Brock's Adventures Day 5: The Rock

When the steel door clanged shut behind me, the cold reality of where I was hit me. I was on the Rock.

-Darwin E. Coon, Alcatraz inmate # 1422

For many years of my life, I had always had the plan to visit Alcatraz. Some people pondered in wonderment over the Eiffel Tower, while others took up a solitary interest in collecting miniature lighthouses. I, on the other hand, always took an interest in Alcatraz. For some reason, the little island in the San Francisco bay held more fascination for me then any other destination. True, Lighthouses and the Eiffel tower are grand, beautiful things. Alcatraz on the other hand was by all accounts a dank, cold and dark prison. Like I said, I was entrapped by it. Naturally then, I knew I had to visit it the second I set foot in San Francisco. Little did I know that it would prove easier said then done.
When we finally arrived in the actual city of San Francisco, I couldn’t help but be astonished by the city’s enormity. Buildings upon buildings, people flowing around people, San Francisco was by all means a gobbet of civilization packed within its own grimace. Yet, instead of opting to walk around the city and see the sights, we headed straight for the touristy Pier 39.
Allegedly, Pier 39 had some good restaurants, and more importantly, they had a ticket booth where you could purchase tickets to see Alcatraz. Accompanied by a quickly dissolving line, this Alcatraz ticket booth was selling tickets to the small island in a matter of seconds. By the time I stepped up to the booth, an employee informed me that trips to the island had been sold out clear into the next week and that in a few moments it’d be sold out into the week following that. The only possible tickets left cost sixty dollars a piece and included a tour of the entire bay area, with Alcatraz being merely a highlight of the tour. I was crushed. But in that moment of despair, I fully understood the irony of the situation. Years ago the island’s prisoners did everything in their power to escape Alcatraz. Now, in our day and age, there was a two-week wait and a sixty-dollar fee to get on the island.
After that muddled disappointment I sullenly had lunch at a seafood restaurant on the pier. Mockingly, my table was positioned to look out into the bay and directly at Alcatraz Island. Sitting down, eating my lunch and looking at that island was in many ways a dashing of my own personal hopes. The food as ok, but I wasn’t impressed. The shrimp pizza that I ordered tasted rather bland, the strawberry punch too sweet, and the wooden chair seemed to dig into my back. Of course, I probably wouldn’t have brooded upon those minor discomforts in a normal situation. In fact, there was nothing truly wrong with the food or the accommodations. I was just unsatisfied with the whole ordeal. It didn’t help to be sitting there watching the Island’s lighthouse blink through the fog, a subtle reminder that somewhere out in the bay my ideal destination existed, and I couldn’t visit it.
There was one more ace up my sleeve to play though, and while it was a long shot, I had to try it. When I was walking along the pier glancing in the shop windows my family pointed out a little travel company to me. Nestled in the upper recesses of the pier, this travel company was really just a little booth similar to the one that had left me in my dejected state. Unlike that booth however, this dainty little den had no one standing in front of it. When I finally strode up to the counter and asked about tickets to Alcatraz I was greeted by a woman with a thickly slurred Ukrainian accent.
“You want to go to Rock, no? I get you there. Is 45 dollars. You go to Chinatown too.”
As it turned out, that little booth (manned by a Ukrainian family) was really just a ticket holding company that set aside passes for foolish tourists like myself. Usually, someone buys tickets to Alcatraz and either neglects to show up or a last minute emergency gets in the way. Likewise, this little company had anticipated the fact that some tourists wouldn’t be able to purchase tickets to Alcatraz through the main distribution company. Regarding that they had systematically purchased a number of tickets and were selling them for a slightly higher price.
Although it wasn’t exactly cheep, the little travel agency managed to get us tickets for that very day. Included in the deal was also a tour of Chinatown that we could go on whenever we wanted. We decided to hold off on Chinatown until later on in the trip, but we had to be at Alcatraz in less then an hour.

We made our way down to the pier as soon as we got the tickets, but as we came closer we noticed that at one of the numerous gift shops stationed around the dock there was a man signing books. As I came closer to that gift shop I noticed that the man selling and signing books was in all truth a former inmate of Alcatraz, Darwin E. Coon. Darwin’s book, entitled “Alcatraz, the True End of the Line” followed his exploits in crime and his stay in the notorious prison. Even more enticing, his book delved into some of the shadier characters that were kept at that prison, like the infamous Birdman, Robert Stroud. I figured that I needed something to read while I was there in San Francisco, and what better subject then a book on Alcatraz? So I purchased a copy and had him sign it…

“To Brock”

After standing there and talking with him for a little while he started to divulged some interesting facts about Alcatraz history, including how he was in one of the final groups of prisoners to be ushered off the island upon its closing. I thought it was fascinating that he had been in one of the final groups of prisoners to be taken off Alcatraz, but to him he relished the fact that he had been the island’s cook. “They always asked me to make spaghetti,” he reflected, “So I made spaghetti”. After hearing some of his experiences and getting him to sign my book I boarded the agency’s tour boat along with two of my brothers, Chase and Parker and our younger aunt Charyssa, and left for Alcatraz.
Once I was on the boat I headed up to the railing at the top to get a good glance of the ocean. It was a foggy day in San Francisco, and most of the bay was engulfed in a white haze. In a matter of minutes the dock we had previously been at had disappeared and nothing but the sea remained before our view. After a time we began to see the outlines of land in the distance. Little by little this land came into view and suspended above it was the consistent blinking of the lighthouse’s beacon. As the boat came closer, the land, enshrouded by the fog, revealed itself to be that tiny prison island I had wanted to visit ever since learning about it: Alcatraz.
As we approached the island I noticed some graffiti sprayed along the entrance to the barracks around the U.S. Penitentiary seal that read, “Indians welcome, Indian Land”. (Just to point out as a side point of interest, Native Americans occupied Alcatraz for 19 months starting on November 20th, 1969. It’s widely regarded as a cornerstone of the Native American efforts to regain their land.) Once we docked we quickly began our ascent up the hill towards the island’s peak. Walking along I noticed that there were ramps of stairs and walkways that cut into the island’s hill and led up towards the top of the island. Upon a closer inspection of these stairs (and some timely information later on) I found out that most of these structures were unsafe. Sure enough, tiny cracks and fissures marked the concrete, and gathered dust and rocks denoted that very few people had (currently) walked along those paths.
Eventually we reached the island’s magnum opus, the cell-house. The cell-house was an interesting aspect to the island’s architecture, especially because it was one of the buildings that remained standing (most of the other buildings, such as the warden’s quarters were gutted out by a voracious fire on the island long ago). Nothing more then a square shaped box, the cell-house stood atop the hill as a subtle reminder to the island’s visitors of what Alcatraz once was. Naturally, it was the center of the tour. When we came into the building tour guides handed out tape players and then directed us to the innards of the cell-house and the starting point of the island’s tour, a red line painted on the floor. Once we crossed the line, we started our tape players and began to listen to the history (and horrors) behind Alcatraz.
In retrospect, I don’t think I would have enjoyed myself as much if I hadn’t had that tape to listen to. I’d still be engaged, but hearing prisoners and correctional officers utter details about the island as I walked about the cell-house was indeed a treat. As we stalked around the gloomy prison the tape directed us to cells and historic positions along the way. The first of these things pointed out to us was the main hallway of the cell-house that the prisoners coined “Broadway”. Some inmates on the tape spoke of Broadway in a fond tone, while others seemed rattled by their past experiences on it. Most all of the prisoners though shared hushed stories about the gun galleries that faced either end of the two main cell blocks, Block B and C. These caged structures lying against the wall overlooked all of the prisoners and had been armed with numerous forms of weaponry during Alcatraz’ occupation. From here correctional officers could look out upon the cell-house and see any and everything a prisoner attempted to do. One point of interest during the tour was hearing the tape divulge the gory details of a violent escape attempt involving the gun galleries. Using metal sickles, one prisoner bent the bars the bars of the gallery and shimmied his way through, managing to get a hold of some guns in the process. After releasing some of his fellow inmates, the rioters then proceeded to lock up correctional officers in one of the cells. When the cell got full of officers, the prisoner would simply stroll over to it and open up on the officers with a machine gun. Along the floors of the cell house and on some of the walls were scorch marks that had been left over from that particularly nasty riot. When things got out of hand and the prisoners had reign of the cell-house, the island’s warden (Warden Johnson) called in army generals Frank Merill and Joe Stillwell to regain control of the situation. With equally violent tact, the two generals landed eighty-four marines on the island that then proceeded to bombard the cell-house with bazookas and grenades. This effort to “subdue” the prisoners resulted in the aftertaste of the cell-house’s scorch marks.
After showing us this gritty bit of history the tape guided us towards Alcatraz’ mess hall and kitchen. Gray and barren, the mess hall was known to be the most dangerous place on the island, as many prisoners would expel their frustrations during this period at the cost of guards or other inmates. With this in mind we were instructed to look up and take note of several canisters that lined the roof of the room. These canisters had been filled with tear gas just in case a deadly riot broke out in the mess hall. Although several riots took place in the mess hall, those canisters had never been triggered. Several of the tape’s commentators, both prisoners and guards alike expressed their belief that if they released the tear gas, any correctional officer inside the mess hall at the time wouldn’t make it out alive. Instead, they simply approached any riot with a quick blast from a shotgun and a stout order that the prisoners march back to “Broadway” immediately.

The kitchen was a particularly interesting piece of the island’s history though, because most prisoners reminisced that despite being a dank and cold place, Alcatraz always had fantastic food. One of those riots though was instigated by the island’s food, an item that for a time continued to show up on the prisoner’s plate day in and day out.
“We all told one another that if that damned spaghetti showed up one more time we would riot. So we went into the mess hall the next day and we looked down, and it was the damned spaghetti.”
Other highlights of the tour included showing us where some of Alcatraz’ most notorious prisoners’ cells were. Machine Gun Kelly was one of those diminutive figures, a character noted for being extremely dangerous. Although the tour did point out a location that was believed to be Al Capone’s cell, no one knows for sure where the famous gangster was kept. I guess it didn’t really matter though since he spent most of his time on the island in a hospital isolation cell. The tape did happen to point out the cells of the three men to ever escape Alcatraz, John Anglin, Clarence Anglin and Frank Lee Morris. The back walls of their cells was unlike the other prisoner’s cells in that each one had a hole burrowed through the reinforced concrete that led out of the island. The cells, still dressed up with paintings and blankets, also had the dummy heads of each prisoner lying snugly against a pillow. Those dummy heads were constructed by hair collected at the prison’s barbershop and actually looked quite realistic. With flushed cheeks and pink skin, I could see how they were mistaken as the visages of the escapees. Once the prisoners had escaped through the narrow tunnels they used simple raincoats to float across the bay and to land. To this day those three prisoners remain unaccounted for. Most historians and correctional officers believe that they simply drowned in San Francisco’s bay… Of course, most of the prisoners boasted with great pride that they were pretty sure that the Anglins and their companion had made it to shore and freedom.
There were so many different aspects to that tour that I now recall fondly. All I can say is that Alcatraz was well worth the money spent and that it lived up to my personal fascination. It was when we left the island on the final tour boat that I realized another great irony. Years ago prisoners were over joyous to leave that darkened hellhole, but in this day and age, I was rather saddened.

Small Brown Shirt

Small Brown Bike is having a t-shirt design contest. Do it! I don't have Photoshop at work so I'll have to do it from home. I did up a little preview, though. Simple, but powerful. Or maybe just cheesey.

Elements of Rules

I think the book Elements of Style is inappropriately titled. It should be Elements of Structure or Rules. It's mostly a boring reference book to make sure you're following the rules of English sentence structure. When you want to make sure you have the right conjugate adverb with the correct subjugate noun, etc. Sure, it's handy...when you're writing a thesis! Actually, it probably won't have to do much with the screenwriting process, but other writing you may have to do. For example, a letter to a lawyer or a studio executive.

It better not apply to the screenplay or it'll contradict with one of the other books we got -- The Screenwriter's Workbook by Syd Field, which I'm 3/4 of the way through (good book). A movie script is mostly dialogue. In Syd Field's book he says "people don't talk in clear and elegant prose. People talk in fragments, run-on sentences...dialogue is not elegant prose or iambic pentameter." I can't wait for the class!

Interview

There's a fantastic Radiohead interview over at WBCN.com that's worth checking out. Listen to it here.

Elements of today

Today I went over to my new Community College and picked up the three books needed for a screenwriting class I’m going to be taking with Gabe. I’m hoping that the class is good, but the books look to be well worth the money I spent. I’m especially happy that one of those books is the legendary Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. I doubt that this screenwriting class is going to focus upon the mechanics and rules of English diction. Hence, this book is going to be a valuable asset.
Speaking of writing, I’ve been working on my next post in my trip journal all day today. It’s going to be the longest post in the journal thus far, and it delves straight into my stay at San Francisco. I decided to cut out most of the stuff that happened between Santa Barbara and San Francisco due to the fact that none of it was really interesting. It was basically just a long drive up the coast and through the mountains. I did see some pretty scenery though, but words and paragraphs can’t express that. So if you think I skipped something, you’re absolutely right, I did. It wasn’t anything noteworthy though; I promise to keep the interesting tidbits of my trip intact.

CLICK!

I had my first batch of pictures developed from my new camera. Some were good, some not so good. Fortunately most of the ones that didn't come out so good were from "experimental" shots. Already I'm learning.

The track list for The Fire Theft's upcoming album is listed on their web site, right in the News section. Check it out! Also, on Hey Mercedes' Loses Control countdown section, yesterday they revealed the album cover, which is the rest of that picture on the top of that page. I do believe that's Damon?

The Blogger Equivalent of Jimmy Hoffa

That would be me.

My humblest apologies Gabe, I seem to have neglected my San Francisco journal.
You see (dear readers) I’m currently entangled in a few things. For one, I start my new math class in two weeks, and so I’ve been brushing up on my math skills in order to compensate with this class. I know that math isn’t really a big deal (unless you plan on becoming a mathematician), but I absolutely have to pass this class in order to open up my film production classes. It’s like playing a crappy mini-boss in a video game just so you can go on to the better stages…
I’m going to try to have my next installments up soon. Hopefully, I might even have the next part up sometime tonight (It probably won’t be till later though).

I agree that we’re going to have to post straight through the week (Our goal, yes!). However, we did well last week; on some days we had more then one post up on the blog for each one of us.

So I saw Seabiscuit, and I actually liked it. I mean, I’ve seen better films this year, but it wasn’t as sappy and sentimental as I thought it would be.

I’ve also been listening to that Year of the Rabbit CD, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the perfect companion to Failure’s “Fantastic Planet” and On’s “Shifting Skin”. I know a couple of people (Gabe and Alex included) who haven’t been fond of this new venture, but I think it pays off well. When listening to it I noticed that it's simply a blend of Ken Andrew’s two styles, the electronic pop of On and the space rock of Failure.
Of course, maybe I was just in the mood for it or something, but I think it’s pretty good.

More Cali!

Brock, where are you? Where's the San Francisco journal?

Perhaps sometime we will post every day a week straight, Sunday through Saturday. Let it be our goal.

Bah Monday

At least I've moved to my new desk at work. I didn't have much time to enjoy it, but hopefully tomorrow. That may result in more posts from me, as long as I don't get slammed at work.

Door to door

Nah, I don’t mind you removing the tables one bit. In fact, it actually looks better. Thanks a ton.

Ironically, I also went to Best Buy today. I didn’t pick up the 7 Television Commercials DVD though…but I did purchase the Year of the Rabbit CD. Gabe played it for me on the way to see The Casket Lottery in L.A., but I had decided that I would need to hear it again before I passed any solid judgment on it. Right now as I type away at this post I’m listening to it for the second time, just trying to absorb it. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Good point about Futurama and King of the Hill. King of the Hill has been very funny recently, and it’s steadily gotten that way over the years. I did see the first season out on DVD but I don’t remember that one well enough to warrant an immediate purchase.
One day I’ll have to watch Casablanca, I’ve never seen it either. It’s a classic of course, and some circles refer to it as the best movie of all time. Required viewing for us…

Mmm…steel cut oats. I really liked the steel cut oats they had in Santa Barbara. I thought about driving over to get some more, but I’ll have to try yours instead.

Casa Radiohead

I just got back from Best Buy. I purchased the Casablanca and Radiohead: 7 Television Commercials DVDs. Sweet. Can't wait to see them.

Since Monday, we've posted every day! Hooray for us!

Things I forgot to mention: Onelinedrawing. Good show. It was sweltering hot but Jonah knows how to put on a good show. This time around he had a backing band. He still played solo a song or three but it was cool to hear a full band. The Hulk. I saw it again and it was just as good. The scene with him and the tanks was awesome. I have to say it's one of the better CGI scenes around.

Brock, your Santa Barbara experience sounds interesting. Mmm, steel cut Irish oats. I have a can of some -- McCann's, imported from Ireland. I'll have to make you a bowl sometime!

Tables and Such

I hope you don't mind, Brock, but I removed your tables. Looks good.

Word on The Simpsons and Futurama. I think King of the Hill, 2nd Season comes out soon too. It's probably the least humorous of the three, but there are still some super dang funny episodes. I'm not sure which season, though, it became better. Man, how many times have they cancelled Futurama? Seems like a few and they kept bringing it back. They should've put it in place where all the other shows were failing, the slot Oliver Bean was in.

Fickle

Ok, so I’ve learned that the blog isn’t a fan of tables. My bad. I promise, the next few posts in my little series will have nothing to do with em. Sorry for the distress.

Check this out fans of Matt Groening, DVD’s for his two animated sit-coms are coming out between this month and next month, Futurama Volume 2 and The Simpsons Season 3. As you might know, The Simpsons started to get truly satirical around the third season, and the DVD is proof of that. In fact, some of my favorite episodes are going to be on this third DVD (like the episode where Homer wins an award from Mr. Burns for being sterile from nuclear radiation).
Regarding Futurama, you might also know that Fox sadly canceled the show a short while ago. I guess that’s what happens when the network keeps preempting primetime shows with Baseball games…
Bitterness aside though, the second volume of Futurama looks to be funny too. That’ll probably be my DVD madness for the next two moths. I still need to check out Solaris though. I think Gabe made a wise purchase, and I’ve also been considering giving that movie a second chance. Most likely I was too fickle the first time around and disregarded the film as “stupid” simply because I was overly confused. I do think that some of the film’s shots and ideas were brilliant.

Initech

I love the play on that company name from Office Space. Initech, sounds like: Anytech. Well, the company I work for can be filed under that generalization of tech companies. Today, I'm a bit joyous. I'm moving! No, not to the basement clutching my precious stapler while mumbling how I'll burn the place down. I'm actually "movin' on up." Pay raise? Promotion? If only! I'm litterly moving up, as in upstairs. Why am I so excited? Let me es-plain.

For the past year or so, I've been sitting in a hallway by a door. People constantly come in and out. There are a couple people that have the nasty habit of swinging the door wide open, as if they were twice their actual size. Of course that means I get to hear the door slam, whilst my papers blow all over the place. And that's not the worst part. There's a guy that sits right behind me who's as loud as DC-10 engine. He speaks 3-6 decibles louder than the average person. It's insane!! Finally, I'm getting away from it, in my own cube in a quiet area.

Where's my stapler!?

*sigh*

Ok, I've edited that last post at least ten times over and republished the blog, and the text for the Hearst's Castle bit still seems to be out of whack. Also, I tried to fix the large gaps in between the paragraphs, but no matter what I do, Blogger doesn't seem to update my code. I try again later, but it shouldn't look like that. *grumble*

Brock's Adventures Day 2-4: Of Hemp and the Homeless

The next day after leaving Gabe and Rebeckah, I joined up with my family and we drove up the coast to the small town of Santa Barbara. In the nighttime fog the ocean spray and jagged rocks of the shore contrasted brilliantly with the soft glow that emanated from the buildings and homes established along the road. It was very picturesque and even a touch eerie. To compliment the dark atmosphere I placed Nirvana’s Unplugged into the CD player and enjoyed the moody atmosphere. Finally, after about 2 hours of driving we arrived in Santa Barbara, or what I would later deem to be Santa Barbaric. My hotel room was rather nice, but it faced one of the main streets that ran through the little town, and as a result I had more then my fair glimpse of the homeless. Moreover, cars seemed to be driving by every few seconds due to the intersection being merely feet away. However, the window to my room was big enough that if I stood up to it I could see a large portion of the town as well as the mountainous regions in the distance.

Although the poverty made for a sad sight, it was nice to have a good view of Santa Barbara from my hotel room. Suffering from insomnia afforded me plenty of time to admire the nightlife of the streets as I tried to wrestle myself to sleep. Perhaps I’m being too critical of my insomniac inclinations though. You see, the neighbors above us felt this pressing need to play rap and hip hop music full blast from dusk to daybreak. Most of the residents of the hotel seemed to simply grin and bear it, and I didn’t really mind it too much. Once morning came though, I got a very different view of the town.

You see, down here in Phoenix we have this little sub-city called Tempe that’s positioned near the Arizona State University. The result is that Tempe has taken on the visage of your typical college town, another Oxford for example. My first night staying in Santa Barbara spawned the opinion that it was a barbaric little berg, besieged by destitution and unseemliness. Once daylight came however, the town of Santa Barbara was really no different from Tempe (save for the fact that an ocean surrounded Santa Barbara). Little coffee houses and restaurants offered breakfasts that departed from the typical bacon and eggs fare. At one place they had steel cut oats fresh from Ireland and poached eggs served on olive toast with artichoke garnish. Similarly, Santa Barbara boasted its own little independent music store similar to Tempe’s Stinkweeds. When I first saw it while strolling down the city streets I had sworn someone had carved out my own personal little haven for me. Littering the store windows and obscuring the insides were tons of great music posters. Most of all, the suggestive artwork of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief covered the shop window like wallpaper. I didn’t buy anything too special at that store, but I finally found a copy of Blur’s 13.
Two other stores I ran into at Santa Barbara were a comic store (where I caught up on my Spider-Man fix) and the infamous Church of Skatan’. Longtime skaters might know the Church by its well-known reputation of transforming an old Catholic Church into what is currently a skateboard store. True to form, it looked more like a Church on the inside than a skateboard store. Stained glass windows and red carpeting were contrasted with skateboard decks and wheels. Wooden pillars and the alters of worship were no longer adorned in religious testaments but now sported gigantic posters of skateboard pros like Chad Muska. It was hilarious to be sure…

When nighttime approached the pleasant little college town transformed once again from a peach-tile jungle into a neon-lit menagerie. I stopped and had dinner at this great little Mexican restaurant that was nestled in between two large buildings and down an alleyway, and I saw the city’s homeless march themselves out into the streets to display signs that read, “A city stricken by poverty” and of course the trademark “the end is near”.
(Keep in mind, I would later on learn that this was nothing compared to the mass poverty of San Francisco)

After staying Saturday night in my hotel room we got up bright and early the next day to begin our trek to San Francisco.


Hearst’s Castle:

Built many years ago by publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, Hearst’s Castle remains to be one of the most prominent historical house museums in the country. Once we had cleared Santa Barbara we came into San Simeon to briefly visit Hearst’s Castle. Unfortunately though, the last tour of the day had left the visiting center for the castle by the time we arrived. As a result, I had to scope out the castle through some coin-operated binoculars positioned on a little cliff. Even glancing at it from a distance though proved that Hearst’s Castle was quite large. Maybe next time I’m in that area I’ll actually take the guided tour.

Commercialicious

Oh, and Radiohead's 7 Television Commercials came out on DVD yesterday. I'm going to need to do me some shoppin'!!

Item 1 and 2

Of course I had to spell Ikea incorrectly. It's in my blood to have typing mishaps like that happen.

Good news for the Hulk! I'll be looking forward to that DVD. I think X-Men 2 is supposed to come out on DVD too around that time. I could be wrong, but if so then it'll be a good day indeed.

I should have my next post up today for my trip-blog dealy. I finished writing it but I need to work out a few things on it before I stick it up. It'll cover stuff that Gabe and you guys haven't heard yet, which is a good thing.

Hulk DVD

Hulk on DVD will be out October 28th. It will be a two disc set. Can't wait for that one!

No Ikea Boy Here

Oh, yeah. Day 2 we went to Ikea, but I only purchased some shelves and a couple stools. I have no room devoted to Ikea furniture and such. I think Fight Club had the wrong view of Ikea. They are the poor man's home furnishing store, not the store of the exclusive, rich preppy person.

Today the movie classic, Casablanca, comes out on DVD. I just might pick it up. Widely considered one of the best movies ever, a required classic. Despite it's reputation, I have yet to see it.

Complete as in boring

You're snubbing my vibe Gabe...hee hee. Yeah, I know that you're already familiar with my first day in California, but I wanted to create a complete guide to my trip in Cali. Day 1 to Day whatever, it has to be detailed! Besides, I wanted to talk about the show. I know you already gave a fantastic commentary on it, so I didn't want to step on your toes or anything. I'm just starting from page one so to speak.

So should I leave out the bit about you being an Ikia boy?

Better Off

I already know about your first day, I was there! Just kidding. There are a couple other site reader's that may want to know about Brock's first day. I'm looking forward to the following days, however.

Possiblies and Maybes is definitely an awesome CD. I've listened to it like crazy! That was the other treat of the show -- we got a copy of the CD before it came out. It's still not out! But if you're waiting for it, you won't be disappointed.

Brock’s Adventures in California, Day 1: Blessed/Blessed

“Hi guys, come on in,” Rocky Votolato said as Gabe, Rebeckah and myself entered into the living room of the appropriately named Zac’s house. Before us stood Rocky at the forefront of a small, but devoted group of underground music fans. Despite being right in the middle of his set the musician paid no mind to the intrusion of his new guests. Instead, he flashed a smile and turned right back into his song (which was yet another viable conception of Rocky’s hushed energy). It was here, in the living room of a homeowner named Zac that we gathered to see Rocky Votolato and his good friends The Casket Lottery play one of their most entertaining and intimate sets in personal memory. The blue carpet and stucco walls was every bit an intricate distinction of the band’s show as was their songs. Warm and personable, this felt like a moment in time that had been set aside for The Casket Lottery and Rocky to play to their fans, minus the obnoxious detractors (mostly) and venue politics. Proceeding his quiet but insightful set (concluded by what he deemed to be a new song, Alabaster) Rocky stepped aside for the main event: The Casket Lottery. After a short break and the instruments had been set up Nathan Ellis and his band set forth to conquer the crowd. Starting off with their notorious favorite, What I Built Last Night, The Casket Lottery engulfed that living room with honored classics like Jealousy on Tap and new classics like Since You and Sick.

In addition to these amazing songs the band’s personable tone led to some interesting commentary by their frontman. “This next song is for Rocky” he declared before playing On the Air, “Because if there was any justice, he’d be on the radio and not the crap that’s currently being played on it.” At other times a fan would occasionally venture forth with a request. “I’m sorry,” Ellis offered after hearing a request for Six Different Ways. “We don’t do well with requests.” While the last show they had played in Phoenix had been nice, this night’s performance showcased the band in rare form. Seemingly free of any inhibitions, they tore through each song with a lively happenstance. They were an innocent band having fun and experienced musicians seeping proficiency in the same breath. Perhaps it was the setting, or the audience, or a number of other factors, but The Casket Lottery delivered a solid set. Energetic and intimate, it was a setting we all dream about seeing our favorite band play in. Earlier in the evening we had all discussed the possibility of Zac’s venue actually being a house in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. Implications aside, it was in its own little way their answer to an episode of MTV’s “Unplugged”. It was an evening with The Casket Lottery and Rocky Votolato in the living room of a quiet and pleasant home. They’re cursed by a self-serving music industry, yes, but this night proved that they were blessed in their own unique way as well.



Possiblies and Maybes:

Years of recording have provided The Casket Lottery with their own unique armada of fan favorites and covers. Now, after gathering some of their most infamously unknown hits together, The Casket Lottery presents their fan base with Possiblies and Maybes, a shinny new work that completes their catalogue. It’s here that we can listen to some of their infamous sonic achievements, such as Lost At Sea or A Priest Walks Into A Bar. Meanwhile, other songs like Unteen and Synchronicity II spout forth from being darkened shut-ins to newfound gems. All in all, Possiblies and Maybes is a perfect collection for the fan desiring completeness in all of us. Moreover, it’s a treat to new fans that want to trace the band’s career up to their current point. Well worth the purchase, Possiblies and Maybes rarely left my CD player while I was in San Francisco. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.

Stardate . . .

Brock? Where are you? Where's your California journal? Ah, take your time.

Solaris does not have any deleted scenes! Rebekah mentioned that there could be a Director's Cut. Nooo! Oh well, I'd probably snag that one too.

Solaris

Well, today I purchased Solaris on DVD. I haven't seen it since the day it came out. At that time I didn't know what to think about it, but it'll probably live among the classics like 2001. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. It was so wierd, though, I didn't want to see it again for a long time. Now I'm ready. Plus, it has commentary from both Steve Soderbergh and James Cameron. Should prove to be insightful.

The Solaris message boards had discussions about an original, longer version. They were all hopeful that it would be on the DVD. It doesn't appear to be. The original screenplay is, however. Maybe if someone goes through it, they can find out what was cut.

I mean it

My trip diary by Friday, I promise. I've just been very busy since getting back from Cali. I've had to apply for school, pick out my classes, ensure that I've got financial aid, typical stuff.

Mr. Kotter

Welcome back, welcome back Mr. Brocker! I can't wait to here all about Brock's adventures! Weeee! I'm loopey. The workplace is crushing in my head, making me insane! Bwaa ha ha haa!

On a lighter note, I purchased a used, but fully functional, camera. It's the Canon AE-1 Program. Apparently a well respected camera. You can operate it manually so you can get all artistic, or it operates automatically too, for when you get lazy.

Return of the Californian

Hey hey ladies and gents, I’m back from my trip to California.
Look at poor Gabe! Bogged down by the prattling incessantness of work he’s delved into the sheer boredom of the American work force! I wish I had some stimulation of some kind for you Gabe, but I don’t. It’s good to be back here in Phoenix though. California is nice, but I missed the ravaging and oppressive heat that only our beloved hometown can provide.
I did see some cool stuff in Cali though, and I’ll be posting a travel journal of my experiences over the course of this week. Nothing big, but there is some funny and interesting stuff I wanted to share with you.

I guess that’s all for the moment. Oh, and one more thing: Big thanks to Gabe for keeping the blog alive and well while I was away. I really enjoyed reading your posts in the hotel lobby after a hard day of being a tourist. I think you’re right on with your thoughts regarding popular music. Let his post be a lesion to you guys out there! There’s plenty of good music to acquire beyond what the radio has to offer. Gabe, his wife and I experienced that first hand when we saw The Casket Lottery in L.A. You might as well take a chance too and download the awesome new Hey Mercedes MP3, Quality Revenge At Last.

Trust me, I’m promising you’ll feel better then better ever planned.

Office Space

Hating the monotony and boredom of work. Need . . . stimulation.

Down with the Masses

Today I'm just going to post an email I sent to a band list I'm on. We got into a discussion of popular music and independent music and such. It's just a small rant but I thought it said a lot so I'll share it.

Sure, like you said, not bad (writing formulaic, catchy songs) from a business standpoint. But, in my opinion, that’s exactly what makes it bad – from the independent, artistic point-of-view. There are a LOT of people that don't know there is more to music than what’s on the radio. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out if some people thought that’s where music comes from – the radio. And because the formulaic, cookie-cutter songs are so marketable and profitable, that stifles the artistic, independent songwriter that doesn’t get any air play. Those radio babies may never get the chance to hear something more. Granted most of them wouldn’t take to it because they’re too used to being spoon-fed the same thing for so long, but, there are those who would. And that small number can make quite a difference to the small, independent artist.

I don’t think N’Sync or Britney (or those that write their songs) are brilliant. I think they’re just greedy. I really don’t think it’s that difficult to write the catchy songs that bring in all the money. Then why don’t I do it and get rich? My heart’s not in it. And I think that’s what John was trying to say. There are “artists” that write songs for the sole intent and purpose of making money and getting famous. So, in that case they didn’t put any emotion, “heart and soul” into their songs, except for the “aspiration” to get rich and famous, which some people call “greed”. That’s their prerogative, though. They do it because they can. They have the huge market of those that so willingly wallow in the mirth of capitalism that is sprayed at them.

Then there are those that write music because it’s their way of expressing an emotion or emotions that are result of some experience or event in their lives and they had enough balls to share it with others. In other words, they write because they have to. Fame and riches don’t even enter their minds. I’m not saying some of wouldn’t ever want to get rich and famous, but it’s not part of their writing process.

Eggie

Ha, ha, a self-amusing inside joke about last night's Reggie and the Full Effect show. They had a back drop of Reggie in lights but the 'R' wasn't working.

The show was incredible. High energy, full of hilarity. They played a great variety, playing most of the songs from the first album. The whole band came out dressed like "Paco" - Bright red suits and ties, complete with fake hair and mustaches. Reggie may have been drunk-off-his-ass, but that didn't hinder his performance. They also had a guy in a bear suit that ran around, stage dove and pumped up the crowd. After Reggie played, Fluxation came out and played. (For those of you that don't know Reggie, he has a couple alter-egos). So, basically it was Reggie in a 1700s style British wig and jacket on roller skates. He did two Fluxation songs. He roller skated around the audience with a cordless mic on the first song, high-fiving people as he skated around. Then Common Demonitor came out - the whole band dressed in black with painted faces and gothic looking instruments. The "Finland" band played a couple of their hardcore hits. Hilarious stuff!! I hope they come again soon.

Dr. Octopus has been revealed.

Skywalking

Today we went up to the wine vineyards to see if we could get some free samples or something. It was very pretty country with some amazing mountain ranges, but very little vineyards seemed to be tourist friendly. Oh well, it was still a nice drive. There's some pretty country out there that you don't normally get to see in Arizona. After that I persuaded everyone to take a trip down to Marin County...home of Skywalker Rance and Industrial Light and Magic. Although they don't offer any tours, we did catch a glimpse of some interesting sights while driving down "Lucas Valley". (I can't believe he has a valley named after himself)
I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be ILM's offices off in the distance. Pretty neat.

I'm very dejected that HM didn't win the contest. Oh well...they'll get their video one way or another.

Revenge

I think it's very appropriate that Hey Mercedes posted their new mp3 that's titled Quality Revenge At Last after losing the MTV AMP contest. Will they get their quality revenge? I think so.

I really thought Taking Back Sunday would win but The Starting Line did. I hadn't heard of them as much. So yesterday I checked them out. Yikes! Just the same ol', same ol' teenie bop pop punk. Give me a break.

Little Dipper

Hum?! HUM?!!! *faints*

Happenings

Well, hellooo Brock!! Good to hear from you. Yes peoples, the blogs have been thin due to our extremely busy travel schedules. Unfortunately, for us, it's not a common occurence.

The Casket Lottery and Rocky Votolato show was awesome! It was in a house in the lovely area of Simi Valley. We were a bit late and missed some of Rocky's set. But the intimate setting proved very much enjoyable. I never heard The Casket Lottery sound so good, with the exception of a little hard to hear vocals. They're home and plan on recording, hopefully, their fourth full-length album. I really, really hope The Casket Lottery and Rocky gain momentum and noteriety in the industry. They're both very much underappreciated.

The Possiblies and Maybes CD is a great collection of Casket Lottery songs that were on 7"s, comps and unreleased material. I need to listen to Year of the Rabbit's CD more, or at a different time. I don't think I've been in the mood for it. If I was to give a first impression review on it, I'd say that it's OK, kind of boring. But, like I said, I'm most likely not in the mood for that music yet.

Hopefully Brock's reading this. Brock make sure your sitting down. Big news over the weekend is that Hum, yes Hum, the band that brought you "Stars" is getting together for a "one time reunion" to play at the Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama. The worst part of this is that it's going to be nearly impossible for me to catch this show! It's next month and too far away. The thought is cool. There's also the chance that it doesn't happen. But let's hope that it does happen, and that it goes so well that they reunite for idefinitely!

Yup, Brock, you have the first out-of-town, out-of-state blog for our site here. Alcatraz was cool. I think the most unique aspect of it was, that it's so close to San Francisco. I mean, you can see the whole city from there, an excellent view even. It must've drove some prisoners mad that civilization was so close, yet so hard to escape to.

The Traveling Blogger

I'm in San Fran at this very moment, sitting in the hotel, blogging on their computer. Can you believe it? I think this sets a record: The first non-Phoenix post on Eyes Like Static. I'm not going to write long posts here or anything, but I just wanted to check in and say "hi" to let you know you're not forgotten. I'll post a tour journal or something when I get back. I saw Alcatraz yesterday, amd man, was that a freaky place! I also got to meet a former inmate, a very nice man who happened to be releasing a book on the infamous prision. How quaint. Ok, that's all for now! I'll see you soon!

Fun on a Bun

Wow, that’s an utter ton of DVD’s Gabe. You’ll have to tell me if any of those have cool special features. I’d imagine the Willy Wonka DVD is pretty cool. I think there was supposed to be a whole smattering of production reels and things like that. I bet the Abyss DVD is cool too. I think that was the first film to ever use computer-generated imagery to create special effects. There’s probably some cool stuff on that disc as well.

Speaking of DVD’s and Special Editions, did any of you happen to hear about the new Weezer news? Well, I guess they’re working on their 5th album and planning to release a DVD just in time for the holiday seasons. This last bit really caught me off guard though: they’re releasing a Blue Album special edition. Huh? I’m utterly shocked by this turn of events, and I have to admit I’m also a bit curious. To be honest, I’m not sure if this could turn out to be good or bad. The Blue Album was the starting point of my CD collection. In fact it was the first album I listened to from start to finish. You can slam the Green Album all you like, but the Blue Album “laid the foundation" so to speak. Would a special edition of the album override the original? I’d imagine that there are others out there who feel the same way I do.
But then again, it could be cool. I have a friend who is a big Weezer fan and he mentioned the possibility of the entire album being redone in acoustic, or with lengthened jam-out sessions. While the special edition may be nothing more then a fancy package and maybe a few enhanced features my friend’s suggestion did have me favoring the idea. We’ll have to see.

Well, tomorrow I leave for L.A. to see The Casket Lottery and Rocky with Gabe and his wife Rebekah. After that I’m going to be departing L.A. and penetrating the grimace of San Francisco and The Rock. I’m so excited, for both The Casket Lottery/Rocky show and my trip to San Fran. Years upon years of Jerry Bruckheimer films and Phil Hartman spoofs have built up my anticipation for Alcatraz. Will it be the grand poobah of all stony lonesome? Or will it be the maximum security equivalent of Universal Studios? Either way, it should be fun.

I guess the only downside to my subsequent trip is that I’ll probably be unable to post here. Of course, if I do find access to a computer (at a reasonable price) then I’ll be sure to post my chronicles. It’ll be like a daily adventure! You can hop on over to Blogger, read about my mishaps in California, and then turn on an Indiana Jones film to complement the excitement. I can just imagine what a fantastic “trip-diary” would be like with me at the helm…

12:30 P.M. The hotel room smells and some seagulls ate my lunch.

It’s almost too astonishing to read.

I guess I should cover some stuff with you folks before my trip. First and foremost, I’ll be sure to tell you how the show in L.A. goes. I’m betting Gabe will have something to say too. I’m really excited to pick up the new CD “Possiblies and Maybes” (I’ll have plenty to say about that when I get back). Likewise, I need to pick up Year of the Rabbit’s debut venture.
Speaking of new music, I think the months of September and October are going to be…well quite frankly…insane. Hey Mercedes’ follow-up to Everynight Fire Works, Looses Control, hits the streets in October and just weeks before that Modest Mouse and The Fire Theft both release their new albums. Now, if those highly anticipated releases weren’t enough, Small Brown Bike plans to release its third LP The River Bed that very month. It’s going to be fun on a bun. In fact, if you get time, you should check out Small Brown Bike’s new MP3 “Safe in Sound” on their website. It’s actually quite good and gives us a taste of what the new album will be like.

Ok then, that’s all she wrote, for now at least.

I’ll try and blog once while I’m in California, if I can. If not, then the same time next week, we’ll have words. Crabtree and Evelyn here I come…

-Brock

Lameness

Man, we've been lame on the quantity of posts! Especially me!

I signed my wife up for Columbia House DVD so we could build up the collection. We got: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (SE), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen SE), The Princess Bride (SE), The Abyss (SE), Meet the Parents (SE) and Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail (SE). Sweetness! I always get Widescreen but I had to mention it for Willy Wonka because, at first, they only released a Full Screen version. Shame on them! But thanks to the outcries of the well informed DVD ethusiasts, they released a Widescreen version!

Year of the Rabbit out today!! Review at 11.

Pirate Acting

Just a reminder to the friendly forces lying in wait: The Hey Mercedes AMP contest goes on for one more week. I say the Hey Mercedes AMP because truly, no other band on there is worthy of the honor. I guess you emo kids out there are going to go stark raving mad over Taking Back Sunday, but if you’re a fan of Bob Nanna and the gang, then please vote for Hey Mercedes. In fact, vote multiple times!

So I saw Pirates of the Caribbean last night. Marco and Parker joined up with me and we decided to go out and see a movie. Ironically, it was actually pretty good. I mean, yeah, it had a stupid plot and some predictable 2-Dimensional characters. However, there was one thing that defined this movie, one thing that elevated it beyond a cheesy summer blockbuster into a genuinely entertaining flick: Johnny Depp. In a similar vein of Jude Law’s performance as Gigolo Joe or Hugh Jackman’s performance as Wolverine, Depp’s portrayal of a roguish Pirate elevated this film. Like a vortex of charisma and genuine interest, his performance made all of the other mediocre actors and actresses (and the sub-par plot) truly miraculous. As a result Pirates was a fun movie. Not exactly the kind of film I’d normally salivate over, but we all need some mindless entertainment every now and then. Go and see it if only because Depp’s pirate performance usurps Dustin Hoffman’s pirate acting.

Pirate acting…I can’t believe that’s what it all boils down to.

(Remember, Pirates Vote too!)

Possiblies and Maybes? Definitely.

I've been a limited poster recently. By next week I should be less busy at work.

Yes, The Casket Lottery's Possiblies and Maybes CD will be for sale during this tour. Should be anyway. I'm very much looking forward to it as well as the show. We'll most definitely work something out for Radiohead tickets that weekend.

Burning my travels clean

Looks like you’ll have to settle with a late post from me today.

So now I’m extra bitter about the week of the Casket Lottery and Year of the Rabbit show. You see I’ve learned that the tickets for the Radiohead shows in California will ironically go on sale while I’m in California. It’s like some kind of ironic kick in the jimmies, or some such. Gabe and I are going to work out some kind of back-up plan though regarding the purchase of the tickets. We’ve got a friend or two who might be able to hang around and purchase the tickets for us while we’re gone. By the way Gabe, Alex said he might be able to do it depending upon when the tickets go on sale. We’ll figure something out, we’ll figure something out. That seems to have become my little mantra during this whole dealy.
I am glad to be going though; it’s not every day that I get an opportunity to see both The Casket Lottery and Rocky Votolato. I’m looking to purchase some Rocky CDs, so this will be a good opportunity. Likewise, maybe the new TCL CD, “Possiblies and Maybes”, will be on sale.

After that I’m blowing San Diego and heading on up to San Francisco for a trip I already had planned there. I’ll probably take some pictures of Alcatraz for your viewing enjoyment. Well, more for my own personal novelty anyway.

So I guess this means I need to purchase and pack a few things with the impending trip in mind:

• An iPod charger


• A new book to read


• A portable toothbrush (heh heh)

And some other junk…

Say Goodbye

I’m truly sorry for the lack of posts, especially since I said on Monday that’d I’d be back to post some more. But you know how things always go; you get wrapped up in other things, reading books, getting work done, writing, and just chilling (or if you prefer, relaxing). Of course, it also helps to have something interesting to talk about…

Speaking of interesting items, I was planning on going to see the Year of the Rabbit show in San Diego on the 18th. However, due to certain inequities (namely me being under 21) I’m afraid I’m going to have to skip out on that one. In fact, that’s kind of the blunt of what I wanted to gripe about today: Year of the Rabbit’s tour being geared towards 21+ venues. Now, I can perfectly understand the reasoning behind venues that are 21 and over, and I’m not going to contend with the concrete laws. What truly bothers me though is that they’re limiting themselves to venues like this and as a result, alienating myself and other underage fans. Not that big of a deal, but last time I checked, my particular age group commanded considerable influence upon the music industry. I know, I know, whine, whine, whine; it’s all I do. I’m not naive enough to believe that this will isolate Year of the Rabbit from MTV plateaus…MTV and the industry structure have already taken care of that isolation. Yet, one cannot deny that these venues will have a level of impact upon the band’s profit.
Take me for example: I’m a youngish person with some cash to burn. By no means am I well to do, but I’m willing to go the extra mile and buy stuff I find enjoyment in. If I’d been able to attend Year of the Rabbit in San Diego, you had better believe I would have folded faster at the Merch-Booth then Superman on Laundry Day. Ultimately, that wasn’t meant to be. Oh well, more money for The Casket Lottery show.

OoooK, enough grating for now, I need to get back to my busy schedule of nothingness. It’s nice to be doing nothing for the moment. Alex once told me that I’d value it some day, and low and behold, the bell has tolled for thee.

Over Worked

Yawn, indeed! You'd think we were on vacation or something. I've been too busy at work and then when I get home! I had to blog just so I wouldn't be on too long of a non-blogging streak. Hopefully I'll have more time soon.

Yawn

I love the smell of blogger in the morning! Well, actually, it's almost noon...yeesh. I sure slept in late today.

I'll be back later to give yo the low-down on the down-low. (That was lame)

-Brock

Blured

I stayed far away from Think Tank. I ended up purchasing their self-titled album, Blur. It's the album that was before 13, although I almost bought 13. I'm glad I got this one though, because it's pretty great. "Beattlebum" and "You're so Great" are fantastic songs. I'll probably get 13 next, it has the great song "Trimm Trabb" on it.

Boy, think I used the word "great" enough? Greeeaaat...

Think Tank

I may need to check out Blur again. I did the same thing Brock's doing, but a year or two back. At that time I didn't dig their other songs. But recently I listened to a stream of their new album "Think Tank". It's the worst Blur I've heard. Apparently a few other fans don't like it either. I guess the guitarist left before this album. A Blur fan told me that his departure, explains the bad album. So Brock, avoid "Think Tank". I heard "13" is good.

Real life doesn't fit into little boxes that were drawn for it.

I think in the long run, most comic book movies are going to transform into deeper, more thoughtful ventures because of the Hulk. Yes, they are at the core of things, action films with big name casts. However, Gabe pointed out that Ang Lee has a track record of artistic films, and it showed big time in the Hulk. He took more liberty with the property and it paid off. Now, keep in mind that Chris Nolan is set to direct the next Batman film, another artistic director. After seeing the success of the Hulk on the first weekend in addition to the hiring of more story driven directors, I think a lot of comic book films in the future are going to be pushing for more thoughtful roots. Good points on it all Gabe. Very good. And hey, longer posts are good; you said we’d be doing fatter material here. Hee hee…

So I’m addicted to Blur ladies and gents, and now I have to go out and buy one of their albums. You see it all started with the song Coffee and TV that Gabe stuck on his mix CD. After listening to that song for a bit I eventually downloaded the music video with the dancing milk carton, a pinnacle that’s only matched in my opinion by the Buddy Holly or In Bloom videos. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was downloading their other songs. I also remembered that they did that crazy stadium song a few years back, “Song II”. However, I was more interested in their other stuff. Anyway, I think I’m going to pick up their self-titled album today. I checked out most of the songs on it and I like it very much.

Check you later!

Comic Flash

I’m going to forgo my Spider-Man essay for now. No, I’m not copping out! I just don’t have the time. I actually started it but the way I was going, it was going to be too long. I’ll sum it up by saying that character development could’ve been much better. It was just too flashy for me on a whole. Overall, though, it was pretty decent. It may have stuck to the original comic too closely. What!? Isn’t that a good thing? In my opinion, not really.

See, comic books themselves aren’t that deep. They’re mostly “flash” also. The majority of the comic is cool drawings and action. I’m not slamming that, it’s what they are and that’s perfectly fine. When they want to get deeper on a story, they do a graphic novel, a much longer version that you can fit more story into. Or, they run a long series. When a comic book gets made into a movie, though, it needs to build some depth. That’s what I prefer in a movie. I’d love to see some “exploration” on subjects that the comic books didn’t cover. For example, Peter Parker’s childhood. It would’ve been cool if they briefly explored that, even if it never was in the comics.

I must applaud Universal for going with Ang Lee to direct the Hulk. When you look at his filmography, he’s one of the least likely you’d expect to direct the Hulk. His previous movies are pretty deep and artsy. They include, The Wedding Banquet, Eat Drink Man Woman, Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, and the one that made him most famous – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I’ve seen most of these and they are excellent movies. I think he brought a lot of himself to Hulk and it showed.

It seems to be the trend with the studios for comic book movies - hire a lesser known director that has critically acclaimed movies. Then the studio makes up for the appeal by hiring big name actors. Those studios! Always copying each other!

Speaking of deep, artsy movies – Punch Drunk Love came out on DVD Tuesday. I hope to check out the extras this weekend.

Dang, I went rambling! I planned on a short post. Oh, well.

Mags

Not the magazine I was talking about, but I did look through that one also. Pretty cool. The one I was looking at, I think, was actually a program guide.

Eye candy

I bet you were looking at the latest issue of Cinefex, the magazine for special effects. I like that magazine a lot, and I think I have a couple of issues lying around here somewhere. I've got one on Minority Report and one on Episode II.

Bannana Fish?

Interesting title on that story. I'll have to check it out.

Cool picture! I just saw it today at lunch. I was at Border's Books & Music looking through some film magazine on the Hulk and it had that picture. It was some kind of guide to the Hulk, chock-full of information like interviews, the process, and effects. I think I'm going to pick it up tomorrow. It was pretty sweet.

Green mind

Whoo boy, look at this fancy new posting area! Oh wait, you can't see it. Right, right. Ok, sorry, I won't be a smart-ass or anything. Still, this is pretty nice. Blogger seems to be going a lot faster too!
So how's your week going so far? Mine's going great actually, I read a fantastic story today by the same guy who wrote The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger. That short story, A Perfect Day for Bannana Fish is in this book full of his amazing little short stories. Last night, I went over to my friend Marco's apartment and watched Ronin. I'd never seen that movie before, and I enjoyed it very much. Jean Reno was great in it, almost as good as he was in Leon.

Check out this cool picture/ad I found on TheForce.net for ILM.

I'll check in later or something!

-Brock

Peep

Just peeping in. Yesterday I tried to blog but Blogger was updating. There's a different look to the posting part (not here, when writing). It seems pretty cool. Too bad they didn't add anymore HTML tools.

Character development over flash...you decide

Pretty weak? Well, I am excited to see what Gabe has to say about Spider-Man. I might not agree with him on this one, but still, he always provides some valid points. I do agree that out of the two films, Hulk and Spidey, Spidey is the razzle-dazzle of the two. Ang Lee really seemed to focus on the story and character development behind Bruce Banner.

Spider

I'm going to have to post my points about Spider-Man. After seeing it about five times, I've come to see the shortfalls. On a side-by-side comparison to the Hulk, I'm afraid Spider-Man's pretty weak.

On a roll

Man oh man, where to start? Well, first of all, I just wanted to say that I was highly impressed by the Hulk. I knew it was going to be a great movie, but I did have some doubts about it. Two of those doubts remained very heavily in mind prior to watching the film: Bruce Banner’s father and the CGI creation of the Hulk.
Bruce Banner’s father was one of the most prominent concerns that I had about this film, not because I doubted Ang Lee’s ability to include him in the Hulk’s origin, nor because I neglected Nick Nolte’s acting talent. Rather, I was dubious about the role Bruce’s father played in his life, particularly in the transformation of the Hulk. As many people might recall, the Hulk’s creation was the result of Bruce Banner’s own anger in conjunction with a radioactive nuclear blast. Banner’s own fault though was in letting the Hulk gain control of his life; it was his downfall that he brought upon himself, not his father’s. The movie on the other hand presents a very different viewpoint into the matter, showing that it was the father who implanted the hidden ability in his son. A nuclear accident was thankfully the catalyst that ultimately released the Hulk, but the root of Banner’s transformation came from his father’s genetic tampering. However, I later recalled that Bruce Banner had an abusive father in the comics, a father who had destructive ramifications upon his family. With that in mind, Ang Lee’s adaptation of the Hulk remains faithful to the storyline of the comic book. True, some changes are present, but that almost always happens with a comic book film.
I think what sealed my acceptance of Bruce’s father however was Nolte’s brilliant performance. His charisma, hatred, abusiveness and outright insanity are perfectly portrayed by Nolte. If the Academy Awards weren’t so repulsed by comic book movies then I’d suggest that Nolte be given the award for best supporting actor. One of the best moments of the entire film is when Bruce is confronted by his father inside an army warehouse wired with electricity, a confounding situation made even more dramatic by Nolte’s sharp berating.

The other issue I had with the Hulk was the CGI, created by none other then George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic. ILM has done good work in the past with films like Star Wars, Minority Report and Artificial Intelligence, but I didn’t think they could pull the Hulk off. The Super Bowl preview only served to add fuel to my disgruntlement, a fire that was only quenched by actually seeing Hulk in action on the big screen. I tell you, one of the most fulfilling moments to ever take place in a comic book film had to be seeing Hulk bound across the desert in hot pursuit by the United States Army. He smashed tanks, he brought down helicopters from the sky, and he even grappled with airborne missiles. Ang Lee certainly knew how to bring Hulk’s action to life, and ILM did a fantastic job in animating the Hulk. Particularly engaging is the transformations that the Hulk and Bruce Banner endures throughout the film. If Nolte deserves to win supporting actor then Industrial Light and Magic at least deserves a nomination for the effects award.

All around, I liked the movie very much. For me, it stands next to Spider-Man as my second favorite comic book movie. Of course, Batman is still number one, and I doubt that anything is going to usurp the Dark Knight’s position save for another Batman film. Still, with X-Men 2, Daredevil, and now the Hulk, I’d say that Marvel is on a roll.

Forthcomming...

I'll put up a review soon of the Hulk, or some thoughts on it at least. I liked it a lot too, and I agree with much of Gabe's viewpoints on it. However, I don't quite agree with his take on Spider-Man...

Give me some time to gather my thoughts.

Chicago Pics

Check out some pictures I took on my Chicago trip. Unfortunately I used up most of the film by the time we got to the show. So I only have a picture of Rocky and none of The Casket Lottery or Small Brown Bike.

Hulk Good

Sorry for the lack of posts. It’s been pretty thin, especially from me. We’ll make up for it with fat posts.

Well, Hulk indeed smashed the weekend box office. It made a cool $62.6 million. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had all the elements – cinematography, editing, acting, action, direction, etc. And it nailed most of those right on the head. It’s not the best movie ever, probably wouldn’t be in my top 20, but it’s the best comic book adaptation movie since Batman. Hopefully Christopher Nolan’s Batman comes out soon. The original’s starting to look aged compared to all these new comic book movies. After all, it is 12 years old!

What I liked most about the Hulk was that it had depth and feeling, a lot more than the other comic book movies to come out recently. It centered on Bruce and the traumatic experience he went through as a child which was repressed deep inside. A loving Betty Ross coaxed Bruce to search through his mind to help remember what happened. It wasn’t until the end, when his own father related to him that fateful occurrence, that he learned of it. I loved how the tension and awkwardness between Bruce and his father played out. Nolte provided an outstanding performance for that role.

The Hulk himself was partly a manifestation of the rage resulting from his childhood trauma. Many people had gripes about the CGI representation of the Hulk, but it was appropriate and well done. You can’t please everyone. Especially outstanding was Hulk’s facial expressions. The CGI team went through a lot of painstaking work to get Hulk to be an Oscar caliber actor. And with his performance, he rightly could be. He was rage and anger, but just wanted to be left alone. He also meant no harm. It’s a notable mention that Hulk did not kill anyone. After 40+ years of the Hulk, I can’t believe people still have problems with his pants staying on. It has nothing to do with the physicality of it, it’s simply for decency and that’s that. Imagine having to do every drawing or every movie shot strategically just to avoid his “area.” Obviously it’s easier for the pants to just stay on.

Hulk had its weak moments – mostly the slow pace of the beginning and the countless sequences of microscopic close-ups. Overall, however, it was well done with characters and a story you could feel for. I’d give it **** out of five.

FAVORITE COMIC BOOK ADAPTATION MOVIES
1. Batman
2. Hulk
3. Spider-Man/Daredevil (Daredevil may beat out Spidey. I need to see DD again to know for sure.)
4. X-Men 2
5. Batman II

The more I see Spider-Man the less I like it. It seems like I’ve overlooked all the eye-candy. In fact, I think it’s 75% eye-candy and 25% story. It’s very flashy and kidsy. I still like it overall, though. It does hold a number three spot (for now).

Hulk Smash box office competition!

Tomorrow's the Hulk ladies and gents...hurrah hurrah! Sorry for the lack of posts today, I was busy with some stuff.

Tomorrow we will start fresh, I promise.

Insert Witty Title Here

I have a friend who loves Taking Back Sunday. Needless to say, he has no knowledge that this poll exists. Oh wait, I gave him a link to this blog once...maybe he does know! Well, anyway, vote for Hey Mercedes.

Vote Hey Mercedes

Yes, do what Brock says! The other bands pretty much suck; take my word for it if you don't already know. Taking Back Sunday is a pretty popular band on there, however. The masses of teenie bopper pop-punks may overtake us. Please, nooooo!

Hulk getting good reviews. Hulk happy.

Mission: do what Brock says

Ok Eyes Like Static fans (both of you), I've got a mission for ya. You see, there's this AMP Band Brawl going on, and in this brawl several bands go head to head to win a chance to have their own music video recorded free of charge. One of the groups entered in this contest is Hey Mercedes. (They are in the link on your right, under the Wire) I want you to go to the Brawl site and vote for Mercedes so they can get a free music video. Hey Mercedes has never done a music video before, and I think if they got the chance, it'd be great. All of their Vargrant friends have music videos...Saves the Day, Reggie and the Full Effect, the Get Up Kids, Face to Face...let's let Bob Nanna and his crew to take a crack at it.

In other news, looks like Gabe and I are going tour crazy over the Radiohead news. Hopefully, we'll both get a chance to see them in California, and maybe Gabe will get to see them in his home state of Colorado. It also seems that The Casket Lottery is going to be playing in California in July, so it's a given that we'll be going there as well. Unfortunately it looks like I'll be missing the Reggie and the Full Effect show here in Phoenix due to me being out of town. Oh well...between The Casket Lottery and Radiohead, I'm happy.

I can't wait to see the free shirt Gabe got from Nathan; it sounds like they had an awesome time in Chicago. I agree with the fact that Nathan is a great guitarist...I think that often goes unnoticed. Speaking of Rocky Votolato, I'm really into the song that Gabe stuck on that mix CD. I'll have to shell out some cash for some of Rocky's albums.

Well, that's all from me for today. Remember to vote in the band brawl kiddies!

-Brock

Gracious

Good restaurant review Gabe! It sounds tasty...

Beckah is over here hanging out, she says your posts are too long. Heh heh.

Intensity

Well, I made it back alive from Chicago, the “Windy City!” The hotel I stayed at had a computer with Internet access, but it was $15.00 for an hour or $5.00 for 15 minutes. Screw that! So I had to wait until I got back to blog.

First of all, good review on Hail to the Thief by Brock. Maybe mine should be something to the affect of: “what Brock said.” No, I’ll post a little something.

Let me start off on my post of Chicago with a restaurant review. The place – Sal & Carvao. This was a random pick from the local area guide that’s placed in hotel rooms. It was described as a “Brazilian Steakhouse”. That alone perked my curiosity. They have a fixed price for dining, then there’s drinks and dessert. It was meat heaven! You get a salad bar that is loaded with many different vegetables, including a few that may have been native to Brazil (all I know is that I’ve never seen them before). The place slow cooks fourteen different meats on skewers, all flavored with delicious spices. Each diner gets a coin with a green and red side. You flip it to green when you’re ready to gorge and to red when you need a break. Waiters dressed in authentic Brazilian garb come around with meat and carve it right on the table. I’m guessing I had twelve of the fourteen meats they had! My favorite was the garlic steak – tender, juicy, and full of flavor! I ate until I was ready to burst. You have to at $38 a plate. I guess that’s the only restaurant, so if you want to go, you’ll have to make a trip to Chicago.

The next day we visited the downtown area. What a cool city! We did the Sears Tower, going up the 103rd floor! I took some pictures from there. If they come out, I’ll post them.

Saturday night was the Small Brown Bike/Casket Lottery show. First off was Charlevoix, whom we happened to see here in Phoenix when Brock and I saw Small Brown Bike here. Then Rocky Votolato went on. He’s good friends with The Casket Lottery and also opened for them when we saw TCL here in Phoenix. He did a very good set, despite being very tired from having just flown in from L.A.

The Casket Lottery did an awesome set also, though it was a bit short. They did a new song, which sounds very awesome, and a couple classics. They seemed very into it and sounded the best I’ve heard them. I think they play too loud, though, as it gets very distorted at times. When they were doing quiet parts, you could hear how good of a guitarist Nathan is. They also played a couple from the SBB/TCL EP on their own.

Small Brown Bike was intense. The crowd was big and energetic for both bands. It was nice to finally be part of a crowd like that. Phoenix is lame in that category, though they did have a decent crowd size for SBB. They also played a song from the EP and then did “Wrong Hometown” with Nathan and Stacey from TCL. The crowd loved it! Nathan had that nervous look – “I hope I don’t screw up the lyrics because I haven’t sung in it in a while.” He did mess up a bit on the last line but no one noticed and all was happy.

I spoke with Nathan before the show and he was ultra-impressed that my wife and I came all the way up from Phoenix to see them. So much so that he gave us both free shirts! We tried to pay for them (knowing they don’t make much money) but he wouldn’t have it. Also, apparently they were going to do “Under Pressure” with SBB but SBB arrived too late for them to practice it. Dang nabit!! Oh, well.

I think this post got too long. I taped the show and think it came out good. Perhaps I’ll post an mp3 or two from it. It was also cool to be at the The Fireside Bowl, knowing Braid had played many a show there, including one of their last. A piece of history.

Woo hoo!

Radiohead just confirmed more American tour dates, and they're hitting California...several times over. I'm going, for sure.

woo hoo!

To myself

Looks like we've got the blog to ourselves until Sunday...we'll have to make the most of it. *Lights the carpet on fire*

Ok, maybe not that far...

So that was my massive, big, drawn-out Radiohead review. Actually, I'm quite proud of myself. I usually write 5 or 7 pages.

Today was pretty good. I watched the Blur video "Coffee and TV", visited the comic shop and posted my review. Also, I saw Radiohead's plans for the first month of their United States tour in August. I won't be able to go to the other dates, but I'm strongly considering the 28th in Seattle. It'd be cool if I could wrangle someone in on it, but we'll see. The thing is, that's just the August dates. Who knows what they'll do in September? Perhaps Cali, maybe even Zona. At the same time, if I miss out on the Seattle date, I could miss out on my chance to see them. Choices, choices. At least I've got two weeks to decide before tickets go on sale.

See you tomorrow,

-Brock

Radiohead in its right place

When the music industry last saw Radiohead, the band had unleashed 2001’s sister album to 2000’s Kid A, the jumbled Amnesiac. Amnesiac and Kid A both fared very well critically and commercially (Kid A took the number one spot on the U.S. charts) and both albums spawned a new legion of fans. However, there was one drawback: Many of the band’s older fans felt turned off by the new synthesized sound. Perhaps after the fantastic presence exhibited by OK Computer some felt that Radiohead had simply reached their peak. Meanwhile others discarded the electronic movement as artistic inspiration, similar to the fate that assaulted U2 at one time. Whatever the reason, Kid A and Amnesiac made an impact (for the record, I love both albums) and Radiohead continued to foster themselves as one of the next great rock bands. In the period after Amnesiac though a new climate entered the music scene, a reemergence of electric guitars in favor of electric keyboards. Bands like the White Stripes and the Strokes popularized the sketchy, rock sound of heavy guitar-work, something that had been absent from Kid A and Amnesiac. Other bands were outright bastardizations of Radiohead (Coldplay gets the gold here).
Just as the music industry was vastly changing, so too was the political climate of the world. Terrorism, rising oil prices, controversial elections and congruent wars littered the landscape and fueled CNN. Finally, after two years, Radiohead returns, shaped and molded by these subsequent events, to release their sixth studio album, Hail to the Thief.

Hail to the Thief, despite popular belief, isn’t OK Computer 2. For that matter, it isn’t Kid C, or Amnesiac version 2.0. One listen to Hail to the Thief reveals the workings of a band that has learned their lesions from OK Computer and the duet of Kid Amnesiac. Likewise, Thief calls to mind the earlier examples of Pablo Honey and The Bends. All of these influences and unique sounds blend together and interlace to create the ultimate result of Radiohead’s years of recording: The mastery of their sound.
This mastery is present in nearly all of the songs, jutting out from the record like jagged icicles raging between one another. On one hand Radiohead has their electronic experimentation, and on the other their precision guitar-work. Weaving the two together, Radiohead makes Thief an enjoyable, almost catchy album. 2+2=5 starts off with Johnny Greenwood plugging his guitar into an amplifier, quite obviously a sheer tease directed to the band’s guitar fans. Frothing forth with a mellow pace, 2+2=5 seems to surge with underlying energy and anger. The subtle guitar-work mocks the listener, reminding them of what Radiohead was capable of during the Bends, what they can do. And then they do it. 2+2=5 explodes in a furry of Yorke’s anger and the band’s edgy resonance. Immediately after the song implodes upon itself, the album shifts to the electronic tinged beats of Sit Down, Stand Up, a piano laden venture that calls to mind some of Radiohead’s earlier experimentation. Clashes like this are prominent on Hail to the Thief; Sail to the Moon is followed by Backdrifts while the Gloaming leads into the tribal There, There. It’s a real battlefield on Radiohead’s sixth album, a place where the mastery of Radiohead’s soaring guitars brushes up against the bitter self-loathing of inspired electronics. In this battlefield the only thing that keeps all of Radiohead’s subsequent styles in check is Yorke’s beautifully haunting voice. Thankfully, unlike Radiohead’s last two ventures, Yorke’s voice is for the most part unhindered by electronic abstracting (although, that isn’t to say that I disproved of it for Kid A and Amnesiac). Amidst the war between electronica and rock one thing becomes abundantly clear through Yorke’s howling din: Hail to the Thief is a product of its timeline, a commentary on the world we live in. But you knew that already, didn’t you? Still, there are some moments on the album that are entirely unique while at the same time remaining connected to Yorke’s feelings of doom and gloom. One such song is the amazingly ethereal track “Sail to the Moon”. Here, Yorke isn’t berating his listeners for choosing undemocratic world leaders, nor is he pondering the impending fate that rests upon the world’s shoulders. Rather, he looks forth into the future of his son’s life with an air of wonderment. “Maybe you’ll be president, but know right from wrong” he asks. “Or in the flood, you’ll build an ark, and sail us to the moon” his darker connotations shine through.
Here, in the doom, the gloom and Yorke’s hopeful wishes, one other thing becomes abundantly clear: Out of every other Radiohead album, this one is the most fun to listen to. Hail to the Thief is truly a mastery of Radiohead’s style, the band sitting back and doing what they do best. It radiates the boundless energy of Pablo Honey without all of the grunge album’s naivety. It deplores the dehumanization of society and the greater evil lurking in the world, like OK Computer. It demonstrates the feelings of alienation given in the Bends, and it extends the introverted glance at one’s self that Kid A and Amnesiac provided. It’s experimentation under restriction. It’s alternative rock without the convulsions. It’s Radiohead having fun. Good thing, because it’s fun to listen to.

It’s better to spend a night with Thom Yorke in a bunker than with Chris Martin and Gwyneth after all!

Favorite tracks:

I Will: Fans will remember this song as a previously unreleased track that emerged around the period of OK Computer. In the inspired vein of Nude and Big Boots, I Will seems to be a sheer Yorke track. It’s kind of short though…
Myxamatosis: It’s like a kick in the jimmies!
Sail to the Moon: Move over Pyramid Song, Sail to the Moon is another one of Radiohead’s epic piano masterpieces. With Yorke’s crooning voice at the helm, the song features an electric guitar that seems to mold itself around the prominent piano.
A Wolf at the Door: Quite possibly the best track on Hail to the Thief, and easily one of the best tracks Radiohead has written in years. A Wolf at the Door seems to picture Thom Yorke pushing up against the door to his house in distress as the elements of a troubled world close in on him. One interesting tidbit to keep in mind is the fact that this track is completely written by Johnny Greenwood, Radiohead’s guitarist. He also wrote several other tracks on Thief.

Windy City

Glad you like the mix, Brock! Well, I'm off to Chicago! Bu-Bye!

The Late Post Strikes Back

Radiohead review. Tomorrow. I promise.

I can't write the darned thing forever. Besides, I want it to be extra good. Also, I might put a goodie up this weekend.

I'm just checking in to let you guys know that I just finished listening to Gabe's mix CD. All I can say: wow.

Slammed

Man, I've been slammed at work! I'll be pretty busy tomorrow and the beginning of next week. Pretty unusual for me.

Well, I listened to my taping of the Jets to Brazil show. It came out pretty decent. I messed up when it first started. It was my first time, so, cut me a break. The obnoxiously loud people didn't stand out too bad on the recording. When I get back from Chicago (and get a bigger hard drive) I'll put that show on CD.

I've been listening to Radiohead's Hail to the Thief like crazy! I would like to put up a review soon too. For now I'll just say that my two favorite songs are "Where I End and You Begin" and "A Wolf at the Door". As a friend at work put it "there so good I want to weep."

Radiohead returns

I'll have a review up soon...tonight or tomorrow...but here's a preview:

Thom Yorke speaking with Coldplay: We can wipe you out anytime.

Till then,

-Brock

Late Post

Let it be know that this is my latest post ever! 10:00 p.m. I just couldn't let the day go by without one. The meat will be served tomorrow.

All Things Good and Nice

Above the earth, beneath the sky, with eyes like static...

Last night was fantastic: Gabe, myself and our friend Alex joined up to go see Jets to Brazil at the new Nita’s Hideaway, and the show didn’t disappoint. From the get go it was an energetic and lively performance. The guitar work, the new drummer and the keyboarding all came together to create an invigorating experience. Reaming with the energy (and subtle grandeur) found on their albums, Jets churned out a cool set with some coveted classics. Part of the magic though came from the fact that this was the first time I’d seen Jets to Brazil live. Gabe mentioned in passing that they put on a good show and as a result I had coveted such a concert for a long time. I couldn’t help but smile to anyone and everyone when they played live versions of infamous tracks like “Sea Anemone” and “Chinatown”. Their music is one of my lesser-spoken tastes; ultimately they get lost in my torrent of praise for groups like Radiohead or The Casket Lottery. Nevertheless, their music made a giant impression upon me. As you may have noticed, our blog is even named after a lyric in their song “I Typed for Miles”. (I got it off a list of potential band names Gabe sent me) Regretfully, they didn’t play that song last night, although plenty of people spouted out requests for it.

I think Gabe’s recording went over well too. He hasn’t said anything about it, but I think it should turn out ok. Thankfully, no one patted us down.

P.S. I owe Gabe some moolah, (he got me Hail to the Thief: Limited Edition).

Slip into the Vortex

That is indeed strange, Brock. Freaky deaky! That was a wierd saying. May I never use it again. I failed to post Friday because I took the day off from work and spent the day painting a wall at home. If you didn't already know, I blog most of the time from work. It's a vortex in itself, that I can't seem to get out of! Help! Yep, so blogging is one of the highlights of my work day. Woo hoo!

Jets to Brazil will be awesome! They were last time I saw them. I may be taping the show tonight if a friend can come over with his stuff. Want a copy? Email me!

Hail to the Thief! Can't wait!

Friday I'm off to Chicago. I'll be seeing the Casket Lottery, Small Brown Bike, Rocky Votolato show there. If I happen to run into a public computer with Internet access, I'll blog from the Windy City. If not, I'll blog all about it when I get back!

There are stories of coincidence and chance, of intersections and strange things told

Well folks, I seem to have crawled out of the social lethargy that held a grip on me over the weekend, and as a result, I’m now primed and ready for a week of blogging. Good thing too, because this is going to be a crazy week. For starters, we have the Jets to Brazil show tonight; a group Gabe and I never got to review here on the blog due to their Phoenix cancellation. We’ll be sure to tell you how it goes tonight. I’m expecting it to be fantastic, but we’ll give you the lowdown regardless. Second, we have the release of Radiohead’s sixth studio album tomorrow, Hail to the Thief. If you’ve been following our posts for the past few weeks you’ve probably noticed that Gabe and I have been discussing this new album rather frequently. I’m very excited to get it in my palms and I know that from the pirated tracks floating around the net that it’s going to be well worth the wait. I’m sure that I’ll have plenty to say in the coming days about Thief.

Let’s talk about the here and the now though, particularly my newfound ability to manipulate coincidence. Take Gabe’s mix for example: He put Golden on the first draft of the mix, a Failure song that I had discovered just a few days earlier. Last week though, the coincidences seemed to extend beyond the realm of mix tapes and into chance encounters. For instance, I went to the mall on Wednesday to window-shop and eat lunch. It was nice, and I un-expectantly ran into a friend from my previous communications class. Matt was his name, and he was an all around nice person. It was good to see him and catch up on how things have been since the communications class. However, chance encounters are fun, but they soon became freaky. Fast forward to the next day when I was in Best Buy purchasing some music, namely The White Stripes and Modest Mouse, when suddenly I’m tapped on the shoulder by the person behind me in line. I turn around and see Matt…again. Two days, two chance encounters, I felt like I had crossed over from my life into some weird Paul Thomas Anderson film.

Still, I let it go, and I went about my usual business. Fast forward a few more days and I was in the waiting room of the doctor’s office, reading, when all of a sudden I hear a familiar voice. Turns out it was another classmate from the same damned communication class, Hector. Now I was freaked out. These chance encounters have moved beyond a few instances in Best Buy to my doctor’s office. Next thing you know I’ll wake up and find that the teacher moved in next-door or some horrible twist of fate.

Now if only I could figure out how to use this anomaly for my own ends…