Freebacon New Year, Everyone!

This sign gives me hope. All the best to you n' yours in 2009.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Be safe, be sexy.

Grant me just these three, a'ight?

In an effort to ensure irritant-free rap listening in 2009*, I made this lil' ol' list.**

1. "Ch__ky-eyed". I remember hearing this in a rhyme several years ago, and I blanched. I seem to be hearing it with alarming frequency nowadays. Seriously, there are a billion ways to say "I'm high", and you pick this one? If you're the type that says this, don't be surprised if I yakuza kick you in the face if I see you in the street.***
2. "swallow my kids/children". Look, I know a lot of you emcees enjoy being "gutta" or "gully", or whatever the fuck is fashionable for "nasty", but there's no reason to sully something as lovely as oral gratification. I'm still reeling from the advent of "gettin' brain". Assholes.
3. Excessive producer shout-outs. Hey, I know kids don't give a fuck about liner notes like I did (and still do), but beatmaker acknowledgments of the "(producer's name), you (mental ailment) for this one!" variety have got to stop, because they're so incredibly played. Like, work his name nicely into the chorus or something. Subtlety is everything. I ain't too crazy about fake banter from the booth between the rapper and those behind the boards, either. Keep that shit genuine.

There are a couple of things I should mention, too, but I don't want this to be a giant bitchfest. All I'm saying is that autotuning has worn out its welcome (thanks for the reminder, DD. Vocoders and talkboxes are dope, though – R.I.P. Roger Troutman.), and hating on gay folks makes you look like a closet case, not to mention, stupid. (ain't that right, Trick Trick?)****.

* This was done with tongue firmly planted in cheek. To expect change would be silly.
** Props must be given to Matt Groening and his "forbidden words" list in Life in Hell/Life is Swell.
*** I'm not a violent person, so this won't actually happen. You can picture that shit, though, right?
**** By linking that story, I'm adding to the giant pile of comments/pingbacks at allhiphop.com. Let it be said here that I'm not in need of drama, so you can keep any hateful comments to yourself. Thanks.

Blockhead on Lil' Wayne

This is over a week old, but I had to acknowledge this. Producer Blockhead (Aesop Rock) wrote an even-handed, yet damning blog post on the appeal of Lil' Wayne. I can't help but agree with a good chunk of it, really. I understand why he's popular, and it took me a while to figure that out, but the jocking from folks that love the great lyricists has had me perplexed at times.
Sweeping Generalizations with Blockhead: Get Off Lil Wayne's D*@&

Random Thoughts: December 15th, 2008

Shot on my way to work, November 26th.

• Howdy. How you doin'? I see you've been taking care of yourself. Props. Work out like crazy, but don't you dare lose that fine ass of yours.
• Lists. It's that year-end shit again. I'm still debating about how many albums are going to be on my list, and why I feel compelled to make one. Admittedly, this will give me a chance to look back at the stuff I bought this year and see which titles truly stuck with me. Having an iPod has definitely changed how I listen to stuff, although, I'll still listen to an album in a linear fashion, and that's on any format. That'll probably never change, except when it comes to a really spotty album.
  Of course, my other list will contain my resolutions, which are never too lofty to break.
• The Polar Express. I was at my brother and sister-in-law's house watching this on CBC while helping decorate their tree. While there was some terrific imagery in this, I think it's a good time to point out a two part review that fellow blogger Ward Jenkins posted four years ago (which got him a ton of attention).
  The Polar Express: A Virtual Train Wreck
  The Polar Express: A Vitrual Train Wreck (conclusion)
• Strong-ass inertia. Yeah, I'm behind. I'ma get back on that horse. Shut up. The War of Art has been recommended to me, and I'm looking into gettin' a copy.
• Blu. I really don't know why I slept on this dude last year. I was at a new year's house party when my homie Jared mentioned his debut album with Exile titled Below the Heavens. I told him that I saw a number of reviews, but didn't go beyond looking at those.
  Several months later, I discovered the HVW8 podcast and found myself stuck to an episode of hosted by Blu and Exile full of demos, finished tracks, exclusives and Blu's hungover charm.
  Fast forward to last month, and this post at UGSMAG about Blu's new project (with Mainframe) called Johnson & Jonson. I instantly became enamored with the song and the fun, laid-back vibe of the video. It's truly been a long time since I've heard an emcee come off so raw and smooth at the same time.
  
  
  (Folks on facebook, go to the high quality version of the vid here.)
  
  I'm quite confident that Johnson & Jonson self-titled album would end up on my "best of" list, if I actually had said album in my hands. Hell, I'll put it on next year's. I can do that.
• Bed. That's where I'm goin'. Peace.
  

Wedding Photos?

Yeah, we've got those. Many, many thanks to Rachael of luckygirl.ca. If you're smart, you'll get your wedding photos done by her.

DDC Stuff

I ordered a hat and a shirt from DDC and got all this cool stuff with my purchase. You need to give Aaron money. Check out his merch and see if you can resist temptation.

Died Young, Stayed Pretty

Local poster nerds: Died Young, Stayed Pretty, Eileen Yaghoobian's documentary about gigposters and the people that make 'em will be screening at Cinematheque tomorrow at 9. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this. Here's the trailer:

On track.

I'm not, at the moment. The Daily Inertia Fighter shall return shortly. In the meantime, I've got a ton of photos for you to look at. Fellow RRC grads, take a look at how I used to do my thing.

DIF004_11/28/08: Some jerk.

Chicks dig his nautical star tattoo. Had he not shaved, he would've been wearing his "Moustache Rides: 5 cents" shirt. You can't see his hands, so they're probably scratching his junk.

DIF003_11/27/08: Those animal hats.

They're cute...ON GIRLS.

DIF002_11/26/08: Marching Bass Drum

Don't know why I drew this, but it felt right.

DIF001_11/25/08: Hat

This is the first installment of what I'm calling the Daily Inertia Fighter. Kicking myself in the ass never felt better. Let's hope I can keep it up.



I like hats. Drawn in anticipation of the arrival of my DDC Factory Floor Issue Action Cap. Shout out to fellow hat drawer juicefoozle. Drawn during my lunch break.

Soured on Shopping

The checkout line-ups sucked balls.

For the sake of your sanity, don't shop at the St. James location of Superstore during the weekend. I'm a patient man, for the most part, but the patrons of this place makes me want to maim. People won't move, look out for you...hell, some of them don't even know you're there! They're either on their cell phones or wandering zombified in the bread section (that was Sarah's experience today).
Next time, we gotta go during the week, and early. I can't help but lose faith in humankind here on weekends.

Grand Forks Shoppin' Trip

Check out the rest of the photos here.

(I forgot to) mention...

Me n' DJ Vom

Last week, as part of CKUW's Pass the Mic thingee, I was invited by DJ Vom of (scratching the) surface noise to play tunes and shoot the shit on his show. If you want to hear my business college radio education kick in along with some great tunes (IMHO), here's what y'gotta do:

• Go to this part of CKUW's audio archive.
• Locate the "Sunday November 9, 2008" episode.
• Pick yer poison: stream or download, three levels of audio quality to choose from – for the time being.

Before you do that, let me inform you that it's a six hour show, and my bit is in the first hour, more or less (we were late). So for the sake of brevity, here are some points of interest:

First Hour
44:04 – A Bollywood soundtrack joint that Madlib sampled (a bargain basement find of Vom's).
49:26 – My set starts!

Second Hour
3:45 – Vom introduces me

Third Hour
16:36 – Set ends, the weirdness of "The Gingerbread Man" and "Clutch Cargo" begins.

All in all, it was a lot of fun, and I didn't fuck up much. I do encourage you to listen to the entire six hour stream if you've got some time on your hands. There's some incredibly nutty shit right after my set.

It's here, and it's staying.

The Polo Park Canadian Tire parking lot. November 7th, 2008, 7:17 PM.

If you're a Winnipeg denizen, you're well aware that God hit us off with snow in one fell swoop. Not the usual single snowfall, followed by several days of puddles and brown streets. Nah, man...a day of freezing rain/snow and a day of constant snowfall.

I have an unabashed love for several things, and one those things is snow. In fact, I'm rather vocal about it. Winnipeg is far sexier in my eyes when it's covered in it. A night sky over the Exchange District obscured by blowing snow, when mixed with the amber lights of the streets makes my heart soar. I can't explain it. A newly-dusted Wolseley area street in the wee hours of the morning? You can't fuck with that.

Wanna harsh my mellow? Start bitching about the weather. Go ahead, you big whiner. Seriously, how long have you lived in this city? Barring uncharacteristically mild weather, this happens every fucking year. C'mon, buck up, princess. Put on a got-damn scarf or something.
Then, there are the folks that whine about the weather AND threaten to go somewhere warmer. That's funny...you're still here. What's stopping you? What, is it a money thing? I'll help you save cash. We'll start with me slapping that stupid latte outta yer hand and demanding a refund.

Anyway, take that last bit with a grain of salt. You have every God-given right to complain. I, of course, don't have to listen. And I won't.

A Coloring Book for Slightly Demented Kids

NXT LVL, 2008. Graphite, Pentel Brush Pen and Photoshop®

This is my piece for volume 1 of the Gigposters.com Coloring Book, which you need. Go HERE for more info.
My inspiration for this? Honestly, I don't remember...this project took months to come together, so I've forgotten the spark. Could be from my time on the housekeeping staff at (an institution I'd rather not mention but still have a slight fondness for), which was rather depressing. The proceeds go to Clay, the man behind gigposters.com, and the best dude I've never met. I'm not kidding when I say that site changed my life. In some ways, for the better.

The vote.

Unless you've been in hiding, you know all about the history-making U.S. election. Hell, if you were in hiding, shut off from all forms of human contact, you'd have heard about it somehow. Probably some busybody woodland creature.
All I know is, I can't wait for this to be over. My raucous – but well-meaning – neighbours to the South are hard to ignore. I couldn't go to gigposters without six or more election-related threads clogging up space usually reserved for tits and bacon for the past year.
I've been keeping my mouth shut about the whole thing because:

1. I'm a Canuck.
2. As a Canuck, I can't vote.
3. I'm a lover, not a fighter, so political discourse ain't my cup of tea.

Thing is, voices that share similar opinions to mine have come out of the woodwork, so it feels a little safer to say stuff. Here's what I've been saying to few folks when asked about the election:
Yeah, I know what the polls are saying, but I'm not seeing America put a Black man – never mind a half-Black man – in the highest office in the country, arguably the most powerful political position in the world. As Marvel and Saukrates said, hate runs deep.

But hey, I've got a long-ass public record of being fucking wrong.

So, with that said, if my Mom's heartthrob is successful today, I wish him all the best. And I fear for his safety.
C'mon...you were thinking it, too. I know I ain't alone.
Anyway, I didn't mean to get all heavy on ya. Had to get that off of my chest.
I'd rather be talking about tits and bacon.

Random Thoughts: October 29th, 2008 – "Al'z Been Married For Over Three Weeks" Edition

The wedding compilation, which was a pretty big hit. I couldn't be happier about that.
Art direction by me and Sarah, design and illustration by me, printing help by Mark Remoquillo, photo by Len-nard Yambot.
Chipboard cases by the terrific Stumptown Printers.

• The Wedding Was Dope. Thanks For Asking. In a nutshell, everything went perfectly. Things couldn't go any better if we tried, I'm telling you. We were truly blessed to have such gorgeous weather on October 4th. The following weekends have been rather dreary, so I know we were smiled upon. The whole day went like clockwork; we were on time for everything and if you know Sarah or myself really well, that's highly unusual.
  If I make a list thanking everyone here, I'm bound to leave someone out, so I'd like to take this time to single out my lovely wife. Sarah's meticulous planning is the reason why everything went as well as they did. She (gingerly) prodded me to get things done on the design tip, and because of her things got done on time...or really close. She did a bang-up job of decorating the hall – with help, of course – and remained mostly cool under pressure. I love you so much, baby. Thank you for being so kick-ass.
  
  
• Webcomics I Read. Inspired by Inkstuds host Robin McConnell's aparent dislike of webcomics, I figured I'd shine some light on the ones I enjoy. Actually, his dislike inspired me to find more than the few I was reading. It's true, there are a lot that, well...suck. Here are some that don't.
  
  Sinfest: Mr. Ishida tickles my funny bone seven days a week. In addition to his usual jabs at religion and sex, he's been pointing his pen at the threat of imperialism and America's political and financial woes. I was just looking at his strips from eight years ago, and I love how he's refined his pen/brush work.
  
  Ménage à 3: This one is a recent discovery, as well as a very recent strip. Imagine a Montreal setting for a mid-20s trio of roommates, add some Three's Company-ish titillation, and have it all drawn by a manga and Dan DeCarlo-influenced cartoonist, and...well, you may have just pigeonholed Ménage à 3. I'm having a hard time describing it any other way, though. It's a sexy, well-drawn romp.
  
  Sin Titulo, The Abominable Charles Christopher, and Kukuburi: These three = under the Transmission X umbrella, updated weekly, all-Canuck, and all worth your time.
  
  Girls with Slingshots: Another recent discovery, one that had me riveted enough to read four years of strips in a night. I'm not entirely sure what drew me in. It could be Danielle's sweet line and how she's changed the character designs for the better, or it could be how she realistically portrays lead character Hazel's troubles with employment and relationships. Could be both. No crime in that.
  
  Do yourself a favor and check out Electronic Tigers and Bee while you're at it. And maybe my man Lonny will get Randy and Chirpy going again (Lon? Please?).
  
  
• I'm Currently Obsessed With... ...hmmm, let's see:
  
  • The work of Brandon Graham. Read his blog, hear him speak.
  • Spike Press. So damn good. See for yourself.
  • Vintage Vanguard's online photo collection of Blue Note covers. My love of Reid Miles work has been rekindled.
    
    
• Time For Bed. Really. I finished this at 5:54. Peace.
  

Text Conversation After the Jazzy Jeff Show

2:23 AM, CST. Two people texting each other while trying to get their jackets from Blush's coat check.

Person 1: OMFG! ppl keep shoving me
Person 2: I KNOW... OMG
Person 1: I kant get my jackit!!!!1!!!!
Person 2: I KNOW Me 2!!! OMFG!!!!!1!!!
Person 1: I want nachoz

Blush lost my wife's jacket. Thanks for being awesome, Blush.

Making Good on #1.

The title is in reference to the first of my resolutions.

Today, I re-joined the Downtown Y after a 12-or-more year absence.

So, for those of you keeping track at home, I'm gaining on resolutions 1 and 5, 6 is going nicely, and 7 isn't bad (I'm the household's eager dishwasher). Numbers 2-4, 8, and 10 are fucked.

Out of Office AutoReply

Typed at my cubicle around 5:30 on Friday:

H'lo.
Next week, I'm marrying the lady that made me a fine, upstanding citizen (by day).
Because of that, I have three Caribbean aunts in town who need to be shown what Winnipeg is all about (trips to Dollarama). So yeah, I ain't gonna be here.
I'll be back on October 7th, wondering where the week went. Until then, Tim or Christine should be able to help with any pressing issues.

You oughta get that looked at,
Al

Making Good on #5.

My first post-wedding project is to finally take care of resolution #5. Gonna make me some new business cards and get down with Squarespace for the portfolio site.
I first heard of Squarespace via a post at gigposters.com (where else?), and after consulting tech-savvy folks via Facebook and seeing a steadfast endorsement at the Uppercase site, I figured "why not?"
I'm really looking forward to messing with this.
View the video so you can see what I'm all excited about.

Random Thoughts: September 1st, 2008

Point Douglas in the house.

• Intro. How the hell are ya? You look good...been workin' out? Me? I'm procrastinating, so business as usual.
  
  
• Books. Just finished off Osamu Tezuka's Ode to Kirihito, and I'm closing in on the end of Chris Jericho's A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.
  
  Ode to Kirihito is everything people have said about it: original, intense, bizarre, etc. Highly recommended reading, especially if you already dig Mr. Tezuka's work. The more I read his stuff, the more I gain respect for his skill, which was already pretty high. Any noticeable liberties he took with human anatomy (especially with naked women) he usually made up for it with a stunning illustration a couple of pages later. There's a particularly lovely one on page 260 of one of the key characters that drives home his anguish.
  
  I got Jericho's book for Christmas last year, and just dove into it late last week. Actually, that's a lie. I restarted my reading of the book, because the early chapters put me off a tad. They seemed geared towards educating the novice fan, and I didn't them all that riveting. Sarah told me she knew someone else that read it, noticed the same thing, but kept at it and loved it in the end. I'm definitely finding my path similar. As a wrestling fan and Japanophile, A Lion's Tale's section on Japan was quite entertaining. And being that both of us are Winnipeggers, I was delighted that we both had the same introduction to the work of Owen Hart; a video package of Owen's Japan tour highlights set to Bryan Adams' "Hearts on Fire". I was instantly hooked on high-flying junior heavyweight shit, and Japan. Inspired by Owen's agility (and that of the Great Muta), I'd use a large snowbank outside of Thomson's Funeral Chapel to practice moonsaults. For a split second, I entertained ideas of being a grappler. I knew my Moms would kick my ass if I truly entertained such a notion. Chris truly had the desire to do it, and I'm glad he did.
  I'd kill to find that clip, and YouTube hasn't given up the goods. Stupid-ass YouTube.
  
  
• The Whiteshell. I was out there with Sarah and her family to attend a wedding, relax, and celebrate her Mom's 50th birthday. Such a gorgeous area. Anyone thinking Manitoba is flat as hell oughta take a trip and be amazed by the breathtaking trees and winding roads. I hope I get used to rural driving, though. The lack of lights, hella rough roads, and speed had me white-knuckling the tail end of the journey to the cabin, and I wasn't even driving.
  
  
• Karl Kwasny. Be amazed. I know I was when I came across this piece in Computer Arts Projects. And he's only 23. That's both a kick in the ass...and the balls.
  
  
• Kitsune Noir. I totally love this blog. All things cool and designery/illustratory. I've been visiting it pretty much daily. An extra incentive to visit is the Desktop Wallpaper Project, where Bobby (the blog's owner) posts a desktop every Wednesday until he runs out of 'em. Each one is available in a variety of sizes, and they're made by amazing folks like Tim Biskup, Rey Ortega, and Travis Millard. The sister of DWP is DESKTOP BATTLE!, where you take a crack at topic of Bobby's choosing. The payoff? Cool-ass prizes and your work gracing computers internationally.
  
  
• Outro. Procrastination done. Peace.
  

Clay does it again.

In addition to the widget thing, the man behind GP has now attached HTML and BB Codes to each poster on the site, making it easier to share the goodness, clickable-thumbnail style. For example, I will now post some thumbs from my faves page:

Word 'em up. You rule, Clay!

The New and Improved TPWAD...*

...now, with gigposters.com widget!

Uh, look to the right. There y'go. 

Anyone checking this out on Facebook, just click "view original post" or whatever, then you'll know what's up.

Huge, gargantuan props to Clay (GP's maestro) and Micropress Design for doing this.

Now y'all can see my progress (or stagnation) from 2000 to the present, all from the comfy confines of my blog (or "bitchboard").

Break's over! Back to the grind! Peace.

* Yeah, I know. Nothing can be "new" and "improved" at the same time.

The Latest Controversy at GigPosters.com

This poster by Paul Gardner of Minneapolis aka "Florafauna".
The issue here, is that the geometric landmass comes from a piece by Andrew Holder.
Mountain Town
The unwritten rule of re-appropriation, it seems, is that cribbing the work of your contemporaries isn't looked upon favorably. Even if it's re-contextualized...y'know, a collage.
The whole thing's a sticky wicket, needless to say. Wow, what an antiquated term.
Anyway...I remember when something similar happened four years ago. I joined in on the web-based flogging, and for my trouble, the said insecure "artist" decided to post racist comments on this blog, posing as someone else several times. He also faked his death. On the internet.

Now, other than this post, I'm staying far away from the whole fracas. Why? Because nothing I say will solve a fucking thing, and I won't be adding anything new. And while I love the site and owe Clay big time for starting it, the arguments tend to upset me. That, and other stuff, but there's no need to elaborate on the "other stuff". Life's too short, for fuck's sake. As I type this, there are 565 672 comments on that poster, and that may jump by 200 before the week is through.

I gotta say, I hate copyright/re-appropriation/re-contextualization arguments. It's like, where do you draw the fucking line? What's safe to use, what's verboten? It gives me a headache. As mentioned, the fact that part of the image was borrowed from someone of the same era is the issue. I was gonna make mention of the awesome work that Girl Talk does, doing the same thing with music, but I seem to have lost the plot. Great. I started this post at like, 2 AM and now I'm finishing it during my lunch break.

At any rate, I'd like to hear what you might have to say about this, so leave comments.

The Fringe So Far...part 3

Posters outside MTC.

The Further Adventures of Antoine Feval
If you're not aware of Chris Gibbs' lunacy, it about time you got familiar, got-dammit. And for the record, no, it's not necessary to have seen his previous Antoine Feval show to understand this one. The premise for both shows: Gibbs' dimwitted Victorian ancestor Barnaby erroneously takes a notorious cat burglar to be a master detective, and becomes his assistant...of sorts.
Sarah and myself were treated to yet another laugh-filled hour from Gibbs, stacked with off-the-wall jokes, plus jabs at Canadian politeness, his fellow King's Head performer Jem Rolls, and at the fact that both him and Jem have found romance here in Canada...something about it being a way to get Canada back within England's clutches in a clandestine fashion. You NEED to see this show.

The Wizard of One
This show was a bit of a question mark initially. Sarah had marked this in our program as a "maybe", and I seconded it, mainly because she's a Wizard of Oz fan. Getting to the venue, we had forgotten why we were interested in the show in the first place, and we're slightly wary of the amount of kids in attendance. I braced myself for disappointment.
Instead, we left more than pleasantly surprised at what we had just witnessed. Neil James convincingly plays all of the characters in this healthcare industry-based take on the classic Frank L. Baum tale/MGM movie. I was not only impressed with his range, but his fluid transitions from character to character. Kudos, mister. And what's really cool, is that you can bring the kids to this one, and not be bored to teas by some dumbed-down pap. Definite recommendation.
A bonus funny moment: Neil gingerly explaining to the all-ages crowd that he's also the stage manager for the absolutely-not-for-kids Pussy Sushi.

Sound and Fury's Sherlock Holmes and the Saline Solution
Another must-see...if you can get a ticket. Five stars in the Free Press = sold out shows, usually. I gotta say that the Gas Station Theatre is the perfect venue for these guys (even though the seats are hella awkward for most of the patrons). Fairly large capacity and great acoustics. Those of you unfamiliar with a Sound and Fury show can expect a lot of audience interaction before, during AND after the show...they're just really chummy. You can also expect a ton of off-color songs, groan-inducing puns, pop culture references, double entendres...the makings of a gut-busting good time. And let me tell you, Winnipeg loves these guys...our audience was rabid for 'em! And it was full of Sound adn Fury first-timers! They went home knowing what all the fuss was about.

Take It Back
Sarah and I have been Fringing together for 10 years, and it took us this long to see a dance production! Well, I'm really fucking glad it was this one. Wow. It was a blast watching these three members of the Solid State troupe do their thing. B-boying (breakdancing to the unwashed masses...sorry, I couldn't resist. :D ) and swing dancing (or lindy hopping) and a lil' bit of capoeira thrown in made for a great start to our Monday. Reommended, without question.



The set of How Sweet It Is.

How Sweet It Is
Elizabeth MacEachern has to be commended for sharing her personal diabetes history. However, I can't say I found her portrayals of the folks involved all that compelling. There are a couple of exceptions, though: her cowboyish eye surgeon was a little amusing and she really came alive as the nurse handling "Insulin 101". By the end, it was apparent that this show was a rather emotional expereience for her (as well it should be), as she barely held herself together during the curtain call.
In addition to that, I think I would've found her short, raunchy-for-laughs dance with a Mr. Big probably would've gone over better with me if I had dug the rest of the show. Instead, it was somewhat disturbing.
Had to put that out there.

The Fringe So Far...part 2

Jem Rolls: How I Stopped Worrying and Learnt to Love the Mall
As always, Jem was very entertaining. What can a first-timer at a Jem Rolls show expect? Verbosity.
Much movement.
Sweat.
Yelling.
Askew observations.
This year, Jem breathlessly expounds on shopping, and its ability to crush your soul, especially if you're not attuned to the practice. Endlessly funny...go see him.

Totem Figures
TJ Dawe, Fringe king, comes to this year's festival with a 90-minute autobiographical piece about being at a crossroads, and looking at how he got to where he is. What's really cool, is that he intertwines the biographies of the men he admires (his "Totem Figures") – Charles Bukowski, John Fahey, and George Carlin – with his own story. Listening to this story, it all seems scattershot, but it all comes together in the end. It's a great glimpse into a fertile mind. I'd love to see this again.

The Fringe So Far...

Blasphemy
It was alright. I think Anthony has it in him to make a good Fringe show, but you can tell this was his first. The transitions from sketch comedy to stand-up were a tad awkward, as it was unnecessary for him to use a mic, but he did. The acoustics in the Planetarium Auditorium are lovely.


Jeff Sinclair outside Old Market Square.

Letters at Large
Full disclosure: Jeff Sinclair is a friend of mine. With that said, I had a great time at his show. The concept: Jeff writes letters to companies, and reads the hilarious results on stage, with a slideshow . That may not sound like much, but it's all about what he says in those letters that generates the laughs. There are a couple of heart-warming moments, too.
Go see it.

EDIT: Oh yeah...go to the official site for more info, and keep tabs on the Winnipeg Free Press for reviews other than mine. Also, Jeff has a site for his show.

It's that time again...

Unlike last year, I'm actually gonna attempt to keep a visual diary of the Fringe (I'll eventually post last year's pics). Keep an eye on this here set:
Fringe Festival 2008

I'm rooting for the Weakerthans...

...but it'd be great if Shad won. Gotta look out for my rap folks.
http://www.polarismusicprize.ca/
Admittedly, I'm a little pissed that Grand Analog didn't make the longlist, but I'm a tad biased.

Some quick notes...

The MySpace page for Rod Bailey's previously mentioned project is up, so go check it out! http://www.myspace.com/heyroddybailey

My man DJ Brace is set to release his Electric Nosehair in Nostromania album, July 19th on Balanced Records. You can check out a couple of tracks here and here, and don't forget to peep the video below!

Comments at UGSMAG about "Edge of Town"

Heads at UGSMAG have been vocal in their like/dislike over Rod Bailey's "Edge of Town".
http://ugsmag.com/news/roddy-bailey-aka-mcenroe-edge-of-town-video/#comments
What's really cool about the whole thing, is that Rod himself has handled the criticism with aplomb and sincerity, basically telling folks why he's changed up his steez a bit and what he was trying to say. And, I think some of the initial naysayers are coming around to his vision, if only slightly. I know he's been working on this for ages, so I'm pretty anxious for this to drop.

Just ask.

This happened a while ago, and I forgot to mention it. I was informed by a fellow flickr member that one of my photos was being used on the Access Winnipeg blog. I've really got no problem with that, because I'm a Creative Commons user. The thing is, they didn't ask me first. I've stated in my profile quite clearly that I like to be asked first...it's the polite thing to do, don't you think?
When I complained, I got this response from the editor:

Hi Allan,

Ken here, just want to give you a follow up on the status of Access Winnipeg since your photo was one of the photos that were in question.

Your photo has been removed. However, I also noticed that someone had blogged a BDI photo that you took as well. This photo has been removed as well.

We have been working with photography groups and have decided to ONLY use photos with a CREATIVE COMMONS license since having a CREATIVE COMMONS license is granting permission to use the photo.

Unfortunately, your account is causing problems for us, you have a CC license yet you still require permission to use your photos. I fear that this issue might happen again because our bloggers have now been instructed to use CC photos only. Our bloggers do not have the time to ask permission for all the photos we use hence the reason for the CC license photos. When our bloggers get a news article, it needs to be up right away without having time to get permission to use a photo.

I would recommend that you use an All Rights Reserve License with your photos to avoid any future issues. It is more of a license you are looking for - With all rights reserved, your photos will be not detectable by our cc photo search and other flickr users can still ask for your permission to use them.


Synister Media
www.synistermedia.com

The thing is, that's not what I'm looking for. What I want, is common courtesy. And I really don't think that's so fucking hard to do. I'll give you an example: NowPublic, an online news site, has used two of my photos, and have actually asked me. Both times, they sent me a form letter that outlined how they were going to be used, inquiring whether I'd cool with that or not. And I've said "yes" each time, because I appreciated the gesture.
Bottom line: you want to use something of mine, just ask. This "fast-paced world" we live in shouldn't be an excuse for a lack of manners. Thank you.
Addendum: However, if I actually KNOW YOU, feel free to tell me after the fact. I know we're cool.

EDIT: Check the comments for a change of heart.

Photo Phrenzy

I got bored. Therefore, I've posted a bunch of photos. Yup.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elnegro/

mcenroe's "Edge of Town"

Roddy Bailey aka mcenroe - Edge Of Town from Rod Bailey on Vimeo.
Directed and edited by the man himself. Go to the video's page and watch it in HD.

Ice T vs. Soulja Boy

The beef as covered in Kanye's blog.
Truthfully, I can't think of a rap squabble that's been both timely and lame at the same time. I pray to God that the Nation of Islam doesn't have to step in to settle this, because that would be epically fucked. I mean, come on! It's fucking Ice T and Soulja Boy!
My take on this...

1. Any way you cut it, Ice looks pitiful for calling dude out like that.
2. At the same time, however, you gotta understand his frustration. Ice has put in work for ages, has been very successful, but hasn't been culturally relevant since the mid '90s. Along comes this teenager, seemingly from nowhere (in reality, as we all know now, he was doing his thing on MySpace), and changes the game. How does this look to a rap icon that still has that fire in the belly?
3. While the cry of "hip-hop is dead" causes some articulate discussion at times, it's also fucking wrong. I don't care if you're Ice T, Nas or motherfuckin' Bobbito ("iPod-owning motherfuckers are killing hip-hop!"), that shit sounds sad and desperate. It's the rallying cry of the rap elder, afraid of change. Roll with the fucking punches, motherfucker. Look...I don't like everything out there that's new, but it ain't all bad either. About a year ago, Jay Smooth put it more succinctly than I'm doing right now.
4. SB's music does nothing for me, but I can't knock his hustle. It worked. Will he last? Only time will tell.

I probably had more points than this, but it's late, so things are foggy.

This made my day. F'real.

I've been a fan of Arizona-based cartoonist/illustrator/awesome lady Molly Kiely for a while. Discovering that she's also a Flickr member was a pleasant revelation.
Imagine my surprise when I saw this progress pic on her photostream with the caption, "I got the idea to paint on old vinyl from the charming and talented El Negro Magnifico."
Needless to say, Molly made me quite happy. Kinda makes me feel like I'm on the right track n' stuff.
I know a lot of people are down about the state of the world, and that's not without good reason. At the same time, I know that millions of people felt the same way decades before. Myself, I can't help but feel optimistic about the future and incredibly positive about living in the now. Yes, I know I'm quite typically a "gloomy Gus"...it's my nature, but how can I not be pleasant about this day and age, when I have the eyes and ears of creative folks that I admire via the web?
That's pretty fuckin' awesome.

Hi, motherfuckers.

Yeah, I did this. I'm stoked. Soon to be in all the usual spots.

That title? I do mean that in the nicest way possible, of course.
I've decided to make good on my resolution regarding internet usage. There are many fucking things to do, and life is very fucking short. And lately, I've been letting a number of people's differing zeros and ones get to me. It's the internet, I tell myself. Usually that works to brush stuff off, but not recently. It's not healthy.
So yeah...if you don't hear from me much in the usual spots, it's because I'm off getting my grind on, or just plain living. This sexy box in front of me can only do so much.
A number of you know where to get at me, so please do. Peace.

Alan Hynes' Mudhoney poster...

...is just brilliant. I can't say that enough.
Gaze upon the awesomeness.
This is post #667. A slight notch above evil.

Random Thoughts: June 8th, 2008

Top: Me and my social-won Wii™.
Bottom: Sarah in her grad robe.

• Howdy. It's been a while! How y'all doin'? Why don't you write or call anymore?
  The story so far: Sarah and I moved in together on May first, The Dirtbombs put on probably the best show I'll see all year on the fifth (yes, I have posters, and yes, I will be selling them), I had my bottom wisdom teeth and an impacted molar removed on May 15th, and Sarah graduated on the 28th. Congrats, baby! That's pretty much it as far as highlights, I guess.
• Sue Medley. Yeah, this is truly random. Whatever happened to this lady? She kinda disappeared before the mid-90s evaporated. One moment, she was singing backup on the Bob Dylan tribute for John Mellencamp, with a number of her own successful albums under her belt, and then she was gone!
  Okay, a few minutes have elapsed in internet time, and I've found her whereabouts up until 2000. Cool.
• Audrey @ Plump Dolls (NSFW): My pal Audrey has finally launched her adult site via Plump Dolls! Not only is she an intelligent, well-read lady, but she's also super sexy. Shoulder freckles! :) Find her right here.
• Posters and stuff over the past little bit:
  A Western Confrontation: Flustered and Coolheaded
  Grand Analog: Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and tour
  Jared and Leah's social poster
  The previously-mentioned Dirtbombs poster
  Something coming soon
  
• Y'know...that's pretty much it.
  
  

The Orphan Works Bill

Quite simply, my friends...this is fucked.
All you illustrators/designers/painters/photographers/whatever that are unfamiliar with this, take heed.
Admittedly, I didn't pay much attention until I found out that non-U.S. citizens can make their voices heard via this letter that you can personalize.
Having just listened to a Brad Holland interview on the topic, I'm feeling rather nauseated, on the real.
In a nutshell, this bill does away with the entitled copyright of any visuals you create, published or not. In order to protect your work, you'll have to pay for anything you do to be registered via registry firms that don't currently exist. If you don't, someone will have the right to use your work like it was something in the public domain...and you aren't even fucking dead yet. Here's the kicker: if you do end up getting ripped off, you'll then have to prove in a court of law that you were. Without having your images registered via these non-existent firms, you'll have an uphill battle.
So, yeah. Pretty got-damn ridiculous, eh? Now:

1. ...to get quickly familiar with this situation (if I haven't fully convinced you), read this post at Drawn!, then get angry.
2. Follow that with a full listen to the Brad Holland interview (option/right click). Get angrier.
3. After you're done throwing furniture, follow those instructions outlined in the Drawn! post.

I know I will.

Grand Analog's "Around This Town"

More Peg City homies doin' good things on the video tip:

"Pip's Kid"

You gotta watch this. Your soul will thank you.

Pip's Kid from Jason Lapeyre on Vimeo.

Dream Recollection 4: April 20th, 2008

I'm in some convenience store, looking for an arcade game to play. The layout of the store is a mix of both Korner Stop and the Shell Select (before the shitty renovations). The Winnipeggers among us know these places. Anyway...I settle upon a wrestling game – of course – with a small screen and convoluted play. It has a stool, strangely enough, so I sit at it. Who am I to refuse a stool? There's a bunch of Asian women in the store, all of them fine. I noticed them earlier, but I was intent on playing something. Upon settling into the game, one of the women, begins rather passionately chewing on my left ear, whispering intentions. I'm still playing the game.

Yeah, I can't figure it out either.

It may have been influenced by the trailer for Joey Silvera's Asian Oral, which kinda sucks (pardon the pun) if that's true. Being of a "visible minority", anything that fetishizes ethnicity kinda gets me pissed.
If I get it together, I'm gonna be putting Evil Angel on blast for a related matter. Yup. Stay tuned.

GIANT RIPOFF!

Unless you keep your ear to the ground for illustration happenings, you may not have heard about a fly-by-night Hong Kong publisher putting out a book full of stolen art. All of the work and interviews came from members of The Little Chimp Society site. Just fuckin' ridiculous.
Read all about it at Luc Latulippe's blog.

Rik Cordero is a Genius.

I haven't felt the need to listen to The Roots' "Birthday Girl" in full...until this video.
Sasha Grey's smoky glare makes me feel all funny inside. I'll leave you to do a Google search for her uh, activities.
Here, I'll get you started: her Shot by Kern interviews are compelling. That link is NSFW, by the way.

So...video on Flickr.

Straight from the horse's mouth.
I'm kinda on the fence about this. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about Flickr advancing n' stuff, but my first thought was about the creepy swingers with no photos/stolen porn photos/"dick pics" that try to add me as a contact because they "luv BBW's too" (sic). This is just another avenue for them to prove how hot they aren't.

Of course, I don't have to watch. I'm a big boy.

On the bright side, the contacts I don't mind seeing naked might get a little more...creative.

I've got stuff to draw. Good night.

R.I.P. Bruce Gillespie

I just found out that Bruce passed away on the 30th of March.
In the realm of my somewhat extended RRC career, I had Bruce as an instructor just a couple of times, and we always got along pretty well, especially when it came to music. I remember he corrected me when I identified the singer of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" as Johnny Horton (it was Gene Pitney), but was impressed that I knew who Johnny Horton was.
Bruce was also one of the first people to encourage me to come back to the program after I failed the first time, and got me to read all I could about the business, which is part of why I'm such an addict for graphic design/illustration info.
Rest in peace, sir.

mcenroe's junk drawer resurrected!

mcenroe at the Pyramid – June 16th, 2006

Rod brought his blog back to hit us off with tracks. He started things off right with a 90s-ish, laid back remix of John Smith's "Growing Pains". I'm liking this quite a bit!
mcenroe's junk drawer: Blog reborn

12 Inch 3!

So, I'm like, in an art show n' stuff!
The poster • The website • ...and one of the men behind it.
Looks like it's gonna be dope. I dropped my pieces off at Rod's place and he showed me some of the great work that will be on display.
Here are the process photos and end result of my contribution.

The Steve Earle show ruled, thanks for asking.

Yes, it was really cool. I lost count, but I do believe there were 15 songs, plus a four song encore ("Guitar Town", "Jerusalem", "Little Rock n' Roller", and "Copperhead Road", of course). I got to Burton Cummings just in time to catch most of Allison Moorer's set. Damn, what a voice. So powerful! Unfortunately, during the set, I had to find my seat, and there was some uncomfortable shifting, as I was in the wrong one, initially.

The one thing that slightly marred the experience – and that of a number of the people around me – was this woman that sat in front of me. She was either taking pictures (no photography was allowed, but that didn't stop people...including her) or talking on her fucking cell phone. She got up around the eighth or ninth song, and didn't come back. Thank God. The middle-aged guys that were on either side of her were relieved, as was I.

So yeah, the show was dope. Just Steve and his guitar, or several guitars, plus Allison signing backup ("Days Aren't Long Enough" and "City of Immigrants"), and DJ Neil on CD turntables and effects. I could totally hear the grinding teeth of the "purists" in attendance, but it really shouldn't have been that much of a surprise to anyone that's heard Washington Square Serenade. Well...it was a surprise to this one dude in Minneapolis. It's like, dude...you saw the fucking decks on the stage when you got in, right? Maybe you shoulda ran. Anyway, it really worked, in my opinion. Together, they summoned Indian rhythms and echo effects for a trippy version of "CCKMP". And you could tell that Steve was really comfortable with the whole arrangement. Hearing him say "a-ight, kick it!" to his DJ thrilled me to no end.

As a teen, I was familiar with "Copperhead Road", as was any motherfucker that listened to 92 CITI on a regular basis, but there was something about hearing the title track of I Feel Alright on Definitely Not the Opera that resonated with me, and I've been a fan ever since. It could've been the fact that he dug himself out of the gutter, or maybe it was his harmonica on that track. It was probably the harmonica. I still haven't learned how to play a harmonica...there are three to the left of me as I type this. Anyway, it took me ages to see him (I'm not the Folk Fest type, but the recent line-ups have had me reconsidering my stance), and I'm glad I did tonight.

Related links:
SteveEarle.com • Tour Dates • DJ Neil • Allison Moorer

Random Thoughts: February 28th, 2008

From the top: Me on Main, February 5th; Poster for Nestor Wynrush; Nutty Rap Night.

• Oh Yeah...My 2007 Top Ten. Hey, if Magnet can drop their list this late in the game, so can I.
  
  1. Grand Analog's Calligraffiti. Y'know, I think it's pretty much agreed upon that Mood Ruff made the album we were all waiting for them to make with I Do My Own Stunts. Although separated by two years, this joint carried that same momentum, except that this one was Odario's baby. I love this whole thing, but "Sittin' On Sunday" is probably my favorite track, followed by "Mixtapes: The Slow Ride". Love that hook on "Sittin'". Full disclosure: Garfield (Odario) is an old friend, and I got a shout out in the liner notes. No influence on how I feel about this recording...I love this album for what it is.
  2. Little Brother's Get Back. Rap music for grown-ass people, that's what this is. That don't mean it's curmudgeonly, not at all. The beats still bounce (even without 9th Wonder producing all of the tracks), Pooh and Phonte still hit really hard with their pointed lyrics for haters of all stripes, and the whole thing comes in at a tidy 11 tracks. I wish more folks would follow their lead in that regard. If there's a theme to this album, I'd have to say it's all about perseverance (Phonte pretty much says so on the final track) and that's top notch in my book. Rap music needs more albums that the over 30 set can relate to, got-dammit. Shit, rap needs good albums, period. Okay, I'm gettin' off my high horse...
  3. Athavale's Devoted. Full disclosure (again): I've known Erik for 10 or so years (ever since the Fermented Reptile Let's Just Call You Quits album release at Mondragon), and I did several posters for him, plus an illustration for his second demo. These facts have no bearing on my opinion of this full-fledged release which had me stunned for months. Favorite demo tracks like "Bounce" and "Raise Up" took a quantum leap in quality, and I got slapped upside the head – in a good way – by "Morning Groove". At 9 tracks deep, I often listened to it two and three times in a row, feeling rather uplifted every time. I can't say that about very many albums.
  4. Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade. I've got my tickets for his March 10th show, and I'm REALLY looking forward to it. I've been a fan since I Feel Alright, so seeing him live (and solo!) is long overdue. This album is a hoot to listen to, and I'm hoping that him and producer John King (of the mighty Dust Brothers) work together again. Steve knows how to write a song that can bring a tear to my eye. Case in point: "Come Home to Me". Every time I hear it, it vividly displays what life would be like for me if I fucked up really bad, causing Sarah to leave me. Then I start tearing up. It's kinda pitiful. But damn, what a song.
  5. Talib Kweli's Eardrum. WAY fuckin' better than I thought it would be. I saw all the guests lined up for this album and got put off, initially. But really, it's pretty damn good! One of the stand-outs: "Country Cousins" with UGK. Yup. This joint surveys the geographical divisions in today's rap game with a keen eye and pretty much says "hey...it's all good". Good times. Yo, Talib's set at the MPLS stop for Rock The Bells was mad fun to watch, too.
  6. Percee P's Perseverance. Another pleasant surprise, f'real. I thought I'd tire of Perce's endless fast raps right quick, but he kept it engaging with the occasional narrative or guest spot. And we can't forget about Madlib's killer production: solid as hell, but also typically quirky. Favorite track: "2 Brothers From the Gutter" with Diamond D. What is that being sampled...Castlevania?
  7. Oh No's Dr. No's Oxperiment. Common's Finding Forever. I just looked at this list that I wrote either in early January or late December, and wondered what I was smoking. Don't get me wrong...I liked Oh No's joint, but not as much as Finding Forever. Admittedly, I find this album to be a collection of a few good joints more than a truly cohesive album. However, tracks like "The Game" and "Southside" hearken back to the Common we were always interested in, and that's enough for me.
  8. Heavy Trash's Going Way Out with Heavy Trash. Fun from the word go and enough weirdness to make rockabilly purists scratch their Brylcreemed heads. Spencer lists bands like the Oblivians and Doo Rag in "They Were Kings", an homage to rock n' roll ass-kickers. Definitely a fave, as is the sonic blast of "I Want Oblivion". Man, I'd love to see these guys again.
  9. Talib Kweli and Madlib's Liberation. Y'all forgot about this one, didn't you? Stones Throw was smart to put this out as a free download on January 1st. It made my early morning commute SO much better (Fuck, I miss my iPod.). Favorite joint: "Engine Running" with Consequence. Shit, I'm gonna listen to that right now...
  10. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand. If you were to tell me that this was gonna be on my list, I probably would've slapped you, because no one likes a liar. But here it is. I saw a review in Exclaim! and I was like, getthefuckouttahere. Like how good could this be? Well, really good. I popped into HMV Portage Place twice, and tracks from Raising Sand were playing each time. I took that as a sign. Well, not before borrowing a co-workers copy, which I returned to her with a shocked look on my face. "This is one of the best things I've heard all year", I stated, slack-jawed. Plant and Krauss complement each other so well, and Plant keeps the hysterics to a minimum, which is great. This recording is full of top notch players, and sound is akin to sitting next to a fireplace, wrapped in a blanket. Yeah, it's that comfy. Alison's cover of Tom Waits' "Trampled Rose" makes me tingle, but not in a naughty way.
• So...there y'go, for whatever that's worth.
• If You're Going to SXSW... I hate you. Okay, not really. I wish I was goin'. Someday. Anyway, if you're going, don't forget to peep Flatstock 16. Tell 'em El Negro set you. Also, my homies Co-op and Hunnicutt will be in the house spinning at the Silhouette Sushi Restaurant and Bar with a shitload of other dudes. Check this for info.
• Frank Chimero. This fellow gigposters.com member is so damn talented. What y'all need to do is check out his Flickr photostream, be amazed, then go cop his book: The Small Print. Go on...you'll thank me later.
• Randy and Chirpy. In addition to reading Sinfest every day, I now have to keep up with my man Lonny's Randy and Chirpy. The drunken antics of a bird and a slacker. What's not to love? Plus, he's launched a fan art blog for it. Well, I'm a fan, and I draw stuff...I guess it's in the cards.
• I'm done with Plumpers and Big Women (NSFW). The magazine, that is. I'm thankful that this mag was around in my formative years, as it helped me to see full-figured women as sexy and desirable (as did a certain student teacher). The thing is, now I care about quality, and their shitty paper, boring layout, and falsehood-filled "letters" section no longer do it for me. The final straw occurred in the latest issue where they had self-exiled former porn performer* Elizabeth Rollings in two spreads. That wouldn't be a bad thing normally, but here, they tried to portray her as two different women. Like, how fuckin' stupid do you think we are? Bitches.
• I gotta go to bed. Peace.

*Elizabeth left porn life to follow God, which I think is cool. Due to a prior agreement, her site remains operational.

Random Thoughts: January 11th, 2008...Birthday Train of Thought

Sarah n' Me, June 10th, 2006. Meeting this lady just a little over 10 years ago changed my life for the better.

• More of the same!: It's 2008, and I already feel like I'm stuck in a rut. Old habits die hard. Don't get me wrong...I'm changing shit up, but they're incremental changes. Y'know, like less caffeine intake (via Pepsi®) at work, thinking twice before stuffing my face with junk. I am, however, already beginning to backslide. Wednesday, I finished off a Coke® 2 litre, then got a bottle of Coke® with my King Pie sausage roll. Speaking of King Pie, I gotta wonder how much longer those folks will be around at Portage Place (the very first Canuck franchise) . It was pretty dead when I went there. Time will tell. Yesterday, after messing with 4 pieces from Chester Fried because I missed breakfast (naughty), I decided to take advantage of a coupon for an A & W Chicken Grill and a salad for 6 bucks. That's me doin' healthy. Not bad, I guess...Sarah approved. I'm tentatively scheduled to annihilate a Clubhouse pizza on Sunday at Boston Pizza, courtesy of my man St. Louis.
• Destination Unknown: In making yet another futile attempt to clean the apartment, I located my Sexsmith & Kerr Destination Unknown album. I forgot just how fucking good this is. For 40 minutes, I forget that life is a pile of dung. I placed the song "Listen" on a mix for Sarah, and she said "Y'know, you oughta pay close attention to that one line in the song..." I was kinda expecting that. The line goes like this:

  When I listen to that inner voice/it's telling me I have a choice/To condemn life or rejoice/I think I'll choose rejoicing...

  I'm beginning to think that I'm hard-wired to be grumpy and sardonic, whilst having a few flashes of positivity.
• Nuptials! (1): Huge internet-based props to my friends Kerry Ryan and Jeope Wolfe for tying the knot on December 31st. They had a nice, low-key affair, followed by a reception for all their family in friends in their house. Man, so many delectable treats at this fine event. My hat's off to you guys! Many thanks for inviting us.
• Nuptials! (2): The countdown is on for our ceremony. Holy fuck. My responsibilities are as follows:
  
  • 10 table makers
  • invites
  • table tent cards
  • mix cd and artwork
  • buttons
  • table setting poster
  • programs
  Whew! Oh yeah...I also have to show up. I can do this.
• In our next installment...: My middle-of-the-month-so-no-one-will-care top 10 of 2007 list!
  
  

Dream Recollection 3: January 10th, 2008

About an hour ago, I had a rather weird, but beautiful dream that involved the Arcade Fire.


Wow...that sentence just weirded me out.

Anyway, it took place on Mulvey School's field (Mulvey is my elementary alma mater), and it was full of pleasant, fresh-faced kids in school uniforms tossing around a mystical Frisbee®, which actually looked like a discarded hub cap. At one point, the Frisbee®/hub cap turned into a dove, which was then released. Suddenly, many doves followed, along with trails of ethereal light. This whole event was covered in nothing but swooping crane shots. I couldn't help but notice that the the field's grass was incredibly lush, plus there was a large, winding, knotted tree at the middle rear of the field. I thought to myself, where the fuck did that come from? Mulvey hasn't had a tree in over 20 years. At any rate, Arcade Fire's "Keep the Car Running" was in the background, so I guess it was like a video or something. They just happened to be playing on the radio that was attempting to wake me up. I'm not a fan, really. They get amazing posters made for them, though.

Dream Recollection 2: January 4th, 2008

I just dreamed that I had to visit a building in Osborne Village that was dedicated to the Klan in 1913.
As far as I know, this building doesn't have such a history, let alone a balcony with 3 "K"s
in it. Well, yeah, I'm definitely sure of that part. Dreams are weird.
Is this a premonition that I'm gonna run into some assholes today?