Beneath a lamp post

Im waiting for the 7 at orcas and rainier for what may very well be the last time ever. Its strange how accustom i've become with it. For four years now i've had some reason to find myself here. Makes me realize how all things really do change with time. A part of me will always miss it.

MY Top 20 Albums of the Decade

I figure if Pitchfork can do so can I...

20. Burial – Untrue

Burial came to me out of nowhere. I heard a track online was strangely drawn to it. Ever since this has become my number one choose to listen while I'm reading. It's down tempo beats sway between the darkest reaches of sound. While it's not the most notable album part of what I love most about it is how easily it slips through the cracks, while still foments itself in the subconscious. Favorite track: "Etched Headplate"

19. Battles – Mirrored

Definitely one of the best albums to throw on when cleaning. It's fast pace and strange vocals always make me feel like I need to be moving. It has always seemed to me that if you were to find away to express accounts of a DMT trip into sound it would turn out exactly like this. Favorite track: "Atlas"

18. Deerhunter – Microcastle

Microcastle is a perfect example of what I want from "pop" music. Musically its near perfect and when combined with the eerie, sometimes frightening lyrics, this album is ready to stand the test of time. I struggled a lot with where to place this effort and it may very well deserve a higher rating than I gave it. However the middle drags just a tad too long for me, but when it picks up it gets right back into the meat of it. Favorite track: "Saved by old times"

17. TV On The Radio – Dear Science

Here's one that I won't listen to much in the winter, but as soon as the sun pokes out it's guaranteed that Dear Science won't be too far behind. So many great tracks (Dancing Choose, Golden Age, Red Dress) that its hard to pick just one. But whenever I have time for just one track I always seem to pick the same one. Favorite track: "DLZ"

16. Spoon – Gimme Fiction

There are many Spoon records that could have made an appearance on this list, however Gimme Fiction takes the cake. The drive thats initialized right off the bat set the tone for this album that delivers on each track. This was the first Spoon album that I feel in love with, which may also explain why I choose it here. Favorite track: "My Mathematical Mind"

15. Tool – Lateralus

When I first heard this album I hated it. I couldn't understand what they thought they were doing. It took six years before I realized. This album more than any other shows the evolution of Tool from the angry hardcore band that brought us Opiate to the well refined masters they are today. Lateralus is when they seemed to discover the harmony that transformed their sound from metal to art. Favorite track: "Reflection"

14. LCD Sound System – Sounds Of Silver

This is a very strange album to me. The beginning and the end are exactly what I want to hear when I go to the club. As soon as the snare starts up I just want to dance! But not like you might think when you think of dancing. I more just want to flail about with the beat. Then you have the meat of this album that is amazing and really elevates this from dance music to worth of the top 20. Favorite track: "All my friends"

13. Gnarls Barkley – St Elsewhere

When I first heard this album I was blown away. It seems that everything Dangermouse touches turns to gold but when you put him together with Cee-Lo all you'll see is platinum. There isn't a single track on this album that I'd call filler. The way they're able to mix tracks like "Smiley Faces" with one like "Necromancer" and still maintain the flow is amazing. Not to mention the beautiful image that always comes to my mind while listening to the title track. Favorite track: "Storm Coming"

12. Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News

Oh Modest Mouse, how I love thee. What can I even say. This album is great. In many places it took the angsty mouse and tamed it a bit, while still letting it run wild at times. It has everything you expect from Modest Mouse, clever lyrics, great rifts, an anger at God, etc. With this album they seemed to realize how to take their indy success and make it slightly more approachable to the masses. Favorite track: "Black Cadillacs"

11. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna

This was by far my favorite album of 2007. Kevin Barnes has described it as a concept album detailing his transformation into Georgie Fruit (*). Which makes some sense but not total to me. There is one track that I really loathe on this album, Bunny Ain't No Kind Of Rider, which comes right after the transformation. Probably worth saying that I also am not of fan of the follow up to this album. However after avoid Of Montreal for a while due to Skeletal Lamping I came back to this one and found it was just as good as before. Hopefully in the future we'll see the death of Georgie Fruit and the return of great tracks like "Suffer for Fashion", "Gronlandic Edit" and "Sink the Seine". Favorite track: "We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling"

10. Deerhunter – Cryptograms

Breaking into the top ten is Cryptograms. This album is a bizarre journey through many phases of life. What I love most about this album is the questions that it poses and how everyone can ask themselves those question and come up with different responses. You may remember the previous post about my greatest fears, well that question originates here. This album reminds me a lot of "White Light, White Heat" in the way that it strikes me as very "avant-garde". Favorite track: Spring Hall Convert

9. Animal Collective – Merriwether Post Pavillion

Oh AC how you've grown since we first met in the aisle at Tower Records, your Sung Tongs enchanting me for reasons I could never explain and now look what you've done! MPP blew me away the first time I heard it. The combination of electronic sounds with the harmonies they create with the human voice are simply unbelievable. This album is a prime example of how you can mix something old with something new to churn out something that is completely original and wholly fantastic. Favorite track: "My Girls"

8. Blur – Think Tank

I hate to admit that I might be a little generous with the placement of this one here, but c'mon now: IT'S BLUR! If this were is to be their last album I'm going to be disappointed but not for it's lack of quality. In classic Blur fashion they intermingle ballads with great pop/dance tracks to create something that is both fun to listen to when you're happy or sad. I think that they captured the duality that exists within the "club" lifestyle of ups and downs, which parallels a lot of their career. Favorite tracks: "Brothers and Sisters" / "Battery In Your Leg"

7. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary

I've been more excited about this band than probably any other. This debut is off the charts. These guys might just be the greatest thing to enter into the world of music this decade, time will tell. Looking at tracks like "You are a Runner" it's hard to run away from them and "I'll Believe in Anything" will make you do just that. I hope these guys are around for a very long time, continuing to put out music of this caliber. Favorite track: "Grounds For Divorce"

6. Gorillaz – Demon Days

This might just be the album I've listened to more than any other. I love everything about it. If I'm feeling down I just throw this bad boy on and it's an instant mood enhancer. It doesn't matter what part of the album either. Many times if I don't have time for the whole thing I'll just pick a random spot and start in with it on repeat. I want nothing more than to see them in concert. I was recently telling a friend that I'd pay almost anything. Favorite track: "Don't Get Lost in Heaven"

5. Outkast – SpeakerBoxx/The Love Below

This is probably the biggest point of controversy on the whole list. "Really, not Stankonia?" Really. That's just how I feel about it. When I want to hear some Outkast this is the one I go to. I think that the breakdown between the two of them is a great thing, especially since they're still working with each other. I guess if I had to compare it to something I'd say it's their sort of White Album, and for those of you who know me you know my feelings about the White Album. Favorite tracks: "War" / "Hey Ya"

4. Radiohead – In Rainbows

Where do I even begin. After Hail to the Thief I was beginning to think that Radiohead would never blow me away like they had in the past, then there was In Rainbows. In many ways it's much more simplistic than their other recent works, but I think this is part of its genius.This album took everything great about Radiohead and used it to make a master piece that expresses everything that is great about being alive. Favorite track: "Reckoner" (I know that one comes as a shock to all of you)

3. Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

This album is one of the most influential in my life to date. If there is one thing that the Flaming Lips do well it's explain the mysteries of death through the power of life and this album shows that more than any other. Whenever someone close to me passes the first thing that I do is listen to this album. And while it doesn't remove the feelings of loss it does help me to understand that it's not all bad. I think that even Alfred Tennyson may agree that there has never been a finer expression of love and loss than Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Favorite track: "All We Have Is Now"

2. Modest Mouse – Moon and Antarctica

I will never forget my first experience with Modest Mouse. NESF had bought me a ticket to one of their shows at the Showbox. I had no idea what to expect. Then I found myself in the walkway you enter through staring directly at Isaac Brock as he started into "Third Planet". I was awe struck. And so it began. The Moon and Antarctica has yet to be surpassed by any of their more recent efforts. The raw emotion captured in this album is something that I find hard to explain but often feel myself, whether it be confusion, emptiness, anger, or just that strange sensation of wanting nothing more than to pick up and leave it all behind, it's all here seeping through the notes and tangled up in Brock's words. Favorite track: "A Different City"

1. Radiohead – Kid A

Who else could stand atop this list other than the child who saved the world of music. When Kid A came out I thought that all was lost and we were going to be destine to play out the remainder of our existence listening to Brittany Spears and n'SYNC. OK Computer had been so long ago I'd all but given up on Radiohead. No matter how much I yearned for it the new album never seemed to come. I took to buying every single I could find with even just one new track and downloading every live performance in hopes of catching a glimpse. In fact I did find more than a glimpse in my search. I'd heard tracks like "How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found" (20+ minutes long!) and "Pyramid Song" which only made me lust more for a new album. Then it came and completely destroyed everything that I thought was real. "This must be what God listens to," I'd thought to myself. Even the tracks that I had heard before were presented in such a new fashion that I hardly recognized them but once I'd heard them I couldn't imagine how else they could ever be assembled. It was unlike anything that had ever been before and nothing would be the same ever again. Favorite tracks: "Everything in Its Right Place", "Kid A", "The National Anthem", "How to Disappear Completely", "Treefingers", "Optimistic", "In Limbo", "Idioteque", "Morning Bell", "Motion Picture Soundtrack"

In limbo, Ballardians, and the upcoming CCC

Well it's about time for a little more serious post. We'll see how this works out...

I moved, but I don't really fell like I've moved yet. I still have to finish up cleaning down at Lucile St. I think once that is completed I'll feel like I've actually moved. Right now it seems more like I'm in limbo. Should be all wrapped up tomorrow though...

The new place is great. I'm now a Ballardian. Well I'm told that I'm a Ballardite, but I like Ballardian better. It's a pretty sweet little spot. Upper floor in a smaller building. All the neighbors have been really chill so far. I think that it's going to turn out to be a great place for me. Now if I can just get through the last few boxes and get an idea of all the little things I need to buy (found out last night I don't have a can opener) I'll be set...

With the new place comes a new commute. It's a bit longer, takes an hour instead of twenty minutes. But there is an upside to that. I'd pretty much quit reading on the bus since I hardly had time before. I think I'm going to be reading a lot more now though. I've already started on a new book, Cloud Atlas. NESF gave it to me, I think for my birthday, earlier this year. I've been meaning to start it forever because it came highly recommended, but never seemed to get to it. Oh what I have been missing! It's fabulous. I'm only 70 pages in and I'm in love with this book. It's brilliant. I can't wait till I get deeper into it. I get the impression that it will continue to amaze me with each page...

We're drawing very near to the 300th post. I'm not sure if I'm going to do anything special for y'all, but figured I should at least mention it at this point...

'scuse me if I drool

This isn't the video that I wanted but whatever it's still good...

To help with your revival

I'm going to leave this here just in case any of you need a little help with your revival...

No milk, will ever be our milk

Here's some strange ramblings between myself and the 2x4ster...

2x4ster: soundsza gooda
no milk
will ever be our milk
nae the movie for Jolt Cola
nmae
name
no Google
That milk belongs to that classroom
Desomniac: sounds good man
and btw
yes google
Google is my God
BOW DOWN TO GOOGLE!!!!
2x4ster: Bow Wow
Woof
Desomniac: grrrrrr

2x4ster: hi
Desomniac: hi
nevada only get one reason
just one
no more
no less
oh nevada
2x4ster: say wa?
Desomniac: not wa, nv
2x4ster: nh?
Desomniac: they're next on my list
douchebags fuckin' ignore me
i'm coming out guns blazing
2x4ster: coming out eh
Desomniac: they're going to pay for their actions
or lack there of
2x4ster: prostitution
Desomniac: heads are gonna roll
WHORES!!!!!
2x4ster: mm hmm
Desomniac: Dakotas are still ignoring me
2x4ster: fuckslingers
Desomniac: might have to burnanate the countryside....burnanate the peasants
2x4ster: brainfazers
energyislanders
soul slammers
Desomniac: horse fuckers if you ask me
but probably more like buffalos
me, i'm a watusi man
2x4ster: buffalobangers?
blllluueeeckk!!!
Desomniac: strip the wings, grab a hat and saddle up
2x4ster: sixfeetunderblunder
Desomniac: just make sure you don't get the bufferpes
they're the worst
very pussy
pussy? pus-ee
like gangrenee
you know
2x4ster: buffalobillcodyburpies
are you at lunch?
I should run
Desomniac: No im "working"
where are you running to? or what from?
demons?
are they here?
did they find us!?
2x4ster: I am literally going to go run around the neighborhood
Desomniac: don't be peepin'
2x4ster: IBcreeeeepIN
Desomniac: step
step
now DANCE!
dance like your life depends on it
because it does
2x4ster: Cap'n Crunch is has enslaved the natives in my brain and is forcing them to cultivate Crunchberries in my head
Desomniac: that's definitely going to led to some miss firing neurons
2x4ster: MIss Firing runs the under-oblongata railroad
Desomniac: she also wears a purple garter belt that she puts on and removes with her teeth
quiet sexy really
2x4ster: her teeth are like stars
they come out at night
Desomniac: would be more so if she got those front teeth back
2x4ster: wisdom teeth
silence is golden
Desomniac: and her saliva is made of opals
2x4ster: i need to go
Desomniac: I need to blog this

And now I have...

Looking for Nevada

Oh Silver State why do you shun me? I've visited your lands many a times and you have never come to visit me. Well as I did for the Dakotas now I'm going to give you a reason, sorry you only get one, but it's a good one...

First and for most you took my money. Every time I see you you take my money. Whether it's on The Strip, Downtown Vegas, Reno or Tahoe you always take my money. The crazy part is that I continue to come and see you. And you know why? Because I love your abuse. I get an unbelievable rush from letting you reach into my pockets and feel around for every last dollar. It like being molested by a ghost with neon eyes. Even just passing over in a plane I feel the urge to jump from 40,000 feet and give into you once more. I wonder what airfare is looking like right now...

I'm not going to get anything done today

I don't really understand what happened last night, but I'm not in a good place right now. I figure today is probably a waste, at least for a few hours. I just watched this video. I don't really recommend it, but for some reason feel like I should share

The Seven, HWDs and The Establishment

So I'm riding the Seven home last night. It was just a standard bus ride at first. I was sitting in the back lounge area, because it was the only comfortable seat available. Those of you with long legs may have realized by now that only half of the seats are comfortable. So I've got my headphones on minding my own business when this teenage guy starts running his mouth. At first I don't even bother to listen and just continue listening to Parklife. However I notice that this was quickly becoming volatile and should probably keep an ear open just in case. It wasn't even two minutes before this kid announces, "It's the fucking establishment! Like this honky white devil here!" (points at me) "He's a part of the ESTABLISHMENT!!!" I couldn't help but laugh to myself. I mean seriously? People say that kind of thing? When did tolerance become a one way street? So the kid is all fired up and an older Hispanic man chimes in, "Go to Mexico." They then have a back and forth, the kid with broken ebonics and the man in broken spanglish. I wasn't able to follow the words they produced but some how they came to an agreement and a few stops later when the man was exiting the bus they actually exchanged an embrace. What a strange thing the Seven is. These are the kinds of encounters that the Seattle Times refers to as "a colorful part of daily life".

Unmonitored Outlet #2

So many empty lines all begging for meaning. Do I have enough words that merit their worth?

Looking for Dakota

Oh Dakota's why have you ignored me? Is it because of my left wing tenancies? Maybe because of my urban position? Or just the cut of my jib? I don't know. So instead of lamenting why you haven't already I've decided to give you a reason, hell why not many reasons to come visit my blog...

First off, we're not all that different. I love farms and long for an agricultural life. It might not be to the extreme that you go (those winters are just too much) but we could at least talk about irrigation techniques and how to properly discipline children into doing all the hard work.

My undying love of the watusi aside, I think that the buffalo is pretty awesome. Given the opportunity I could see myself riding one around. I'd name it Shelly and knit it a poncho. And when people made fun of her I'd remove the poncho to expose her harden titanium exoskeleton and then let her do her thing.

And to top it all off you grow my favorite grain of them all, CORN!!! You even have a Palace dedicated to corn! When I finally make it out there I plan to find myself a giant corn field and just run around in it until I finally collapse into a giant pile of corn husks. Then I would begin old Balkan harvest rituals with the land. It's a little X-rated, but I can assure you that the harvest would thrive for years to come.





















I also have a lot of things to offer you. Like strange ramblings from a distant place. Seriously, where else are you going to find such an awesome collection of youtube clips? Or vivid dreamscapes? Those might come in very handy. And while this may seem trivial I think it can help make your lives richer. Further understanding your fellow man will give you a renewed pride in our great planet, more for our differences than for the similarities.

Finally I just want to say to all of you in North Dakota and South Dakota: C'mon, try it. I think you'll like it. It makes you feel real nice. All the other kids are doing it. C'mon, just once. The first times free. The first times always free. Once you try it you'll never understand how you got by without it.

The Watusi...The Twist

Alright the greatest cattle of them all is the Watusi. Given the opportunity I'd start a farm and just herd them around all day basking in their majesty. And anyone who crossed my path would fall victim to the most horrific goring of all time.

(Can't You)?

I just ran across this little gem. Hadn't listened to it in years, but in high school it was one of my favorites...

Looks like we've made it to the end

My computer at home decided to crap out. I came home Friday and all I got were corrupted file notices. Ended up having to format the bitch and now I can't get it to recognize our home network. I've decided to just live without it for a week. It can't be that bad right? Eh, give it a couple days and I'll probably be complaining about it...

The packing is going pretty well. There are still some trouble spots, but that's what the rest of this week is for. I'm very happy to see that the forecast for this weekend so far looks promising. There's nothing worse that having to move in a torrential downpour. Now I'm just starting to get concerned that the truck might not be big enough. I'm going to have to take a closer look at everything...

Also finally got it all figured out when I'm signing the lease and getting keys to the new place: Thursday! Still probably won't move anything till Saturday, but this way I'll be sure I can get in when I show up with the truck...

Last Call at Lucile's was this last weekend. I'm glad everyone was able to show up. I had a good time. There was a key group of people missing, but some unexpected guests made up for it. It wasn't quite like the old times, but I think it was as good as it could get. RIP Lucile.

There’s a new theory for each passing week

In search of orcas

I fell asleep last night with a lot of things on my mind, then I dreamt about orcas...

I was standing on the corner of 15th and Market when I was approached by a faceless man. His lack of expression was startling but even more so was the fact that he was able to communicate without a mouth. I didn't hear his words in my ears, but more as if his thoughts were previously ingrained in my mind and I was just recalling them. He told me that I had to find the orcas and they'd answer any questions that I might have. And with that he vanished as quickly as a false sense of deja vu.
I searched all over the surrounding neighborhood searching for the animals (I'm not sure why I spent so much time searching on land). I wandered through large open fields of grass and down tight alleys lined with apartments and town homes. Everywhere I went was deserted in such a way that made me feel they left because they knew I was coming. As I passed through a small playground the swings still moved back and forth as if they'd just been abandoned.
I'd been walking for some time before making my way to a section of the shoreline that was surrounded in industry. I stared out for a very long time at the Sound trying to figure out what the man had meant by "any questions that I might have". Suddenly a lone orca came close to the shore and expelled a large amount of water through it's blowhole. The water reached heights that I would have figured to be impossible, raining down on everything within sight. I looked up into the falling water as it engulfed me. I felt glorious and alive.

Then Amun woke me up. I felt let down, but that's probably how it was supposed to go.

Cheers to better days

Today is much better than yesterday for many reason...

The Flaming Lips new album is streaming at www.colbertnation.com I recommend you all take a listen. It's great. Once I get it on my iPod I doubt that I'll listen to anything else for about a month.

Also came out that Pavement is going to be doing a reunion tour in 2010. I'm stoked! I never got to see them before they broke up because I wasn't privy to their existence. I just hope that they don't make this a festival tour. Oh how I hate festivals.

I've also drank about a pot and a half of coffee and am hyper-caffeinated. So even if things are shitty I'm too hyped up to care.

I might post another Unmonitored Outlet post...I can't decide right now.

I know that I've asked this before, but I feel that it's just as valid now as ever: Did you just rub honey all over yourself???

Unmonitored Outlet #1

I'm on a train that reeks of whiskey and unintentionally fermented bread. We're deep within the hill but it's only temporary. I close my eyes and see the waves rising and crashing. Its been too long since I've seen the ocean. I'm not long for this life. Which isn't to say that I'm going to die. For in each of our individual perceptions of existence we live many lives.

An Ode to the QOTH

I smile blankly in apathy as you hang yourself on a cross. Your self proclaimed righteousness gives your blood a foul stench that permeates from your body like the odor of decaying fruit, making my throat burn and my head ache. I must warn you that when you construct your own high road of ignorance and illusion you can only follow it as long as you can find new lies to pave the way. Soon your age will show your faults. I hope that you don't break your crown as you fall.

Time to get away

I'm having a very depressing and frustrating day. Its like there is a whirlwind of chaos around me right now. Between moving, social interaction and having found out that work is about to go to hell real quick I'm very done with the whole scene that is life. I need to get away, far away. I'm still pining for the ocean. I really need to just break down and buy a little car for occasions just like this...

Unmonitored Outlet

Lately I've been wishing that I had an "unmonitored outlet". A place where I can just rant into space and no one will ever hear what I say. Where words just overflow into a vast sea of unconscious thoughts waiting for someone in a later generation to uncover that long lost concept I'd left behind.
The blog was the first attempt. However the more that I got into to actually blogging the more I wanted people to read or see what I was posting. This led to it being more prolific than the "UO" I was hoping for. However I felt that there was still some way to accomplish my goal.
I started a twitter account for that very reason. I thought, "I'll just write whatever I'm thinking about!" That was short lived and survived mostly on musical lyric quotes that I was listening to at the time (you'll notice the same of many blog titles here). And then I realized that what I was looking for didn't come in "tweet" form (exception: "poo tee weet") Now I mostly just use it for local news and as a tool with other blogs.
It's only recently that I remember how it used to happen. I was packing boxing, I'm moving, and I ran across a stash of old notebooks. How had I forgotten! I've been so used to working with small note pads and scraps of paper with my last project I'd completely forgot about notebooks.
Technology doesn't replace our unconscious. It just gives us a small glimpse at the trends of society. What runs between all of us is so much greater than technology and to think that I'd forgotten that is blasphemous. I'm back to my notebooks needless to say.
So in the future I think that I'm going to publish "unmonitored outlet" content, however it will be monitored (I realize the paradox). I'll be honest a lot of it is just gibberish, but every once in a while I come across a gem that leads to something much larger. That's how all my projects start essentially. This way you'll just a sneak peak of whats to come.

"That's not true."

This is hilarious...

What's Goin' On?

If you're looking for something new to check out I recommend you take a look at What's Goin' On? Only three posts in and I love this blog. Keep up the good work!

Performance Breakdown

I've started the packing process. It's going better than I anticipated. I've got about 15 boxes done so far and am almost 100% out of the basement (just a couple boxes left). I'm very happy that Mickey came by and picked up the leather chair and drafting table. He also took a bunch of stuff that needed to go to Goodwill that Benson said he was going to donate to a woman's shelter which pleased me as well. Unfortunately I haven't started the kitchen, which I anticipate will be the most beastly. It usually is. But I still have 12 days and I think that should be enough time. My big plan for this week is to finish up the cats room, the bar and begin on the kitchen. I feel like there are a lot of things that I can pack without impacting my ability to cook food. I also think that the roommates are planning to begin the move this week so that should help me to get a better idea of what there is to do once things start getting out the door. I figure if I'm able to stay on course this might just be the easiest move I've ever made. It certainly would be if I could just do it like this...



My ficus is dying again. This plant hates me I think. It's recovery was coming along nicely and now half of it is dying again. I think that I'm just going to have to cut off half of it and hope that solves the problem. Everyone has been telling me to just throw it away, but I can't bring myself to do it...

Went to Ray's OMGWTFBBQ yesterday and OMG WTF was right. It was a great time. His place is amazing. The grass, oh the grass. I could have spent the rest of my life lying in that luscious greenery. There was also an appearance by a couple of American Lady Boy's, I won't say who but I will say they were there...

Saturday might just have been the laziest day that I've had in a long time. I didn't wake up until 2pm and even then I just played video games and watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was exactly what I needed...

The Hawks dominated their season opener!!!! It's nice to see the team playing well again. The first quarter was nonsense but once they got through it they really stepped up their game and got the job done. Carlson is a savage and just might be what the team needed to get themselves back into playoff contention. It's a little early to make any solid predictions but I have a very good feeling that we'll be flying high in the NFC West this season...

I can't wait for Embryonic!!!

Are you serious!?

Rep Wilson...ohhhhh where do I begin. How about with Carol Fowler via CNN ...

"Never has any member of Congress shown such disrespect for the president during a speech," Fowler wrote. "One would think that as a member of the military, Joe Wilson would have more respect and patriotism than he displayed tonight. When Congressman Wilson insulted President Obama, he also insulted the American public. Joe Wilson is a poor example of a statesman and an American. He owes an apology to the president and the American people."

Here's something the man himself had to say via Fox News...

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," Wilson said in a written statement. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

Okay one more from bloomberg...

\"House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said he’s attended some 40 presidential speeches during his 28 years in the chamber and Wilson’s conduct was unprecedented.

“I’ve never heard a member discredit the House, demean the House in that manner,” Hoyer said.\'


Now I understand that people have differences but this was completely out of line. Even in my own debates I don't allow this kind of nonsense. It degrades him, the State of South Carolina, the US House of Representatives, and the President of the United States, not to mention every American citizen.

And to Rep. Wilson I say: I hope that during your next chance for re-election the people remember the great deal of disrespect that you brought about our whole country. We're better than that and you should know it.

And if we're not than I guess America is really dead...




UPDATE: Now this is nonsense. Just recently Rep. Wilson posted this on his Twitter account "Finishing up a video to post on our web site responding to the liberal attacks. Stay tuned." Is he serious!? Does this really have anything to do with partisanship. He disrespected the President. Everyone in America should be offended, liberal and conservative alike.

Let them know you realize

An old friend of mine just told me that her father passed away last night. My heart felt condolences go out to her and her family. Just always try to remember the good times and he'll always live on in your memories.

Holidays, Crunch Time and a Vision of Things to Come?

Holidays are never long enough. Just as I was getting comfortable in my escape I have to come back. I'd love nothing more than to be back on Case Inlet drinking a bloody mary, watching a storm come barreling in, while I steam up some fresh clams for a nice pasta medley. And the fire, oh the fire. With flames rising five feet into the air causing every raindrop to evaporate as soon as it touches down. I'll be back there soon enough...

Now that I'm back in Seattle it's crunch time. I have a lot of things to get worked out before the end of the month. Packing and cleaning and packing and cleaning and vomiting uncontrolably because the whole process makes me sick. I'm starting to think that I may need to have a yard sale to help get rid of stuff. Either that or I'll just become one of those obsessive compulsive craigslister's who spends every waking moment posting ads. Hopefully I'll be able to downsize my life though and once it's all said and done I'll be the happiest boy in all the land. Hopefully...


I don't think that I shared with you all the dream that I had last week. It all began in Bothel, well it might of been Mill Creek but somewhere over there. I don't remember what I was doing there but it was nothing of great importance. Suddenly there was a flash and everything went white.
As my vision returned I came to notice that my surroundings had changed. There were huddles of people around me all looking around in confusion. There were two buildings that were probably once homes, but had be left to rot long ago. We were all in the middle of what appeared to be a large forest. There was no food or water and everyone was starting to panic.
A good friend of mine, PMR, was there and he rallied a couple of other guys to go off in search of food with him. I was with the remaining people and hysteria was very much a reality. The few children there were huddled beneath a group of crying women, none of them the parents. A group of men were discussing how best to defend our position from whatever inhabited the surrounding foliage. No one was looking for water.
I stepped up and attempted to organize an effort to find water. After reassuring everyone that we were going to be fine I separated them all into small groups to search the immediate area in hopes of finding a river or lake.
As they departed I kept two of the groups behind to help set up a camp of sorts. We were able to find two large econoline vans that had the keys in the ignition. After moving them to a clearing on the south side of the houses we then decided to investigate inside.
I was with a woman who started asking me a lot of questions. Finally I couldn't take anymore and asked her why she thought that I knew more than any one else. She paused for a long time and then told me that before she ended up here she was in southern California and that a bright flash occurred and suddenly she was there with the rest of us. I knew that I had moved through time/space but for some reason I never thought that everyone else had as well. She forced me to swear that I wouldn't tell anyone where she was from, which I did, but was never sure as to why.
Around this time the first group of people came back from searching for water. They had found a small spring about 400 yards away and one of the men, I assume he was an engineer, began drafting a plan for an aqueduct. They were also able to acquire a variety of tools they found in the woods, a couple of hatchets, a sledge hammer, etc., and began getting to work on building the water system and starting a fire. This was the first time that I really looked around at what was around us.
I could see a body of water to the west and two large hills, one north and one south. On the southern hill there was a building and upon further study I determined it was the Pacific Medical Center. Mirrored on the opposite hill was another building that I then deduced to be Harbor View Hospital. We were in Seattle! but there were no other signs of civilization. No sky scrappers. No roads. Nothing but forest.
I was in a trance trying to process it all when an old friend from high school showed up and told me that she had to get to her studio on Lucile if she was going to be able to help us. I asked where on Lucile and she simply replied, "there's only one place on Lucile. None of this is like you remember it." I gave her keys to one of the vans and sent her off with a couple of men armed with a hatchet.
PMR returned from his expedition dragging behind him a good sized black bear while the men who accompanied him had another tied up on a stick they had resting on their shoulders. Many of the people immediately became horrified that we would eat bear. The screams of horror echoed between the hills. In order to subdue the situation I had the men but the bears into the other van. I then went out to address the concern about eating bear.
On my way I started to tell PMR about the women transported from So Cal, but when I was just about to tell him, she spontaneously appeared before me and said, "I really hope you weren't about to tell him anything about me, for your sake." I quickly back tracked and explained I was trying to get an idea of where he came from and that it had nothing to do with her.
I reached the crowd to find half of the people were more than willing to consume the ursine meat. However everyone else was very much against it and demanded an alternative. I suggested that they break into groups and start scavenging the area. One group to go up the hills looking for berries and other fruits. One group to go towards the water in hopes of fishing or finding shellfish along the shore. As they disembarked I began to work on the bears.
We started by removing the seats from the van. This was the most vivid memory I have. The seats were four deep in the van and held in place by elaborate clamps that required two people in order to unlatch them. It took us a very long time to remove all the seats and place them in a semi circle behind the van.
I then moved the bears into the middle of the van and position myself above the larger of the two. A man handed me a knife and as I was about to slice into the flesh behind the neck in order to begin skinning the animal I awoke. I had no idea where I was. I laid in my bed for 5 minutes before I realized that I was back at home. I spend the rest of the day wish I was back in the dream...

The Flooding of King County

So if any of you have been following King County lately you probably noticed there's been a lot of talk about floods. Mynorthwest.com is running an article today about how the county is so concerned about flooding they're actually moving the elections office after not even being there for two years. I think it's time that we all get VERY concerned.

I'm starting to think that they're not disclosing everything they know. Floods happen in the Puget Sound area pretty much every year, so why now are they so concerned about it? Howard Hansen Dam.

In a great piece by the Seattle PI last week they stated the impact could include "The cities of Auburn, Kent and Tukwila could be anywhere from four to 10 feet underwater if storms are severe."

We are facing what could be a major deluge and I don't think that the county is doing enough to inform the public about the potential dangers. Yes they're trying to get the word out through "Preparedness Meetings" But this isn't enough. So to everyone out there if you have friends or family living in valleys of south King County I strongly urge you to make sure they are aware of what this coming flood season could mean for them.

There are many things that can be done to help minimize the devastation. First and foremost, if flood becomes imminent EVACUATE!!! Don't be the ones who get caught on the roof of your house because you didn't think it was going to be as bad as they say. It will be that bad. Just try to think about going to a swimming pool and imagine what it's like treading in 10 foot deep water.

Secondly make sure that you have a plan before it happens. Work it out with friends or family so that you'll have a safe place to stay away from the flood waters. By setting something up before hand you can cut down on the number of people who are going to be flocking to local shelters. And lets be honest, wouldn't you rather crash on your parents floor than deal with the insanity that is emergency shelters?

The last thing that I'm going to encourage everyone to do is contact your elected officials. Let them know that you're aware of the danger facing the region and that it is unacceptable to wait around for it to happen. This is a potential tragedy that can be PREVENTED! If the county can't fix the problem than the state and federal government needs to step up and protect the people. Below is a list of contact information for people that are in a position to stop this from happening:


Jay Inslee, US Representative 1st Dist
Rick Larsen, US Representative 2nd Dist
Brian Baird, US Representative 3rd Dist
Doc Hastings, US Representative 4th Dist
Cathy McMorris, US Representative 5th Dist
Norm Dicks, US Representative 6th Dist
Jim McDermott, US Representative 7th Dist
Dave Richert, US Representative 8th Dist
Adam Smith, US Representatative 9th Dist

***If you don't live in King County please still contact your representative. This is going to affect all of Washington state not just King County.***

Patty Murray, US Senator
Maria Cantwell, US Senator

Christine Gregoire, Washington State Govenor

Barack Obama, President

If any of you are interested in sending in a letter but aren't sure what to say contact me and I'll put together a sample letter.

If only it really existed

The decision's been made

I just found out that I got the apartment that I applied for in Ballard. Thank the Maker! No more hunting. Now I just have to start writing checks. So as of the end of this month I will be living on lovely 24th Ave NW. I'll keep you all posted as to how it all progresses and when I'll be having the first gathering. We're also going to be having a "Last Call" down at Lucile's before the end of the month, more info on that to come too.

Indecision

I am horribly indecisive right now. This whole moving thing is making me crazy. I want to find a place that I can settle in for a long while so I don't have to do it again. That leads to all kinds of questions.

My first thought was to move to Ballard. It's a great neighborhood with pretty much anything I could need nearby, except work. A good number of my friends live out there and it would be nice to be closer but I'm starting to question it. It'd be a little far for my family and being as I've never lived there personally I'm not sure if it's right for me. I've spent a fair amount of time there and enjoy it but living there is very different than visiting.

I have another friend who would love to have me rent the bottom unit in his house. The house seems great, actually better than great. However I'm not a huge fan of the neighborhood. It's really close to work, but I don't think thats a big enough issue to sell me on the idea.

I've thought about Belltown and the more I think about it the more I like the idea. But I also get the feeling that the area would grate on me over time and I'd end up hating it and then end up moving sooner than I'd like to.

More and more of late I've been thinking about my first love in Seattle, West Seattle. It's a little remote but still has good bus access. The biggest down side would be living at the whim of the bridge again. However I did it for many years and it never got too bad.

I just hate this process, as I've said many times now. The one thing that I want more than anything is a place where I get to see the water again. Even if it's just during my commute. I've missed it more than anything else. Maybe that's why West Seattle always seemed to be my place in the city, its surrounded by water. And maybe I'm just thinking of it nostalgically, like one remembers a first love, and would only find going back that everything I loved about it has changed. But how could this ever change...