it's also quite disheartening that there is a group of people out there that actually believe the crap that the other side is saying. seriously, i get super depressed every time i'm teaching sociology and we talk about wage inequality in the u.s. and income levels. the idea that the federal poverty line is set around 23k for a family of 4 is insane. i have my students break down the monthly expenses for a family of 4 as a way of demonstrating how impossible it is to actually live around that level. and yet, people still vote against themselves and their own best interests. the believe the insane people that are actually conducting class warfare.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
war on the poors
i realize that john stewart is a comedian, with a team of writers, but once again he is spot on.
it's also quite disheartening that there is a group of people out there that actually believe the crap that the other side is saying. seriously, i get super depressed every time i'm teaching sociology and we talk about wage inequality in the u.s. and income levels. the idea that the federal poverty line is set around 23k for a family of 4 is insane. i have my students break down the monthly expenses for a family of 4 as a way of demonstrating how impossible it is to actually live around that level. and yet, people still vote against themselves and their own best interests. the believe the insane people that are actually conducting class warfare.
it's also quite disheartening that there is a group of people out there that actually believe the crap that the other side is saying. seriously, i get super depressed every time i'm teaching sociology and we talk about wage inequality in the u.s. and income levels. the idea that the federal poverty line is set around 23k for a family of 4 is insane. i have my students break down the monthly expenses for a family of 4 as a way of demonstrating how impossible it is to actually live around that level. and yet, people still vote against themselves and their own best interests. the believe the insane people that are actually conducting class warfare.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
lost smiths promo video
it was a godsend when i saw this press video for the smiths from 1992 over @ laughing squid today. i knew i would be spending time watching and listening to some heavenly music.
not enough smiths for you? of course not. go over here and enjoy more smiths videos dammit.
not enough smiths for you? of course not. go over here and enjoy more smiths videos dammit.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
back in the valley, jailbreak at fulton 55
some musical happenings this weekend.
friday night, our friend malcolm sosa will be playing a solo set over @ studio itz from 8-10 pm. it's a free show, and he'll be joined by two acts from l.a. (i don't know the acts, but malcolm called them "two great acts.")
UPDATE: i've heard through facebook that one of the other bands is manhattan murder mystery.
saturday night, there's a cool show down @ fulton 55.
a little bit of rockabilly, a little bit of old school country, and a bit of our friend vince corsaro on drums. sounds great.
friday night, our friend malcolm sosa will be playing a solo set over @ studio itz from 8-10 pm. it's a free show, and he'll be joined by two acts from l.a. (i don't know the acts, but malcolm called them "two great acts.")
UPDATE: i've heard through facebook that one of the other bands is manhattan murder mystery.
saturday night, there's a cool show down @ fulton 55.
a little bit of rockabilly, a little bit of old school country, and a bit of our friend vince corsaro on drums. sounds great.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
fresno distributing
fresno distributing, aka fresno d, has always been a little odd to me. i liked the idea of supporting local businesses, but as a distributor type store i found it a bit off putting as a customer. the show room seems like an afterthought, and if i want to get a new faucet or whatever, i probably would hit up the easy display and multiple options of lowes.
around the fourth of july, we had an issue with our shower. the divertor, which allows the change from bath to shower to happen, wasn't working properly. we also had a long-time leak on our cold water handle, but that was a nagging concern and had their not been a problem with the divertor i would have let it keep dripping. my go - to spot for home repairs is fresno ag, so i headed over there. they had the right parts to fix my problems, and things were reasonably priced. while we were there, we inquired about other handles for our price pfister, 1970's looking set up. unfortunately, for the set up we had there were only a few, equally ugly options.
on our way home, we decided to pop in at fresno d, and see if they had other options. we spoke with one of the parts guys, discussed what we had, and he let us know a few options. eventually, we realized that we could switch out the stems behind the handles, and found these real sweet, sleek brushed nickel handles. we placed an order and started waiting. now, it's a little scary that their paperwork says that orders can take up to three months to come in, but they told us that it should be in three or four weeks. after just about a month, our new handles and parts were in.
today, i drove over to pick up the parts. the original guy we worked in wasn't in (i think he was on lunch break) but that wasn't a big deal because we were just picking up a unit. i got my box, and headed out.
this is where things went wonky. i looked at what i had, and it was only a two handle set up, according to the box. i popped the box open, and while they were the right two handles, we were missing the third. i went back in, and waited to be helped. after a minute or so, i was able to explain my issue to someone, and he began to investigate. he looked up the faucets and what not in their books, and what we wanted (finish wise) didn't come in a three handle. was i going to be stuck with two sweet handles, and one ugly one?
the guy i worked with, whose name i sadly didn't catch, was amazing. essentially, he found all the appropriate pieces from other sets or packages. all of the parts. and, even more cool, they did it for free. i was figuring that i would have to shell out for the additional stuff. i wouldn't have been stoked about that, but i would have had my parts. nope, they said that because there was a miscommunication they were going to give me the parts i needed since i'd already bought the other parts. freaking awesome.
thanks a ton, fresno d. you may not have all the things that lowes, home depot or even fresno ag have, but you do your thing well. and, your customer service is awesome - seriously, i was able to watch several customers treated very well, and the employees go out of their way to figure out people's needs/problems and do their best to help. great work.
around the fourth of july, we had an issue with our shower. the divertor, which allows the change from bath to shower to happen, wasn't working properly. we also had a long-time leak on our cold water handle, but that was a nagging concern and had their not been a problem with the divertor i would have let it keep dripping. my go - to spot for home repairs is fresno ag, so i headed over there. they had the right parts to fix my problems, and things were reasonably priced. while we were there, we inquired about other handles for our price pfister, 1970's looking set up. unfortunately, for the set up we had there were only a few, equally ugly options.
on our way home, we decided to pop in at fresno d, and see if they had other options. we spoke with one of the parts guys, discussed what we had, and he let us know a few options. eventually, we realized that we could switch out the stems behind the handles, and found these real sweet, sleek brushed nickel handles. we placed an order and started waiting. now, it's a little scary that their paperwork says that orders can take up to three months to come in, but they told us that it should be in three or four weeks. after just about a month, our new handles and parts were in.
today, i drove over to pick up the parts. the original guy we worked in wasn't in (i think he was on lunch break) but that wasn't a big deal because we were just picking up a unit. i got my box, and headed out.
this is where things went wonky. i looked at what i had, and it was only a two handle set up, according to the box. i popped the box open, and while they were the right two handles, we were missing the third. i went back in, and waited to be helped. after a minute or so, i was able to explain my issue to someone, and he began to investigate. he looked up the faucets and what not in their books, and what we wanted (finish wise) didn't come in a three handle. was i going to be stuck with two sweet handles, and one ugly one?
the guy i worked with, whose name i sadly didn't catch, was amazing. essentially, he found all the appropriate pieces from other sets or packages. all of the parts. and, even more cool, they did it for free. i was figuring that i would have to shell out for the additional stuff. i wouldn't have been stoked about that, but i would have had my parts. nope, they said that because there was a miscommunication they were going to give me the parts i needed since i'd already bought the other parts. freaking awesome.
thanks a ton, fresno d. you may not have all the things that lowes, home depot or even fresno ag have, but you do your thing well. and, your customer service is awesome - seriously, i was able to watch several customers treated very well, and the employees go out of their way to figure out people's needs/problems and do their best to help. great work.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Sunday, August 07, 2011
a post for adam
a little post for adam, who has had a lot of fun with at&t over the last few months.
www.toothpastefordinner.com/080711/
www.toothpastefordinner.com/080711/
Friday, August 05, 2011
evolution of the hipster
i've featured some hipster flow charts and other stuff talking about the hipster. now, i don't want to just pick on a group of people, but i did think this little video from glove and boots does present a humorous history of the hipster. sit back, and enjoy some history.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
christian boobs
i wanted to share with you a great blog post from the blog jesus needs new pr. it's about how people dress. or, rather, how people should dress, specifically women, if they want to be modest, Xian women.
in short, he points out:
inherent sexism in modesty discussions
inconsistent standards
modesty is a culturally determined standard
the shame attached to modesty talks
i don't always check out that blog, but i drop by every so often and scroll down to see hilariously bad church signs, weird Xian videos, and more. i hope you enjoy the read.
in short, he points out:
inherent sexism in modesty discussions
inconsistent standards
modesty is a culturally determined standard
the shame attached to modesty talks
i don't always check out that blog, but i drop by every so often and scroll down to see hilariously bad church signs, weird Xian videos, and more. i hope you enjoy the read.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
matt damon vs reporter on teachers
matt damon is friggin awesome. seriously, he seems to have a much better grasp on economics than the reporter and cameraman asking him questions. and, he understands that most people simply aren't doing their job for the paycheck, especially teachers.
in a world of celebrities that ought to shut the hell up, i'd like to hear more from mr. damon. and, frankly, in a world of people like charlie sheen and mel gibson, i want to watch more of mr. damon's work.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
six year anniversary
yep, today this blog turns six.
there have been a lot of twists and turns along the way.
blogging has been passionate.
blogging has been lazy.
there have been busier seasons of blogging.
there have been seasons of blog drought.
but it continues on.
we continue on.
there have been a lot of twists and turns along the way.
blogging has been passionate.
blogging has been lazy.
there have been busier seasons of blogging.
there have been seasons of blog drought.
but it continues on.
we continue on.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
police motorcycle manuevers
today i'm giving you a pretty cool video of a police officer navigating a police issue harley through an obstacle course. damn fine work. i do recommend that you turn off your sound so you don't have to listen to lowrider.
i've taken a motorcycle course and have learned some of the techniques demonstrated, but am in no way anywhere as good as this good. sick skills from this guy. and, it's rather impressive that he's doing it on an old school harley not a bmw or kawasaki or whatever smaller bikes used now.
i've taken a motorcycle course and have learned some of the techniques demonstrated, but am in no way anywhere as good as this good. sick skills from this guy. and, it's rather impressive that he's doing it on an old school harley not a bmw or kawasaki or whatever smaller bikes used now.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
sesame street covers the beastie boys
a little over a minute of awesome.
thanks, sesame street.
also, here's the newest from the beasties.
Sesame Street breaks it down from Wonderful Creative on Vimeo.
thanks, sesame street.
also, here's the newest from the beasties.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
goodbye mrs. puddles
in 1996, we got a cat for heather. she was a little runt of a kitten, and she brought us tons of joy over the years. here's some fun reflections.
over the last few years, we noticed that she was really starting to show her age. we found out she had a few tumors, and knew that it was only a matter of time. today was her last.
we'll miss her dearly. really, there are only a few people in our lives that we've known longer than our cat.
over the last few years, we noticed that she was really starting to show her age. we found out she had a few tumors, and knew that it was only a matter of time. today was her last.
we'll miss her dearly. really, there are only a few people in our lives that we've known longer than our cat.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
uswnt vs japan
it's thursday, but i'm already looking ahead to sunday. why? well, the u.s. women's national soccer team is playing in the championship game of the women's world cup. this is a big deal, even if you don't like soccer.
i do like soccer, but admit that i'm not the biggest fan of the women's game. i remember watching in 99, the last time we won. in the months before the cup, i had watched a few scrimmages between the uswnt and lower tier, division 2 men's college teams. despite being the best in the world at the time, the women couldn't keep up with those guys. when i watched that cup, i sorta felt the product was inferior. the soccer wasn't as good, in my opinion.
jump ahead to now. i am amazed by our team. great crosses. flying headers for goals. shots on point. yes, there is an occasional bad pass or whatever, but the same can be said of the men's game. and it's not just the u.s. team that looks great. all of the teams in this year's world cup have really played beautiful soccer, something that i wouldn't say about last year's men's cup (i'm looking squarely at you france. you ain't the only one, but you may be the ugliest.)
the game is still a little different than the men's game. it's not quite as physical, the keepers can't quite cover as much of the net, but the soccer is still great to watch. and, the women don't fake injuries as much. there is an occasional flop, but overall, these women stay on their feet. when fouled, they pop back up and get on with the game. refreshing stuff, really.
so sunday, i'll be watching. and you should be watching. and cheering. our side is the favorite, and don't let that sway you. it's going to be a tough match, and hopefully the trophy returns to the u.s. when it's all said and done.
don't miss the best sport going on right now.
i do like soccer, but admit that i'm not the biggest fan of the women's game. i remember watching in 99, the last time we won. in the months before the cup, i had watched a few scrimmages between the uswnt and lower tier, division 2 men's college teams. despite being the best in the world at the time, the women couldn't keep up with those guys. when i watched that cup, i sorta felt the product was inferior. the soccer wasn't as good, in my opinion.
jump ahead to now. i am amazed by our team. great crosses. flying headers for goals. shots on point. yes, there is an occasional bad pass or whatever, but the same can be said of the men's game. and it's not just the u.s. team that looks great. all of the teams in this year's world cup have really played beautiful soccer, something that i wouldn't say about last year's men's cup (i'm looking squarely at you france. you ain't the only one, but you may be the ugliest.)
the game is still a little different than the men's game. it's not quite as physical, the keepers can't quite cover as much of the net, but the soccer is still great to watch. and, the women don't fake injuries as much. there is an occasional flop, but overall, these women stay on their feet. when fouled, they pop back up and get on with the game. refreshing stuff, really.
so sunday, i'll be watching. and you should be watching. and cheering. our side is the favorite, and don't let that sway you. it's going to be a tough match, and hopefully the trophy returns to the u.s. when it's all said and done.
don't miss the best sport going on right now.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 04, 2011
treme season finale
season finales are great. really, you get a nice little bit of finish, quite a bit of loose ends for next season, and a whole lot of anticipation for next year.
sunday we got the season finale for treme. not everyone likes this show, and some find it quite unlikeable. myself, i like the show but there are parts that i could do without. but, the beauty of a show like treme, and the writers behind it is that the parts that sometimes are throw away, the threads that i may not care for, help build the wonderful tapestry. and as the tapestry is seen, it gets more wonderful.
this second season has shown a lot more of that tapestry. wonderful music, more of the grit of the city, and the interpersonal working and crossover of threads. great stuff. as i watched the season finale, i got goosebumps about 3/4s of the way in, as ladonna lets loose on the d.a. and the system, venting the rage of the city. her husband, larry, who has stood in opposition of staying in new orleans, and of ladonna owning her bar, sees that fire, sees the woman he's always loved, and decides there is no way they are selling the bar, and that the whole family is moving back. wonderful drama played out, great to see the family struggle, and also a lovely metaphor for the city and it's fight.
sunday we got the season finale for treme. not everyone likes this show, and some find it quite unlikeable. myself, i like the show but there are parts that i could do without. but, the beauty of a show like treme, and the writers behind it is that the parts that sometimes are throw away, the threads that i may not care for, help build the wonderful tapestry. and as the tapestry is seen, it gets more wonderful.
this second season has shown a lot more of that tapestry. wonderful music, more of the grit of the city, and the interpersonal working and crossover of threads. great stuff. as i watched the season finale, i got goosebumps about 3/4s of the way in, as ladonna lets loose on the d.a. and the system, venting the rage of the city. her husband, larry, who has stood in opposition of staying in new orleans, and of ladonna owning her bar, sees that fire, sees the woman he's always loved, and decides there is no way they are selling the bar, and that the whole family is moving back. wonderful drama played out, great to see the family struggle, and also a lovely metaphor for the city and it's fight.
Friday, July 01, 2011
the crow...it might have had babies
the title quote comes from a time where jay mohr was on the jim rome show. he was recounting a time when he almost ran over a crow while driving, while working on a movie with christopher walken. i still fondly remember hearing mohr do a walken impression, and say, "the crow...it might have had babies." still makes me laugh.
anyway, it's good that jay mohr didn't hit the crow. or, maybe he should have. a recent study confirms that crows will remember your face. do not anger a crow. it will attack you. it will remember you, perhaps even the rest of its life. it will recruit other crows to attack you. and, those crows will remember you and attack you later, even without the original crow.
that is some evil, crow isht.
now, i've heard of this idea a few years back, but the level of memory and recruiting is a bit new to me. nuts.
anyway, it's good that jay mohr didn't hit the crow. or, maybe he should have. a recent study confirms that crows will remember your face. do not anger a crow. it will attack you. it will remember you, perhaps even the rest of its life. it will recruit other crows to attack you. and, those crows will remember you and attack you later, even without the original crow.
that is some evil, crow isht.
now, i've heard of this idea a few years back, but the level of memory and recruiting is a bit new to me. nuts.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
same sex tulare county
suck it san francisco. you aren't as gay as...tulare county. well, at least, census numbers show that the county with the most same sex families raising children is tulare county.
i admit, i'm surprised by that. then again, it may make sense that families with children aren't living in the city, or even the bay area, where property cost is very high. it also makes sense that people that had kid in heterosexual relationships and then came out would want to keep their children near the other parent as much as possible.
i admit, i'm surprised by that. then again, it may make sense that families with children aren't living in the city, or even the bay area, where property cost is very high. it also makes sense that people that had kid in heterosexual relationships and then came out would want to keep their children near the other parent as much as possible.
radamacher baby hawk
i've haven't been a proper rademacher fan boy of late. i've missed a show or two, and while i've chatted w/malcolm on facebook and eli in person, i haven't blogged much of what i've heard.
but the band has been busy. they've been honing their sound, recording mini albums, and are beginning to hit the road in support of their first Baby Hawk albums. sadly, they aren't playing fresno any time soon. here's where they will be:
RADEMACHER EP RELEASE SHOWS in JULY
7/1 - Sacramento @ Old Ironsides
7/2 - Merced @ The Partisan
7/13 - San Francisco @ The Knockout
7/14 - Los Angeles @ The Bootleg Theater
click over here to read a pretty good article with malcolm sosa, and you can download the latest incarnation of "they are always into that." it's well worth your time.
but the band has been busy. they've been honing their sound, recording mini albums, and are beginning to hit the road in support of their first Baby Hawk albums. sadly, they aren't playing fresno any time soon. here's where they will be:
RADEMACHER EP RELEASE SHOWS in JULY
7/1 - Sacramento @ Old Ironsides
7/2 - Merced @ The Partisan
7/13 - San Francisco @ The Knockout
7/14 - Los Angeles @ The Bootleg Theater
click over here to read a pretty good article with malcolm sosa, and you can download the latest incarnation of "they are always into that." it's well worth your time.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
sunday night in fresno
it's a little bit away, but sunday has options, options, options.
first off, we have a great little comedy show that happens once a month at the starline.
i've been able to catch at least portions of all of the previous comedy jacuzzi events and it's more than worth the money to get in. boney beezly has been bringing in some hot comics from outside and swirling them with the right mix of local talent.
but, sunday night also brings a fine rock and roll show down to fulton 55. you wouldn't know from this logo, but there are fine bands on the bill.
this show features Useless Keys, Quiet Americans, The Mallard. now, i don't know the useless keys (& i'm a lazier blogger than the fresnan so i won't even bother to find a link) but i hope they're good. i do know the quiet americans, and they are very good. solid poppy rock with happy sounding lyrics and enough fuzz to give you a beard. finally, we've got the mallard on the bill. they come from san francisco (sorta) and everything from "the city" should be loved in fresno. but seriously, greer mcgettrick is in the band. we loved greer and her music when she was here in fresno as a part of rademacher. when we heard she had a new band we wanted to see it, and now they'll finally be here. pure awesome. or, if i want to sound like the kids in super 8, mint.
it's tuesday now. you've got time to figure out what you'll do sunday night, but it better be one of these two things.
UPDATE: new flyer for the show. it seems useless keys are the headliner. maybe i'll have to look them up.
first off, we have a great little comedy show that happens once a month at the starline.
i've been able to catch at least portions of all of the previous comedy jacuzzi events and it's more than worth the money to get in. boney beezly has been bringing in some hot comics from outside and swirling them with the right mix of local talent.
but, sunday night also brings a fine rock and roll show down to fulton 55. you wouldn't know from this logo, but there are fine bands on the bill.
this show features Useless Keys, Quiet Americans, The Mallard. now, i don't know the useless keys (& i'm a lazier blogger than the fresnan so i won't even bother to find a link) but i hope they're good. i do know the quiet americans, and they are very good. solid poppy rock with happy sounding lyrics and enough fuzz to give you a beard. finally, we've got the mallard on the bill. they come from san francisco (sorta) and everything from "the city" should be loved in fresno. but seriously, greer mcgettrick is in the band. we loved greer and her music when she was here in fresno as a part of rademacher. when we heard she had a new band we wanted to see it, and now they'll finally be here. pure awesome. or, if i want to sound like the kids in super 8, mint.
it's tuesday now. you've got time to figure out what you'll do sunday night, but it better be one of these two things.
UPDATE: new flyer for the show. it seems useless keys are the headliner. maybe i'll have to look them up.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
tv on the radio - you
although it took me until the 2nd album to really get into these guys, i'm in now. enjoy a little mini movie they made for their song 'you.'
whole foods parking lot
let me get back to posting other people's videos. here's a little funny rap about the whole foods parking lot.
fog and smog.
and, how about a medley of hip hop songs played on the violin?
fog and smog.
and, how about a medley of hip hop songs played on the violin?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
tommy from tokyo garden sings!
our friend lauren convinced tommy, the bartender at tokyo garden, to sing a song. a real treasure, and the only time i've seen it happen. amazing stuff, and i love how he giggles midway through the song.
rare, rare stuff right there.
rare, rare stuff right there.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
no, you're not.
eating food doesn't make you a foodie.
saying you paint doesn't make you a painter.
putting up videos from other people doesn't make you a blogger.
i could go on with a few more lines, but i don't really want to this to take a (more) negative tone. life is well. i've got time on my hands right now do to a slightly smaller class load and the end of track. so, with time, i realize that i haven't kept up with some things, like painting. it's giving me a kick in the pants to do the stuff i really enjoy, do the things i really want to be about and not just say i'm about.
in other news, i'm still trying to get a.o. fresno off the ground. seriously, i really didn't think it would be so difficult to find 25 people in the fresno area that liked soccer, especially u.s. soccer that would want to get together and watch matches. this is also helping me realize the limitations of my contacts. but i really do believe that this is a cool, grass roots, supporters organization that does care about soccer. if you watch any of the gold cup games, you'll see american outlaws in a section. they'll be the ones passionately cheering, singing, chanting throughout the whole game. i'm already a member, and would love for you to get involved, too.
on a side note, we went to vegas last weekend. it was a ton of fun. the vegas schedule caught up with me last night. i was falling asleep on the couch at like 9:45, and went to bed @ 10:30. wha?
saying you paint doesn't make you a painter.
putting up videos from other people doesn't make you a blogger.
i could go on with a few more lines, but i don't really want to this to take a (more) negative tone. life is well. i've got time on my hands right now do to a slightly smaller class load and the end of track. so, with time, i realize that i haven't kept up with some things, like painting. it's giving me a kick in the pants to do the stuff i really enjoy, do the things i really want to be about and not just say i'm about.
in other news, i'm still trying to get a.o. fresno off the ground. seriously, i really didn't think it would be so difficult to find 25 people in the fresno area that liked soccer, especially u.s. soccer that would want to get together and watch matches. this is also helping me realize the limitations of my contacts. but i really do believe that this is a cool, grass roots, supporters organization that does care about soccer. if you watch any of the gold cup games, you'll see american outlaws in a section. they'll be the ones passionately cheering, singing, chanting throughout the whole game. i'm already a member, and would love for you to get involved, too.
on a side note, we went to vegas last weekend. it was a ton of fun. the vegas schedule caught up with me last night. i was falling asleep on the couch at like 9:45, and went to bed @ 10:30. wha?
Monday, June 06, 2011
college kids - let's always be friends
wow, i saw the malcolm sosa posted a link to a college kids song, and figured i would check it out. holy moley, what a great tune. i'm not sure how it would sound live @ a show, but i'm loving it.
where i saw the video first.
college kids website.
College Kids - "Let's Always be Friends" from Benjamin Gauvain Hoste on Vimeo.
where i saw the video first.
college kids website.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
bye bye beard
i grew this beard during the 2011 outdoor track season in solidarity with the throwers i help coach. the season is over, and it's time for the beard to go. here's my send off to the beard.
Friday, May 27, 2011
fay wrays cd release show
let me ask you a few questions:
1. do you like music? yes, move on to question 2. no, do i know you?
2. will you be in fresno saturday night?
yes, move on to the flyer. no, i'm sorry.
seriously, this is going to be a very good show. the fay wrays always put their best foot forward on stage, and i'm sure this week won't be any different as they drop their new album. along with fay wrays will be fresno darlings and sxsw tested fierce creatures, one of my new local favs achievement house, the sunburns (who rock), grand canopy, and tokyo death march. i don't know much about the last two, but i'm sure their worth it. hell, 2 of the 3 first bands i mentioned are worth the $10 bucks to get in.
i recommend you head down to fulton 55, enjoy your saturday night.
1. do you like music? yes, move on to question 2. no, do i know you?
2. will you be in fresno saturday night?
yes, move on to the flyer. no, i'm sorry.
seriously, this is going to be a very good show. the fay wrays always put their best foot forward on stage, and i'm sure this week won't be any different as they drop their new album. along with fay wrays will be fresno darlings and sxsw tested fierce creatures, one of my new local favs achievement house, the sunburns (who rock), grand canopy, and tokyo death march. i don't know much about the last two, but i'm sure their worth it. hell, 2 of the 3 first bands i mentioned are worth the $10 bucks to get in.
i recommend you head down to fulton 55, enjoy your saturday night.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
my drunk kitchen
thanks to laughing squid i found out about a hilarious cooking show called my drunk kitchen. she does witty, little videos where she cooks while drinking. it's a little tough to gauge how much she is drinking vs acting drunk, but i found it enjoyable.
the closing credits were a nice little touch. most of the videos are around five minutes, so click over and enjoy.
the closing credits were a nice little touch. most of the videos are around five minutes, so click over and enjoy.
wigger
if you need me in the next few days, i'll be staying in between 45th and university, just off wigger. drop on by. on second thought, you better just call or text.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
the jacuzzi comedy showcase
i've really been enjoying the comedy showcases that boney beezly has been putting on. the comedy comes back this sunday night.
"The Jacuzzi presents: Allen Strickland Williams (Los Angeles)
Allen's an old fashioned joke man. His style is dry, deadpan and wicked smart in the tradition of Stephen Wright and Mitch Hedberg. You may have enjoyed his 10 minute set at the Jacuzzi in March.
We've got 3 other comics scooting in from L.A. to display their wares as well as some local beasties you may recognize, along with special musical guest: General Populous performing his unique brand of alternative Hip Hop.
Our first 2 shows were beyond anyone's expectations.
The Jacuzzi audience has been a hip, generous crowd...and the local and touring comedians have all fallen in love with playing the room. This 3rd installment should be our best one yet, the momentum is ridiculous. We've got a good mix of Los Angeles contract killers and up and coming local talent...bringing that funny, relevant style of comedy that isn't the same old obvious bullshit. All for $5.
Thank you all so much for supporting and being a part of this project. Please Please Please bring all your friends...but not the lame ones.
-Boney Beezly
***Here's the line up***
Stephen Mintz
Chris Cruz
Michelle Rowe
Musical Guest: Populous
Dave Ross (Los Angeles)
Megan Koester (Los Angeles)
Eric Dadourian ((Los Angeles)
Allen Strickland Williams (PARTS UNKNOWN)"
"The Jacuzzi presents: Allen Strickland Williams (Los Angeles)
Allen's an old fashioned joke man. His style is dry, deadpan and wicked smart in the tradition of Stephen Wright and Mitch Hedberg. You may have enjoyed his 10 minute set at the Jacuzzi in March.
We've got 3 other comics scooting in from L.A. to display their wares as well as some local beasties you may recognize, along with special musical guest: General Populous performing his unique brand of alternative Hip Hop.
Our first 2 shows were beyond anyone's expectations.
The Jacuzzi audience has been a hip, generous crowd...and the local and touring comedians have all fallen in love with playing the room. This 3rd installment should be our best one yet, the momentum is ridiculous. We've got a good mix of Los Angeles contract killers and up and coming local talent...bringing that funny, relevant style of comedy that isn't the same old obvious bullshit. All for $5.
Thank you all so much for supporting and being a part of this project. Please Please Please bring all your friends...but not the lame ones.
-Boney Beezly
***Here's the line up***
Stephen Mintz
Chris Cruz
Michelle Rowe
Musical Guest: Populous
Dave Ross (Los Angeles)
Megan Koester (Los Angeles)
Eric Dadourian ((Los Angeles)
Allen Strickland Williams (PARTS UNKNOWN)"
Friday, May 13, 2011
get sweded and charmed
saturday looks to be a pretty awesome evening in fresno. the fuego are playing, and then there's this madness.
seriously, the swedefests are a pretty fun thing to do. if you've never been you should go and see local talent on displayed. and in my book, anything featuring james mclain is comedy gold.
after the swedefest, head on over to audie's and check out the best smiths tribute band. i'll be there singing along, wishing i had seen the real smiths when they were around. of course, i was a little kid then, so it probably wouldn't have been appropriate, but whatever.
seriously, the swedefests are a pretty fun thing to do. if you've never been you should go and see local talent on displayed. and in my book, anything featuring james mclain is comedy gold.
after the swedefest, head on over to audie's and check out the best smiths tribute band. i'll be there singing along, wishing i had seen the real smiths when they were around. of course, i was a little kid then, so it probably wouldn't have been appropriate, but whatever.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
fresno pub quiz
it's been a while. well, not since we had pub quiz, but since some of you have been at pub quiz.
we've missed you, come on home.
we've missed you, come on home.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
snl birthing class
so, recently heather and i watched the business of being born. i'm not really sure why, because it's not like we're having kids or are trying to convince people about having natural childbirth. it wasn't a bad documentary, although it has some "interesting" parts.
anyway, last night on saturday night live, tiny fey was hosting and did a damn fine job. several good skits, but this one in particular killed it:
damn funny, and spot on to the business of being born.
anyway, last night on saturday night live, tiny fey was hosting and did a damn fine job. several good skits, but this one in particular killed it:
damn funny, and spot on to the business of being born.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
2011 white house correspondents' dinner
i remember a few years back when colbert killed it at the white house correspondents' dinner, and this year seth meyers got the call. enjoy.
"john hamm is exactly how every republican thinks they look."
and the president's response
"john hamm is exactly how every republican thinks they look."
and the president's response
Friday, April 22, 2011
fight for your right revisited
yes, i posted the shorter video of this, but i thought, "why not put the super cool extended version up, too?" so, once again, here's "fight for your right revisited" from the upcoming beastie boy release, hot sauce committee part two.
i really am excited about this album. and, i will definitely be spinning it on vinyl. still using the wax, but yes, i also using digital downloaded versions.
i really am excited about this album. and, i will definitely be spinning it on vinyl. still using the wax, but yes, i also using digital downloaded versions.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
brickin' it up
today, out of no where i embarked on some yard work. i was chilling on the couch and thought i'd go out in the yard and do a little something. i started by pulling some giant weeds out of our planter box. that got me onto digging on this bush that neither heather or i like and i've just trimmed it back the last two years. this year, i'm taking it out.
recently, we came up on a load of bricks for free (thanks, adam). i sorta knew where i wanted them, but wasn't exactly sure how much i had, along with some pavers and other bricks that were already at the house when we moved in. once i had an idea about how many bricks i had in square footage, i started plotting. i also consulted heather about the plans, and we came up with a basic idea.
planned area one:
planned area two:
the bricks in one possible formation:
the bricks for area two:
and then i began digging. and sorta leveling. here's area two readied:
area one all sorta readied:
the bush that's coming out:
so, tomorrow i'll be picking up some sand for the base under the bricks, as well as some brush in grout stuff. and hopefully i'll have at least the brick project done. maybe i'll get crazy and pull out the bush as well. of course, this will all happen after i watch arsenal vs liverpool.
UPDATE:
the finished project:
many thanks to mike and adam for their time, truck, tools and knowledge. we figured out that it would take 25 bags of sand for the base, and we used 24. pretty good estimating. the weather cooperated and it wasn't too hot, we turned on the giants game and did work. a nice afternoon.
recently, we came up on a load of bricks for free (thanks, adam). i sorta knew where i wanted them, but wasn't exactly sure how much i had, along with some pavers and other bricks that were already at the house when we moved in. once i had an idea about how many bricks i had in square footage, i started plotting. i also consulted heather about the plans, and we came up with a basic idea.
planned area one:
planned area two:
the bricks in one possible formation:
the bricks for area two:
and then i began digging. and sorta leveling. here's area two readied:
area one all sorta readied:
the bush that's coming out:
so, tomorrow i'll be picking up some sand for the base under the bricks, as well as some brush in grout stuff. and hopefully i'll have at least the brick project done. maybe i'll get crazy and pull out the bush as well. of course, this will all happen after i watch arsenal vs liverpool.
UPDATE:
the finished project:
many thanks to mike and adam for their time, truck, tools and knowledge. we figured out that it would take 25 bags of sand for the base, and we used 24. pretty good estimating. the weather cooperated and it wasn't too hot, we turned on the giants game and did work. a nice afternoon.
jackets in the summer
it's spring (right?) and summer is around the corner. today in fresno it's 77 degrees. so what am i thinking about? jackets.
frankly, i love getting jackets in the wrong season, and i've got my eyes locked on two different adidas coats.
this first jacket is the adidas duffel coat. it's nice, and would work well in the cold and rain.
this second coat is quite the catch. it's a part of the adidas vespa line. i've got two pairs of the shoes, and this coat is downright sexy. it reminds me of a peacoat in style. not quite sold on the big zippers, but really like that dark blue w/orange accents. quite fpu, and i could imagine standing out @ some early season track meets in this beauty.
frankly, i love getting jackets in the wrong season, and i've got my eyes locked on two different adidas coats.
this first jacket is the adidas duffel coat. it's nice, and would work well in the cold and rain.
this second coat is quite the catch. it's a part of the adidas vespa line. i've got two pairs of the shoes, and this coat is downright sexy. it reminds me of a peacoat in style. not quite sold on the big zippers, but really like that dark blue w/orange accents. quite fpu, and i could imagine standing out @ some early season track meets in this beauty.
modern lady vs walmart
we loves some infomania in our household, and i thought erin gibson was spot on with her latest modern lady segment.
btw, she's got a humorous twitter feed as well. give erin a follow.
btw, she's got a humorous twitter feed as well. give erin a follow.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
bill o'reilly debunks obama myths
it's a rare day in hell that i have a positive story about bill o'reilly or faux news, but it must be done today. o'reilly concedes that president is obama, and that most of the things said about him are untrue.
now if we could just get the 50% of republicans that believe otherwise to believe the truth.
now if we could just get the 50% of republicans that believe otherwise to believe the truth.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
hot sauce committee part two
yeah, so i loves me some beastie boys. for their album promo they've kicked it up a bit with some comedy giants.
will arnett giving the "come on" yell from arrested development was amaaaaazingly funny to me.
will arnett giving the "come on" yell from arrested development was amaaaaazingly funny to me.
happy birthday heather!
today is my lovely wife heather's birthday. so, i thought i'd put up some videos of cats, because she loves cats slightly less than she loves me. i think.
here, we have a cat on ice, trying to get fish.
and because heather hadn't heard of maru, i thought i'd post one of those as well.
here, we have a cat on ice, trying to get fish.
and because heather hadn't heard of maru, i thought i'd post one of those as well.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
wacky subconscious
i had a dream last night that i was scuba diving, and having an argument about an e-cigarette or e-cigar (i forget which). i woke up and there was an ad on the radio for them.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
espn classic women's shot put
so, i coach women's shot put, along with other throw events. this video has nothing to do with that. although i must say that the form of the athletes wasn't terrible
some great cameos in this skit as well.
some great cameos in this skit as well.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
mike tyson's punchout - after the game
pm sports has a great take on what happened to all of the characters from mike tyson's punchout
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
jacuzzi comedy night at the starline
sunday, march 27 brings us the second jacuzzi comedy night at the starline. i went to the first one and had a blast. it was a good mix of local comedians and some bigger names from l.a. and beyond.
here's a little message from boney beezly, who's putting it all together:
Hop in The Jacuzzi with headliner RORY SCOVEL. Rory is definitely exploding onto the national scene. In the last few months this dude has performed on LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON and COMEDY CENTRAL's "LIVE FROM GOTHAM" He's preparing to release his first CD ...BUT FIRST he's swinging through Fresno to share his special brand of drug induced humor with The Tower District.
Of Course we'll be featureing 5 other top notch performers from all over the country bringing more fun than any of us deserve.
This show will fill up quickly so get in line early.
Feel the Bubbles, babies.
-Uncle Boney
$5 + 1 drink minimum.
Show starts at 9pm sharp!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
pecha kucha 10
it's a tiny little picture, but it's worth doing. check out pecha kucha on monday night down @ fulton 55. i'm excited about it because the new venue will allow more people to come out, and not be jammed up. you see, many of the past pecha kuchas were standing room only over at the starline, and that's kept people, like me, away. but maybe this time i'll be there.
more info
Come join Creative Fresno for the 10th volume of PechaKucha Night Fresno. This time we will focus on Taste. Tasteful / Tasteless? You be the judge.
We will also be at a new venue. The hippest mid-sized venue in Fresno, Fulton 55. We have grown into it.
$5 admission, $3 CF member
21 and over
Presenters:
General Populus http://www.myspace.com/populus
Kim Burly Schuller http://31daysoffresno.blogspot.com/
Yvonne Vallejo http://titsandgiggles.com/
Flannery & Katherine http://www.fashionablybombed.com/
Michael Manjarrez http://www.michaelmanjarrez.com/
Adam Marler http://idontgetitpodcast.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Plevin http://blogs.vidaenelvalle.com/health/
James Collier http://food.jamescollier.me/
Hank Delcore http://theanthroguys.com/
Dustin & Kristin http://www.dustybuns.com/
Thursday, March 17, 2011
history of the wah wah pedal
got an hour? want to learn the history of the wah wah pedal? check it out.
Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World from Joey Tosi on Vimeo.
Monday, March 14, 2011
monday haiku 3/14
pi day is here now
and i only point that out
because of the 'net
bike ride to work on
a sunny day at the track.
sometimes work is nice.
and i only point that out
because of the 'net
bike ride to work on
a sunny day at the track.
sometimes work is nice.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
mardi gras 2011 recap
dude, yesterday was mardi gras. i went and...watched tv. seriously, this was the first year in forever that i didn't go out for mardi gras. not at all. admittedly, there were many circumstances in the decision to stay home and go to sleep before midnight, including, but not limited to:
1. allergies. i was super stuffed up yesterday at points, and then sloppy runny nose at others. and sneezing.
2. tired of the "rookies". for real, these public drinking holidays (mardi gras, st. paddys, cinco de mayo, thanksgiving) sorta suck now. maybe they always sucked, but it just seems like every bar is super jammed up with knuckleheads ordering bud lights and tequila shots. i'm not trying to stand in line for 15 minutes for overpriced, small, plastic cups, all the while seeing skanks and knuckleheads eyeball me like they want to fight.
3. the scene isn't as good any more. this isn't me being an elitist, it was better in my day type. all i know is that the environment used to be a little more loose, you could walk around a little freer, even though there was always a heavy police presence. through problems and their "solutions," the tower mardi gras has become pretty restricted, which has made reason #2 a bit worse. so, if the spot you're at isn't that good, you're sort of stuck. but, kudos to many local establishments trying to make the spots nice (landmark had viper city brass, audie's had dj bradley + others, etc).
4. i'm older, even if i'm not wiser. hey, it happens. and it seemed like a lot of my friends were on the same page last night. chillin instead of being out there at the celebration.
will i go out next year? who knows? will i go out on st. paddy's? we'll see next week.
in the meantime, click on over to my coworker al's blog, and read a little piece that he wrote about women's history month and gender equality.
1. allergies. i was super stuffed up yesterday at points, and then sloppy runny nose at others. and sneezing.
2. tired of the "rookies". for real, these public drinking holidays (mardi gras, st. paddys, cinco de mayo, thanksgiving) sorta suck now. maybe they always sucked, but it just seems like every bar is super jammed up with knuckleheads ordering bud lights and tequila shots. i'm not trying to stand in line for 15 minutes for overpriced, small, plastic cups, all the while seeing skanks and knuckleheads eyeball me like they want to fight.
3. the scene isn't as good any more. this isn't me being an elitist, it was better in my day type. all i know is that the environment used to be a little more loose, you could walk around a little freer, even though there was always a heavy police presence. through problems and their "solutions," the tower mardi gras has become pretty restricted, which has made reason #2 a bit worse. so, if the spot you're at isn't that good, you're sort of stuck. but, kudos to many local establishments trying to make the spots nice (landmark had viper city brass, audie's had dj bradley + others, etc).
4. i'm older, even if i'm not wiser. hey, it happens. and it seemed like a lot of my friends were on the same page last night. chillin instead of being out there at the celebration.
will i go out next year? who knows? will i go out on st. paddy's? we'll see next week.
in the meantime, click on over to my coworker al's blog, and read a little piece that he wrote about women's history month and gender equality.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
the placebo effect
interesting little video from a person using the handle the professor funk. it's about 3 minutes long, and deals with the idea of placebos vs placebos.
this is very interesting to me, especially the idea of placebo and sport. perhaps i'll have to do some reading on the topic.
this is very interesting to me, especially the idea of placebo and sport. perhaps i'll have to do some reading on the topic.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Saturday, March 05, 2011
anti-muslim bigots in yorba linda
this makes me ashamed as an american, a californian, and a Christian.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
working poor
want to be depressed and feel like most americans, aka the working poor? check out playspent.org and try to make it through a month on what many americans are "living" on.
tvlgfhf episode 51
yep, i'm double posting this. because i love the podcast, benji mcentee, and the rogue festival that much. listen and enjoy!
Yessir, we're back with another episode of goodness. Today, we talked to Benji McEntee from the Rhoda Penmarks about their upcoming Rogue show.
In this episode we talk about:
what the Rhoda Penmarks do with movies
how to score a show
what makes a good band name
the Rogue in general
best Radiohead album
and a whole lot of other randomness. This episode runs about 90 minutes, so we hope you enjoy.
As always, this episode contains some salty language, so don't play it on your stereo around your grandmother. And, if we have any Mormon listeners, we're sorry in advance.
Yessir, we're back with another episode of goodness. Today, we talked to Benji McEntee from the Rhoda Penmarks about their upcoming Rogue show.
In this episode we talk about:
what the Rhoda Penmarks do with movies
how to score a show
what makes a good band name
the Rogue in general
best Radiohead album
and a whole lot of other randomness. This episode runs about 90 minutes, so we hope you enjoy.
As always, this episode contains some salty language, so don't play it on your stereo around your grandmother. And, if we have any Mormon listeners, we're sorry in advance.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
rogue 2011
so, the rogue festival is right around the corner. this year will be a different experience for me, as i've shown visual arts pieces for the last several years. (and, i've sold pieces during the last few years.)
after co-coordinating the visual arts venue with adam last year, i realized that i definitely didn't want to do that again, and also i kinda was leaning towards less participation in the rogue. i don't have anything against it, just a little fatigue on my part. so, when application time rolled around, i decided against it. instead, i'm going to just do my part as a supporter. i also may volunteer at the door for a few events.
something i've noticed, or haven't noticed, is rogue promotion. i've seen a little buzz, mostly a few tweets or facebook updates, but i haven't seen the full court press yet for the rogue. either it's not happening, or i'm not connecting with the right spots to see it. either way, that disappoints me because this should be a big year for the rogue. it's the 10th year, and i know they had hopes of doing it better and better this year. i hope there is more promo stuff going on than i realize.
i'm sure there will be good shows this year. i know that some talented past performers like travis sheridan, jaime holt, josh tehee (i think) have stuff in the mix. and, the rhoda penmarks are doing another movie soundtrack. this year is dr. jekyl & mr. hide set to their own original soundtrack. we're trying to book some of the band on the podcast to talk about the show soon. and i'm sure there are many other great acts to be seen.
so, what should we do? i (we?) can sit around and complain that we haven't seen enough rogue promo stuff. and right or wrong, nothing changes. or, we can click on over to the rogue site (link above) and start reading show descriptions, looking @ show times, and plotting our rogue experience.
after co-coordinating the visual arts venue with adam last year, i realized that i definitely didn't want to do that again, and also i kinda was leaning towards less participation in the rogue. i don't have anything against it, just a little fatigue on my part. so, when application time rolled around, i decided against it. instead, i'm going to just do my part as a supporter. i also may volunteer at the door for a few events.
something i've noticed, or haven't noticed, is rogue promotion. i've seen a little buzz, mostly a few tweets or facebook updates, but i haven't seen the full court press yet for the rogue. either it's not happening, or i'm not connecting with the right spots to see it. either way, that disappoints me because this should be a big year for the rogue. it's the 10th year, and i know they had hopes of doing it better and better this year. i hope there is more promo stuff going on than i realize.
i'm sure there will be good shows this year. i know that some talented past performers like travis sheridan, jaime holt, josh tehee (i think) have stuff in the mix. and, the rhoda penmarks are doing another movie soundtrack. this year is dr. jekyl & mr. hide set to their own original soundtrack. we're trying to book some of the band on the podcast to talk about the show soon. and i'm sure there are many other great acts to be seen.
so, what should we do? i (we?) can sit around and complain that we haven't seen enough rogue promo stuff. and right or wrong, nothing changes. or, we can click on over to the rogue site (link above) and start reading show descriptions, looking @ show times, and plotting our rogue experience.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
grammy reaction
so, i actually watched the grammys last night, which wasn't a first, but it's not something i usually do. and, i also participated in some live commenting over @ the beehive, which made it a little more fun.
i watch awards show occasionally, so i understand that they're always a little lame and overdone, and this one fit right in with that. i also understand that there will be wins and losses that people are upset about. shoot, i remember being a young metalhead and feeling that metallica was robbed of the first ever metal grammy. shoot, i still feel that way. but, whatever, it happens.
here are some of my reactions on the night:
- like most, i hadn't heard of the winnner of best new artist. that's okay, she does jazz, and so i'll check her out. i'm not surprised i don't know her, she is doing something different. i do appreciate that she is a trained musician, and doesn't seem to be a part of the mainstream machine. she's not the latest pop princess, prefab regurgitated pablum. that excites me, even if i don't know her music.
- enjoyed most of the collaborative musical pieces. shoot, that cover of dolly parton's jolene was one of my favorite moments of the night. just great sounding. and i thought the grammy's did a good job of putting those moments together last night.
- arcade fire. not everyone likes them, and that's fine. i do like them, and i was surprised they won. was it the album of the year? i don't know, but honestly, i think it's a good album. i'm not just saying that as a fan of theirs. it does make me chuckle that kanye's rated 10 album didn't even get nominated, let alone win. and for all those people that are up in arms (or tweets) over arcade fire winning, settle down. if you've never heard of the band, that's on you. they've been on saturday night live twice, and been on most of the late night shows. they've released three successful albums, and the latest did sell rather well. in fact, it debuted on the billboard charts at number 1. so, if you've never heard of arcade fire, that's on you. be more aware of the culture around you because it's not like they're some fringe band. that doesn't mean you have to like them or agree with the grammys, just don't be some knee jerk 'i don't know who they are' type.
- presenters: mixed reactions to the presenters last night. some, like puffy, j-lo and marc antony seemed a bit off. don't know what they were doing before coming on stage, but they all seemed a little lost with the teleprompter. maybe a little too happy. and, it looked like puffy had braces. seth rogan was forgettable but i thought jason segal was pretty funny in his little bit, as was neil patrick harris, who had a little wink about his sexuality. as for cbs using several cbs people, i guess that's par for the course.
overall, the show was interesting, but it dragged in the last hour, and i don't know if i'd watch next year. i guess we'll see.
i watch awards show occasionally, so i understand that they're always a little lame and overdone, and this one fit right in with that. i also understand that there will be wins and losses that people are upset about. shoot, i remember being a young metalhead and feeling that metallica was robbed of the first ever metal grammy. shoot, i still feel that way. but, whatever, it happens.
here are some of my reactions on the night:
- like most, i hadn't heard of the winnner of best new artist. that's okay, she does jazz, and so i'll check her out. i'm not surprised i don't know her, she is doing something different. i do appreciate that she is a trained musician, and doesn't seem to be a part of the mainstream machine. she's not the latest pop princess, prefab regurgitated pablum. that excites me, even if i don't know her music.
- enjoyed most of the collaborative musical pieces. shoot, that cover of dolly parton's jolene was one of my favorite moments of the night. just great sounding. and i thought the grammy's did a good job of putting those moments together last night.
- arcade fire. not everyone likes them, and that's fine. i do like them, and i was surprised they won. was it the album of the year? i don't know, but honestly, i think it's a good album. i'm not just saying that as a fan of theirs. it does make me chuckle that kanye's rated 10 album didn't even get nominated, let alone win. and for all those people that are up in arms (or tweets) over arcade fire winning, settle down. if you've never heard of the band, that's on you. they've been on saturday night live twice, and been on most of the late night shows. they've released three successful albums, and the latest did sell rather well. in fact, it debuted on the billboard charts at number 1. so, if you've never heard of arcade fire, that's on you. be more aware of the culture around you because it's not like they're some fringe band. that doesn't mean you have to like them or agree with the grammys, just don't be some knee jerk 'i don't know who they are' type.
- presenters: mixed reactions to the presenters last night. some, like puffy, j-lo and marc antony seemed a bit off. don't know what they were doing before coming on stage, but they all seemed a little lost with the teleprompter. maybe a little too happy. and, it looked like puffy had braces. seth rogan was forgettable but i thought jason segal was pretty funny in his little bit, as was neil patrick harris, who had a little wink about his sexuality. as for cbs using several cbs people, i guess that's par for the course.
overall, the show was interesting, but it dragged in the last hour, and i don't know if i'd watch next year. i guess we'll see.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
uppercut fight club
another cool video from the people over @ california is a place. i've enjoyed their great mini docs about scraper bikes, real dolls, the border and so on. this is the latest. uppercut.
as an enthusiast of the film fight club, i was intrigued by this.
Uppercut from California is a place. on Vimeo.
as an enthusiast of the film fight club, i was intrigued by this.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
elephants on parade dubstep
loving this dubstep remix of elephants on parade from dumbo.
Daladubz - Pink elephants VIP by Daladubz
Daladubz - Pink elephants VIP by Daladubz
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
wednesday and thursday fun
looking for things to do in the next few days. well, of course you should hit up pub quiz on wednesday. seriously, if you haven't been yet, why?
then, thursday night, head on down to fulton 55 and hit up the beehive birthday bash. i've been to a few of these, and they're usually quite a fun time.
they'll have bands like motel drive, food trucks from la elegante (some of fresno's best tacos) and dusty buns (always delicious), and tons of giveaways. there will be other entertainment as well. i'm also excited that i'll be able to check out fulton 55 for the first time.
then, thursday night, head on down to fulton 55 and hit up the beehive birthday bash. i've been to a few of these, and they're usually quite a fun time.
they'll have bands like motel drive, food trucks from la elegante (some of fresno's best tacos) and dusty buns (always delicious), and tons of giveaways. there will be other entertainment as well. i'm also excited that i'll be able to check out fulton 55 for the first time.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Sunday, February 06, 2011
super bowl xlv fun
i enjoyed watching the super bowl this year with just a few friends. we grubbed, joked, and made a few little wagers amongst ourselves. i must say, i did rather well.
bets i won:
heads vs tails (heads)
over/under 38 points (over)
first penalty (pitt)
first qb to pass for td (rogers)
first coach's challenge (gb)
first td pass or run (pass)
first pitt score (fg)
bet i lost
3rd roethlisberger int (i said yes)
congrats to the packers for holding on to a win in close game. it was very enjoyable to watch.
bets i won:
heads vs tails (heads)
over/under 38 points (over)
first penalty (pitt)
first qb to pass for td (rogers)
first coach's challenge (gb)
first td pass or run (pass)
first pitt score (fg)
bet i lost
3rd roethlisberger int (i said yes)
congrats to the packers for holding on to a win in close game. it was very enjoyable to watch.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
everything is a remix
i love educational videos, especially those about music or culture. (remember the amen break?) well here's two about how everything is a remix
"sorry about colonialism."
can't wait for the final parts. maybe i'll even donate @ some point.
everything is a remix
Everything is a Remix from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
"sorry about colonialism."
can't wait for the final parts. maybe i'll even donate @ some point.
everything is a remix
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
post art hop @ tokyo
look who's back at making cool flyers for their shows:
that's right, your favorite, and mine, rademacher. this week's post art hop show sounds like fun. achievement house is getting a lot of local buzz, i think the current rademacher line up is one of their best, and blake jones & the trike shop do some quirky, cool songs.
btw, last week i went over to the quiet show featuring malcolm sosa, niiiiiiiilo smeds, rc, and luke giffen. good show. enjoyed new songs by all those guys.
that's right, your favorite, and mine, rademacher. this week's post art hop show sounds like fun. achievement house is getting a lot of local buzz, i think the current rademacher line up is one of their best, and blake jones & the trike shop do some quirky, cool songs.
btw, last week i went over to the quiet show featuring malcolm sosa, niiiiiiiilo smeds, rc, and luke giffen. good show. enjoyed new songs by all those guys.
Monday, January 24, 2011
work thoughts
please bear with me for a moment while i briefly express myself.
i wish one or two of my jobs would pay better so i didn't have to do the third job. or that one of my hobbies was actually a job. or, maybe i just wish i didn't have a stack of papers to grade with no desire to grade them.
that's all.
i wish one or two of my jobs would pay better so i didn't have to do the third job. or that one of my hobbies was actually a job. or, maybe i just wish i didn't have a stack of papers to grade with no desire to grade them.
that's all.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
lunch review: watts family grill
good, solid bbq restaurant. i went there and ordered the watt's riot to go with some friends before one of the nfl games. i was happy that they were able to accommodate on the spot, and the guys behind us ordered the same without any problem.
the ribs were decent, but i've had a little better lately. the pork was amazing and tender. the chicken was decent, tri tip was good. what really stood out to me was the baked beans. they were great. almost like a chili bean.
the watts riot is a big meal, that they say serves 4. i think with all the sides and meat you could easily serve 5 or 6. i'm a big boy, and the guys with me are pretty big eaters as well and we had left overs.
good place, and it's pretty close to my neighborhood so i'll be back to try some of their combos or their chicken & waffles.
1448 N Blackstone Ave
Fresno, CA 93703
(559) 268-6800
Friday, January 14, 2011
"productive" friday
these are the things i accomplished (cough cough) today that make me feel "productive" about a friday:
- finished call of duty: black ops. i didn't realize i was almost done, and sorta feel that the storyline ends very weird. and unexpectedly.
- went to lowes to make sure they had door in stock. tomorrow, i'm getting a new front door & have a friend w/a truck going with me. didn't want to have him drive to the store to find out it wasn't in stock, so today i went over there to check.
- activated costco membership - yep, i'm a member again, this time thanks to a friend's family business that put me on their account. i also looked around, had a few samples, and ate a slice of pizza.
- bought coffee @ cafe corazon. still the best around, and every week i enjoy a walk over to buy a freshly roasted pound.
- researched scaffolding & ladders - as i move forward in my mural project, i'm going to need a tall ladder, and so i wanted to check rental prices from companies in fresno. i think i've found what i'm looking for.
- finished call of duty: black ops. i didn't realize i was almost done, and sorta feel that the storyline ends very weird. and unexpectedly.
- went to lowes to make sure they had door in stock. tomorrow, i'm getting a new front door & have a friend w/a truck going with me. didn't want to have him drive to the store to find out it wasn't in stock, so today i went over there to check.
- activated costco membership - yep, i'm a member again, this time thanks to a friend's family business that put me on their account. i also looked around, had a few samples, and ate a slice of pizza.
- bought coffee @ cafe corazon. still the best around, and every week i enjoy a walk over to buy a freshly roasted pound.
- researched scaffolding & ladders - as i move forward in my mural project, i'm going to need a tall ladder, and so i wanted to check rental prices from companies in fresno. i think i've found what i'm looking for.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
3 cents
today i filled up the motorcycle at one of the gas stations i usually go to. there are two am/pm-arco's near my work, so i usually hit one of them up because the victory runs on premium, and they've got good prices. for those that don't know, am/pm takes cash & debit, and i usually pay cash. you can insert your money out at a terminal, and after you're done pumping you get change inside. my bike usually takes about 4 gallons to fill, and so that's always going to give me change off a $20.
such was the case today. i prepaid with a $20, and filled it up. when it was done, i noticed that my total was $13.37 (that's right geeks, 1337). i walked in and waited in line for my change, $6.63. when it was my turn, the salesclerk gave me my change and i walked out of the store.
as i put my change in my pocket, my mind turned over, because the change just didn't seem right. i hadn't looked closely at what the cashier had given me, just sort of glanced and put it in my pocket. did she give me only 3 coins? how could she have given me correct change with only 3 coins? so, i reached back into my pocket and could only feel 3 coins. i pulled them out - two quarters and a dime. i reached back in my pocket, no other coins to be found. the cashier shorted me three cents. i stood there dumbfounded for a second, wondering if i should just move along with my day, or go back and get my 3 cents. i mean, it's only 3 cents. and as i stood there thinking, i got a little bit pissed. it wasn't about the actual worth of the money, it was about the principle of it.
i went back inside and stood in line for the same cashier. when i got to the front of the line, i said to the cashier, "you shorted me on my change. it's only three cents but..." and before i could finish she was handing me the three cents. she didn't check my change, didn't check my receipt, didn't let me finish and tell her how much it was. it really seemed like she knew exactly how much she had shorted me, and was quick to fix the error.. it felt like she had intentionally shorted me and probably does it regularly to customers, but most of us just stuff our change in our pocket without checking. sure, it was only 3 cents to me, but over thousand of transactions it adds up nicely for the business. shady.
such was the case today. i prepaid with a $20, and filled it up. when it was done, i noticed that my total was $13.37 (that's right geeks, 1337). i walked in and waited in line for my change, $6.63. when it was my turn, the salesclerk gave me my change and i walked out of the store.
as i put my change in my pocket, my mind turned over, because the change just didn't seem right. i hadn't looked closely at what the cashier had given me, just sort of glanced and put it in my pocket. did she give me only 3 coins? how could she have given me correct change with only 3 coins? so, i reached back into my pocket and could only feel 3 coins. i pulled them out - two quarters and a dime. i reached back in my pocket, no other coins to be found. the cashier shorted me three cents. i stood there dumbfounded for a second, wondering if i should just move along with my day, or go back and get my 3 cents. i mean, it's only 3 cents. and as i stood there thinking, i got a little bit pissed. it wasn't about the actual worth of the money, it was about the principle of it.
i went back inside and stood in line for the same cashier. when i got to the front of the line, i said to the cashier, "you shorted me on my change. it's only three cents but..." and before i could finish she was handing me the three cents. she didn't check my change, didn't check my receipt, didn't let me finish and tell her how much it was. it really seemed like she knew exactly how much she had shorted me, and was quick to fix the error.. it felt like she had intentionally shorted me and probably does it regularly to customers, but most of us just stuff our change in our pocket without checking. sure, it was only 3 cents to me, but over thousand of transactions it adds up nicely for the business. shady.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
el olio wolof final concert review
i know i've blogged a lot lately about el olio wolof, but i don't mind. they were a great band, and i think have had big impact on the fresno & greater valley indie scene over the last six + years. when i heard they were moving on to other things, i knew i wanted to see them every chance i could get. i saw their last fresno show, and when i talked to r.c. and he told me about their very last show ever, i knew i needed to at least try to be there. there partisan in merced is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, so that and a $5 ticket price assured i'd be there saturday night. for a fan of this band, what was more important than their finale last night? all members, past or present, were going to play as el olio navigated through their entire history and catalog of music (one ex member didn't make it).
i could tell you about the two opening acts, but that's not why i went to the show. i will say that both neal jackson and willy tea were both very interesting and talented musicians. the crowd was especially familiar and responsive to willy tea.
the crowd overall had a very good, friendly vibe. most everyone there knew who el olio is, and was there to send them off in style. of course, there were also people there that didn't know el olio, and there was your handful of annoying people that are there, taking up space, talking loudly, and not paying attention to the show. (sidenote: why pay $5 to get into a concert and not pay attention at all?) but really, it was a very warm feeling in the partisan last night. during some songs you could just feel the energy as people sang along and the floor bounced with movement.
when el olio started, i was sorta in the back of the crowd. but, as people moved in and out of the crowd i was able to move forward, eventually ending up about five feet from the stage. consequentially, i didn't take any videos of their very early on music.
although you don't see it in any of the videos, r.c. sort of narrated the changes in the band through the show, along with some of the people they met along the way. kinda nice to see who they started with, who was added when, and to watch the band literally change on stage to reflect the band changes. but, eventually you had all of the members, past and present, on stage.
there were a lot of photographers, both the fan variety and what seemed like more professional variety there on the night. this is alright, but the "pros" seemed to feel like they had priority on being close to the stage. i often observed photogs weaseling their way to the front, taking up space where people were enjoying the music, to get their shots. i suppose they're doing there job, but i found it a tad annoying trying to watch the show through people's cameras. btw, my videos were all shot while i was leaning on a wall. no one's view was obstructed by my shots. during this third video you'll see a photog enter the frame, take some shots, etc. enjoy looking at his california baseball cap.
i will admit that the flashes from cameras did create a magical, firework-esque effect combined with the house lights.
and now for my favorite el olio song, tree shakers/tree climbers. there was no way that i wouldn't be recording the last ever performance of this song.
sorry about the video on this last one. i forgot that while you can rotate the camera, it stays recording the same way.
what a night. i hope all the best for the members of el olio wolof in their future endeavors. and, if you ever get a chance to go to a show at the partisan, you should.
i could tell you about the two opening acts, but that's not why i went to the show. i will say that both neal jackson and willy tea were both very interesting and talented musicians. the crowd was especially familiar and responsive to willy tea.
the crowd overall had a very good, friendly vibe. most everyone there knew who el olio is, and was there to send them off in style. of course, there were also people there that didn't know el olio, and there was your handful of annoying people that are there, taking up space, talking loudly, and not paying attention to the show. (sidenote: why pay $5 to get into a concert and not pay attention at all?) but really, it was a very warm feeling in the partisan last night. during some songs you could just feel the energy as people sang along and the floor bounced with movement.
when el olio started, i was sorta in the back of the crowd. but, as people moved in and out of the crowd i was able to move forward, eventually ending up about five feet from the stage. consequentially, i didn't take any videos of their very early on music.
although you don't see it in any of the videos, r.c. sort of narrated the changes in the band through the show, along with some of the people they met along the way. kinda nice to see who they started with, who was added when, and to watch the band literally change on stage to reflect the band changes. but, eventually you had all of the members, past and present, on stage.
there were a lot of photographers, both the fan variety and what seemed like more professional variety there on the night. this is alright, but the "pros" seemed to feel like they had priority on being close to the stage. i often observed photogs weaseling their way to the front, taking up space where people were enjoying the music, to get their shots. i suppose they're doing there job, but i found it a tad annoying trying to watch the show through people's cameras. btw, my videos were all shot while i was leaning on a wall. no one's view was obstructed by my shots. during this third video you'll see a photog enter the frame, take some shots, etc. enjoy looking at his california baseball cap.
i will admit that the flashes from cameras did create a magical, firework-esque effect combined with the house lights.
and now for my favorite el olio song, tree shakers/tree climbers. there was no way that i wouldn't be recording the last ever performance of this song.
sorry about the video on this last one. i forgot that while you can rotate the camera, it stays recording the same way.
what a night. i hope all the best for the members of el olio wolof in their future endeavors. and, if you ever get a chance to go to a show at the partisan, you should.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Friday, January 07, 2011
smokin them bones
i'll say right off the bat that this is probably a 5 star place, but i'm going 4 stars because i've only been there once and i want to give it another try to really confirm that 5th star. but, really, this is a five star place in my opinion.
i had heard about a new bbq spot in town and wanted to try it out, and since i had some free time today i thought i'd go find it. and really, you've got to find it. to track down the location i googled 'smokin them bones fresno' and the only worthwhile hit was something on twitter - fortunately someone i know so i knew that the directions were legit - on mckinley east of first. and, that's just where it is, on mckinley, just past the shopping center with popeyes & carl's jr, on the right if you're headed east. there is a small, 8 or so car lot + street parking.
i came in and it was just me and the staff, but by the time i was finished with lunch the place had several customers. the staff had a friendly report with all the customers, and two guys came in and had tracked the chef down from another bbq spot he had been at. the service was very quick and the restaurant was nice and clean.
i surveyed the the menu and of course decided to get ribs. originally i ordered the rib dinner, but switched to the rib sandwich - 2 ribs on bread + 1 side. for my side i ordered the cajun friend rice. the rice was my first surprise. when my order came up it looked lovely, and the rice was very tasty. it had rice, sausage, squash, onion and maybe a few other little things. very good tasting.
the ribs had a light sauce coating but were very good. the meat was super tender and easily came off the bone. honestly, i want to go back and order a whole rack or more. very good.
i noticed that they make (& i think sell) their own sauces - bbq & hot sauce. i hadn't used the hot sauce with my meal, so i put some on my fork just to taste - another nice thing. not too hot, good smokey spice flavor.
overall, great experience, and i'll definitely go back.
open mon-sat 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
3298 e. mckinley, fresno, 93703
559.237.1700
i had heard about a new bbq spot in town and wanted to try it out, and since i had some free time today i thought i'd go find it. and really, you've got to find it. to track down the location i googled 'smokin them bones fresno' and the only worthwhile hit was something on twitter - fortunately someone i know so i knew that the directions were legit - on mckinley east of first. and, that's just where it is, on mckinley, just past the shopping center with popeyes & carl's jr, on the right if you're headed east. there is a small, 8 or so car lot + street parking.
i came in and it was just me and the staff, but by the time i was finished with lunch the place had several customers. the staff had a friendly report with all the customers, and two guys came in and had tracked the chef down from another bbq spot he had been at. the service was very quick and the restaurant was nice and clean.
i surveyed the the menu and of course decided to get ribs. originally i ordered the rib dinner, but switched to the rib sandwich - 2 ribs on bread + 1 side. for my side i ordered the cajun friend rice. the rice was my first surprise. when my order came up it looked lovely, and the rice was very tasty. it had rice, sausage, squash, onion and maybe a few other little things. very good tasting.
the ribs had a light sauce coating but were very good. the meat was super tender and easily came off the bone. honestly, i want to go back and order a whole rack or more. very good.
i noticed that they make (& i think sell) their own sauces - bbq & hot sauce. i hadn't used the hot sauce with my meal, so i put some on my fork just to taste - another nice thing. not too hot, good smokey spice flavor.
overall, great experience, and i'll definitely go back.
open mon-sat 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
3298 e. mckinley, fresno, 93703
559.237.1700
ghostbusters inception
wonderfully recut trailer for ghostbusters.
i'd see it.
which, btw, this trailer actually makes me want to rewatch ghostbusters. i haven't seen the original in quite some time. i'm sure not all the effects would hold up, but i think it would still be a rather watchable film.
i'd see it.
which, btw, this trailer actually makes me want to rewatch ghostbusters. i haven't seen the original in quite some time. i'm sure not all the effects would hold up, but i think it would still be a rather watchable film.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
the rap guide to evolution...needs you?
i saw this over on boing boing and thought i'd share it here, mainly because it's got fresno ties. baba brinkman is a guy who has performed @ the rogue festival, and i caught him one year. he's pretty interesting, and basically what he does is rap. the first year (2?) that he was at the rogue he did rap canterbury tales. the year i saw him it was the rap guide to evolution, and it drew a mild amount of controversy, at least in the comments on the rogue page for it. well, it seems that he has a dvd out now, and here is the trailer for it.
he's trying to raise funds (isn't everyone these days) to do all the post production, so i thought i'd share that need with fresnans who might want to threw him a few bucks.
i also will admit that i probably disagree with him at some points about behavior and biology, but that's not that important here.
he's trying to raise funds (isn't everyone these days) to do all the post production, so i thought i'd share that need with fresnans who might want to threw him a few bucks.
i also will admit that i probably disagree with him at some points about behavior and biology, but that's not that important here.
Fantasy Fiancé
alright, so i thought this video was pretty funny, but it has some problems. problem 1: there is swearing, so if that bugs you, don't watch. problem two: the ladies in this are portrayed as nincompoops, so if you can't get past that, don't watch. problem three: the ending isn't that great. it's funny, but i think they couldn't figure out a great way to end it. so, if that won't bother you, watch.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
border fences don't work
i saw this video and thought it quite interesting. basically, it shows 2 young ladies climbing the border fence between the u.s. and mexico.
now, assuming that the video is accurate, and these two climbed it on their first try and in under twenty seconds, i have little hope that this fence could actually keep anything out that wanted in. hell, if you can be up and over in under a minute, it's not even like it would be a deterrent.
now, assuming that the video is accurate, and these two climbed it on their first try and in under twenty seconds, i have little hope that this fence could actually keep anything out that wanted in. hell, if you can be up and over in under a minute, it's not even like it would be a deterrent.
Monday, January 03, 2011
pajama jeans
my wife saw this commercial and decided it was the answer to all her problems.
UPDATE: it appears hmac @ the beehive had a similar post last february, although the video was different.
UPDATE: it appears hmac @ the beehive had a similar post last february, although the video was different.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
new year's vacation
we spent new year's eve and a few other days over in santa barbara, and it was a fun time. but, it's also nice to be home, sleep in your own bed, and get back into the rhythm of life.
but, i also wanted to share a few photos with you from my trip. this first is from nye, were we rang in the new year at a bar called old kings road. this was the door to the ladies' room.
the sinks in the mens' room also were out of order, but i guess we could duece if needed.
the second photo i took because of word choice. it was outside of the restaurant we had breakfast at on the first. is "your" the proper word?
here is a link to a definition of your.
so, i've been trying to rework the sentence so it seems better, at least to me.
the original:
we appreciate your not smoking here.
my first attempt:
we appreciate you not smoking here.
my complete rework:
thank you for not smoking here.
but, i also wanted to share a few photos with you from my trip. this first is from nye, were we rang in the new year at a bar called old kings road. this was the door to the ladies' room.
the sinks in the mens' room also were out of order, but i guess we could duece if needed.
the second photo i took because of word choice. it was outside of the restaurant we had breakfast at on the first. is "your" the proper word?
here is a link to a definition of your.
so, i've been trying to rework the sentence so it seems better, at least to me.
the original:
we appreciate your not smoking here.
my first attempt:
we appreciate you not smoking here.
my complete rework:
thank you for not smoking here.
the end is near for el olio wolof
new years bring new opportunities. they can also bring on the end of good things. such is the case this upcoming week as we see the end of one of my favorite bands, el olio wolof. we knew it was coming, and it's not like it's a new announcement, but there last show ever is upon us.
next saturday in merced will be great, that i am sure of. there will be great music as most, if not all, of el olio's members reunite like voltron and they perform their entire catalog of music.
to purchase tickets, click over here. even if you don't want to buy tickets, click over anyway and read the great retrospective on the band. seriously.
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