Bad Bottle of Wine....

Maybe this is a circular type of thing... you know what I mean? You are 17, have $3.50 and that really bad wine is all you can get. What do you do? Of course you buy it. What happens? No surprises... a bungling long night of babbling and drunk dialing; back in the late 80's. So now that we are crawling up in the years... late 30's and all. You're walking down the aisle and Woo! $3.50 BAD WINE! Zounds, now, I don't make alot of money but... alright, I purchased it. Tisdale is the name of this fine purchase. Get it home and Stacy says, "Did you not learn from the last cheapo bottle you purchased?" Well you can guess that answer! Nope, dear wife of 14 years. In no certain way have I!
So what to do with this. I go through the thoughts of how cheap am I? I can afford better. Is it pride? Nope, lost that years ago! Is it sheer stubborness? Yup that's the one. Let's face it. After consuming fine beverages for many years on this planet I should most definitely better. Smuggling a bottle of fun into the nightclubs and concerts, one would think I know better by now. So what to do? I know, let's dress it up in that fancy wine glass!
Oops, forgot one minor step. Must open the bottle. After some time jamming the corkscrew into the flimsy cork and tugging and jerking,(This is where you stop laughing at the innuendo!) the damn thing opened. Now for the primary sniffing of the vino. Yup, pretty much what you would expect. Aboslutely no aroma, at least not the skunk shit smell one would expect. So last on the list? The tasting.
Down into the fancy glass it went. Not very smoothe in it's pour at all. If you crossed a merlot with soup broth you have a pretty good idea. Stacy calls out to me "Are you serious?" Yes dear I am. I take the first sip and realize something. Good God my wife is right again!!! Will I give her the satisfaction of knowing. NO! Not outright at least. Well, perhaps a good smoke will do the trick! Outside we go as I do not smoke in the house and lug the little glass with me. The cigarette tastes as always. Here goes the wine! Holy SHIT! It is potentially more rancid. This is the type of stuff Mr. Radiohead guy probably drinks before a concert! It's enough to make me wine uncontrollably for hours as well.
So I decide to keep with not letting Stacy know this wine is horrible and I throw it out into a snowbank. Yup, good work Len! Looks like some wino vomited on the side of my driveway. Get the snow shovel and cover it up! Yeah that will work. Nope, the shit just continues to consume the snow. I wish I could say I was making this up but this part is for real. Well, at least it will keep my neighbors curious.
So here it is Sunday night and that bottle is still pretty full. Do I dare touch the stuff, who knows yet?

Sigue Sigue Sputnik verse The Matrix!

Yes I know this started on Facebook but... well... this is what I have to work with this week!

Oh the glory that was, and still is: Sigue Sigue Sputnik! I had forgotten of their existence until these past few days looking at some old videos. Tony James, Martin Degville, Yanna Ya Ya and the others of this odd band that still exists today. These fine folks rose from the ashes of the much icky and ill fated pile of glop of a band named Generation X.

After Billy Idol went on to do whatever it was he thought he was doing, Tony James took some time to brainiac this wonder. While Billy Idol was "dancing with himself." Tony James went over the mountain screaming like a banshee in heat and concocted Sigue Sigue Sputnik!

They are tacky, analog obsessed, wear horrible fashion statements, they confuse Gwar... and here comes the cool part: On their first album "Flaunt It" they sold commercial space between the songs. Absolutely brilliant. Instead of being too cool to stay independent they chose to embrace commercialism and go for it!

They predated cyberpunk and the Matrix stuffs. With them what you see is what you get. No complicated subculture musical ethics. Give us your corporate money and we'll run with it!

So how does this Sigue Sigue Sputnik verse the Matrix stuff go? Well here goes another list:

1. The folks and the stars and all of The Matrix: way too cool for their own good. Sigue Sigue Sputnik: We look like this to make money! Good God they cooked this up on their own. The Matrix had a whole staff to invent them.

Score: Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

2. The heroes in the Matrix: "Oh we are so cool, have big guns, computer effects and scary black leather clothes." Wow, absolutely stunning (sarcasm inserted here.) Now onto Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Case in point: Martin Degville. Any man who can have hair that big, have fishnet on his head and shoot off the guns they do in their videos without cracking a smile!? Now there is tough.

Score: Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

3. The last Matrix movie does come close but falls short. They are way too serious. I mean really, they are fighting corporate and government power on the Internet through the view of "cool" youth culture. Sigue Sigue Sputnik says lets have fun, take their money and run for the hills.

Score: Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

4. When Sigue Sigue Sputnik came out no one thought they would last 20 years and then some! The Matrix in the years to come will be remembered but not with the same continuous output. Can you imagine The Matrix 7? Yes to a small group of folks SSS will remain in our hearts until the nursing home!! Now there's a strange concept.

You surely realize by now that The Matrix stood no chance here. My own writing doomed them. Let's face it with songs like "Love Missile F-111" they were poised form the start to be the king of the ring!

I do like the first Matrix movie but in the name of something to do this morning and out of sheer respect for Sigue Sigue Sputnik I decided to post this.

That is all!

Let's Discuss the Boomers and Gen X!

Well, here goes nothing! Over my few years on this planet I have, from time to time, thought about the conundrum of that which we call "The Baby Boomers" and "Generation X." Now, I am one of the lucky ones. I function in Generation X. Where I work, the boomers are great. An open minded and progressive set. They explore new ideas, share information and appreciate the contributions of Generation X. (I write this mostly directed at Gen X as most of you reading this are of this generation.) But, outside of my place of employment it seems there are billions of the boomers, and they are everywhere. Reminds me of a song by Shellac: The Squirrel song. And I do quote:

" Because they were squirrels, REAL SQUIRRELS.... and there were thousands!!"
This is a must hear! Steve Albini sings it with such conviction.

Well, for lack of a better way of organizing this le me delve into a list.

1. The lable: Now come on, "Generation X?!" Please. I do not know the name of the author but, but... really. I know he was of Boomer age but... This just starts us with a dagger right through the heart and then kicks us when we are down on the floor. Ouch.

2. The band: Generation X. Now let's see. I generally like most of the music from the 1980's but these guys. If I have done my math correctly the guys in this band should be coming right on the mid to tail end of the Boomer generation. Yup Billy Idol! See what not wearing a helmet will do for you when riding a motor cycle. and for further reference from the band Generation X see Tony James and Sigue Sigue Sputnick. A fine song: "Love Missle F-111." Oh boy!

3. Some results of The Boomer Generation:
On the huge plus side: Civil rights, technology, ... um. Give me some time as I know there is good stuff here. Oh here's a few: Cell phones. Cable television.

On the other side of the fence:
Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, disco, super inflated university costs (it's true, for reference see the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the numbers are all there. Screwing up Social Security (we have not had a real chance yet), prolonging the already way too long "Cold War," replacing the term "Cold War" with "The War on Terror," George Jr. and his pals are of the Boomer age. Thanks for that one guys. Um... let's see. Oh boy this is fun. Not passing the E.R.A. Hey it's fair... they voted the people into office.

4. And the idea of Gen X being lazy, jaded, under employed and over educated. Now that one just hurts. Most of the Boomers are the employers! And you helped us get our good educations. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love mine but how do we get employed by the Boomers with the big degrees with their view of us as lazy that was created by a Boomer! AAAAAAAHHHH! Help me out with this conundrum.

And again I bring you another round of confusing thoughts, ideas and endless prattle. There are many boomers I love and admire. All of the professors during my college years were Boomers and taught me of the world. My parents as well. They gave me the ability to question what I see and to make a difference in the world. But how do you get past the confusion of that which they created? It's a real life oxymoron!

Until Next time...

German Long Sword vs. Going to the Gym

For a couple of years now I have practiced the fine brute art of German long sword and a few other assorted goods for some good exercise and... to tell the truth... a nicely honed hobby. Learning the moves of using a five pound sword for 45 minutes every morning will keep you in pretty good shape. As well, out in my driveway at 6:00 in the morning keeps the neighbors curious.
So let's look at going to the gym. Hmmm, the treadmill. Talk about going nowhere fast. Gee the wall in front of me still looke the same 30 minutes later. I suppose I should not be so judgemental. Oh well. Then there is the matter of being around some really strange folks. GRRRR! Look at these huge abs. Ever watch someone watch themselves exercise and pose in front of a mirror. EEEK! And then there is the whole matter of the locker rooms. I will not even delve intop that.
So why am I posting this?
1: Well, most of all I have not put anything else up yet.
2. I get really strange looks when people ask what I do in my off time. I know it's not the most "normal" of hobbies/ exercise. And I gues if it was really popular I would switch to something else.
3. The geek in me made me do it. A grown man with a sword! YYYEEEAHHH.
4. Once a week at Guard Up! Look it up. You are able to duel with others with very little chance of any harm. When else do you have full permission to swat someone with a sword and have no fear of being injured!
5. NO, i DO NOT LARP. That's when things get a little strange for my tastes!
6. How many kids get to tell their friends their dad owns a real sword.
and so on...