Tuesday, November 22, 2005
New York Links
http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2005/11/22/very_cool_most.php
I love Gothamist.
Jackie and I are flying back to Michigan for a Thanksgiving/Engagement Party. If you are in Detroit from Wednesday through Sunday, give me a ring and/or send an e-mail.
8:33 AM
Friday, November 18, 2005
Leo Creek rocks the Detroit Tree Lighting
Campus Martius Park in Detroit is hosting the Night of Lights tree lighting ceremony this evening in honor of the park's first anniversary. Leo Creek will be playing a set during the festivities. The whole event will be broadcast live on WXYZ, channel 7 in Detroit, from 7:30-9pm.
Click here for a PDF with all the details.
After rocking out on live TV, my old man will then be going to the Michigan/Ohio State game tomorrow at the Big House. I am SO jealous.
In Hello Nurse news, we will be playing 2 blocks from where I work tonight. This makes for an easy commute for me after the show. I will be taking people from work to happy hour at a bar inbetween the office and The Tank, so I can hop on one leg to all the places I need to be tonight.
If you're coming to the show, the suggested donation is $5. The Tank is a great place, worthy of the full $5. Also, Hello Nurse will be debuting a new song tonight, We Declare War.
The Rinse will be taking the stage after us, and they are mighty fun.
11:18 AM
Monday, November 14, 2005
FINALLY: Hello Nurse T-shirts!
American Apparel brand t-shirts. Super comfortable, made with fair wage labor. I'm not kidding when I say they're comfortable. We paid extra for the American Apparel shirts, and it was totally worth it. Plus, your money goes to someone who was paid a living wage to make the shirt.
Act now! Supplies Limited! Satisfaction Guaranteed! Earn money from home! Enlarge your penis! Lower your mortgage! Click shirt for image! You can't lose!
Click here for more slick marketing to convince you to buy this shirt.
9:58 PM
Friday, November 11, 2005
Junk the Food!
Every Friday our office manager sends us an e-mail asking us to throw away any food in the refrigerator that is out of date. If we don't label our leftovers properly, he throws it away. This is a good thing, because we have three floors of people sharing one refrigerator, and it's always jam packed. Here is today's e-mail. Ashish, if you still read this blog, this one's for you.
Sung to the tune of Bust A Move by Young MC
This here's a jam for all those fellas,
Who’ve got so much food that we all get jealous,
Using space in the fridge but you’re over zealous.
Making such a mess that I get rebelious
Ok, smarty, you to a Hardee’s
Such a big meal that you get back tardy
Bring some back in a plastic container.
Throw it in the fridge to save the remainder.
Next day at noon and it’s time to get munchin’
But you already forgot ‘bout yesterday’s luncheon.
You dine out again, bring some back in a bag.
Throw it in the fridge, hey what’s the drag?
Then the weekend’s coming, time to get running.
Get outtah here, and do lots of fun things.
But you still have leftovers, so don’t be rude!
So come on now, and junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
You're on a mission,
in the kitchen
open the fridge
Looks like nuclear fission
Lookin' for your lunch in all the wrong places,
No fine food, just crowded spaces.
Feeling frustration, your inclination,
is to fast for the day and leave the situation.
But every dark tunnel has a light, I hope,
so don't hang yourself with a hunger rope.
It’s Friday evening, I’ve been peeving
Thinkin’ bout the food everyone’s been leaving
It’s getting’ late and it’s time to go-
But what do I see behind the fridge do’?
Things growin yellow.
Has a funny smell though
Getting soft and mushy like plate of jello
I get the trash can without a second to lose,
So what comes next, hey, junk the food.
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
(If you want it, baby you’ve got it) Just junk the food!
12:17 PM
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
VOTE VOTE VOTE
Don't forget to vote today! Even though today is just a local election, there are several important ballot issues to consider. Voting is important in every election, even primaries. There's just no excuse to avoid voting - it's so easy!
If you live in New York City, the Gotham Gazette always publishes a helpful last minute voter guide. And if you're curious, here are my voting opinions.
Proposal 1: vote YES
This measure would create an Independent Budget Office, which will bring more transparency and accountability to the state's budget process. I'm all for transparency, and this measure will actually decrease the governor's authority in budget creation. Don't let New York become New Jersey - an independent budget office is the way to go!
Propsal 2: vote YES
This proposal is for the Transportation Bond Act. Cons: State has to borrow more money. Pros: More infrastructure, more jobs.
Personally, I think the MTA is one of the most grossly mismanaged organizations in the state. However, I think infrastructure additions are a positive way to increase the quality of life and create jobs for low- to middle-income workers.
Propsal 3: vote YES
This proposal will create an ethics code for administrative judges. These are the folks that settle disputes over parking violations, building codes, noise complaints, etc. There is some debate over whether the City Charter is the best place to address these concerns; however, there is very little debate as to whether an ethics code should exist: it should! Hopefully this will improve the fairness and efficiency of these court proceedings, which are some of the most excruciatingly annoying parts of local government.
Proposal 4: vote YES
In 1975 the city almost went bankrupt. The fiscal policies that keep that from happening again expire in 2008. This is basically an extension of financial controls that keep the budget balanced and limit the amount of short-term debt. It's not perfect, but it's not very controversial either.
Public Advocate: Norman Siegel
Betsy Gotbaum, the incumbent, is absolutely worthless. I still have no idea how Norman Siegel did not win the primary. Sheep are voting on name recognition I suppose, because Gotbaum has held the position for a while and has not made any positive change. About the only thing she is good for is keeping the seat warm.
I'm going to write in Norman Siegel, former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Comptroller: Bill Thompson
Bill Thompson is the incumbent democrat who also has the Working Families Party (WFP) line.
Mayor: Fernando Ferrer
I don't think there is much doubt that Bloomberg is going to walk away with this one. Nonetheless, the Democratic Party needs to remain strong in New York City, so Ferrer gets my vote.
Personally, I will not be disappointed when Bloomberg wins. There are certain things I hate, like the support of the West Side stadium and harassment of bicyclists. Nonetheless, Bloomberg had enough sack to make substantial changes to the school system, creating the Department of Education and gutting 110 Livingston Street, which will soon be luxury lofts. He took accountability for the schools, and even though some changes are controversial, he's doing about as good one can do with a dinosaur system serving over 1.1 million children.
Also, Bloomberg is one rich muthafucka. He doesn't owe anyone anything; he's is in no one's pocket. I appreciate that, especially considering the state of our Federal government - where everyone plays pocket hockey.
For all the smaller elections, I plan on reading up during lunch. When in doubt, I always vote WFP.
6:56 AM
Friday, November 04, 2005
Rock Snobbery
Slate has a great article today about Rock Snobs.
The Rock Snob
An anatomy of a delicate breed.
By Stephen Metcalf
I think some people think that I'm a rock snob, but I don't think I am. I do not know enough history, and I don't have the encyclopedic knowledge that many of my friends do.
I am, however, a HUGE pirate.
Ed (Hello Nurse guitarist) thinks that the new form of the Rock Snob is the indie rock blogger, and I happen to agree with him. With the advent of digital music collections, amassing a tremendous collection of music is as simple as sharing an external harddrive or even plugging your iPod into someone else's computer.
The new rock snob is not the person who knows the past, it's the person who tries to predict the future. Bloggers compete to be the most current, most in-the-know, most on top of the current gossip. They want to discover good bands before they break so they can claim they were partly responsible for the break.
Here are some excellent rock snob blogs that I check out from time to time:
Brooklyn Vegan
The Modern Age
Aeki Tuesday
I Rock I Roll
Unfortunately, most of these folks fall in the Pitchfork mold. For them, excellent music includes the following qualities:
1. Absolutely no catchy melodies or pop song structures
2. Musicians must be pretentious twats
3. Disonance always a plus
4. The use of sin waves in electronic music
5. Lyrics that make no sense
In short, rock critics and rock snobs are not generally the person you might consider a friend and ask for a band recommendation. A rock snob recommends music he/she knows you won't understand, and since this music is so complex, you have no way of forming an argument as to why, exactly, it sucks.
But it definitely sucks.
11:09 AM
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
The Beatles
I just watched the documentary about the Beatles' first trip to America.
Unbelievable.
8:14 PM
|
|
