What Tha EFF??

Much has been written lately regarding the ongoing suburbanization of New York, including a book by that very title. I've been ranting about it for years. It was the subject of several of the first poems I started taking to the mic at Bowery Poetry Club. It's almost become a cliche at this point. And by now most New Yorkers seem to be either resigned to it or just too overwhelmed to muster even another ounce of disgust.

For a long time, the worst of it seemed to be relegated to Manhattan. The idea, I guess, being that the best way to reward tourists for making the trek to the big City was by making sure they were never more than a block or two away from some little reminder of home. You know, in the event that they overdose on culture and experience and differentness while they're here, they can at least be comforted by the fact that there's a fucking Applebee's and a Starbucks and a Gap JUST AROUND THE CORNER. In case the four days they have before they go back to Ohio are just too goddamn long to wait to shove some Baja Potato Boats into their fat goddamn faces.

Well, until recently our little section of Astoria has been pretty devoid of this kind of lame Midwestern pandering. After all, Queens has never been much of a tourist destination. And even though the neighborhood has had quite a renaissance in the 10 years I've lived there, the new businesses that have come along have been largely independent. Great new resaurants and bars like Cup, Sunswick, Island, Locale, Cafe Valverde, Arepas Cafe, Aces and (before it got too big for its own britches and moved over to Ditmars) Bistro 33. All are new additions in the past 10 years, all provide great food and drink, all are independently owned.

So, imagine my dismay when I recently noticed the following signs on the corner of 38th St. and 35th Ave...

Um... Wha?

I mean, Applebee's is Applebee's. They're all over the friggin' place and they continue to spread like bird flu. Soon they will be in every corner of the globe and it will no longer be just us lucky Americans who have the privilege of partaking of such aggressively mediocre crap. But there's something even more unsettling about having one in my neighborhood.

Panera was a place I'd never heard of until a trip to Omaha a few years back. My mother loves to take me there for lunch whenever I'm in town. (Although, I only agree to do that after we've already been to Jim & Jennie's at least once.) I don't find it as offensive on the whole as I do Applebee's, etc. And, there's something acceptable about going there when I'm in Omaha, because I'm in Omaha.

But this isn't Omaha. Or Ohio. OR Manhattan.

This is fuckin' Queens, dammit.

At least for the time being...

An Entire SECTION....????

Sometimes I like to check the headlines at MSNBC.com over lunch. When I'm snarfing down a chicken salad bagel in my cube, I don't have time for anything other than what I refer to as "candy journalism". I get my headlines, maybe take a quick glance at a human interest story about who won this year's "Giant Pumpkin" contest, etc. And sometimes I'll check out the entertainment news.

So, I'm floating around the site and I come across AN ENTIRE SECTION of news dedicated SOLELY to Britney Spears. With its own banner and everything. I actually had to look at it again, because I didn't think that could possibly be right. It was.

I'm floored.

Why, America?

Why. Do. You. GIVE. A shit?

You've got to stop.

Get a fuckin' hobby or something.

Please.

Seriously....


Britney Spears News

Britney regains temporary visitation rights
Judge suspends Britney’s visitation rights
Spears turns self in to police
Spears gets small win in visitation rights
Britney Spears to be booked for hit-and-run
Spears passes court-ordered drug tests
Britney Spears to be booked for hit-and-run
Spears gets monitored visits with sons
PETA: Take Brit’s dogs away
Tatum O’Neal offers mom advice to Britney

Things You Need To Do

First, go see THIS.


It's only playing at the Film Forum and you should buy your tickets online ahead of time or you won't get in but GO SEE IT. The Missus and I are still trying to get over it. Even if you haven't been a Joy Division fan since you were 15 (as I have), it's brilliant and moving and perfectly handled. Samantha Morton is incredible as always and Sam Riley is (despite the overuse of the term in movie reviews) a revelation.

If you can't get tickets for "Control", go see this. It's also pretty great. Cronenberg's getting better and better.

Also... buy the new Radiohead. I'm going to give you a whole post about it later in the week because it's just fucking astonishing but in the meantime... Just. Go. Buy it.

Plus, if you're not watching Dexter, you should be. Awards shows are complete bullshit anyway, but HOW Michael C. Hall could not have won an Emmy for this is fucking beyond me.

Oh, and if you haven't picked up a six-pack of the Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale yet, it's only available through the end of October, so you better get on the ball. If you're in the 'hood, it's available on tap at Sunswick.

And finally... if you're in need of a laugh, watch this again. Yes, of course you've seen it. We've all seen it. But it's funny, dammit.

OOOH, AND... Gogol Bordello are playing The Terminal November 3rd. I can't imagine there are any tickets left but if you're interested in joining us, you should try to scrounge some up. It'll be worth it...

Head-Scratcher of the Day

Saw this in today's breakdowns.

Do we need this?

_____________________________
KNIGHT RIDER (Series Regulars - NY)
2 Hour Pilot
NBC/Universal Media Studios

Shoot/Start Date: 11/16 - 12/20/07
Location: California

STORY LINE: Following in the footsteps of his father, ex-army ranger MIKE TRACER is recruited by his childhood best friend SARAH KAMEN and her father CHARLES to join the Knight Foundation, a group committed to counteracting and preventing the damage done by private, covert military contractors. To that end, Charles creates the second generation KITT (Knight Rider Three Thousand), an artificially intelligent car that assists with all the death-defying missions and countless high-speed escapes..

How Much Are YOU Going To Pay...?

Much has been written about the marketing model behind the new Radiohead album "In Rainbows", released today. For those of you who aren't in the loop, the band decided to release the album absolutely on its own terms, making it available only as a download directly from the band's site as a "Pay What You Will" offering. A bold, unpredictable and ultimately risky proposition and an obvious response to the sea change that has taken place in the industry over the past few years re: conventional music packaging, marketing, etc.

The market is different now, period. The way digital media is purchased and consumed is different, period. Labels and distributors have scratched their heads over how to keep up for years. And with the technology being what it is, there's simply no way to keep piracy and file-sharing at bay. So, what's an artist to do?

In Radiohead's case, we'll find out soon enough whether they've uncovered the Rosetta Stone or made the biggest financial mistake of their career. Frankly... my money's on the former. As it stands, even with a good record deal, most bands (even the huge ones) only make about $1 off of each CD they sell. Pretty pathetic percentage when you consider how much time and effort go into making a really great album.

So then, consider the Radiohead model: Spend as much time as you want making an album. No label pressure, no deadlines. Just make the album you want to make. THEN, instead of all of the time and expense that go into packaging, shipping, meetings about release dates, album art, merchandising, etc. - you just post it on your website. HERE YOU GO. And pay us what you think it's worth. Which means that if you decide to pay $10, the band gets $10 for their work. If you decide to give them $1, they get $1 for their work. Seems an honest exchange.

YES, there are going to be those who don't pay for it at all. LOTS of them. I get that. But in the end, with the money saved on all of the things that usually go into putting out an album and with the band seeing each dollar that is spent by the people who choose to pay, I think it's going to even out. We'll see. This is definitely a story I'm going to follow up on.

KEXP spent the morning previewing the album. Each hour, they'd play a new track. And I have to say, it's fucking brilliant. Granted, I'll have to spend some time with it to give you the full review but from what I've heard so far, it's their most focused and cohesive work since Kid A. I'm looking forward to buying it tonight.

Which brings us to the title question. How much am I going to pay? Well, I thought quite a bit about it. Started at $10, went down to $7, then back up, then I wasn't sure. It is, after all, a download. It'll therefore not be quite the audio quality you'll get with a CD. Plus, I'm a sucker for packaging, liner notes, etc. So, I wouldn't give them more than $10. BUT... I do want the model to work and I love the band, so I want to be fair. I ended up settling on... $9.

That's my number and I'm sticking with it. We'll see in the coming weeks if I'm one of the few who ended up being a good samaritan in a world full of pirates OR if I'm one of the many who ponied up for a band they love in a good faith effort to make sure the money goes right where it should have been going all along... the artist.

Couldnt've said it better myself...

Bushism of the Day

"You know, when you give a man more money in his pocket—in this case, a woman more money in her pocket to expand a business, it—they build new buildings. And when somebody builds a new building somebody has got to come and build the building. And when the building expanded it prevented additional opportunities for people to work."—Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 4:02.

A Toast to The Missus on the Occasion of Our Second Wedding Anniversary

2 years ago today, one of the promises I made to you in our wedding vows was that I would never let you forget what a jewel you are. That when you were feeling dull, I would be there to make you shiny again.

Well, I think it's safe to say that the past few months have undoubtedly left us both feeling a little dullish.

___

So, here's a toast...

...To us.

-To surviving an impossible summer.

-To weathering uncertainty.

-To the promise of fall and all that it might bring.

-To standing on the doorstep of a decade of couplehood as two people who would still rather talk to each other at a crowded party than anyone else.

-To the glorious moments we manage to cultivate while digging through a knee-deep pile of shit.

-To making each other shiny again.

__

...And to you.

___

For being the only woman I know who'd be okay with her husband heading to the bar at 11:30pm on a Monday night to work on a blog post.
___

I love you endlessly,

-A

____________________

NOW... To mark the occassion, here's a home recording that JJ did of the song he wrote for The Missus and I and performed at our wedding. You know any wedding song that mentions the Grand Canyon is gonna be a winner. It's a beautiful song and he graciously agreed to let me post it. Thanks, J.

(right click on the link and select "Save Target As")

Jason Handy - "Love This Time"

____________

AND FINALLY... In the spirit of anniversaries, weddings and all things love, here's some pics from two recent weddings we really enjoyed.

First off, some highlights from last weekend's Cox/Jenkins nups in Denver. Who's the chick in white with the champagne? YUM...

And next, a couple gems from last month's Fagan/Schreck shindig in DUMBO...

U2ube Video of the Week #7: "Exit"

So, there's enough going on personally right now that I could probably fill 5 very long posts, but I just don't fucking have it in me. I know I've been spotty lately and you'll just plain have to forgive me. In lieu of anything clever, well-thought or insightful, here's an entry in the ongoing U2ube series...

"The Joshua Tree" was an album so Side-1-heavy with miraculous singles and unforgettable tunes that by the time Side 2 came around you were almost too spent to continue. Sticking with it, however, delivered the greatest rewards of the album as well as the defining moments of what would become (arguably) the band's greatest work.

For years, even with exceptional bands, the content of the flipside of a record (or cassette) sometimes seemed like an afterthought. Most often the singles were the best songs the band had to offer and they were almost always loaded disproportionately on the album's first side. Not so with U2. In fact, I think most die-hard fans would agree that U2 are truly an album band. That the front-to-back journey is greater than the sum of its parts. And I think they would also agree that many of their greatest achievements wait patiently for attentive listeners on the other side.

This has always been the case with me at least. I can't help but think of Side 2 masterpieces like "Electric Co.", "40", "Bad", "Acrobat", "Love Is Blindness", "Please", "In a Little While", etc. as being where the true gems in their canon really lie. And that they are often the songs that best exemplify why we listen to the band in the first place.

This was never more true than on "The Joshua Tree". Both lyrically and sonically every song reinforces and expands on what was only hinted at on Side 1. Side 2 puts you in that desert. Metaphorically and spiritually, yes. But, physically. It dries you out and fills you up all at the same time. And for me, "Exit" has always been the penultimate track from that leg of the journey.

On the album, it often gets overlooked. The murky, muted, barely-there production and nearly gothic lyrical content - something about a wayward preacher with a pistol in his pocket and a sky full of nails - were a little abstract and confounding for newer fans. But the furious, bombastic payoff at the end makes that black desert trek worth every step.

I was 13 and already a hardcore fan when the band rolled through the only "nearby" town that was big enough to host them, Kansas City. My brother was a freshman in college and promised me early on that he would take me. He ended up going down on a bus with a bunch of college friends instead. (Don't worry, bro. It's not like it's something I'll NEVER GET OVER or anything.)

Luckily for me, the tour was captured in the concert-film-cum-documentary "Rattle & Hum". I went to see it on opening night with a girl I totally had a crush on at the time. (Remember that, Akerberg?) I was nervous and self-concious as the movie started, but everything changed at the point in the film when I heard the first dark, slinky, tremoloed strains of "Exit". The song became an entirely different beast live. I remember the thrill of seeing that performance like I remember my first orgasm. (Remember that, hand?) It nearly lifted me out of my seat. To this day, it remains in my top 3 all-time favorite U2 tracks.

The band hasn't played the song live since the "Lovetown" Tour in 1989 and probably won't any time soon. Which is a real shame.

Thank God we have this to remember it by...

>

Re: Another Door Slamming In Loudly In My Face

An e-mail I received yesterday from the agent I met with recently who was very excited about having a "more formal" meeting with me once pilot season started:

"Hey Aaron ,

Thanks for so diligently checking back in with me. I’m sorry to keep you holding but we have just finished the long and arduous process of evaluating our roster. I like you and your work very much but I just don’t have a place for you at _________ right now. I will certainly hold on to your material should our situation change.

I want to wish you the best of luck with your search.

Sincerely,

____"

...

I don't even know where to begin with that one.

So, I won't...

I'll just shake my head in disbelief and feel awful for a week.

I'll try not to count how many years I've been here.

I'll try not to throw things at my TV every time I see a crap actor who's somehow managed to make a living at this.

I'll try to keep from sighing heavily when I see something in the breakdowns that I'd be perfect for.

I'll try not to cringe inside when someone tells me about a really cool project they're working on.

I'll try to keep my heart from sinking when this goes to Sundance after I suggested (rightly) that my scene be cut.

I'll try to keep... Trying.

To do this.

And I'll try to be thankful for the struggle.




Just not this week...

What A Difference A Day Makes

So... I put up my last post at 4:48 pm on Tuesday afternoon. At that point things were looking pretty grim. No word on my withheld funds, no prospect of work for the next two weeks. About a half-hour after I posted, I got a call from Advantage with a 3-day fill-in assignment on Wed, Thurs and Fri of this week. Okay, nice. Big relief. Then, at 6:35pm ( Who’s still working at 6:35pm?) I get a call from my “caseworker” re: the status of my funds. As I’d hoped. He ruled in my favor that the issue was bullshit and released the $1500 in benefits that had been withheld for the past month. BIG, BIG RELIEF. A much-welcome break from the stress, anxiety, frustration and uncertainty of the past month or so. AND, as an added bonus, I ended up getting another couple days worth of assignments for next week, which is also helpful.

See, there’s a lesson for me to learn here and I’m trying to figure out if it’s simply about having faith and not getting myself so bent out of shape over shit I can’t control, or if it’s something deeper and more complex. Not quite sure, but I’ll let you know if I land on anything profound or insightful.

Follow-up items and random points of interest:

*The Car – We managed to get ANOTHER ticket for the expired inspection sticker. That makes 5. FIVE. Which is awesome. However, we were finally able to afford to drop the car off and have it inspected, so we can at least close the door on THAT ongoing headache. And remember the first jagoff I took it to who said I needed $1400 worth of work to pass the safety inspection? The Missus dropped it off at a different shop today and they called me with the estimate. He was totally affable and said everything looks good, we just need a couple new belts. Cost? $160. $160. That’s a big leap from the $1400 the other douchebag was asking for. What a racket, man. I’m definitely in the wrong friggin’ business.

*Pinkeye – The Doodle finished her antibiotics last night and she’s 100% back to normal. I mean, except for the whole missing-a-leg thing.

*The Stoop/Fuck/Porch – Only one day’s worth of work done this week, but they did finish the wall. Hoping it’ll be finished by the end of the month so we can enjoy early fall evenings outside.

*U2 – “PopMart Live from Mexico City” DVD released this week.

*My Wife’s Hair – The Missus got a haircut a couple weeks ago and it’s absolutely adorable.

*My Hair – Needs to be cut.

*The Mets – Currently lead the NL East

*Injured First-Round NBA Draft Picks – C’MON. This story is EVERYWHERE. They were even yammering about it on NPR this morning. Can I let you in on a little secret, guys? If your whole team rests on the well-being of one rookie player’s knee, then you don’t have a team.

*Movies – Very much looking forward to seeing this , this and especially this.

*Music (Live) – Saw The Veils again Monday night. This time at Bowery Ballroom. AMAZING. Just amazing. Looking forward to Arcade Fire in October and Gogol Bordello in November.

*Music (Albums) – A brief rundown of what I’m listening to this week:

The Organ – “Grab That Gun”
Elbow – “Leaders of the Free World”
Devotchka – “Una Volta”
Film School – “Film School”
fIREHOSE – “Ragin’, Full On”
Spoon – “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”
Dinosaur Jr. – “Beyond”
The Clientele – “God Save The Clientele”
The Sea and Cake – “Everybody”

And of course the last 3 Gogol Bordello albums have been on non-stop rotation. What? You don't have them yet? That's really unfortunate. I'm trying not to judge you, but it's not working...

More Fucktasticness

So, fuck. The fun continues. I don't even know where to start.

Well, on a day of remembrance in which we acknowledge the truly weighty and significant events of six years ago, let me do my part by distracting you with some utterly petty and pathetic minutae from my unemployed life.

First off, the issue of my withheld unemployment benefits has yet to be resolved. Still haven't heard either way regarding a decision from my "caseworker" as to whether or not my funds are going to be released. It's been a long and scary waiting game and the bills continue to pile up.

Last week I was supposed to have started my new long-term temp gig at FuckEx. But first I had to take a drug test. Fine. So, I do that and then have to wait to hear from my representative from Fuckvantage Human Resourcing saying that I passed the test and I can start. Which they were ready for me to do last week. Well, of COURSE it takes several days to get the results and then I get a call from my rep saying that I'm now not going to be starting until the 24TH. And, no. They don't have any short-term gigs to fill in in the meantime. Which is AWESOME. So, I call the other FOUR temp agencies I'm registered with to find out if they might have anything available for a week or two until my new gig starts. NO, they all say. Nothing. And while you're at it, why don't you go ahead and shove a stick up your ass.

THEN, a couple weeks ago, I got a ticket for having an expired inspection sticker on my car. $65. Totally didn't realize it was that time of year AGAIN, but didn't have the dough to get it done. Then I got another ticket. $65. Then ANOTHER. $65. So, finally I take the car in to have the inspection done, fingers crossed. Sometimes it takes about $100-$200 worth of tweaking to get the emissions to pass. If it failed, it failed. But, if it passed, yay. It's $35 either way, so I'm really hoping. I drop it off and the mechanic calls me 2 hours later and says that it's going to require $1400 worth of work before he can even TEST the emissions. Um. Fuckin... WHAT? So, of course I tell the guy he's full of shit and not to TOUCH my car and I'm going to come pick it up. Luckily, he didn't charge me the $37 since he didn't test the emissions. But, yeah. As has become my wife's mantra of late, "Put it on the fuckin' list."
---

In addition, I've been putting off following up with the agent I was supposed to meet with after Labor Day because I don't have the $250 I need to get my reel done and don't want to go in empty-handed. Another fucklicious morsel to add to my already-overflowing shitplate.
---

Oh, yeah. And then Kanga managed to pick up a lovely case of pinkeye after mingling with the other pooches at the Prospect Park Doggie Beach. So, THAT was $90 on The Missus' already-overfuckflowing credit card.
---

OH.... And those awesome construction workers I mentioned in my last post? Haven't been back since last week. So, there's this unfinished monstrosity of a stoop/fuck/porch that the neighbors give a sort of pathetic head shake at when they walk by.
---

Basically, I'm in a state of unbridled fuckstasy. And am beginning to wonder what the point of it all is. Actually, I'm now more concerned about whether or not there's a point to it at all. Trying to have faith.

REALLY. I AM.

---

Now... If you're still reading this then it means you survived my Woe Is Me spew and haven't left in disgust. Congratulations. Takes a real steady stomach to weather that much blech. As a reward, I will share what bits of sunshine I have perspective enough to reflect your way.
---

Had another surprise opporunity to spend a couple nights up at Meg's this weekend. Which happened to coincide with the one-year anniversary of my quit date. So on Saturday evening I made a tuna steak (my first attempt. successo.) and The Missus put together a really fantastic carrot/ginger/peanut slaw and some RIDICULOUS wasabi mashed potatoes. And we washed it all down with a surprisingly awesome bottle of rose. (I know. Who'da thunk?) Then Sunday evening, on our way back to the City we stopped by the Eveready Diner in Hyde Park. We'd seen it on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and were jonesing to check it out. Holy crap. All-American comfort food done phenomenally well. Everything homemade. Friggin' yummish.

-

So, yes. I know. There's always some good with the bad and if you don't at least get over yourself long enough to LOOK for it, then you probably don't deserve to have it come your way ANYWAY, right?

Well, of course you're right. But, if I did that then how the hell would you have passed the time for the last fifteen minutes?

See? I'm frustrated and you're bored.

...We're a perfect fuckin' match.

A Free Plug for One on One

I've spoken in the past about One on One and what a great resource it is for unrepresented actors in the City. It's leagues beyond what Actor's Connection, TVI and the like are doing. As such I agreed to do a testimonial which One on One posted on the "Success Stories" section of their site. If you're out there working and having trouble getting seen, I strongly suggest checking them out...

An Uncertain Souffle with a Side Order of Crap

Alright, I know... It's been a while. But you're going to have to cut me some slack.

Sometimes life is a vine that creeps up the side and gets you all tangled up before you even have a chance to tend to it. And in the past weeks, my vine had overtaken me to the point that I could barely even talk about what I had going on, let alone try to present it in a succinct, comprehensible and interesting way. BUT... Now I've got some distance and I can give you the nutshell update... You know, since I know you're just frothing to hear about it.

First off, THIS SHIT has been going on in front of my house for the past two weeks. Which is awesome. And while I'm sure our new stoop/porch combo will be lovely when(ever) it's finished, IN THE MEANTIME I've had to put up with jackhammers and catcalling from the douchebags my landlady hired to do the work. (Clarification: They weren't catcalling at me, thank God. But my neighbors and ANY female who was unfortunate enough to be walking down the street while they were around.)

I don't know what it is about certain groups in the City that compel them to unequivocally reinforce their own stereotypes, but there must be some sort of unwritten code among construction workers that says they have to - on pain of death - hassle women when they walk down the street. Tooth-sucking, whistling and "Hey Baby"-ing must be part of the training course one has to take to become a laborer in the State of New York. And nothing.... NOTHING... gets to me more than that shit. Finally, the other day I 'd totally had enough. I burst out the front door and pulled the crew leader aside and told him in no uncertain terms to have some fucking respect and knock that shit OFF. And do you know what this low-life, pencil-dick fucking cocksucker says to me..????

He says (insert Puerto Rican accent here), "Wha? Yoo wan' me to be gay?" ...

I know. I couldn't believe it either. This is the part where, if I was someone who kept a gun in the house, I'd be writing this from jail right now. All I gotta say is... this better be one spectacular fucking stoop/porch.
-----

Okay... on to some other happy shit that happened a few weeks back. The job search was continuing, but (for reasons that weren't immediately clear) my unemployment benefits suddenly hit a snag. Turns out they were being withheld because my former employer raised some sort of issue. So, not only did I not have a job, but now I no longer had any sort of financial cushion while I was looking either. Long story short, the issues they raised are completely bogus bullshit and I've been assured by my "caseworker" that this happens often and that he's fairly certain my case is solid and I'll be cleared. Which means they can finally release the fucking $1500 in benefits ASAP. Yeah, fuckers. You better.

So, in the meantime, without the financial leeway to try and find a decent fucking dayjob, I've been forced to take another long-term temp position at THIS FUCKIN' PLACE. And while it's $28/hr and totally meets my schedule flexibility needs, it's still fucking AmEx, which I said I'd never go back to and makes me want to light myself on fire.

BUT... God willing, I won't have to be there long. You may remember an interview I mentioned a few posts ago with Extreme Music. Called last week and spoke with the gal I interviewed with. She said they'd be interviewing through Friday and were hoping to have someone ready to go by October. (They're moving offices at the end of September.) Said she'd keep me posted. So, fingers still majorly crossed on that one.

----

NOW comes the fun stuff... Last Tuesday was K.P. O'Fagan II's bachelor dinner at Peter Luger's in Brooklyn followed by after-festivities at Astoria's world-famous Bohemian Beer Garden. Ain't we cute?

The wedding was Saturday. A beautiful affair. K.P. looked dashing in a vintage, brown, 3-button pinstripe suit from Rue St. Denis and Schreck was stunning as always. Willis and I were recruited to play guitar and sing. Hando joined us on the Delaney & Bonnie classic "Neverending Song of Love" , which we performed during the passing of the rings. And for the recessional, the entire wedding posse contributed a verse to an original Irish drinking song that Willis put together. He and I played, we all sang and a joyful hell was raised in DUMBO that night. Much drink, much mirth and much ass-shaking followed. Salute, Kip and Heidi.

Here's a couple artfully-lit photos of the bride and groom followed by a sweaty and not-so-artfully-lit pic of The Missus and I. And since Bella did such a fantastic job, I'll throw in a pic to give her some props as well.

All in all, it's been a nutty couple of weeks. LOTS of ups and downs. And the uncertainty continues. Lots of balls in the air and no real solid idea of where they'll land. Trying to do a bit of trusting and let the man upstairs do his work. Just hoping I have the patience and the ear to listen for His will above the din of my own anxiety.

And those FUCKING catcalls...

"Oh, Billions of Dollars... Is there NO Dispute You Can't Settle?"

Brilliant and spot-on as always...

The END of Unemployment?

Had an interview today with this company... and fuckin' ROCKED IT.

Fingers.

Fucking.

CROSSED.

A Weekend In The Country

Had a lovely weekend at Meg's upstate.

THANKS, MEG.

U2ube Video of the Week #6: "Please"

One of my top 5 all-time favorite U2 songs. A beautiful live version from the Popmart Tour - Rotterdam, 1997.


And, as a bonus, a lovely acoustic cover by Elvis Costello.

...And then gets completely uprooted by an F2-class tornado in the middle of Bay Ridge at 6:30 in the fucking morning. Fun stuff.

You can also click here to read about how the hell an hour's worth of rain could possibly cripple the ENTIRE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR A CITY OF 8 MILLION PEOPLE.

Fuck.

No, But Seriously...? EVERYONE'S Watching This Except You. It's Getting Ridiculous. You Don't Want People Thinkin' You're SQUARE, Do You...?

A Gig You're Going To Come To This Week Or I Will Judge You

I'm going to be there. The Missus is going to be there. Basically, anyone who's cool is going to be there. Do you think you're cool? Maybe, maybe not. If I look across the room at the John Street Thursday night and see you drinking a beer and howling for more Neil Poynter originals, I will deem you such. If you're not there... like, if you decide to stay home and watch MustSeeTV or something - you are most definitely not cool. In fact, you're impossibly lame. Sorry. My judgements are swift, accurate and ultimately final in these situations.

My buddy and next door neighbor Neil's got a gig this week. Info from his page is below. See you there...

NEIL POYNTER @ OS ARTHOUSE
Thursday, August 2nd, 9pm
Located at the John Street Grill
17 John Street, NYC
Come celebrate with friends and family of Cherokee Street. John Street is a cool pub in the financial district and the Arthouse makes its home in the back room. There's a nice open floor, cushy couches in the back, a separate bar, and a good sound system. Pay $10 at the door and come and go as you please during the night. I'll be kicking things off with an acoustic set at 9pm. This is a great room. Don't come alone. Bring someone you can get drunk and take home.

U2ube Video of the Week #5: "Stories For Boys"

Those of us who had "Boy" on both vinyl and cassete will remember "Stories For Boys" as the rambunctious and enigmatic closer of Side 1. In this TV appearance from January of 1980, Edge gives the introductory riff a deliciously flange-y flavor, Bono delivers vocals in a faux-British accent and Adam sports a flowy, fluorescent green v-neck sweater the way no straight man has before or since. Modern fans of the band will also notice that the "Hello, hello" of "Vertigo" wasn't all that original an idea.
The announcer describes the band as "the band of the future - the 80's or 90's, who knows". Hard to tell whether he's trying to take the piss out of them or not, but I'm sure he - along with the audience - had no idea at the time that such a grandiose introduction would actually end up being an understatement. Check out "Stories For Boys"...

My New Home Office

Wednesday, 1:02 pm - Sheep's Meadow, Central Park.

Decided to put the Park's wi-fi to the test. It works. And I now have a new base of operations for job-hunting.

...God, I love this town.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Today

Saturday:
________
Despite being up most of the night dealing with a loud, drunken melee outside our house- replete with brawls, gunshots, screeching car tires and several calls to 911 - The Missus and I started the day with butterflies in our bellies because we had tickets for the Gogol Bordello show at Irving Plaza that night. They have quickly become one of our favorite bands and their live shows are legendary, so we were beyond psyched to finally get to see them. Suffice to say, we were even more blown away than we had even imagined we could be. That show is now among my top one or two non-U2 shows of ALL TIME and The Missus officially lists it as her number one ever, which is saying a lot.

I haven't felt that kind of crowd unity since the hardcore shows of my youth. The place was on fire. People were ecstatic. The amount of energy coming both from the stage and the audience could have launched an Apollo mission. You could feel the very foundations of the venue shaking beneath the weight of our collective jumping, dancing, moshing and howling. It was wild, it was loud, it was positive and it was joyous. It was everything you'd expect from a band that plays gypsy-flavored punk with sprinkles of tarantella.

The only way to accurately give you a taste of the experience is to let you see for yourself. Below are links to some vids of the band in action. Take a moment to check them out. If they EVER make it to a town near you - GO.


"60 Revolutions"
"Not A Crime"
"Undestructable"
"Start Wearing Purple"


Sunday:
_______

Sunday we laid low then finished the evening on the Poynters' porch. One of those perfect non-humid summer evenings that only comes along once in a while. The Missus put together a beautiful plate of fresh caprese, Neil made club sandwiches and we finished off several bottles of surprisingly-delicious-for-the-price malbec by Los Altos. After dinner, we downshifted into Pimm's with lemonade (something Kate developed a taste for on her most recent UK trip and a new summer fave around our house). Once the girls went to bed however, Neil and I remained outside, broke out the guitars and the Ardbeg and proceeded to have a longer night than we should have.

Monday:
______

Started the day by being reminded that I'm not someone who can mix when I'm drinking. I gotta dance with the one that brung me, otherwise my body gives me shit about it the next day. I wasn't hungover per se, but I took the note and will try to keep it in mind next time.

Had a commercial audition for NY Lottery at 10:40 am and of course it was pissing rain. I arrived wet and uncomfortable and then tried to get myself in the headspace of having just won the lottery, which is what I was told I'd be doing in the audition. When they called me in to the room, they wanted me to pretend to be looking out over the railing of the Staten Island Ferry, gazing at the Statue of Liberty and "imagining the American dream". (?) Then I had to mime going into a bodega, scratching a lotto ticket, winning a million dollars and then reacting to it "subtly". You know, because that's a realistic reaction to have when you win a million bucks. It was totally awkward and weird - as most commercial auditions are - and I'd be very surprised if I got a callback.

Left the audition and got a call from the mechanic who was working on our car. First off, they were supposed to call me before they did anything, let me know what they thought the problem was and how much it would cost and proceed from there. No. He calls and tells me the car's done and that'll be $177.68, thank you very much.

It was all pretty much what you'd expect from a rainy Monday.

TODAY:

Um... yeah. Today... Uh... let's see. Well, more job-searching. That's about it. Though, I did hear today on NY1 that they've boosted the wi-fi signal in Central Park, so I may move my base of operations to the Sheep's Meadow for the remainder of the day. (AFTER I get in on the noon pre-sale of tickets to go see THESE GUYS. Shhhhhhhh........)

So, that's the scoop. Another week filled with who-knows-what.

I've gotta find a job soon...

Some Things Brewing... Some Things Staying The Same

No job yet.

Still unemployed.

Meeting with the agent went very well. Having me back at the end of August when things are busier for a more "formal conversation".

MAJORLY MAJOR things about to happen with this. Will know full details by Friday.

Listening to: The National - "Boxer"
Eating: Oriental Flavor Ramen
Drinking: Albino Sauvignon Blanc
Reading: NYTimes.com jobs listings
Weather: Pissing
Feeling: Somewhere between here and there

Seroiusly, though. How can you not be watching this yet? You're gonna feel SO outta the loop when everyone else at the party is talking about it...

"Make The Great Cleanliness Function": Special Notes From The Crack Basin

Queens is known for it's glut of 99 cent stores and the absolutely overwhelming variety of crap products you can purchase from them. Items range from bedsheets to placemats to AM/FM radios to socks to an assortment of foreign food-type items. And the quality of all of them is exactly what you'd expect.

Though I rarely frequent any of these stores, I will occasionally stop in for fairly foolproof staples like paper towels or sponges. Last week, I stopped in to buy some toilet bowl cleaner. The kind you leave in the tank that turns the water blue. Reliably, I found one called - generically enough - "Blue-Touch".

Now, common sense tells you that these products are made in other parts of the world and then shipped here. But, upon reading the directions for this particular item I noticed just how foreign a product I was really dealing with.

Below are two sections from the back panel of the packaging for the "Blue-Touch Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Air Freshener". Pretty impressive that they could invent something that does both. And for 99 cents, no less.

Hit The Links

Tuesday - so far...

• Have an interview today for a job here.
• And these guys are saying it's supposed to be really fuckin' hot. ...Awesome.
• This was released today. I just bought it. You should too.
• Other things released today that you should get include: this and this.
• Neil and I watched this on the Documentary Channel over the weekend. You should try to catch it if they run it again. Spent the rest of the weekend listening to this and this.
• Also caught the LiveEarth performance of THIS SONG, which sort of blew my mind. (At one point this was linking to fucking Kanye west for some reason. That was NOT correct.)
• NO luck so far with either of these jagoffs.
• Made plans yesterday with Krish to go here and hit a few some time this week. So, I've got that going for me. ...Which is nice.
• Can't stop watching this video on YouTube. He's got a new album out, too. Which you should totally check out.
• Going to another screening of this tonight, this time for an interested distributor.
• As a general rule, but also especially when it's hot like this - make sure you drink plenty of this.

Peace ,

- IMBA

U2ube Video of the Week #4: "Woman Fish"

Even most hardcore fans will have to say "What the fuck is THIS?" when they see this one. It's a song called "Woman Fish" and appears to have been performed on an Irish TV show some time during the recording of the Joshua Tree. Seems to be something they came up with during those sessions but it obviously never managed to make it onto the album. Odd that they would have performed something on television that they were still so ostensibly working out. More of a sketch than a true U2 song, but it's sonically interesting and Bono looks like a real rocker. It's also his first stab at playing the harmonica (and it shows). A bonafide oddity. Dig it...

Happy Birthday, America.

For your birthday this year, I bought you a t-shirt with your name on it. Wasn't sure about the size, but it's got your favorite colors so I figured it was a pretty safe bet. Have a super day. Hope you're having a party or going to Applebee's or something nice like that to celebrate.

I know how much you love Applebee's...

Seriously, Why Aren't You Watching This Yet?

A Case of the Fridays

My day so far:

• The Public passed on me. So, I won't be doing this.
• None of the 5 staffing agencies I'm registered with has anything in the ballpark of what I'm looking for in regards to employment.
• I've gotten no responses to the 40 resumes I've submitted independently.
• I'm realizing that I haven't acted since January.
• Some random person from my high school -who I have no memory of- sent me an e-mail saying that my name came up in a discussion thread on a Benson alumni MySpace group regarding "who's famous" from our school. So she Googled me, found my e-mail address and just wanted to say "I always knew you'd do it..."
• Most of the pants I bought a year ago no longer fit me.
• My beard has literally twice as many grays as it did last month.
• There's now a trailer on YouTube for an independent I did two years ago and it's garbage.
• Kanga, Gatsby and Braveheart are beginning to show signs of disdain for the fact that I'm around during the day and not letting them sleep on the couches I just fucking vacuumed.
• I've come to understand that Ramen Noodles wear out their welcome more quickly at 33 than they did at 23.

All that and it's only noon...

Stewart Weighs In With Typical Brilliance On Yet Another Utterly Ridiculous Thing Involving Dick Cheney

Thanks to Soup for sending this my way...

The Opposite of What You and I Both Thought Would Happen

*The link mentioned in the video


P.S. Yes, I misspelled "unemployment" and, no... that's not why I'm still unemployed.

And Now For Something Completely Different

So, that last post was a real buzzkill. Time for a little road trip and some fun in the sun.
Here's a video I put together from our Memorial Day weekend on Cape Cod.

Dig it...

Uncertainty

So, my last Monday morning at AmEx finds me with little to do. Most of the projects I've been working on have ended and the rest of my week will merely involve putting together transition materials for the gal I've been reporting to, so she can officially take over my responsibilities. For those of you who haven't had the benefit of the full story, here's the nut of it...

I've been working for the past year and a half as a "Temporary Project Coordinator" for a very high-profile SVP at American Express. I was brought on board by a friend of mine who was serving as this SVP's Senior Executive Assistant. My job was to handle monthly cyclical administrative and planning projects as well as serve as "backup" to my friend, whenever she was out of the office - calendering, expenses and so on. The job kept me busy enough, but was never so insane that I didn't have time for auditions, travel, etc. As a temp, I never had to worry about whether someone was looking over my shoulder. When I wasn't here, I wasn't getting paid. Simple. That freedom was (and still is) necessary for someone maintaining a full-time job while actively pursuing an entirely separate full-time job.

Back in March my friend left the company, and in the intervening months the office has gone through a "re-org" involving a fairly extensive "headcount". (These office terms never fail to trigger very intense bile burps, which I'm now stuck trying to wash down with lukewarm street-cart coffee.) Basically, our division got the word from on high that they needed to trim some of the fat from their budget - and my position was included in that bulge.

So, I was informed that June 15th was going to be my last day. Okay... fine. I've been fairly miserable here anyway, so that part of it was no sweat. The hitch, though, is... what fuckin' now?

And this is the part that I've been grappling with for the last couple weeks. It's bigger than just finding another job. That I can do in my sleep. No, it's something far peskier and more complex. It has become an impromptu existential evaluation of my entire life up to this point. And this one happens to be coming at a time when my mind is particularly fecund with "what if" scenarios.


I'm juggling all of these balls, see, and right now they're all frozen in mid-air. Here's a breakdown of the different things I'm awaiting some form of resolution or forward movement on:

• The Day Job - I've met with several staffing agencies and submitted my resume independently for a bunch of things I found on craigslist, Monster, HotJobs and New York Jobs for the Arts. All admin/assistant/project coordinator type stuff. All of which I'm skilled in and can make really decent money at, but all of which make me want to yark all over my keyboard at the very thought of having to do them for eight hours a day. Regardless, only one interview so far. No other solid prospects in sight. Nothing lined up for the 18th.



• The Career - Had a meeting with a talent manager three weeks ago, which went very well. Not 100% sold on the idea of a manager yet anyway, but they said they'd be getting back to me re: a second meeting after they'd watched my L&O tape which, as of last week, they hadn't done yet. Also met an agent through One-on-One about a month or so ago, who I've been exchanging e-mails with since. Told me last week that she was leaving for vacation, but wanted to set up a meeting as soon as she gets back. So, I'm waiting on that.



• The Apartment - The Missus and I had started entertaining the notion of trying to find a new apartment. Still in Astoria, still a two bedroom, but bigger. We basically got laughed out of 6 different brokers offices when we said we wanted to leave a $1200 2-br private house that allows pets. So right now, that idea's on hold. And in the meantime, we're confronted with putting our own money and a shitload of effort into fixing up our current place so we can stomach it for another year. Which feels like an expensive and ultimately unsatisfying way to tread water.



• The Looming Maybe-Baby - So, we know we probably need to get cracking on that by next spring if we're thinking of eventually having more than one, which poses a whole 'nother set of predicaments as far as the first two points are concerned.

So, there's a lot going on. There are a lot of potentialities. I'm at an obvious crux. Something different is ostensibly around the corner, but I have no idea what it is or what I'll be expected to do with it once it gets here - whenever it finally does get here. Which is fine. If I wanted certainty, I'd be a dentist. I guess what I'm looking for is somewhere south of certainty, but a couple blocks north of I Have Absolutely No Fucking Clue What's Going On.

I'm very much feeling 33 right now. Or maybe more accurately, I'm feeling 34 lurking weightily around the corner. I'm feeling like I'm grappling with the same stuff I was grappling with at 25... 27... 30. Except this time, it's different. Because I'm going to be 34.

The reason this is all feeling heavier than usual is no mystery. I'm getting older. Which means that a certain amount of fatigue has begun to seep into my bones from 12 straight years of precarious balancing. The duality of the artist and the guy-with-very-real-financial-responsibilities-and-goals. The high-wire act. The old song. Confronting questions about what I'm doing to make money until I'm making money the way I want to be making money. And how that all works when the audible ticking of a clock underscores my every move. As well as very real notions of things like buying a house (apartment), medical insurance, providing for a family, saving for retirement, etc. starting to creep in. The apparent point at which it seems a decision has to be made. How long do you give yourself? At what age do you pack it in - get a respectable and reliable job so you can give your kids a life where they live in a decent neighborhood, go to a good school, have money for things they need without question and whatnot? And by doing that, have you sealed an even more bleak fate for them by becoming a strangled, resentful mess - drowning in a sea of blue shirts and hoggida-hoggida?

Seems if you're gonna have kids, you should be able to look them in the eye. And I think I'd have a hard time doing that if I knew I'd shitcanned everything I'd worked for just because it was hard.

Which leaves the idea of the "secondary career". Something that I could see myself doing that I might actually have an aptitude for and would not make me throw up, but would still ultimately be equivalent to giving up. Doing music supervision for films or A&R at a record label or music journalism or freelance writing of some kind. All of which require training (and skill) that I don't immediately have and would never fully make me happy anyway.

So, that's where I'm at. I've taken ALL of these issues on at once and am feeling an internal scramble to get them all sussed out by JUNE 15th. Which is utterly fucking ridiculous.

I'm fine.

I'm hassled, exasperated, fed-up, worn-out, pissed-off, clueless and a little roughed up...

...But fine.

And in 33 years, the Man Upstairs has never just completely left me out to dry. So, for now... I'm choosing to let go. I'm choosing to relenquish my anxiety. I'm choosing to trust.

And if all of that doesn't work...

THEN I'll become a dentist.

U2ube Video of the Week #3: "U23D" Trailer

Filmed with cutting edge, never-before-used 3D technology during during a series of Vertigo Tour dates in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, U23D takes the concert film to a new whole 'nother level. No one but the boys could pull it off.

I can't. Express. In words. How mothafriggin'stokedIAM!!! It's slated for release this fall. Here's a peek...

P.S. Watch THIS also. Cringe humor at it's best. Thanks to K.P. O'Fagan II for sharing.

Did I Say Tuesday?

I totally meant Thursday. Sorry, they both start with "T". Confusing.

Thursday.

(clicksy below)

On Getting Canned: Ruminations On The Dissolution Of My "Permanent-Temp" Position With The American Express Company

Um.


Okay.

The weekend had been quite enjoyable until, once again, Kanga got too hammered to drive.

__________________________

The Cape was fantastic. Pics and video soon...

Okay, so...

No... I am neither a hunky soap star, a meth addict or an 80's has-been. Thanks for the guesses, though.

Nothing to report right now. Answers next week...
......................................
Packing up The Missus and The Doodle and heading here for the weekend.

A station wagon, a travel mug full of coffee, the new Wilco, a campfire, a couple bottles of Casa Silva Carmenere, The Atlantic Ocean, deep-fried lobster meat, a three-legged dog and my favorite wife...









Does it get any goddamn better than that?


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

Q:

What do I have in common with him, him and her?

A:
Maybe something, maybe nothing.


I'll let you know tomorrow...

U2ube Video of the Week #2: "A Celebration"

"A Celebration" was a non-album single released between the October and War albums in 1982. It's actually always been one of my favorites from that early period. It's got a great, anthemic, fist-pumping spirit to it and it's a classic example of Edge's ability to make an enthralling guitar verse out of just three notes.

The band however, feels differently. When questioned about why the song never manages to make it into any of their live sets they've intimated that they simply don't much care for it. Which is a shame, because I've always deemed it to be one of the unsung (literally) classics from the early catalog.

The video however, is another story. The boys have made more than a few dodgy videos over the years. It's never been their best medium. But I have to say, this one takes the cake. Right down to Bono's red tight-pants and the goofy blue animated sparks that shoot out of a doorway, sending Adam and Larry reeling toward the camera. Absolute pisser. See for yourself...

Dogs are the best...

Dog Nurses Tiger Triplets at China Zoo

BEIJING - It's a dog's life for three newborn tiger triplets in eastern China. The cubs, whom officials at the Jinan Paomaling Wild Animal World in Shandong province are so far just calling "One," "Two" and "Three," have been nursed by a dog since they were rejected by their tiger mother shortly after birth, said Paomaling manager Chen Yucai.

The trio's adoptive mother, a mixed breed farm dog called "Huani," is expected to nurse them for about a month or until their appetites outpace her supply, Chen said. Chen said it is common for Chinese zoos to use surrogate dog mothers to nurse rejected tiger cubs and that Huani has nursed tigers before.

In the past, Paomaling put dog urine on their rejected cub's fur to make the surrogate think she was nursing one of her own puppies but the zoo didn't bother with Huani because she seemed not to mind nursing the tigers, he said.

"The family is getting along well and seems to enjoy each other," Chen said.

I Remember the Lessons

I don’t remember the first time I used my voice
or how it might have sounded
But she does.
She remembers because
she knew it meant I was awake and alive and already starting to
define
myself.

I don’t remember my first steps or
the way my legs finally found out what they’re for
But she does.

She remembers because
my hand was holding hers.
And in the silent space between our palms

I learned everything I needed to know about

trust.

I don’t remember cutting teeth
or throwing my first fit.
I don’t remember my first word or whether it

made sense to anyone but her.

I don’t remember the first time I rode in a car
or just exactly how I got this scar above my eye
and I
don’t really know why I
called it my “purple” blanket when it was every color but, But
she does.
She remembers because
that’s what mothers do.
They have a place inside that holds the history
of you.

There’s a lot I do remember, though…

Like standing knee-deep in late December snow
and her,
yelling from the front door of the house on 63rd
that I

wasn’t wearing “enough of a coat”
as if I’d managed to come out in only the sleeves.

I remember supermarket Saturdays,
riding around in the bottom of the cart
while she pushed
and how she always let me get a Mad magazine

before we checked out.

I remember learning how to swim
with my arms around her neck

while I kicked

and sputtered

and screamed like a little girl.

I remember Memorial Days,
trips to Iowa to visit the graves
and paying my respects to people I’d never met.
(which really didn’t matter because I was told that they were family
and that was all I needed to know.)

I remember walking to school on the first day of kindergarten
with my folks on either side of me
tackling my acrophobia on the overpass,
with my

nap-time rug tucked snugly under my arm and
how it all had something to do with fear being merely an obstacle.

And years later,
at high school graduation,
my now-divorced parents again on either side of me
beaming
and
proud.

And me in between them,
witnessing firsthand
the true nature of civility
and grace.

I remember the lessons.

The ones she taught
and the ones we learned together.
The ones that stuck whether
I was at home
or out in the world somewhere.

In death, my father taught me
how to be a man.
But in life my mother taught me
how to be a human being.

Yes, I remember her lessons.

And they will serve my children well someday…

-IMBA

Mother's Day, 2006

So, my boy turns 47 today. Holy Crap. And I'm in my 20th year as a hardcore U2 fan. Double-Holy Crap.

There's a segment I've been wanting to implement here at CYPJN? and I guess this is the perfect occasion. It's called "U2ube Video of the Week" and will feature a different U2 performance, interview, vidbit, etc. every week. It's my little way of honoring both the genius of the band and the genius of YouTube itself.

Here is a video of U2's first-ever television performance in March of 1978. It's a very glam delivery of "Street Mission" - an old gem from their earliest demo - replete with an uncharacteristically bland and noodley guitar solo from The Edge. (This was before he met the Memory Man, see.) Brilliant and slightly hysterical...

The Winds of Change

Republicans for Obama...?!

Yes.

Thanks, Bangs...

So, Monday marked the one year anniversary of The Doodle coming to live with us and I totally forgot to post about it. Feels like she's been part of the family forever. She's literally the sweetest dog ever in the history of life and we wouldn't know what to do without her.

Happy Anniversary, Kanga.

Thanks for the awesomeness...

SAVE INTERNET RADIO!

I am an avid internet radio listener. I couldn't get through my 40 hours a week at the cube farm without it. KEXP.org has been my saving grace for the past 4 years, though I have also enjoyed sites such as Live 365 and Netradio in the past. Through all of them, I have discovered countless bands that I may never have heard on my own. Internet radio DJ's have the freedom to program what they want, when they want and have contributed to thousands of new artists reaching wider audiences than they would have through commercial radio or other traditional media outlets.

In recent months, the future of internet radio has come into question. The nutshell reason behind this involves royalty rates for webcasters, which have been drastically increased by a recent ruling. These new rates are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date.

Newsweek has a great article on the issue here. Also, you can read KEXP's response to the decision here. And if you want to take action, you can do so by supporting The Internet Radio Equality Act, which was introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ). Call your congressperson and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060 by clicking here. Our direct involvment in situations like this is how change gets made. Our direct lack of involvment is how things like this happen to us.

So, be a good American. Be an active and involved citizen. Be a supporter of new and upcoming artists. Help keep internet radio alive. Do it for yourself. Do it for the bands. But more importantly, do it for me. So that I'm not forced to listen to the jagoff in the cube next to me talking about "leveraging" and "metrics" and "reaching out" and "looping in" all day...