The Outsiders Looking In

Favorite TV of 2011

2012-02-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

Missed the Cut: The Layover
Honorable Mention: The Office
Runner-up: No Reservations

10. The Good Wife
9. Game of Thrones
8. 30 Rock
7. Downton Abbey
6. Archer
5. Justified
4. Boardwalk Empire
3. Parks & Recreation
2. Mad Men (placeholder for Breaking Bad)
1. Community

Favorite Films of 2011

2012-02-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

Going to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Artist this week fingers crossed. click the link for Scott's a-tad-more-authoritative list.

Missed the cut: The Ides of March

Honorable Mention: The Descendents got to me. feel like I've been to Hawaii

Runner-Up: 50/50 for hosting some great Rogan moments and making Seattle look habitable.

10. Terry: John C. Reilly>Clooney in the head-to-head of lost husbands shipwrecked among youths
9. Drive: Action hasn't looked so good since.....
8. Everything Must Go: Along with Stranger than Fiction, Ferrell reveals himself as a more compelling dramatic lead than Penn
7. Moneyball: feel like I should mention Jonah Hill, if only because I'm shouting out every other schlub I love
6. Another Earth: Gorgeously captures fall, winter and spring in Connecticut. hottest high school janitor ever
5. Green Hornet: Seth Rogan can deliver a goddamn line. It helps when he writes them.
4. The Muppets: Jason Segel is a boss. you know the through-line of friendships just drifting away unless you work at them got to me.
3. Midnight in Paris: Indulgent yet light on it's feet
2. Tree of Life: too beautiful for words. I wanted to spend ages in the Texas Malick made. would have bought admission for a third time, but I dreaded the Penn scenes. They probably weren't that bad, but when they yank you out of a summer twilight in the 60's that puts Mad Men to shame...
1. Bridesmaids: never laughed so much in a theater AND it dealt with middle-class poverty in a real way.

Favorite Albums of 2011

2012-02-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

Comically late. Still playing lots of catch-up resulting from being computer-less for 10 months of the year. Time and tide wait for no man.

Missed the Cut: Drake- Take Care
Honorable Mention: Hilarious- Louis C.K.
Runner-Up: Street Halo EP- Burial

10. Relax- Das Racist
9. Circuital- My Morning Jacket
8. Civilian- Wye Oak
7. Collapse Into Now- R.E.M.
6. Born This Way- Lady Gaga
5. 808's and Dark Grapes- Main Attrakionz
4. Past Lives Martyred Saints- EMA
3. Watch the Throne- Watch the Throne
2. Native Speaker- Braids
1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver- Bon Iver

Album of the Year, Y'all

2012-01-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

ps
jk

Yo Pat, You Survive?

2012-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

How was waterboarding bro?? Was it worse than the HALF of a habenero fritter that almost killed ya?

speaking of, guess which three studs completed the Salvadore Molly's Great Balls of Fire habenero pepper eating championship and are now enshrined on the Wall of Flame?:

THESE FELLAS {note: I look slightly better on the official picture. Mike looks just as handsome. Tim looks like he's gonna ralph on our shoes}

EDIT EDIT EDIT!! Magda found our immortalized mugs!

ps I heard this song for the first about this time last year. It became the mantra that got me thru the toughest times. maybe it can do the same for you:

love you knuckleheads

pps
my new anthem? I AIN'T TURNING DOWN NOTHING BUT MY COLLAR, YOU SEE

New Zealand knows what's up

B-Roy

2011-12-16T00:09:00.000-08:00

The sad news came the other day that brandon roy is retiring after five short years. For fans of the trailblazers, this was a very sad day. However, i can't help but feel that this was a sad day for all basketball fans. B-roy was a player from the old school days. Sure he could give you the dunk and the flashy plays. But he preferred the off hand lay-up, the super smooth crossover, or his ever deadly elbow jumper. Anyone who was a fan of basketball was a fan of B-Roy.

But what had an even greater effect than his on-court contributions, was his effect on the fan base. B-Roy led the blazers out of the jailblazer era to where we are now. He single handedly again made the rose garden one of the most feared place for an opposing team to visit. He revived rip city. And it wasn't just the talent that brought the fans back. Zach randolph is a very talented player, but he never attracted the fans like roy. It's the way roy played the game.

I am including a video of what nbatv considers to be the top ten plays of roy's career. I don't agree with the list but i think it does show off his elite athleticism and coldblooded clutchness.

For me personally, here are the top four...

Does anyone realize how hard that is? There's a reason no one has done it since mj.

My third favorite moment i couldn't find a video for. It was the denver game when he hit the winning shot and then blocked carmelo at the buzzer. He could also play defense when he wanted. Here's an unrelated video but still awesome.

Number 2

How many times have you seen a guy hit a game winning shot twice in the last two seconds?

And finally, number 1

This video still gives me goosebumps. And he had no cartilege in his knees! For me personally, he is to date my favorite blazer. I find it hard to put into words how much he meant to me as a fan...He re-energized a fan base and made the blazers relevant again. So for that I say thank you, and Brandon...we'll miss you.

Noah turns 1!

2011-12-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

Love Triangles Hurt Roundly: PSA

2011-12-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

I LOVE IAN

BUT I ALSO LOVE PAT

???

OH NO! NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES!

Rob Lowe, and the creepiest Youtube comment I've ever seen

2011-12-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

My God, he is dripping in perspiration and sex-appeal! I wish he was my father...
sperckensiedoitch 5 months ago

2011-12-09T03:31:00.001-08:00

Serious Question You Guys!

2011-12-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

should we take mmmgravy over to the .xxx domain??? i bet we'd get all kinds of extra traffic and we can finally MONETIZE THIS BITCH. start up is 99.99, who wants to front it?? it'll pay for itself by st. paddy's day, I swear. also pat promises lots more half-nudes and quarter-nudes, with AND without smiley faces

Congrats Pat!

2011-12-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

John Travolta sure makes some terrible music

2011-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

Worst Xmas Song of All-Time?

2011-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

you gotta listen all the way thru... and then try to top it

Best Parade Ever

2011-11-19T16:40:00.001-08:00

2011-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

2011-11-01T11:06:00.001-07:00

Billy On The Street - watch more funny videos

Kickstarter Xmas Gift For the Tsangs

2011-10-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

Only 75 grand, who's in?

2011-10-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

Watch the Throne

2011-10-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

this is most of a counterpoint I wrote for Cokemachineglow and never sent

Yeah, dudes seem invigorated by the challenge they’ve set themselves. Recording in the same room, minimal guest spots to ease the glare: listening to them trade the mic is indeed a joy, and a novelty in this age. Jay (of D.O.A) is once again Quixote, trying to resurrect the rap he once owned and loved, and Kayne is his loyal Sancho, playing an adorable, Mr. Me Too hypeman. And in “Lift Off,” Beyonce sounds about as real as Dulcinea, somehow rendered absolutely sexless, as if the child in her womb is already sponging up all the talent. Fucking placentas.

Humor me, fellow readers, in a workmanlike rundown of the album, so we’re all on the same page or at least know specifically where our differences lie. “No Church in the Wild” in an enthralling start, Jay busting out the Gothic imagery he’ll return to so effectively in the equally exciting “Why I Love You” These book-ending epics alone justify the hype, don’t color me ungrateful. But both are neighbors to egregious mistakes: “Lift Off” and “Made in America,” two of the most hollow tracks in either’s oeuvre, gravity sinks best deleted and never spoken of again.

“Otis” is palpable joy, and the video reiterates what a labor of love this experience was. “Niggas in Paris” “That’s My Bitch” and “Gotta Have It” are all fun that we won’t return to often, only to be happily surprised by how well they move.
“New Day” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Murder to Excellence” mostly work, thanks primarily to Jay’s openness rather than Ye’s bluster. “Who Gon Stop Me” features Yeezy going too far and straight up ruining a track with his Holocaust grandstanding. Jay isn’t much better: yes, Hov, we know this “black strap” of which you speak. That flow was weak the first time, we didn’t need it twice more.

As for the bonus tracks “Illest Motherfucker Alive” is absolutely worth searching out and takes “America’s” place nicely. “Primetime” is good clean sub-“Otis” fun. “H*A*M”(fisted) is a at once trend-hopping and once-ups-man-ship that ends up a mess badly in need of the remix I think we all expected. “The Joy” is more good from Jay, more overdone out of Kayne. Lest you believe me to be a Jay partisan, let me say that this is one of my favorite Hov albums and my least favorite Yeezy album.

So, Watch the Throne is defiantly not-of-the-moment, in thankful juxtaposition to the soulless Luger by way of Miami, and vice versa, sound that’s taken over, an affirmation that two titans can still make smart rap without having to trade mics with up-and-comers or throw Rihanna on a track to get a hit. Apropos of nothing, how much longer do we think Drake’s loyalty will last? I’d rather have Ye in my corner and Jay was wise as always to consolidate his base, re-affirm his ally and trusty lieutenant while simultaneously re-demonstrating his skill and, post-Fantasy, showing who’s still top dog. “Wasn’t I a good king?” Better than good.

mmGravy

Wildwood

2011-10-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Colin Meloy aka Mr. Decemberist wrote a children's/YA book on the premise that Forest Park is a place called Wildwood where weird shit happens. I am going to buy it on the premise that it is for the neighbor kids and then read it first. I sorta wish Colin Meloy would shown up in the video, with Dwight and Sam Adams in the same shot, because I'm sort of suspicious they're all the same person. He also got the Portlandia folks, Fred sporting the SE ubiquitous Mary's Club tee. That shit's streaming on Netflix yall

that's my Stumptown, yo!

ps
dude got a second nytimes writeup today. Share the wealth, man!

The Best Podcast

2011-10-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

Had I had been a smarter college DJ, I would have just played the Cokemachineglow podcast every week and pretended that I had come up with it. If you wanted to start from scratch and build yourself an amazing taste in music, you could do no better or easier. Shit has carried me through the last week of work. Really need to make that donation I promised those guys....

My Favorite Podcast

2011-10-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

The PERs-system
Pick a snack
Eat a snack
Rate a snack

Tom Cavanaugh and Michael Ian Black were on my favorite show as a teenager- Ed- so I'm sure half the reason I like it so much is its sort of like unearthing lost episodes of Ed and Phil trapped at a boring day in the bowling alley, eating at the snack bar. But my comedienne friend Angie digs it a lot too, and she never watched the show, so you should give it a try. Got me thru 27 hours of soul-crushing work this summer, at least once per episode making me laugh-snort my mosquitoes all over the place.

What's YOUR favorite podcast?

2011-09-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Worst Book I Ever Read

2011-09-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

On the bright side: it *would* make Douggles' stuff seem less pompous in comparison, except he recently decommissioned it. (R.I.P.)

What was the worst book YOU ever read?

Ben's Top 25 (Five^2?) Favorite Albums, Lifetime

2011-09-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

These albums are the Jenga-pieces you can't pull without crumbling down the Babel-ish tower of my personal history with, and love of, music. In the descending order of force it would take to pry them from my cold, dead fingers. Or amount I would pay in a post-apocalyptic world for the last vinyl copy. #1 being half my liver.

25. Minor Threat
24. Meat Puppets II
23. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
22. Nirvana (yeah the posthumous collection. sofuckingsueme)
21. At Dawn

20. Joshua Tree
19. Source Tags and Codes
18. Silent Alarm
17. OK Computer
16. The Moon & Antarctica

15. Funeral
14. Turn on the Bright Lights
13. Either/Or
12. Farm
11. The Creek Drank the Cradle

10. Boys and Girls in America
9. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
8. Born in the U.S.A.
7. Apologies to the Queen Mary
6. The Meadowlands

5. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. The Sunset Tree
3. London Calling
2. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1. The Glow, Pt. 2

Ben's 3rd Birthday Slideshow

2011-08-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

Album of the (Last) Year

2011-07-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

This is massively late because I could not distance myself from this album at all. Objectivity was out the window. I had waited for it more excitedly than any album ever- not even sure why.¹ I really liked his first four, but all had major faults and none in my personal Top 25.² The fact that it exceeded my wildest hopes was an unreal experience, a first. So I gave in for months, soundtracking every run, multiple drives, and a fair amount of jobsearching, and then went away from it, for three³ whole weeks. When I came back, I was still rabid. Now, after 2 months and only hearing again the library's Parental Advisory version, I have come to terms with my fanboy impulses and feel like I can contain them.

Just to start my conversation, here are the top five tracks⁴

Top Five

5. Lost in the World
4. So Appalled
3. Runaway
2. All of the Lights
1. Power

I'm going to restrain myself to bullet-points because I'm most interested in hearing what others think.⁵

+Pusha-T is fucking ferocious

+Jay's Monster 16 is actually good, after he finishes reading off every monster Wikipedia could find, and his So Appalled set is fire

+Ye shouts out '30 Rock' oh yes

+different exotic fishes!

+Pat texted me: What's your theme song? POWER

+When All of the Lights leaked, it should have been a goddamn national holiday

+Its a new era when hip-hop has better guitars than indie 'rock'

+The interlude between Power and All of the Lights was necessary to prevent brain-explosion manslaughter charges

+Dude flew everyone into Honolulu like a SPECTRE mastermind. Who else is this possessed with perfection? Someday I'm gonna write an essay comparing him to Brian Wilson. (Weezy F is Bob Dylan in this scenario. I think.)

+Dear credited 'handclappers' Ian Allen, Wilson Christopher, Uri Djemal, and Chris Soper: I challenge you all to a clap-off! I should have been the one flown into Hawaii! I'm a great goddamn clapper. Do you know how many standing O's I've started? Sure, I can't keep a beat for more than a minute, but technology can fix that, and the resonance I get is uncanny.

Questions:

Q: Is this a 100% album?
A. No. 'Hell of a Life' veers into the grotesque and 'Blame Game' has limited replayability, regardless at how good Chris Rock is in it. But the interesting question here is, can something be flawed and still perfect, as if its massive ambition can justify a couple slips? Exile on Main St. has "Turd on the Run" after all.

Q: Have we already had the album of the decade?
A: I hope not, but I would be happily surprised if there was a better one.

Q: Can we get much higher?
A: No

¹unemployment
²which you'll see soon
³!!!
⁴the easily offended should replace So Appalled with Gorgeous. or Dark Fantasy. or Devil in a New Dress
⁵in my mind this is the only thing people want to take about these days, a contradictory pile of empirical evidence notwithstanding

Top Five Dinosaur Jr. Albums

2011-07-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

5. Where You Been
4. Beyond
3. You're Living All Over Me
2. Bug (lost out for Don't)
1. Farm

Iron+Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean OR Beardos with Golden Pipes: Godfather Edition

2011-07-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately professional, like late career Paul Simon¹ or something. the Complacency Curse. I feel like producer Brian Deck saves his best stuff for Califone and shuffles his JV ideas off on the too-easy-going Sam Beam, who admittedly, is not firing on all (lyrical) cylinders either. I remember being psyched out of my mind when I thought he and Califone were recording an album together, a la Calexico, but it was only a tour together. Still I hoped he'd picked up some of their strange, original view on Americana, but instead Sam worked with their producer and set his sights on, he proclaimed, 70's FM. Back into that chest-hairy womb², huh?

Not that I don't enjoy the album; its tailor-made for bleary-eyed Sunday mornings, when you can disappear to do laundry and come back five minutes and pick up right where you left off. "Your Fake Name" has that great slowburning crescendo thing I'm a sucker for and "Tree by the River" is a keeper as well. But most of the rest falls into a Shepherd's Dog B-side no-man's land of mostly unmemorable tunes gussied up with fancy, sort of soulless production. I would LOVE to hear Sam fronting a genuine New Orleans ensemble, but I don't want him singing over a dude in Chicago's idea of what those Dr. John outfits sound like.³ These songs are Rube Golbergs where the eventual goal is to start the next song, forty hamster wheels later.

I put together a little ranking of essential Iron+Wine for the non-converts, and was mildly disturbed to realize most of the songwriting that I love from Sam is nearly ten years old. He had demos for 90% of the songs on these releases back when he sent Creek Drank the Cradle to Sub Pop back in 2002. I'm gonna try not to dwell on that too much.

Top Five Iron+Wine Albums

5. Our Endless Numbered Days
4. Around the Well
3. In The Reins
2. The Sea & the Rhythm/Woman King⁴
1. The Creek Drank the Cradle

ps
My favorite Sam song, still somehow unreleased:

¹pitchfork also used this as a touchstone, but i didn't read them til after i published this
² shag-carpeted womb might have been a better joke.
³ Big Burned Hand. ugh.
⁴yes, sonically and chronologically different EPs, but spliced up makes a great album. though i'm not sure i can ever listen to Jezebel again.

Good Better Best Vol. 1

2011-06-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Haven't reviewed any music for awhile. After Scott took his game stratospheric, I've become a little self-conscious of my sophomoric approach. But a Ben can only keep his obnoxious opinions to himself for so long before they must bust free and head home, to the Internet, where they belong.

I am going to test out a hypothesis that albums can be best discussed concurrently, especially when they have something in common. In this case, we're going with a (drumroll please): Beardo's With Golden Pipes Edition. I've had only these three in the car with me for a month. Here is what I think:

Fleet Foxes

Mostly pleasant, Coffeehouse Deluxe stuff: its hard to imagine truly forming an emotional connection to it. There is only one moment of catharsis in Helplessness Blues and of course Robin undercuts it immediately by singing about motherfucking apples in sunshine. Geeesus. He's a good kid, I just wish I could burn his record collection and give him a new one. Also needs to lose the Ben Gibbard Desire to Enunciate Complete Sentences Syndrome. Goddamn Seattle. Still, that moment where he gets some gravel in his throat (The Shrine quarter of that mess of a song) gives me hope.

My Morning Jacket

So this was a Hold Steady record, in that it showcases some new songs that'll sound great live, and then some filler around it. So be it. A great MMJ cut makes my life better and a poor one is still pretty good. Unless its about peanut butter. (Also in the albums-as-excuse-to-tour mindset: Wilco.)Also, the title track might be my favorite MMJ song ever.

Bon Iver

special Godel-Escher-Bach-ian Sub-album breakdown:

Good
Michicant
Wash.
Lisbon, OH

Better
Minnesota
Holocene
Towers (opens like Tom Petty)
Hinnom, TX

Best
Perth
Calgary
Beth/Rest

In the liner notes he thanks Kanye for teaching him to go hard in the studio, and he does. Dude just has better ears than 99% of his peers. He doesn't rest on a 'good-enough' idea, everything is fleshed-out until its perfectly recorded and sounds intuitive, like a song you've always heard. The album is entirely self-possessed and self-assured. It should go without saying, but in our amateur-hour Indie where everyone gets a gold star for not trying, here is a grown man absolutely passionate about making the best album he could. The drums are stellar. The horns are great. The strings are key; unobtrusive, not Coldplayed. And he absolutely earns the sax in Beth/Rest. The only thing I can take away from it is that it does have three pieces (the Goods) which function basically as breathers, particularly Wash. and Lisbon bookending standout Calgary. Definitely a must-have; medicinal in the best sort of way. This will cure you for at least a day. I know I'll save it for those times the world has me beat.

For Scott

2011-06-25T17:03:00.001-07:00

Actually Pretty Psyched For This

2011-06-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

"John Mottern/Getty Images: Eric Wynalda drives past Ramon Ramirez during a 1997 World Cup qualifier."

Top Five Kanye West Albums {Pat Was Right Edit-ion}

2011-06-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

5. 808's & Heartbreak

4. Late Registration

3. Graduation

2. The College Dropout

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

It's Pat

2011-05-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

What's next

2011-05-26T23:06:00.000-07:00

So, found out what i'll be flying for my naval career, pretty excited about it. It's exactly what i wanted so should be fun. Hopefully be in portland june 5-15. If you're in town, see you there.

DOUGGLES's GREAT ADVENTURE

2011-05-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

Fr 7/22 Drive to Arizona
Sa 7/23 Drive to California
Su 7/24 California
M 7/25 Bay Area
T 7/26 Drive to Newport
W 7/27 Drive to PDX
R 7/28 PDX
F 7/29 PDX
Sa 7/30 PDX
Su 7/31 PDX
M 8/1 Drive to Bend
T 8/2 Bend
W 8/3 Bend
R 8/4 Drive to Tetons
F 8/5 Tetons
Sa 8/6 Drive to Lincoln
Su 8/7 Drive to BNA

Doug I made you an admin so I hope that works. People, please visit with Doug and shave him if necessary

It was only a matter of time?

2011-04-26T17:48:00.001-07:00

The Legend Grows

2011-04-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Year's End Three {Hip-Hop/Pop}

2011-04-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

This was the year Ben went hip-hop. You're gonna have to indulge me, as I lack all the vocab and cool to actually discuss this stuff without embarassing myself. But when I sat down to try to figure out what mattered to me this year, "Indie" just didn't cut it.

I did a lot of driving for my job this year, and most of the indie/country stuff I had with me just didn't sound that good on my Chevy stereo. Hip-hop did. So, with the aid of my used record store, I took myself on a crash course of rap and formed predictably strong opinions. Also, I allowed myself to like pop. Which, it turns out, makes all the difference in the world. (And luckily it was a really strong year for pop)

Honorable Mentions:

Lady Gaga. Ok, so she really didn't do anything this year except release Alejandro as a single (making Top 40 (aka Top 8) radio 12.5% more listenable) and wear a meat dress. But she makes me feel more optimistic than anything else about modern music (minus Kanye) and I am psyched about her new album. Also, Bad Romance still blows my mind, every single time.

Katy Perry, almost exclusively for Teenage Dream the song. She sings what could have been another vacuous single like her life depends on it.

Drake. Oh you fancy, huh? (Which is actually about how awesome it is when girls get their diplomas. Love it.) His album is 808's and Heartbreak, but not as good. Hope he worked the mopey out of his system. Cuz when he's on, he's undeniable and he brings mainstream hip-hop up along with him. Over is still sick as shit, tho.

Runner-Up: Robyn. Dancing On My Own. Sheezus.

10. Ke$ha. Please, don't throw eggs. Hear me out. Well, actually just read her Wikipedia page. I too figured she was some LA richgurl production. Which would make it a lot easier to deny her three great singles. But yeah, she's actually kinda legit. Love the story of sneaking on to Prince's mansion.

9. Flying Lotus. This one needed my full attention. Listened to it four times as background music and it just seemed hyperactive and directionless. On headphones it sounded like an epiphany an a salve for my over-Pop-ped ears.

8. Nicky Minaj. Best new everything. I wish I could afford to pay her to insult people for me.

7. Janaelle Monae. Like Kanye, she envisions an all-consuming hip-hop. She casts the net even wider, and her ambition pays off with some great songs, including 'Cold War,' my song of the second half of the year:

6. Big Boi. Don't block my shine, shorty.

5. Teebs. Sigur Ros for the more beat-inclined (sans Jonsi, but I'm so sick of that guy anyhow.) Will make your mornings better and your heart hurt less.

4. Rihanna. (Docked a spot cuz 'Rude Boy' gets stuck in my head. Yeah.) Her new album has three great songs, and as usual she is an assassin when called in to save someone's career with a chorus. (Mathers, party of one.) Also, ALL OF THE FUCKING LIGHTS.

3. Jeezy. Two real good mixtapes this year: Last Laugh and Trap or Die II. Stuff makes me feel ten feet tall.

2. Big K.R.I.T. I pray this guy makes it big. Got a huge heart, great ear. Could be a hip-hop hero. His free (?) album K.R.I.T. Wuz Here soundtracked all my worn-out drives home along Rock Creek, drinking in the twilight. Download it (Also, Voices is my ringtone)

BONUS BEST DISCOVERY=J Dilla who made the greatest life music

Year's End, Part 2 {Indie :-/}

2011-04-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

(writ prior to Xmas, so somewhat redundant.)

Its funny, the poorer I am, the more I hate pirating music. This whole year I don't think I copped anything without paying for it. Which makes me a chump, I know. But when you force yourself to pay for things, you actually have to think things through and figure out what you're actually gonna enjoy the most. Which seems obvious, but for a guy who burned 50 gigs from his radio station, its genuinely revolutionary.

[Also, everytime I think about torrenting the new National or something, the Gillian Welch song, 'Everything is Free' starts playing in my head. Dude, my Catholic Guilt Wu is strong.]

So I got 3 of these 6 off Amazon, which has really good deals on stuff the week it comes out, and the numbers count towards the Billboard Top 40, which is how Sufjan and The Arcade Fire, etc. did so well. So if you have $4.00 and want to help the band out, its a great way. (The other 3 I got off eMusic. Every time I cancel my subscription, they lure me back with some deal. Dastardly)
--------------------------------------------------------
The Coincidentally Gravy-Specific Year in Indie, Best to Worst
--------------------------------------------------------

The Gaslight Anthem-- This is the strongest of the bunch. It helped me get a lot of work (and running) done. I don't envy them trying to follow up The '59 Sound. I could say this about Every Single Band but I really think they'd benefit from listening to some Neil Young+Crazy Horse. The very few guitars solos in this thing were Edge-influenced. Can't wait to see them live. Almost took a bus to NYC to see them at Radio City Music Hall this summer. Probably woulda if I had anyone to go with.

Samamidon-- Great album,updating American folk and blues standards, making a new one, with 'Relief,' my song of first half of the year. an R. Kelly cover that becomes a viscerally healing thing:

Sufjan Stevens--So glad to see he's feeling better and re-enthusiastic about making music. Two great, almost-pop songs {Too Much, I Walked} and an invigorating amount of nonsense.

The Arcade Fire--One great, one very good song {Sprawl II, Ready to Start} and way too much Win nonsense.

Spoon-- Spoon would like you to know that you Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was meant ironically.

The Hold Steady--Fuck you, Franz. No, really. Fuck you.

-------------------------------------------
Albums I look forward to most in 2011, our last whole year.

Radiohead [Edit: Let's pretend this didn't happen]
My Morning Jacket
Dinosaur Jr.
PLEASE WRENS PLEASE PLEASE
Iron+Wine [kinda whiffed]
Mountain Goats [3 or 4 great songs]
Mount Eerie (?)
Califone (?)

sorry, this just turned into a list of my favorite bands.

--------------------------------------------
I would love to know what you all dug this year. I definitely listened to a record-low number of new records, so any recommendations are extremely welcome. Also, tell me where I'm wrong. I know that I have an unreasonable grudge against The Suburbs. It just made me really angry to hear how it was some 'return to form' when Neon Bible was considerably better. (Also, that 'Rococo' song makes me want to punch the pasty out of Win's face.) I'm definitely a reactionary at heart.

FYI-Reunion

2011-04-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

So I don't know if the reunion thing is going to happen or not but it seems we are all busy at different times so here is an fyi if anyone is interested: Ian and I had been planning trip to Las Vegas for a while and we booked it for June 6-9th at Mandalay bay. Anyone who's free is welcome to meet up with us any time.

Sabas

2011-04-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite all-time Blazers and made the hall of fame this weekend. Best passing big man of all time.

Reunion: guys guys wait, what about Zion National Park???

2011-03-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

I haven't looked at airfare or hotels but it might be cheap option too. We can stay in a motel outside of the park and take a free shuttle in. the park looks gorgeous..!

EDIT!!!
Ok I guess we should leave destination up to vote, also Cynda since you laid out dates first, what specifically can you do? when can or can't everyone go?

Alright here we go, a fucking calendar, fixing it so you guys can see blocked out dates.

Magda cartwheels through people's pictures

2011-03-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Poles doing cartwheels

2011-03-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've got poles in my bedroom!

2011-03-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

WATCH OUT SAN FRANCISCO, NATALIA LOVES NY

It's Friday!

2011-03-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

God knows, i love trashy pop songs way more than i should. But this might be the most terrible, and subsequently hilarious, song ever written.

2011-03-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Let's make it happen!!

2011-03-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

We need a reunion of epic proportions. Seriously. We must find a date and a place where we can all be at once and have a party. Whether we crash Nancy's or Scott's place in Cali, Pat's place in Corpus Christi, one of our many midwest residents, or our place here in Portland we have to make it happen!!!

Do you remember the summer before college? Do you guys remember how great that was!? It's been far too long since we were all together at the same time!! Who's with me?!

So give us the dates you can make work and we'll find one!! I know we all have jobs/school/children ;) to work around but think how great this could be!! I have a feeling Pat will be our biggest problem!

Scotty J, Hustlin a Buck

2011-02-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

/click that link for the funniest Harry Potter shit I've seen. Imagine continuous Drunk Pat narration of the first film...\

We all knew Scott was onto bigger and better things, and now he's a goddamn professional. Keep your tabs on him on the sidebar over there. (kid's too well-mannered to self-promote so I gotta remind you.) Yidio looks especially awesome. Here's him on Black Swan and the Oscars So be a pal: page-hits (and potentially other internet things I don't understand) add up. Lord knows I keep myself in furs and pocket-snuff with this here money-printing operation.

ps Good Sir, You Seem to be Peeing Upon My Leg

2011-02-17T15:40:00.000-08:00

Burrito/History Lesson

2011-02-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

Top Five Lessons that Have Brought My Burrito Game Up a Level

5. ~shoulda known~ Rice is *not* optional (make it w/ chipotle sauce!))

4. Cut the fucker in half {LIKE A SANDWICH}

3. REAL Mexican Sour Cream [Oaxaca string cheese optional]

2. diced cabbage

1. Chunky Goddamn Salsa

+++Bonus Pizza Tip++++
SAUERKRAUT BITCHES

Not My Chair, Not My Problem

2011-02-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

Top (bottom?) five most morally reprehensible organizations

2011-02-02T01:45:00.000-08:00

1. Oil Companies

2a. Canadian ISPs

2b. All other ISPs

4. The RIAA

5. Sex Traffickers

(Dis)honorable mention:

Dogfighting rings

The US Patent Office

HOW TO DANCE, in 59 seconds: a brief tutorial courtesy of Pat & Ben

2011-01-14T14:53:00.000-08:00

The guys are convinced that they won our first annual dance party throwdown. They would like to share with you a few of the moves with which they triumphed. (Well... I would like to, at least, and I have the video.)

Most of our dance-off wasn't really recorded because the camera was zoomed in pretty far (which is why you can't see much in some of the clips). Really wish I'd gotten some footage of Ian dancing to Ke$ha, or Pat dancing with his shorts hiked up to his chin, or Ben's Donkey Kong move in all its glory. It was a beautiful night.

Y'all better practice hard for next year! Natalia and I have already started a plyometrics routine in preparation.

For those of you wondering if children are in your future...

2011-01-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

ask yourself if you are prepared for a toddler, strung out on sugar, running around your house like a wild man, smearing chocolate on your white comforter and flushing his underwear down the toilet, while your husband exclaims "I didn't think he'd actually do it."

At least one of our children can't walk yet...

For Ian--How could you do this//to me?

2011-01-13T00:56:00.000-08:00

ps

Was cleaning up Mambrino, my trusty old iBook, cuz I'm thinking of putting him out to pasture, when I found this video that I don't think I'd ever seen. Pretty sure I wasn't even at this beach day. Apparently if you want to beat Magda you just need make it more than ten feet.

pps
At first I only liked that song cuz it was goofy. But now I genuinely love it. Been singing it all day. That first drop is fucking humongous.

Everybody betrayed me, I'm fed up with this world!

Mister Nate!

2011-01-10T02:54:00.000-08:00

Flashback:

Tonight:

I so wish Fucking Nate woulda run that last play through Nic instead of "The Small One" Donkey Andre

Uncanny resemblance? Tell me I'm wrong.

On a Lighter Note:

Probably inevitable. They also got a song where they Chipmunk SuFjaN's Chicago:

Find more artists like Chiddy Bang at Myspace Music

Yup. Its good, but it might ruin the original for ya. Technology is cyclical, and now Jazzy Jeff is white. Wild. (pissed I spent an itunes card on an overhyped EP instead of this stuff) In a recession, bubblegum turns into hardtack. Or Lembas bread if I want to get real nerdy on y'all.

ps
apparently it was on Friday Night Lights last week. You current on that Ian? That's one I realllly gotta watch.

pps
So I'm taking the GRE soon, and a friend told me about this website FREE RICE where they quiz you on vocab (and other stuff like geography and Spanish) and for every question every question you get right they donate 10 grains of rice to people developing countries. Which adds up. I created a profile for us (same user and password as the Twitter) and earned 7000 grains on Christmas Eve while I waited for the fam to get ready for Mass. So if you are also studying for the test, or just want to bone up on your World Capitals, you should login and feed some folks. With your brain. Like they're zombies.

Year's End, Part 1 {Ten Favorite TV Shows}

2011-01-04T18:28:00.001-08:00

***My best-of-the year posts will all be emblazoned with these pictures of Dear Leader lookings at things, cuz I feel that they convey the appropriate air of...sunglasses masking dementia. or stern interest. or both.***

A lot of the passion I used to have for (current) music has dried up in the last couple years, which sort of disturbed me, until I realized I'd just transferred much of that passion to my favorite television shows. With Netflix, Hulu, and DVDs, serialized TV is experiencing something of a golden age; not an original thought of course, but worth keeping in mind.

Top Ten for Ben

1. Community
2. 30 Rock
3. Parks & Recreation+
4. Breaking Bad
5. How I Met Your Mother
6. Terriers*
7. Mad Men
8. Archer+
9. Party Down*
10. Boardwalk Empire

*RIP
+Both back mid-January. Prepare accordingly. If you haven't seen Archer, know that Dave, Ken, A, Pat, Ian and I got in a debate post-Blazer game about whether it was better than Sunny in Philly. Consensus-minus-Pat: it is.

Runner-up: Louie, brilliant, deep, unrelentingly honest, occassionally bust-a-gut funny, and kinda poorly acted. Finale is gorgeous

Honorable Mention: Glee, the most fascinating, infuriating thing on TV. Capable of so much, usually settling for so little.

I'm curious as to what everyone else is watching. As Scott has noted, there's simply too much good stuff to keep current on. Almost makes you wish for a broken leg or something, just for an excuse to catch up. That being said, you all NEED TO WATCH COMMUNITY. You will love it.

Good Luck in 2011, ya Pork Chops

2011-01-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's, from me, the Bono.

What, you want a goddamn prize?

Go for a run fat-ass.

Get your goggles up!

2010-12-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Further Pixar Domination

2010-12-29T14:39:00.001-08:00

prescript
Click that link. in the early 80s the Pixar bosses saved scores of employees by volunteering to get canned themselves. i want to go to there.

You should watch this. I'm gonna have to ask Scott which studios have had runs like this. The thing that blows me away most of all is how good they are with the eyes. Inexplicable.

also,

Yeah I'm gonna stock up too.

ps

This is so so so good. Remind me of the time Pat woke up and got a surprise email flight confirmation to come stay with me and Steph for graduation. (sorta NSFW for some brief scrotum. don't let that deter you though.)

Insidious Worm Makes Unauthorized Purchases When Computer User Is Drunk

pps
speaking of worms, ignore any and all movies Magda may post. they're really dirty and will give you incurable viruses.

ppps
Turns out the copyright folks took that Pixar one down. Too bad, but I should have known that would happen. Sorry. In its absence, please enjoy this short mind-blowing clip. Stay til the end.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T23:23:00.000-08:00

Memories, and because Ben told me to post these

2010-12-21T21:22:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, remember this?? We were WAY cooler back then and you know I'm not being sarcastic. I am so mad the people I met at Penn were not as cool as you guys.

FAIL

Ben owns us all

I love Jen running around here, and Ken takes out that kid who looked like Ron. Who was that guy anyway?

JIG

It's real magic, people.

Katie Humm is the best.

Noah James Machuca

2010-12-16T23:47:00.000-08:00

(Cynda said she wasn't sure when she'd be able to post, so here's a preview... I'm sure she'll update soon.)

Day 4 Encounter Love

2010-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, my people.

So my sister just got back from DCE last night, with tears in her eyes and big ol’ bear hugs for all. I got to see the chaos that was their return home – those kids were high on love, there’s not really any other way to say it and it’s a really rare to see that kind of thing.

So of course I couldn’t help remembering what an amazing two weekends I had on my encounters. And even the second time around, at the beginning of senior year, I didn’t know half of you well enough to even exchange cookies with you all. Hell, it wasn't until after that that we had most of our beach trips and Twister tournaments and meteor showers and kickball games and long nights at Ian's, etc. And it may be cheesy to say it, seven years later, but not so much on day four: I love you guys, each and every one of you, and you’re still my best friends and favorite people in the world. Even if I only get to see you a couple of times a year. Just so you know, you’re kind of a big deal.

P.S. It made me really want to go back to St. Benny’s and be an adult leader or a cook on one of those weekends. I’d love to see what a co-ed encounter’s like, anyone else maybe want to go in April?

P.P.S. It was also announced last night (and I feel obliged to report) that my sister beat Mr. Massey in the final throes of Birdie on a Perch to win it all. I am so proud.

Merry Christmas, Gravy

2010-12-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hey Party People,

First off, wanted to wish everyone a happy christmas season. This really is the best time of the year. I know many of you doubt ben when he claims cool things are about to happen. I've been hearing about the coolest hangout ever in his basement for the last eight years and that has yet to happen. But we really are having a beach trip over christmas break and if you are a reader of this blog and went to high school with us, you're more than welcome. Even you, katie bieze. Just contact Ben. I repeat ben, not myself, and you'll get all the details.

Cam Newton got the Heisman. He's gonna have to give that back. Anyone who thinks differently, i'll put 100 on it.

Go ducks.

Favorite christmas tradition. Go.

For me, it's going to my uncle's on christmas eve. We've gone there ever since we moved to Portland. It's gotten even better since we've gotten older. My uncle thinks its funny to get us drunk knowing that we go to the christmas eve mass at jesuit right afterwards. But i defy anyone to turn down one of his martini's. They're real and they're spectacular. Good times. But interested to hear all your christmas traditions. hopefully they're a little more wholesome.

Perfect Christmas present for Scott

2010-12-08T16:00:00.001-08:00

if only it was on sale.

Also, handshakes should be closer to the top

For Cynda, Basically

2010-12-08T00:49:00.000-08:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Yup, You're Going to Prison!

2010-12-07T02:18:00.000-08:00

'In closing, I'm so, so fucking baked'

You Wanna See Some Shit?

2010-12-05T20:16:00.001-08:00

I know, right?

Miss You Nancy!

2010-11-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Let's hang in the east bay, okay?

ps

Click the link, you'll love it.

Have a Glorious Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T00:54:00.001-08:00

ps
might have to reconsider naming Tracy Morgan the funniest man alive

pps

bringing the country together...though as thoroughly unAmerican as I am, I voted for cranberry sauce

Day after Thanksgiving

2010-11-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

Anyone up for a potluck at our house? I know a few people will be coming to town so if interested let me know and we'll throw something together!

Nancy, we're gonna need more ducks

2010-11-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Pat, this reminds me of when you sent me a Subway sandwich

2010-10-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

I shared a bagel with the garbage

2010-10-08T14:15:00.001-07:00

extremely mint and very cherry

2010-10-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

ps

attn everyone: please stop stealing my ideas

i was gonna do this exact same thing except I'd call mine The Wake House and we would schedule real irish wakes in between performances and other stuff. (also taken: pizza place+record shop on belmont where It's A Beautiful Pizza used to be. Hall of Records.) jealousy aside, someone check it out for me. right off the ross island I think.

I love Europe!

2010-10-03T23:56:00.001-07:00

Apple pie

2010-09-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

So instead of unpacking today Ben and I made an apple pie. Ben was very helpful! At one point he climbed on the counter (which was covered in flour because I was rolling out the dough) and laid on it. I yelled "Benjamin!" and rather than Ben making any move to get off the counter he continued to roll around on the counter and exclaimed in a high pitched mocking tone "Benjamin! get down!" Then he just laughed and continued to lay face down making something akin to flour angels. Of course Ian remained sitting on the other side of the counter and laughed at me!

The pie turned out perfectly by the way. I mean if you can get past the fact that a toddler was laying on the counter before I rolled the dough out. Well, that as well as a certain someone not being able to keep his fingers out of it...and Ben wasn't much better.

I would just like to let Mike know that I spent way too much time worrying about whether I used the word lay correctly in this post and I still have no idea whether I did or didn't.

Oh and yes Pat, maybe we should have a Thanksgiving party here (even though I'm guessing you won't be here)! Will anyone be coming home for Thanksgiving?

2010-09-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

I can't take credit for the jimmy johnson picture. That was a stroke of genius by our good friend ben vincent. I was just watching vh1's top 100 hundred artists tonight. They had elvis at number 8, prince at number 7, led zeppelin at 3 and the boss a 21!!!. If you disagree with these rankings (as i do, quite vehemently) make your voice heard. This is a travesty. Prince before the boss, and not just before the boss, but 14 spots ahead. America, stand up.

I'm also choosing to issue a challenge right now. I know many of you still frequent this blog, wondering if anything new has been posted. Well, my challenge is that every time you come to this page, you issue a post. Doesn't have to be anything. For example, "Hey, this is ian. i just moved into a new house and it's really cool. we're getting all settled in, but rest assured, this will be a party place soon enough." Ian was thinking it that but afraid to say it. So i did it for him Not the point. Just let us know you're still there. Say something, can be anything. If you want me to say it for you, i can do that. Believe me, i can put words in your mouth better than you can. But over the last month, the only posters have been myself, ben and ian. And if that's all who is reading then fine. But if not, leave a comment. Or even better, post about what's going on in your life because we want to know what you all are up to. This blog was popping during high school. Just like porch monkey, I'm bringing it back. We're all friends...lets stay that way.

2010-09-12T01:18:00.000-07:00

Hello, ladies and germs, Pat Spear here with something to say. So, it's been a while since i've posted anything here, my apologies i've been a little busy. I feel especially bad about it because i know that without my postings, this blog will die faster than a child with AIDS who also contracts pneumonia.

Hey, football's back. Go ducks. We should all get a fantasy football league together for next year. If you're interested let Ben know, he's coordinating all of that. We need at least ten people, so ladies, i know you nothing about football but i don't think in our group we have ten guy friends, as sad as that is, so feel free to join and you'll just be dead weight which will make us guys feel better about ourselves (that last sentence makes me sad because i know that if the colonel were in the states he would call me on a run-on...i miss that) Colonel, come back!!!

In other news, i had my first flight the other day. I try not to be self-serving here, but it was freakin' awesome. Flew upside down for a while. Beyond that, someone else needs to get married. Quick. Weddings are a lot of fun. Only this time, whoever gets married needs to have bridesmaids that i actually have a chance of hooking up with. I'm looking at you ben, and to a lesser extent ken. I figure i'll have a couple of chances at ken's weddings. and doug, i don't care what your students say, it's just not appropriate. steer clear big tuna, head to open waters.

I don't know how many of you read ben's blog, i'm assuming it's very few, but the rumor about renting a beach house over christmas break is true. It will be for two nights sometime in between christmas and new years. Again, contact ben if you're interested. All men and women with loose morals are invited. I've agreed to provide a keg, if that sweetens the deal any.

Since we rehash this conversation so often...

2010-09-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

My favorite part is how screwy Utah is. Apparently they can't drink Coke so its all Sprite there. Also love the stark Oregon-Cali divide. Way to fuck it up, Jackson and Josephine!

ps
Housekeeping:
I've added Julie's movie blog over on the sidebar. Should have done it earlier, didn't really even think about it, but her piece on The Office was spot-fucking-on and amazing and should be read by everyone who cares about that show. Read That Blog

pps

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Sean Penn from Between Two Ferns

Obviously, it costs $1.05

2010-08-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Doug

2010-08-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen Doug lately here's a recent picture.

2010-07-29T07:01:00.001-07:00

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Steve Carell from Between Two Ferns

"All this crap represents the fans!"

2010-07-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Just Wanted to Ruin Orlando Bloom For You Ladies

2010-07-14T06:09:00.001-07:00

FRIENDS NO MORE!

2010-07-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Nay! We are enemies!

Douglas and I are in a mileage battle, 25 weeks, from now until Christmas Eve. The loser faces a lifetime of humiliation and ridicule. The winner gets a keg of his choosing. Truly stakes have never been higher.

You are either with me (and, by extension, on Team Jacob)
or with DOUGGLES (and Team Edward/Chris Dodd)

I am the bad guy. Just in case the picture didn't make it clear. And since this is real life, the bad guy will win. and enjoy his frothy prizes. FROTHY PRIZES I TELL YOU!

If you want to share in MY FROTHY PRIZES you should join team ben/jacob and try to trip doug for me when he goes on jogs. and steal his bananas. that would be helpful too. oooh and send him delicious cheeses and scotches and such. and distract him with dvd boxsets.

I love having minions, even if they're in my head. being a supervillain is great.

tootles!

The National @ Daughters of the American Revolution Hall

2010-06-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I was holding a grudge against The National for not just rewriting Mr. November 30 times. Their last couple albums had given me the ol' blue balls. Where was the catharis? All build and no payoff. Wouldn't even have gone to see them except a coworker really wanted to go and didn't have anyone else to go with. So I decided to give them one more shot before writing them off as tasteful background music for semi-cool yuppies. (Minus Alligator of course.)

Consider me converted. They are indeed true believers and Matt Beringer fucking screamed. I mean, he sang too, mostly in fact, in that ridiculously cool baritone of his. But when the band went nuts, he cut loose, and the crowd, much to my surprise, actually ate it up. These were screams that would put most hardcore dudes to shame, but they fit so flawlessly with the crescendoes of the band that they seemed absolutely necessary, but no less thrilling.

The tour is a little spendy, but if you can see them, do so. They put on a helluva show. God bless that Midwest work ethic.

mMMGravy

ps
Internet rumors say that the National laid down some tracks with Sufjan MY NEMESIS Stevens for an upcoming album Matt says will 'blow some minds.' I am ashamed to admit that I am on pins and goddamn needles.

pps
The Antlers opened. They have one good song. The sound guy fucked them over.

ppps
Still hate you, Broken Social Scene.

pppps
Walkmen, you've been reprieved.

reminds me of plyos with my throwers

2010-06-20T20:01:00.001-07:00

*courtesy of steph*

Dear Falafel, WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE???

2010-06-13T05:52:00.001-07:00

When I was sure there was no (vegetarian) substitute for a turkey sandwich, this beautiful bastard came was introduced to me:

You can put all sorts of tasty shtuff in there! Endless possiblities! I've had four different ones this week!

(Oh uh yeah, about Thursday, I'm sorry baby... I swear it wasn't my fault. My buddy just wanted some Mexican. The fish tacos meant nothing. I was thinking of you the whole time.)

I should stop, I'm tearing up. I love you Falafel. Never leave me.

----------------------------------------------------

the new girl in the lab is from China and right off the bat she told me I looked like the psychologist from Bones. Uh, they don't put people who look like me on TV, I said. But sure enough...

I AM SAM WEIR

That's the same dopey grin//Buddha eyes I have in every picture.

That's my Roommate

2010-06-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

This was one of my two-year roommates

This is the other (in yellow)

Great dudes

I bet he's still working on those Java Logs

2010-06-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse Unveils His Rokoff Portrait from Mayor Sam Adams on Vimeo.

Pat/Barney's Baby Rules

2010-05-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

1. You promise to always love me more than the baby.

2. Once a month I get to use the baby to pick up chicks.

3. That may involve the baby falling from a two story window and me heroically catching it.

4. No breastfeeding in front of me.

5. Forget about 4, it’s cool.

10. It’s middle name must be Barney (Patrick. or Eugene).

17. If I’m hungry you have to feed me first.

25. Never ask me to babysit.

25a. All babysitters you use must be female, hot, and of age.

32. As tempting as it might be, you’re forbidden from using a 19th century president’s last name as the baby’s first name.

34. You cannot use it as an excuse to not do something cool with me.

38. You can only talk about the baby 3% of time.

39. For every picture you show me of the baby I get to show you a picture of me having sex.

42. When it’s of age, I get to have the “sex talk” with it.

45. The baby must wear a suit once a week.

46. The baby must call me dad.

50. I get to take it trick or treating if I want.

50a. While trick or treating, the baby must dress as a lil’ version of what I’m dressed as.

59. It has to like me more than Ted (Doug).

62. Me, Ted (Doug), and Marshall (Ian) get to re-enact the movie, “Three Men and a Baby” for a weekend.

65. You must introduce me to hot single moms.

66. If it ever has a hot teacher, I get to bring it to parent teacher conferences.

69. Sixty nine. Always funny.

72. I get to bring it to look at colleges.

76. If it throws up on me, you owe me $1,000.

83. … and if all 5 circumstances involving the baby and the strip club should come to pass, I take no responsibility for any of it, because it is your fault for having the baby in the first place.

ps
i know you won't believe me but i don't actually read this thing. er, on a regular basis. i do however own The Bro Code and for that i will make no apologies

Exciting news!

2010-05-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

Ian and I are expecting a baby on December 23! Just had the ultrasound today and everything looks perfect!!

I Survived the Great Nashville Flood of 2010

2010-05-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

Wait till 1:22. I was driving down this road literally an hour before this happened. I must have just missed the flooding. Crazy. I've never seen so much rain in my life. And as an Oregonian, that's saying something. Something like 7 people died. I ended up having to stay the night in Nashville, as I-24 is the road that goes between here and there. The entire city was shut down. Worst weekend destination decision ever. (Except maybe that time Cynda, Magda and I decided to drive to Santa Clara and back without sleeping for two nights.)

Genius

2010-04-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Things I learned in college

2010-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

-Everything tastes better with beer (especially crappier beer)
-Milwaukee is actually a pretty sweet town if you're over 21 and it's summer. Otherwise you've got to be a bit creative
-Baseball games are just an excuse to yell at people for 3-4 hours
-You can leave a Papa John's pizza out for three days and it'll still be edible, just a little mummified
-When your concrete canoe collides with Notre Dame's concrete canoe (which had a statue of Mary on its bow, like a goddamn Jesus pirate ship or something), God will not let you win that one
-Along those same lines, don't apply concrete sealer to your canoe in a building full of medical clinics. You'll get some public safety complaints. "High VOC's." Whatever, suck it up sick people.
-The best way to remove a 300-pound, 20-foot long canoe from your lab is through a window
-Never, EVER, under any circumstances, play wine pong. Ever.
-If you throw a rotten pumpkin out of a window, make sure nobody's watching
-Same goes for sandwiches, unless someone's trying to catch the sandwich. They should probably watch for it.
-Tetanus shots are good for like 7 years, right?
-The maximum number of Chipotle burritos one human being can eat at a time is 3
-The maximum number of Chipotle burritos one human being can keep down at a time is somewhat less than 3
-When you're riding in someone's trunk, make sure you set down ground rules before hand that stipulate "no donuts"
-City league kickball is serious business
-Scurvy is avoidable
-Don't shout "oh shit" and wave your arms. It will only encourage the herd of cows to come your way
-Don't e-mail your mentor repeatedly about a project when you're on pain meds post wisdom tooth removal. It will not end well.
-If you're climbing an active volcano and your guide starts running, you should probably start running too

Please add your wisdom to the list. Yay graduation.