µ Slabs

This just happened outside my building.

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:01:45 -0800

This just happened outside my building.

Eff You (1:35) Here are my best takes for SeoulBrother’s...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:57:00 -0800

Eff You (1:35)

Here are my best takes for SeoulBrother’s Eff Gruber video [previously]. Think of it as a bonus feature or something.

Music by The Capstan Shafts. [previously]

Louis C.K. Live @ Meany Hall, Seattle

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:16:46 -0800

Louis C.K. Live @ Meany Hall, Seattle

That’s right, bitches.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:44:25 -0800

That’s right, bitches.

I get it, Tumblr. I'm unliked.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:50:33 -0800

I’ve never been popular in real life (not since 7th grade, at least), and I certainly don’t expect to be popular on the Internet. Nor do I really aspire to be Internet famous or whatever.

That said, fuck this. Fuck Tumblarity. Fuck “likes.” Fuck all these social networking circle jerks. It’s a popularity contest—a numbers game. It says virtually nothing about the quality of the content. In short, it’s complete and utter bullshit. All it does is remind me of how much of an outsider I am, no matter where I happen to be.

I don’t need a web site to tell me I’m no good. I don’t need to be told that I “have no friends.” And I certainly don’t need some ridiculous metric like Tumblarity by which to have my blog judged day-to-day.

Someone recently asked me why I hadn’t enabled comments on this blog—you know, as if I would want another empty hole that needs filling. No thanks.

So what’s the point? I want to opt out. It’s the only thing I can think of doing short of moving it to Blogger or elsewhere. Tumblr should provide a way to opt out of Tumblarity. It’s a phony game and I want no part of it.

And no, I can’t seem to just ignore it. Sorry.

This is a recording I made last Saturday using my iPhone and...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:26:00 -0800

This is a recording I made last Saturday using my iPhone and Griffin’s iTalk app.

The first part is me interviewing my friend Kim about Halloween in line at the Goodwill Outlet. The second part is ambient crowd noise at the Broadcast/Atlas Sound show I went to. And lastly, there is a live performance of “My Halo” by Atlas Sound, including a false start due to sound issues.

I’m pretty happy with the results, considering the equipment I used. You’ll notice some obvious distortion during the song; this is due to the levels clipping because it was loud and there are no controls for the input levels in iTalk (or any of the recording apps for the iPhone, as far as I know). I just had to hold my phone down at my side to try keep the levels in check.

hellodarkness: Neko Case: In California Excuse me for...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:16:00 -0800

hellodarkness:

Neko Case: In California

Excuse me for reblogging my own blog (yet again), but this song deserves way more than two listens. First, it’s heartbreaking and beautiful. Second, I love the story it tells: A girl moves to LA to try to make it as a singer. There she finds that it’s much harder than she expected and feels beat down by her floundering new life. She’s just “another fool playing songs that don’t matter, for people who chatter endlessly.”

Though I’m not an aspiring singer, I moved around a lot when I was younger so I can relate to that aspect. I can relate to having to reinvent yourself. I can relate to being unsuccessful.

This song is featured on Canadian Amp (2001), an EP of covers of Canadian artists. The song is originally by Lisa Marr. Other stand outs include an excellent cover of Neil Young’s “Dreaming Man” and a song called “Knock Loud” by Sook-Yin Lee. It’s one of my favorite Neko Case records, actually. I guess that’s kinda weird seeing as it’s mostly covers. I could say the same for Cat Power’s Covers Records, though.

Anyway, I’d like to share it with you. If you want, you can download it here.

johnnymetro: The Airshake: Because Nobody Wants H1-N1 -...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:25:58 -0800

johnnymetro:

The Airshake: Because Nobody Wants H1-N1 - Geekologie

See? The Mexicans know that Purell is bunk.

"And I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have to our freedom comes from this..."

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:06:00 -0800

“And I believe that the greatest fear that we all should have to our freedom comes from this room—this very room—and what may happen later this week in terms of a tax increase bill masquerading as a health care bill. I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country.”

- Rep. Virginia Foxx (R, NC)

Wow. That’s what Rep. Foxx said about health care reform. On the floor of the House. Here’s what she’s actually saying:

The only thing we have to fear is the unknown. And taxes. Always be afraid of taxes. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Don’t trust your government to do the right thing. I should know; I’m part of the government and I work everyday to obfuscate the truth. I am a liar, and so are they. But THEM. They are your enemy. A Tax on all your houses, they say. Run and hide, my children. Or do you dare trust in those who you yourselves elected? No. You should never trust in your government. Trust our corporations instead. Trust the greed and the moneymakers and the board of directors. It is they who have your best interests at heart. You stupid consumer, can’t you see it? We are at CODE RED here!

[via]

An Incomplete Education: Where the ladies at?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:27:00 -0800

merlin:

An Incomplete Education

I’ll probably get skewered from every angle for this,¹ but what the heck. A pal asked me what I know about women for a project he’s doing. Here’s 10 minutes’ worth. Covered with grains of salt like:

Yes, a lot of this goes both ways. Obviously. Give it a rest.

Yes, some of these you won’t agree with. That’s why you and I never dated. Right? Exactly.

There’s some really good advice here, guys. You should read it. Especially if you’ve never touched a boobie.

BUT. It makes me wonder: what would a similar list from the female perspective look like? I don’t mean a list of rules for men; I mean one for how women should treat their manfriends. To be clear, I’m not talking about some patriarchal, subservient crap. Nor am I referring to the “How To Please Your Man” bullshit you’ll find in Cosmo. I’m talking about a list of things like Merlin’s, but for women by women. Because, as much as I agree that it “goes both ways”, I’m not so sure it’s that obvious.

So do any of you women have a code you live by in your romantic relationships? Are there rules you’ve established for being respectful, caring, and supportive of your S.O.? Here, I’ll start with a half-joke:

If you’re clearly upset about something, and your man asks you what’s upsetting you, FUCKING TELL HIM.

Eye Am/I Am Not Looook into my eyeball.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:21:44 -0800

Eye Am/I Am Not

Looook into my eyeball.

Papercuts: Future Primitive (via Yourstru.ly) Love this song....

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:25 -0800

Papercuts: Future Primitive (via Yourstru.ly)

Love this song. [via]

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-11-1)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:33:19 -0800

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-11-1):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

The Smiths - Still Ill (Live, 1984) Does the body rule the mind,...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:12:00 -0800

The Smiths - Still Ill (Live, 1984)

Does the body rule the mind,
Or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno

I dunno either, Moz. But I do know that “Still Ill” (1984) is still one of my favorite Smiths tunes. I would also like it to be known that, contrary to popular wisdom, I am of the opinion that the original version of the song featured on their self-titled debut is superior to that of the Peel session version on Hatful of Hallow. Seriously—that harmonica can go straight to hell as far as I’m concerned.

Wikipedia:

Many fans, and the band themselves, considered the original radio session versions to be superior to the re-recordings, especially those on The Smiths.

Nope. Not this time, Charlie. You’re wrong. And I’d be glad to discuss this further with you, but first I have to go update my blog with some thoughts about a song that came out when I was seven. Why don’t I have a girlfriend? Let’s hear it in the comments, people!

BONUS: Compare/contrast to this much later Morrissey performance of the “same” song. Everything’s bigger, including Mr. Morrissey himself.

Decided to take the scooter out for a spin without plates....

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:14:00 -0800

Decided to take the scooter out for a spin without plates. Because—what’s the worst that could happen?

kellydeal: syska: Modest Mouse - Sleepwalking (Couples Only...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:40:00 -0800

kellydeal:

syska:

Modest Mouse - Sleepwalking (Couples Only Dance Prom Night)

A mutual friend’s parents left town for a week

So we raided their liquor stash and walked down to the riverside

Excuse me, miss. Would you care to dance?

Drag Me To Hell (2009, dir Sam Raimi) The real curse is that her...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:38:16 -0800

Drag Me To Hell (2009, dir Sam Raimi)

The real curse is that her boyfriend is Justin Long, right?

Suspicious Person

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:37:27 -0700

Suspicious Person

This is Zhouse on Halloween. Crazy hippies.

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:26:03 -0700

This is Zhouse on Halloween. Crazy hippies.

Atlas Sound: “Sheila” (2009) Here’s another...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:58:00 -0700

Atlas Sound: “Sheila” (2009)

Here’s another song from the new Atlas Sound album, Logos. [previously] It’s one of the more poppy and straight forward tunes. I will see him perform tonight for the first time. He’s opening for an old favorite of mine called Broadcast. Should be a great pairing.

I tried describing this album to a friend the other day and was at a complete loss. It’s kind of all over the place. His stuff has a certain dreamy quality to it. It’s drug music that doesn’t necessarily require any drugs. With references to shoe gaze, girl group, and a bunch of psych stuff I can’t name, it’s almost indescribable—a real weird hybrid. To me, it is at least. Pitchfork gives it an 8.2 and assigns it its “best new music” tag, for what that’s worth. They’re right, though. It’s my favorite record right now.