Some might call this a subsidiary or natural evolution of the Scorch! newsletter, which was published and distributed via e-mail from August 2000 through March 2003. A total of 41 issues were produced, many of which are now highly sought-after, limited edition electronic documents. Nonetheless, welcome.
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 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.
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.)
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
I think I sent this information via forwarded e-mail a while back, but I thought I'd spread the word a little more this way.
Several months ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to this website. Someone has taken the time to compile all of the Bud Light "Real Men of Genius" and "Real American Heroes" commercials that you hear on the radio. (It may not be completely up-to-date, I think the last time I was there, the last update was late 2006.)
It only took about 24 hours for Kansas State to act quickly and name a new basketball coach.
Frank Martin, who was an assistant under Bob Huggins last year, was named head coach, and Dalonte Hill, also an assistant last year, was named associate head coach (associate -- to quote one of my favorite movies -- "it means less than....*weeping quietly to self*"). A press conference was held yesterday.
Basically, there are two groups of people that formed after this news was announced.
One group thought it was good that Tim Weiser and Jon Wefald acted so quickly. Also, they promoted the two guys who have the best chance of keeping this current crop of recruits that several are deeming to be the "#1 recruiting class in the country next season." I'm in this group of folks.
There is another group of negative-nelly naysayers who are crying foul about all sorts of things. Among others, they're saying that Martin was an awful choice of coach. He has no collegiate coaching experience. They only kept him and Hill around to keep these recruits onboard. They're going to have talent, but no coaching to go along with it. After all these recruits play for a year or two, they're gone, and the Wildcats are back to square one with no talent and no coach. And, of course, they bring up mention of recruiting violations that happened while he was a high school coach back in Florida. And, they mention what an angry, foul-mouthed man he can become on the sidelines (they say he makes Bobby Knight look like a therapist).
Jason Whitlock is one of the idiots who is lambasting K-State's choice of Martin as coach. Here are a few of his articles recently.
The media is so quick to jump on this decision or that, but it really comes down to good reading. Heck, yes, I'll try to dig up all these articles that I can find, so it can be that much sweeter when they're proven wrong.
Who knows what's going to happen, both this coming season and the next several? Time will tell. We'll at least get a solid season or two out of it.
Frank Martin is a recruiter, not a coach. I've heard that a couple times from different sources. OK -- then maybe this will give K-State the chance to become one of those schools that all the recruits take a look at as they're finishing up high school. Maybe he can actually coach, too.
I'm thinking positively about this situation (probably because I'm such a KSU fan), but I think that's how all K-Staters need to look at it. Let the naysayers nay, and then look dumb as we cruise to the Final Four next season.
(Here's a few links to some more positive articles -- I don't want to give the cranky side all of the attention:
While this story is still breaking, I thought I'd post something about it really quickly.
Unfortunately, with the West Virginia coaching job recently vacated by John Beilein (who, small bit of trivia, has a nephew who went to my high school), Bob Huggins has decided to leave Kansas State after one fairly successful season to go coach where he was born and attended college.
Here are four stories about it that have popped up within the past hour:
What a bummer. This is a real disappointing turn of events. I understand the fact that this was a sudden chance at his "dream job," to coach where he was born and raised. But, after all of the excitement and anticipation that was building about the program, with K-State coming into next season with the best recruiting class in college, having the rug pulled out from under all of us is such a downer. Who knows what will happen to all the recruits now? They obviously all came to Manhattan, Kansas because of Bob Huggins. K-State is not a Florida or Kentucky or Duke.
The program, it unfortunately seems, is now back to where it was just two years ago.
Yet, not everyone is in a bad mood about this whole situation.
It's easy, and probably more entertaining than long, drawn-out ramblings of mine, so I thought about turning this blog into a more video-based journal.
Now that I've mastered how to embed YouTube material (and trust me, it's a challenge), I can share videos with you that I find out about over the course of the week.
We'll see how it goes.
My favorite band, Ween, came out with a country album back in 1997. It was a new genre for them basically, though they are constantly "testing the waters," so to speak, of every other genre out there. Nonetheless, it was a bold move on Ween's part, only because, as I've read in several interviews, releasing an entire country album did two things. One, it alienated a lot of the casual Ween fans ("ugh, country? I hate country"), and two, piqued the interest of country fans while misleading them at the same time ("this is some decent country; let me check out some of their other stuff....oh my, this is not what I expected"). To be blunt, though, Ween didn't, and still doesn't, give a damn.
I personally enjoy the album a lot. You have to be in the right mood, but it's a kind of country I actually enjoy. (Twangy, but also bluesy -- very different than, say, the Faith Hills and George Straits of our day...I don't know how you classify those two types of country, but they're different in several ways).
Anyway, it gets me to the two videos I'm posting today. Ween brought in a number of legendary country musicians from Nashville, who they eventually dubbed the "Shit Creek Boys." The musicians included Bobby Ogdin (piano), Russ Hicks (steel guitar), and Charlie McCoy (harmonica).
Here's a video of Russ Hicks and another guy on guitar. Is this not one of the most badass instruments ever created? It looks extremely hard to play (but what do I know?), but these guys make it look simple. Also, I'm amused that there is such a thing as an International Steel Guitar Convention, and that it was in St. Louis, my hometown. (Darn, upon closer inspection, they only are allowing a link to YouTube, but no embedding of the video. Here's the link if you want to check it out.)
And here's a video of Charlie McCoy, who can play the mouth harp like no other:
To me, at least, this was the funniest video I had seen all year (though I'm sure I don't remember every video I saw all of last year, so we'll say within the last month or two of '06, to be truthful).
I also wanted to experiment with the "embed" function between YouTube and Blogger, so we'll see how it works.
