Inspiration

note to self...make something wierd today.

Hi Here is what I have been doing

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"

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!!!

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)

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

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

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.