half-marathon run

Ran the half-marathon on 4/20/08.

Still hovering around 225 pounds, though.

Thought about running another half in the fall.

Sadly, I have been too busy for much blogging.

Please berate me to be more diligent.

Thanks.

2008 resolutions

1. Get down to 200 pounds (right now, I'm around 225 to 230).

2. Run a half-marathon (will help with item #1 -- depending on progress, might try to run another later in the year)

What are your resolutions?

yes, another Ween post

A few readers complain about the frequency of my Ween-related posts, but I don't give a hoot.

This is another reason why I love Ween. Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo) is the member of the band who upkeeps their website, and in the "Waste" section of the site, he usually post pictures, rants about things, posts song rarities, etc., etc.

The most recent Waste section was especially cool, as he explains how to make his "Sunday sauce," an Italian dish that takes all afternoon to cook (hence the name). It looks like a really great recipe, but I appreciate it more because it's a small glimpse into the life of this relatively famous rock star. I just stop and wonder, how many other rock bands offer up things like this on their website? You just don't see something like that everyday.

Anyway, just head to the website, and at the top click "Waste," then click the big picture of the pot of meat and pasta sauce. (Sorry, I would have linked it here, but I'm not sure how to link to sites with Flash-based navigation -- it's the same web address link for the "Waste" section as it is for the main page of the Ween site, etc.).

Here are some pics from it, though.

interesting media reads

Here are a few articles I've come across (via the Drudge Report and Bryan Hayes, respectively) on the topic of the internet and how it is (or can) affect other forms of mainstream media.

Obscene Losses - How free pornography available on the Internet is wreaking havoc within the adult-entertainment industry.

Radio Free Everywhere - An article regarding the ubiquity of Internet radio, and how it's variety and availability should make it universally popular (at least, I think it should). I listen to it everyday at work -- mainly two college stations (KSDB, Kansas State University's college station, and WMBR, MIT's sutdent station) that I wouldn't normally have the capability of listening to, at least via normal analog radio waves. Internet radio is good stuff.


Enjoy the reading and I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.

Dean Ween in the Onion

There's a great interview in The Onion's A/V Club this week, with Dean Ween, lead guitarist of my favorite band Ween. He is also one of my favorite guitarists. He can solo with the best of them. He also gets really into it with crazy facial expressions and the like. As my friend put it after he saw Ween about a week ago -- "Dean is a machine."

Here's a video to illustrate his awesomeness.

(4:35 into the video is when Dean's solo starts, but by all means, enjoy the whole song, Fluffy -- one of my favorites from Ween.)

studio's greatest hits - volume II

That's right -- there are plenty of other tunes that got me and several others through the daily (and nightly) grind of architectural studio.

Let's visit a few more:

The Association - Windy



This song was one of a few Association songs that I had on my computer in studio (see "Cherish" revisited in one of my previous blog entries). It's got a peppy, airy sound that kicked your ass right out of that 3 AM funk you found yourself in. Another interesting aside -- Ryan Kurlbaum, fellow member of my studio during 5th year, made up some ridiculous story that this song was written about his sorority brother's aunt named Wendy or something. Sure, Ryan, we believe you.


The Lovin' Spoonful - Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?



This song is so heavy with meaning I don't know where to start. Yes, it sure sounds like they're singing about deciding between two girls and the inner turmoil that goes along with it. But this question crosses all boundaries and knows no limits. Anyone could apply it to their own life. Which of these five design schemes do I pursue? Do I drink Mad Dog 20/20 or Evil Eye tonight? This song is short in length, but chock full of meaning. (Also, I couldn't find a good video for this song, so it's some lame slideshow -- but still, I do love that embed function.)


Ween - Piss Up a Rope



A big "fuck you" with a country twist. This is about some dude kicking his woman out, because he's had enough of her whoring and disrespect. But it could just as easily apply to: that studio professor who's too busy being a douche to help you with your design (he shall remain nameless), that guy you're playing in intramural racquetball who screams with rage every time something doesn't go his way (I beat him good, too), or the parking patrol, making you feel like a fugitive every night of the week (Dan Typaldos knows from experience -- the irony being he missed his first Ween concert ever due to a BOOT on his car back on May 6, 2003). It's got some pretty quotable lyrics, too.


Ween - Waving my Dick in the Wind





This isn't just a vulgar homage to public indecency. It's also a story of reunion, love rekindled, and a distaste for law enforcement. It also happened to be a tune Dan and I would play in studio, as we waved our phantom members in the air, to motivate and inspire not just us, but our classmates as well. Never did so much work get done in studio as it did right after a rousing rendition of "Waving My Dick in the Wind." (I've included two versions here: one that Gretchen, Dan and I saw live on 8/11/07, and another version that's slightly better quality.)


Frank Zappa - Uncle Remus



The hatred Gretchen had for this song was equivalent in measure to the love Dan and I had. As we air guitared its solos, and Gretchen sat there disgusted, something happened. Cleveland steamers were designed (Dan and my 3rd year performing arts center), schlongs were born (Dan's 5th year high rise building). It was wonderful. (Also, couldn't find a good video for this song, but it's still the audio, and again I got to use that fulfilling embed function.)


Journey - Lights



Journey didn't get played too much in studio, but on a couple fateful evenings at 909 Kearney St. (my residence for 3 years in Manhattan), namely Pure Funk B-day 2004 and that one night me, John, and Mullet drank SoCo and listened to Journey, Journey made the room come alive. It was a magic similar to that one so often felt in studio when a particular song was suddenly heard from your computer speakers. Hence, it gets an honorary mention in Studio's Greatest Hits (also, like many Journey videos, it's fairly ridiculous and awesome at the same time, most probably because it comes from the late 70's, a fairly ridiculous time).

Until next time, remember sometimes all it takes is a song to get you where you want to go, even if where you want to go is somewhere, ANYWHERE, as long as it's away from all the mind-numbing work that's slowly crushing your soul.

writing to prevent disabling of my blog

I don't know what the cutoff is, but I thought I'd post an entry before Blogger gives me the ol' proverbial administrative cockslap and shuts down my blog due to lack of activity.

Things I've learned recently:

Brad saw a ghost the other day.
K-State has a good football team this year.
The new Ween album is due October 23rd.
The new Facebook application Scrabulous rules. You should add it so we can play (and I am quite particular about what applications I add. It can become a messy and confusing cluster of a facebook page if you add too many).

studio's greatest hits - volume I

To keep one's sanity in studio, sometimes a random song was needed. It boosted morale, livened the spirit, and kept everyone working hard.

Well, at least for Dan Typaldos and me. Others in our 5th year studio might have been irritated as we trumpeted a song loudly in studio for seemingly no reason at all.

So, now, a walk down memory lane, to look at the tunes that we held near and dear to our heart. (With related BONUS videos -- man, I love this embed function. Also, I love that You Tube has all these cool videos from a long time ago. It's just neat to watch some of them.)

1. Cherish by The Association



If Dan and I had gotten married, this is the song we would have danced to. Alas, it wasn't to be, but we managed to still have a special moment.

The place: somewhere in Tokyo. More specifically, a karaoke bar.
The song: of course, the above mentioned.
The review: I'll be damned if it wasn't the best I had ever sung. Correction, that WE had ever sung. Our voices were one that night. You want proof? Oh, there were witnesses. Even better, one of the bar owners rang the "wind chimes of approval" after we completed Cherish. That, in the end, is all the proof you need.


2. This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and the Playboys



Our tribute to lost love, Dan and I would sing this when were just a bit down in the dumps about a schematic design. This very "diamond ring" sung about by Gary was in fact a symbolic offer by us as we cast out another idea that was shat upon by Robert Arens. But it was even more than that. "Who wants to buy-uy-uy this diamond ring?" asked Gary Lewis. More like "who wants to buy this Cleveland Steamer of an excuse for a building design?" Good song, though -- good song.


3. No Time by The Guess Who



This song needs little to no explanation. Five design sketches due by morning? And it's 4 AM? Play it. Day before the projects due? With no model begun? Play it. Five minutes til the Cat's Den closed? (is that what it was called? -- it seems so long ago, I don't even remember) Hell, yes, play that song. Catchy as hell. And I'm sure there was some social justice issue they were singing about, but that's beside the point.


4. 1-2-3 by Len Barry



This little ditty was just a shot-in-the-arm type of song. Only around 2 minutes in length, it got your spirits up real quick when you needed to get some work done. And Mr. Barry makes it all seem so EASY, "like taking candy, FROM A BABY!"


5. The Mollusk by Ween (with accompanying badass Lego "brick-mation" video)



A bit different than the flavor of the previous four songs, we sometimes switched gears from 60's oldies to 90's (very) alternative rock. Ween just does it a little bit differently than other bands. Maybe that's why I love their music so much. This song in particular is one of the most accessible, though still very different, songs to date. What makes it especially great is when a fan went and put together a corresponding "brick-mation" video to the song. (brick-mation is pretty self-explanatory once you see the vid.) And, for just a moment, you are THERE. Your are the "little boy" with the "mollusk you've found." It sucked us in and made everything seem alright -- even if it was only for three minutes of your day (or night, more often than not). And then there you were, back at your desk, with your stalled high-rise design staring you back in the face. But, it was OK. Because The Mollusk told you that everything was gonna be alright.



There were many other songs that we used to escape. Perhaps a volume II shall soon be authored. Until then, savor these aural nuggets, whenever you need a little psychological pat on the rump.

comics i like

After reading about Intern Architects In Hell on Brad's blog, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite strips.

They are strange, but that is probably why I enjoy the humor so much. They're just a little bit different than the average cartoon (I still like Garfield too, if you were wondering).

Wondermark:



And Red Meat:

Roy Rules

Saturday Night Live isn't what it used to be, but it still has its funny moments.

A new SNL Digital Short came out last weekend, called Roy Rules. Whatever Andy Samberg does is usually goofy, and I don't believe you can be on the fence about his stuff. It's either hilarious to you, or absolutely stupid.

Anyway, enjoy. Or not.