I like a fresh bowl. Remnants upset me.

I forgot all about my aquarium pics!



So the seals are just outside the entrance and it's easy to sit there for quite some time. However, the penguin feedings were just beginning, so we finally went inside.





In the center of the aquarium is a giant circular ocean tank with a spiraling walkway to the top.



There seemed to be about 3-4 of these guys, but they hid when the divers started feeding time! Shy!



The people in the background are a little dark, but it gives you an idea of how large the tank is.



The jellies are a special exhibit. Also, very hard to snap pics.



Splat.







It's a little tricky to see here, but there are two guys. I think they normally blend in a little better than they're doing here.





That's a brown bottle he's sucking on.



While walking up to Haymarket to return to Little Italy, we stumbled upon the Holocaust exhibit. I'd seen it before in 1998 when I went with Veloute and Annie. It's still impressive; prisoners' numbers are etched on the glass, very small, since there are so many.





And we passed this twice during our trip, it was just weird.



I'm sure there IS a playground somewhere, it just looked misplaced. Even better was what seemed to be a drug transaction going on.



I'm sure it wasn't...*cough*

The McLuhan Memorial Lecture, 2009

Two thoughtful analyses of modern media, culled from yesterday’s Guardian. First, Ben Goldacre knows who to blame for the pervasive crapness in modern journalism:

Through our purchasing behaviour, we have communicated to newspapers that we want them to be large and cheap more than we want them to be adequately researched.

And Charlie Brooker uncovers the uncomfortable truth about BBC World’s news channel:

It’s a channel whose viewer demographic consists exclusively of men sitting on the edge of a hotel bed impatiently waiting for their girlfriend to finish in the shower so they can go and have a shit.

You want to bankrupt somebody? Cost him everything he's worked for? Make his wife leave him, even make his kids cry? Yeah, we can do that.

I admit it. I love drunk men.

So I went to see a local DFW band tonight here in Austin. Know what I LOVE LOVE LOVE about Austin? NO ONE BOTHERS YOU. And don't misunderstand, I really do applaud any man who has the balls to address a totally strange female in the hopes of...well, whatever it is he's after. But that happens frequently in DFW, whereas in Austin, it rarely seems to happen. So I am far more ready to hit the town a lobo solo here in Austin than I am back home.

And all was good. Til it got close to 2am.

First of all, I absolutely had the rapt entertainment of the bouncers and staff at this particular bar. One came up to me at the end and said, "That was a first." I guess not too many single, sober people show up to enjoy a show and read in-between.

(For the record, a couple people did come up to me and ask how I was able to read amidst all the din. "Drugs," I said. I was a total WIN all night.)

I had had two screwdrivers and closing was a half-hour away, though my waitress had completely disappeared. So I pulled a Renee Raddick and motioned with my finger to this douche who had been chatting me up the latter part of the night, to come here.

He trotted over, pulling cash out of his wallet for his friend nearby, as if he'd had a bet with someone as to whether or not I'd cave. Who knows. All I know is this motherfucker was WASTED and the friend tossed me the $20. I had originally said, "If you buy me a screwdriver, I'll answer three questions for you." (I didn't want to lose my seat, but I wanted one last drink.) There was a lot of bumbling between the two of them (and drunkenness), and they soon went away, apparently unable to comprehend what I'd said. I was thrilled.

Now, I was raised properly. To the point where I should have tracked that poor idiot down and given him his bill back. However. I pocketed Mr. Andrew Jackson, sauntered up to the bar and got my own darn screwdriver (without losing my seat). That, my friends, is called ASSHOLE TAX.

Bygones.

First of all, I'm in Austin! WHEE! So the condo I'm staying in is AWESOME. I actually DO know the area a tad--it's off 2222, which is the GORGEOUS highway you take to get to Mount Bonnell and County Line (the former is more essential, the latter for beer'n'bbq on the lake--om nom nom!)

But it's aaaaaaaaaall the way in the back of the complex and then in the back of its building, so the back balcony has a great view of swaying trees/bamboo. Sold! And the entry way is strewn with potted plants--they even line the staircase to the upstairs residence. There is even a mouthy white cat. And no, mom, I did not pet him. (*cough*...*averts eyes*)

Anyhoo, I was at least mildly responsible in completing my financial aid entrance counseling while still on my first beer. They had little questions you had to answer like a quiz, geez...

Completely unrelated, my dad sent me this link about the 2009 Cannes screenings--brief and interesting reviews, all contained in one page. Win. I do want to see Up! as soon as possible! I'm sure that will beat Drag Me to Hell at the box since they both open this weekend (are you kidding?), but I am still happily impressed with the latter.

Within those reviews, I was intrigued by the Inglorious Basterds review, though not surprised. I am looking forward to it, yet I fully expect to be disappointed for some reason. I love Tarantino, but he does often let me down. And I still haven't seen the original, argh! Wait...ok, there. Moved it towards the top of the queue. (Not the VERY top, since Weeds season 4 comes out this week. Priorities, dude.) I have a feeling the original is SLIGHTLY different, call me crazy.

Also, I would high-five this writer based strictly on his review of Lars Von Trier's Antichrist. I adore the sentiment of loathing it but being delighted at having been there to see it. He's just...one of those filmmakers...I have a hard time knowing just what I think of the man. I think he may be a TOTAL ASSHOLE...yet I'm drawn to his films. (And I didn't even know about The Boss Of It All, added to queue and bumped near top.)

I was also a little sad to read the new Almodóvar film Broken Embraces seems to be a bit of a loss, but to be fair, I really did not enjoy (contrary to popular opinion??) Volver. Penélope Cruz did a very nice job, but it was nowhere near enough to make the film worth it. For me, old Almodóvar is where it's at.

Ok, time to order my Mangia pizza!

Here, kitty, kitty.

Last night we saw the new Sam Raimi, Drag Me to Hell.



It was SO. MUCH. FUN.

I absolutely have to recommend seeing it in a theatre, preferably one with KICK-ASS sound. I always advocate kick-ass sound, but here it has the added benefit of drowning out the type of crowd that will be watching it with you.

I am for and against the crowd in this film. Right off, I knew I had to talk myself out of expecting a respectful audience. To be fair, it's an incredibly over-the-top gory suspense fest, so it's not like one needs to concentrate or discern intricate plot details. However, I just like to enjoy the movie, kwim?

This crowd was one-third teenagers, one-third people my age and one-third a bunch of white-trash ghetto morons who talk at the whole film (though not too much to need killing). And also, this is where the great sound is essential. I honestly barely heard them. And despite a constant hum of mutterings and titterings from the crowd, well, after Christine came home from getting her fortune told and she's alone in the house? Yeah, that theater? You could hear a mouse fart.

I thought it was a testimonial to great editing.

Also, seeing it in the theater really sucks you into both the tension and the story, plus it is fun with the weekend crowd. I went in not knowing a single damn thing other than it was penned (along with his brother Ivan) and directed by Raimi, and it was a really pleasant surprise. It was goofy gore in true Raimi style, with great laughs and amazing suspense. (And Alison Lohman is pretty perfect, too, she gets it just right.)

And apparently, since Bruce Campbell's schedule was tied up with Burn Notice, he does not appear at all in the film. I admit I wondered where he was, even though I don't really care about the Raimi Details in his films (kinda hard not to spot the car, though...)

In any case, it was damn fun and I recommend it--that is, if it even sounds like your cup of tea to begin with. If not, well, 90 minutes might feel kinda long...

Ok, now it's off to Austin by myself for the weekend! Mostly, I'm going to work on my articles and hopefully finally get around to my financial aid entrance counseling (gee, don't know why I've been putting that off). I've got the keys to my realtor's condo (aka, the Very Awesome Sam) in way North Austin (new territory for me). Just want to get on the road before the sun gets lethal...

In search of a bottom end

I changed my Facebook profile picture a few days ago, and had a number of complimentary comments, presumably from people who haven’t noticed that the picture isn’t actually of me.

It is, in fact, Andy Partridge, singer and guitarist of Swindon’s bestest art-punk-pastoral-psych-popsters XTC. But Partridge is not the only happening beat musician to whom I bear a resemblance.

Some have suggested that I look a bit like synth-twiddling 80s nerd heartthrob Thomas Dolby.

Others reckon that I could double for Ash drummer Rick McMurray.

While in the olden days, I was told with tedious regularity that I played saxophone for Fair Isle janglers Haircut 100 (a role actually performed by one Phil Smith, the chap at the bottom on the right).

So I’ve pretty much got a band of Tim lookylikeys there - with one crucial lacuna. There’s no bass player. I know some trendy young hipsters today (your White Stripes, them Yes Yes Yeses) manage without a bassist, but I don’t hold with such false economies. So, over to you. Your task for the weekend is to find a four-stringer with a better than passing resemblance to your humble author.

I might even use him as my Facebook pic.

Stuff on the interwebs

Anyone so utterly 2008 as to still be on Facebook is strongly urged to join the It's About Time Marguerite Patten got a Damehood group. If you do, she might make you some nice biscuits. With dried egg. And liver and things. Maybe.

Oh yeah, and LC died. Metaphorically, obviously.

Maybe her gynecologist pulled the wrong tooth.

So I have had it for six years, but my Vermont battery finally died yesterday. My wonderful husband was already on his way to meet me for lunch, so he picked me up for lunch, then he jumped my battery and we drove to AutoZone where he bought me a new one and made it work again. Did you know a goddamn battery (with tax) is A HUNDRED DOLLARS?? Have they really gone up that much?? The hell happened to fifty or sixty??

And the AutoZone guy says it's more than Freon wrong with my A/C. It does sort of...make a noise when I turn it on full-blast. He thinks maybe the compressor. I'm pretty sure that's the part that runs about $1500. Goddamn you, Hans, it's like you KNOW I just need you til July-August. You are making me suffer because you know. I thought we had something, damn you!!

So I'm hitting Austin this weekend while I can still stand the drive in the heat. Stupid car. At least I don't need to spend money on the A/C. He could really stick it to me if he wanted. And he just might, so stay tuned! (No pun intended...)

Not much else. People look at my house. People go, "Eh, no."

I finally bought Ally McBeal on ebay. That's right, I'm owning my shame. I BOUGHT ALLY MCBEAL.



Even more disturbing is the realization that Richard Fish might be my favorite character. Well, except now it's season 2 and Lucy Liu has joined up...she obviously rocks more.

There is a bootleg region 1 that occasionally pops up, but I bought a legitimate set, Region 2 (yes, on purpose). For one thing, my next DVD player is going to be multi-region. You can break the region code on your player (most, naturally not on mine), but it didn't really work on D's. So I'm watching it on my computer. You can switch regions on your computer five times before it's set for good (I'm sure there's a way to override this as well). But so far, it's still really enjoyable. So there.

Do you know how popular I am? I am so popular. Everybody loves me so much at this school.

My friend C at work was just telling me how much she enjoys Ryan Reynolds, and I admit I certainly do, too. But I'm not the one who said:

"I would drink that man's bath water."

Win.

I love the smell of ink in the morning

Still with the black armband on, some thoughts from Frances Morgan, publisher of the lamented Plan B, via Everett’s blog. They go some way to explain why the mag will be missed, why I’m so proud to have had even a peripheral role in the whole Careless Talk/Loose Lips/Plan B ride, and maybe why I’m cooking up a neat little ulcer over the book I’m writing in a way I might not if it were *just* a website:

Quick question – any chance of the mag continuing in on-line form, a la Pfork, The Quietus or Good.is?

I just wanted to answer this question. For me, the answer is no. This is not to slight the sterling work of the above websites, because they’re great examples of how web publishing can work. However, I feel very committed to print as a medium. There are many reasons for this, a lot of which can be picked apart and thrown aside as luddite, fetishistic, elitist, or just plain old-fashioned, and you’re welcome to do so…but it’s a commitment that I can’t switch off just because making this particular print product is no longer viable.

It is not that I’m decrying the web for making “everyone a critic”. I don’t think the web has killed criticism, not at all. It’s not that I am bemoaning the loss of “authority” of the critic – fuck authority, it’s that which has kept music criticism entrenched in such narrow gender, race and class strictures for so long (and I’d argue, actually, that the web has done less than it should to change this, but the potential is there for sure). I like a plurality of voices, wherever it occurs, although I do think that plurality often results in a lack of space to think and consider and to reflect; it seems to have generated this need for a quick response, an instant appraisal or commentary.

One thing I like about print criticism is that there is an unavoidable temporal gap between writing and print. This may not suit everyone, but I think it suits me and it suits the music I am interested in, and actually it probably suits most music. I do sometimes wonder if there is more of a connection between the music that gets reviewed and the style of reviewing than we actually acknowledge. Bit of unformulated thought, that, but I’d like to ponder it a little.

Although it might not always seem like it, we do edit things at Plan B. If you’ve written something for us, it will go through a few hands and past a few pairs of eyes before it appears on the page. If there’s time, we ask for rewrites and clarification. I like to have a little shout at everyone about punctuation. We have to stick to certain word lengths. I’m not saying web editors don’t do this too, but often more content is required at a greater speed. Put simply, it’s just different, and while I’d certainly work for online publications as a freelance writer, there’s no way I’d have busted my ass for five years on a very, very low wage to set up and maintain a web magazine. That’s not to say one shouldn’t, or that others at Plan B won’t. But it’s not for me. It never has been.

The other big factor is the visual side of Plan B, which is so important to us. The web – and again, this is my opinion – is not the right place for all those amazing photos and illustrations and layouts that go into making up an issue of Plan B. They belong on paper, decent paper at that.

As far as I remember, I only met Frances once, at Everett’s house in Brighton, where we were exerting the sort of care and attention she discussed on one of the middle issues of Careless Talk. Well, she was exerting care, I think I mostly made the tea. We got the train back to London together, and instead of talking about music in particular, we discussed the intersection of genius and lunacy, with particular reference to Louis Wain:


And, slouching towards relevance, a line by Thomas Mann, lifted from an interview with Clive James in today’s Guardian:

A writer is someone for whom writing is harder than it is for other people.

Oh good, maybe that means I’ve been getting better lately.

Brother beyond

Sad news: Plan B magazine is jumping before it gets pushed.

But the music still goes around, backwards and forwards, and so here’s my new favourite band, which had pretty much run out of puff before I was born:

We're exterminators. Someone saw a cockroach up on twelve.

Home again home again! Got home Tuesday...the nice thing about flying back to Texas is gaining that hour back. Even though they canceled our first flight and moved it UP by half an hour (which would normally be ok if it weren't the ungodly AM hours), we still made it.

The day before, we got to tour my school, have some amazing sea food, hit the aquarium and walk back up to Little Italy.



This is the open area of a park entrance across from my school...the park is probably okay, but the fountain (off to the left, not quite in the shot) seems to attract crazies--the Bible spouting kind and the mumbling homeless kind. Good times.



Here is the school itself...guess I'll be seeing a bit more of it soon. The tour was helpful, but I'll probably still forget where crap is. At least it's not as windy and twisty as Cornell! I would have never found daylight again in that place.



Anyhoo. Then it was off to lunch, which was directly across from the aquarium. This place seems to be a fairly prominent chain in the region, but it's not cheap. My mom and I both had this crab meat roll that's about $15 and sooooooooo worth it. It was bursting at the sides with crab, the way delis normally pile on the meat and cheese. Damn it was good. I'll be back for that for a treat sometime!



It's really pleasant just to walk along the wharfs and even though it was a little chillier that day, it didn't bother me at all.





Here is the New England Aquarium...the Whale Watching booth is easily found as well (and will be re-visited in July or August when I convince my mom to come visit before school)! They have sunset trips for about a month that time of year, reservations strongly recommended...

Just as you walk toward the entrance to the aquarium, this guy greets you. (And some of his friends.)





I have more pics from inside the aquarium, but it's time to get ready for work. Grumble. Stupid work.

Into the den

In the wake of Annie’s cruel mockery, I have decided to stop self-Googling. Instead, let’s see what happens when I throw myself into the slavering maw of Wolfram Alpha:

Wolfram|Alpha isn't sure what to do with your input.

Yeah, I know how you feel.

You're cute, in a slutty way.

Yesterday started off pretty rainy, but Dunkin Donuts is VERY well represented here in Boston, so that made up for rain. We then took the train down to Quincy, just barely south of Boston, to see my apartment. I am so excited that I only need one train to go between work and school. Now if only it ran all night!

The apartment is great. There is a huge grocery store nearby, a short walk, or I can take the train two stops North and hit a giant Shaw's. I took pics of the wonderful various beers--as for Boston, there is an absolute LACK of beer and wine sold in stores, it's proving to be something of a bitch.



This clearly falls into the So-Wrong-It's-Right category.



There was also a little pub nearby called 99 (don't ask) which struck me as the sort of place I will probably frequent on occasion against my better judgment. Very unspecial. (We also found the waitress with the smallest personality on Earth.)

The people at the apartment were really friendly and it seems like a great place to live. I didn't get to see my exact unit or the view from the 8th floor, but we saw a similar floor plan. The balconies are really great and I am looking forward to seeing the Boston skyline at night. There's a huge field of (mud at the moment) what appears to be abandoned farmland...it will look good covered in snow at any rate.

We took the train back into town to hit Faneuil Hall, a pretty touristy thing to do, but you know, a newby has to do the touristy things, too! (It used to be a marketplace but now it's sort of an open-air mall/market/foodie thing.)

So the original Bull & Finch is still around, but memory was telling me the bar looks nothing like the set of Cheers, it was merely the inspiration for the show (and exterior shots, apparently). I read up on it and this is true, but apparently everyone wanted a bar built that did look like the show. At Faneuil Hall, there is one that is modeled after the show. Heavy emphasis on modeled.





The look on Norm's face says more than words ever could.

It's quite small, and two things really bothered me. First of all, there's no attention to detail. You couldn't even slide a beer down the length of the bar like you (well, the bartender) should be able to do. (See that middle column?)



Also, it was full of windows with a ton of sunshine pouring in. It should be in a basement! Also, there were creepy cardboard cut-outs of all the cast members--a very creepy Kelsey Grammar waits at the bottom of the stairs to the restrooms. And Shelley Long got stuck outside the Ladies. Ouch.

It's nice that it exists, I just wish a little more effort had been made and a little less exploitation (I noted Cheers' Bloody Mary mix stuck up on the shelves, like just slapping the label on there makes it good).

On the other hand, we had some really cool Wachusetts Blueberry Beer! The bartender drops a few blueberries in for presentation and ta da! It's very cool because they sink and then lift again, it's the lava lamp of beers. Highly recommend.



We wandered around and found my law school for today and then finished up with noodles at Wagamama.





This place I will certainly hit again--it's all about the #72, Yasai Katsu Curry. Damn fine stuff.



Today I have a tour of my law school and we're planning to hit the aquarium. I think whale watching will have to wait for summer, since the times aren't working with us today. Also, it's a little on the CHILLY side! On the plus side, in later summer on weekends there are sunset trips! Sold!

Ling went to law school? Ling is a LAWYER?

Hello Boston!

Despite a flight that was somewhat delayed, we finally made it to Logan around 6:30pm. We checked into the Midtown Hotel (pics in a bit) and headed off to the North End for Little Italy.



My Fodor book recommended a place called Antico Forno, and like most good places in Little Italy on a Saturday night, it was crowded and noisy, but in a good way. We ate at the bar since we got the corner spot and it was really delicious.

Mom had the rigatoni salsiccia e riccota...



and I had gnocchi di patate...



It was so much food, I wish we could have taken the leftovers! And of course, we had a homemade cannoli to wrap things up!



It was a little late once we finished, so most things were closed and we took the train back to the hotel. We when first left the hotel, the friendliest station attendant wandered over to us to explain how to buy a Charlie Card instead of the single ride tickets, since it would be cheaper and easier, and he also explained how the train lines were different from New York's. (I'm really glad, actually, since it might have taken me a bit.) So we made it home with ease and wandered around the area.

Our hotel, unknown to me when I booked it, is owned by the Christian Science Church (or First Church of Christ Scientist, whatever it's called) and they have some enormous churches around here. The various buildings look really cool at night...





Also, there was a really sweet reflecting pool that looks like it would be really fun to wade in. (Naturally, it's fully decked out in signs asking you to refrain from doing precisely that.)





Yeah, this huge cool building? It's for SUNDAY SCHOOL. See the little artwork in the windows?



We came back to our little hotel...





...and this morning has been rainy and cloudy with a bit of a bitchy wind. Hopefully that will go away, but we're about to head down to Quincy to see the apartment, so as long as the rain is gone by this afternoon!