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May 19, 2006

What a Week It's Been

Here's my plan. I will alternate between political thought and personal thought.

Political: While most things about the NSA checkin' out our phone records have already been said, I would just like to point out that USA Today got the scoop. USA TODAY!!! That's like People Magazine getting an interview with (insert name of someone that would immediately raise the attention of said NSA). Eww.

Personal: While at a company softball game, I was throwing the ball with one of my coworkers trying to warm up. He threw, and it hit my square above my left eye. Concussion - probably not, but I still have a headache 3 days later. Conclusion? Perhaps it's time for new glasses.

Political: Anyone who had any doubts about the psychopath in Iran need not doubt any further. According to Canada's National Post (thank you Fark for the heads up), the Iranian parliament has passed a law requiring non-muslims to wear badges. Yellow for Jews, red for Christians. There are about 25,000 Jews who live in Iran. Anyone who does not find this insanely terrifying needs a reality check. And this dude wants the bomb!!! We need to do something about this, and fast. Yes - I said we.

Personal: To sooth the pain of my head injury at the softball game, I decided to pour myself a glass of Miller Lite. The "friendly" Park Police officer (who I did not see) had something to say about this, however, and wrote me a $10 ticket. I paid $10 for a cup of Miller Lite. Injustice does not even begin to cover it.

Political: I think to resolve the immigration "crisis" all we need to do is watch the immigration episode of the Simpsons. It may have been produced 10 years ago, but man is it perfectly timed. "You want to pick on immigrants? Then pick on Willie!" We need immigrants in this country - even the ones who came here undocumented. You want to pay $12 for a McDonald's hamburger outside of Times Square? How does $8 a pound Apples sound? $5 for a thing of rice? The reality is our economy relies on these people to work these jobs, and that's exactly what they're doing - working. These people are doing 2 or 3 jobs once they get here to make ends meet. They're not here to commit crime, they're here to make a better life for themselves and I say let's help them do just that. But this latest round of immigrant-bashing is sadly not new - its part of a cycle we see here in this country.

Personal: Going to Boston this weekend - fellow middle-child Deborah is getting her second masters. We're a disgustingly well-educated family. I'm also going to see Lexy while I'm there, which is also quite-exciting.

Sports: Alright - I know I said it'd be political and personal, but I need to say something about the Nats. I, for one, welcome our new Lerner overlords. About damn time we got an owner, and we definitely got the right ones. But I will observe that the placement of Jose Guillen on the trading block (which is kind of a shame, but worth it if we can get lots of prospects) probably indicates the end is nigh for Frank in the dugout. FRobby has held onto the job because of his very good clubhouse skills, but he has always kind of lacked something on the field. Especially when handling pitchers. I propose that we hold onto Johnson, Vidro, Zimmerman, Schneider, Rauch, Patterson, Majewski, & Cordero. The rest - let's see what we can get for them.

Posted by MikeSager at 12:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 14, 2006

All It Takes is a Smile

There are two compliments every guy should hear from a woman at a bar.

"You have the best smile."
"You're a fantastic dancer."

If she didn't have a boyfriend, I probably wouldn't be writing right now.

Posted by MikeSager at 3:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 1, 2006

201: The Music Issue

Well there - I've had 200 blog posts (though I'm not sure if it counts unposted false starts, which is probably around 5 or so).

Sweet. Welcome to the latest issue where I talk about the stuff I've been listening to as of late.

But first, in honor of the music, I present a photo my parents sent back from London. Lefty returned to Abbey Road on a far nicer day then when I had been there, and sends his greetings.

Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my Donkey....

Well - there's been some exceptionally good music to appear this year. The last couple of years have actually been very good - which makes me fear we're due for a boy band renaissance. (Shudder)

Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital

PGMG returns, and they most definitely do not disappoint. The new album builds on the frenzy of The New Romance. A little more spacey, and a little more focused on the female vocal. Standout track is "Parade" - a good ole' fashioned call to arms for the working person.

The Alphabetical Order - The Unimpeachable EP

Very rarely has a local band's music entered my regular iPod rotation. So many times, even the best local band's recorded material is average at best, and downright unlistenable at worst. TAO has the skill and polish of a band that's been playing for 10 years. These guys are actually playing the Black Cat tomorrow (to which I plan to attend, barring any computer related emergencies with Belle. Standout tracks are "Mere Space" - which could fit on any Failure album and "Krakow Krakow" - which is like the stepchild of Hum.

Finding these guys was a lucky accident - I auditioned to replace their guitarist in his old band, and I found them on Google. My jealousy for what these guys are doing is...frankly...beyond compare.

Tool 10,000 Days

OMG!!! NEW TOOL ALBUM!!!!! W00T!!!!

I've heard it. It comes out tomorrow. I'm going to Best Buy straight after class. It's a little more exploratory than previous works, if that's at all possible. It starts heavy with "Vicarious" & "Jambi" then shifts gears into a more droning, etheral feel for "Wings for Marie" and "10,000 Days". Then we come to the track that is the most like early Tool, and personally my favorite track (at the moment) "The Pot" - which calls back to Opiate & Undertow, but still has the progressive feel of Aenima and Lateralus. "Lipan Counting" and "Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman)" are really just segues, although "Lost Keys" leads straight into what is perhaps Tool's heaviest song - "Rosetta Stoned". "Intension" pulls the groove back down and leads into "Right In Two" which is fantastic. A much to form, 10,000 Days closes out with "Vigneti Tres" - which is little more than a Lou Reed inspired romp of sound.

The record is incrediable, and while somewhat of a departure - it is still definitely Tool. A band like this could've rested on what it's built thus far, and still have been way ahead of everyone else in the game. But they didn't, and the results are a fantastic journey.

Posted by MikeSager at 8:30 PM | Comments (1)