Sick and New Show

Hello everyone,
I am unable to do anything today because I am sick. The cold hands of death have a hold of me. However, if you're in Denver and want to see some art, Maria and I have work up for the month of October at the coffee shop Illegal Grounds on 17th street.

Vegan Artists

Being a vegan artist and musician is weird sometimes. People often assume that because someone is vegan and an artist that their art must be about animal rights. If you're a vegan musician you must sing about animal rights. The truth of the matter is some people are born with a gift to make art or music with a social, moral or political message and some people are not. More times than not "vegan" art or music turns out a little generic, but it's the thought that counts. I've tried to make art with vegan themes but it comes out being too contrived, it's not for me.

I think "vegan" art that appeals to me the most is something like the cover to The Smiths album Meat Is Murder. It's to the point with out being over the top visually. I also like the approach taken by Moby on the album Everything Is Wrong. Rather than singing about animal rights he included essays he had written on the subject of animal rights and other things in the liner notes. I found that approach very powerful, he gave the listener the opportunity to learn more about animals rights rather than shoving it down their throats. I guess what I'm saying is that for all you vegan artists and musicians out there, you can still support animal rights issues in many different ways. Not all of us have a gift for making art with a moral message. If you're uncomfortable making "vegan" art or music don't sweat it. You're vegan, that's what counts.

10 Questions with Ida No

This weeks 10 Questions is with the lead singer of the electronic disco glam band Glass Candy. With the other core member of the group, Johnny Jewel, Class Candy is known for an experimental sound that channels bands like Blondie and Kraftwerk. They released their first full length album Love, Love, Love back in 2003 and have continued to alter their sound over the years. Glass Candy are touring machines so look for them in your town because they'll be there soon.


For more information on Glass Candy visit www.myspace.com/glasscandy

10 Questions for Ida No

1. The first record I bought of yours was the Crystal Migraine 7” split. Back then the band was called Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre, why did you drop the Shattered Theatre?

All the king's horses and all the king's men put our theatre back together again.

2. You seem like a group that could have some amazing videos, but you haven’t really done any, why?

We've done a lot of secret videos. You can catch them between 3 and 4 am on Tuesday mornings on www.utube.com.

3. Siouxsie Sioux or Deborah Harry?

psssshhhhh!! Deborah Harry, of course. Did you ever see that Muppet Show episode with her?

4. Why did Glass Candy release two album covers for Love, Love, Love?

ida no

5. I have this theory that Kraftwerk are really just a bunch of robots on stage and we’ve all been fooled, what do you think?

I think that we robots are fooling Kraftwerk.

6. I’m friends with Sophe Lux, another band from Portland. You both have that glam-rock vibe, have you ever played a show together?

No, we haven't played any shows with them. Do you recommend them?

7. You have a pretty strong sense of fashion, do you see girls showing up at your shows dressed like you?

More boise than gurlz.

8. What do you think it is about Johnny Jewel that makes you two work together so well?

Because he's nice with the beats.

9. I always dress up before I get on stage, I feel that people pay to see a show not someone that looks as if they just rolled out of bed, would you agree?

I think people will pay to see just about anything, even dogfighting. By the way, after shows we electroshock band members who don't perform up to our standards.

10. Is disco dead?

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to a Barry White record from 1978. Thanks for the interview!

Aliens in Peru Update

Well, like a typical conspiracy, scientists are trying to explain the meteorite that hit Peru and made hundreds of people sick. Apparently it's not a weapon used for global annihilation sent by aliens like I originally thought. I guess the people of Peru won't turn into zombies and kill each other. So what was the cause of their sickness? MASS HYSTERIA. That is the cause provided by doctors and discussed on space.com

Lame! Mass Hysteria? Aliens and zombies were way better.

Wes Anderson's Soundtracks

I was a little bitter a couple weeks ago because I got the shaft on a score I was making for a short film. Sometimes a director gives me a song and wants me to capture the feeling of that well known song to make an original score. I did that, but the director was so use to the original songs he felt it was worth getting the rights to those songs instead of using the original score I personally made for him. Oh well, it happens all the time. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It did make me think about when it's acceptable to use a collection of famous songs instead of a score.


I don't have a lot of respect for directors that just grab a song on a cd and use it as a "filler" track. It sounds out of place and generic. However there is a different side to selecting music for a movie. Director Wes Anderson has a different approach to using music in his films. He has an original score, always provided by Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh except in his latest film The Darjeeling Limited. In addition to a score he carefully inserts well known songs into certain scenes. I read an interview with an actor that was in Rushmore and he said that Wes Anderson had made a mixed cd of every song he planned to use on the soundtrack and what the scene would look like while the song was playing.

This is amazing. Wes Anderson isn't just picking random music to fill space. He is carefully using music as an additional character of the film. I wish all directors thought like him. Here now are some highlights from his various soundtracks.

Bottle Rocket - Well this is just Mark Mothersbaugh showing off.
Rushmore - Oh Yoko, John Lennon
The Royal Tenenbaums - These Days, Nico - Needle In the Hay, Elliot Smith
The Life Aquatic - David Bowie covers by the amazing Seu Jorge and The Way I Feel Inside, The Zombies

The Devil's Nightmare

The Devil's Nightmare or La Plus Longue Nuit Diable (1971) is one of those great European Horrors that slips past the average horror lover. Although it's not filmed by one of the greats from the time like Mario Bava or Jess Franco it's still got it all. The director, Jean Brismee, does a great job of presenting a classic. It has everything you look for in a Euro-horror movie from this time. The plot follows a group that gets stranded at a castle and each person seems to represent one of the seven deadly sins. The beautiful Erika Blanc shows up as a succubus and starts picking them off one by one. There is a cliché lesbian scene, blood so bright that it looks neon, a woman that dies in a pile of gold and a cat and mouse game between a priest and the sexy devil. The soundtrack has some great moments and the cinematography creates a nice creepy mood. If you're into 1970s European horror than you should definitely check this one out.

Josef Sudek

Josef Sudek was born in 1896. He fought in WWI and lost an arm. Sudek took up photography in Prague and quickly found success in that field. He went on to produce many photographs that might be described as Surrealist and is well known for his nightscapes of Prague. Above is a photo by Sudek entitled Sadrova Hlava from 1945. He died in 1976 just two years after his first show in America.

Death Elevator

Okay, I know last Sunday I discussed hauntings, but I have to touch on it again this week. I promise I won't discuss ghosts next week unless I die. Then I will write my blog from beyond the grave.

There is an strange elevator in our apartment complex that is 1 of 2 things. 1 - It's haunted and wants to kill me or 2 - I am controlling it's doors with my overdeveloped super brain.

The first idea is supported by the fact that for the last 3 or 4 weeks almost everyday when I am going to the car or when I'm taking my dog out the elevator mysteriously opens. Nobody was in the hall pressing buttons, the lights are never lit up on other floors showing someone was just in the elevator. It just opens and waits, when I keep walking it closes. It's like there is a voice saying, "Come, Come to me...I want to show you something wonderful." And then when I give in to the elevators invitation it will trap me inside and destroy me. It just waits with those hungry doors. I don't know what to do, it wants my blood.

The second idea is that I have some super brain that can manipulate electronics like a member of the X-Men. Maybe I am so determined to see that elevator open that I cause it to open with my super brain. Given the choice I would rather have the ability to fly, but I'll take opening elevators with my brain.

A Bizarro Comic

For more animal rights Bizarro Comics from Dan Piraro visit Bizarro.com.

10 Questions with Mick Harvey

Today's 10 Questions is with the incredibly influential musician Mick Harvey. We all know him as the the multi-instrumentalist that has collaborated with Nick Cave in The Birthday Party and later with one of the greatest bands on the planet, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. In addition to his work with Nick Cave he is also a very talented film composer and has released some amazing solo albums. Speaking of which his newest solo record Two Of Diamonds is in stores now.

For more info on Mick Harvey visit www.mickharvey.com

10 Questions for Mick Harvey

1. Have you ever met Tom Waits? It seems like you two would work well together.

No, I’ve never met him. I used to think it could be interesting to collaborate with him, especially in the ‘80’s. There seemed to be something in his approach and direction that would have suited me musically at the time. I don’t think that’s the case anymore.

2. There are sculptors and then there is Bernini, would you agree?

Indeed, I do. Definitely my favourite and someone I’ve still only scratched the surface with I feel. I do love Rodin too.

3. Pink Elephants is one of my favorite albums, now that some time has passed how do you feel about that record?

It’s a strange one. It has left overs and afterthoughts on it along with some unique excursions. In some ways it’s a typical “volume 2” and in others in surpasses Intoxicated Man in that it’s more relaxed and somehow weirder. Not sure how I feel about it. I’m glad it’s there.

4. Being a fellow film composer I feel there are two ways to score a film, 1. A traditional score that lines up with the editing and 2. A soundtrack style score which is more like recording a bunch of songs with a band. Which do you prefer?

I don’t like the modern usage of songs in films. Scorsese does it well, there’s someone else too…..but for the most part it’s just laziness by the director. They just throw in some song and have an excuse to drift for a while. And I hate that “hit parade” thing in films, it’s just a wasted opportunity.

Not sure what you mean by “traditional score that lines up with the editing”. I feel there are far too many variant approaches to the usage of music and musical ideas in the sound design to simplify a film score to such a definition.

5. What contemporary bands can you tell you’ve influenced?

I can’t. You’ll have to ask them. I would hope it’s all the ones I like which don’t sound like stuff I do. That would be the ideal result.

6. Baudelaire or Rimbaud?

Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Aniston?

7. Why do you take the time to do interviews?

Because it can be revealing, informative and challenging. As long as the questions beg an answer from me I’ll give one. Otherwise you’ll get the kind of response I gave to question 6.

8. You appear to have a place in your heart for 19th century Romanticism, why?

I’m a romantic? See explanation of response to question 6

9. What is your favorite PJ Harvey album?

Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea. It’s the only one I was deeply involved with so I have a personal connection with all the material and it’s probably the most accessible. Not that that’s necessarily my usual criteria for liking something but in Polly’s case I find that good.


10. I’ve seen a lot of people in concert, but I’ve never seen a crowd respond like they did when I saw The Bad Seeds. They have an interaction with the band that is very unique, like there is a certain way to act at a Bad Seeds show, when and how did that first start?

I don’t know about there being “a certain way to act”. I’m rather busy with other considerations. I can imagine it can be quite intense out there. A lot of people revere Nick and the whole thing can turn into an event rather than just a concert of songs quite quickly. Especially if we’re playing well and the venue has a good atmosphere etc. I think the potential for our shows transcending the mundane goes way back to The Birthday Party. I know there were shows back then that were beyond definition and I hope the Bad Seeds can still attain that in this day and age despite the size of the venues we are now playing and the expectations people bring along with them.

Aliens in Peru

Not long ago, I think last week, a meteorite hit southern Peru. The water left in the crater boiled for a little bit giving off strange smelling vapors. After that, about 200 locals complained that they felt sick. Well, that is the fact, scientists are trying to decide if the smell actually made them sick or not. So I thought while they are busy analyzing data I would offer up my own suggestion. It's short and to the point. I believe aliens sent the meteorite to Peru filled with a chemical that will turn all the locals into flesh eating zombies. After Peru had killed off it's own kind the aliens will invade Earth so that they can use our beautiful planet as a vacation spot for years to come. Makes sense to me.

Planningtorock

Planningtorock is actually a musical project created by British/German eccentric Janine Rostron. Her music is all over the place. At times it's funny and carnival-like, other times it's incredibly dark and disturbing. I think her vision is fascinating, but she is not for everyone. She blurs the lines between art and music with her over-the-top live performances. If you are up for some well-done experimental music then check out her first album Have It All. The song that hooked me was Bolton Wanderer, it's one of my favorite songs of the year. She also has experimental music videos for most of her songs, you can see them on youtube.com, I highly recommend Changes for an intro video. Enjoy!

Starship Troopers

Instead of going for some artsy film by Kubrick or Lynch this week I thought I'd invite you all to watch one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, Starship Troopers. This gem shines brightly with stellar performances by Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, and Casper Van Dien. An all-star cast if I say so myself. They are part of a group that travels the universe killing giant alien bugs. Some highlights include group tattoos that say "Death From Above", Jake Busey, endless death scenes, and, although it's not pro-vegan, the line that solidified Starship Trooper's place in Hollywood history, "The only good bug is a dead bug."

John Singer Sargent

One of my favorite painters is the American Impressionist, John Singer Sargent. Perhaps one of the greatest portrait painters ever, his style is unique and demands attention. He exhibited in Paris, London, America and everywhere in between. His friends included people like Francis David Millet and Claude Monet. He was the most successful American painter of his time and his art has only gained in popularity of the years. There is a reason he was, and continues, to be so admired. He was unbelievably talented.

Haunting with a Purpose

I'm all for ghost stories. I love when you're standing in an old house and someone drops the "H" bomb, "This house is haunted." Then everyone gets a big smile on their face and gets slightly freaked out. This happened to me recently, but because of where I was, it came as no surprise. This got me thinking, however, I know ghost stories are told in places where people died, that is why they haunt, but what about non-traditional locations? Instead of haunting an old mansion, a graveyard or old hospital, how about something more creative. I think ghosts should haunt places like a football locker room, a strip club or maybe a Gap in the mall. Imagine how surprising it would be if you were in a dressing room and you notice a ghost wearing the latest trends. A Valley Girl ghost, a stripping spirit, an awesomely ghoulish athlete. I'm just saying there are a lot of ghosts out there, space must be getting tight in the traditional haunted places so it's only a matter of time before we get more interesting ghost stories. So don't be surprised if the next time you're test driving a car the dealer looks at you with big scary eyes and says, "This Toyota Prius is.... Haunted!"

If you have stories of creative hauntings please share.

Dogma London

I recently made a wonderful new friend. Her name is Karen Bell and she is a musician, vegan and creator of the way cool company Dogma London. Dogma London is place where you can shop for a handmade dog collar for your special pooch. The company offers unique designs that range from skulls to discodots, over 200 choices! After buying one of these hip collars your dog will be the envy of all at the dog park. In addition to dog collars, Dogma London also offers matching dog leashes (also handmade) and various other things like tags, wristbands, etc. So check out Dogma London and accomplish two great acts at once, support a vegan and give your dog a sense of purpose!

Here is the address that will change your dogs life www.dogmalondon.com

10 Questions with Nedelle

Nedelle Torrisi (but know simply as Nedelle) is an incredibly talented and beautiful singer/songwriter that first charmed my wife and I back in 2004 when we saw her on stage. Her lyrics are witty and her voice is unmistakable. She recently released a wonderful new album called The Locksmith Cometh, which flows great with the rest of her body of work. If you haven’t seen her live then make the effort next time she’s in your city, you won’t be disappointed. For more information on Nedelle visit www.nedelle.com

10 Questions for Nedelle

1. I love the 7” version of Good Grief, why did you record a different version for your 2005 record From the Lion’s Mouth?

I had recorded the 7" version on my 8-track, but "From the Lion's Mouth" was recorded in a fancy studio, so I re-recorded the song for continuity's sake. I definitely think the 7" version is better - spontaneity and/or character can be lost in recording studios for sure... That is the main reason I decided to record my newest cd at home.


2. If you could own any painting in the world what would it be?

How about a Maurizio Cattelan installation? I love his sense of humor. I wouldn't mind a horse hanging from my ceiling or a life-sized Pope John Paul II lying on my floor shortly after being struck by a meteorite..


3. Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?

I'm going with Bugs, just because I've watched more of him. Honestly I don't have a strong opinion either way.


4. Who is your favorite classical musician?

Well this question is slightly confusing, do you mean performer or composer? My favorite composer, cliché as it may be, is Ravel. But Debussy rules too.. He's considered more of a genius, but there's something about Ravel that gets to me. And I also love Robert and Clara Schumann, Bartok, Henry Cowell, Harry Partch.. We are too lucky, really.


5. Okay I need your expert advice, I own two autographed privately recorded 78s by Jazz legend Jess Stacy, should I sell them, keep them or donate them to a Jazz museum?

Digitize and then SELL!


6. Would you agree with me that music theory should be considered a foreign language?

Theory and foreign languages are similar in that they're easier to learn at a young age, but the analogy stops there for me.. Music as a "spoken language" is "understood" by everyone and foreign languages are not! Also, from my limited attempts at learning Italian, I think music theory is even easier to learn than a foreign language. It's too bad more people aren't interested in trying- it isn't necessary in order to write or appreciate music, but it sure is interesting!


7. I first met you in 2004 when we played a show together in Missoula, MT. You were on stage with Thom and I was an instant fan. How do you feel about those random small shows?

Well thank you! I tend to enjoy small shows better than large ones.. That said, I've never actually headlined a large show, so I don't know what that feels like. Probably I'd prefer that over anything! Ha! And I like "alternative venues" better than clubs FOR SURE. My favorite recent shows have been with my new band Cryptacize in a park and at an elementary school. And one time in Modena, Italy my friend Le Ton Mite and I played a show next to a corn field, and he performed his set in a tree! That was fun. Wow, I'm such an Italophile in this interview!


8. The sun or the moon?

Waxing gibbous moons.


9. What do you think you’ve finally accomplished on your new album The Locksmith Cometh that you hadn’t done on previous records?

Having complete artistic control and lots of time! I had no deadlines, recording engineer, or other musicians to guide, influence, and interpret my songs. I collaborated a bit with Chris Cohen, however, but that doesn't count because it's easy to work with your best friend.


10. What’s your favorite movie?

I'm sorry, this question is simply TOO difficult to answer!

Drop Some Knowledge Like It Ain't No Thang

If you are like me then you sometimes get confused with what the differences are between asteroids, meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites. So here is a crash course so you can impress your friends during the next meteor shower. An asteroid is an object that is smaller than a planet orbiting the sun. A meteoroid is a speck to a boulder-sized piece of debris floating around the same area that our planets orbit, if it's larger than a boulder, it's an asteroid. A meteor is the visual representation of either an asteroid or meteoroid entering the earths atmosphere. A meteorite is an asteroid or meteoroid surviving the journey through our atmosphere and colliding with earths physical land. Remains of it can be found or a crater is left from the impact. So next time you are watching a meteor shower, which is the event of seeing multiple meteors in the sky at once, you can drop some knowledge on your easily confused friend.

TV On the Radio

If you haven't heard the Brooklyn based band TV On the Radio then you should listen to their most recent album Return to Cookie Mountain. They have a very dark sound and are definitely doing something different. They have some fun videos and are amazing live. I'm not sure where they get their influence from, but they even got David Bowie to sing on a track so they must be doing something right.

28 Days Later

Before The Beach came out in 2001 Danny Boyle was one of my favorite directors because of classics like Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and A Life Less Ordinary. So naturally when I heard about 28 Days Later I got excited. I thought he could redeem himself for The Beach (every director is allowed one mistake - ex. David Lynch "Dune") and 28 Days Later was about one of my favorite subjects, Zombies!!! I counted down the days and then went to the theater on opening day, sat down and was immediately blown away! Danny Boyle struck gold with this film on so many levels. He raised the bar of what a zombie should be, fast and strong! That is now the standard in Hollywood (Resident Evil-2002, Dawn of Dead-2004, even Romero himself with Land of the Dead-2005). He opened up a discourse on the idea of widespread virus outbreaks and even looked into the psychological aspects of what humans might do to each other when faced with keeping themselves alive. This is hands down one of the greatest Zombie films ever made and I totally forgive Danny Boyle for making The Beach.

Fra Angelico's "The Mocking of Christ"

The walls of the Dominican convent, San Marco, in Florence, Italy are adorned with beautiful depictions of stories from the Bible painted by Italian Master Fra Angelico (1395-1455). Fra Angelico painted numerous cells in addition to the halls. The chambers were used as individual quarters for the Dominicans to meditate in. Each small room was decorated with a single fresco painted by Fra Angelico and the themes were as different as the emotions the scenes were meant to evoke. One such fresco was painted in cell number seven and is the theme known as the Mocking of Christ. The scene reveals three main figures; Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint Dominic. Anyone can look at a work of art, but not everyone can understand what they are looking at. Paintings often have multiple readings. They have subtexts that only a select group of people can comprehend. Artists choose their colors, compositions, and subject matter very carefully. The assumption that one can understand a painting would be to assume that the viewer is part of the intended audience.
The painting has an overarching theme or lesson of hope even though it seems brutal and almost Surrealist. Dominicans believed they would live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven, regardless of what terrible things happen in life. Just as Saint Dominic devoted his life to Christ, the Dominican friar should also live a religious life through meditation on the stories of the Bible. With the Virgin Mary blessing the Dominican Order and Saint Dominic providing the proper way to walk with Christ, Fra Angelico portrayed a scene that was very pleasing to his patron, a scene of the Dominican Order at the right hand of God.

Angelo Badalamenti

Today I thought I'd write about the person that is responsible for me pursuing a career as a film composer. I had heard soundtracks by Angelo Badalamenti before when I was younger like Nightmare On Elm Street part 3 or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The problem was those scores didn't stand out as anything special so I didn't care to know his name. That all changed when I first saw Twin Peaks, one of filmmaker David Lynch's greatest accomplishments. Angelo collaborated with David Lynch and singer Julee Cruise for multiple songs used in the soundtrack of the Twin Peaks tv series and later feature length film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Although he made a beautiful score for Blue Velvet years earlier, it really was Twin Peaks that changed my views of what a modern film composer is. Since then Angelo Badalamenti has gone on to score some amazing films like Mulholland Drive, Secretary, City Of Lost Children and Cabin Fever. The list goes on and on. If you haven't taken the time to check out his music then now is the perfect time to start, I'd begin with the soundtrack for Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

Vegan Wedding Cake

Today’s blog is about a lesson my wife and I learned the hard way. We were married over six years ago and we were already vegan at that time. When the day of the wedding came we had arranged to have a nice big vegan wedding cake to serve to our guests. The lady that got the job of making our cake assured us that she knew what the word vegan meant and was fully capable of making a vegan cake. It became clear on our wedding day that she was making it up as she went just to make some money. As we served up our cake and passed it around everyone politely began to eat it, success! Or so we thought. After about two bites it was clear that our “vegan” wedding cake was horrible! It tasted like raw cake mix covered in frosting, I’m not convinced it even resembled a wedding cake. So to all of you that were at the wedding six years ago and had the unfortunate experience of trying the cake, I am truly sorry. The moral of the story is always try a sample cupcake before you agree to have a massive wedding cake made or you will regret it.

(birds made by Ann Wood)

10 Questions with Sarah Kramer

I am very excited about this week’s 10 Questions. Today’s interview is with my friend Sarah Kramer, a vegan cookbook author that, with her charm, wit and awesome style, has helped dramatically change the idea of a traditional vegan. Her first book, How It All Vegan, became a best seller and her two follow up books have been equally successful. In addition to her delightful cookbooks, Sarah is an incredibly gifted photographer and owns/runs the Tattoo Zoo with her husband Gerry Kramer. I have one of Sarah’s photo’s hanging on the wall and my life is better because of it. For more information about Sarah Kramer click on the following links.
Govegan.net
Sarahkramerphotography.com


10 Questions with Sarah Kramer

1. What's your favorite dish to make?

I enjoy a nice big salad. I'm not talking a sissy iceburg lettuce salad but a serious salad that is filled with yummy goodness. Lettuce, kale, sunflower sprouts, chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, red pepper, carrots, walnuts and hemp seeds. Salad rules.

2. How many tattoo's do you have (actual number)?

Ha ha ha. Too many to count!

3. Cyndi Lauper or Madonna?

Jane Wiedlin.

4. What do you want to accomplish with your photography?

That's an interesting question... I think about it all the time. As a creative person I always am trying to justify to myself the time I spend being creative. Is it worth my time? Most of the creative things I do don't pay the bills but do satisfy me in a personal way. It's a funny struggle. So what do I want to accomplish?? I guess I want to feel like I've taken the "perfect" photo. *laugh* I'll know I'll never get there... but the journey is what I enjoy.

5. What was the first concert you ever went to?

The first "big" concert I went to was The Dead Kennedy's. It changed my life...

6. What's your take on Red Bull?

Who?

7. What influences your hairstyles?

My Jew Fro is a force to be reckoned with. It has ruled my life since puberty (when it decided to be curly) and since then I have been in a battle of unbelievable proportions. After many years of fighting the curls I finally gave up the fight and embraced them. We had a few good years but I recently cut off all my curls and have been enjoying the freedom of a short cut. Although my Jew Fro has found a way to haunt me by growing unbelievably fast ... I have to get my hair cut about every 3 weeks. Curses to the Jew Fro.

8. Okay, it's an 80s night party, the Go-Gos are on, what do you show up wearing?

Ummm... The Go-Go's are on every night. I don't have to wait for a 80's party, they are on heavy rotation in my stereo.

9. Star Trek or Star Wars?

Yes.

10. How do you feel about a mullet being referred to as a "Canadian Passport"?

WHAT?? Really? Who's saying that??

Russian Space Station

The AFP reported on Monday that between the years 2027 and 2032 Russia plans to have a space station built on the moon. 2025 is when they plan to send someone to the moon and then it's all down hill from there, or so they'd like to think. It's an ambitious project but Russia receives next to nothing for funding their space program. The report states that Russia actually gets less than 10 percent of what the United States receives and look at the struggles we have with NASA. It would be great if Russia could manage to build the space station on the moon. Their main reasons are to help with the International Space Station and also have a starting point or base for the Mars mission. Have no fear, although it would take a couple of years to reach Mars, Russia plans on sending a man there in 2035. Well, time will tell.

Kate Nash

I read cd reviews all the time and writers always think they have nailed some description, "Garth Brooks on speed" "A little Blondie, a pinch of the Beatles and made into a Bon Jovi sandwich." Okay, I made these up, but you get the idea. The band rarely sounds like what the writer said they would sound like. This is most certainly not the case with an up and coming singer out of London by the name of Kate Nash. I read in Rolling Stone, "The mix of Regina Spektor and Lily Allen" and thought that was a bold description. So I went home and watched some of her videos on Youtube. The first single, Foundations, really does sound like Lily Allen. Another single, Mouthwash, does sound like Regina Spektor. It's weird but interesting. So here's the conclusion, if you like Regina Spektor and Lily Allen then you should watch the video for Mouthwash, you'll fall in love. If you don't like Regina Spektor and Lily Allen then don't waste your time.

Naked Lunch

This is my favorite David Cronenberg film. Naked Lunch was released in 1991, it was based on the novel by William Burroughs. It's about a guy that becomes addicted to the bug spray he uses and ends up killing his wife, he later becomes involved with a government conspiracy and so on. It's so weird but in a good way. If you haven't seen it and are not easily offended, watch it!

Otto Dix

Otto Dix (1891-1969) was a German artist that, like many artists of the time, experienced the horrors of World War I first hand. He was wounded in WWI as a German soldier and was later awarded the Iron Cross. He was deeply disturbed by all of the death he saw. He suffered from nightmares and often depicted themes that troubled him. Many of his early works covered subjects like war, prostitution, poverty and the dark side of the Weimar Republic. The painting seen here is The Dancer Anita Berber (1925) Anita was notorious for her nude dancing and silent adult films. She was addicted to opium and died young. Otto Dix's art was received with mixed emotions. He exhibited in the first Dada show and also with the German Expressionists. After the Nazi's took over he was removed from his teaching position and his art was displayed in the infamous Degenerate Art show. In his later years Dix painted religious subjects and left behind an incredibly influential body of work at the time of his death in 1969.

Tennis: Men vs. Women

In honor of the U.S. Open I've decided to discuss the current state of professional tennis. Although I love it all, I feel there is a major difference between men's tennis and women's tennis. When watching men's tennis it's always, "wow, that's a fast serve" but it's kill, kill, kill when it comes to hitting the ball. By the time the final comes around to most major events you can bet the world's #1 Roger Federer or #2 Rafael Nadal will win. It's never a surprise. Now the women, on the other hand, are far more exciting to watch. Why? Because in every event it's anyones guess as to who will make it to the final, let alone win. Here's my proof, in the last two years of grand slam finals Federer has won 5 of 7 titles and been in the final of the other two. Nadal has won the other 2 and been in the final of 2 more. On the girls side it's not like this. It seems every final has a different winner regardless of rank, and nobodies can beat the best players in the world. Just yesterday Maria Sharapova ranked #2 lost in the third round to an 18 year old new comer, a second seeded player hasn't lost that early in over 20 years. The list goes on and on, the fact is it's more fun to watch tennis when you don't know who will win. So keep this in mind over the next week and root for my new favorite player Ana Ivanovic (featured to the left) although she might lose to Venus Williams today, or maybe not? My point exactly.

Year Of the Dog

My wife has been wanting to see the movie Year Of the Dog, badly! We missed it in the theater and finally got it on dvd. Usually when we have high expectations for a movie it ends up being a let down, but this movie was great. It's about a woman, Peggy (played by Molly Shannon), who has a life altering experience involving animals. I don't want to say anything about the plot because you must see it. Year Of the Dog is really funny and it was also the first film I've seen with a vegan message that didn't end in making fun of us. Director Mike White (a vegan himself) actually promoted veganism through the scripts dark humor. Overall I thought it was fun, pro-vegan and had a great cast including Molly Shannon, Laura Dern, Regina King, John C. Reilly and my Academy Award vote for best supporting actor, Peter Sarsgaard who plays a sexually confused dog trainer.