Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
semi random browsing of wikipedia
results in this revelation. the DC comics universe is really a lesson of theoretical physics.
please feel free to discuss.
i will cut and paste this section...
"Beyond the known universe, the field of theoretical physics also deals with hypothetical issues,[10] such as parallel universes, a multiverse, and higher dimensions. Physicists speculate on these possibilities, and from them, hypothesize theories."
I would say 'nuff said, but that's a Marvel thing so...
So just think on it. Yes, all kids should read comics as an introduction to physics... as a spark to ignite the interest in science.
MuhaHaHA!
oh yeah, I was just doing a browse of the physics section, something I always wish I knew more about... and am slowly trying to improve my knowledge of.
please feel free to discuss.
i will cut and paste this section...
"Beyond the known universe, the field of theoretical physics also deals with hypothetical issues,[10] such as parallel universes, a multiverse, and higher dimensions. Physicists speculate on these possibilities, and from them, hypothesize theories."
I would say 'nuff said, but that's a Marvel thing so...
So just think on it. Yes, all kids should read comics as an introduction to physics... as a spark to ignite the interest in science.
MuhaHaHA!
oh yeah, I was just doing a browse of the physics section, something I always wish I knew more about... and am slowly trying to improve my knowledge of.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thank You Mario But Our Princess Is In Another Castle
The only thing better that a Mountain Goats show is a Mountain Goats show. Bad joke. So I just saw the Mountain Goats with Kaki King tonight at the Fillmore. Always an incredible showman, John Darnielle once again put on a spectacular performance. I'll start with Kaki King though.
First off, the drummer is so very metal, it completely blew me away. Awesome to hear such heavy drumming blended with well crafted songs that fall somewhere in that ever broader category loosely referred to as indie. Never have I seen such incredible thrashing and double bass action with what would otherwise be pretty calm music. I like calm music. I love calm music with metal drumming though. Kaki was extremely talented, she had a unique voice and played her guitar about 20 times better than I could play mine. The hands down best part of their set though was the final song. Out of nowhere the entire band was caught up in the spirit of metal, loud guitars and growling and screams and all that is unholy. It was awesome.
The Mountain Goats as always were completely badass. They were so badass that John pointed out that their drummer was badass. The set was incredible, and included a Carpenters cover of a song I do not know, and a Morrissey cover, Suedehead, both of which brought a large smile to my face. Energy. No one has energy in a folk based indie rock sort of band like that displayed at every Goats show. I've seen them every year for the last several and I must say that however much you expect after listening to their albums, they will blow those expectations into tiny little fragments of nothingness. They kick. No joke. Too awesome. How a band that is so lyrically fantastic and so many many times depressing can always come out and put a smile on every single face, come out so blissfully happy and really make a joyous event out of songs that listened to alone in a room can make every painful feeling valid, will always make them worth seeing, for it will always be something special. Kaki King came out somewhere near midway of their set and played several songs with the band, which was a treat. The encore included my personal favorite, and quite a popular song among fans, "No Children", and John told a story of a show I was at! He was saying he was sick from a show in Portland and came into town against the doctor's orders. He played a set and he was quiet, couldn't sing loud as he usually would, but that he did the whole show somewhat quiet and near the end everyone wanted to hear that same song, "No Children", and that he said he would play it, but only if everyone would sing along. (That was my first Mountain Goats show, I remember singing along with the widest grin I could have possibly had.) So anyway, he says this, says how awesome it was to have everyone sing, and then he says how great it would be if everyone could do it again. Then he played it, and of course, everyone sang, and it was the moment. It was my favorite point of the show. I could write more, but that pretty much sums it all up.
All I have to add is a small explanation of the title. The title is a pretty clever title, so it is probably fairly obvious that it is not my own. I read it off the back of the EP they had at the show, which features songs written jointly by The Mountain Goats and Kaki King. I read it and thought, hey, that's a good title. And so it is.
First off, the drummer is so very metal, it completely blew me away. Awesome to hear such heavy drumming blended with well crafted songs that fall somewhere in that ever broader category loosely referred to as indie. Never have I seen such incredible thrashing and double bass action with what would otherwise be pretty calm music. I like calm music. I love calm music with metal drumming though. Kaki was extremely talented, she had a unique voice and played her guitar about 20 times better than I could play mine. The hands down best part of their set though was the final song. Out of nowhere the entire band was caught up in the spirit of metal, loud guitars and growling and screams and all that is unholy. It was awesome.
The Mountain Goats as always were completely badass. They were so badass that John pointed out that their drummer was badass. The set was incredible, and included a Carpenters cover of a song I do not know, and a Morrissey cover, Suedehead, both of which brought a large smile to my face. Energy. No one has energy in a folk based indie rock sort of band like that displayed at every Goats show. I've seen them every year for the last several and I must say that however much you expect after listening to their albums, they will blow those expectations into tiny little fragments of nothingness. They kick. No joke. Too awesome. How a band that is so lyrically fantastic and so many many times depressing can always come out and put a smile on every single face, come out so blissfully happy and really make a joyous event out of songs that listened to alone in a room can make every painful feeling valid, will always make them worth seeing, for it will always be something special. Kaki King came out somewhere near midway of their set and played several songs with the band, which was a treat. The encore included my personal favorite, and quite a popular song among fans, "No Children", and John told a story of a show I was at! He was saying he was sick from a show in Portland and came into town against the doctor's orders. He played a set and he was quiet, couldn't sing loud as he usually would, but that he did the whole show somewhat quiet and near the end everyone wanted to hear that same song, "No Children", and that he said he would play it, but only if everyone would sing along. (That was my first Mountain Goats show, I remember singing along with the widest grin I could have possibly had.) So anyway, he says this, says how awesome it was to have everyone sing, and then he says how great it would be if everyone could do it again. Then he played it, and of course, everyone sang, and it was the moment. It was my favorite point of the show. I could write more, but that pretty much sums it all up.
All I have to add is a small explanation of the title. The title is a pretty clever title, so it is probably fairly obvious that it is not my own. I read it off the back of the EP they had at the show, which features songs written jointly by The Mountain Goats and Kaki King. I read it and thought, hey, that's a good title. And so it is.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I was stuck between nowhere and nowhere
You know how sometimes you read a writer and feel inspired? You read the words and it makes you want to do something with your life? You feel like you have something to share, something that might make a person care, something that will cause a smile, or a grimace, something that will seem ugly, or maybe just pretty, that will make a difference, or make a point, that will create a feeling, that will mean..?
Or you read Bukowski as I just was, have a line strike you, "I was caught between nowhere and nowhere" and it hits home and you think, I am doing nothing. I am in a state of drift. Not the exciting racing sort of drift, but a slow wander to nowhere.
Yeah, he's good for that.
Or you read Bukowski as I just was, have a line strike you, "I was caught between nowhere and nowhere" and it hits home and you think, I am doing nothing. I am in a state of drift. Not the exciting racing sort of drift, but a slow wander to nowhere.
Yeah, he's good for that.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Millennium Actress
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSU5bWVUQ6TEWbg6sR2TA0TvtM-UcGs3YeRooadyxt9xQ-Xx_x6DmDQqs0miV9VxIPIfWnFI8htp2fpadAt4Q4ra8dUEhwFOmC6Ry_ZcxYdaarnRBrx0xUq_hym04P-Hxfv2sxNw/s320/10-430.jpg)
It's been longer than I intended so I thought I should post something. One of my recent library rentals was "Millennium Actress", which I just watched today. It was an interesting story, looking back on the life of an older actress, spanning many time periods, with scenes of geisha, samurai, and space... Quite a span, and a pretty good yarn at that. It was a bit of an unusual setup, and to avoid spoiling anything I'll say it was a compelling look at a life full of love and loss. Very character driven, I enjoyed it. Apparently I'm not the only one, as it won a Grand Prize for Animation along with Spirited Away (obvious classic) in 2001. I dig.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
What ever happened to Steven Wu?
Readers ask on a near constant basis. It is sad to say that Mr. Wu is no longer with us. He passed on into the next life. Death by too many triple chocolate extra dark cookies. He was a dear friend who will be sorely missed. Born in 1982, he was among the first genetically engineered children. At the forefront of science and medicine, Mr. Wu was an asset to humanity. It's a shame his life was cut so short. It seems that all the genetic advantage he possessed, this young Mensa prospect also had an unbeknownst disadvantage. It seems his stomach had trouble breaking down the extra dark chocolate, to which he was addicted.
A salute, to Mr. Wu.
A moment of silence in his honor.
Actually, Mr. Wu is alive and well. He just seems to have stopped contributing to this particular blog.
He was also a child of normal birth. As far as I know. Everything else, besides the death and addiction is based loosely on fact.
If I ever fix my printer/scanner, I plan on uploading some new drawings. I will also start the borrowed blog at that time. I hope to do this soon, though my hopes often experience delay for no reason other than a lack in motivation.
A salute, to Mr. Wu.
A moment of silence in his honor.
Actually, Mr. Wu is alive and well. He just seems to have stopped contributing to this particular blog.
He was also a child of normal birth. As far as I know. Everything else, besides the death and addiction is based loosely on fact.
If I ever fix my printer/scanner, I plan on uploading some new drawings. I will also start the borrowed blog at that time. I hope to do this soon, though my hopes often experience delay for no reason other than a lack in motivation.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
delay Delay dELAY delaayyyy
What makes some people tick quick? I tick slow. I think I'm on time, but I must be slow. There's things in life that should be taken care of, things that deserve my close attention, my determination and will. I will not respond. I need a slap in the face, but don't want one and won't get one. I need a shot in the arm, but don't deserve one. I do a lot. I leave a lot. I fill my days with needs and wants, but ignore some needs. There really is a time when you say, I MUST TAKE CARE OF THIS. So what happens? In my case I seem able to forget I have something to take care of, even though it grates on me and pulls me down and I have to walk around with a facade of happy because I don't like to be un. So I respond to calls, I go out, I have a good time for one more day and put off what needs to be finished. I read, I write, I listen to music, I play music, I watch tv shows online, I finish a whole series, DeathNote, which I find intriguing and fantastic, I decide to cook, anything to not do what needs to be done.
I am and always have been a horrible procrastinator. I need due dates. Otherwise I find ways to delay. In school I don't think I ever finished assignments, term papers, projects, nothing ever finished until late night (early morning really) the day of due. I have a date. but will I find a way to delay? I hope not. I am tired. I am worn down past the knuckle. I feel crushed but try and pop up and look normal with no visible crinkle. I am a waste, but I am full of life. I must stop the delay.
Must.
I think I'm going to try and write a song now.
I am and always have been a horrible procrastinator. I need due dates. Otherwise I find ways to delay. In school I don't think I ever finished assignments, term papers, projects, nothing ever finished until late night (early morning really) the day of due. I have a date. but will I find a way to delay? I hope not. I am tired. I am worn down past the knuckle. I feel crushed but try and pop up and look normal with no visible crinkle. I am a waste, but I am full of life. I must stop the delay.
Must.
I think I'm going to try and write a song now.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
i love pandora
sometimes i forget how much.
when i feel lazy and want to hear
much good music to my ear
i go to pandora
and there i explora
let's stop there. my impromptu poem is just pathetic.
thought of rhyming euphoria with pandora,
implora, look fora, stupid... this is why i stay away
from poems. i like dr. seuss, but i'll never be as
good as ol' theodore, so i'm not going to be happy
with the poems.
anyway... Pandora is a wonderful wonderful site
that I nearly forgot. Not forgot so much as neglected.
I think I'll be on it for a while now. I likes.
when i feel lazy and want to hear
much good music to my ear
i go to pandora
and there i explora
let's stop there. my impromptu poem is just pathetic.
thought of rhyming euphoria with pandora,
implora, look fora, stupid... this is why i stay away
from poems. i like dr. seuss, but i'll never be as
good as ol' theodore, so i'm not going to be happy
with the poems.
anyway... Pandora is a wonderful wonderful site
that I nearly forgot. Not forgot so much as neglected.
I think I'll be on it for a while now. I likes.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
when you google yourself
much comes up. all unrelated to me. there are a lot of people with my name that accomplish quite a lot it seems.
myself, i accomplish little.
strange.
names do not equal traits.
i must be restless.
i keep writing.
seems to be about nothing.
so i think i'll start another blog exclusively on anything i get at the library.
soon.
i may start a brand new band today.
i'll find out.
not start so much as be part of a start.
as it's several people.
i'm still tired.
acquiring quite a debt of sleep.
sucks.
myself, i accomplish little.
strange.
names do not equal traits.
i must be restless.
i keep writing.
seems to be about nothing.
so i think i'll start another blog exclusively on anything i get at the library.
soon.
i may start a brand new band today.
i'll find out.
not start so much as be part of a start.
as it's several people.
i'm still tired.
acquiring quite a debt of sleep.
sucks.
this amazing experience and yum yum food
It's gonna be hard to beat. It was ninja like. It was not necessary to be ninja like. It was covert, felt daring. It was probably neither. It was fun. No doubt it was spectacular fun.
We were five. We left late, too late to be anywhere near on time, to late to fully realize our purpose, and it was perfect.
Really.
We drove around the city, we entered Golden Gate sometime near 8. Sometime slightly after, the band came on at 8... We heard no music. Saw no hipster crowd. We knew we were in the right park, but we saw no signs of life out of the ordinary. We drove in a semi-circle, it took a while. Discouragement reared it's evil head, disgruntlement followed. We drove outside and turned down Lincoln. Happiness followed.
Car after car parked alongside the road, spaces dematerialized before our eyes into small cars and motorcycles. Music could be heard though, we knew we were near. And there it was. A space. "A space a space take it!" That's in quotes but it probably wasn't said that way. This was last night after all, much has happened since. She pulls along side and stops. She tells the girl up front to park. Our driver walks over to the side of the road to watch. She doesn't want to park herself. She could I'm pretty sure, but she lacks confidence or will. So the passenger girl becomes the driver girl and does quite an impressive job of it, if a bit slow.
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!
We pretend to walk, but I can barely contain my excitement. After a few steps I have no choice but to run. My mind cannot stop my body from taking off. Just follow the most direct route to the sounds. It is thrilling and I am happy. I love to run to shows. It's dark and it's hilly and branches are strewn about all over the place. Hops and skips ensue due to excitement delight and necessity. It takes sometime to realize I have lost three. We have to scope out the situation. How do we get close enough to see. On top of a hill we can see, but the band is so tiny and it just makes me want to be closer. The three lost we know will be found. Me and the ninjagod must find a way. I can't use names seeing as how they might not want to be blogged. I'll try and keep nicknames straight. Ninjagod and I run along the bushes until we find a gap easy enough to run down. We see nothing at the bottom of the hill. Follow the music. Run and run, dodge duck climb, through circles of hippies and potheads, we get to a fence. It definitely seems to be an obstacle. It's time to reunite with the group. I make a couple calls. No answer. We walk along the fence, trying to find a promising entrance. Behind a white van something is wrong with the fence. It's bent half over.
A definite entrance. We walk along as if unseeing. Mental notes are made. Ninjagod is smiling. I too am quite happy. We must find the rest of our group.
Must. We keep walking along the fence. There. In the distance, the three. Two girls and my crippled for temporary friend.
"We have found a way," I explain, and tell them about the passable area. We walk back, past the white van and then behind. Clinking and clanging and springy sorts of noise happen as we walk on over the half bent fence. My crippled for temporary friend seems to overcome this obstacle with ease.
A collective sigh of relief. We have passed along, possibly unseen and most likely heard.
The run begins again, always bent half over, sticking to the shaded areas. I'm getting tired of describing so I'll just say we are stealth here.
The music is louder. On the hilltops, when on the hilltops, the band seems less tiny. My heart is pumping quick.
It sinks.
Another fence.
Damns.
All around.
Another fence.
Another fence... the first was weakened... perhaps...
Yes. A spot.
Same deal yada yada yada it's too late and I shouldn't be typing. We hop it. It is glory. It is grand. No difficulties. I thought.
Laughing. She fell. She laughs about it. The driver that couldn't park who I will now refer to as face plant girl. All smiles, she totally fell on her face. I was careful to hold the fence down low for my crippled for temporary friend, but once he was over I kinda thought we were all over, but there was a flaw. Face plant girl was not quite off the fence. In the excitement of running she was rocketed up and into the dirt as the fence bent half bent up yet again. She laughs it off.
She has bruises. We'll call them battle scars. We can't tell at the moment but we later see them. She is a warrior. The music is loud. Since face plant girl is laughing all is well and all is golden because I hear the sounds of my favorite band and it is loud. We still can't see, but know we are close.
We walk through yet another opening in yet another set of bushes. Some timid kids are ahead of us, hiding, trying to find a way in but scared to take a chance. We walk up to take the lead. We are loud, apparently not as ninja like and covert as we feel. We get shushed. GOOOO!!! Says the leader of the timid pack, who it turns out are not timid, yells. We all run.
Into a wall of porta pottys.
We have arrived. As soon as we get around the green smelly things.
Anyway,
we get around. I even use one of the green smelly things. We see the band. We see them better than many who paid so much more.
We are happy.
We rule.
It is perfect.
Radiohead kicks.
editors note written by writer: This story is a mere shadow of actual events too exciting to describe and may or may not make sense as the hour is late and the writer unskilled. Far more exciting events happened. It was so worth the effort. Way more fun than purchasing at a counter. This story may or may not have happened.
We rock.
We rock.
We were five. We left late, too late to be anywhere near on time, to late to fully realize our purpose, and it was perfect.
Really.
We drove around the city, we entered Golden Gate sometime near 8. Sometime slightly after, the band came on at 8... We heard no music. Saw no hipster crowd. We knew we were in the right park, but we saw no signs of life out of the ordinary. We drove in a semi-circle, it took a while. Discouragement reared it's evil head, disgruntlement followed. We drove outside and turned down Lincoln. Happiness followed.
Car after car parked alongside the road, spaces dematerialized before our eyes into small cars and motorcycles. Music could be heard though, we knew we were near. And there it was. A space. "A space a space take it!" That's in quotes but it probably wasn't said that way. This was last night after all, much has happened since. She pulls along side and stops. She tells the girl up front to park. Our driver walks over to the side of the road to watch. She doesn't want to park herself. She could I'm pretty sure, but she lacks confidence or will. So the passenger girl becomes the driver girl and does quite an impressive job of it, if a bit slow.
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!
We pretend to walk, but I can barely contain my excitement. After a few steps I have no choice but to run. My mind cannot stop my body from taking off. Just follow the most direct route to the sounds. It is thrilling and I am happy. I love to run to shows. It's dark and it's hilly and branches are strewn about all over the place. Hops and skips ensue due to excitement delight and necessity. It takes sometime to realize I have lost three. We have to scope out the situation. How do we get close enough to see. On top of a hill we can see, but the band is so tiny and it just makes me want to be closer. The three lost we know will be found. Me and the ninjagod must find a way. I can't use names seeing as how they might not want to be blogged. I'll try and keep nicknames straight. Ninjagod and I run along the bushes until we find a gap easy enough to run down. We see nothing at the bottom of the hill. Follow the music. Run and run, dodge duck climb, through circles of hippies and potheads, we get to a fence. It definitely seems to be an obstacle. It's time to reunite with the group. I make a couple calls. No answer. We walk along the fence, trying to find a promising entrance. Behind a white van something is wrong with the fence. It's bent half over.
A definite entrance. We walk along as if unseeing. Mental notes are made. Ninjagod is smiling. I too am quite happy. We must find the rest of our group.
Must. We keep walking along the fence. There. In the distance, the three. Two girls and my crippled for temporary friend.
"We have found a way," I explain, and tell them about the passable area. We walk back, past the white van and then behind. Clinking and clanging and springy sorts of noise happen as we walk on over the half bent fence. My crippled for temporary friend seems to overcome this obstacle with ease.
A collective sigh of relief. We have passed along, possibly unseen and most likely heard.
The run begins again, always bent half over, sticking to the shaded areas. I'm getting tired of describing so I'll just say we are stealth here.
The music is louder. On the hilltops, when on the hilltops, the band seems less tiny. My heart is pumping quick.
It sinks.
Another fence.
Damns.
All around.
Another fence.
Another fence... the first was weakened... perhaps...
Yes. A spot.
Same deal yada yada yada it's too late and I shouldn't be typing. We hop it. It is glory. It is grand. No difficulties. I thought.
Laughing. She fell. She laughs about it. The driver that couldn't park who I will now refer to as face plant girl. All smiles, she totally fell on her face. I was careful to hold the fence down low for my crippled for temporary friend, but once he was over I kinda thought we were all over, but there was a flaw. Face plant girl was not quite off the fence. In the excitement of running she was rocketed up and into the dirt as the fence bent half bent up yet again. She laughs it off.
She has bruises. We'll call them battle scars. We can't tell at the moment but we later see them. She is a warrior. The music is loud. Since face plant girl is laughing all is well and all is golden because I hear the sounds of my favorite band and it is loud. We still can't see, but know we are close.
We walk through yet another opening in yet another set of bushes. Some timid kids are ahead of us, hiding, trying to find a way in but scared to take a chance. We walk up to take the lead. We are loud, apparently not as ninja like and covert as we feel. We get shushed. GOOOO!!! Says the leader of the timid pack, who it turns out are not timid, yells. We all run.
Into a wall of porta pottys.
We have arrived. As soon as we get around the green smelly things.
Anyway,
we get around. I even use one of the green smelly things. We see the band. We see them better than many who paid so much more.
We are happy.
We rule.
It is perfect.
Radiohead kicks.
editors note written by writer: This story is a mere shadow of actual events too exciting to describe and may or may not make sense as the hour is late and the writer unskilled. Far more exciting events happened. It was so worth the effort. Way more fun than purchasing at a counter. This story may or may not have happened.
We rock.
We rock.