Take a look at this photo of a present I received on Christmas.
Anything strike you as remarkable? Other than that it's Godiva, a classy and pricey chocolate you'd never find in my home unless it were gifted, as this was.
Look closely. Notice the vacant squares. Notice that exactly 41.6% of the contents ... gone! Missing! Vanished!
By me. And me alone. In one day, Christmas.
Now, that figure of 41.6% is misleading. It under-reports actual quantity consumed by me and me alone in one day.
Yes, it's accurate to say I ate 10 of the 24 total pieces, equaling 41.6%.
However, the astute observer will notice that not all the pieces are of identical size. Two of the remaining are humongous. There used to be of those, four giant blobs of glorious chocolate covering crunchy pecan bits and golden gooey caramel.
One of those gargantuan pieces is the equivalent of four small ones.
So, painfully forced to recalculate actual quantity, I, and I alone, consumed 44.44% of the box on Christmas Day. Up from 41.6%.
In one day, I morphed from the girl on the left into the one on the right:
Of course you know that's not me. I wouldn't be caught dead carrying a clutch, never mind one matching the dress.
But it does get the point across. Two days past Christmas and Godiva hasn't crossed these lips. I'm still burning off the sugar.
So if you need your snowy walkways shoveled, the shower regrouted, linoleum laid and walls repainted, all in a day, I'm your girl. The number's (555) SUGAR-HI (784-2744).
Disclaimer: None of my own piggery in any way alters the beauty and value of the gift and the thoughtfulness of the giver.
- 11:54 @ashleykingsley that's exciting!! sending good thoughts their way!! #
- 11:56 @OCTechguy what a sweet tweetie! #
- 15:38 RT @hardlynormal: in CA there are 7 times more pet shelters than domestic violence shelters. Seems we care more about poodles than women #
- 15:41 @Jasperblu am guessing it has to do with posts being public. if they didn't defriend you, but post so anyone can see, that might be why. #
- 15:48 @Jasperblu if there posts are publi c, then makes sense - defriending in FB is a major flaw in system - should be like friending - mutual. #
- 15:51 @Jasperblu and if my theory holds, you can see these posts, but can't comment on them. Major social network fail. #
- 21:44 how about for flights over 6 hours, you are given a cup of orange juice laced with drugs and knocked out like on Lost. ;) #
- 22:26 @Mjausson they might have to pay the flight attendants too much to deal with naked. maybe prison jumpsuits? ;) #
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01/22/10
O2 Shepherds Bush Empire London
Discography
01/24/10 Tivoli Utrecht 01/25/10 Luxor Koln 01/26/10 Knust Hamburg 01/28/10 Nalen Stockholm 01/29/10 Parkteatret Oslo 02/01/10 Lido Berlin 02/02/10 Atomic Cafe Munich 02/03/10 Tunnel Milan 02/05/10 Divan Du Monde Paris 02/06/10 Trix Antwerp 02/08/10 Academy 3 Manchester 02/09/10 King Tuts Glasgow
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brettanderson.co.uk ♥ myspace.com
Those who follows our W♥M Podcast, you'll know that between Sally, Kristen, and I, that we really, really love our Britpop music. When Suede burst on the scene, with all their hype*, I was a bit, what's the word? Resistant.
I eventually got over it when I heard Metal Mickey, a nice rock n roll glammy track with aggressive Butler guitars and Anderson's unique voice. The songwriting duo of Anderson/Butler did not last for long, and Butler's replacement, Richard Oakes, seems only a pale copy of the original. I think everyone knew that, and eventually, Bernard Butler and Brett Anderson got over their differences and re-united - but not as Suede... they were then The Tears. I think everyone was confused on how to interpret it at first (personally I think it's like tears/crying, not ripped/tear).
The Tears didn't live for very long, and by 2007, Brett Anderson releases his inevitable solo self-titled album. I never bought his solo stuff, because I don't think his music post-Suede's Head Music** were ever re-release or re-marketed to the US audience, so the few promo downloads that he's made available for free, I wasn't so impressed with. I remember thinking his debut solo album was trying to be orchestral (based on what I've heard).
Imagine my surprise when I got a chance to listen to a few tracks from his latest album, Slow Attack, officially via We7.com. It was all very operatic, almost minimalistic in its approach of piano and percussions. I did like that it brings out Anderson's voice loud and clear, but it generally made all of his music to be on the sadder end of the scale.
While I think one or two slow songs would be OK for a full length, all of the tracks I sampled were in that very similar tone. Kind of ballady and depressing. I kind of miss the old Suede stuff. The only redeeming value is that at least, his voice isn't altered/over-produced as with Suede's Head Music and Coming Up.
I suppose, Anderson's much older now, wow you can see his cheek bones sticking out of his face... such a difference of imagery, from a time when mean-spirited fans were calling him "fatty" (we all kind of knew it was the getting off the drugs that was causing the weight thing... allegedly).
Anyway, if you were looking for the glory rock days, don't bother looking into Slow Attack. If you're a hardcore fan, chances are you probably own the limited edition anyway. The album will probably not be released in the US, as were all his previous releases. Import costs are generally cheaper these days, but expect to pay about $20 for an import album (Amazon is listing $19).
Brett Anderson is touring in 2010, so if you live in the UK, you can relive your youth days. If he were touring the US, I might leave my hibernation to see him. As you know, I've met the band before at a special "after-party", I'm sure he'll have no idea who I am.
* "Best Band in Britain" before releasing their album? Really, Melody Maker, really??)
** Suede's last album, A New Morning was never released in the US.
TRUE NATURE
truenatureband.com ♥ myspace.com
As you know, I also run a website on artist George Perez, and it's rare when my music and comic website mix. How does True Nature and George Perez cross paths, you ask? The cover artwork for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, stars actress/model Tonya Kay (with some artwork and directions from Glen Wexler).
Perez, through his associations with Fetish Con, have actually drawn Tonya Kay as a print, for Fetish Con's "Who's the Best Bondage Super Heroine?" contest. The original artwork was auctioned off for charity.
CREATURE (Tonya Kay) (2008), art by George PérezSo, there's the connection. As for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, based on the cover artwork, it looks like they're also marketing themselves as somewhat of a spiritual rock band. I reckon if you like classic American progressive-type rock, you might enjoy this EP. Despite having only five tracks, the EP is "centuries" long (so long that it felt like a chore to get through). It's not that I dislike singer/songwriter, Lou Barlow's vocals, it's just really not the type of music I enjoy.
Their best track is the opening song, "Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart)", which started off strong and remain steadily so throughout the song. You can sample the entire track on their official website.
You can pick up Feels Like Centuries at CD Baby or Amazon. Although, not really my thing, I'm glad that there was at least a common connection for me.
12/26/2009 19:48:38 ♥ vu (
) ♥weheartmusic.com♥twitter.com/weheartmusic♥news.weheartmusic.com
- 11:30 RT @browniecow: Merry Christmas! :-) (and happy weekend!) #
- 11:43 if santa didn't bring that stand mixer, check Williams-Sonoma. The green, citron & blue are $100 off. #
- 21:26 Fireworks have been delayed at Disneyland tonight. The crowd is not pleased. #
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Nothing says Christmas like a Bundt cake candle.
This Bundt cake candle infuses your home with the sweetness and light we associate with this blessed season.
As its five wicks burn, they release into the air an aroma that returns fond memories of your grandmother gliding across the room on Christmas Day, silken lavender polyester robe trailing, drenched in cheap perfume from the 5-and-dime.
Amid a lifelike glaze mounds of cream-colored wax dot the monstrosity (possibly the creation of a Hollywood Wax Museum fellow who ingested three too many tabs of LSD in his youth) like samples emptied from the cosmetic surgeon's liposuction sac.
Garnishments of hard brown plastic balls replicating nuts nearly bring a tear to the eye, a nod to holiday sentimentality, detail and the prevailing presence of cheap Chinese goods in the American market.
Above all, you can rest assured that friends and family, upon viewing this one-of-a-kind candle cake, will shout: "Happy Holidays! And Good God! Where on earth did you find such a hideous contraption?!"
And you'll smile sweetly, if not demurely, and with a wink of an eye and finger alongside the nose like Santa Claus rise up the chimney (pretend if you don't have one) and answer: "At the Goodwill, for 99 cents."
Then like Blitzen you'll hasten toward the skies, three paces ahead of a spinning burning bad Bundt hurled your direction by your aunt (and quite the pitcher's arm she has) with a hollering command of "Get this damn gawd-awful thing outta my sight!"
(and to it a good night)
Ah, Christmas, when shineth the Spirit of Truth. Nothing bespeaks the holiday like the tackiest candle ever birthed on the face of the Earth, a Bundt Cake Gone Bad.
To all my loyal readers, bless you, and to the occasional drop-ins amused by the oddball and unconventional, all animals and to each and all every one a Most Merry Christmas.
May your holiday burn brightly. And badly with a Bundt.
See you in 2010!
I thought I'd get Christmassy with my silly little game of the week. I haven't done one for a while. Apologies about that.
Anyhow, to make up for it, I bring you Santa, haplessly brought down in mid flight into zombie land.
Help him save the reindeer!!!
- 18:43 sure, why not? RT @babybug: "I think the reindeer would like olives." #
- 21:31 @fstop23 we're on the last episode. i want to go again! #
- 21:34 @AngryJulie how do you lose presents? #
- 21:40 @margalit maybe santa will bring you a TiVo - doesn't matter what's on - you watch what you want, when you want to. #
- 22:46 RT @SFMOMA: We're closed 25th bit.ly/6pxHYZ However, SFMOMA neighbor @jewseum is free & has Chinese food if you need a museum fix : ) #
- 22:47 @frogtosser but how will santa ....? #
- 23:13 @kennyeng safe journies! #
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I've read so many series books I think I have half of the formula.
The story takes place in a pastoral and picturesque small town along a large body of water, near the mountains, or along a railway line, or all three... usually along the rural Eastern Seaboard. OR The story takes place at a boarding school.
There is a group of very nice girls. There is another group of girls, who aren't very nice at all. These two groups are always at odds with each other, and there is always one especially difficult girl but the nice girls always win out and usually manage to convert one or more of the mean girls to the "better way" in the process. If the story takes place at boarding school, there is always one old bitter hag of a teacher that will play prominently in the story.
There is a group of boys, made up of the brothers of the nice girls and some of the other nice boys from town. There is always one joke of a boy that no one likes but is always included in the activities to serve as comic relief and the boys are always playing tricks on him or teasing him mercilessly. The dolt always redeems himself to the group in some way by showing he's a pretty good guy when he's not being such a lame duck.
These girls and boys are always very civic minded and usually stage some kind of charity event that is threatened in some way, but always comes off well and produces whatever end was desired.
The parents are always minor characters, but 9 times out 10 they appear as kind, loving, patient and understanding friends and confidants.
There is always one adult that the kids love and admire and is their trusty "Go To Guy (Girl)". This person usually acts as chaperone for the group on their outings, although they are so pure of heart they never need one, but something always happens and the chaperone saves the day by imparting their wisdom of experience to the group.
The group always goes on an exciting trip or has a local adventure where either something mysterious needs to be solved or a conflict that needs to be resolved, or while on the adventure they meet up with either a young waif or an older person who needs to be taken under the collective wing of the group and offered some kind of help or rescuing.
How'd I do, did I get it pretty close?
