hamburgerking

2010-08-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

back again

the joys of Fatherhood

2009-02-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

me and Hank (henry) rocking out...yeah.

Album of the Week

2009-02-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

blonde redhead

2007 4AD

this band cannot be stopped. just when you thought they couldn't top themselves they release another passionate collection of "never ending story-esque" songs. my current favorite is "publisher." emotional and visual a powerful and beautiful offering. great packaging as usual.

sorry dogs...cats rule!

2009-02-18T21:17:00.000-08:00

just some more feline awesomeness!!! Odin and Vili... WE LOOOOVE YOU.

How Much can a Koala Bear!!! (so touching)

2009-02-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

photos forwarded from a family Member in Australia. The devastating wild fires have more than just a human toll. this poor little guy is just looking for some relief from the sweltering heat (120degrees0 Train service is halted because THE TRACKS HAVE WARPED AND BUCKLED UNDER THE HEAT!!! being from San Diego I have some idea of what the fire storm is like but the heat is another story. Hope all family and Friends down under are safe. Thanks to Johns and Diana Chick for letting us know that they are safe.

those who show TRUE compassion to animals and don't exploit them to further political or social goals are truly to be admired.

album of the week (2fer)

2009-02-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

Leviathan "Silhouette in Splinters" 2008

Bleak and depressive atmospheric Black Metal. Complete with funny album cover (Wrest paints most of the album artwork himself, hokey, but it works somehow). the One man Bay Area Black Metal Blitzkrieg continues with this release of previously unreleased tracks. "Traveling Over the Ocean's Skull" and "Shimmering With Horn of Woe" are really good and not what you expect from a "metal" release. Leviathan really transcends the label of metal and this collection exhibits this clearly.

you probably wont buy or hear this but you might want to because like "Massive Conspiracy Against All Life" 2008 it proves to be an unbeatable listen.

album of the week

2009-02-12T23:02:00.000-08:00

Echo and the Bunnymen "Heaven up Here" 1981. Post Punk (or whatever you want to call it) genius. too many good songs to pick a few. a start to finish listen. goes with many moods... it is all at once brooding and uplifting, grounded and lofty. Will Sergeant apparently was so controlling and bossy during studio recording that Ian McCulloch calls it Sergeants Album. It does have its own sound and feel so it is not a shock. Apparently inspired by VU's "What Goes On."

If you have it listen to it if not get it.

Inspiration

2009-02-12T22:09:00.000-08:00

note to self...make something wierd today.

Hi Here is what I have been doing

2009-02-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

We have been super busy with an extra (extra cute) human in the house.It is pretty much the raddest thing ever. Cara and I are looking forward to the challenge that is the worlds best, most complicated and most rewarding puzzle, and his name is Henry. I for one am the happiest I think I have ever been. It has been hard to make art and to eat at the same time as Cara but that will come in time.

a new "cold war"

2008-08-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

alright. so it looks like the Russian "peace keepers" aren't leaving Georgia any time soon. this is a deliberate flaunting of their position because they understand that the western powers are toothless and will do little to nothing to help the Georgians.

to make matters more complex there is discussion of Moscow issuing Russian passports to residents of the Crimea (Ukraine). that is exactly what the did in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. So when the Georgians went in to supposedly flush out separatist elements they were technically attacking Russian citizens. Anyone familiar with 20th century history will understand that this has happened before. (in the 1930's Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were all either annexed or invaded under the pretext that there were ethnic Germans living in those countries being persecuted). Whats worse is that it appears that they are using second or third string units. if the Russians were taking the situation half as serious as the west is they probably would have been deploying their latest equipment. Oh yeah and with those second or third string units they were able to meet their goals in a matter of days and hours.

side note: the lite blue disk with the cyrilic MC is the symbol of russian peacekeeping forces.

apparent ly many of the units were sent into georgia already bearing these markings.

This is Scary!!!

2008-08-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

I don't have cable TV so I don't watch a lot of television or news. I try to get news online and on the radio. So I wake up this morning to see images of Russian Armour moving into South Ossetia (in Georgia) Reports indicate that Georgian troops moved in to the region in an Offensive planned to coincide with the opening of the Olympic games in Beijing. The Offensive is purportedly designed to deal with Russian backed rebel groups that want a unification with Northern Ossetia still a Russian controlled region. So Russia has retaliated on the behalf of afore-mentioned separatist groups by launching its own offensive into Georgian controlled South Ossetia. Air strikes on Georgian Air Bases this morning, and what looks to be at least 1 Armoured Division moving into Georgian territory.

So far details are sketchy so I don't want to speculate but I will say this, the premise for Tom Clancy's first Ghost Recon is basically this exact scenario. Thank goodness Georgia is not a full fledged NATO member yet because we would be at war with Russia by Monday. That would definately put a damper on the Beijing Games.

...I have finished the game three times and I, I mean "we" win.

SEVEN is the number of completion (and the number of years I have been married)

2008-08-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

well I am speachless...time flies when you are having fun. seem much longer and just yesterday. I really cant come up with much besides platitudes but I will say that no one person as encouraged me to try harder, be better and work harder than Cara has. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.

book

2008-07-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

I am, more or less, a fan of anything that Thurston Moore does or is involved with and "No Wave Post-Punk. Underground" is no exception. great interviews, amazing photos, insightful glimpses into a world that no longer exists. as an amateur history enthusiast this book is an important record using primary documents and interviews with the people who were actually there. I know its not ancient history (i was already on the planet after all) but it is a glimpse of a world no longer existing. As a person who appreciates a wide variety of sounds and music styles I consider this book to be reference point to understanding the influences of some of my favorite bands and a guideline for deeper musical exploration (listening...not playing, its a long sad story)NY was a different world then and it will never go back to that atmosphere. a movie that shows a little glimpse of the accessible side of that scene areas downtown '81. this book has a much different vibration though. It will take new people in new cities trying to create something different, brash, purposely un-commodifiable and non-consumable for most audiences. any fan of Lydia Lunch (Teenage Jesus & the Jerks) Arto Lindsay (DNA) the Contortions and others will like at least a flip thru.

thanks again and always to Chris Cote to passing on this book...

album of the week

2008-07-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

undoubtably my favorite Album by Trans-Am Liberation ( TA comes in a close second) Full range of sounds. It is a post 9-11 master piece. the world had changed and so had we. my favorite tracks are the ominous "White Rhino" and the earnest "Music for Dogs." I emplore you if you do not already own this album get it on itunes buy it at Spin Records or Lous you will not be disappointed. if you like other Trans-Am, Kraft Werk, Alan Parsons Project, tech. drumming and fuzzed-out guitar ambient rythm and danceable breaks.

Win Some...Win Some

2008-07-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Lesson #2,349

not every endeavor that one sets out to accomplish will be a "success."
however, it can be a positive learning experience.
what I learned this week end is that you don't have to sell any artwork to realize that
-you can always meet new people and leave them with a good impression.
-that your friends and family will come out and support you no matter how major or insignificant the event.
-you may derive other opportunities from the event.

signed,
New Positive Tom

Album of the Week

2008-07-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

This is definitely a must have. Cant get much better than lou reed and david bowie. think mick ronson might even be on a couple of tracks.

like iggy pop's "the idiot", reed's collaboration with bowie makes for some of his most enduring piece's. satellite of love, vicious, a perfect day. how could you ever be wrong to put this one on.

if you have a copy listen to it soon, if you don't have a copy find one.

ps. after years of denial I must admit, walk on the wild side is a good song.

ART SHOW

2008-07-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

I am going to be showing art work at the second installment of Acoustic Night San Diego. the guys over at Glorified Records are putting on 6 shows throughout July and August with Acoustic acts and Artists at the Marquee (a renovated church from the 1920's). I am showing at the second show on Friday July 18th. the charity for that night is Camp Hope. there is a nominal donation ($5.00) that goes to the charity.
I am going to show some prints from my series "Penetration" ( shown at Crossing Tracks Gallery in June) as well as some new work. I hope you can all make it.

all my pieces will be for sale and one piece will be auctioned with all proceeds going to Camp Hope.

food

2008-07-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

just finished making cookies.

help me find work and I'll make some for you too!!!

Happy Fourth of July

2008-07-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

take some time today in between the hot dogs, beers, surf/skate sessions, shopping trips, etc... to remember those men and women who in the past, and in the present, spent their holidays in crummy circumstances in countries far a way from home, doing what so many of us have been lucky enough to not have to experience.

a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have, or do serve in our countries armed forces.

Album of the Week

2008-07-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

okay... a lot of you wont be hearing it but, do know that this is the best metal release this year. Leviathan's latest one man master piece, "Massive Conspiracy Against All Life," tore me up on the side of the powerful pit bull

the astral plane has gone dark and you forgot you flashlight. cold, bleak, depressive. have a good time and pretend you are 15, covered in acne and hating everything.

My Brother is Killing it!!!

2008-06-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

so this is the latest Skyy Vodka ad. My brother, Erik had the chosen concept for the "cherry infusion"and it is already creating buzz in the media analysis community and culture jamming blogosphere. here are some examples of the commentary:
http://animalnewyork.com/news/2008/06/skyys-twig-and-berries-ad.php
http://www.collegeotr.com/vanderbilt_university/sexyy_skyy_9539

my only question is does it taste like Robitussin or duck butter?

nice work my brother.

Opening @ CCA Escondido a Hit!!!

2008-06-30T15:00:00.001-07:00

what a great night!!!
amazing art, good conversation,
and yummy spanikopita.
met several new and interesting people.
talked to the artists about their work.
got talked out of joining the military by
people who were glad they served.
was there with my best friend
ate a million oatmeal rasin cookies...great night.

all images from "United & Severed: That Window of Time"

for more info on pictured piece

go to: http://www.csusm.edu/diekman/un_sev/

my former professors/mentors/ friends

Anna Ocain (dept. chair MCCC) & Richard Keely (SDSU)

collaborated with my new friend and Cara's former

dance Professor Karen Schaffman

and Kristine Diekman (both professors at CSUSM).

Album of the Week

2008-06-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

this week we have an oldie but goody. for me this album marks a true segway from the wild animal sound of the Birthday Party to the stark nihilistic sound of the early Bad Seeds stuff. it is my opinion that Blixa Bargeld (Einstuerzende Neubauten) had a huge impact on the sound of this album. his dissonant guitar noise's make for an ominously brooding feeling thru the album.
covers of Elvis Presley's, "In the Ghetto"(CD only) and Leonard Cohen's "Avalanche" are my current favorites. this may not be the Bad Seeds most "accesible" album but for any fan a must have. this is my second round with this album. initially when I bought it, '99ish. back then my favs were "Saint Huck" and the title track. one of those rare albums where there is only a couple of optional FF's (>>) but a lot of REWamS (<<). other albums in this category are Thriller (MJ), EVOL (SY)and Bona Drag (Morrissey), all of which will get there turn I am sure.

you should go!!!

2008-06-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday night at the Escondido Art Center Museum (that's tomorrow night) you should go see the opening of these exhibitions.
-"Active Duty" by Owen Mundy
-"Contemporary Ruin" selected prints by the Los Angeles Printmaking Society
-"United & Severed: That Window of Time" Kristine Diekman, Karen Schaffman, Anna O'Cain and Richard Keely
-"Warning Signs" by RH Brownfield
-"Little Drawings" by Shannon Mcneill
I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview and all the work is looking really amazing. I am going to the opening to get a more in depth look at all the work.
There is a nominal entrance fee for non-members ($10.00) but refreshments will be served.
you cant go to see a movie and get fed for that much money, so...make a date and go get some culture and support the Arts.

you can get all the pertinant info at http://www.artcenter.org/museum.htm.

expect a full report next week!!!

"calling all cats"

2008-06-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

open auditions for cat circus being held soon. our cats, Vili and Odin, have secured spots in the following area's...
-balancing acts
-feats of daring
-and a couple of clown routines
auditions will be held to fill:
-magic acts
-ventriloquism
-trapeze
-animal wrangling: involves dogs

please contact ASAP as circus season starts September!!!

helping

2008-06-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

yesterday I helped some friends install a piece at CCA Escondido.
today my brother and sister helped me document 2 years of prints.
tomorrow I am going to help myself to a "middleweight" combo from
Knockout Burger.