Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Concert Review--The (International) Noise Conpiracy w/ crappy opening acts



Opening Acts

something Hotel
Their name doesn't actually start with "something,' but instead something pretentiously fake-artistic like "starlight" or some such nonsense. The set could best be described as high-school garage band, but without rehearsals. Not that I have anything against high schoolers or garage bands, but too many people these days hear the frenetic chaos of good bands and assume that they can just pick up instruments and do that. But the cranky old man in me would like to point out that it actually takes a great deal of talent to make chaotic music that sounds good. These people did not make music that sounded good...they made music that sounded like they've never rehearsed, which for their sake, I hope is true. The kind of band that makes you angrily shout "I paid 12 goddamned dollars for this ticket and 3 fucking dollars for a can of PBR for this?!?"
Final opinion: Avoid at all costs.

The Fever
A great improvement from the previous act, but that's really not saying much of anything. Although they had some high points, they seem to have confused having a well-defined sound and making every song sound the same. You know, like the way the Red Hot Chili Peppers always have a ballad about California on every record that could be interchanged with their ballad about California from any other record without anyone noticing. Is it laziness or lack of talent? The world may never know. But despite the fact that it was difficult to discern one song from the next, they were high energy and inventive enough to warrant an opening slot.
Final Opinion: If it's less than $5 to see them, there are worse ways to spend an evening.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy

These guys are so rediculously high-energy live, that I'm convinced you would love their show even if you don't enjoy their music. A good mix of old favorites and cuts from the new-ish LP. But most spectacular is the way the band grooves. Dennis is such a trip dancing and singing all over the place, he can only be described as the James Brown of neo-pre-punk. The only downside were the several dozen times Inge nearly hit me in the face with his bass, but such are the hazrads of crowding as close to the stage as possible. Highlights include an angry rant about Subway's expansion into Sweeden, and Dennis giving me his water bottle after the show. Talk about swag--the posession of that will certainely impress anywhere between 2 and 3 of my friends.

As for the music itself, (I)NC is one of the few bands (such as the Mars Volta) that actually sounds much better live. For instance, with the purchase of their latest LP they gave a 5 song EP recorded live in L.A. at a suprise show they did. Any friend of mine can tell you of my reactionary hatred for all live albulms, but they manage to pull it off without sounding too rediculous. Their music has progressed from a bit on the dour side to much more upbeat and happy, reflecting their commitment to making a revolution of culture as well as politics . What other band can sing a love song about making "revolutionary babies" without sounding stupid? Not too many.

However, my personal highlight of the eve would have to be during the encore when they came back out and blazed through a scorching version of "Capitalism Stole My Virginity." I was freaking out to a pretty rediculous degree, because it's not only my favorite song of theirs, but also because I used to spend my free time in college running around campus late at night wheat-pasting up posters with that slogan on them. Anyway, Dennis must have noted my love for the song, because he bent down, handed me the mic, and let me sing the chorus. Now, I have to explain that I come from the middle of nowhere, where nothing even resembling a band ever comes through. As such, it's a big thing for people like me when we get near someone famous. (I kid you not; once Harrison Ford's private jet had to make an emergency landing in my hometown over a weekend. Banner headline on saturday's paper: Harrison Ford in Fort Dodge. Sunday's headline: Harrison Ford still in Fort Dodge. So you can see how much this kind of thing means to people like us). On second thought, you probably have to be me to understand, but there really is nothing better than getting to hop on the mic at a show of one of your most favorite bands.
Final Opinion: Even if you have to go to Sweeden to see them, it's worth it.

So that's it for now. The Coup with I Self Divine this friday night...and big city life just keeps on getting better.

Friday, May 26, 2006

It'll be easy, it won't be a quagmire, no innocent lives will be lost, you're crazy for comparing it to Vietnam

So it turns out that not-Vietnam now has its own not-My Lai. CNN has reported that the investigators of an incident last November strongly believe the Marines were unprovoked in their murder of dozens of Iraqi citizens. Furthermore, the New York Times has found that the report notes that the Marines in question carried out "extensive" killings for 3-5 hours. Yes, three to five fucking hours! it also appears that the story of the Iraqis being killed by an IED (as reported by the Pentagon) turns out to be a total lie that had absolutely no basis in reality and there was no way these people could have been mistaken for having been killed by an IED and not gun fire in the first place.

This is not a time for gloating or "I told you so," but I would like to point out that many, many of us knew this would happen before we even went to war, but we were all called anti-American for even thinking that our brave men and women were capable of such atrocities, despite the fact they they've committed them in every previous war.

SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Busy Jesse--F.A.Q.

Keepin' you posted on what he's up to:

1) Anything new?

Oh, way too much is new in life to recount. Feel free to peruse the following questions to fill yourself in on what's happening in the wide world of Jesse.

2) See any good movies lately?

Indeed. Notably, The Squid and the Whale. Can't recommend it highly enough. Daniels in top form...Dumb and Dumber form. Also, I finally got around to Brokeback Mountain. Frankly, I always think movies with this much buzz are going to suck and only get buzz because they're focused on "hot button" issues (what self-respecting gay can not see Brokeback?), but it was a pretty damn good movie. The true rorchach? Make it about straight people and it works. Make it about interracial relationships and it works. Make it about any type of relationship and it still works. Speaks well of the script-writer that it's an actual story, not just an excuse to show men being gay to throw it in the establishment's face, though it does that pretty well, too.

3) Any fantastic news from best friends?

Yep, best friend since the snot-nose days Howie is getting married. Great for him, I got nothing but congratulations. And fortunately, due to the advice of Young MC, I know to say "neato", followed by a quick libido check and tuxedo rental, and follow through by busting a move with a winking-bridesmaid, as he's honored me with co-best man status. I can honestly say this is probably the biggest honor I've ever received in my short existance.

4) How long has it been since you've showered or changed clothes?

4 days full of sweating from moving, going to ball games, running, and even lifting weights. It's become a pride thing by now, but with the baby cousin's graduation party saturday, I'll probably have to at least put on some cologne and/or deoderant. Right now, my smell can only be described as "an enchanting musk."

5) Loving the big city more than ever?

Have to be, as I'm going to see the International (Noise) Conspiracy tommorow. Would they ever play in Iowa? Nope. Do I have to travel more than 3 blocks to see them? Nope. What's not to love?

6) Had fun connecting with your only sibling for the first time in your life?

Yeah, Patricio and his wife are now living but a 10-miute drive/half-hour bike ride away. For the first time in my life, I finally feel like we're becoming friends instead of just people who are forced to love each other because we're the only relations we have. It's pretty fantastic.

7) Heard any great music lately?

The Coup's new release, Pick a Bigger Weapon, is kinda hit and miss (it's not quite "Party Music") but it's best parts are sublime. I think "My Favorite Mutiny" (with Blackthought and Talib Kweli--Boots is really doing well for himself) is possibly the best anti-war song I've heard, and I can garauntee I've heard at least 95% of all anti-war songs. See for yourself:

"Ring the alarm and form the troops
Send 'em out into the world, go to war in a fluke
Eye to eye with the enemy you sworn to shoot
Now comin' at ya neck sick ya hand...something wrong with me?
Motherfucker--somethin's wrong with you
When the chief just way to smart to question
The enemy the brothers of a dark complexion
The governments of the world is shark infested
They heavy on weaponry like Charelton Heston
Man yeah it gets low here"

8) Best website you had forgotten about but are extremely happy to remember exists?

www.yourethemannowdog.com

9) Liberated any good mass-manufactured products lately?

Indubitably, my good friend. Been reading "Steal This Book" by Abbie Hoffman lately, and it's amazing how well nearly-40-year-old tricks can still work to get you many things free. "Stealing" (or "economic redistributive justice" as it could be called) is both fun and cheap, and I must say I reccomend it highly to all. But as always, the caveat has to be that you never, ever steal from people.

10) Any good parting life advice, as if the word of a 23 year old malcontent means anything to anyone?

Never forget your friends, they make the world go 'round.

Also, there's nothing better than being paid to what you love. While writing about how the poice use what Stark (1968) termed "police riots" (in which the police are the instigators and perpetrators of mass violence, not the citizenry) to deny basic democratic rights to large swaths of people, I realized I was being paid to do it. That, my friends, is true happiness.

11) Aware you ripped off the self-questioning tactic fron Donald Rumsfeld?

Yes, but I've also ripped off his callous disregard for human life, so I think he'd be proud.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Lookie what you can find on the internet...

Whenever you're feeling bored/angry/depressed, just stop on by and watch the clock tick down.



Monday, May 22, 2006

In light of recent events...

Best Break Up Songs Ever:

1) Don't Think Twice, It's Alright--Bob Dylan

"I gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul"
"I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind/ you just kinda wasted my precious time"

The best bitter-sweet break-up song ever. You're not happy about it, but you recognize nuttin' can change it, so you're moving on.

2) The Break Up Song--Ben Folds Five

What can one say in response to the reasonable, but obviously false, explanation of wanting to take a break, slow it down some, and have some space? Only with

"Fuck you, too"

And who cannot agree with the deep desire to get back all of the money you wasted on a broken relationship?

3) Red Rubber Ball--Paul Simon

"Now I know you're not the only starfish in the sea/ if I never hear your name again, it's all the same to me"

You may have broken Paul Simon's heart (shame on you), but he realizes the relationship was meaningless from the get-go, and he was only in it because of his poor self-esteem. But now he's a little older and wiser, and he's moving on to better things.

4) Cry Me a River--Justin Timberlake

Did I include it because it's a good song, or because I don't want to look like a music snob? Or because I'm the only person alive who doesn't think Pharell is a sell-out/overexposed? All I know is that everyone has at one point in time angrily made out with someone to get back at their ex, and would it not theoretically be much cooler if one were to do it in said ex's domocile? Or maybe it's just a contrived and hackneyed corporate song. But either way, it's fun to do for karaoke.

5) Flowers on the Wall--The Statler Brothers

"Smokin cigarettes, watching Captain Kangaroo/ don't tell me I got nothing to do"

Kurt Vonnegut called it the greatest song ever written. This may be the most depressed and heartbroken man alive, but not if she's asking.

6) Forget About It--Alison Krauss and Union Station

"Because after all/ I'll see you sometime maybe/ when I can't recall/ how you drove me crazy"
"Forget about all those starlight nights/ Layin' by the fireside, holdin' you tight/ I can't remember when it felt so right/ Just forget about it"

Nothing soothes the pain like sweet vocals and a mean-ass dobro. Heart breakingly honest, with just a bit of a vendetta. Like after your 5th Summmit when she's told you it's over.

7) I Would Do Anything For Love--Meatloaf

He never says what it is. What was she asking him to do? What wouldn't he do for love? Kill someone? Forsake his God? Move in together after a short courtship? Lord only knows, but nothing helps a body more than a dramatic rock-opera-esque song with no clear meaning or musical talent. But at least there's a bad-ass piano solo.

8) The Dirty Glass-Dropkick Murphys

"You weren't the first to call me boy, and you won't be the last/ Oh, I'm sure I wasn't honey, I know all about your past"
"It's all in the past, bitch/ 'Cause now I've got it beat"

She drew a sadistic pleasure from his longing and suffering, and he put up with it all because of his love. But finally, it was time to move on and he did it dramatically. Best to sing along to at a live show when dealing with a bad break up and the Guiness has been kind.

9) I Saw the Sign--Ace of Base

"How could a person like you bring me joy?"

The perfect song for when your girlfriend breaks up with you in the 6th grade. Plus, it's a terrible song from a by-gone era, so all the hipsters will think you're all ironically cool for knowing the lyrics to it, so...uh...there's a feather in the ol' cap.

Hands on the Wheel--Willie Nelson

"I looked to the stars/ Tried all of the bars"

The master of the break up song. Hell, pretty much half his catalogue could be on this list, but I include this one because it's hopeful. He's put the pieces back together with someone new. Not all break up songs have to be depressing.

11) Positively Fourth Street--Bob Dylan

"You've got a lot of nerve/ To say you are my friend"
"Yes, I wish for just one time/
You could stand inside my shoes/
You'd know what a drag it is/
To see you"

Fucking ouch. Can you imagine what she must have done to him? The only man to make the list twice, he sure must've had a ton of heartbreak for a Midwestern boy. This is hands down the best let's-cut-the-bullshit-you-need-to-fuck-off break up song ever. Play it while yelling at a photo of your ex-girlfreind when you run into her at the bar with her new boyfriend and she acts so non-chalant about it all, when you know she was really there only because she knew you'd be there.


So that's it. I'm sure this list is pretty specfic to my life and the songs and people that helped me through the tough times, but I'm hitting yet another rough patch in life right now, so I'm reflecting on what got me through it before. Gonna have to start listening to some new shit to get something to help me through this one.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Blah, blah, blah, politics, blah, blah, blah

Not feeling too creative this morning (it is 9:30 on a saturday morning after all) but I caught this little gem over on the CNN website and had to pass it along. In a nationally representative poll, it appears that Americans favor Clinton over Bush by a margin of 2 to 1. Now, I'm not a particularly huge fan of Bill Clinton (I tend to agree with Michael Moore that he was the best Republican prez we've ever had), but for a sitting "war president" to be ranked rediculously lower than a man who was impeached on issues such as "who does more to divide the country" and "who does a better job with foreign affairs" is pretty damn sad, if you ask me. Not even to mention the fact that on questions of the economy and who does more for the average American, Bush was favored by only 26% and 25%, respectively. Now, we know that about a little over 30% of registered voters proclaim themselves Republicans, meaning that even self-identified Republicans are beginning to notice what a fuck up he is.

But if you're like me and you likes the visuals, then I think that this says it all:

Friday, May 12, 2006

My how things change...



The L.A. Clippers, voted worst sports franchise in history by Sports Illustrated, known as "the Simpsons of major league basketball"(a bit of a stretched refference), and all-around blackhole of number one draft picks has not only made it to the playoffs, but won an entire series! Not only that, but they've won a game into their next series! Some people think they could actually win this series as well, putting them well past any point they've ever been to.

Think about this--this means that the Clippers are better than all of these teams:
Philly
Orlando
Boston
Toronto
Charlotte
Atlanta
New York
Utah
New Orleans/Oklahoma City (Best location ever?)
Seattle
Houston
Golden State
Minnesota
Portland
Milwaukee
Washington
Indiana
Chicago
Sacremento
Memphis
Denver
and the Lakers

All of you, hang your heads in shame, for you can no longer at the end of a terrible and disappointing season shrug your shoulders and say "Well, at least we're not the Clippers."

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Lifestyles of the rich and the...Jesse?!? (Part II of an ongoing series)


Me

Out to Vegas this past weekend for a conference. On the way there, possibly the most magical thing that has ever happened in my life took place. I, Jesse Scott Genesius Wozniak, simple graduate student, friend of man, woman, and child alike, was bumped up to first class.

First fucking class!

And let me tell you, it is everything I ever dreamed it would be and oh-so-much more. First of all, you get to board before all the riff-raff. Hell, I'd already finished a (free) beer by the time the peasants were even allowed on board. So I let loose my elbows (because I had elbow room) and enjoyed free drink after free drink. When the lady came by with the big basket of (free) snacks and I only took a banana, she confusedly looked at me and asked "Is that all?" and I probably betrayed my class origins by saying "I can have all I want?" and then piling snacks into my lap.

Ahh, but nothing wonderful lasts forever, and soon my ride was over, and I was shuttled away to the very, very shitty hotel I was staying at.

The conference went quite well, but that's an entirely different story, and I don't even know how much of it I'm a liberty to say here, so I'll leave that for later.

Then, the gambling. Oh, the gambling. You see, I've never been to Vegas before. In fact, the only previous time I've ever been gambling was when I once played a dollar at the quarter slots at Mystic Lake to kill time before a wedding of a cousin of mine taking place in nearby Prior Lake. So needless to say, I've had little experience.

But this did not stop me from saddling up at a 3-6 Hold 'Em table and trying my luck. I had some great luck initially (first-class luck, you could say) and there was an older dude, probably in his late 50s/early 60s, who was trying to knock me off my game with snarky little commens like "I didn't know they let 18 years olds in casinos now" and such things. But here's where it gets good, because the story makes me look cool, and nothing, I mean nothing, ever makes me look cool. Anyhoo, I get pocket Sigfried and Roy (wchich is two Queens, for those of you outside the Vegas loop), so I play it. I flop a full boat, Queens full of Nines, and he ends up eventually with two pair. Anyway, I know I've got him beat, so I sucker him in with some slow play, making him think he's got me. Finally he calls me and lays down his two pair, confidently eyeing me and saying:

"How old are you, anyway?" with a luagh and a snort.

So I throw down my full house, showing him and everyone else at the table that I've beat him, and simply reply

"Old enough to take your money" as the dealer hands me all of his chips.

Even though the free casino drinks started to catch up with me and I eventually lost all of my money, nothing can sour that moment.

Except, of course, a loss of money in the three digits. And catching a cold. And being tired as hell because of jet lag the whole weekend.

So finally, our hero is forced to slink back home, penniless, sick, and in coach.

But all in all, it was a damn good time.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Report from N.Y.C.

Things learned in big-city New York this weekend:

A) If you want anything in the world, you can find it on the street in New York. Seriously. You want a Che Guevara belt buckle? Done. You want a framed picture of a poodle that has been dyed pink? Easy. You want a shirt that makes little gramatical sense but advocates the use of marijuana? You've got 1,000s of choices.

B) Major demonstrations are always fun.
I've been to more than a few in my day, and even though this one was for research, I was still glad I was there. Good times.

C) The police are semi-biased.
Yeah, predictable coming form me. But here's an instance for you: 5 guys walk into the middle of the demonstration, threatening people and challenging them to fights. Those demonstrating call over police officers and tell them to arrest these guys because they're trying to start fights. The police walk over, exchange pleasantries with the jerks, and then let them go right back into the crowd to try to pick more fights. Compare to one demonstrator tells someone on the street to fuck off, and the cops immediately swoop in an detain him. One could argue that this makes them not the neutral arbitraters of law and order that we're told they are.

D. Sociologists are nerds.
New York City--possibly the greatest city in the world. I'm there on a saturday night, and what am I doing? Sitting holed up in a little coffee shop intensely pouring over and revising my fields notes because time is of the essence when you might forget things. Then going to be bed at 11 because you're tird form all that writing.

And most importantly...

E) New York has the coolest things to see in the world

Four words: The Museum of Sex.

Convienently located next door to the hotel I was staying in. Well, well worth the admission price.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Why I love my life...



Being a grad student can be difficult at times...long hours, late nights, all of them spend in the company of nerds.

But then again, it does have its privileges. Enter the Graduate Research Partnership Program. Having successfully obtained one, I'm off to study police riots. But of course, how can one study such events in Minneapolis?

That's why in a few short hours I will find myself on a plane to attend the United for Peace and Justice mass mobilization against the war in New York. Then next weeked, it's off to the TASER coporation's annual conference in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada.

All on the University's tab.

Sometimes being nerd isn't all that bad...

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Political Housekeeping

Don’t forget, the April 28th Walkout against the war is here…in two days.



Come out and stand up against war and look for the extra sexy Master of Ceremonies at the rally at the U..and look for me.

Then join us for the march down to MCTC for a concert against the war featuring Dessa, I Self Divine, Brother Ali, and many more kick-ass local groups.

Be there!

Monday, April 24, 2006

Best cartoon voiceover ever?

So last night when watching the new episode of Family Guy (man, that show has still not lost steam, even though it really looked like it would, but that's another post), I was thrilled to hear the voice of Betty White reading taped erotica. As you all know, Betty is the second hottest Golden Girl behind Bea Arthur, who voiced femputer in an episode of Futurama.

Betty, however, was also in an episode of the Simpsons (fundraising for Public Television). This got me wondering, has anyone ever pulled the cartoon hat trick? Could anyone be cool enough to have voiced on the Simpsons, Futurama, and Family Guy? It would seem likely to have some similarities between the Simpsons and Futurama, given their same creator, but could anyone do all three?

Turns out, the answer is no.

But there were some interesting facts pulled out of this search (graduate study makes you want to spend large amounts of time diverting yourself with inane subjects such as this). For example, both George Takai and Leonard Nemoy have pulled off appearances on both Groening shows. James Woods has been a central character of both a Simpsons episode and a Family Guy episode, although he can sadly never claim the same for Futurama. Bob Barker (no relation to the prison supply company Bob Barker industries) represents the best shot at the trifecta, as he has appeared on Futurama and the Family Guy (perchance the nerds of the world should be pestering FOX for a Barker guest spot on the Simpsons...I mean, what better do they have to do?)

So there you have it. Not that you ever wanted to know.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

I am so fucking sexy!

Great News! I am at least the 3,248,079,000th sexiest person in the world!

Recently, the Boston Phoenix came out with the list of the 100 unsexiest men, lead by the nasally-voiced Gilbert Gottfried and including such luminaries as Dr. Phil and Carrot Top. Though it has some notable missing persons (no Dom Delouise?!? Hello?!? Do they not watch Hollywood Squares?), it is probably more notable for who is not on the list.

Me.

That's right! While I may not be the most popular person with the ladies, I'm not on the list. Thus, according to world population estimates, I have to be at least the 3,248,079,000th sexiest person in the world, outranking even Brad Pitt (no kidding, check out the list), long known to be the only man I would be willing to forsake my years of paintakingly crafted heterosexual identity for.

But come to think of it, nearly all of the men on the list are from America, with the only exceptiong being Osama Bin Laden, and given the trouble we've had finding him, he may well be in America. As such, that means I have to be at least the 146,679,000 sexiest man in America!

I'm 146,679,000!
I'm 146,679,000!

Whoo!

Too bad I'm taken, ladies. You've all missed out on your chance to get with someone in the top 146,679,000. Losers.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

This is what you'll get, when you mess with us...

Probably my most boring and insipid post ever, just so you're warned.

For the past few days I've been siuck and out of commission, so I haven't done much, and thus have very little to blog about. Which got me thinking about the whole purpose of this li'l ol' blog. Initially, when I started it, I was hoping to make it all in-your-face politics, much like my very existance. But it since has devolved mostly into pointless music ramblings, semi-humorous life event histories, and (of course) blatant self promotion.

In short, despite my best efforts, instead of making this blog into a semi-resource for those interested in local and national politics, it already started to devolve into the pointless self-reflective whining I so hate about the internet.

So I figure, why fight it? I'm pretty sure the only 2 people reading this are my close friends anyway, so I'm going to give up the ghost of appealing to an audience that doesn't know me, an instead trying to make some humor for the people who actually go out of their way to read this.

Besides, if I'm going to his the readership of a feather-haired prof or even a cantankerous law student, I'm going to have to give some more entertaining content anyway. So here's to that.

Friday, April 21, 2006

New highs and lows...

The president's approval rating sits at 33% today, which is not much of the country. More interesting than that, though, is the fact that more people think we should teach creationism in our schools than approve of the president.

Now this tells us many things, but I think these are most compelling:
A) More people believe in batshit crazy stories about fairies and wizards than believe in the president, and...
2) Even the batshit crazy people who voted for him don't like him anymore

Now, a petty person mght say something like "See people, I told you he was fucking terrible, and you had two chances to elect someone else, but you wanted him, and now see what you got."

But I'm not a petty person, so I'll just leave it unsaid.

Friday, April 14, 2006

¡National Strike!

MONDAY, MAY 1st--National Strike for Immigrant Rights! The Great American Boycott!

Imagine a day without immigrants!

Building off of the success of the national marches for immigrant rights, the 1st of May (international labor day) has been chosen as the day for all peoples everywhere who are concerned with the rights of immigrants to take part in a general strike, not going to work and not purchasing anything.

Demand amnesty for all undocumented works!
Demand a no vote on the racist H.R. 4437!

This is not a flash in the pan, but the beginning of a major movement, the likes of which this nation has not seen since the civil rights era. Please do everything you can to help out what will go down as one of the most important events of this decade.


And it's not just us, the movement is going international.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

God bless you, William Sloan Coffin, R.I.P.

William Sloan Coffin died yesterday.

Coffin was a very progresive minister, organizer of the first Peace Corps training, co-organizer of the Freedom rides with MLK, a character in Doonesbury, and spent his last days opposing the Iraq war and "trying to find some justice for my homoexual friends," as he put it. I remember him most from a special episode of Now! with Bill Moyers, mostly because that episode featured footage of me and soem friends getting arrested at the STARC aromory in Johnston, IA, a move that subsequently got several of my friends called before a federal grand jury. But the interview with Coffin was the most revealing.

He said:

"It's one thing to say witht he prophet Amos 'Let justice roll down like mighty waters,' and quite another to work out the irrigation system"

The world is a worse place today because Coffin is not in it.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Have anarchists finally become useful?



I don't really hate anarchists. I mean, some of my best friends are anarchists. I just think anarchism is not necissarily the way to go. As a good friend/old professor dude once asked "How are they going to deal with drunk drivers? Organize a talking circle?"

Maybe that's being a bit unfair. But I do usually like to point out that poorly photocopied 'zines about why you shouldn't wear deoderant are unlikely to foster the revolution, which may or may not come as a shock to you, depending on the amount of 'zine reading you do. (In a note of disclosure, I read no 'zines. They scare me, and I'm much more comfortable with your traditional book and/or magazine format.)

But I may be coming around, for I have finally found the answer. It is the Tacitical Ice Cream Unit! The TICU is a high-tech anarchist mobile that goes around distributing (free) ice cream and agit-prop. From their website:

Although the TICU appears to be a mild-mannered vending vehicle, it harbors a host of high-tech surveillance devices including a 12-camera video surveillance system, acoustic amplifiers, GPS, satellite internet, a media transmission studio capable of disseminating live audio/video, and of course, ice cream. With every free ice cream handed out, the sweet-toothed citizenry also receives printed information developed by local progressive groups. Thus, the TICU serves as a mobile nexus for community activities while providing frosty treats and food-for-thought.



While I wonder where anarchists got the money for such a project (GPS? 12 camera surveillance system? Iced cream?), I have to admit it's a pretty damn good idea. The critic in me wants to dewll on the fact that they seem to only be using it at events where everyone already probably agrees with them, rathing than roaming the streets and taking it to the people, but I gotta admit this is one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a long damn time.

I would say kudos to anarchists, but they wouldn't want the kudos, and I'd probably have to sit through a half-hour lecture on why kudos are a fascist, imperialist, capitalist, sexist, homophobic, racist, and anti-choice conception, so instead I'll just say...yay!...for ice cream!

Monday, April 10, 2006

Si, se puede!

(sorry, I've not yet figured out how to make the upside-down exclamation mark. Turns out my computer skills, much like my Spanish skills, are pretty much non-existant)

It what turned out to be one of the largets marches in the history fo Minnesota, over 30,000 people turned out yesterday for the March for Immigrant Rights. With massive protest all over the nation, most notable the 1,000,000 people marching in Califronia, the sleeping giant that is the Hispanic-American movement has awakened once again.

All of this has been enacted in reponse to the racist House bill H.R.4437, a bill that would instantly make all undocumented Americans felons, as well as anyone who has ever helped them in anyway. It also begins another push at that rediculous new Great Wall project that wingnuts have been begging for since we first stole half of Mexico.

So (with a tip of the hate to Josh Scimshaw), to make a long story even longer but in summarizing it, give it the illusion of brevity, the movement is strong, but it needs your help. Please contact your representatives today and tell them to oppose the new segregation.

As Ceaser Chavez would ask: "Can we do it? Si, se puede!"

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

161-1?!?

"We're gonna win Twins. We're gonna score. We're gonna win Twins. Watch that baseball soar. Knock out a home run. Shout a hip-hooray! Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!"

Ah, spring, the time a young man's fancy truns very far away from studies and veers toward baseball...and girls...but mostly baseball.

It was quite depressing last night to watch El Presidente lose his first start of the year. Sure, I know they have to lose one here and there, but the first game of the year?!? And it was all my fault, because I was too busy reading very un-baseball related texts. They rallied when I skipped reading to watch a bit of the game, but their spirit's were too deflated to keep going when I had to turn it off.

But what a difference a day makes! I put off all that annoying (and extremely pressing) studying to rally my boys, and the responded. They dumped 13 runs on some good Blue Jays pitching, roughly equaling the amount of runs they've scored from the year 200 until now. Could this be the year their bats catch up to their pitching? I don't want to jinx it, but I did have a very strong urge to get all 5 Homer Hankies out...

Ok, maybe it's a bit early for that, but it sure as hell beats studying.

How do you spin this?

So you're a Republican, and everything is either the fault of terrorists or their friends, the liberal media. It's a pretty simple formula that works pretty well, most of the time. But how do you spin this to be no one's fault?

A Department of Homeland Security spokesman has been arrested on charges of attempting to seduce a child. In fact, he was arrested on seven accounts, and had even given his goverment-issue cell phone number to a detective posing as a 14-year old girl. The conversations he had with the "girl" online were so graphic the police said they had never heard anything so disgusting before. He has admitted to the charges and turned himself in.

Sounds pretty open and shut, right?

No! Far from it! Obviously, he's not guilty, he's a victim of the liberal media machine steamrolling over innocent Christians (of which I can only assume he is one) because of their hatred for all that is good and pure.

Remember, these are the same people that have shot a man in the face and gotten away with it, declared "mission accomplished" despite the massive growing totals of casualties and gotten away with it, have openly admitted to illegal wiretapping and gotten away with it, and invaded another country illegaly and are still getting away with it. On top of that, anyone who points out how rediculous this all is must be anti-American, anti-family, anti-Christian, and anti-everything that is good and holy.

Just makes you wonder how they're going to be able to make child molestation a family value, doesn't it?

Thursday, March 30, 2006

The joys of statistical research

I'm not a statistician (which would explain my lack of aeronautical experience) and I don't even come close to enjoying statistics in any way, shape, or form. However, criminologists love stats, so I feel the need to do some.

But if you're running a stats equation that has (roughly) 56,000,000,000 cases (not joking), it takes for ever. Thus, your time is freed up to write stream-of-consience plays. Although this is not funny, it did take me 15 minutes to write. It will take you 2 minutes to read. Please do not judge me by it.


A Play That is Not Funny
By Jesse Wozniak

Dude 1: Dude 2, time for a little smokey smokey!

Dude 2: (nervously pacing the room)Man, now is not the time or the place.

Dude 1: What do you mean? It’s always both the time and the place for smoking.

Dude 2: Usually I would agree with you, my esteemed colleague. But right now I’m in the middle of a zen-like revelation about the continuity of the universe.

Dude 1: Woah, dude 2. Sounds like I need to smoke up to hear this shit! (Begins rolling joint)

Dude 2: Not so fast, hombre. I need you at 135% to hear this particular shit.

Dude 1: (discards joint, does line of coke instead) At 135 and ready to go, good sir!

Dude 2: Good. Maybe you should sit down for this. (Dude 1 sits on floor) I just realized that the entire universe is connected.

Dude 1: Dude 2, you must be losing it. That’s not new. I realized that like 10 years ago during a performance by Stairway to Rock, the Led Zeppelin cover band.

Dude 2: I know, and I read your ‘zine about it. But I have proof.

Dude 1: Proof that’s even more convincing than a poorly Xeroxed rant written by someone on hallucinogens?

Dude 2: Yes.

Dude 1: Woah…do tell.

Dude 2: Do you remember the short-lived Fox television series, Mef and Red?

Dude 1: Easily, it was one of the very few short-lived Fox television shows that was cancelled with good cause.

Dude 2: Exactly. As you will well recall, it starred the ever-interchangeable Method Man and Red Man of the Wu-Tang clan.

Dude 1: Don’t forget a magnificently talented supporting player in Nancy Walls.

Dude 2: Yes, the only Daily Show correspondent to move on to another show prior to the Colbert report, but that is not relevant to the story. As you will also recall, in between running from the FBI and before his untimely death, the Wu Tang clan used to feature Ol’ Dirty Bastard, a/k/a Dirt McGirt, a/k/a Big Baby Jesus.

Dude 1: Of course.

Dude 2: Well then you will also remember that ODB’s one mainstream hit was the song “Got yo money,” in which a buxom young lady sang the chorus of “Hey, Dirty, baby I got yo money.”

Dude 1: Yes, it was quite the catchy tune.

Dude 2: Well, then you will also remember that this particular young lady went by the name of Kelis, and in addition to minor success of her own as a solo artist, also is married to Nas.

Dude 1: Again, common knowledge.

Dude 2: Well, then you may have recently noticed that Nas and Jay-Z have finally patched up their long-standing beef.

Dude 1: Sure, it made quite the headlines.

Dude 2: Exactly. And if you had paid attention, you would have known the beef started with Jay-Z boasting that he had an affair with Nas’ baby-momma and Nas firing back that the jigga man had a distinct resemblance to J.J. “dy-no-mite” Evans.

Dude 1: Amongst other things.

Dude 2: Exactly. But what fewer people know is that J.J. Evans once starred in a series of commercials for the rapidly-disintegrating Little Ceasar’s pizza chain.

Dude 1: Fucking "pizza, pizza" dude!

Dude 2: Yes, we all loved those commercials. But did you know that a single supreme pizza of theirs contains 2,700 calories and 104 grams of fat?

Dude 1: No way!

Dude 2: Oh, it’s quite true. But as one can gleam from the infamous “pizza, pizza” chant, you did not receive a single pizza with your order, but rather two pizzas of equal size.

Dude 1: Of course. You could share with a friend or loved one, unlike all other pizza chains, which force your friends and loved ones to go hungry whilst you eat a pizza by yourself.

Dude 2: Yes, we all loved their generosity.

Dude 1: Totally. But what is the point of this?

Dude 2: Remember when we used to get high and watch Mef and Red and order Little Caesars’ pizzas?

Dude 1: Fuck yeah. Wacky Wednesdays in the house!

Dude 2: Well, I think I’m having a heart attack. (Dude 2 slumps over dead)

Dude 1: Woah.

FIN.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Put the muthafuckin' Fresca down...

Once I had a fellow small-towner, in all seriousness, asked "What's there to do in Minneapolis that you can't do in Davenport, IA? I mean, you hang out, you go out to bars, what else is there?"

The answer is, of course, a whole hell of a lot. But I couldn't really put it into the proper words. Until now, of course.

Sunday night, I caught my first ever Doomtree show, in support of P.O.S.'s latest album (incidentally, great interview with him on this week's Onion A.V. Club). For those not in the know, Doomtree is the little brother rap collective to the quite-reputable RhymeSayers Entertainment, which boasts the nationally-known act Atmosphere (local boys), as well as heavy hitters MF Doom and Brother Ali.

It was a fucking great show, with an awesome home-coming vibe, seeing as how the crew just finished a two-month tour of our fair nation. But there's always somehitng a bit more special about seeing a show with all these people who live a couple of blocks away from you, hang out at the same places you hang out, and rap about people and places you know. A kind of connection to the music beyond the fact that it's just good music.

Just for the record, you will never know that feeling living in Iowa.

So I guess that's the difference.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Best cover band ever?

There are plenty of cover bands in existance, some humorous (think Me First and the Gimme Gimmes), some quite serious (think any shitty local band playing exclusively songs written by their hero/god, typically some crappy stadium-anthem 70s rockers). However, a few relly stand out above the frey. But which one is the best?

1) 2 Lives Jews...Seminal Album: As Kosher as They Wanna Be

Riding the wave of Hebrew-based rap popularity in the wake of Paul's Boutique, the album seemed to grip the attention of a nation entering the 90s bent on slick production and clever rhymes. Largely a joke act, but the track "Young Jews Be Proud" ranks them up there with notable gentiles.

2) The Misfats...Seminal Album: Does not exist

Billing themselves as "the fattest Misfits cover band," they knock out hardcore tributes re-written to reflect their largess, such as "Diet, Diet My Darling" and "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Grill Tonight?" Have received the approval of Michael Graves, which is as good as 1/3-1/2 a Glen Danzig, so you can tell they're pretty legit.

3) Dred Zepplin...Seminal Album: Live at the Cabooze in Minne-Jah-polis

A Led Zepplin cover band that adds reggae beats, with a lead singer dressed like fat Elvis. It really seems like they need no more description, as they're pretty much the band that all of us at one point or another have figured we would start, but never got around to it. Not surprisingly, have received approval of Robert Plant.


There you have it, the top 3 cover bands.

And as always, "I'm not making this up!"™

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Ahh, life in the big city...



Giant anti-war rally this past saturday (can you find me in the picture? It's like the hippie version of Where's Waldo) with somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 peeps trekking through the cold and snow to show their disapproval of idiocy. More amazing, though, is the number of supportive bystanders, many of whom hopped in line and joined the march. Much more different than the reception you get back home. Just as impressive, though, is the fact that this was supposed to be a *small* march, as only a few 1,000 fliers were handed out. Nice to see people willing to give up a saturday afternoon to show some love.

Everyone in the Twin Cities area, don't forget to mark your calendars for the huge walkout coming up on the 28th of April.

And in other news...


I know this is two college-basketball posts in a row, but this one is kinda political, if you think about it. This past weekend, Candace Parker became the first woman to dunk in the NCAA tournament, doing it not once, but twice in a single game, the first time that has ever happened in a women's basketball game. I usually don't cheer for the team that beats their opponent 102-54, but it was hard not to cheer for the Volunteers during this one.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Nothing's sweeter than the 16 which bears that particular moniker

Although I know that college athletics deprive the arts and sciences from much-needed funding (according to a reputable source) it's still hard not to go crazy when your small-time, no-name, middle-of-nowhere school makes it to the big dance.

So it follows that when some jerk at CBS says your little ol' conference doesn't deserve to have four teams in, you get upset. More upset than you would be to be seen in public with the league-leading shittiest moustache.

Well, turns out the teams get upset as well. The Missouri Valley Conference (motto: the little conference that could) has now advanced two teams to the Sweet Sixteen, with a good chance of getting at least one of those teams to the Elite Eight.

Still think they don't belong? Ask Kansas, Pitt, Seton Hall and Tennesse (numbers 4, 5, 10, and 2, respectively) how good they think the MVC's first and fifth-ranked teams are.

Score one for the little folks.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Perusing the news...

Three things you can learn from CNN.com today:

1) A restraining order has been issued against Paris Hilton because she threatened a party planner

2) The Kinks are experiencing a musical renaissance, thanks to commercials featuring their minor, 20-year-old hits

3) Divers have discovered a new sea creature that looks like a furry, blonde lobster


And people have the audacity to claim that the news consists only of entertaining filler to distract us from real news! How dare they?!?


UPDATE: According to other sources, there is apparentlysome sort of war going on.I don't think it's much to worry about, though. Haven't heard anything about it in the news.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Kirby is in dire need, and Minnesota is as well



Most people already know by now, but former Twins star Kirby Puckett had a stroke yesterday, followed by immediate surgery. He is now in critical condition in an Arizona hospital.

Anyone who grew up in or near Minnesota knows that Kirby is hands down the most beloved superstar this state has ever, and probably will ever, see. From his cutely pudgy little-guy frame to his scrappy ball play, he embodied everything about Minnesota Twins baseball. Not flashy, not overly talented, not even necissarily in good physical shape, he mustered up all that he had every day to give us good, sound play.

I've been a Kirby fan all my life, even before the Game 6 that was probably the best world-series performance by any single player in the history of the game. I'll also always be quick to point out that he was on second and would have scored if the run when necessary when Danny Gladden scored from third in the bottom of the 10th on Gene Larkin's world-series winning single. I was there for his final game, and there for his jersey retirement, which are both bigger feats when you have to drive 4 hours to see the game.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the little guy right now.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

We just truly are terrible people

The U.S. state department has recently rejected the visa application of two Iraqi women whose husbands were killed by the U.S.. These women were invited by peace groups to do a speaking tour centered on ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

The real kick in the pants, though?

The reason they were denied entry is because they do not have enough family in Iraq to ensure they will return.

Terrible, just terrible.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Congratulations!

Lucky you, the one whom is viewing this humble li'l weblog at this very moment, for you are in all likelihood the 1,000th person to ever view this page! Whoot!

This blog was established in the year of our Lord, 2005 on the 19th of February. Ahh, those were heady times, were they not? I was still a humble, small-town Iowa boy, the nation was unaware of illegal wiretaps and other such scandals, and an aging Joe Piscapo was contemplating a run for the governor of New Jersey. It felt like we, as a nation, could accomplish anything, and this blog was borne of that spirit. I like to think it carries a little of that bright-eyed optimism forward to this day.

1,000 visitors since that day also means (by my caculations) that I've been averaging roughly 2.7322404371584699453551912568306 visitors per day, which isn't too bad for a guy with very little interesting to say. But it must also be noted that I was out of the country for 5 weeks with little access to computers and no time for blogging, so you could actually reconfigure the number to be more in the area of 3.0211480362537764350453172205438 visitors per day, but that would be kinda splitting hairs.

In short, it is you, the faithful, the people, the true believers, that have made this all possible. Here's looking to thousands more visits!


YOU

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

What's in a name?



Ahhh..the magical cycle of life. Children grow from being helpless little people who must be fed and cared for, to being independent adults, back to being little old people who must be fed and cared for. It's a magical cycle of which we are all a part. So, too, is my name.

The name Wozniak is similar to the English surname Carter, meaning a person who drives a cart. It is belived to have been derived from the root woz, meaning wagon or cart. Thus, my humble little nickname has grown from Woz up to Wozniak, and then paired back down by protestants who have the inability to recognize anything unlike themselves and cannot pronounce anything that does not end in "son" back down to Woz. Ahh, the cycle is complete.

In other possible interpretations, it has also been said to have been derived form Wozny, meaning a town crier. Here's where in my younger days I would have included some sort of hard-core agit prop statement about how I'm still the town crier, waking the masses up from their brainwashed slumber, but now I realize that would make me look like a douchebag, so I'll stick with the cart story.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Too good to be true...

Dick Cheney has just "accidentally" shot a man on a quail-hunting trip.

Accidentaly? While quail hunting? Or did this particular man know too much...

No, I'm not really that crazy. But I am too mentally tired after trying to do statistics all day to figure out something hilarious to write about this. Come up with your own funny quip, and post it as a comment. It will be the first ever "Entertain Yourselves, Damnit!" contest on this little blog o' mine. Winner to receive congratulations, losers to receive years of scorn. Or are you too afraid to try?

In other news, Howzi has pointed out that, unbeknownst to me, Gene Keady has retired. Now we are left only with Coach Crazy E of the Harts Creek (WV) highschool basketball team. Let's hope he gets hired up to the next level.

Friday, February 10, 2006

The cycle of life...

In yet another turn in the revolving door that is collegiate coaching, central casting movie villen/Chris Uggen's brunette doppleganger Quin Snyder has stepped down form Mizzou's head-coaching job. Where does this leave the world of college basketball? I'll tell you where--this leaves us with only Gene Keady's hilariously inept comb-over to provide us with some sideline excitement.

A sad, sad day indeed for basketball coaches with humorous appearances.

Friday, February 03, 2006

R.I.P. F.U.K.



It's a sad, sad day as the long-running FUK garage has finally been shut down by the authorities both as a fire hazard and illegal bootlegging operation. A sad day for D.I.Y. culture and for punk music, both in Iowa and general. There was really something magical going on in there. Much like the stove-pipe hat to Frosty the Snowman, this magical little place put a pep in the step and a sparkle in the eye of all Iowa punks, not to mention a nice little stop for so, so many awesome, awesome bands. A sad, sad day.



the mattresses that song long offered protection, a force for ramming people, padding for crazy aerobatics, and mops for sweat. they will be missed most of all

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Who let the president write his speech?

Apparently several White House staffers thought it would be hilarious to let the president write a paragraph or two of his State of the Union address. "What's the worst that could happen?" they asked themselves, chuckling heartily at the appearance of another "misunderestimated" or "is our children learning" coming out of him and improving his image as a folksy village drunk/idiot.

But then the terribly unforseeable happened.

In a moment of stupidity/drunkeness/coke-fuelled rage, the president and former owner of Arbusto Oil (literaly: Shrub Oil) announced his intention to cut foreign-oil imports by 75% by the year 2025. Such a bold stance from an oil man and fella who doesn't seem to care too much for the environment.

Well, it turns out that he may have been exaggerating. His much calmer and much more well-informed advisors have been quick to point out that the number of 75% was just an example and that he didn't mean it "literally".

Ah! So that's it! It was all metaphorical. Like when a professor gives you a 95 on a test and tells you that you got an "F", explaining that he didn't mean 95 literally, you dumb-ass flunkie.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Because I know you don't read the newspaper...

Mother of dead soldier/new political activist Cindy Sheehan wasarrested last night at the State of the Union for wearing a t-shirt. Meanwhile, Alito has been confirmed.

Say goodbye to this and this.

Monday, January 30, 2006

The humorous power of juxtaposition

Abridged from Sirota blog:

To see just exactly what Republicans are doing to us, in the least crazy-ass conspiracy theorist way you can, you need only look at what they're saying and what reality is. It helps to put them side by side for easy comparison.

From the Chicago Tribune:

"President Bush, campaigning for a continuation of his tax cuts as a spur for the nation's economy, came today to a fast-growing place with the lowest unemployment in Virginia....'Things are going fine,' Bush said today. 'The fundamental question facing us is what do we do to keep it going. Well, first thing is, Congress needs to make the tax relief permanent."

From the New York Times:

"Millions of low-income people would have to pay more for health care under a bill worked out by Congress, and some of them would forgo care or drop out of Medicaid because of the higher co-payments and premiums, the Congressional Budget Office says in a new report. The Senate has already approved the measure, the first major effort to rein in federal benefit programs in eight years, and the House is expected to vote Wednesday, clearing the bill for President Bush."

In Summary:

Make the rich people pay less money, make the poor people pay more money.

Miracle Mice and Powerful Popes

Three distinct miracles have occured in the past week, all having their own implication for the future of our humble planet's fragile geo-political system.

First, the late Pope John Paul II has finally garnered one of the two miracles it will take him to become a saint. Of course, Pope Benedict already cheated on the rules a bit by suspending the usual 5-year "cooling off" period necessary before sinthood, enacted under Pope Brady XIV, to prevent Catholics, drunken off of love for their late friends and communal wine, to Canonise people who didn't really deserve it. Trust me, there's always an ackward point when you wake up one morning, roll over in bed, and realize you just beatified a total porker.

But speaking of cooling off, a Syracuse researcher has finally determined once and for all that "cool" is the best slang word ever. Though it may or may not be attributable to the late Pope, he did at least compile a list of slang words that aren't as hip as cool.

Finally, there are mice engaging in various water sports. Yes, they've been trained in bath tubs, and while the animal-rights crazies are complaining as usual, their trainer insists it's not cruel and that the mice are enjoying every minute of it. I think we may have our second miracle!

Jet Ski Mouse

Surfing Mouse

Saturday, January 28, 2006

The Problematics of Criminological Labels

In my continuing quest to educate one and all, I'm presenting the first of a (hopefully short) series of educational posts. A little learning never hurt anyone, except for the people in this professor's class.Anyway, a while back, professor and humorous blogger Chris Uggen posted an interesting story about a 25 year old Floridian school teacher who was arrested for having sex with a 14 year old student and commented on how it is very difficult to have one category ("sex offendor") to apply to people who committed such various crimes.

Unfortunately, it's quite a common case in the way our nation deals with those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. For example, recently an off-duty police office in New York was shot by fellow officers while he was trying to apprehend someone. He did have his gun drawn before being shot, but had not fired at anyone whe he was hit twice in the leg and once in the abdomen, causing him to lose massive amounts of blood and is currently in critical condition. The article goes on to mention how this is the first "friendly fire" shooting in New York since 1994, when yet another off-duty officer was shot when he was assumed to be a criminal.

The problem is that the article fails in any way to problematize this label. While expressing shock and outrage that an off-duty officer was shot, probably to death, by several other officers, when it's mentioned that he was thought to be a criminal, it somehow seems to absolve them from any wrong doing. Because, as we all know, if he was a criminal, he deserved to be shot anyway.

Finding it difficult to say this more eloquently, I'll just note that "criminal" applies to everyone from those who speed to serial killers (although not to presidents). It helps to remmeber that one person's criminal is another person's off-duty police officer when one is debating our treatment of those we label as criminal.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Who's spying on your computer?

In yet another development, if you're reading this webpage on any major browser, someone in the government is undoubtedly aware of it. In fact, Google is the only major corporate web engine refusing to turn over their records to the feds.

If you're using AOL, Microsoft, or basically any giant web browser, everything you type in is subject to search. And if you EVER look up anything questionable (from pronography to drugs to politics), I can garauntee some underpaid intern somewhere in the NSA is checking you out, not at all sexually.

If you're offended by it, wite some letters to your paid representatives.

In the meantime, download Mozilla Fire Fox and enjoy your last few moments fo spy-free downloading before the Supreme Court decides it's not a problem.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Back in it to win it...

Sorry about the long vacation from blogging...even young political punks need time for themselves as well. So let's begin sticking it to the man (and any applicable woman), shall we?


1) Chris Matthews compares Michael Moore to Bin Laden (oh, that liberal media!):

"This is from bin Laden in the audio today. “There is no defect in the solution other than preventing the flow of hundreds of billions to the influential people and war merchants in America.” I mean, he sounds like an over-the-top Michael Moore here, if not a Michael Moore. Do you think that sells in America, that this war is being fought for the Daddy Warbucks?"

Over 70,000 people have already complained, thanks to the open letter to Chris Matthews. Check it out and let Matthews and MSNBC know how you feel: hardball@msnbc.com or (202) 824-6707

2) Letterman sticks it to O'Reilly:

You've probably already heard about it, but in case you missed Dave Letterman handing Bill O'Reilly his ass, check out the video.

3) More clear election fraud in Ohio
Jim Willis, one of several authors of a new book entited "Weird Ohio" claims that the Buckeye state has the the highest number of headless motorcycle ghosts per capita. I demand a recount!


Oh, and if you're reading this and know who Gutter Timlin is, give him a hearty handshake or a slap on the ass, because the boy turns 26 today!

Monday, January 02, 2006

It's winter time...a good time for impeachments



Over this holiday break I've had sporadic (at best) access to a decent computer, hence the light blogging and lack of creativity for this post.

So instead of witticisms, suffice it to say we all know he (and others) lied about very important issues that resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.

It's time for impeachment.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

It happens the world over...

Indoneasean troops invaded a tiny island recently and deposed its leader, an australian surfer. Another fateful blow for democracy worldwide. No longer do we live under the torturous rule of surfers.

Meanwhile, the president has admitted the intelligence for the war was wrong and it's

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

R.I.P. Tookie

Six times nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Executed by the State of California.

Absolutely no words left to say.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Thursday, December 08, 2005

I seem to have this effect on people...

It seems like every time I enter a party, it either clears out or become a much more lame party, which I've come to accept, given my lame-ass nature.

But cities?!? Now I just feel a little insulted.

Before I came to Minnepolis, it was the nation's most literate city. But now that I'm here, it's slipped down to second behind those unwashed hippies in Seattle. Furthremore, people seem to be leaving in droves.

Sigh...it's enough to make a boy feel unpopular. Well, even more so.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Cherished Childhood memories and sexual predators

When I was younger, every Christmas season (and yes, I said Christmas, you godless liberal atheists...and other religions) my folks and I used to go the library and check out a record of various "ethnic" Christmas songs form around the world, because we're those kind of open-minded people, right?

Anyway, my favorite song by far was Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey because I liked the make the donkey noises along with the donkey on the recording (I didn't have many friends).

So, last Christmas, I had come home with my precious few days off of work, and my girlfriend at the time had for some reason never heard of the Dominic or his multi-ethnic friends, so I dashed straight-off to the library to find it. Well, it turns out that the Fort Dodge Public Library is one amongst many libraries that now bans adults unaccompanied by children in the children's section of the library (to attempt to stop kidnapping and sexual predators). So after a few moments browsing in the children's section, I was promptly asked to leave.

Turns out they had gotten rid of their record collection years ago anyway, so it didn't matter, but I still felt a little depressed getting kicked out of the library because they thought I was a sexual predator when I was simply trying to relive one of my most cherished chidlhood memories.

But all was not lost, because today while randomly downloading seasonal music, I stumbled onto a copy of Dominic, and have been listening to it ad naseum.

And to think, if it were up to the ACLU, I would have to listen to Dominic, the Italian-American Secular Gift-Exchange Quadraped.

Thank God for Bill O'Reilley.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Racism is bad? Controversial, but true


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Today has been declared the 1st annual "Blog Against Racism Day." I tried to think of many different high-minded essays I could write about the evils of racism, but each one just ended up with me becomng depressed that it's still necessary to be against racism. I mean, come the fuck on, folks. According to my calendar, it's the year 2005. We're still not passed that shit? Anyway, I figure that no one who goes out of their way to read a blog written by someone like me is very racist, so in the end, it's a moot point.

But try to to punch a racist person in the back of the head today.

You know, to help out.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Christial update

So it turns out that the fella that called me about his Jesus-related court plans (see below) was actually my friend and fellow improv troupe member AJ, not my protest friend Dave (although this does seem like a thing Dave would do, just so you know the kind of people I call friends). Anyway, because nothing happens in Iowa, even in our bigger cities, his little dress up incident made the cover of the local newspaper. Check out the online version here.

One of the better gags I've ever been privy to, and one more of the many things that makes me proud to call the 29th state home.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

With friends like these" or "The Right Finally Wins"



So I get woken up this morning by an as-of-yet unidentified caller. Here is the conversation verbatim:

Caller: Hey Woz, guess who's showing up for jury duty this morning at the Blackhawk county courthouse?

Me: (very groggy and only half awake) I dunno

Caller: Jesus Christ

Me: What?

Caller: Jesus Christ!

Me: (by now extremely confused) He's come back to judge the living and the dead?

Caller: No, me in costume as Jesus Christ

Me: Alright...lemme know how that goes

Caller: I will. Gotta go, I'm getting called in now

At first I thought it all was just a beautiful dream, but I checked my cell phone when I finally got out of bed, and the call did indeed happen. I don't recognize the number, but I have a few guesses as to who it is. Regardless, it warms my heart to know that whoever it was made sure to let me know it was happening.

A great way to start off your day.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Hooray for our team!

Today is Kurt Vonnegut's birthday.

Kurt is probably the most-influential living writer, or at least living American writer. And he's a good-ol' Midwestern boy (or fresh water person, as he would put it) who even spent a good deal of time at the Iowa Writer's Workshop. As a socialist, semi-Christian, cynic, and all-around cantankerous old man, he's come to embody pretty much everything good about America. Thankfully, he broke his own promise to never write again by releasing a new book "A Man Without a Country," a semi-autobiographical work full of his musings on the state of the world.

Being a huge Vonnegut fan, I snapped it up right away, and read it cover to cover in one night. Almost. Seeing as Kurt has gotten quite old, it's extremely likely that this will be the last book he evers writes. As such, I just can't bring myself to read the last page of the book, because once I do, there will officially be no new Vonnegut books. Ever. From then on out, I'll just be re-reading classics, which is fine, but just not the same.

You see, Kurt is one of the few living legends that folks such as myself can look up to. Sure, there are other great, and possibly even better, figures in American literature (Twain, Heller, etc.) but they're all dead and gone. There just seems to be so much more urgency in reading brilliant works by those still inhabiting the earth. Probably the same feeling people used to have when a new Hednrix album would come out. Or the feeling we used to get every sunday night watching the Simpsons from seasons 4 through 8.

Anyway, go out and buy the book. It's good. Well, at least everything up to the last page.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

And then this...













As always, "I'm not making this up!™"

A bold step toward equal rights

Things have looked dismal lately. Rosa Parks, the "mother of the civil rights movement" passed away last week admist an administration and political culture that seeks to overturn most, if not all, of the gains she and others of the great Civil Rights movement fought for.

But there's a silver lining to this cloud.

Yes, for the first time ever, the Westchester Cat show (motto: we've got cats!) is going to honor...get ready...a dog. But not just any dog. A dog who was once named Cat of the Year in 1998.

Has the world gone topsy-turvy?

You bet it has!

Topsy-turvy for ending inequality.

I hope we all learn a little something from this. It doesn't matter if your skin is white or black or brown, or if your genetic make-up is feline or canine. Deep down, we're all people (or quadraped animals) and as such, we should all be treated equally.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Singing the red state...blues?

New York, New York
I Left My Heart (in San Francisco)”
My old Virginnie Home
California Dreaming
The bands Kansas, Boston, Chicago, and to some extent, Toto

The list could go on and on. So many states and locales have their own songs or bands bearing their name. Most of them (e.g. California, New York) have so many songs written about them (not even counting whiny acousitc songs that very few people, thankfully, ever hear) that you cannot even name them all.

Not Iowa.

Poor Iowa gets no love, whether it be from smart-alec big-town professors or from ironically named punk bands.

Hell, most people think we’re the potato state.

But there have been a few brave souls who’ve stood up and showed their pride in the home of quite possibly the nation’s worst president (take that, Texas!).

Of course, outside of Slipknot, you’ve never heard of any band from Iowa, much less anyone singing about Iowa. So I’ve compiled for you an entirely unthorough review of all songs about Iowa that can be downloaded conveniently off of limewire and their relevance to the Hawkeye state.

1) Iowa Nice--Meredith Wilson

Following the golden rule of artistic life, if you’re form the middle of nowhere, you have to make sure your opus is about the place you're from. And Meredith Wilson did not skip out on this obligation in the slightest, making an entire musical (Music Man, for those of you who haven’t caught on yet) about the 29th state.

Relevance to Iowa:

Excellently captures Iowans and our ability to be both nice and easily fooled by slick out-of-towners. Except now they sell meth instead of band uniforms.

2) Iowa--John Linnell

John is not from Iowa. Rather, he is from the annoying pop duo (and assumedly also soem sort of geographic region that's not Iowa), They Might be Giants. For those of you not familiar with TMBG, they’re the group that the semi-popular girl in your high school who’s bent on proving she’s different, but not too different, listens to.

Relevance to Iowa:

While the song does posit the entirely plausible notion that the state of Iowa is a witch, it incorrectly holds that as a state-witch we would cast spells on Vermont. We would do no such thing. All of our spells would be focused on New Hampshire, to add insult to injury. Think about it.

3) Iowa--Dar Williams

Soulful acoustic chick that somehow avoids the seemingly painfully obvious comparisons to Ani. Except she’s talented.

Relevance to Iowa:

Though it’s more of a love song, huge props to the fact that it could be set anywhere, but it’s set in Iowa. Also, successfully captures the fact that we’re modest folk out here.

4) The Truth About Iowa--Stretch Armstrong

Iowa is actually home to a surprisingly large amount of hardcore music (take it from a fella who knows), despite our humble and reserved ways, so this fits in well. Again, not from Iowa, but I love them for giving us love.

Relevance to Iowa:

Hard to say...is the song about an incident that happened in Iowa? Possibly. But it doesn’t take 18 hours to cross Iowa by car. It’s more like 4-5. But we do all treat each other like family, so it at least gets that right.

5) Iowa Waltz--Greg Brown

A song about a man who was born in Iowa, plans on staying there for life, and prominently features every country/bluegrass instrument possible. Never heard of Greg Brown before this experiment (turns out he's pretty cool...the shit you find on the information super highway, eh?), but he clearly has a high opinion of Iowa, so he can’t be all that bad. Or sane.

Relevance to Iowa:

The opening line “out there in the corn, in the middle of the U.S.A.” not only captures our greatest export, but also our geographical and political centrality. That, and the fact that we’re backward people who never want to leave, because we’re afraid of the outside world. Possibly the most relevant Iowa-related song ever recorded.

6) Iowa Fight Song

The rousing tune that always gets Kinnick stadium and/or Carver-Hawkeye Arena going. And the only words on this track are “Iowa, Iowa, Iowa.”

Relevance to Iowa:

Seems pretty damn relevant, but for the fact that it only covers Hawk fans. No love for Cyclone fans. And especially no love for Panther fans, but there’s only about of those anyway.


There you have it. Probably the most comprehensive list of Iowa-related music ever compiled, with a little something for everyone. And a bit surprising, really. I didn't think I'd find anything, but here I find myself opened to a multitude of new, pro-Iowa musicians.

California, New York...you're on notice. Iowa's a comin'. Musically, that is.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Team member of the month?!?


My roomate Gutter has finally acheived the dream, and bested the inanimate carbon rod (pictured), as he has been named Menard's Team Member of the Month. We're still unsure as to what this means, but what we do know is that you get a call at home that wakes you up in morning to inform you of the fact you've been selected for such an honor. But now we're left to wonder: what sorts of amazing rights and responsibilities come with such an honor? An executive parking space? Free tile grout? A ham and a bronze plaque? A date with the sexy, sexy Menards lady who replaced the Menard's guy for a short period when he was out with health problems, but for some reason wore his glasses?

Only the good Lord above knows, but I, for one, am waiting with baited breath to see what wonders await him. Check back for updates.

Friday, October 28, 2005

Best Trent Lott quote ever?

Trent has a quality stock-room full of great quotes. Who can forget him saying that we would have had many less problems in the 60s if the country had voted in Stom Thurmond for president, who of course, was running on a segregation ticket? I know I can't.


But Trent has out-Trented himself. Today, he let this little gem slip live on CNN:


"It's time for the president to search the nation to find the best man, woman, or minority to fill the supreme court vacancy"



As always, "I'm not making this up!"

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Very interesting new blog...

A new person has entered the blogging world, and he promises to be an interesting read.

That man is Jerry Baker.

I want to tell you a little something about Jerry Baker, but most of what I can tell you is not necissarily known to be true. What I do know is that Jerry is a staple of the Cedar Falls/Waterloo (Iowa) progressive scene. You can always see Jerry in his trademark overalls, sandwhich board sign, and hiker's backpack, complete with 5' U.S. flag flying on a tall flag pole coming out of his back pack. He's definately an older fellow, but where he comes from, no one knows. What he's done in his life is open to conjecture and hearsay. My favorite Jerry Baker life story is that he used to be a high-level analyst for the CIA (he is an active member of Mensa, so it could be true) but was fired under suspicious circumstances, and thus turned radically progressive due to his hatred of the government he formerly believed in. No idea if it's true, but it's a great story.

However, one story I do know is true.

In 1984, Jerry ran for president of the United States as part of the "Big Deal" party. They were only on the ballot in Iowa. To trump up support for his candidcay, he walked all over the nation with only his backpack, sandwhich board (with "Jerry Baker for President" emblazoned on it), and his big flag flying proudly behind him. If you ask him about it, he'll give you a photo copy of a story about him from the New York Times (he always carries several with him).

In addition to protests, he can almost always be found at the University of Northern Iowa library, doing research (on what I ahve no idea) or swearing loudly at the computers that don't work.

I've only read his blog a few times, but trust me, you don't have to be a friend of Jerry's or a resident of Iowa to take something away form a reading of this man's blog. Check it out.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Rock and Roll alter egos



I was struck by an idea in a blog of a prof of mine that all musicians should have a cartoon alter-ego, so that they are free to experiment without the weight of past successes hovering over them (ala the all-star members of the Gorillaz). Of course, he was saying this in respect to legends of music such as Bruce Springstein and Neil Young, not former members of the CF Soundstation/Unity Crew or Broken Arms, but I feel it's just as important for us no-names. Maybe even more important. Most everyone has fun performing all sorts of styles of music, but most everyone will also note that to make it in today's music industry, you have to concentrate most (if not all) of your attention and publicity-seeking stunts on one musical personae. Having your cartoonish alter-ego to make great music that you may or may not want associated with your name is a great outlet for all of the creativity that just doesn't fly in today's restrictive, genre-dominated music scene. So in short, I encourage everyone to be a cartoon character in a semi-fictituos band, for a multitude of reasons, much as I have been fortunate enough to be a bassist/vocalist/drummer/guitarist for The Consumption of Neat Colors, illustrated above so well by my boy Widda-T.

I'm the one playing the bass...you know, just incase you don't recognize me solely by my well-defined pectoral muscles.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Lookie how professional I am...

Getting a squre day-job does crush a good part of your soul, but it at least gets you a neato web-profile.

So I've got that going for me.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Exploding alligators and low approval ratings: coincidence?

Florida: many things to many people. The sunshine state. America's wang. Home of overranked football teams.

But mostly it's a place where we, the rest of the nation, dump our unwanted things.

Like the elderly.

Or Burmeese pythons.

It seems that the Burmeese python population is exploding in the everglades, leading to humorous photos like these of half-digested alligators bursting out of the stomachs of pythons. It turns out that the Burmeese python was a favorite family pet a few years back, but the unwanted ones are now being dumped in the everglades and are causing huge problems, as they have no natural predators there, but thrive in the warm, moist conditions.

Much the same can be said for the elderly. They've long out-lived their cute-ness, so we dump them into a nice warm, moist climate where they can thrive amongst themselves and have no natural predators.

But there are un-intended consequences, such as voting Republican, that we didn't forsee, and we're now paying for dearly.

However, unlike nature, this problem seems to be self-correcting, as Bush's approval rating has dipped below 40%, with only 24% of Americans believing our nation is headed in the right direction.

Now if only we could take care of that snake problem.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

I am not digitally capable of back-hollering

Gwen Stefani is set to receive an award next week for having the first single ever to break 1,000,000 legal downloads, proving once again, that although you can afford a computer, you can't necessisarily afford taste.

Necessity is the mother of all invention

Just when you thought your pitiful, meaningless life could never improve, along comes: ">carbonated yogurt!

Biggest selling point: "It's not painful like soda pop" said Lynn Ogden, a food science professor at Brigham Young University.

Finally, a substitute for all those hours of agonizing pain I've sat through trying to force down a soda will be replaced with soothing time spent with my carbonated yogurt.

Ogden, the inventor of corbonated yogurt, is in talks with a company that also sells e-Moo, a carbonted milk.

Life begins today!

Memories of inadvertant collegiate troublemaking

So I was reminiscing the other day with a college professor friend from undergrad (a very amusing man himself, check him out here) and I mentioned the time a poster I had put up for a theatre group I was in (everyone's favorite No Shame Theatre) which was semi-controversial. I don't exactly remember what it was (I made a ton of posters for No Shame) but I'm pretty sure it was the one in which I had a poorly drawn stick-figure Jesus on the cross with a very bloddy face and the caption read "No Shame: Christ it's good!" which I thought was pretty clever.

Anyway, somehow a state representative who happened to be on campus happened to see it, and set up a metting with the dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (whom he mistakenly thought had somehting to do with No Shame) and himself and several other senators demanding that the person responsible for this (me) be removed from the school and severley disciplined.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't seek out trouble. It just finds me.

Anyway, then Doug reminded me of an incident I'd largely forgotten. A long time ago, the improv troupe I was in was taking publicity photos. We took one of those "for fun" photos (you know, where the camera person says "Oh, gee, you're all such a fun group. Why don't you take a funny picture?" as if it's an extremely novel concept to photograph people in humorous poses)and seeing as I figured it would never see the light of day, I whipped out the ol' finger penis. The finger penis, of course, is when one puts their hand down their pants and puts their index finger through the fly of their pants so it looks like their penis is sticking out.

How was I supposed to know that was the picture the school newspaper would use to accompany an article about the troupe?

Well, again, the shit hit the fan, the newspaper got in trouble, the director got in trouble, the theater manager got in trouble, and sevreal others. I, of course, did not, but I prefer to see myself as more of a victim in this case anyway.

Incidentally, the picture is still up on the newspaper's website for some reason. Check out my finger penis.


Humorous post-script: Awhile back, I was at the home of one of the other members of the troupe, and he had an article cut out of the paper where they used the same picture again. However, this time, the headshots of folks were cut out and put into their own little squares to make it look like they were pictures taken individually. So in the picture of the girl in front of me in the group photo, you could just see her face and a weird dangling object in front of it.

And as always, "I'm not making this up!™"