Blahg

11 June 2005

That's my boy (on the right)!

Click here to sign The One Declaration and help make poverty history.

Educate your mind and read Elizabeth Becker's New York Times article here.

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8 June 2005

This one from the "dork side" it comes...

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7 June 2005

This story from the Associated Press is a large part of the reason why I'm a registered Independent. More and more pinheads are making their way into government after a charmed childhood and goofing off during college. No wonder these people have no idea how to run the country and interact with the world.

Sen. John F. Kerry's grade average at Yale University was virtually identical to President Bush's record there, despite repeated portrayals of Kerry as the more intellectual candidate during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Kerry had a cumulative average of 76 and got four Ds his freshman year — in geology, two history courses and political science, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

His grades improved with time, and he averaged an 81 his senior year and earned an 89 — his highest grade — in political science as a senior.

"I always told my dad that D stood for distinction," Kerry said in a written response to reporters' questions. He said he has previously acknowledged focusing more on learning to fly than studying.

Under Yale's grading system in effect at the time, grades between 90 and 100 equaled an A, 80-89 a B, 70-79 a C, 60 to 69 a D, and anything below that was a failing grade.

In 1999, The New Yorker magazine published a transcript showing Bush had a cumulative grade average of 77 his first three years at Yale, and a similar average under a non-numerical rating system his senior year.

Bush's highest grade at Yale was an 88 in anthropology, history and philosophy. He received one D in his four years, a 69 in astronomy, and improved his grades after his freshman year, the transcript showed.

Kerry, a Democrat, previously declined to release the transcript, which was included in his Navy records. He gave the Navy permission to release the documents last month, the Globe reported.

Kerry graduated from Yale in 1966, Bush in 1968.

Vote for me in 2008. One of my many catchy campaign slogans will be "You've got to fight for your right to a political paaaarrrrrty!"

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12 May 2005

Lenny Kravitz was at the Fillmore (Denver) last night.

It was by far the worst crowd ever. Sold out and packed to the rafters, there were fights and shoving among girls, guys, guys and girls, and girls and guys.

Merely a couple songs into Lenny's set, a fight broke out between a girl and a guy. The guy shoved the girl right into my back.

At that point, it was time to lay down the law: "YOU CAN NEVER TOUCH A GIRL!" I shouted at the jackass who was stupid enough to challenge my logic and invited me to come get him. I stepped up. He stepped back.

No words can describe this lecherous POS. I called him out, pointing down on the short jerk's balding pinhead, looked to the side, shouting for security's attention. But the atomic situation was dismantled. That dog was all bark and no bite when he actually had to confront a man instead of a woman. He stepped back and kept quiet, at least temporarily.

After that, I was granted lots of space and encouragement by several people to just move on and watch the show.

But, on the heels of that success, two tiny little biatches came storming into the crowd like the devil's spurned offspring; not sure what the obnoxious, hell-blazing wenches were attempting to do. One told me she lost her camera, which struck me as a lame excuse to simply move in front of me; she had already been pushed back my way by those in front of me.

As it turns out, a third wench found the cell phone (why call it a camera? it was a cell phone!). The puny blonde in this unholy trinity then hit me on the back of the head. I turned around to sarcastically tell her what a "beautiful" little girl she was, only to nearly get my right eye clawed out.

The episode ended with an exchange of fingers. "Never touch" is the rule, but flipping the bird is OK when warranted. Being female has privileges, ladies, but walking on other people because of it is not one of them. That's a lesson those (self-proclaimed) princesses will learn the hard way, no doubt.

The female victim from the first incident gently folded up my bird and it was time to turn the attention back to the stage - again.

Never before had I felt like a security guard in my own little private space. As I commented to one of the beautiful honey babies next to me (more on her in a moment), we were surrounded by a bunch of "amateurs" who simply didn't know how to act at a concert. What those people are doing in picking fights and shoving their way around isn't rock 'n' roll. It's bullshit.

Rock 'n' roll is about enjoying yourself, yes, but not at the expense of others. Oh no. Do NOT try to enjoy yourself at my expense, or the expense of those around you. I couldn't believe it when that same numbskull balding guy picking fights with women complained that a person standing in front of him was blocking his view. He arrived before you, dumb ass! Move on and make yourself comfortable some place else. Should I ever encounter that piece of artificial manhood again, he's got an express ticket to the Mattopian sod farm ready and waiting.

Anyway, let's get on with the good stuff.

I stood behind two extremely lovely girls during the whole show. One was a petite blonde with a wonderful figure. Quiet, reserved, just taking in the show and trying not to get trampled. The other was dark-haired, a drinking, smoking rocker who could fend for herself. She came complete with an angelic face that could make even the reserved Mattimus melt. Both girls would be great candidates for the coveted title of Mrs. Anderson.

Unfortunately, they were a couple.

As for Lenny, he put on a great show. Two full hours of rock and God that covered all of his hits. He seemed genuinely taken with Denver after quite an absence. He threatened us guys that he was going to move to Denver because he was so impressed with the friendliness of the people (things obviously look different from the stage than the floor) and the diversity of "flavor." He said every time he looke into the crowd he found somebody else to fall in love with. Good stuff - and it didn't come across, at least, as being a routine commentary track that he uses at each show. Maybe he does, but it didn't sound like it.

Even Nikka Costa, the opening act, wasn't as off-putting this time around. Her opening at a Christmas concert featuring Jewel and Bare Naked Ladies (Jessica Simpson was also on the roster, but left us jilted in favor of entertaining the troops) a couple years ago was a bad idea. She kept insulting the quiet, laid back, fairly family-oriented crowd because they wouldn't get out of their seats and dance to her Joplin-inspired routine.

At the Fillmore, with no seats on the floor, we danced. She rocked. Much better fit.

But, before the show, I found out about the $300-$350 bottle service that replaced what previously had been first-come, first-served tables. Always one to hit the floor anyway, I never picked up on the change that dates back to at least David Bowie's show last year.

That move, aimed at pulling in every dollar possible, earns the Fillmore a demerit in my book.

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8 May 2005

Bruce Springsteen gets an "A" for his Devils and Dust performance last night, but the new Lecture Hall at the Colorado Convention Center gets a "C-."

The place is spacious, but cavernous and cold is the overall feel rather than intimate and warm. Back in college, up in Boulder, there was a creaky lecture hall called Chem 140. That's what this new Lecture Hall is, to the fourth power. Unfortunately, the seat comfort advantage goes to Chem 140.

Built like an old Greek amphitheatre, Denver's newest venue stretches out in a near half-circle; those on the edges and at the back are far out on the edges and far to the back. It would've been better to bild it up rather than out; the single level layout is nice in theory, but poor in reality. The Paramount Theater, where the Tom Joad tour made its Denver stop, is a much better venue for this type of show.

The biggest grievance relates to the restrooms. All three that were available to concert goers were seriously overcrowded with lines spilling out into the luxuriously oversized walkways. And that's just the men's rooms. Women? Fahgedaboudit!

As for the interior design of those restrooms, they're moronic. The urinals are at the front and the sinks at the back. If you're a considerate, tidy person, that means squeezing your way through the packed crowd waiting to pee to wash your hands, then wade through again to get out.

For such a huge convention center, it's ludicrous that the restrooms are so cramped.

These days, entire stadiums, ballparks, and arenas are built around the indoor plumbing considerations. Whoever designed this white elephant's out of touch with the human element.

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1 May 2005

I've seen both No Doubt and Moby open for U2. I've also now seen them both perform as the headlining act.

In the case of No Doubt, they seem to work better as an opener.

Moby, however... Wow! His show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder last night was a real treat.

The guy knows how to work a crowd, offering a pleasant, laid-back demeanor and a self-deprecating sense of humor during chit-chat between songs.

But the biggest surprise last night was his range. Going beyond his own electronica oeuvre, Moby performed one of the best covers I've ever heard of Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side. Then there was the cover of Radiohead's Creep, done in bossa nova style. Whoa! Moby was fulfilling a dream of playing on a cruise ship and proved that any song can be given the bossa nova treatment.

Also in the mix were the blues, speed metal, disco, and, of course, loads of electronica. There were no set lists taped to the floor and Moby felt free to mix it up at will, even schooling his back up guitarist on an impromptu Joy Division cover.

When last I saw Moby, he opened for U2 at Slane Castle. After show camp outs featured lots of horns and techno at all hours of the night. When Moby spoke of playing techno out in the middle of a field at sunrise, I wonder if he was one of those supplying the ambience at the camp I stayed at, with four people crammed into a tent built for two and sharing three sleeping bags. Hmmm...

Moby knows his instruments, too. Bouncing from the guitar to bongo drums to the keyboard, he's a mult-talented wonder looking for a solid follow-up to the overwhelming success of Play.

While watching the guy perform, it crossed my mind that it must be weird being a musician out there doing his own thing only to find himself being "picked on" by Eminem. My next thought was: does Eminem even play a musical instrument? I don't know. That dude's not in my posse. Moby is.

By the way, it was also a nice touch that pre- and post-show music pumping through the speakers featured Alabama 3. It's always a pleasure to hear U Don't Dans 2 Tekno Anymore. And it's another sign that great minds think alike.

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