they want.

Muslim witch hunt? actually, do Muslim witches actually exist??

okay, if you’ve read my blog here, then you must know how I already think this is the most insane, prejudice, bad-for-this-country kind of an idea in a long time.  I am really at a loss when I see how much hatred exists towards a religion and the people that practice it.  I can’t stress enough how most Americans don’t understand the difference between Muslims, Arabs and Middle Easterners.  That describes three different groups of people.  One describes a religious demographic, one a cultural one, and the third a geographic one.  And, big surprise, there are PLENTY of people who are only one of the three.  Do people in this country even know what they’re afraid of??

Actually, according to this article, law enforcement officials do, and here’s the list, in order of most to least feared of actually posing a serious threat to security:  Neo-Nazis, militant patriots, racist skinheads, freemen/sovereign citizens, animal rights extremists, extreme environmentalists, KKK members, Christian Identity extremists, anti-tax extremists, and anti-immigrant extremists.  11th on the list was Islamic Jihadists.  That’s right, the authorities think that your more  likely to be hurt by a vegan than an crazy Islamic Fundamentalist.

I thought our country was founded on freedom of religion.  This recent development literally turns my stomach to think that we learned nothing from our mistakes of the past.  I’m also fairly sure that Christianity has a deeper history of terrorism than Islam…it doesn’t take too much research.

this is what people do when the unemployment rate hits 10%

okay, protesting near dead soldiers funerals has gotta’ be one of the most despicable acts you can do to protest homosexuality other than actually attacking gays.  It truly is disgusting.  But, unfortunately I have to agree  with the ruling that they must be permitted to protest in the manner that they have been.  They have been peaceful, kept their distance, applied for permits, and cooperated with authorities.  Really, as poorly founded as their message is, they truly are model protesters.  It’s like the movie Old School…”they’re really good at paperwork, it’s really quite an anomaly.”

Facts are that I enjoy a lot of things that people don’t approve of, and they protest those things.  But in this country, you’re allowed to freely express your opinion in a peaceful manner, even when it is tasteless.  Our laws protect tastelessness, which is why I can still listen to Howard Stern, and Muslims should be allowed to build a mosque right next to the former WTC site if they want.  Of course, when these people do something like speak tongues or burn Qurans, I can go right ahead and organize a protests and…wait, I have a job.  Scratch that.

lets end on a good note

I love winter, I really do…but it does suck.  The romantic,” snowed in together, work is closed today” times are far out shadowed by the shitty snow shoveling and “shivering while waiting for my car to warm up” moments.  I’m really looking forward to getting out in my yard and getting it ready for planting.  And, if things don’t work out so well with this whole NFL CBA thingy, and I end up losing my job, me and Monika are moving to somehwere where I can have a garden all year round.  with Avocado trees, and orange trees and peach trees and lemon and lime trees, and dates, and….well, maybe here.

 

I know my thoughts seem backwards sometimes, but I  just think that valuing all sides of an argument, equally informed, is the only way to form a true opinion.  I thoroughly invite anyone to give me their own opinions and viewpoints in the interest common ground.

 

Seven Gram Rocks

Posted in Good Times with tags on February 28, 2011 by Verge

I’m loving the brutal honesty that Charlie Sheen is dropping all over the place, even if it’s obviously crystal clear he is awesome…er, not well.  I gotta respect a man that says what the hell he thinks.  I’ll bet his damn parties were “epic.”  Wish I got invited to one.  If only Tiger had the balls to say what he really wanted to say.  Screw publicists, and without further ado…here is my latest tee shirt, just in time for the big full interview tomorrow.

I'd start taking orders, but I just don't have the time. I'm sure this idea will be stolen ten times over tomorrow morning, but, hopefully this blog somehow proves I'm the originator!!

15 Things Concerning the 53rd Grammy Awards (you may not know, and probably don’t care about)

Posted in Daily Pictures, Reflections with tags on February 18, 2011 by Verge

1.  It’s the 53rd, or 52nd, or 51st Grammy Awards.  It’s not the 2011 Grammy Awards.  It’s not the 2010 Grammy Awards.  In fact, it was originally called a Gramaphone Award, and the show was called “The Best on Record.”  The period of eligibility changes slightly each year, and this year’s dates were roughly September 2009-September 2010.

2.  Yes, apparently you CAN thank The Academy.  I thought that was reserved for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but nope, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences also exists in all it’s empty glory.  There is a Latin Academy also, and they run some other bullshit awards ceremony!

3.  When you write a song about how bad ass New York City is, and how it’s better than, well…everywhere, you don’t get invited to the Grammys to sing your song, even though you should have been, because they hold that shit in LA, land of a million pretentious assholes, er…Movie Stars!

4.  Lady Antebellum, ughhh, what do I really have to say here.  Okay, I’ll give them Best Country Song, and Best Country Album and Best country Performance  if they want ’em, but c’mon…Song of the Year? And, Record of the Year?! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me here.  Honestly, I think Eminem should have won, and I don’t even like him all that much (as in, I own exactly zero Eminem albums).

5.  Original Alternative music died in the 90s.  The “current” nominees included the rather non-contemporary bands Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, them Crooked Vultures and Ozzy.  Oh shit, wait…that’s considered “Hard Rock” these days.  The new alternative is what me and my friends used to call “indie” and included Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Broken Bells, Vampire Weekend and The Black Keys.

6.  Iron Maiden.  Still epic!

7.  Yes, Dangermouse is awesome, and at least they recognized it.  He may not be prolific, but he makes a fucking great few a year, and that deserves respect.

8.  Singing a song about telling you cunt ex-girlfriend to Fuck off while Muppets sing your back up vocals is not only hilarious, but stunning that Cee-Lo could pull it off seeing as Katy Perry’s tits were too big for Sesame Street just a few months ago.  Most kids that watch Sesame Street are pretty damn familiar with huge tits in the first place, aren’t they??

9.  Train made good on a promise to Howard Stern.  Good for them.  If only that bastard was actually on the air Monday morning to discuss it, but apparently Valentine’s Day is a god damned national holiday for him, and he took the whole week off (and probably next, as well).

10.  We all know it’s kinda funny that there’s a Best reggae Album, Best Zydeco Album and Best Polka Album.  But who the hell even knows what the Best Hawaiian Album, Best Tejano Album, Best Norteno Album and  Best Banda Album even are, let alone what the f they sound like??

11.  “Record of the Year” should really be called “Recording of the Year” because that is what the mean.  The fact that Lady Antebellum was even in this category is why I know even the Academy doesn’t really understand their own terminology.   Nearly none of the people who are producers and engineers were actually nominated in those fields were also nominated in Record of the Year.  I’m supposed to believe that theiry performance of that song was so spectacular that even the best recording engineers and producers in all of music couldn’t make a better recording than this??  If it was called “Engineer of the Year” nobody would even care who was nominated.  Oh wait, that is a category…bet you didn’t even know, did you!

12.  It’s entirely possible, but complete bullshit, in my logic mind, that an album can win “Best Album of the Year,” but not win the award for “best of” within that specific genre.  This year, Arcade Fire won the Grammy for “Best album of the Year,” but lost to The Black Keys in the category for “Best Alternative Album.”  That apparently means that in the narrower genre of alternative, The Black Keys were just more “alternative” than Arcade Fire, but didn’t write the best “overall” album of the year.  Sounds like shit to me.  Like a co-worker said during this conversation at work, this is like a cartoon winning Picture of the Year at the Academy Awards, but not winning Best Animated Feature.  Seriously, wtf??

13.  the Beatles won another one

14.  and the Doors won their first one

15.  and there’s no way Gwenyth Paltrow and Barbara Streisand should ever appear on my tv, ever!

Valentine Day 2011

Posted in Daily Pictures with tags , on February 16, 2011 by Verge

I went shopping for some presents for Monika in the morning while she was at work last Sunday.  On the way home, we were diverted to the site of the second of two landmark fires in Atco.  The first was Sally Starr’s pizza joint near the center of town.  The other…

the Golden Nugget kitchen, after someone had an so-called "accident." We were told that it had burned to the ground. It didn't, but Monika saw the inside and said it was well destroyed.

later, we headed into Philly with our friends, to eat sushi and have cocktails at Swanky Bubbles.

...

and after that, while watching the Grammys, we made chocolate covered strawberries (real ones). not that easy to find fresh strawberries in February, I've found. although, dirt cheap roses are sold at every gas station. go figure.

we rocked the champ, too. what else would you have during the grammys?

the next night, we gave a shot at our Valentine's Day beer. It stated as an American Cream Ale, but I decided to add Chocolate Malt, Sparkling Amber Malt, and...

fresh strawberries (and some blackberries) to add some sweetness to the brew.

if it turns out well, I'll have a glass for all of you. I tried a glass after just one day, and was satisfied, and as I write this, I can hear the persistent blub of bubbling brew in my kitchen and the batch ferments away.

Come Party with Us!

Posted in Daily Pictures on February 4, 2011 by Verge

over the weekend, we inherited a new piece of furniture from my brother.  It was my parent’s at one time, for most of my childhood.  My brother didn’t have room for it anymore, and after initially turning down the offer for it, I accepted and made room.  It’s stocked, ready to serve drinks, so if you want to come help us break it in on Sunday over the first half or so of the Super Bowl, give us a shout.

<glug>

less scary now

a casualty of installation, my gargoyle.

I've been meaning to give this stuff a try. along with a ton of other drinks I come across at the liquor store, but this one has my interest piqued.

The Twenty Ninth of January, Two Thousand and Eleven

Posted in Daily Pictures with tags on January 29, 2011 by Verge

woke up this morning to sleeping kitties and a wife who didn't have to go to work.

then, off to Merchantville Lodge to donate some more blood. Seriously, Community Blood Council of New Jersey is so much better than the Red Cross. They don't bruise my arms!

giving blood is kind of like getting a mini health checkup. I don't know what HGB is exactly, but I was told I wouldn't die if I lost a pint of blood.

then off to the Mart, where people smoke these...

...and ride this....

...and walk down this hallway...

...for the privelage to use this lovely specimen!! Good Day!

The Twenty Sixth of January, Two Thousand and Eleven

Posted in Daily Pictures on January 26, 2011 by Verge

Not too much going on here in our lives right now.  We tried to go hiking last Saturday afternoon and that was a mistake.  No pictures or adventure stories from that excursion.  We’ve been laying low since we’re on the wagon for another week and a half, so no crazy stories either.

Craig and I did make two 5 gallon batches of beer over the weekend.  I already had a batch going, so that means, in addition to the ridiculous amount of alcohol and beer already in the house, ready for Super Bowl, we also now have 15 gallons of home brew that may be ready to drink by then.

Anyway, Monica has started work at a new job and isn’t here with me right now.  I’m waiting for the snow storm to hit us for a second time today, and see what happens overnight.  It’s raining now, at 6 pm.  I’ll update some pictures and it will either be awesome (lots of snow) or shitty (lots a snowy rain).

Albums I’ll actually still listen to after 2010

Posted in Uncategorized on January 23, 2011 by Verge

I STARTED THIS LIST BACK IN DECEMBER, AND I JUST NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO FILL IT OUT.  THER ARE SOME GREAT PICKS IN HERE, THOUGH, SO CHECK EM OUT IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY.

This isn’t a top ten list of my favorite albums of 2010, but sort of.  It’s also not the best albums of 2010 because I haven’t listened to everything that’s come out this year.  Maybe I’ll get to that sometime, but not likely.  But, I have listened to a lot of new albums this year, and some of have been a true letdown (I’m looking heavily in your direction, Miss Xtina), and others have amazed me.  I say bullshit to anyone who says that new music and the bands of today have no talent, are boring, or just plain suck.  You suck.  Don’t be so closed minded.  Learn to listen.

So, here’s a list of albums that maybe aren’t the best artistic achievements in music ever, but the albums that I’ve loved this year, and when I hear them in the future, I’ll think “wow, brings me right back to 2010!”

OK Go -Of The Blue Colour of the Sky

Release Date:  January 12, 2010     Label:  Capital Records     Producer:  Dave Fridmann

Only their third album, OK Go have really taken a huge step forward with this release.  This is their first release since 2005’s OhNo which spurned their first few hits with…   This album, it seems to me, is very similar to Radiohead’s OK Computer in the sense that OK Go were considered by many to be a one trick pony until they heard this and said, “Holy Shit, these guys are on to something big.”  To them, music is art, something to be experimented with and something to entertain, much like their amazing videos.

Huge credit must go to producer Dave Fridmann who obviously pushed this band into extremes they didn’t even realize they could achieve.   With clear nods to Radiohead, Prince, Queen and The Flaming Lips (who Dave Fridmann also produces), OK Go show their maturity in epic tracks like the stunning Skyscraper and the soaring…

 

LCD Soundsystems – This is Happening

Released:  May 17, 2010     Label:  Virgin Records     Producer:  The DFA

 

 

School of Seven Bells – Disconnect from Desire

Released:  July 13, 2010     Label:  Ghostly International (Indie)     Producer:  Benjamin Curtis (self produced)

 

 

Sleigh Bells – Treats

Released:  May 11, 2010     Label:  Mom + Pop/NEET (MIA’s label)     Producer:  Derek E. Miller (self produced)

 

 

The Twilight Saga – Eclipse – Soundtrack

Released:  June 8, 2010     Label:  Chop Shop/Atlantic     Producer:  Alexandra Patsavas

 

Massive Attack – Heligoland

Broken Bells

Gorillaz

John Legend and The Roots

Taylor Swift

The Black Keys

Albums that are probably awesome, but I haven’t listened to enough times to really review them properly.

Brian eno

CeeLo Green

Autechre

Deftones

Miley Cyrus

Linkin Park

Royksopp

Kings of Leon

My Chemical Romance

Duffy

 

Trailer Park Boys Show

Posted in Daily Pictures on January 23, 2011 by Verge

Just ahead of another snow storm rolling in to Philadelphia, our friends from the Great White North, the Trailer Park Boys, rolled into Glenside to the Keswick Theater to tell some jokes, act some skits, and generally get “high as fuck.”  In the wake of their seventh and final season  on Canada’s Showcase channel,  show writers and stars Mike Smith, Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay came to a Philly stage to reprise their roles as Bubbles, Ricky and Julian.

Monika and I couldn't resist. We had great seats, only 15th row or so, just to the left.

...

bubbles as a woman

And then there’s this…

Liquor and whores
Liquor and whores
Cigarettes and dope and mustard and bologna
Liquor and whores

I went down
Drinkin’ at the Legion
I met a girl she was nice
She was pretty and pleasing

She said “Hey boy
We should do some marrying”
I said sure but before we do
There’s something that you should know

I like
Liquor and whores
Liquor and whores
Cigarettes and dope and mustard and bologna
Liquor and whores…

Then one night down at the legion
She walked in, I was drunk on gin
Dancin with a lady friend
She said hey boy, You’d better fly the fuck home
I said no cause five little words I coulda
Swore I said to you

I like
Liquor and whores
Liquor and whores
Cigarettes and dope and mustard and bologna
Liquor and whores…

And for any Rush fans out there

January Pictures (from the first two weeks)

Posted in Daily Pictures with tags , , on January 17, 2011 by Verge

This was the Element after it decided to smell the butt of the car in front of it. Never knew my car was into trucks, but apparently...

another Sabol original, one of the newer ones around the office. during the playoffs, I spend more time than usual at work, but it's nice to feel important once in a while.

we went bowling for Dan's birthday at Pinsetters, the hippest bowling alley in South Jersey. I only got one game in, but I did manage to finish the entire flask of whiskey. I win!

and so did they...I guess we all won (because we all brought flasks)

my birthday was next, and I decided to make a nice birthday stout for myself. It should be ready by New Years!

you may be wondering what Craig is demonstrating in this candid photo...

why, it's a demonstration of how to use my most prized birthday present!

I'm used to snow on my birthday, and I got it once again. This is our Chrismas Tree. I had dragged it outside to take to the trash, but stood it up when it started to snow.

step two of brewing beer....wait. I decided to go on the wagon for a month after my birthday to recover from the holidays. But, in three short weeks, for the Super Bowl, somebody better kick me right the hell out of the wagon already.