SNOW AND PRESENTS

Merry Christmas to us all. God bless us, everyone.

and if you don't celebrate Christmas, enjoy the peace for one day! The streets will be virtually empty and everyone will be in good spirits.

ps. Finals are over, thank god and I'm still recovering. Thanks to fall '05 for being the most trying semester in the history of my college career (which I know has only been 3 semesters, but still.)

check back soon because my promise of updating will most likely occur now that I am home in ohio and bored out of all parts of my mind.

IN THE LIBRARY

I will write my reading response. I will write my reading response. I will write my reading response. I will write my reading response. I will write my reading response.

I will start now.

Btw, if you'd like to hear Green Day in all their 90stastic glory, I'd reccomend listening to "In the Library." It just so happens that I am in the library! How appropriate.

GIRLS LOVE SCANDAL

He is so right!

Sitting down for a Law & Order Marathon sounds like just about heaven right now. Though I think I'd opt for SVU rather than the original. Give me Meloni and Hargitay any day.

Ugh! I just want finals period to be over.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LIFE

Greetings, neglected blog and readers of this neglected blog.
I'm sitting here ecstatic because my Japanese lecture was cancelled and I'm trying to use this very rare event to justify the fact that I'm not doing any work right now. Besides that my days and nights have consisted of reading a bit of Thoreau, stuffing my pipe and contemplating things like life, money and the use of a college education. You know, typical college things.

My computer got a some stupid virus and I had to go without the internet for about a week while I got all the stuff to reformat the harddrive. As fun as that was, it's good to have the internet again.

Mainly, I've been not doing as much work as I should be, or at least as much work as I have (it's often difficult to distinguish between the two). I've been seeing my friends more and sleeping sporadically. I've also been listening to a whole lot of Wolf Parade. I'm getting sort of tired of my musical selection. Not Wilderness though. Are there any Wilderness fans out there? If so, we should talk. The talking will consist mostly of me talking about how I love the drums.
I love the drums.

M83 has also become the love of my life. Here the term M83 is used loosely of course, because my love is focused mostly on "Run Into Flowers." My god does that song make me want to do drugs. Instead I just get in my bed and say "OH MY GOD I WANT TO MELT INTO MY SHEETS" because that's what it does to me. It makes me want to melt into a fuzzy earthen color and fuckin' float out the window.

In conclusion, I love things too easily and too much. The fast and hard is already starting to catch up with me.

Another conclusion to be drawn from this is that updates will occur in a timely fashion in the future. You know Adrienne, there's only so much blog procrastination she can handle.

TREES!

Trees!
Originally uploaded by adorienne.

For some strange reason, protestors in the '60s successfully got Columbia to make election day a University Holiday. In celebration of having monday and tuesday off, this weekend I went to Brown! I saw some friends (dana and michelle), I also saw some body parts (breasts, penises, vaginas) but as nice as that all was, I kinda missed New York.

I wish I could have taken more pictures, but there weren't many opportunities given that a large percentage of my total social interaction was during parties and nakedness.


more:

Dana! Trash Cans (oh trash conscious Brown!)
Originally uploaded by adorienne.

OH MY CRUNKNESS!

Because sometimes Midterms just don't matter!





Having Halloween parties 2 days in advance is a great idea. Friends having 100 proof Georgi in their freezer is not. (Or considering the amazing pictures I got, maybe it is!). I have to say, as much as I am a bit of a homebody, sometimes partying can really be fun. I don't know how it happened, but my id was lost and I ended up with over 100 pictures. At one point I was taking a picture of Michael (the one in the shower cap) and I thought to myself, "wow.. I feel like I'm living in a scene from the cobrasnake.com." Thankfully my friends aren't quite that ironic and the costumes were great!

BUSTED

I just finished my Suicide paper (as in Durkheim's suicide, not my own) and get this: I just started spelling the word "suicide" right. It's been a long night.

A little while ago Michael asked me how much I would pay to go see a band that isn't around anymore. I didn't really answer. He said that he would pay a bunch of money to see the Beatles, but then we decided that it's all relative (as in you can't spend 100 trazillion dollars to see the Beatles if you don't actually have 100 trazillion dollars... and barring the fact that trazillion isn't a real number) and the convo was really a moot point. But honestly, I would pay a WHOLE BUNCH of money to see the Smiths play live. and not some crappy set, a really good set. I would pay quality money to see that... though again, a moot point. Pretty ridiculous that it's a moot point considering that the Beatles are half dead and every member of the Smiths is STILL ALIVE.

Court battle or no, guys, it's time to get over yourselves, get together and thank the fans.

ps. happy birthday, Lindsay!

STROKIN' BRAZIL

Sometimes I wish I lived in Brazil... right now, mainly. I would've caught the Strokes down there and I would have seen one of my favorite bands play this:

courtesy of those cool people @ thestrokes.com

I assume that if you're a Strokes fan you've heard the four songs that have leaked. So far I give the album about a 7.5/10. Juicebox has most definitely grown on me, and I immediately liked You Only Live Once and Razor Blade (though I do admit that last one has a bit of Manilow in it). The Other Side is alright, I suppose. I know it will probably eventually grow on me because all the other Strokes fans like it. And 15 minutes? I'm still trying to figure that one out....
but who am I kidding. I love everything.

Also, have you guys seen the album artwork? I would assume that if you care about it, you've already seen it, but just in case... courtesy of the crazies over at the Strokes LJ.

there you go.

NAKED RUN 2005

Well, college students have to let off steam in some way, don't they? Only the Annual Naked Run isn't as fun when you know most of the guys in it.

(it was a total sausage fest.)

wish me luck! I have five exams in the next week...

OH MY GOD

This is my friend Michael.

As we discovered last night while taking this picture:

• Michael + Marla's hair on his head = dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty.

But really, I laughed so hard last night I almost peed. Not doing homework on a school night is well worth it.

MONSOON SEASON '05

I've never experienced this much rain in my entire life. Campus is flooded; everything is wet. Some might say it's good to have this weather near midterms because it keeps you from going out, but those people have obviously never tried studying in weather where there's almost no difference between day and night. Still, it's not as bad as Glastonbury.

Other than lake Columbia, I haven't been updating lately because it seems like I'm always falling behind on something. I rush just about everywhere and the reading never stops. NEVER. There's always something to do. Compared to some, I've been pretty good about getting my work done, but it's come at the expense of being social. But really, where do you draw the line? I know college is supposed to be fun and partying, but at a certain point the work needs to be done. (Like everyone) I want to do well and not be cut off from opportunities just because I went to that one party on some night and didn't study as much. But it would be nice to do work AND keep my friends. and maintain my sanity. I see my friends about once a week now and it's sad. It gets hard. Rain doesn't help.

I DON'T LOVE ANYONE

Don't you think college would rock so much more if you could have a pet?

THEY'LL NEVER CATCH ME

I just saw the Decemberists w/Cass McCombs at Webster Hall. Long story short, it was a great show and they certainly made my first live Decemberists experience one to remember!

clue of greatness:

(giant whale)

Setlist:

Also a little sidenote - it was Colin's birthday! We sang him an awful rendition of happy birthday and I'd like to think it made the show rock even more (although in reality I doubt our awful singing abilities have anything to do with their limitless talent).

about 80 more photos

LOVE & SPACE

Last night I went to benefit for Katrina at the Bowery. The line up was as follows: Other Passengers-Grizzly Bear-Akron/Family-Wooden Wand-Adam Green-Sufjan Stevens. It was long and it was great. Not only were the tickets going to a great cause (proceeds went to the Salvation Army for Katrina and Rita relief), but everyone gave amazing performances. I hadn't heard about 80% of the music when I got there, but it didn't matter. All of it was very impressive.

Other Passengers took the stage first. Unfortunately, there were about 30 people there. Other Passengers deserves more. They deserve huge dark stadiums full of people that know nothing about them, just for the purpose of being able to blow all of their minds the way mine was blown last night. Believe you me when I say this band is INCREDIBLE live. They did some on air/performances for WBAR last year and unfortunately (even though I was there) I missed their slots. Cate and I stood a few feet away from the stage while they played and my heart was in my throat the entire time. On top of being just plain excellent, there's this really dark component to the music that forces you to pay attention. It's like watching a thriller or something. It was (as I said before) incredible. I highly recommend them. HIGHLY.

Next was Grizzly Bear. Now imagine this: traditional native american music + spacy alternative rock + some awesomeness. That's Grizzly Bear in a nutshell. They were seated for the entire performance and it was still really cool. They were quite the buzz band during CMJ, so it was good to finally see them.


Then on came Akron/Family. Yet another WBAR playing band that I hadn't heard before (and ultimately regret not hearing before). They also sat down, introduced Ed ("The only Ed there is!") and starting playing, well.. what kind of music is that? It's kind of folky hard rock, if that's possible. Bottom line is they were really fun. They had a lot of heart and it made the performance that more enjoyable.

Next up was Wooden Wand. I feel kind of bad because I wasn't paying that much attention when he was on. Not because it was boring or bad music (it was actually pretty good) it's just that Akron/Family was so energetic and it was already pretty late into the night... it just wasn't the best time to hear such mellow music. He did a good job. Some incredibly drunk girl threw a beer cup on stage during one of his songs and I think everyone in the front rows felt really embarrassed about it, but really she was just that drunk. (It was still rude.)

Then, Adam Green! Not as cute of a performance as when I saw his solo show in April, but I'll chock that up to a bewitching double Kokomo that was sadly absent from this set. He was same ol' jumping, dancing, goofy Adam that we all know and love. He played a new (?) song called "Hey Dude" that was rockin'. In a different form than the rest of his songs, but very "Adam" nonetheless. I managed to achieve one of my goals, which was getting a setlist. Bonus was 1. it was the drummer's setlist with inaccurate (but funny) song titles and 2. it was handed to me by none other than Hottie mcHotface, Steve Mertens. He looks much younger.. maybe he lost weight? Oh, and while I'm talking about individual Gnomes, let me just say that there was definitely not enough Nate Brown love last night. Keyboardists are cool, everyone! Give Nate love.

Setlist:

Then, much to my heart's dismay, Sufjan came out. He set up his equipment on his own and my heart started breaking then and there. His whole acoustic set was beautiful. I hadn't heard one note of Seven Swans before I went (which is what he ended up playing the most of), but it didn't matter. Love is love, folks and Sufjan has mine. He started with a cover of R.E.M ("the one I love") and played a pretty modest set by himself with a guitar and banjo. He said being up there alone was terrifying, but I don't think he could have done anything to make the crowd adore him any less. Anything he did was great. Some highlights for me were "Chicago," which sounds - if it's possible- even more beautiful when he sings it alone, and also "The Dress Looks Nice on You," which I've decided has to be one of the best songs ever written. Honestly, in the history of all of the songs I've ever heard, it is in the top 2%. He left pretty suddenly and no one wanted him to. He came back out for an encore, and true to encore tradition, he only played one song - "Romulus." I would've done anything last night to hear him play "Casimir Pulaski Day," but really I'm glad I got to hear him play anything. After inconveniently missing all of his shows this summer and his shows at symphony space selling out so quickly, I'm grateful for the show last night. Add that to the fact that it was just him - no band, no other instruments- and it was actually a pretty special event. All in all, the music was great. I really enjoyed myself and I think it's nice that hipsters and old people alike were able to get together and help out a good cause.

Anyway, I think I've gone on long enough - the webshots are up, you can take a look.

TAKE MY SHOES OFF

Long time, huh? Things have been hectic around here, proposal for Durkheim suicide paper, Psych Exam, 50438503482 pages to read.... but really, everything is good. All of that is over and now it's time for me to kick back.

and work on my paper for monday.

Anyway, I've been depriving you guys of a good CMJ wrap up and details of my concert exploits since, but anything I give you would be outdated anyway. The things to note are: The Cribs were great, I got to see Ryan bloody this time, I even had to crank my neck back 120 degrees to see (that's what standing right in front gets you). Complaints? Well, the sound could have been better.
Then... the Arcade Fire. Well, obviously amazing in just about every way. I thought it would suck because I had a pretty bad spot sight-wise, but it was just as good as it was in February (well.. almost). But then David Bowie showed up and that shot everything threw the roof. I called a bunch of people because I was so excited, and then I got back to campus and all of my friends wanted to strangle me. Then Regina, who was as enchanting as ever. Irving Plaza was PACKED and you could tell she was happy. Then I saw some the Arts & Crafts showcase (Apostle of Hustle, etc) which was pretty good and then I ran over to Rare, just in time to get denied for Saints + Lovers (it's a sad story.)

After that, over to S.O.B's for Cocorosie, Supersystem, and !!!. The crowd was insane. I've never heard Cocorosie before, but one of them really reminded me of Joanna Newsom... then Supersystem came on, were good, and I got stuck in a dancemosh pit filled with guys 4x my size. After being violated and violating everyone around me, headed to the back for !!!. They were great live, but I'm not such a huge fan of the recordings. Just about everyone there was insane and insanely nice... one of the best crowds of the weekend.

Then... hmm. Frenchkiss Showcase @ CBGBs. I was glad to make it to CBGBs before it gets inevitably bulldozed, and the show did not disappoint. High points specifically were Tangiers and the Turing Machine. I didn't think I would like the music that much, but I did. And I got to see a couple of my CMJ coworkers pretty drunk.... it was a great way to end the weekend.

I saw two movie screenings, Brick and Elizabethtown. Both were good in their own ways, and I would write about them but Brick is incredibly hard to explain and we were told specifically told not to write about Elizabethtown because we saw the extended Film Fest version.

and... that was my CMJ in a nut shell. Can't wait to do it again next year! (after working ahead in school, of course).

Last weekend was the White Stripes/ Shins/ M. Ward at Keyspan Park. I liked M.Ward less that I thought I would, the Shins were great as usual. The singer actually talked to the audience this time and of course, Marty stole some hearts with his "YEAH SPORTS" and other witty banter. The White Stripes were much better than I remember (from early 2004) and I really enjoyed myself. I was wayyy too far away to get a picture, but if you want some actual recapping and a setlist (not a real one, jack doesn't use them) go here.

That's been my week and when other interesting this arise, I will let you know! On the schedule for this weekend: Alias premiere, Little Manhattan premiere, and massive amounts of work. (I would much rather be going to the Interpol show this sunday, but alas... no such luck.)

hope you have a good weekend.

COLD ROSES

I was just over at ToTC browsing the newest Blue States Lose (a weekly entry where they make fun of pictures from hipster dance parties), when I came upon this (#7). It was taken at MisShapes and any Ryan Adams fan knows that this is a picture of album art from Cold Roses - only with one difference. It's on someone's leg. She's gotta be a big fan because she gave up a whole lot of room for that. It's pretty enormous.

WE ALL GET PAID

So New York magazine put this Salary list. I was just casually breezing through it, inserting the occasional "wow!" and such when I reached these:
Edward Lampert
$1.02 billion
Manager, ESL Investments hedge fund

James Simons
$670 million
Manager, Renaissance Technologies Corp. hedge fund

Bruce Kovner
$550 million
Manager, Caxton Associates hedge fund

and I said, "holy shit."
No, seriously. That is so much money.
How on earth does someone make that much money? How can a company afford to pay anyone that much money? Do Ed, Jim and Bruce realize how much money that is? They must not even count it anymore. I'm sure on the weekends they all get together in one of their many weekend homes and sit in a circle of ominous leather chairs, tapping their fingers like Mr.Burns and planning world domination.

"Hahaha! So Jim, Bruce, have you fellows realized that I could single-handedly solve all individual debt problems in the US and still maintain my current lifestyle? Haha! Haha! They wish..peons."

I'M IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

Hang in with me there, folks.
CMJ was a very busy four days of no sleep and no homework (even though I really didn't see that many shows), and now I'm recovering and trying to cover my behind enough to get to the weekend. If you've been out of school for a while, let me just remind you that homework sucks. If you haven't been to college yet, let me announce that College homework sucks. My buddy "skim" and I will be getting very close in the next couple of days...

So the final CMJ wrap-up (details saved for next entry)

Wednesday:
went to class
I worked Artist Registration at Lincoln Center from 1-8
Saw Pela, the Cribs @ Bowery Ballroom
slept.

Thursday:
went to class ....?
Worked artist registration from 10:30-2:45
Saw Belle Orchestre, Sound Team, the Arcade Fire@Summerstage and Regina Spektor@Irving Plaza

Friday:
Saw Brick (an indie movie)
Saw Apostle of Hustle, Jason Collett@ Hiro Ballroom
Saw CocoRosie, Supersystem, !!!@S.O.B's
slept in a dead way

Saturday:
Saw extended version of Elizabethtown (new Cameron Crowe movie)
Saw The Plastic Constellations, Tangiers, The Turing Machine, and the Hold Steady@ CBGBs

and holy crap, am I still tired.

CMJ

My Crappy Arcade Fire Video #1 (end of "In The Backseat").

My Crappy Arcade Fire Video #2 (Part of "Queen Bitch" ft. David Bowie).

(both are yousendit files)






Screw homework.

COLLEGE: HOORAY BEER!!

Someone was very irresponsible last night. Though I suppose I should be more supportive of Red Stripe considering it has helped white people dance for over 50 years. It's beer! Hooray beer!

(Don't get any ideas. I took this on my way to the library.)







In other beer related news, the skies of Columbia have been over taken:



by Heineken. I didn't notice the circle of sky writing around the campus until a little girl pointed it out to her brother. How wrong is that? Companies should keep in mind that college students aren't the only ones seeing this. Then again, they probably realized that when they first thought of sky writing. Marketing is disgusting.

THE WEIGHT OF MY WORDS

Because of this I am officially the seventh option listed if you search for "preteens fucking."

Thank you, MSN. All my dreams have come true.

IT ENDED ON A SODA FILLED STAGE

Finally! Orientation is over! The last NSOP event was today, thank god. I can finally go back to a normal schedule. But not before working the soda table at the Lerner Party.

My group and I had to refill all the little cups of soda as freshmen (and non freshmen) took them, but only after enduring the "is this diet pepsi? which ones diet? this is diet? okay!" inquisition from 98% of them. Evidently our system of putting the bottles (2 liters and clearly labeled with the name of the soda) in front of the cups was not obvious enough for them. The whole time I was there only one girl really got the system, but that was enough to restore my faith in the freshman class. After our shift was over (10:30) all I wanted to do was "GRR" really loudly and flip over the table. It would have been awesome. Grring, muscle flexing, table flipping, soda spilling. Everyone at the Lerner party would have remembered it, and it would've been at the least, empowering. Really, my whole group could have done it with me. It would have been a goodbye event since we won't be together anymore. Glorious table flipping and subsequent freshman covered in soda. We'd go grr and flex the guns, running away... maybe even ape style.

But really, that's ridiculous. Doing something like that would have incredibly bad consequences, including the cleaning of said soda from the floors.. from the freshman. Even if we didn't have to clean it up, I would feel awful making anyone else clean it up. Still, it's pretty great to think about. A moment to flip out, sheer ridiculous anti-rage. Running, awesomeness. Maybe even stomping on all the paper cups (King-Kong Style). I would've laughed a lot. I'd like to think the pure adrenaline from something like that would keep me going all night, but the truth is I'd probably feel really bad afterwards. Bad and ridiculous. But at least I'd be smiling.

BABY'S GONNA DIE TONIGHT

The annual "Concert on the Steps" was today at 2. The Dirty Projectors and Yo La Tengo. Despite the heat, I think it actually went pretty well.

Earlier in the day I went with people from Columbia Concerts and some fellow OLs and we bought all of the food on the "rider" (I use quotes because I'm sure it was a much tamer Columbia version of the rider) and got the bands some water, bread, mayo, chips, pretzels, m&ms, and mustard. The bread was fancy and smelled great, but come to think of it, I'm not sure there was anything to put on it except mayo or mustard.... or both. (ew?)

The other big event of today was registration, which was actually pretty exciting for me given that it is not really that exciting. I ended up getting basically all the classes that I wanted, but because I'm crazy and spent this summer planning the next 3 years according to my different perspective majors, pretty much all the classes I wanted means 19 credits, around $700 worth of books, and DEATH. I want to keep all six classes, but with the work study job and possibly doing nightline (a 24 hour helpline that requires a semester of training) is it really worth losing my mind? And even if I don't lose my mind, is it worth not having a social life?

NEW YORK CARES

Alright. No more slacking. It's technically September 2nd now and the hiatus is over.

For some reason my friends are really surprised when I say I don't want to go out a lot this year. They asked me why and I said "what's the point?" They thought it was a depressing answer, but really - what is the point? I'm not saying that I never want to hang out or see people; I just don't want to party and sleep late or be deprived all the time. Come to think of it, I can't remember ever having a really great time at a party. Every great feeling I've had with my friends has been something simple, like eating a great meal or taking a nice walk on the water and actually talking about something. And I don't mean pushing facts or opinions in people's faces, I mean talking honestly and openly without the tension of outside sources.

Maybe it's the only child in me, but I really don't mind being alone. Sometimes I think sitting and listening to music or something equally as relaxing can actually be more enjoyable than being with other people. Not that I don't like other people, but hanging out should be fun and not obligatory or forced. Is it so bad not to want to go to a party if all my friends are going? Is it so bad to want to sit for a little while, listen to Interpol and then fall asleep if I really am tired?

Some people might find it depressing or weird, but right now I feel pretty peaceful. I'm not being pushed and I like it.

Alyssa: Did you ever go to a family picnic day? With the pie eating contest?

Me: No, I never saw one of those.

Alyssa: Oh! It's so funny, they put their hands back here and then there's all this cream and they put their face in it and go like this (pie scarfing motion)

Me: Have you ever seen a hotdog eating contest?

Alyssa: No.

Me: Well, they have this big plate of hot dogs and buns and the people take 3 or 4 at a time and stuff their faces.

Alyssa: Yeah, well they said the winner of the pies gets a madagascar basketball and this boy Robbie won the basketball.

Me: The winner of the hot dog contest gets a lot of money. And a belt, I think. They're hot dog eating champion of the world.

Alyssa: Who won it?

Me: Oh, I don't know. Some little Japanese man.

HOME

I'm at home. Non-internet activities will exceed internet activities. Please Understand.

Family Ties

I've commuted back and forth from Jersey City too many times. Going home is very welcome - even if it is three days later than I expected.

These few days I have enjoyed the time that I've been able to spend with my family. I barely see them all at once, so it's great to observe the crazy in its normal, 100% concentrated form. Today on the way to visit my grandmother and great aunt at the senior center my mom coughed in the car. People cough all the time, right? Oh... no, they don't. She looked at me and said, "I think I have the Hanta Virus." As my mom, my grandmother and I were eating and chatting over lunch, my grandmother let it slip (or rather stressed) what she thinks of Angelina Jolie and her mother. "Them Obeah!"

By the way, an Obeah is a voodoo witch.

Excellence At Its Best

And on the 8th day the Lord said unto Adrienne: "Go forth and ye shall receive some Followill Lovin', and this lovin' will be good." And so it was. And it was good.

i.e. - The music was incredible. Quitting his 2 pack a day habit was the best thing Caleb has ever done for his voice and today it sounded better than I could have imagined.

My cousin Alyssa is six now. Being 13 years apart, I used to find her really annoying, but now she's actually getting pretty cool. She's going to the same camp I went to when I was her age, and she even has some of the same counselors. She's doing the same activities and learning the same songs; we even sang together today. "Hello Goodbye" by the Beatles. We have good taste.

Kings of Leon has this minitour thing going on right now and they're stopping in New York on Monday. I checked craigslist to see if people were selling or asking for tickets because I wanted to see if it sold out.. and guess what? It did.

But guess what else? I got a ticket! I purchased it from the devil ticketmaster before it sold out (of course). I was debating buying a ticket and going alone, but then it occurred to me that I have missed far too many Followill-lovin' opportunities. Yes, it sucks that I have to see them in Roseland instead of the many times I missed them (stupidly) at places like the Bowery and Little Brother's. (Little Brothers! I mean come on!) But it should be cool. If by some fluke someone who's reading this will be there - watch for me! I'll be close to the front and doing a maniacal baptist dance. That's right, baptist dance. Something about that Followill music makes me want to shake my hands and gyrate like the spirit of the lord is within me!

So, that's what I'll be doing on monday.

Wow. This guy just took a shower and I can smell his cologne through my door. My perfectly closed and locked door. That's not a good sign.

Over cologne-age is a pretty common college guy problem, especially with all these new lady-attracting sprays going around. Really though, hasn't anyone heard of pheromones? Guys, if you're supposed/hoping to attract that certain female for mating, she'll smell you better if you where less cologne. Plus, everyone will like you more. It's a win-win situation.

WATCH THIS

Watch this.
That's all.

c'mere paul

Paul channels Erlend in Interpol's new video.



Might I add that he looks damn sexy?

Maybe I'm the only one that appreciates the glasses, but... I really enjoy the glasses.

SHOOT

I love Caroline's as much as the next person, but being in Times Square makes me want to shoot myself in the face.

Just Say NO.

I know; I know it's hot. But come on guys.

NO MESH SHIRTS.

They don't look good on anyone, really. So please, back away. Stick with good old breathable fabrics. Sleeveless shirts are now accepted, maybe even welcomed - just for the love of god refrain from wearing mesh shirts. Especially that a mesh shirt with a tiger pattern on it. Guy across from me on the subway, tsk tsk.

ZEN

For the past month, I have been reading this book. A little while ago a friend of mine told me she thought I would I like it, so when I saw it at the Columbia Bookstore I picked it up. It continues to be the exact opposite of what I expect. Granted I have been reading mostly novels this summer and I knew when I started that this is nonfiction, but I was supremely frustrated by the lack of character development in the first part of the text. He mentions John and Sylvia and then he jumps right in to Chautauquas. What the hell is a Chautauqua anyway? I still don't know. Reading the book makes it hard not to grasp the general concept, but if anyone asked me to define it I most certainly would not be able to. Stuttering slowly along the first part of the book took longer than I expected. This is certainly no Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius or Barrel Fever (the last book I read before starting this). It was also no Harry Potter. I could read that in 10 hours. This book? Who knows how long it will take me to finish.

I found the second part really intriguing. His discussion of Quality sometimes found me shaking my head, (I get easily frustrated by Philosophy and people who let it consume their lives) but his arguments were pretty valid. We know what is, the world can't exist the way it does without it, but we can't define it or measure it. It's almost subjective, but yet it's not subjective. I thought his comparisons of hip and square were pretty much right on, also. I know both kinds of people and his having the theory published only confirmed what I already knew to be true. I just recently started the third part and hey! Right there on the page was some character development! He said earlier that the people in his book were in fact people and not characters and that he didn't want to develop them as such, but the whole Phaedrus thing needs to be explained. I could use a little more insight to Chris, but I guess you can never write accurately about your child when you're the parent.
One of my goals is to finish this book before my summer ends. Oh and does anyone else find it a little haughty that he named his other personality after an ancient greek philosopher? Unless it was a conscious choice with a bit of sarcasm behind it, I think it's a bit presumptuous.

Find it surprising to find me writing about books? Guess what! I do other things than watch TV and sleep. I observe, sometimes with painstaking attention to detail, sometimes with none. I think too much for my own good; I fall in love with Sufjan Stevens... wait that doesn't really prove my point, does it?.

Well, remember a few entries back when I said that I wanted to start doing things? Basically I came to that decision because I do nothing. I have one friend in a 30 mile radius; I wander from one job to the other - one makes me want to scream and the other waivers in terms of the things they actually have for me to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be where I am and I'm grateful to have to opportunity to have the options that I do this summer, but the bottom line is that it has been almost a complete waste of three months. Would a summer in Ohio have been any more fulfilling? Maybe not, but at least I'd have friends and family around. I'd have my pets, my house, some kind of familiarity and friendliness that New York doesn't offer. Before I go into even more ridiculous detail - I am getting things together. If I accomplish anything this summer, it's going to be how to live as a semi-adult. Take care of myself, be responsible, do the right things, stay sane. I'm learning how to grocery shop and get myself the perfect amount of food for under 30$ a week. Now I just have to wean myself from these ridiculous naps I've been taking...

Don't get me wrong. I like myself, I like my life..... But do I? Isn't ambition really just masked unsatisfaction?

Rupert Grint

aww. If I were two years younger, living in the U.K. and mildly connected to anyone in show business...

This winter Goblet of Fire and Narnia will be my two major downfalls. Now if someone could just get with the program and make a great new Neverending Story, my life would be complete.

Hey - Did anyone catch that (not so) subtle reference to Rupert in the new book?

Heaven Restores Me In Life

why can't stuff like this happen more often? I can't tell you how many times I've passed by people playing on the subway platforms and thought, "how cool would it be if that were Ryan Adams?" How great would it be to see some music star playing in their pajamas in riverside park just because they liked to play outside?

granted, Beck's choice is a hell of a lot funnier.

In other news, I've decided to start doing things. Or thinking more. Either way, I'll get back to you when I start because right now I'm going to watch Fantastic Four.

yeah!

I feel like today's radio show is going to be my best one yet! How do I know? Well, I'm not exactly sure, but I have a feeling it'll make everyone want to drift in and out of sleep on a Saturday morning so they can catch some of it. I even have most of it planned!

Oh... who am I kidding. It may not be the holy grail of radio shows, but at least it won't make your ears bleed. If you want some of that, you can head on over to stereogum and listen to the latest Kidz Bop song.

Listen from 8-10am, Knee Deep Snow link on the side. And lazy folks, never fear! There's an archive so you can catch all of my horrendous ipod/cd blunders at any hour (or two) you find convenient.

HARRY POTTER

Yeah, I got the book. Yeah, I'm reading it.

For some reason everyone was waiting for it so impatiently that they had to read it the first day it came out. I appreciate this book more than that. I want to savor it, a little bit each day. Or at least make it last more than the usual reading period (about one day). Everyone seems intent on talking about it. Why rush? Give it a rest! Enjoy the book you waited so long to read and don't be so anxious as to talk about the plot right as you've finished reading. There's only one left. Feel free to take your time.

SIREN

so. as much as I'd like to make this a wonderful and eloquent post, I'm going to be completely honest about my time at the Siren Festival.

It was fucking hot. Whoever said it was going to rain doesn't know shit about weather. There was the occasional breeze, but most of the time it was stifling heat and humidity. Rain would have been great. What? The weather channel said it was going to rain? Well, I stand by my previous statement. The weather channel knows shit about weather.

I saw (only) three acts while I was in coney (hell) island, Be Your Own Pet, Morningwood, and Diamond Nights. There are two reasons I only saw three. First, I left late. I thought it would take less time to get there than it actually did. Surprise to me, but Coney Island really is the end of the line and it takes a hell of a long time to get there. Second, I went to go see Q and Not U on the main stage and couldn't get closer than about 150 feet. I couldn't see anything and even though I really wanted to see the show, I figured I would rather not die of heat stroke while I watched a show I couldn't see. It sounded good, so I guess I'll just listen to the CDs. So I walked over to Sitwell to see Diamond Nights at the much cooler and less crowded stage. They were good, but much to my dismay, I was getting nauseous during their set. Right as they ended, I got really dizzy, my head got really light and I still felt naseous. Rather than blame this on the music (which was good - especially "The Girl's Attractive") I found the culprit when I got onto the subway car. It was the heat! and the sun! I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure I had mild sun poisoning or heat stroke or something because I was not well. I managed to get a little better on the subway ride back, but I was still hot and sweaty in the air conditioned car.

Generally, what I saw was good. Be Your Own Pet was better than expected. Some of their songs are hit or miss, but I think if they keep on keepin' on, their songs will only get better. They are just in High School. Morningwood was great. They shouldn't change a thing. Go Morningwood, go. It's your birthday. I enjoyed my time at the Sitwell stage. Even when the acts weren't rockin' there were hilarious DJs playing old metal songs. The crowd was great too... but I imagine not that different than a regular day at Coney Island. Except more hipsters.

So there you have it, my mini experience at the Siren (heatstroke) Festival. Hey Village Voice people... maybe have Siren in June? Maybe have Siren in a place that's less hot and not covered with tar? Hmm? Just a suggestion.

ANY HANDS?

So, who's excited?

So, who's in love?

CONAN

"Paula Abdul is being sued by a designer who claims that Abdul never returned $40, 000 dollars worth of dresses she borrowed to wear on 'American Idol.' Abdul says she cannot return them because Ryan Seacrest is wearing them."

This joke is pure gold. I laughed so hard I didn't make a sound for at least a minute and involuntarily started coughing because I ran out of air.

DOUBLE POINTS FOR MARIO LOPEZ

These videos are absolutely amazing. Just another reason Animal Planet is cool... even though I never watch it.

and also, they get double points for Mario Lopez.

Crazy Parrot

Genius Dog

This guy says it all. Neighborhoodies is awesome.

FEELING THE ILLINOISE

I got Sufjan Stevens' newest one yesterday. It's great. I'm inclined to say that I like it a little more than Michigan, just because it doesn't depress me as much. Not to say Michigan isn't good - it's just hopelessly depressing. I've tried to listen to it all the way through and I can't. It makes me too sad.
It'll be interesting to see which state he chooses next. Of course, I'm supposed to say that he should do Ohio or New York next, but I'd like to see him do a state like Tennessee. or maybe Hawaii. Yeah, those would be nice.

I had work today and we only have about 20 applications left for sonicbids entering and internet harrassing. These applications are left over either because they left part of their application incomplete or their payment bounced. The deadbeats have been pretty good at getting back to me though. Funny how the word URGENT in the title of an email will do that. Notifications start monday! So if you know someone in a band, tell them to watch out (not necessarily in a bad way). But the line up for Sept. should solidify quite a bit in the next few weeks and I'm excited to see what happens.

Also - I saw the first episode of the new Surreal Life today. It's crazy. When the show first came out I thought it was one of the lamest things put on television. "Who'd want to watch that?" I'd think. But, oh - they struck gold with this cast. Bronson Pinchot, Janice Dickinson, Pepa, Omarosa, Caprice, Corey Hart, Jose Conseco. They have a three-legged dog named Lucky and a house that looks like a Carnival that imploded just to regurgitate itself. I think I might watch every episode.

LIVE, LEARN

Hang out with my friends and me and you will learn more than ever thought possible.

diana: how do you spell evily?
adrienne: that's not a word
diana:: evil+ly
diana: i want it to be an adverb
diana: i know its an adjective but thats alright
adrienne: well you can spell it however you want because it's not actually a word
diana: lol
diana:good to know

adrienne: just to interject for a moment, i saw my favorite awkward geek today!
diana: who's ur favorite awkward geek?
adrienne: his name is ****** and first semester i saw him all the time
diana: o cool
adrienne:at first i was kind of thinking... woah is this kid serious
diana: lol
adrienne: because he was REALLY geeky looking
diana:nice
adrienne:but then I discovered that geeky people are actually really awesome and normal people can't see it
diana: yea they are
adrienne: they're on their own wavelength
diana: yea
adrienne:it's like meta-awesomeness
diana: i love geeks
adrienne: i kind of want to buy him a diamond

diana:there are denny's internationally
diana: haha
diana: did u know that?
adrienne: where else?
diana: costa rica guam
adrienne: haha
diana: mexico
adrienne: wow
diana: netherlands
diana: puerto rico and singapore
adrienne: i had no idea denny's reach so much of the world
diana: at least those are the options
diana: why isnt it in canada?
diana:canada just makes more sense
diana: Ave. Cristobal Colon 11390 Complejo Industrial,
Chihuahua, Mexico 31109 MX
diana: theres only one though but still
adrienne: yeah
adrienne: no canada?
adrienne: maybe they're healthy
adrienne: or have lots of ihops or something
diana: lol
adrienne: i wonder if ihop is international
diana: prolly
adrienne:: it says so in the name... i wonder if they're lying
diana: i'll go check
*fyi - canada is domintated by IHOPs. you can see the complete list here. Also congrats to the reigning champ of IHOPs, the big ol' texas.

PERSONAL (ity)

News! We've finished entering almost all the applications on to sonicbids! yessss. There are only 30 or so more that have no signatures and things like that due to the deadbeat people that won't let us get our work done. but yes! almost done with that mindnumbing work! Today was a little painful though. I started get cramps in my fingers.

Anyway, if you truly are bored, I'd recommend poop way before I'd recommend anything I've done because it's actually interesting (and funny).

<3 Gawker

Oh, Gawker, how much entertainment you provide for the lazy summer day.

“You shut your mouth, woman, or I’ll hit you again.”

All Base Are Belong To Me

Today has been rather boring and I find myself missing home. Or maybe was I supposed to go to CMJ today? um... hmmm... hope I wasn't supposed to do that. I don't normally go in on tuesdays, I mean it was just last tuesday, and well.. let's just say I didn't have to go. or let's just change the subject.
Matt's coming sunday. Should be interesting if I manage to see him besides the fleeting moments when I sign him in and he sleeps on the couch. Also in a chance taking mood I'm going to be having some peoples from Nevada hanging around sometime this month. I don't really know them, or what they're going to be doing around here, or when they're coming, or how to get in touch with them. I don't really know their names. But they're coming anyway, so it'll be interesting, if not ridiculously fun (depending on if I actually see them at all). Not confusing at all, right? right.

In other news, the google image search results were much better today. So, in turn, I present to you some interpretive art:


yeah, I don't know either.

HAPPY 4th!

Happy 4th, everyone. Hope you enjoy the festivities. I'm delaying going anywhere because I don't want to deal with all the people, but the longer I wait...

Anyway, goin' to Jersey to catch the fireworks, then tomorrow I have 100+ things to do because this wonderful national holiday has allowed everything useful to close! (ie. the bank, the post office, any appt. making office.)

For your enjoyment, I googled the term "funny art ha" and I got this picture. I believe it's from the movie "Funny Ha Ha" which isn't exactly what I was going for, but whatever. Actually, I think this guy's in Bishop Allen...

PODCASTS

wow. I completely underestimated the utter amazingness of podcasts. I can actually listen to my radio show on my ipod! yes! of course, I could have done that with the archive we have, but this time it'll be updated automatically! It's totally wild. You are genius, apple. Genius.

Actually, any of the shows on WBAR can be podcast, which is pretty cool considering I'm never really alert enough to listen to any of my fellow djs. Now I can. Woot.

For inquiring minds, you can get my podcast here: Knee Deep Snow(just copy the link, friends!). Not that I would reccomend my shows (no really, I wouldn't.) I've already missed a bunch.. but my first show wasn't bad - so if you can, I'd say listen to that. I guess the one this week wasn't bad.. .but... well, you'll see. Oh, and as always, the first 15 min. or so are not my music - the archive just starts early.

off for more naps!
adrienne

Big Band Name Marathon Announcement

I'm only mildly partially kinda sorta maybe responsible for this. Most of these bands are the ones that went immediately into the favorites folder after I entered them into sonicbids. Some of them didn't even apply. They're just that big.


But woot for the Arctic Monkeys. That is one show I will definitely go to.

But then I was thinking - the 21+ venues... are they still not going to let me in? even with a pass? considering most of the venues are 21+ that's not cool.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

These thoughts have no connection to each other.

So - does Mark Wahlberg have some kind of deal with Kings of Leon? I find it very strange that every episode of this season's Entourage has had at least one KoL song in it. I've never known a show to do something like that...

Overheard In New York is one of the best sites on the internet. really. example:

Woman: He's not getting a new cell phone until the technology improves.
Man: Oh yeah, well I'm not commuting to work anymore until I get my flying car!

ha!

(Not) surprisingly enough, the Columbia area has a few quotes... each as tool-ish as the next.


Message boards frustrate me. I don't like how they turn into chat rooms. I mean, it's supposed to be about the band right? so shut up.

I went to a concert yesterday. It was The Picture/Benzos/Longwave. The Picture was good, but it's the kind of music I'd lay down or drive around to, not really dance-y concert stuff. Benzos very good. That was expected. thanks to WBAR I was on the Benzos list so it was especially cool because I didn't have to spend money. The singer cut his head open on what I suspect was a rogue guitar string (after one string on his broke he had to use another one where the strings weren't cut at the end) it was only for the last song, but the blood was dripping down his face. I found Longwave depressing. So did my friend. It was good enough, but then we left.

Podcasts? This is getting confusing.

well I plan to get good sleep tonight. then in the morning I get to haul it back to CMJ for some good ol' logging fun! (again)

BANDS

SO MUCH LOGGING.




so many band names. so many labels. we're over 4000 now - and I've most definitely done at least 40% of that sonicbids stuff.

I ADMIT I HAVE A PROBLEM

YES, I do read craiglist when I'm bored.
Yes, this is the best post ever:

"OY! I FORGOT TO GET A VIFE!"
Reply to:
Date: 2005-06-28, 9:40PM EDT


Nu, I vent to wisit mein mishpoche. Und mein deer modder, hoo I loff, she sez to me, "Lookit you! Yaw hendsome! Yaw smaht! But yaw fawty yiz olt. So vie arnchoo merreed awreddy?"
Pliz, Miss. Mehbee yew kin be mein vife und mek mein modder heppy und stop kvetching. Dot vood be nice. So pliz enser dis ed kvickly. But send uh peekshuh mit yaw enser. Mein modder dont vant no meeskeit in mein mishpoche.

WAIT! Nevermind. this post definitely wins my seal of approval:

a couple of honest losers - week eleven - 23

---

Reply to:
Date: 2005-06-28, 9:09PM EDT


so, there’s this nice walk around the block from where we live- they call it “the museum walk.” some of the world’s greatest art can be found in establishments along this saunter: MET, Guggenheim, Whitney, etc. to fully experience “the museum walk,” one is required to wake up early, and wear pants – two things we’re not very good at.

so, we figure, our living room doubles as a pretty sweet art studio: it’s got a table, chairs.

some artists we admire: Warhol, Picasso, Monet, Pollock. my roommate thinks he’s Van Gogh just because he wears a smock. what a piece of shit.

check out the exhibit below. both works of art – ours – and created in just one day. any girls interested in finger-painting? email us. any art collectors interested in one of our pieces, send best offer.


pictures from left to right:

picture 1: “so wait a minute…weren’t Kris-Kross just wearing smocks?”

picture 2: “it’s not so much art nouveau, or art-deco. it’s just really really good.”

picture 3: “i’ll never lose my keys again.”

picture 4: Talented And Gifted

PRIDE

I was looking at Something Awful's Photoshop Contest, and I thought in honor of Pride Week (just passed) I would show you my favorite:

see more hilarious entries here. (I highly reccomend page 6.)

LAND OF THE DEAD

Hey Cheifs! Looks like Glastonbury was pretty wet this year!


picture via mr. amazing coolness himself, Andrew Kendall.

oh, and land of the dead was an awful, poorly thought out movie.