Happy New Years!!

Been a great 2010 here in NYC. Reiko aren't ready for kids, so we did the next best thing and adopted a dog from the local shelter. He's a godsend, and his presence has definitely changed our lives since we both work full time and have to be around to take care of him.

Also was able to see the release of my first video game this year - in Japanese, no less! That's a huge accomplishment for me and very proud of that. Check it out here!

And finally, I started a new job this past spring and am very thankful for all the new friends & co-workers I've met in the process.

All and all, I'd say this year was a hit! Looking forward to hitting the ground running (literally, I'm going running tomorrow!) in 2011.

Cheers and happy new years everyone!

Beefie Social Club

Hi there!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to talk about Beefie Social Club, founded this past weekend at our apartment in Brooklyn. All hail President Kramer and Vice President Reiko, who co-founded the organization after a canine flatulence incident Saturday morning.

We are currently seeking new recruits who would like to join the BSC. If you would like to become a member (and really, who wouldn't?) let us know! Membership is free at this time and we encourage all interested parties to join our club. It's a social club!

As part of our pledge to keep the public informed, below is a link for the audio to our most recent trip to the salon, aka our bathroom. Mr. President got a stylish do and a happy smells bath time!

Here's the audio!

Hats off to all yas,

A

Things I saw Recently around Union Square

Everyday I pass through Union Sq. Rush hour is really fookin' busy. I've got a lot of alternative ways I could go to get to / from work, but as far as I can tell this is still the fastest way to get to work.

Highlights:

- A guy carrying a garbage-bag size clear sack of glazed donuts. Must've been at least 100!
- Two biotches screaming at each other and pulling each other's hair - ha!
- A picture of a sundae on the wall at Dogmatic - only they don't sell sundaes...
- A guy without a nose asking for money. Most people just hand it over because they're freaked out.

Sadly, due to inclement weather, ladies in tight skirts are now on hold until 2011. Wait until then, perverts!

Who's That?

At the Deerhoof show the other night. We met Satomi! Took a few tries to get this - the first guy failed 3 or 4 times to the point where we thought shit! it's over. But! Thanks for patience and a competent second photographer, we got it!

How about their new tune I recorded? Poppy!

All this, at Le Passion rouge

Something I Saw Today

A little bird lying on its side over a sewer grate, breathing its last breaths of air. Gasping for air but losing the fight. Maybe I'll remember to see if he's still there on my way out.

Well, I didn't know what to do, so I just kept on, heading into the office on my day off so I could get a day off when I really wanted to.

Death is weird.

New Umbrella

Over the weekend, Octoberday happened. That's the first day of October. And amazingly, the weather decided to match. Saturday and Sunday were cooler, and by Sunday night it was cold and rainy. Monday was basically rat day, because everyone looks like rodents scurrying about between buildings, hugging the walls as they go. I'm no exception as I haven't had an umbrella in quite some time.

Knowing that I had to pay rent on the way home from work, I saw a street umbrella vendor and decided to pick up one of the larger types. Fuck those small types, they just don't last in the city. I wanted the kind with the curvy wooden handle. And for $10, there were no surprises that this was China's finest (POS). But anyway, it was raining, so up it went. And went and went until wheeeeeeeeeeee it was completely inside out. First opening and failure! I couldn't stop laughing. Fortunately, the issue was that some of the tips had come undone. That I could correct. The bad news is they still can easily come undone, and when that happens, inversion is inevitable. Which is kinda just like watching someone slip and fall - always good for a few laughs, but when it happens to you its just shitty.

Good News, Everybody

Back in early August, I got pulled over for riding my bike on the sidewalk. It's not like it was a habit I had; it was more out of defense. Flushing Ave at rush hour, with its heavy industrial mix of trucks into densely car populated ghetto Bushwick, is not the best time or place to ride a bike, I guess. Anyway! Got pulled over by a full-size fucking police van... full of rookies! Nothing like getting pulled over by kids with braces and uniforms on. Seriously, one was talking about his orthodontist appointment the next day. Give me a break! as my dad might say.

The shittiest part (kid cops aside) was that the ticket was not a payable ticket. Nope. MANDATORY COURT. For riding my bike. I was told to wait a week or two to hear when things would go down. And from there, I'd have to show up to the court in the city before the end of September.

Fast forward to today. Today's the 29th! Still haven't gone to court. Still haven't even gotten a letter. Should I even go to court. Nahhhhhhhhhh....... I said after some research. They didn't hold up their part. I didn't get an invitation, and I'm sure as hell not about to take precious precious time off from work for that.

Got home, and found 3 LETTERS from court. I opened them up. They all stated the same thing: Case dismissed! THEY GAVE ME A BREAK. Awesomesauce.

Cloud Camera

Sitting up high in the sky, we get a great shot of the city.
But I tend not to bring my camera to work.
I should just get a small one here to take pictures on days like today.
And then there will be more photos on here.

But instead of all that, today I offer you a haiku:

Wall of clouds, hanging
Dark wall covers up Midtown
In the misty air

A Million Thoughts

Programming the brain to release the exact amount of chemicals to keep me functioning at maximum efficiency right now. Gotta go.

The Greaser with a Mohawk

Recently there's been this greasy drunk hispanic guy with a mohawk and a really raspy, gritty voice that loiters out in front of my house. He just drinks on the street and talk incomprehensibly. Says stuff in slow motion like "Raahhhh llrreeer vegggell bbbrrrrahhh. " and "Ttrreahhh he he he he ssssrrrrrhhh".

Like someone out of level 4 of Double Dragon. I think he just sleeps on the ground.

He's probably been to jail a lot. But as long as he doesn't harm us, I'm cool with him being around. It's kinda like social comedy.

The I Told You So Card

... is a card I typically do not play. Especially with friends, because its just annoying and easy to have it come right back and smack me upside da head. It also makes me sound like an old man.

But then there are times. Like now, when all the A/C units on my roof flipped the fuck over because of a near tornado here in Brooklyn, yes, Brooklyn. Three of them on the roof itself, and one of the I-Beam (bwahhh!!) supports they sit on also flipped. Had it slipped through, it could have very easily come crashing through my bedroom ceiling. A tad scary thought to think what the results would be had this happened at 5am, not 5:30pm.

And back on the subject of the I Told You So Card, I totally told the management company that they needed to anchor this shit in place when they first installed it. Of course, they didn't listen. And because they didn't, we have an electrical mess in place, and surely this will cost more to fix up than it would have been to anchor it in the first place.

I called up up the landlord and told him so.

My Friend went Dark

Had a good friend who lives nearby who went totally dark. Like Jack Bauer undercover dark. Or the guy from Wired that went off the grid. Not sure why. One day, his phone stopped working and Verizon told me the number had been disconnected. Then he stopped checking his facebook account. Haven't heard a peep via email either.

Hope he's alright and has a really good story to tell about all this.

Good News & Bad News

First, the good news:

On Friday, we were talking about hot sauce at lunch. My coworker Joel was like, hang on, I know someone who can get us free samples, and promptly sent him a text. No joke - his friend responded within a minute and said he was headed to the supply closet. Not only that, but he delivered a box with 6 huge bottles of various flavors of Frank's hot sauce in person over the weekend.

I'm super stoked about receiving one massive bottle of the tried-and-true Frank's, and one sweet chili, which looks amazing.

Here's the full package:



Now, the bad news:

Kramer managed to mangle his front left paw (the bad one) somehow yesterday. Not sure. Probably sprained it, or at least hoping that's all it is. Taking off work today at lunch to take him to the vet to have it checked out. Goodbye, sweet precious paid time off.

Hope the dog's ok!

High Up in the Clouds, Where I Work

Yesterday was Sept 11th. Big day in the city. Actually was surprised to see the two Batman beams in the sky Friday night - they've been saying ever since I moved here they would have to go due to costs.

Anywhoop, I saw someone throw this together - a time-lapse video of the day in the life of construction at Ground Zero. Kinda cool, I like time lapse. And also, I work there now!

So I thought I'd point out where we work. Here it is!


Also, that little squabble about the mosque? Right nearby. Everyday a new camera crew and people with strong opinions. On Friday, they had this mobile Police tower set up to help monitor the expected yahoos that would come out over the weekend.

Original video link here.

Am I a Drag Queen Service Provider? Now that you mention it...

From an exchange with my Aunt via text this morning:

Me: Hello! Just wanted to get a head count for dinner tonight. Any special requests?
Aunt: Cant come thanks
Me: Cool. Have Allyson give of (sic) a call later
Aunt: Who is tbis (sic)?

She thought I was from the Drag Queen service they had called last night and ultimately turned down. Thought I was going to take them out to dinner! Then panicked a bit when I knew her name!

Because that's how I roll - as a stalker type drag queen service provider.

ATP Blast

Just got back from a wild weekend of music, fresh air, and the best view of the stars i've seen in years.

what is ATP? All the Parties, a UK based party / event organizer. This was their third NY show, held this year 9/3~9/5. Very intimate shows, very Shining-esque hotel. Our place was a step above squalor.

But lots of good stuff otherwise!

Here's some quick highlights of this year's ATP:

friday night was intense all around; mudhoney was probably the act i wanted to see the most of those three (and totally lived up to my expectations), but having not listened to sleep much i was pleasantly surprised with their set just the same.

saturday: shellac was above and beyond what i expected; their drummer is amazing live and if it weren't for this website project i'd be at the bell house right now watching them! sonic youth was also really good but i started getting really exhausted during their set and sat down for part of it, closed my eyes, and went to sonic heaven. also talked to Wata of Boris for a brief minute, though it could better be described as a brown moment as I knew she was in a hurry and I was taking her time. bah!

sunday: raekwon made me feel really good inside. never been a big wu tang follower but damn, it sounded really good live. also, boris + sunn was the perfect transformation music for the end of m' twenties into m' thirties. that was the darkest religious ritual i've ever been a part of. think about every dark ritual you've ever seen and you're still nowhere close. yes, it was that dark. it was... DOOM

Prickly Pears No No No

I like fruits. I also like exotic fruits. They're pretty different, really. A coworker just offered me a wedge of prickly pear, and you know what? It was a mushy seed mess, with seeds of steel. I spat most of it back out.

I don't think I'll be eating anymore prickly pears anytime soon.

Instant Karma

Do you know what's awesome? That sweet drum fill that appears in the pre-chorus on Instant Karma. The whole song has this swing-shuffle beat and then the straight fill comes in and sounds so out of place, but yet it still works. I like that. Organized chaos.

Explained as thus:

A distinctive feature of the composition: drum fills and turnarounds were played in a different time signature than the rest of the song.

Did you know that this song was written, recorded and finished all in one day, and pressed up and released 10 days later? Now that's some lightning production. And that George Harrison and Yoko Ono were on it as well?

All about Instant Karma

World Trade Center 7

From today on, I work in World Trade Center 7, 32F. It's chaotic, like the first day of school but everyone's at a new school and no one knows where anything is. Which is awesome. And everything's new except our computers. New desk. New seating arrangements. Garbage cans are at the end of the rows.

And another fun fact: apparently, this is (one of) the building(s) used for Massive Dynamic from Fringe. They did that scene with the guy getting cut up by butterflies and falling out the window here.

iphone shot from our tour a few weeks ago. but today: sunnier! happy times.

A Hostel Situation

My cousin Nick drove out here last night from Youngstown. Couldn't find a hostel anywhere - just super gay ones that wanted way too much for the evenin'. So they decided to stay on my roof instead. It was a clear night! Only, Reiko's mom wouldn't let them, so we ended up taking over the front room whilst the ladies slept in the bedroom. Too chilly up there! (debatable of course). Funny how mom's get there final word in.