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the bright aisles of c-town
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Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Misquoted in Newsday!
Drew's quote is badass, and the Newsday writer makes me sound like I'm pro-music industry. Oh man, I'm kinda pissed. If you gonna quote me, at least don't make me sound like some music industry intern.
Here's the quote:
Christian Sparling, a 24-year-old Brooklyn resident, said the recording industry group is bullying people and instead should try to profit from music downloading. "I feel that downloading is something that can be harnessed and used well to these companies if they can just take advantage of it."
To set the record straight, I said that downloading is something that can be used well by the ARTISTS, not the big 5. Richard Dalton, you have completely twisted my words!
Oh well, at least I won't get sued. But, I may be donating $20 in the near future to the Andrew K. Faehnle Mininum Security Prison Care Package Fund. Remember Drew, the key to surviving is to kick someone's ass the first day or become someone's bitch....
6:03 AM
Monday, September 29, 2003
Still need a bassist. Rebekah dropped out. I guess she's looking for something else.
Just say "Bassist" in the style of "Buuuuuueller."
4:28 PM
I just got off the phone with Richard Dalton from Newsday. He interviewed me for an article appearing in the paper tomorrow about the recent suits brought against P2P file sharers (namely mp3 file sharers) by the RIAA. I told him my thoughts on the situation, I told him that I frequently download music, I told him that I buy more music now than I ever did before I started downloading. I told him that I think what the RIAA is doing is heavyweight corporate bullying; it's appalling and disgusting. These seven figure corporate lawyers are suing average joe's over a battle they have already lost. The music industry is changing, and they are dinosaurs who can't adapt. So, when Good Charlotte sells 2% less than Blink 182 did, they lose their $20,000 holiday bonus. I guess they have to go sue 12 year old girls to remind everyone how shiny their cufflinks are.
Look at newsday.com tomorrow (Tuesday) for an article about what's going on. Maybe they'll have a quote by one Mr. CSparls. Then, look for a blog entry on Wednesday when my subpoena arrives in the mail :(
If you haven't looked at it recently, check out DownHillBattle.org. They have set up a legal defense fund where kind supporters can contribute directly to people who have been sued by the RIAA. It's a rotating Pay-Pal system, where the currently lowest-funded defendant gets the most recent donations until s/he has more than the nuxt lowest-funded defendant - and then the Pay-Pal recipient becomes THAT person. Am I being clear? Check out their website, they do a much better job of describing the system, which I think is brilliant.
In other news, Brad & Vanessa moved out yesterday, Nathaniel moved in today, I won a week's worth of laundry quarters playing poker Saturday night, and I'm on mailer duty this week at work which SUCKS.
1:05 PM
Thursday, September 25, 2003
I can't get enough of these ridiculous Craigslist Ads!
Looking for a Way to Enliven your Soirees?
Reply to: job-16760120@craigslist.org (forwards to an @yahoo.com address)
Date: 2003-09-25, 4:34AM
... Invite a group of intelligent, educated, and easy-going Eastern European men.
We will attend any nightly activities in NYC and the adjoining boroughs,
provided a lump sum of money or large quantities of liquor -- preferably both.
In return, we guarantee to supply you and your guests (certain restrictions apply*)
with a breath of fresh "Slivovitz" air and a cordial, authentic atmosphere of Balkan
amicability.
About us:
We are a team of accomplished socialites who share common goals and a pro-active
aproach to all communal activities.
Basic Package:
Provides you with the company of at least halh a dozen clean-shaved specimen,
with a guarantee of at least 4 (four) hours of companionship. Will drink
stupendous amounts upon request. Opinions (if somewhat primitive and
benighted) will be offered on all topics of conversation. Traditional Balkan
swearing and Chalga music included at the end of the program.
Deluxe Package:
Includes all of the Basic plus: impromptu offensive behaviour with genuine anti-philantropic
sentiment. Will brawl/fight with each other or your guests as required.
References available upon request.
12:53 PM
So, if you check the Bowery Ballroom website, you will find that the Nada Surf w/ Ozma show is TONIGHT, not last night. Also, if you do a google search for 'Idiots who can't read and understand a calendar' you will find Bill Bert and I.
Also, if you search Citibank for my balance, you will find an extremely low balance. I'm waiting on $1000 in checks to come in, and I haven't gotten paid by TFA yet. In the meantime Kraft, Wonderbread, Goya, and Ramen have become my only allowable purchases. Oh wait, I have to add Kellogg's and Frank's to that list too.
Bill, Jaime, and I went to Mercury Lounge and saw this band called The Shack instead. Worst...Concert...Ever. I know some other 5-letter words that start with SH. Do you? Comment!
7:48 AM
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
I'm taking a quick break at work, checking out the tickets section of Craigslist. I'm thinking of going to the Nada Surf show w/ OZMA at Bowery Ballroom tonight. Ozma is more Weezer than Weezer, and they sure do play fun music. Nada Surf had that song Popular that has an MTV video a few years back. Their music is actually pretty good, and I listen to their new album every once in a while. If you're looking to get a taste, download Hi-Speed Soul from Let Go or Hyperspace from The Proximity Effect. If you want to hear some Ozma, go to www.mp3.com/ozma. I recommend Domino Effect and KOROBEINIKI.
If anyone wants to go to the show with me call me up or IM me after work at CMinusRocks. Who am I kidding - if you are reading this blog then you definitely know how to reach me.
Anyway, so I was reading the tickets page on Craigslist, and it's full of sob stories by people who want to go to the Dave Matthews show in Central Park. Apparently AOL was giving out tickets for free, and concert attendees are supposed to donate money to a fund the DMB has created to support music in schools. Considering how popular DMB can be to the jackasses of the earth, scalping for this show is utterly insane. And, since so many rich jackasses in the finance industry tend to be such DMB fans, I'm sure the scalpers are making a killing off this one. Let's just hope people have enough money left over when they actually make it to the show to contribute some money to the music in schools initiative.
Here's one sob story I found amusing:
2 Dave tix trade wanted--for $200 worth of new makeup/perfume/cologne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: anon-16714228@craigslist.org
Date: 2003-09-24, 11:03AM
Hi, I really want 2 tickets for the Dave Matthews concert tonight. Sadly, I'm broke and (though willing!) just can't pay $200 or what everybody is asking.
But! I work in beauty, and can trade for you (today) whatever you want: cologne, hair straighteners, perfume, Chanel makeup, body lotions, whatever. I'll get you $200 dollars worth.
I know it sounds weird, but I can get it for you brand new today, still in packaging. (Not stolen, I promise, so don't worry about that.) I work in midtown and live on the UES, just a few blocks away from the concert, so could meet in either place at any point today.
Be my guardian angel!!
10:02 AM
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
They changed the locks on the front door of my building. Now hardly anyone can get into the building. There are lines outside at all times of people waiting for someone to leave and open the door for everyone. The super here isn't such a competent guy, apparently. Everyone's always cursing Cruz. Well, I guess I need to be really nice to Cruz the first time I meet him. Although, it doesn't sound like he's the kind of person to do favors. I mean, he changes the building door lock and doesn't give anyone keys.
What kind of building did I move into??
(A sweet building. Just wait for the party, people.)
4:30 PM
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Rebekah has agreed to come to another practice, so I guess we didn't scare her away too bad. Tuesday night we will rock again - only at low volume. We need to rent a practice space or something, because I am yearning to beat some drums the way they are supposed to be beaten - hard and loud!
Jackie and I watched the Survivor season premier tonight. It was good stuff. I had sworn off reality shows for a while, but for some reason I still really enjoy survivor. I guess it's because each week there is progression and something is always happening. In most reality shows nothing happens until the last 5 minutes, and that's just boring.
I sign the lease for my loft tomorrow. Once that lease is signed, I will be a happy man. And then I will be an even broker man because I'm going to paint the place soon, and paint aint cheap.
9:33 PM
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Congratulations to Miss Florida, the new Miss America!
Hahaha, I've never seen someone flipout like Miss Florida did when the host announced Miss Hawaii as First Runner Up. The was wigging out so bad that Miss America 2003 couldn't even get the crown on her. I was pulling for Miss California (4th runner up) and Miss Hawaii (first runner up), but Miss Florida is very beauty queen-esque. Although, she showed absolutely NO poise when she found out she won.
In bassist news, I think we may have found our man. Although, it's not a man, it's a woman. Rebekah wrote me an email showing interest in getting together with Hello Nurse about an hour before our scheduled rehearsal. So, I called her right up and she was able to join us. We started off with one of our more challenging songs, and she was able to pick it up just fine after a couple run throughs. We played about 5 songs, even working on a new song at the end. She has solid skills, learned the songs quickly, and we all seemed to get along well. Plus, she can sing harmony vocals with Nathaniel, and she has a sweet looking bass. She will do us well as far as our image goes, too. (Yadda yadda, the all important image:) We're happy, and hopefully when we call her tomorrow to invitre her to our next practice she'll say yes. She's from Austin, Texas and she just moved to NYC a week ago. She already has an apartment and a job, so she seems a little more put together than some of the other jokers we've tried out. Well, let's hope everything works out.
The L-train is down, so I'm not sure if I'll be heading out tonight. I'm feeling pretty exhausted anyway, but I don't want to be lame! We'll see.
7:36 PM
Thursday, September 18, 2003
So I blogged the night I got back online, but of course it didn't post it.
Anyway, I'm back online, as you may have gathered. Life right now is ok - gonna sign the lease to my loft on Monday and then the joint will be MINE. I'll begin the painting and lighting extravaganza that will turn this pad into something remarkable. Nathaniel is going to live with me come October, and I'll be damned if won't start throwing parties immediately.
My job is fantastic. I'm super busy every day working as an assistant to the person in charge of recruiting students in the mid-atlantic region to apply for Teach for America. My office is real chill, all of my co-workers and very nice (and 80% female:), and I'm so busy that the time flies right by. I miss the kids, but I sure don't miss the screaming kids. This job is good for my sanity, and when I get home from work I'm ready to do something else, not crash in a pile of meat & bones on the couch.
Hello Nurse is currently looking for a bass player, and damn it's been a process. We auditioned two guys in the beginning who were both excellent musicians. One guy moved to Nashville, the other guy moved just away. I guess neither of them could afford New York. (At the moment 50% of my earnings go toward housing & utils, so I don't know how I'm affording New York!) The next couple guys we tried out were a different story. This guy Chris just moved to Park Slope from California with his girlfriend. They came by last Saturday and lugged his bass amp over, too. We set up and started playing, and it became apparent that Chris had not been playing the bass for 10 years as he told us earlier. He was very nice, cool, easy to get along with - he would have fit in great. Unfortunately, he just didn't have the chops. The next guy we tried out was just a plain old disaster. His name was Sam, and he wrote to Ed saying talking about all the recording equipment and production experience he had. Ed stopped by his place on the way to the loft for practice, and Sam and his stoner friend who we'll just refer to as Crispy were on the roof in a serious haze. Ed saw the guy's place and it was nice - lots of gear, protools, etc. Not bad for a midtown apartment. This guy Sam, the first thing he would ask you is, "What's your name, and what's your nationality/heritage?" It was very strange. Apparently he was half British Isles/ half Afghanistani, and he thought that was pretty damn cool. Well, we started playing and Ed started to tell him the chords to All Choked Up. Sam said he really just played by ear, and that we should start playing the song and he would figure it out as we played. Well that sure didn't happen! He meandered around the fretboard for a while, never really playing the right note even by accident at any point. In fact, his fingers were so unsure on the neck of his bass that I don't think he played any note at all. Ed, Nathaniel and I just played through 2 more songs and then we figured the neighbors were getting bothered. Well, that's what we told Sam to make he and Crispy get the hell out of there. I popped the question at the end, "Sam, what bands have you been in before?" He said he had been in a faux punk band and a metal band. Faux punk? More like faux music. The kids had no clue.
So, we're back to square one. Bassists are so hard to come by. Jon Yang knows a guy who might work. He's moving to New York in a week. Otherwise, I guess we'll just keep up the craigslist posts.
3:44 PM
Friday, September 12, 2003
Wow, so long without blog access!!
I got a job at the Teach for America National Office! It's very low-paying, and I'm working with a bunch of recent college grads, and other TFA people have higher positions than I do.... but whatever, it's a job. And employment these days can be hard to come by.
In other news: Nathaniel will be living with me come October. Hello Nurse is still in search of a bassist. I get to finally meet Drew's girlfriend Amanda this weekend. Sprint sucks. Or rather, Sprint SUCKS! It's Friday at 5:55 and I'm still at work waiting for my boss to get off the phone so I can ask her a question. I'm joining the columbia boys for a tournament this sunday. They need a driver, I need a team - perfect symbiotic relationship.
I'll have DSL soon, and then back to frequent posting.
2:57 PM
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
My first access to a computer in a few days, and right at the end of the post I push [control] [a] [backspace] by accident and delete the whole thing!
Long story short: The move went ok. Special thanks to Jackie, Jess, Drew, and Dan Karlin for all their help. You all rock! I got a truck from CC Rentals, where the first C stands for cheap, and the second C stands for crap, as in piece'o'. This was the exact same type of truck I used for Alex Chung's movie shoot and at the HOWL Festival. And wow, we filled that truck up with all my crap. So much stuff. I'll get a picture online soon of all my stuff lined up in the alley that Drew took with his camera phone.
The loft was filthy when I moved in. Jackie and I went to town with the cleaning supplies. Jackie made the bathroom and refrigerator look brand new. Thanks Jackie!
To give you an idea of how dirty the place was, I'll just say this: I had to vacuum the stove. There were leaves under the stovetop. LEAVES!
We cleaned it up nice, put all my furniture in, and voila! The place is looking good. Vanessa and Brad moved in as well. Once I get my ink on the lease the painting frenzy begins.
Today I bought a blue Schwinn 10-speed (just like the one I had when I was 11 that got stolen from my back yard) from a local bike shop. The bike is old, but the old guy who owns the shop fixed it up and it runs like a dream. And it only cost $75! Everything on craigslist costs $100 and up, and most of those bikes have been collecting dust and rust in basements and need a tune-up anyway. I mounted my lock holder under the crotch bar, and I fixed a blinking red light I found in my big plastic bin labeled Odds'n'Ends under the seat. All I need is a Kryptonite chain and I can go anywhere. But those are expensive, so for the time being I have to be careful where I leave the bike. Now I have to sell the BMX to pay for it.
My phone interview with Teach for America for the Recruitment Fellowship is either tomorrow or Thursday. Fingers crossed.
Ok, more later when Verizon connects me on Thursday.
6:12 PM
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