Anchormen, Aweigh! X
More, later, about the mixing sessions this past weekend at Q Division, but for now, here are the rough mixes we've done for "Idlewild" and "Another Gentrification Song." Rumor is that the CD-EP will be titled "A Nation of Interns," and -- as always -- the Anchormen are open for feedback. And business. But whatever.

It's an Ad, Ad, Ad, Ad World XVI
This video clip makes me sad.

And this one makes me even sadder.

This one, on the other hand, made me smile a little bit.

Joke-O-Matic
Thanks to a friend in Chicago:

Q: What's brown and sticky?
A: A stick.

And that's the kind of pick-me-up I'm needing right now. Hit me!

Rock Shows of Note XLV
Despite concern about the approaching Nor'easter on Sunday -- which brought next to no snow in Boston proper even though parts outside got blanketed with snow -- I ventured to Sanders Theatre for a performance by the Boston Chamber Music Society. A subscriber to the society's series this year, I had to miss the first performance because of the CoF Roadshow.

Sunday night, however, I was quite pleased that I'd subscribed. Since college, I haven't taken in much classical music, much less smaller setting chamber music, and the program was delightful. As might be expected, the society balanced better-known works with more adventurous pieces that push the envelope -- at least in terms of "popular" classical music acceptance. And the first piece, opus 15d of Gyorgy Kurtag's "Hommage a Robert Schumann," while clearly the evening's outlier, was -- to me, at least -- the most interesting.

A Romanian-born Hungarian, Kurtag studied in the shadow of Stalinism, and his brief, concentrated compositions have an air of imminent oppression, as well as rebellious playfulness, about them. The movements of this piece were all quite short, and the interplay between Thomas Hill on clarinet and Nokuthula Ngwenyama on viola was extremely lively and clever, especially with the undercurrent of Mihae Lee's piano work. Hill impressed with some breathy noise-making -- not straight-forward classical clarinet fare -- and ended the piece with a dramatic, humorous percussion solo. Awesome. I'll have to explore more of Kurtag's work.

The second piece, Maurice Ravel's 1914 "Piano Trio" was less impressive and interesting. If you know Ravel's music -- and, admittedly, I know little outside of "Bolero," and even not much about that -- it might be rooted in an occasionally sing-song melodic style with occasional dramatic swells. Parts of this almost led me to nod off, but the animated finale caught my attention and held it. Despite my impressions of the piece -- the pop side of classical music -- Lee, Ronald Thomas (on cello, and the society's artistic director), and Ida Levin (on violin) performed well. It's just not my cup of tea, especially when following Kurtag's angular, disjointed, and intriguing work!

Following a brief intermission, the society returned to more popular fare, performing Johannes Brahms' "Piano Quartet in G minor (opus 25)". (Memo to Media Dieticians: I have no idea whatsoever how to title classical compositions!) Featuring Levin, Ngwenyama, Thomas, and Lee, the piece had four movements, of which I was excited by two: the Allegro, and the Rondo alla Zingarese (presto). This might have been the crowd favorite. Before the performance began, a fellow seated behind me told a friend that he was "in for a real treat."

Reading Steven Ledbetter's commentary in the program, I am ashamed of the facile nature of most of my musical reviews, much less my limited knowledge of classical music, but I know what I like. And of this performance's program, Kurtag is the clear winner. I'll have to seek out more of his work.

The Movie I Watched Last Night XLI
Three Kings
Even if you've already seen this movie, it's worth revisiting given the current state of world affairs and the possibility that we'll go to war with Iraq again. What starts out as a treasure hunt adventure story in the wake of the Gulf War -- in which a quartet of soldiers still stationed in Iraq set out to "liberate" some Kuwaiti gold -- turns into quite another movie altogether. For the most part, Three Kings is a political commentary on the responsibilities of warring nations. After the Gulf War ended and the United States encouraged Iraqis to rise up against Saddam Hussein, should US forces have pulled out without offering any assistance to the civilians they'd set up for persecution? Do the strained race and other relations within the American armed forces limit our sensitivity to ethnic differences in other countries? That's the real meat of the movie. Spike Jonze portrays an undereducated private to complement the able performances offered by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube -- not always to good effect -- and Nora Dunn offers a cartoony representation of an aging war correspondent. The media commentary -- the role of the media during wartime -- gets clouded by the shallow political analysis, but the questions are there, despite the movie's cloaking as an adventure story.

From the In Box: Technofetishism XVIII
I got your Web site through access analyze scripts on my Web site. I am very happy to hear that you use my desktop picture on your PC and you like it. I am a Japanese, not Thai. My Web site introduce some ordinary lifestyle of Thailand to Japanese due to I have a chance to stay in Thailand now. I will try to post more new desktops and icons as sooner. Thank you for your visiting my Web site. -- E. Mizokami

Blogging About Blogging XXXIII
There's a Web movement making some noise in Philadelphia. In response to a local columnist's recent efforts to get locals to market the city for themselves, a group of small business owners have pulled together a site called PhillyBlog.

The response, which is being orchestrated by a relatively new transplant to the city, lauds and lambastes many of the city's characteristics, positioning it as a valid alternative to cities such as Boston. The multi-author nature of the project makes for some disjointed reading, but recent posts have been quite active, and the comment count is high.

An interesting parallel to some of the regional blog directories, local blog rings, and other similar projects.

Technofetishism XVIII
I've been spending some time this afternoon messing around with my desktop, icons, and dock skin. That's been fun, although I don't quite have the hang of replacing icons yet. I'm worried I won't be able to go back to what I had before. Yikes! But there are several sites you check out if you use a Mac and want to play around with how your computer looks.

Pixelgirl Presents offers several interesting sets of icon replacements. P'girl's tastes tend toward the Asian, so we're gifted with headshots of Japanese actresses, Thai logos, sushi, and several cute-animal icon sets, including one from Sanrio. She also offers a bunch of well-done desktop pictures. My desktop is now sporting some Thai noodles courtesy of Tao Hua Ng Design. Beautiful!

I Heart NY also offers icons, as well as dock skins. I'm tempted by the Adium Domo-Kun icon set, but, still, I have to be more comfortable before I change all my icons. The dock skins also appeal, but I need to tinker around with that for awhile, too. Still, a tutorial includes a downloadable set of restoration icons in case you need to switch back. Phew!

Lastly, a disappointing piece of shareware. Unsanity's WindowShadeX promises to replace the double-click shade-closing action that was so useful in OS 9. Thing is, if you're using WindowShadeX as an application enhancer, it doesn't just reintroduce the double-click shade-closing action that effectively closes the window but keeps a slim bar on the desktop -- it removes the yellow-ball window-diminishing dock tuck. Or whatever it's called. So even though I've installed it, I'd rather tuck apps and windows into my dock than window-shade them. So I've deactivated it. Harrumph.

Oh! I also just downloaded Andreas Lindkvist's wonderfully retro miPong screensaver from MacMotiva. Now we're getting somewhere!

Am I being too uptight about my icons? Let me know if I should just jump in with both feet.

Seat Sickness
While Googling for information on how to best acquire the 2003 Slingshot planner, I came across this Quicktime video of the amusement park ride in action. Not my cup of tea!

Rock Shows of Note XLIV
Last night, after hanging out at the Sail Loft with some friends from work, a bunch of us went to the Middle East to see Luna. After paying $15 and sticking out one of the opening bands -- the Skating Club? Jr. Corduroy? -- it didn't take much of Luna's set to remind me that I don't really like Luna that much. Despite the $15 cover -- the most expensive show I've gone to in a long time; why not Jonathan Richman? -- I decided to leave after several songs. Better suited for listening to at work, I think.

Television-Impaired VII
John Brunner's The Sheep Look Up, which I finished reading on the T this morning (look for a three-month Books Worth a Look entry in early December), has got me thinking about the coming Apocalypse.

If Mad parodying the Onion is one of the signs of the Apocalypse, what about a Dr. Who episode written by the late Douglas Adams?

Thanks to Slashdot.

Music to My Eyes IV
I'm still a little miffed with Other Music for closing their Cambridge store and running back home to New York City, so I was less than pleased when they mismailed their mailing list recently. People started replying to the list instead of complaining directly to Other Music, saying the usual stuff like, "Why are you people emailing me?" "Other Music, your mailing list is broken," and "Will you people please stop emailing the list?

Then a fellow sent an email to the group that brought a bit more sunshine to my day. It read:

It could be worse. People might even try promoting things like this.

Every so often, I send out an email to the team at work titled Web Site of the Friday (or whatever day of the week it is, natch), so I sent this out just now. It triggered the usual, "How do you find this stuff?" responses.

Sometimes, you don't find it; it finds you. Happy Friday.

Music to My Ears XVIII
With absolutely no thanks whatsoever to one Joe Germuska, I am now irreparably addicted to and in love with Epitonic. Where else can you go to learn more about and listen to musical groups such as Bride of No No, Ex Models, Les Sans Culottes, Red Shirt Brigade, and the Styrenes? Insound? Not so much. Insound, I dub thee No. 2. And that's only because I'll visit Epitonic to listen to stuff and then visit Insound to order some of it. Ooh. Feel that quiver? I just felt my record budget increase.

North End Moment XXIX
My boss just got back from picking up his lunch at an Italian deli not far from the Scotch & Sirloin building. His order: a sandwich without tomatoes. Here's what happened:

Vinny: Whaddya got against tomatoes?
Bill: Nothing. I just don't like 'em. Never have.
Vinny: So whaddya put on your macaroni? Oil?
Bill: No tomato sauce. That's different. The medium is the message, right?
Vinny: Ya know, it's funny. I love raw onions. I hate grilled onions. But you give me grilled onions with peas, and I love it! Does that make any fuckin' sense?
Bill: That's what keeps life interesting.
Vinny: You're right. I'll see ya my man.

May you all lead interesting lives.

Media Meet Space II
The boring, oft-described "subversive" magazine Vice is sowing its seeds by extending its brand to embrace clothing stores, a record label, and a book deal. Please. Has anyone actually read the thing? Name drop all you want, but comparing Vice to Answer Me, Forced Exposure, or Grand Royal just doesn't make any sense beyond parallels to occasionally controversial business and cross-marketing savvy. Just because people buy an "underground" mag doesn't mean that it's not a rag. I'd much rather read Foul.

Thanks to I Want Media.

Weather Report VII
I don't know what it is, but it's amazing how much a day can make. The beginning of this week, I was rather out of sorts and disgruntled, and the skies were grey, heavy, and thick, obscuring the sun and bringing rain. Today, it's clean, clear, cool, and crisp, and my energy is much higher. Maybe it was the movie, maybe it's the weather. Regardless, I much prefer how this day is starting.

The Movie I Watched Last Night XL
Before Night Falls
I've never read a word of Reinaldo Arenas' writing, but Andrea had this DVD at home, and we wanted to stay in last night, so we watched it. And watching this biographical movie based on Arenas' memoir Antes Que Anochezca makes me want to read him. And to write. I think that those are the two best things you can say about a movie about a writer, no? Arenas was a gay Cuban dissident poet during the early days of Fidel Castro's dictatorship in Cuba, and the movie tracks his developmental years as a child, time as a rebel, emergence as a writer, and eventual oppression as a homosexual intellectual. The most powerful sequences of the film, which is shot in an occasionally documentary manner, include Reinaldo's hallucinations while in solitary prison, his time hiding with other radical artists in a near-destroyed church, and his escape to New York City, where he dies of AIDS. Despite the film's moving representation of the importance of intellectual and creative expression, public speech, and group assembly, a couple of things threw me. One, Arenas' relationship with his mother is never fully explained or resolved, and there are a couple of details that cloud its reality -- his comment on her move to Miami and his hallucination about a refused reunion. Two, Johnny Depp plays two roles, which come across as one -- and that confuses the narrative. First, Depp plays Bon Bon, a prison queen who helps Arenas smuggle a book out of prison. Then, Depp plays Lieutenant Victor, which at first led me to believe that they were one and the same person -- and that Arenas was tricked into smuggling his book only to get caught. It seems that Depp's dual role, while confusing, was indeed a dual role. The one saving grace about that is the sexual ambiguity inherent in both. While Arenas didn't seem to be attracted to Bon Bon, his smuggling savior, the scene in which Victor interrogates him is awash with homosexual tension, albeit potentially hallucinated. All in all, a movie worth watching, even if you haven't read Arenas. I know that I now must. And I hope that some day, I write something so important that I have to hide it under a roof or smuggle it out of a country. Then again, maybe I don't.

Mention Me! XVIII
Traffic today is a bit heavier than average, so I went into my referral logs to see what was up. While Media Diet hasn't been Slashdotted, it has been Metafiltered courtesy of one Brian K. Seems he liked the recent post about Mad's parody of the Onion.

I feel like I should welcome all of the folks coming here from Metafilter. Hello! Welcome to Media Diet! Thanks for coming. Pull up a chair. The keg's in the back. No, no... the other back. Yeah, that's the way. (Who let him in?)

I also feel like I should let folks know that I came across the parody thanks to the Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! It's My Turn to Type thread in the Books & Literature discussion in the Atlantic's Post & Riposte forum. Credit adequately given, we are now left to entertaining our new guests.

Among the Literati XVII
Gareth Branwyn, patron and perhaps even saint of all things technological, has drafted a guide to suck-less writing. It's a clever, catchy look at crafting better writing for the Web.

Thanks to BoingBoing.

Focus Coups
Jim O'Laughlin, a writer and reading series host in Iowa, regularly adopts various consumer personas to participate in focus groups that are short on attendees. He's pretended to shave with certain razors, want a job in the aerospace industry, like a certain beer, or watch certain TV shows. In a recent piece for the Web zine La Petite, he shares some of his adventures in marketing and corporate manipulation.

Thanks to Utne Web Watch.

From the In Box: Street Art II
Dallas spends $50,000 at each new rail station for art designed to reflect the local community -- pillars, sculptures, mosaics, etc. DART also sponsors poetry contests periodically -- winners are then printed on colorful posters and displayed inside buses and trains. One of the winners has also won the national poetry slam. NYC transit has some cool stuff, too (if you know where to look). Took a great tour a couple of years ago. If you are really interested, the American Public Transit Association could connect you with locations of interesting transit art here and overseas. Oh yeah -- not a train station, but I came through the Copenhagen airport last year. Very cool art, including a large raku fountain in a terminal lobby and a flock of large multi-colored fused-glass seagulls suspended in a sunny concourse. -- Terri Adkisson

From the In Box: The Restaurant I Ate at Last Night XV
John Brunner's The Sheep Look Up: I really like that book. Did a video book review of it once when I was doing video. Prescient, as most of the things he was writing about in the late '60s and early '70s have come to pass.

When 911 happened, I pulled it out again to look at the last few pages where he talks about the United States declaring war, but not knowing against whom. A year on, we're not quite in that position. We have declared war on everybody and anybody in the world we want to. -- George Mokray

Products I Love V
Quite awhile ago, I went through a mint phase. Mint tea, mint shampoo, mint soap. And the best mint soap comes to us from Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. Based in Escondido, California, Dr. Bronner's family produces the all-one, hemp, pure-castile soaps in liquid and bar soap. The runner-up soap, lemon, only comes in bar form. The soap works well, smells great, and is 100% natural. And each bar wrapper is imprinted with some of Dr. Bronner's moral ABC's, as well as notable quotations from thinkers such as Chief Seattle, Buddha, Einstein, and Booker T. Washington. Clean your body, clean your mind.

Digesting the Daily II
Having spent some time last weekend on the big blue couch catching up on two months' worth of the Daily Northwestern, I've decided to keep up with them as they're mailed. And I found several media-, technology-, and activism-related items that might be of interest to Media Dieticians.

NU not using its wireless network
NUIT officials blame lack of equipment for unpopularity; students say it's poor publicity
(Oct. 31, 2002)

Life in a dead city
This group of NU students knows that while everyday life can be a drag, Saturday night is all right for biting
(Oct. 31, 2002)

Living history
Local author, magazine founder Robinson aims to enliven undocumented stories from Evanston's black community
(Nov. 1, 2002)

Students at Ariz. St., Indiana busted for shooting porn films
Expulsion, suspensions follow filming; NU officials would deny any requests
(Nov. 1, 2002)

Student CEOs must balance work, school
Budding college-aged entrepreneurs get taste of the business world ahead
(Nov. 4, 2002)

Wireless networking isn't used at NU because it's inconvenient
Letter writer Benjamin Shapiro compares NU's network to that of UCSD
(Nov. 5, 2002)

NU lags behind, but Kellogg uses wireless to its potential
Letter writer Derek Yung says the "b" in B-school stands for "better"
(Nov. 5, 2002)

CNN may try to win youth with slang talk
Some Medill profs, students say news would lose its respect, professionalism
(Nov. 6, 2002)

High-tech ventures offered at DevLab
New director brings center big hopes for NU's business-minded community
(Nov. 6, 2002)

Bylines of the batch: Sarah Warning and Andy Nelson. I went to grade school with an Andy Nelson.

Magazine Me XXI
Mad makes fun of the Onion. And the world caves in on itself.

Clothes Whore V
Absolutely no one has sent me a T-shirt to photograph myself wearing for Media Diet. So I'm left with checking out all of the different outfits that Winona Ryder wore during her shoplifting trial appearances. Now you can, too.

Among the Literati XVI
Four independent literary journals that have also stepped into the realm of book publishing -- Fence, McSweeney's, Open City, and Verse -- have joined forces to create the BigSmallPressMall. The BigSmallPressMall is a collaborative effort that will co-promote each imprint's titles, as well as readings and other related events.

You can even order a sample pack that includes an item from each participating press. That page includes the funny sentence, "Please note that since the the four publishers are in different locations, each book from the package will be delivered separately." Heh.

What a fine, fine idea. Any and all independent record labels and publishers could learn from this project.

Ho Ho, It's Mr. Show! III
David Cross of Mr. Show fame has released a comedy CD on SubPop. It's two CD's chock full of hilarity recorded during Cross's 2002 tour of rock clubs across America. You can even download some sampler MP3's if you're foolhardy. Rock on, David Cross. Rock on.

From the In Box: Digesting the Daily
Thanks a million for the mention on your site. I'm glad you like my strips (and understand Blammo and Mitch). I'm never sure how people are receiving my comics, specifically "Bottom of the Food Chain" because I rarely do get feedback about things. My recent battle is to keep "Bottom of the Food Chain" accessible online -- no one at the Daily seems to understand that there are people out there who may not see a Daily day in and day out. Knowing that there are people out there like you who read the strip really motivates me, and I'll be goddamned sure those monkeys keep my strips online for people who may not have subscriptions. Anyway, thanks for reading. I'll keep drawing! -- Alex Thomas

Wait... the Daily is produced by monkeys these days? When I was there, we had a staff of trained emus.

From the In Box: Music to My Ears XVII
File this under "Biting off More than You Can Listen to," I suppose...

Sorry for the impersonal email, but so many people have signed up for the CD Mix of the Month that I'm forced to get a little impersonal.

Thanks everybody for signing up. I just wanted to mention something:

This thing has gotten very large over the last couple of months. It used to be remarkable if I'd trade CDs with 40 people in a month. Well, last month, almost 400 people signed up, and this month's not too far behind.

So... last month I was forced to ask for money. Here's the deal: I'm asking you to please put $3 or $4 in your envelope when you send your CD's to me. I know it's annoying, but it costs me about $3 in materials and postage alone for each person trading. That's an expense I'm willing to support when there are only a couple dozen people trading, but when the numbers get this large, I really have no interest in (or resources to support) blowing $1,000 a month on this.

So please throw a few bucks in your envelope. (More's always welcome, of course, and goes directly to the Josh Benton Student Loan Pay-Off Fund.) If you've already send your discs, you can always PayPal me.

If you've got any questions, just email me. I'm really sorry to have to do this, but if I didn't ask for cash to meet some of my expenses, I'd be forced to kill off the club entirely. (For anyone concerned: I'm still not making any money off this thing. Last month, I still paid about $100 out-of-pocket for this.)

Remember, please get your mixes in the mail ASAP; November 25 is the deadline, but earlier's always better. I finally settled the November mix this weekend, and it should be hella good. -- Josh Benton

See what happens when you make an offer like that? Wow. 40 to 400 requests in a month or two. I'm of mixed mind when thinking about his recent email to potential traders, though. I can understand the overwhelming response he's received -- and can appreciate his concerns about the increase in out-of-pocket expense to support the project. At the same time, this is what "trade" means. If you want to trade mix tapes -- or zines, or whatever -- you trade. If you don't want to bear the brunt of the trade economy, you "sell" your wares. I'm not convinced that it's worth paying for a mix made by a stranger -- even if I can see past playlists -- and especially if I am requested to send a mix in exchange as well. I'm not getting reimbursed for my materials and postage. I'm trading. Trading and paying at the same time seems a bit much to ask. Still, I don't begrudge Benton the success of his project, and I don't begrudge him his change of heart.

Be careful what you ask for; you might get it. That said, my offer still stands. If you send me a mix tape or CD at the address in the left-hand column of Media Diet, I will reciprocate. (Until I experience the Benton Effect, I guess.)

Digesting the Daily
As a former editor and columnist for The Daily Northwestern and as an alumnus of Northwestern University, I subscribe to the Daily to keep up with campus happenings and the state of student journalism. Yesterday, I spent some quality time on the big blue couch to catch up on the last two months' worth of the Daily. And I found several media-, technology-, and activism-related items that might be of interest to Media Dieticians.

Student-written book offers candid look at NU
New unofficial handbook gives readers an alarming look at campus living
(Sept. 24, 2002)

WebRoomz lets students select own roommates
Company has two client universities; NU housing calls service unrealistic
(Oct. 1, 2002)

Cosmo terrifies as it entices, but most of all it lies
Columnist Mike Sherman analyzes the foibles of women's magazines
(Oct. 1, 2002)

Cosmo's trashy, but macho Maxim does equal damage
Letter writer Jason Spitz counters with an analysis of the foibles of, ahem, men's magazines
(Oct. 2, 2002)

Universities limit speech to set zones, bar protests
Colleges designate campus locations where students able to demonstrate
(Oct. 8, 2002)

Che's revolution is lost in sea of hip marketing
Columnist Kristina Francisco rages against the lifestyle marketing machine
(Oct. 9, 2002)

Former Daily columnist's plagiarism regretted
Just goes to show that stealing from widely read sources like Slate is silly, students
(Oct. 10, 2002)

Officials mull contract with hat company
University plans to weigh reports by labor-conditions watchdogs
(Oct. 11, 2002)

Role-playing group seeks out game vampires
NU group's live-action, year-long fun focuses on storytelling and characters
(Oct. 11, 2002)

Cosmo editor dazzles NU crowd with anecdotes, advice for women
Helen Gurley Brown speaks to a full audience to kick off Medill's Crain Lecture series
(Oct. 15, 2002)

Unrestrained nanotechnology enthusiasm potentially deadly
Looks like letter writer Clif Brown reads and respects Bill Joy
(Oct. 15, 2002)

Speaker: Rap music aids society in Africa
Popular music provides Tanzanians with sense of community, self-worth
(Oct. 15, 2002)

You can't tell if I'm telling you the whole truth
Perhaps concerned by recent reports of columnist plagiarism, Kristina Francisco admits a factual error in last week's column
(Oct. 16, 2002)

Nobel may increase NU Press cash flow
Troubled printer could profit from books' sales, but won't alter outlook
(Oct. 17, 2002)

Campus media need to know value of dissent
Columnist Jesse Abrams-Morley takes on the Daily's conservative counterpart, the Chronicle
(Oct. 17, 2002)

Nobel Prize emphasizes importance of NU Press
The Daily's editorial board takes a brave, pro-Nobel position
(Oct. 21, 2002)

Prof: Donated clothing sets trends in Africa
Media fails to see secondhand clothes as a cultural influence, professor says
(Oct. 22, 2002)

NU will renew contract with clothing company
Report: New Era improved labor conditions
(Oct. 23, 2002)

WNUR to keep online broadcast despite fees
Costly fee won't affect broadcasting, but cuts back amount of webcasting
(Oct. 24, 2002)

Tunnel vision
The long, hot journey to and through the hidden world beneath NU
(Oct. 24, 2002)

Student scrawlings on stall turned into book
"Penn State Whizdom" peak at what college kids read while taking a leak
(Oct. 25, 2002)

Free spirited, heavy minded
NOWAR adds its name to NU's infrequent history of activism
(Oct. 30, 2002)

Beyond the standard articles, editorials, columns, and letters of comment, several Daily features stand out as worth their salt issue after issue.

The comic strips and editorial cartoons of Alex Thomas are a joy to behold, especially his "Bottom of the Food Chain" anthropomorphic campus comedy and slightly differently styled "Kampus Komedy!" editorial cartoons starring Blammo and Mitch. Additional kudos for Thomas' editorial cartoon in response to the Sept. 24 feature on the unofficial campus guide published by a couple of snarky Sig Eps. Also, the weekly nyou section sports a "Week in Review" report card that is almost always spot on in its sarcasm and spunkiness. nyou's "Calendar" grid does more than point out upcoming events in the Evanston area; it often deflates the people and projects involved. "Calendar" isn't as darkly humorous as it seemed to be last year, but it's still worth a look.

I'll keep digesting the Daily for Alex Thomas and "Week in Review" alone, but it's good to see writers wrestling with media activism and literacy. Keep it up!

The Restaurant I Ate at Last Night XV
Upon my return from the CoF Roadshow every year, I reassess several aspects of my life. How I spend my time, who I spend it with, how I live my life habit-wise, etc. Not everything gets changed or improved, but this year, my little self-improvement kick includes reconsidering how I eat. How often I cook at home. Whether I eat breakfast. What I do for lunch at work. Last night, I decided that I've fallen into a restaurant rut. When I eat out, there are maybe two or three places that I frequent. At one of them, I order the exact same thing every single time I visit. This, I must change. There are a lot of restaurants in Boston. There are a lot of restaurants in my neighborhood. And I've never been to most of them.

So last night, I went somewhere new, to read John Brunner's The Sheep Look Up and to eat dinner before meeting Andrea for a drink later in the evening. The restaurant I picked? Well, it kind of picked me because India Pavilion was crowded and I'm not too comfortable eating and reading by myself in crowded restaurants. So I walked a couple of blocks to the Gandhi Restaurant instead.

The service at the Gandhi is extremely friendly and inobtrusive, and my waiter said "please" every time he came by the table. I liked that. The food? Rather average but passable Indian cuisine. I started with a lentil soup that was relatively free of lentils, and which had a slightly acrid tartness to it. Still, tasty and warm, perfect for a windy autumn evening. The aloo channa masala was a highlight, and it's good to see people adding other ingredients to the chickpea standby. That rested on a bed of aromatic jasmine rice. The garlic nan wasn't much to speak of -- I prefer my nan fixings to be cooked inside the nan rather than just peppered on the outside, and I missed the availability of aloo nan, my favorite -- but the papadam was crispy and good. I washed everything down with a mango juice and some water before moving onto dessert. Dessert was good. Gulab jamun is similar to warm donut holes in a sugar and rose water syrup -- also a highlight of the meal. But the coffee? Weak.

So Gandhi gets mixed reviews. Not too expensive, but not too impressive. I doubt I'll return until I'm able to compare it to the other Indian restaurants on Central Square.

Magazine Me XX
Los Angeles magazine includes a relatively decent feature about Giant Robot magazine in the November issue. Don't forget to tell Martin he looks silly in the photo.

From the In Box: Pulling the Plug VIII
Mama Gaia's Cafe, in Central Square (Cambridge), is facing unexpected and unreasonable pressures around its property lease, and may be forced out of business as a result.

I myself am not part of Mama Gaia's management or investor base, but I am moved to write on their behalf. I am a regular customer of Mama Gaia's Cafe who values deeply the elements of community building, and social justice, which the place embodies. It would be a great loss if Mama Gaia's were closed down for good.

It is natural to ask oneself how did this crisis develop, and to wonder whether their business just wasn't working out well enough. I have talked about this with their management, and the story is actually quite the opposite: Mama Gaia's regular customer base is strong, and its business has been growing steadily and according to plan. Unfortunately, their landlord is now wanting to change the lease terms in order to capitalize on that success, and he is doing so in a very heavy-handed, intransigent way. Last weekend, the landlord evicted them with merely 48 hours notice, in a move intended to show "who's boss" at the negotiating table. Pre-emptive leverage building, I guess!

So...

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Write letters/emails of support to Mama Gaia's Cafe, proclaiming and describing your love for the place, and how sorry you would be if it were forced to closed down. This simple act, when joined with the voice of many others, can be remarkably powerful in demonstrating to City officials and investors the solid base of support that Mama Gaia's enjoys in the community at large.

*** URGENT *** Lend them whatever cash amount you feel called to contribute. All loans, small or large, will be given the option to be turned into stock in due time or just be repaid as a small loan over time -- to be determined on a case by case basis.

I know, this requires a certain leap of faith: that Mama Gaia's itself is doing its part, and that your contribution is essential and dignified. Remember, though, that we're not talking Enron or Halliburton here, but Mama Gaia's! These are folks with a vision, and that vision is being threatened by one individual's excessive greed.

If you do want to help out with cash, it is imperative to do it immediately. Mama Gaia's has met the bulk of the cash demands precipitated upon them this week, but they are still short on the order of $5,000. Any amount will help.

For more information, to submit your letters or to discuss loans, please contact:

Pedro Morales
Mama Gaia's Cafe Founder
617-207-1210
morales@mamagaiascafe.com -- Martin Hunter

Thanks to George Mokray for passing this on!

Anchormen, Aweigh! IX
The Anchormen are now on our very first compilation ever! Logan Tapes' Zombies of the Stratosphere collects a nice array of indie-pop and punk-rock goodness, including Tullycraft, All Girl Summer Fun Band, the No-No's, the Salteens, the Hissyfits, and your favorite Somervillains, the Anchormen. The Web site doesn't really indicate how to purchase the platter, and I can't find it at Twee Kitten or Interpunk. Not at Insound, either. Hmm. Hope they send us a copy, at least! If you see this anywhere, snag the puppy.

Event-O-Dex XII
From Timmy Nickels of the High-Steppin' Nickel Kids:

The High-Steppin' Nickel Kids are dead. That's what the answering machine said. I believe it was Chinua Achebe who said "Things fall apart." After a period of excruciatingly intimate self-examination (best done just after the shower, when the flesh is pliant and supple), the High-Steppin' Nickel Kids have elected to hang up their collective boots in an amicable parting of the ways. Essentially, those three jerks and I realized that we were all "traveling" on "different musical paths" in our "journey through music." Or something along those lines, anyway.

To speak frankly, this has been a long time coming. Signs were obvious, to anyone who cared to notice them, that Morgan's relentless self-aggrandizing, Tigger's uncompromising drive for total perfection across the board, and Joe's callous deceit and duplicity all stood markedly in contrast against my rigorous practice ethic and (admittedly high) aesthetic standards. It was a recipe for destruction, for which none of us had the appetite. For.

To make an interminably long story short (both as a band and in reference to this message), we'll be performing a "last hurrah" of sorts, this coming Saturday at the House of Suffering. None of us really wanted to do it -- Morgan's already caught up in the work that will take up his now-Nickel-free time, a comprehensive, cross-referenced concordance of the entire Shelter/Youth Of Today lyrical canon, Joe's opening up a chain of sushi-skateparks, and Tigger's already wolfing down record-industry cock like it was going out of style (sshh, nobody tell him!); unfortunately, our fans have been clamoring for one last extravagant blowout, and as has been our rigidly adhered to dictum throughout our storied career, we are bowing to the popular demand that we "give the people what they want." So come on out and enjoy seeing us take our clothes off one last time, won't you?

Thanks to everyone who helped out, gave a damn, came to see us, asked us when we were playing next, asked us what that song was about, gave us a floor to sleep on, a sandwich to scarf, a drink to drink and a drunk to drink with; thanks to everyone who we played with in the clubs (like we'll ever see the inside of the Linwood again) and everyone we played with in the basements, churches and circuses (see you on Saturday). Thanks to the jewelry stores, the second-hand clothing boutiques, the art galleries, the bars, and the Deli Haus. Thanks for 10 years, 8 years, and 10 months of memories that will last till we die. Thanks to the girls who came to see us and left with us (that is to say, the girlfriends, not the groupies; there never were any groupies, sorry), to the kids who came to see us and left with records, and the parents who've been so patient with their wayward boys.

Thanks for your patience and kind words over the years.

Next up: smashing the state from within and without. As a soon-to-be-ex Nickel Kid, my/our words of advice and plea on departure is this: shake the chains of The Man from your shoulders and turn his yoke back upon him. If the forces that rule America won't take your call, become an operator. This will serve as your final notice.

I guess that about wraps up my last decade or so. If anyone wants me, I'll be in my room, listening to the Streets, memorizing the poetry of G. K. Chesterton and creating ads for companies who aren't expecting them. I guess I should have a lot more to say, but I don't. I'll close with these thoughts: Abercrombie & Fitch have designed and are marketing thong underwear for 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds, that have such catchy phrases as "Eye Candy" and "Little Tease" on them. This caused some stir at its announcement, over a year ago. Item #2: During an unscientifically conducted observation at Six Flags New England this past summer, easily 50% of those in attendance (male and female)were seen to be wearing Abercrombie & Fitch gear. No pre-teens were examined for thongs.

Shut up, America! You are guilty!

Saturday, Nov. 9: Ames Curve, Go for the Throat, None More Black, Thumbs Up, and the High-Steppin' Nickel Kids at the House of Suffering, 96 Chestnut Hill Ave. in Brighton. Show starts at 7 p.m. Costs $5.

I first saw the Nickel Kids at the Milky Way in JP, I believe. They wear jackets emblazoned with the band's name, like they're in some kind of gang or something. I've never met Timmy in person, but he does a good zine. And his girlfriend, who works at The Improper Bostonian, seems nice enough. I'm sure the Kids will be missed.

Television-Impaired VI
Vincent from Choo Choo la Rouge has the following good news to share:

In a somewhat financially rewarding turn of events, a song from our first four-song demo (you know you're you're a fan if you're one of the eight people who bought it), "Say it Twice," has been selected for use in this Wednesday's episode of Dawson's Creek. There'll be a scene where the kids are in a record store buying a No Doubt album, and our song is supposed to play in the background. You never know what will get cut at the last minute, but the contracts are signed, and the check's in the mail. You can check out the song on our site. Don't get too excited for us, though. Katie Holmes still won't return our phone calls.

Congratulations, Choo Choo!

Rock Shows of Note XLIII
Last night, the Handstand Command collective threw a little party at the Dilboy on Davis Square in Somerville. The basic idea was to improve on the Anchormen All-Star Karaoke event we organized last year, only with collective members performing cover songs, not songs by the Anchormen, spelling me as singer.



There were two sets of karaoke, punctuated with performances by Spoilsport and Swizzle. First up, Swizzle. Sporting a couple of new (compared to the band photo online, at least) band members and featuring a nice guitar and keyboard pairing, the band alternated between interesting indie-rock numbers and country songs, including a Hank Williams cover to cap the set. Good stuff.

Before the first karaoke set, the Anchormen took the stage, with me singing a couple of songs, "Houston" and "Celebrate Democracy," the latter in dishonor of the recent elections. Then, the karaoke began! Here's who did what:

Leslie (Asian Babe Alert): Kyliue Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head"

Emily (The Operators): Guns 'n' Roses, "It's So Easy"

Steph (The Operators and the Tardy): Galaxie 500, "Strange"

Simone: Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"

Dave (Swizzle): Motorhead, "Ace of Spades"

TD joined Simone for "Hungry Like the Wolf," and "Ace of Spades" was utterly priceless.



Then, Spoilsport. Every time I see them play, they increase in confidence and energy, which is good to see. They played their standard set of sunny-day cutepop, blending aspects of the poppier side of the Queers and the charming and disarming goofiness of Pansy Division. I shall not compare them to Tullycraft, which they've never even heard. Word is that I might join them singing a song at an upcoming show. Word up.

The Anchormen took the stage for another song, "Audobon Park," from our as-yet-unnamed forthcoming CD EP, before the karaoke calamity resumed. Here's who did what:

Dave Geisslah (Scrapple): The Anchormen, "Moonface"

Leah: The B-52's, "Strobe Light"

Chris (The Anchormen): Archers of Loaf, "Wrong"

Jen (The Operators): Rolling Stones, "Rocks Off"

Paul (The Operators and Sinkcharmer): Status Quo, "Pictures of Matchstick Men"

Birthday kids ensemble: The Figgs, "Favorite Shirt"



Then the Anchormen took the stage again. We played requests until they stopped coming. Then we all went home.

Picture Perfect
For at least $1,000, Viewmaster will create 1,000 custom Viewmaster reels. The offer isn't good for existing photographs, so dash your hopes of converting your holiday snaps. Instead, upon receipt of the $1,000, Viewmaster will send you a stereoscopic camera for 30 days. There's a $25 late fee for each day you keep the camera past deadline. You can also order Viewmaster viewers in bulk to accompany your seven-image Viewmaster reels. What a neat idea for a Christmas card, promotional tool, or advertising effort!

Thanks to BoingBoing.

Workaday World VII
Fast Company is looking to hire a senior writer to be based in Boston or New York City. Any and all interested parties should contact me and I'll connect you with the proper people.

North End Moment XXVIII


Looks like a man, doesn't it?

Magazine Me XIX
Coming soon to bookstore shelves near you: Several new books about... magazines. Yes, according to SFGate, several former staff members of The Industry Standard, Rolling Stone, and Wired have written tomes about their previous periodicals. Instead of falling into the tell-all trap, however, the authors have erred on the side of sharing stories about the economic rises, falls, and foibles. Should make for interesting reading! Now, who's going to write the book about my employer, Fast Company?

Thanks to Jim Romenesko's Media News.

Street Art II
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's birth, 14 Hitchcock-inspired mosaics were commissioned for an installation at the Leytonstone tube station, not far from Hitchcock's birthplace. In Boston, the MBTA has been relatively good about building art into the T stations, including poetry etched into the brick floor of the Davis Square station, a wonderful wide-ranging glove sculpture littering Porter Square station, and other art scattered throughout the public transit system. If the city you live in has a public transportation system, let me know about public art in your area.

Thanks to BoingBoing.

Nervy, Pervy IX
A wily Frenchman has scanned and uploaded almost every single Playboy centerfold between December 1953 and July 2002. I don't think I need to say anything else.

Thanks to Blogdex.

Technofetishism XVII
I just downloaded and started using iTunes 3. And it's amazing. It's got all of the features from previous versions, with some notable additions that I'm really enjoying. While the new My Rating feature is useless in my opinion -- if you don't like a song, why do you have it on your computer? -- I'm extremely excited about the instant playlists iTunes now features, such as Recently Played and Top 25 Most Played. I've got the shuffle mode on in my Library, and in the last hour, I've listened to 22 songs ranging from Ray Lynch to Raycharles, Operation Ivy to the Doves. You can even burn mix CD's straight from your Recently Played playlist. Just another notch in Apple's belt -- and a welcome accompaniment to the new version of the iPod software, which adds a clock and some more flexible navigation options.

From the In Box: Tickle Me Emo
What is that "wrong" thing, though? Don't get me wrong -- I agree that there's something extremely creepy about stock "a capella;" I got stuck watching the Bobs open for Zap Mama once, and it was really unpleasant. However, Zap Mama, for example, is a group that does a lot of good stuff with unaccompanied singing. And I love less polished voices -- only stuff like shape note singing or music from the Georgia and South Carolina sea islands. I even like polished vocal harmonies like the Beach Boys and CSN. So, what is it, then? -- Joe Germuska

Well, I like Zap Mama and shape-note singing, too -- take the new Cordelia's Dad record, for example -- so I'm curious what it is, too. I think that I make a distinction between unaccompanied singing -- the root of a capella's definition, granted -- and stereotypical a capella performance.

Maybe it's the trappings of a capella that rub me the wrong way. Maybe it's the consistent characteristics of the way a capella groups are composed -- and the gestures and stage techniques they use while performing. Maybe it's the inward-looking competitive culture of the collegiate a capella scene. Maybe, just maybe, it's the hundreds and thousands of a capella groups that name themselves Five O'Clock Shadow.

I don't know. But when I say I dislike a capella, I don't mean that I dislike Zap Mama or the Beach Boys -- much less unaccompanied singing or harmonic vocals.

Tickle Me Emo
Like punk rock and emo-style melodic hardcore? Like cute college-aged boys singing without accompaniment? You'll love Emocapella, a punk rock-proficient a capella group at George Washington University. Their rendition of Mr. T Experience's "Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend" is probably the best among the handful of MP3's I've downloaded, which seem to be heavy on the left channel, but I have a couple of concerns.

One, a capella is still geeky. I'm a geek's geek, but there's just something wrong about a capella, especially its subculture status among the college clutch. If you add punk rock and emo, does it make a capella any less disturbing? How unpunk is a capella? Also, this project, while slightly charming, has joke written all over it. Is it an earnest a capella project? Is it an ironic commentary on emo? Is this a punk band without instruments? Still, fun for a rainy Wednesday morning.

If you get giggle fits while listening to Atom and His Package or James Kochalka Superstar, this'll probably give you a grin.

Thanks to Metafilter.

Music to My Ears XVII
Josh Benton works as a reporter for a newspaper in Dallas that I probably shouldn't mention or link to. On the side, he runs a project called the CD Mix of the Month Club. The deal is simple -- and similar to other mix trade projects I've participated in via the Well or Echo. You send Benton a mix CD; he sends you a mix CD. He goes so far as to post the past playlists so you can get a sense of how his tastes run, and after looking at the October 2002 mix, I'm thinking I need to send him a mix of my own.

Inspired by Benton and reminded of past mix exchanges, let me offer this. If you send me a mix tape or CD, I will reciprocate. My address is on the left-hand side of this very page. During the CoF Roadshow, I snagged all sorts of great local music between Richmond, Virginia, and Burlington, Vermont. Let's trade tuneage!

Thanks to Just One Thing.

These Links Were Made for Breaking? VI
Earlier this month, MTVi severed its employees' access to peer-to-peer file-sharing services such as Kazaa and Morpheus. An internal memo indicates that the step was taken because of the proliferation of copyright infringement within the services.

But I wonder: How can MTVi and other large media organizations -- particularly those that focus on music and pop culture -- continue to be relevant if they cut themselves off from the grassroots sources of their information and ideas? How can MTVi continue to be of use to file-sharing fans if the employees of said organization are not allowed to use file-sharing services at work? Seems to be a case of putting your foot in your mouth, shooting yourself in the foot, and biting the hand that feeds you all in one awkward physical spasm.

Another argument for the ongoing evolution and maturity of parallel media networks. Share away, folks.

Music to My Ears XVI
John Shirley, author of the prototypical cyberpunk novel City Come a Walkin', was also in several punk-rock bands in the '70s. His musical groups included SadoNation and the Panther Moderns, and you can now download MP3's of his musical makings.

Thanks to BoingBoing.

Animation Nation II
The Big Cartoon Database is a wonderful animation resource, combining news about upcoming cartoon and animated film features with episode guides for more than 4,000 cartoons. The cartoons are organized by studio, so if you're a fan of Rankin-Bass, you can quickly find relevant listings. The Cartoon of the Moment isn't that interesting currently, but if you click on the year, you can get a directory of every cartoon produced during that time -- extremely useful for chronology buffs.

Thanks to Blogdex.

Mention Me! XVII
Joe Germuska is one of the smartest, most interesting, and nicest people I know. At the end of October, Joe began a blog entitled Through the Wire, which focuses on blogging, Chicago, democracy, language, literature, music, and other topics. I like Joe's categorical organization, and I look forward to adding Through the Wire to my list of daily reads. Welcome to the blogosphere, old friend.

Event-O-Dex XI
I'm now back in Boss Town, just in time for another stellar Handstand Command blow out. Originally, this show was going to take place at the Abbey Lounge in Somerville, but the venue fell through, so we've relocated it to the Dilboy VFW Hall on Davis Square.

Thursday, Nov. 7: Spoilsport, Swizzle, and Handstand Command karaoke

The show starts at 8 p.m., and the karaoke portion will feature three-fourths of the Anchormen backing up various collective members performing cover songs. Should be a hoot.

Where is the Dilboy? 371 Summer St. in Somerville, on the corner of Summer and Russell streets, across from the Rosebud Diner. It's in the same building as the Winter Hill Savings Bank. By T, take the Red Line to the Davis Square stop. Exit and walk down Elm Street toward Porter Square. Bear left at Summer Street, and the VFW's on that corner. If you drive, there is a parking lot at the VFW and metered parking/municipal lots scattered around Davis Square.

Hope to see you there!

Products I Love IV
I've yet to buy or use Verbatim's digital vinyl CD-R's, but if you burn CD's, why wouldn't you burn these? Verbatim has combined the sheer convenience of CD-R's with a classic, 45-rpm record format-like design, producing what might the most retro-cool CD-R available. Very nice.

Animation Nation
I'm in Burlington, Vermont, talking to Gahlord Dewald, and it turns out he does a blog, too. N0d3 is an animation blog, and Gahlord describes how to make an animation station for less than $300, as well as how to do some simple animations, such as bounce. He admits that he doesn't keep it up, which is true, but if you're just getting started in animation, it might be worth a look.

Tomorrow: Breakfast with James Kochalka, and then I head home!

On the Road Again IV
In about 12 hours, the CoF Roadshow will officially be over. Since Sept. 23, I've visited 18 cities and driven more than 3,000 miles. Burlington, Vermont, is where I am today -- the final stop! Tomorrow morning, I point the Passat back south to Boston and my Magazine Street home. Media Diet will most likely resume its usual activity later this week.

Comics and Commentary II
A friend of mine is studying at New York University with a fellow named Scott Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum's online comic, the History of Mortimer Pyle, riffs slightly on the Scott McCloud school of online comics -- perhaps it's a Scott thing. Regardless, Rosenbaum's starting to look into publishers for his comic, and my friend touched base to see what I thought.

The book is conceived as a 5"-by-5" book, with four panels per page. It doesn't really strike me as Highwater Books, Top Shelf Comics, or Alternative Comics material, much less Fantagraphics or Drawn & Quarterly. Maybe the folks who publish Helen, Sweetheart of the Internet and other online -- and related -- comics?

My initial reaction is that the comics might best be left online given their look and feel, but feel free to email Rosenbaum with your own comments and suggestions.

Pulling the Plug VII
From a couple of recent emails sent to the Boss Improv mailing list, which concentrates on Boston-area jazz and improvised music, it seems that Mama Gaia's, a cafe on Central Square, might have closed recently.

Ken Field reports that Friday night, Mama Gaia's was locked up, as was the performance space next door. On the door of the performance space was a sign saying something to the effect that the property had been seized by the Middlesex Sheriff. Another list member reports that the cafe was open earlier in the day, so it seems that the closing was sudden.

Does anyone have any information? I don't get back from the CoF Roadshow until Tuesday night, so I can't even check out the space.

Street Art
Russell H. first became enamored with public stencil art in 1995 while traveling through Europe after being laid off from his job in Atlanta. The result, StencilArchive, an online collection of street art and stencil-related resources from a handful of continents. The October update features a lot of bicycle-related stencils, mostly from Minnesota, indicating that Russell's moving on from his early San Francisco stencil collecting -- and that his mention in the Utne Web Watch might be bearing some Midwestern fruit.

Thanks to Utne Web Watch.

Sites on the Side... Walk
Kevin Barbieux, creator of The Homeless Guy, is a homeless man in Nashville, Tennessee. On the streets since 1982, Barbieux details what it's like to be homeless, offering a valuable, more personal complement to homeless newspapers such as Spare Change.

Recent entries address comments posted in his discussion boards, a new shelter that just opened, gifts from strangers, and religion.

Thanks to Utne Web Watch.

From the In Box: Postcards from the Past II
I was doing a Google search and stumbled across your review of my North Adams postcard page. Needless to say, this is the very first review that I know of, although I do receive favorable letters of appreciation. Anyway, thank you. I am in the process of donating my cards to the public library. -- Shirley Bruso

Mention Me! XVI
Sometimes I get emails like this:

I just stumbled across your site and it's absolutely wonderful. I'm planning on hanging around. I just launched a new creativity tool and am chunking along with the marketing effort, any help you could give would be most appreciated. -- John Kowalski

I'm not sure what John's connection with Herman Miller is, but his blog CreativeJuicies is so new, there's only one post! You can learn more about what John's working on at his other site. Best of luck, John.

On the Front (Page) Lines
Every day, the Newseum scans and publishes the front pages from 120 daily newspapers from 20 countries on the Web. While you can see a slightly larger view of each front page, the size is still relatively small, and it can be difficult to read beyond the headlines. Still, what a neat way to scan story placement around the world!

Thanks to Hiromi.

Nervy, Pervy VIII
Local literati Steve Almond contributes a piece (heh, heh, he said "piece") to Nerve detailing his visit to Adam & Eve, the nation's largest adult-oriented mail-order company. Part of Adam & Eve's business is a condom-distribution and family-planning nonprofit.

Thanks to Utne Web Watch.

Among the Literati XV
James Stegall's "Retail Commando" rocks my world. I don't know if this is going to be included as jacket copy -- if a chapbook is published -- but here's what I have to say:

"James Stegall captures all of the required ingredients of holiday reading: driniking, driving, dejection, democracy, destruction, disassociation, damnation, demands, and death. Merry frigggin' Christmas." -- Heath Row. Media Diet

If you think you might need jacket blurb writers, don't hesitate to ask. I aim to read.

Music to My Ears XV
Roger Miller recommends the Girls, "Live at the Rathskeller: May 17, 1979":

"Blisteringly high-energy, anarchistic, brutal, hysterically funny, etc., etc., etc. Direct descendants of Pere Ubu and Devo, but unlike either. I saw shows stopped by the club because of fights breaking out between the band and the audience. At one show, a group of 'mentally retarded' people (from where the keyboard player worked) came to see the band. For an encore, one of these fellows went up and improvised singing while the band improvised behind him. It was one of the most soulful moments I'd ever seen, before or since.

"I haven't heard this CD, but if you don't like chaotic punk rock with a heavy dada/art edge, do not order."

I say order.

Music to My Ears XIV
From my friend Hiromi:

Ryan Montbleau's music stirs something in me that I never knew existed. It makes my heart ache, and I want to cry out in sheer utter joy and total and complete madness all in the same breath.

That's high praise.

Music to My Ears XIII
Courtesy of my friend Rob, via Slashdot, Dialtones (A Telesymphony):

"Dialtones begins with a brief preparation phase prior to its performance, during which the members of the audience register their wireless telephone numbers at a cluster of secure Web kiosks. In exchange for this information, the participants receive seating assignment tickets for the concert venue, and new 'ringtones' are then automatically downloaded to their handsets. During the concert itself, the audience's mobile phones are brought to life by a small group of musicians, who perform the phones en masse by dialing them up with a specially designed, visual-musical software instrument. Because the audience's positions and sounds are known to the Dialtones computer system, the performers can create spatially distributed melodies and chords, as well as novel textural phenomena like waves of polyphony, which cascade across the crowd; these musical structures, moreover, are visualized by a large projection system connected to the performers interfaces. Towards the end of its half-hour composition, Dialtones builds to a remarkable crescendo in which nearly 200 mobile phones peal simultaneously. It is hoped that the experience of Dialtones can permanently alter the way in which its participants think about the cellular space we inhabit."

Sounds like a Flaming Lips show I went to once! The MP3's are fun, and I can't wait until I get home to download more.

Comics and Community II
This is really, really dated, but Robert Young, editor of the Comics Interpreter, one of the best comics-related zines currently publishing, went to SPX this year, and I didn't. So there you go. His SPX diaries are online for your perusal.

In Robert's own words: "Admittedly it's from a TCI-centric POV because I was there this year as an exhibitor rather than a journalist. Thus it's a schmoozy sort of I-met-this-person I-met-that-person type of account; but one with a lot of links and, I think, quite a few interesting anecdotes for anyone who's into indy comics."

From the In Box: Music to My Ears IV
I met and did a shitty interview with Mistle Thrush about a year ago, pulled out "Drunk With You" again tonight, and am loving "Jody Stone." Valerie, I know, is a huge fan of Tom Waits (especially "Closing Time") and Nick Cave. I write for a few Boston rags and work for Bullpen Promotions, which promotes extreme metal (not really my bag) to radio; the dude who runs Bullpen is the lead singer for Shadows Fall, and he's a big fan of early Mistle Thrush. Just goes to show how truly unclassifiable that band is. Anyhoo, was cruising around the Net, listening to an old disc and had nothing better to do, and just wanted to give a shout and say good review. -- Mike Baldino