01 17 04 10:02 p.m.Culture,Commuinty:So I just got back from seeing the Decemberists. Early all-ages show at the Echo. Holy crap these guys were good. Just all around really tight and good. The sound was so clean that i think i paid more attention to the lyrics live then i had on cd. But the songs are also so damn catchy that i think i had really only listened to each album once, but then when they started playing, i was like Oh Yeah, i like this one. It was one of those shows that would be perfect to share with a woman in your arms. So, if you haven't heard them yet, i guess they are kinda Shinsy, or DeathCabish, or maybe a little Belle & Sabastian. And as one person also concurred, the lyrics are a bit Dickinsian with a helping of nautical references. I really don't know why a band like the Thrills are getting so much hype and this show wasn't even close to selling out. Yeah, the Thrills really bug me. An Irish band with what seems like an unhealthy obsession with California. And it seems as though Nick Harcourt/KCRW gave them their chance in the limelight. And don't get me started on Nick Harcourt. May i just say that he and Hal Fishman are the two biggest media hacks in this town. Anyway, good show, good band. check it. So, the only other thing on my mind worth commenting on here is my dog. If you know me, you know Lu has become a big part of my life. So last week I discovered a growth on her belly. Went to the vet and he says its a tumor. Probably benign. But she's also been really sick this last week. She's gonna need surgery and although its not anything huge, it still freaks me out. This is the last thing i need right now. In a life of perpetual instability, Lu is always there when little else is. Anyway, i'll keep you updated. Alright, time for a late night snack.

01 15 04 9:50 a.m.Culture,Politics: Managed to check out Kristen Hersh's new band calld 50ft. Wave. I was a little dissapointed. Very streight ahead punky stuff, but just didn't grab me. I've never seen her live, and although i could stare at her eyes for hours she doesn't have a whole lot of stage presence for that type of music. I think i'm going to try and check out a band called the Decemberists this weekend. My friend dropped some MP3's of theirs on me and i really dig it. Highly recommended. Oh yeah, everyone who is accessing this site through my earthlink account can also get here through my new URL! My portfolio site has been transferred there as well. So Carol Wesley Braun is out of the race.....although i was not very impressed with her as a potential for president, its genuinly sad that a female candidate can't be taken a bit more seriously and give the male-centric political arena a run for its money.

01 13 04 8:05 a.m.Culture:On saturday i managed to catch the Lee Bontecou exhibit at the Hammer Museum (see previous entry). I didn't spend as much time as i would have liked at the show, it was the last day and kinda crowded. Regardless, it was pretty impressive. At first glance, many of her earlier sculptures seem very aggresive and masculine until you really start to read them for their references. Two consistent references are sea life and the female body...but i hesitate in saying that, because it may sound trite. She's no Georgia Okeefe i assure you. Its all really hard to describe, but if you are not familiar with her work, i really encourage you to check her out. The really amazing thing is that she has really kind of worked in isolation for quite a while, yet alot of contemporary design or even science fiction seems to reference her work. Sorry about the lack of entries lately, trying to get my year jumpstarted but i realize that these entries actually give structure to my day so i'll try and step it up. As well, keep checking the "Best Of" section below for i plan to add to it soon.

01 09 04 2:41 a.m.Culture:Did a quick MOCA trip yesterday. Check out the Geffen Contemporary for some nice instillations. One is entered from the side of the building and is really incredible by Gregor Schneider and another by Doug Wheeler that comes the closest to visual bliss i've ever witnessed. This may sound kind of extreme but this piece kind of resembles Rothko's color field paintings and i think achieves a visceral environment that Rothko tried to achieve with paint.

01 05 04 8:56 a.m.Culture:Hey there, sorry about the delay. Was home for about a week, then came down with a nasty cold as soon as i got back.....My first priority was getting my "best of" music selections in order, so without any more delay, here we go...

ALBUMS

Café Tacuba: Cuatro Caminos - these guys have evolved from a kind of goofy punky band to what seems to be Mexico's answer to maybe Beck or Radiohead. This album sounds mature and really solid.

Deerhoof: Apple O - Had been meaning to see this band live for quite a while. I respected them live, but was really drawn into this album. Kinda math rock meets stereolab at times.

Mum: Finally We Are Not One - I think this album came out a while ago but I discovered it in June of this year. Kinda like a soundtrack to a childhood dream. Think Bjorks last album but more innocent and indie.

Postal Service: Give Up - I managed to get into the Dntel album last year, and the best tracks on that flow into this album. The logical progression of IDM, and maybe its swans song.

Belle & Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress -   So the first song on this album is so damn catchy its incredible. The rest of the album is good, but can't live up to the first song.

Super Furry Animals: Phantom Power - this and "rings around the world" have satisfied my craving for contemporary britpop. Ditch your blur cd's and check out these guys.

Mogwai: Happy Songs for Happy People - Somehow I end up buying just about every mogwai cd that gets released and there are always a few songs that make me happy I do. Nothing has lived up to seeing them live at the troubadour a few years ago, the closest to physically experiencing sound I've ever had. A Sea of sound.

Johnny Cash: American IV - So, my friend and I, for a while have had this joke of betting on when Cash would finally leave us. Much to my dismay, its after some incredible interpretations of songs whose originals I have appropriately ignored. For the last few years, Cash has become the Sinatra of the Alt Rock world. R.I.P.

Black Rebel Motorcycle: Take Them On, On your own - I've avoided giving these guys a chance for a while, but I must admit this group rocks good. Think, the latest Supergrass album but better.

Libertines: Up the Bracket - Many people have likened these guys to the Strokes, but I think these guys far surpase the lithargic pompous rock of those "stroking it" and really adds some slop and soul to the mix.

The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow - I've only been able to snag part of this album off line (I'm really poor these days, do you really think I'm buying all this stuff?), but I feel confident that this album begins to sound more like the Shins and slightly less like their influences. Either is bliss to my ears.

The Go Betweens: Bright Yellow, Bright Orange - O.k. , the most incredible and under-rated comeback from an 80's band in years (except for maybe Mission of Burma's live reunions). You gotta give these guys a chance. Plus, Sally's sister rooms with one of em, which makes me (and her) feel kinda cool. But really, this is great indie-pop.

Abilene: Two Guns, Twin Arrows - So, I think this one came out a while ago as well, and probably hard to find, but I have to give Alex a major shout out on this one. I don't listen to it often enough, but when I do, it keeps growing on me. This is a colab between x members of Hoover and The Crownhate Ruin, but doesn't really sound like that at all. I guess I can say, it does sound very "Chicago"....but that's rarely a bad thing.

Orchestra Baobab: Pirates Choice - I've picked up a lot of "world" music this year,and this one has seemed to fall through the cracks for a lot of people. Really nice though.

Ry Cooder: Mambo Sinuendo - Yeah, ry cooder is like the Paul Simon of the millenium but with more integrety and class.

Outkast: Speakerboxxx - Believe the hype, this is really good. Kinda like the first fishbone albums or something, just really fun and irreverant funk.

Spiritualized: Amazing Grace - Who else has ever made terminal drug addiction sound so sentimental.

Radio Head: Hail to the Thief - Another band that I've avoided for various reasons (yeah, I feel like I get a little overly hip sometimes) but man, this album really got to me. Seeing them live kinda dissapointed though.

Lost In Translation Soundtrack - Pretty good movie, but the best soundtrack I've heard in a while. Bringing back My Bloody Valentine is always a good thing.

So that's about it, there is tons more I've been listening to, but these are the ones that really stuck out. Oh, and the "saddest loss" award goes out to Eliott Smith.

12 17 03 10:43 p.m. Oh hell, my computer crashed while i was typing my latest entry. I'm having a love hate relationship with OSX 10.3. It seems a little buggy. Anyway, going back east tomorrow morning, so i'll have to give you my best of list when i get back. Have a great holiday everyone!

12 16 03 9:01 a.m.Politics: So I'll be taking off for the holiday in a few days. Probably wont be able to write for a while so i'll try and pack in some quality rants in the next day or two. I've been itching to make some comments about the capture of Saddam and Bush's press conferences but wanted to organize my thoughts. But you know what, i really cant think streight when i hear GW's voice and the garbage that comes out of it. Yes, its a given that Saddam was an Ass and should be brought up on crimes against humanity...but i think Dean had a pretty good sumation of the whole situation. I really haven't looked too much into Howard Deans policies all around, so don't get the idea that i think he's the bees knees or anything. I just don't think that the capturing of this guy really has anything to do with our country being a safer place. Saddam was a big bully that did some pretty horrific things in his own country but really had nothing (that we've found as of yet) to threaten America directly with. Except, now, potentially the fuel for Bush to snow the american public to how much good he's doing for the world. I always opposed the war, even when many of my seemingly liberal and lucid friends decided that they supported the war. Oh, another thing, i believe that during the iraqi war there was a time when prisoners were captured and there images displayed on television. At this point, Rumsfeld made a big deal about how this was against the Geneva Convention......So then the other day, we show Saddam looking quite pathetic and being poked and prodded by a physician (when i first caught a glimpse of the footage, the flashlight beeing shown into his mouth made him look like he was a demon breathing fire). So once again, the United States is immuned to any international law? Again, Saddam is horrible, and its great he will now be held accountable, i just find this to be similar to the Rampart police techniques where law and justice is thrown out the window in name of keeping us "safe". I'm not cool with that. O.k. some more chilled out banter soon!

12 15 03 6:53 p.m.Community/Design: The weekend was pretty lowkey. A shout out to Barbara Bestor for throwing a balls out holiday party on friday. Good music, good booze, in a swank pad. Yesterday I checked out an event called the Bazaar Bizarre West. It was host to a variety of young artists, craftsmen, and fashion designers. Some really great stuff, and a great idea.I didn't purchase anything but Sally got a cool hand-sewn bag. Amazingly enough, i found out about this event through LA.com...Oh yeah, i've been meaning to give a shout out to my friends Umi and Mike. I had been planning to do this journal thing for a while, but once i saw Mike's Blog it really inspired me to get it going. Well, gotta get my holiday presents finished today....i'll check back in soon.

12 12 03 4:03 p.m.Design: So i didn't get to the museum yesterday. Which pissed me off. .....Anyway, so instead my friend Valerie introduced me to one of the worst websites i've seen in ages. Not only does it just suck beyond belief, but its for a great venue in town called the Henry Fonda Theater (or The Music Box). Now if you're brave enough to go to this site, i must warn you that it totally wigged out my computer and i don't think i've seen my mac act so messed up since i installed OSX. With that warning, you must experience this travisty because its beyond explination. I'd really like to prepose a re-design because like i said, its a great place and is a site that i think people might actually need to use. So i promise i'll be getting to that list of stuff to check out.....food, cloths, entertainment....As well, i'm putting the finishing touches on my Best Of 2003 CD that i'll be giving out to friends. I'll make sure to post the list here soon.

12 11 03 7:37a.m.Community: K, not much to really say just yet. Went to a function at the Silverlake chapter of Boys Republic with my friend Sally last night. She teaches at Marshall High School and one of her students invited her to the function. The house serves as a "reform" space for troubled kids. It was pretty cool to see something like that actually work. The kids seemed to actually be pretty togethor and from what Sally's friend Antoine told me, these kids are coming from some pretty serious situations. Its also cool to see this place quietly reside in the hills of silverlake.The neighborhood seems to be able to keep some decent organizations going despite all the yuppies. Antoine was really cool but you could see a tinge of anger and sadness in his eyes from time to time. The staff seemed o.k. but weren't too forthcoming with the particulars of how the organization is run.....which made me a little suspicious. Regardless, it reminded me how i should really try and volunteer some of my time these days to something that might do some good. So later on today, i'll be jetting off to the Hammer Museum to check out the Lee Bontecou exhibit. I'm sure i'll have more to say after that....but for now....where the hell is my coffee??!!!!

12 10 03 9:31a.m. Community/Design: So, something thats been really burning my britches these days (no, not the case of jock itch that i contracted from the LA Fitness on LaBrea...kidding) is the growing abundance of misguided "lifestyle guides" that have been popping up. This effects me because i've had the idea for a long while to create either some sort of online/email guide or an actual store for quite a while. Two years ago I was obsessed with creating a store that catered to a lifestyle interest that i didn't think really had its place here. Mostly stuff for males.....anyway so I started subscribing to a variety of these types of services. They all end up being rather pretentious and misguided. Some actually reveal some new information from time to time, but rarely relating to anything that i would actually follow up on. Then there are others, i have one in mind, that really just seems to have missed the boat completely. Revealing that the Apple Pan might be a really nifty place to get a burger just seems so clueless.I have my Zagats and Frommers guides, i want something more please.Or hey, what about that crazy new film event at the Hollywood Forever cemetary (thanks for ruining a good thing guys).As well, these guides seem to cater to the same 1% that our idiot president has created his tax cuts for. Where are the hints for those of us that want to find something cool but don't have bills to burn. O.k., so in the next few days i'm going to do my best to put togethor some under-rated suggestions for how to burn your dimes when you have the time...and possibly even a few things for free.....but now i gotta go take a shower....

12 09 03 10:29p.m.Introduction:K, so I have high hopes for this lil section of my site. I hope for it to be an outlet for various facets of my over-active mind (I'm not promising intelligence mind you, simply activity). Eventually I hope to devote my time to a series of distinct catagories of interest. Design, of course (this section may contain observations of what ever matter of design has influenced me on a certain day, be it fashion, industrial design, architecture, print, media....you get the idea.), Politics (oh yeah, this is where i'm sure i'll be able to let the rants fly, whether it be on the latest absurd Bush blunder or simply how much i get a kick out of Hal Fishman's commentary yet think he is potentially a great threat to our community), Community (this city of fallen angles and particularly my neighborhood of Silverlake is an endless resource for my daily ups and downs. Like that damn Trader Joes parking lot.....or the dog park....yeah the mind begins to reel), Culture (you know, movies, books, museums, music....that stuff thats supposed to make us more well-rounded). But lets not pigeon hole ourselves, to make this little experiment effective it must allow for the freeflow of ideas and flux. Oh yeah, and anyone who disses me on my spelling gets their own rant for being an ass. Anyway, lets see how it goes.