Jellyfish Heaven is a lot like Denmark. It really is too cold to go swimming, and it doesn't get nearly enough snow to go skiing.
Hope everybody had an enjoyable Thanksgiving while I was out. I brought back many samples of great beer from Denmark, and lots of photos. I was thinking about seeing Motorhead and Anthrax in Copenhagen, but the original show for Friday 26 was rescheduled for mid-December. Way to go, Lemmy. You'll be fitted for a pegleg and eyepatch before you know it.
While I'm sure Denmark doesn't want to take too much credit for Lars Ulrich, there are other reasons for rock and roll adventurists take a trip to the land of gl¯gg and smelly cheese. The government isn't afraid to try new ideas, and even the ones that suck are not viewed as complete failures. One example is the Christiania "free state" in Copenhagen. Once an island military base in the city harbor that protected the city from marauding Swedes (no, seriously, they were a real problem once), Christiania was vacated and closed by the government at the end of the sixties during a time of social protest and military contraction. Almost immediately the old base was overrun by hippies and youthful antiwar/anarchist types and declared an independent utopian state...sounds like trouble already, huh?
The Danish government decided to consecrate this social experiment in 1971, and they've been regretting it ever since. Thirty years later, Christiania is a pretty lawless and messy place compared to the rest of Copenhagen. As can be predicted with a society run by hippies, Christiania's lone accomplishment (and lone product) is Europe's oldest open-air marketplace of pot and hash...the aptly named Pusher Street is lined with cafes and merchant's carts where you can get your fix. Problem is, unlike the Netherlands, possession of pot is still illegal in Denmark. You can kinda/sorta buy it and smoke it legally on the island, but you can't take any away with you. Sorry guys, it looks like your birthday cards won't be arriving a little early or late this year.
Compared to the rest of a country that's heavily regulated and exquisitely maintained, Christiania is a sort of counterculture DPRK. For law enforcement and the current conservative government, it's an extravagant nuisance, and most MPs would like to see the place sold to developers so it can turn a profit. Still, despite occasional police raids and bluster to shut down the base for good, the Ministry of Defense keeps the place open. Why? Nobody seems to like it much, yet nobody really wants to see it go...it's like that wild, untamed side of human nature that education, good table manners and social conditioning can't completely kill off; or that crazy uncle who makes every family reunion worth attending, if only to see what batshit thing he'll do the next time.
Denmark has been a haven for tolerance for most of the 20th century, and even if Christiania/Freetown isn't the epitome of that notion, it certainly pushes it to its limits. For all its problems, it isn't such a bad idea when you consider the US alternative--closing the base, building a pre-fab Wackenhut superprison on the site & jailing the population for most of their lives at taxpayer expense.
Hope everybody had an enjoyable Thanksgiving while I was out. I brought back many samples of great beer from Denmark, and lots of photos. I was thinking about seeing Motorhead and Anthrax in Copenhagen, but the original show for Friday 26 was rescheduled for mid-December. Way to go, Lemmy. You'll be fitted for a pegleg and eyepatch before you know it.
While I'm sure Denmark doesn't want to take too much credit for Lars Ulrich, there are other reasons for rock and roll adventurists take a trip to the land of gl¯gg and smelly cheese. The government isn't afraid to try new ideas, and even the ones that suck are not viewed as complete failures. One example is the Christiania "free state" in Copenhagen. Once an island military base in the city harbor that protected the city from marauding Swedes (no, seriously, they were a real problem once), Christiania was vacated and closed by the government at the end of the sixties during a time of social protest and military contraction. Almost immediately the old base was overrun by hippies and youthful antiwar/anarchist types and declared an independent utopian state...sounds like trouble already, huh?
The Danish government decided to consecrate this social experiment in 1971, and they've been regretting it ever since. Thirty years later, Christiania is a pretty lawless and messy place compared to the rest of Copenhagen. As can be predicted with a society run by hippies, Christiania's lone accomplishment (and lone product) is Europe's oldest open-air marketplace of pot and hash...the aptly named Pusher Street is lined with cafes and merchant's carts where you can get your fix. Problem is, unlike the Netherlands, possession of pot is still illegal in Denmark. You can kinda/sorta buy it and smoke it legally on the island, but you can't take any away with you. Sorry guys, it looks like your birthday cards won't be arriving a little early or late this year.
Compared to the rest of a country that's heavily regulated and exquisitely maintained, Christiania is a sort of counterculture DPRK. For law enforcement and the current conservative government, it's an extravagant nuisance, and most MPs would like to see the place sold to developers so it can turn a profit. Still, despite occasional police raids and bluster to shut down the base for good, the Ministry of Defense keeps the place open. Why? Nobody seems to like it much, yet nobody really wants to see it go...it's like that wild, untamed side of human nature that education, good table manners and social conditioning can't completely kill off; or that crazy uncle who makes every family reunion worth attending, if only to see what batshit thing he'll do the next time.
Denmark has been a haven for tolerance for most of the 20th century, and even if Christiania/Freetown isn't the epitome of that notion, it certainly pushes it to its limits. For all its problems, it isn't such a bad idea when you consider the US alternative--closing the base, building a pre-fab Wackenhut superprison on the site & jailing the population for most of their lives at taxpayer expense.
by at 1:33 PM
And now, the afterbirth...
My brain wantsneeds a respite from the clusterfuck that was Election Day, so I've retreated into the cave for a steady diet of Marx Brothers, Meiko Kaji, J&K Horror, stickytacky 70s grindhouse, Takashi Miike, and Golden Harvest movies, coupled with a curious blend of metal (Mastodon, Exodus, Killing Joke, early Metal Church, Judas Priest, Prong, even more Mastodon) and hard bop jazz (Art Blakey, Roland Kirk, Buddy Rich), and (re)reading Rue Morgue magazine, Sherlock Holmes shorts, The Cinematographer's Manual, and Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian while on the shitter.
What's the point, Dusty? Simple. I'm almost done writing the script for my first feature film, scheduled to begin shooting this coming winter/spring, and I need help. Maybe even your help. I need sound engineers/boom operators, production assistants and maybe even an actor or two. Don't pay nothing much outside of the priviledge of kissing my ass (oh that's rich) but food and beverages are free -- It's low budget, people! My budget! From outta my pocket! Interested parties can contact me through this here site or by simply cornering me next time we cross paths. I'll post audition information soon. There are only four characters available, two of which have been cast already, though I'm always willing to see more people.
And in even better news, Knife of Simpson has finished mixing our full-length record. We will be mastering within the month, followed early next year by a short-run promotional CD pressing. Meanwhile, we're busy working on our concept album, "The Iron Goldmine." True to form, it's dumber and heavier and more fun and maybe even better than Operation:Mindcrime. And we have a confirmed show at the Double Door, December 14th. More details soon.
My brain wantsneeds a respite from the clusterfuck that was Election Day, so I've retreated into the cave for a steady diet of Marx Brothers, Meiko Kaji, J&K Horror, stickytacky 70s grindhouse, Takashi Miike, and Golden Harvest movies, coupled with a curious blend of metal (Mastodon, Exodus, Killing Joke, early Metal Church, Judas Priest, Prong, even more Mastodon) and hard bop jazz (Art Blakey, Roland Kirk, Buddy Rich), and (re)reading Rue Morgue magazine, Sherlock Holmes shorts, The Cinematographer's Manual, and Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian while on the shitter.
What's the point, Dusty? Simple. I'm almost done writing the script for my first feature film, scheduled to begin shooting this coming winter/spring, and I need help. Maybe even your help. I need sound engineers/boom operators, production assistants and maybe even an actor or two. Don't pay nothing much outside of the priviledge of kissing my ass (oh that's rich) but food and beverages are free -- It's low budget, people! My budget! From outta my pocket! Interested parties can contact me through this here site or by simply cornering me next time we cross paths. I'll post audition information soon. There are only four characters available, two of which have been cast already, though I'm always willing to see more people.
And in even better news, Knife of Simpson has finished mixing our full-length record. We will be mastering within the month, followed early next year by a short-run promotional CD pressing. Meanwhile, we're busy working on our concept album, "The Iron Goldmine." True to form, it's dumber and heavier and more fun and maybe even better than Operation:Mindcrime. And we have a confirmed show at the Double Door, December 14th. More details soon.
by at 7:18 PM
there have been some interesting studies done in the wake of last week's elections to try figure out how america re-elected that dumb ass. they really provide some scary insight. take this one, for example, by the program on international policy attitude at the univeristy of maryland which showed of those who supported bush:
- 70 percent believe the u.s has "clear evidence" that saddam hussein was working closely with al qaeda.
- about one-third believe weapons of mass destruction were found in iraq.
- more than one-third believe a substantial majority of world opinion supported the u.s.-led invasion of iraq.
staggering, isn't it? who knew americans were really that uneducated.
i mean, with access to the world's best newspapers, the internet and 24-hour cable news channels, you'd think voters would be a bit more knowledgeable. but like a former superintedent of schools once told me, "we live in an information age, but nobody will argue that we're living in a wisdom age."
and ain't that the truth. no sir, there aren't many people setting their tivos to the news hour each night. there are probably more americans searching to find how many yards cory dillon gained when the patriots pounded the butt-rams yesterday (112) for their lame fantasy football league.
jesus christ america. get a life!
- 70 percent believe the u.s has "clear evidence" that saddam hussein was working closely with al qaeda.
- about one-third believe weapons of mass destruction were found in iraq.
- more than one-third believe a substantial majority of world opinion supported the u.s.-led invasion of iraq.
staggering, isn't it? who knew americans were really that uneducated.
i mean, with access to the world's best newspapers, the internet and 24-hour cable news channels, you'd think voters would be a bit more knowledgeable. but like a former superintedent of schools once told me, "we live in an information age, but nobody will argue that we're living in a wisdom age."
and ain't that the truth. no sir, there aren't many people setting their tivos to the news hour each night. there are probably more americans searching to find how many yards cory dillon gained when the patriots pounded the butt-rams yesterday (112) for their lame fantasy football league.
jesus christ america. get a life!
by at 6:45 PM
1776-2004. Requiescat in Pace, America. It was fun while it lasted. Technically, you were declared brain dead in November 2000--as of Tuesday you have been officially yanked off life support, with a strict Do Not Resuscitate order from Dr. Ashcroft.
To think there was a time when we declared:
- "...the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
--(Treaty with Tripoli, 1796)
To think there was a time when a Catholic president had to go before the nation and swear he wasn't going to let his faith interfere with his execution of the laws of the nation; that he wasn't about to install a red telephone with a direct line to Pope John XXIII in Rome.
To think that the US constitution was established to prevent the sectarian bloodshed that afflicted Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by permitting freedom OF and FROM religion. How ironic that the Christpunchers want to destroy the First Amendment with the zealotry that inspired it in the first place.
Now that the fundies have the foundations of that theocracy they always wanted, how long before they beat their plowshares into swords and turn on each other?
by at 1:07 PM
I was haning out with my buddy Jack Daniels and flipping through the channels tonight, and I saw that 'John Tesh: Live at RedRocks' was going to be on. I thought, hey, isn't this that guy who did that Tangerine Dream new age keyboard kind of music in the 70s and 80s? And hosted (still hosts?) that trashy Entertainment Tonight show? He must be some kind of powerful musical force, what with his cushy TV job. As usual there was nothing on, so I thought, well, let's see if I've actually heard something from this guy. I'll see what his first song is. Maybe he does that 'tubular bells' song I like so much.
As soon as I tuned in, I saw people doing the 'crazy christ' dance. You've seen that dance, right? You put your hands in the air, kind of sway back and forth, like you're getting some kind of message from the skies, or you're an extra in 'Hair?' Holy shit it was creepy! There were scores of people singing along as if in church. Lots of kids. As Tesh simultaneously tried to accept Jesus as his personal savior AND really rock out, there was a guy with a 6 foot by 6 foot note pad, sketching giant portraits of Mr. Christ with a big marker. There was even some chick doing sign language. It's doubtful that being deaf or hard of hearing would take away much of your enjoyment in this case.
But man, judging by the crowd, obviously that dude is well off and sells shitloads of albums. NO ONE is DOWNLOADING any John Tesh, that's for sure. Thou shall not steal, after all. He'd probably sue your cock off if you did, anyway. I guess I just didn't realize that Tesh was milking the whole 'god music' market. That shit must be a fucking gold mine!
Sorry to pick fun at such an easy target, but I do have a point: This is red state culture. Let the eagle soar. Or else.
As soon as I tuned in, I saw people doing the 'crazy christ' dance. You've seen that dance, right? You put your hands in the air, kind of sway back and forth, like you're getting some kind of message from the skies, or you're an extra in 'Hair?' Holy shit it was creepy! There were scores of people singing along as if in church. Lots of kids. As Tesh simultaneously tried to accept Jesus as his personal savior AND really rock out, there was a guy with a 6 foot by 6 foot note pad, sketching giant portraits of Mr. Christ with a big marker. There was even some chick doing sign language. It's doubtful that being deaf or hard of hearing would take away much of your enjoyment in this case.
But man, judging by the crowd, obviously that dude is well off and sells shitloads of albums. NO ONE is DOWNLOADING any John Tesh, that's for sure. Thou shall not steal, after all. He'd probably sue your cock off if you did, anyway. I guess I just didn't realize that Tesh was milking the whole 'god music' market. That shit must be a fucking gold mine!
Sorry to pick fun at such an easy target, but I do have a point: This is red state culture. Let the eagle soar. Or else.
by at 2:37 AM
And now for an insightful assessment of the U.S. Presidential election...
I'm fucked. You're fucked. Your Mom is fucked. Your Dad is fucked. Your dog is fucked. Alas, we're all fucked.
Is that simple enough for the Redcoats out there? All youse Bush-lovin', Dodge Ram drivin', Coors Light swillin', NASCAR watchin', overweight hag bangin', dawg-kickin', Raymond laughin', carb-countin' lunkheads responsible for the further polarization of America?
By electing the most reprehensible lot of miscreants since Mr. Schickelgruber (sp) danced past a deathbed Kaiser, we have nothing but unrivaled misery to look forward to. I'm not kidding, either. Some of the darkest days of American history await us. Escalation of war on at least one new foreign front, a limited military draft, further scaling back of civil liberties and abortion rights, unrivaled economic deficits, Chief Justice Antonin Scalia, aggressive media censorship within the few but dominant retail and rental stores, the dissolution of New Deal-era Social Security, and a Depression-steady national job loss. But at least we'll be "safe" from (foreign) terrorists, have a few extra (if you're wealthy) tax-cut bones in our pockets, drive our 6 cylinder snowmobiles (literally) through an elk herd en route to the WalMart at ANWR to buy a new CAR-15, and be able to praise (only) Jesus wherever we want.
Better than Mao, brace yo'self fer tha new Cultural Revolution!
I'm fucked. You're fucked. Your Mom is fucked. Your Dad is fucked. Your dog is fucked. Alas, we're all fucked.
Is that simple enough for the Redcoats out there? All youse Bush-lovin', Dodge Ram drivin', Coors Light swillin', NASCAR watchin', overweight hag bangin', dawg-kickin', Raymond laughin', carb-countin' lunkheads responsible for the further polarization of America?
By electing the most reprehensible lot of miscreants since Mr. Schickelgruber (sp) danced past a deathbed Kaiser, we have nothing but unrivaled misery to look forward to. I'm not kidding, either. Some of the darkest days of American history await us. Escalation of war on at least one new foreign front, a limited military draft, further scaling back of civil liberties and abortion rights, unrivaled economic deficits, Chief Justice Antonin Scalia, aggressive media censorship within the few but dominant retail and rental stores, the dissolution of New Deal-era Social Security, and a Depression-steady national job loss. But at least we'll be "safe" from (foreign) terrorists, have a few extra (if you're wealthy) tax-cut bones in our pockets, drive our 6 cylinder snowmobiles (literally) through an elk herd en route to the WalMart at ANWR to buy a new CAR-15, and be able to praise (only) Jesus wherever we want.
Better than Mao, brace yo'self fer tha new Cultural Revolution!
by at 5:45 PM
All right, you bastards, get out and vote!
by at 3:45 PM