Bleeding Fiction

Vegetarian Accidental

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:28:21 -0500

"Guys want to eat meat," my friend Aimi said last night. "They want to. Especially western guys. There's no way a western guy could be vegetarian for a month." "Oh, really," said I. But rather than pointing out my several male friends who are both of European descent and vegetarian, I said that I was sure I could do it, for the month of May. Aimi wanted me to shoot for straight-up vegan, but Hula pointed out that then I wouldn't really be able to drink beer out at the bar. I should get along just fine... But I am running the hell to Red Robin as soon as June rolls around.

Very, Very Wrong. Also? Not Safe For Work.

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:16:07 -0500

I honestly don't even know how to respond to this. The paranoia? The betrayal? The UTTERLY INSANE response?
Riskay feat. Aviance and Real - Smell Yo D***
Free Music Videos at Blastro Honestly? If you suspect/believe your fella is cheating on you, there are much, much better ways to confirm if it's true.

The Eyes Have It

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:02:55 -0500

All day, my left eye has felt like someone's been pressing a stick up against it. Taking out my contacts hasn't helped. Neither has liberal use of eye wash. The pain's actually bad enough that it's making me generally nauseous and sick to my stomach. I'm really hoping this pain will go away soon.

Musical Accompaniment

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:34:20 -0500

New people introduce you to new things. One of the cooler people I've met since my return to Seattle has introduced me to two new bands. Indulge me, please, while I steal a page from Hans and blog about their albums. First up, The Libertines (Up the Bracket and a second, self-titled album). From the name, I expected them to be some sort of Decemberists rival-wannabes. What they really are is... well, imagine The Clash, but with about 40% of the punk bled out and yet still somehow good. I think part of it is that they show some of the same wit and cleverness you got from early Who, and the passion is very much there, but there's a little less desperation, too. Also, they're very British. They sort of plow through songs, and while they're not unplugged, they're a little lo fi and under-produced, which adds a lot to the sound. Unfortunately, it also means they never quite reach the level of raw noise they would if they actually were The Clash, which is a definite disappointment. I like them despite that, though, and it's a shame they're not together anymore. Fortunately, The Fratellis are. These guys are basically a British We Are Scientists with the ratio of rock and pop flipped (which is to say: more pop, less rock). They make the guitars more prominent, but give them less reverb, string them a little looser (for the twang) and play fewer power-chords. At the same time, they cut out the furious pounding of the drums and lay down a steady back-beat at the root of everything and vamp the harmonies to keep the songs on-theme. It makes them a little more comfortable listening than the Libertines are, and the production boosts the sound to compensate and keep them from blending into the background. They sound, actually, a little like WAS mixed with Blur. Very good stuff, and I'm looking forward to their next album. (and, entertainingly, Pandora will play both bands right alongside We Are Scientists when you put any one of those three in as the key band of a station.)

Lama Lama Lama Lama Lama

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:31:20 -0500

The Dalai Lama's been hanging out in Seattle all weekend, for a series of lectures and events and things. His English is a little shaky, his answers to questions are a little rambling, but he's funny and he keeps saying something profound. I mean, just one refrain, repeated a few times over: "I don't know." It's sort of rare in a world leader, I think; to just be able to admit, without shame or dissembling, that there are some things outside his area of experience and better left to experts. It's refreshing to hear. Plus, he made some jokes about safe sex.

My Goal In Life: Destroy Eric's Childhood

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:18:26 -0500

This being a production of Sad Kermit Unfortunately, you'll have to go to their MySpace site to hear an absolutely haunting version of the Rainbow Connection, which they call "the Rainbow Disconnection." Actually, you could just link to the mp3 here. It's freaky what a key change and a shift to minor chords can do. I mean it: absolutely haunting

Why I Love Warren Ellis

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:50:05 -0500

From a Q&A on Whitechapel, Warren's message board: ValCapone: For a guy who claims to hate people, I have to wonder: why torture yourself with multiple message boards and attempts to answer the questions of the idiot masses? Warren Ellis: So that I can hate people BETTER. - also - InvincibleM: Mr. Ellis, If you were able to punch any one person, living or dead, in the jaw, who would it be? Warren Ellis: You.

Rules to Live By

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:35:17 -0500

I think everyone has certain rules by which they live their life; guidelines set by themselves or the people close to them. Tonight, I'm thinking of thinking of a rule I was held to in high school: Never be the first to leave. Folks liked my company, I guess, and got tired of seeing me ditch out early just because I had to make a half hour drive home. So someone (Vitaly? Rich?) made the rule. I had to stay until at least one other person got up to go. It was a good rule. It gave me the freedom to commit to anything. After all, I couldn't leave, so I had to at least be having fun. I went out to a bar with some friends tonight. Typical Wednesday night at the College Inn. I saw some folks I hadn't seen for a while, met some cool new people. But then I had to catch a bus, the last to get me home. I was the first to leave. Everyone gave me a look that said "But we've barely had time to say hello." And the truth is, I felt it. Too many people I didn't get to talk to, too many friends I barely got to see. Generally I'm glad to live in Green Lake; as the days get warmer and I'm able to spend more time at the lake/park itself, I'll be even happier for it. But night's like this make me really wish I'd decided to live in the U District again. Or at least that I had a car.

I Can Predict The (Terrible, Muppety) Future!

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:15:51 -0500

Two whole fucking YEARS ago, I made a quip over here about hard, pipe-hittin' muppets. I brought up Pulp Fiction as cast from the Muppet Show. Now, my joke has become strangely real. I frighten even myself.

Wacky Hijinx Ensued

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:46:09 -0500

I've been back in Seattle for the past two weeks, looking for a job, settling in to a new apartment, getting back to living my life. With a furious vengeance. Things had been so tame for so long that I'd almost forgotten how strange my life can actually be. No details here, but feel free to use your imaginations.

Homeless

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:16:41 -0500

I spoke to my landlord today and we agreed that it'd be best if I moved out of my apartment at the end of this month. Otherwise, my commute would become sort of killer. I put it in writing for them, so that they'd know exactly how I feel. Two interesting things came out of this. First, they want to use parts of my letter, minus my name and contact info, in their promotional material. I said some nice stuff, no doubt, 'cause these guys are pretty cool and they deserve it, but it's a little odd. I guess their other tenants aren't as kind, or well-spoken, as I am. Second, they already have someone who wants to come look at my apartment on Monday. Monday! There have been three empty one-bedroom apartments in my building since I moved in eight months ago, but as soon as my two-bedroom opens up, yoink!. It's a sweet apartment, no doubt - I hope every place I live from now on is this nice - but to have someone ready to check it out not three hours after I tell them I'm leaving? Wow! I'm out of this place pretty soon, so I'd better start looking for a new place. Anyone have any leads? Countdown: 28 days

Hot Chocolate... Denied

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:35:32 -0500

It's a little chill today, and I sort of had a hankering for some hot chocolate. No problem; I have milk in the fridge and a jar of Swiss Miss mix in my cabinet. Only... NOOOOOOOO! I tossed the jar of mix before I moved out of Seattle. Shit! But... wait! There's a smaller jar of Hershey's chocolate mix in the cabinet. I bought it for... baking something, I think. I dunno; Marie bought it. It's unsweetened, but it's still chocolate mix, so it should be good, right? NOOOOOOOO! It wasn't sweet, no, but it didn't even taste chocolatey. It was like drinking warm, grey milk. I dumped it down the drain after two sips. Maybe tomorrow... Countdown: 29 days

Yes, But Who Will Be Next?

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:53:09 -0500

Many ebullient congratulations to Sarah (Who Is Awesome) on successfully acquiring a swank job over in New Hampshire, her wonderful natal state. The center of the triangle made by Boston, Concord and Portland is not a bad place to be. Congrats again, Sarah. As always, you're Awesome. Countdown: 31 days

Shaking The Walls

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:01:32 -0500

I have neighbors living in the apartment next door to mine, two college guys. One of them is dating a girl, who he brings over his place a lot. While they're there, they do the sort of things that dating couples often do. I know this because I can sometimes feel the walls shaking a little. Now, I'm no stranger to neighbors having sex. This time, though, it's a little less annoying than it is just... weird. Normally, I can hear my neighbors. I hear them walking up or down the stairs, I hear their band playing (they only know two songs...), I hear their TV if they're watching an action movie. Except for the band thing it's never intrusive - it's just background noise - but I can still hear them. I can't hear them having sex. Now, I'm happy about that; very happy. But if it's weird, 'cause I should be able to hear them. Unless they're having very quiet sex. I mean, no grunting, moaning, screaming. Nothing. Quiet. Here's the other thing: almost as soon as I notice the shaking, it's done. I mean, it's like "ah, there's the walls... three... two... one... done." I hope they're enjoying themselves, but as far as I can figure out, my neighbors are just... bad at having sex. Not even a squeak of noise from guy or girl, and no staying power past 30 seconds, a minute tops. I guess everyone has their preferences, and I don't want to judge, but... uhm... it almost seems a little sad. Countdown: 34 days

Strikeage?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:06:51 -0500

It occurs to me that I know several people who work in that there "Hollywood" place, and a few of them have written things every now and then. Do I know anyone who's presently striking with the WGA? Can anyone tell me? Just curious. Countdown: 37 days