mmm - input
i've actually finished a couple of books this past month -
londonstani by gautam malkani (rudeboys in suburban london, getting into all sorts of trouble, confronting both culture and the question of manhood; the indian diaspora's version of trainspotting, with the entire book written in "proper" rudeboy patois. the whole punjabified english thing works quite well in this book as a unifying element; the book is both amusing and scary, and makes for a rather entertaining read. the biggest downside was its lack of a proper ending - it was a bit "ali g" ... i'll say no more.)
adverbs by daniel handler (this is the book that i want to write someday, but d.h. beat me to it. it is a bunch of short stories and it is a novel. which is a little bit like love. it is about love, or rather how love is done. the adverbs instead of the verbs or nouns or adjectives. and i'm totally lifting his style here, while doing a piss poor job of it. have you ever listened to 69 love songs by the magnetic fields? well, this is 69 love songs reimagined as a book. make no mistake - it will happen choppily, unevenly, frustratingly. but also beautifully and magnificently and adorably and lovely-ly. which is what love is and which is why i fell in love with this book and its writer, who sometimes calls himself lemony snicket. go forth and love this book.)
also digging juana molina's new album "son" (argentinian weirdo-folkpop goodness), battlestar galactica 2.0 (sci fi meets political thriller meets human drama), dollar vinyl at garage sales, douglas coupland's microserfs (horribly dated, but i love coupland), and, of course, lots of pregnancy books.
Jul 29, 2006
Jul 23, 2006
thizzle
Y'all really need to get some of this hyphy shit. Bay area hiphop, that is retarded good. Fat synthy hooks, heavy basslines, stunna beats - this stuff is the real deal! West coast crunk, yadadamean? Ok - so I am way too college radio to actually spout the slang with any kind of authenticity, but I'm loving the stuff. Nice to see the bay getting some recognition, too.
Couple of quick hyphy links to get you guys into the mood:
Yayarea reprezizzle!
Couple of quick hyphy links to get you guys into the mood:
Yayarea reprezizzle!
Jul 22, 2006
mercury
... rising. blast this heat. it feels familiar, comforting and oppresive. yum, yum, bum, bum. incomprehensible is my middle earth. shut up.
Jul 20, 2006
gratitude
Having Elizabeth away, and then back home has taught me gratitude. In the past year or so I have strayed away from some of what got me here in the first place. Stuff like "Be nice to people", "Be incredibly fucking grateful", "Create small positive eddies of good in the world". I wasn't actively hurting other people, but I wasn't actively helping anyone either. I had forgotten how good it makes me feel to help people out. Given all the madness, it is really all we have left.
Kristin played live on my radio show. This is the first live performance that I've hosted on KALX, and it was supafun. And it felt great to be supporting independent music in a very active way. Hopefully Kristin gets a bit of exposure, and hopefully people will come out to see her play at the Mama Buzz tonight.
Speaking of which, if you are reading this, come out and see Kristin Allen Zito, tonight at the Mama Buzz Cafe in Oakland. Email me (shreyas AT slackers.net) for deets.
Kristin played live on my radio show. This is the first live performance that I've hosted on KALX, and it was supafun. And it felt great to be supporting independent music in a very active way. Hopefully Kristin gets a bit of exposure, and hopefully people will come out to see her play at the Mama Buzz tonight.
Speaking of which, if you are reading this, come out and see Kristin Allen Zito, tonight at the Mama Buzz Cafe in Oakland. Email me (shreyas AT slackers.net) for deets.
Jul 13, 2006
Dadzorz
Ohmigod. I'm going to be a Daddeee! The timeline so far:
- E takes pregnancy test.
- S is incredibly composed; takes E out to lunch and provides the initial "of course everything will be fantastic".
- This is promptly followed by two weeks of complete and total freaking out.
- Denial Week.
- E starts feeling the morning sickness. Reality begins to take hold. This is fo' rillz.
- The news starts leaking as friends start to question "unusual" behavior.
- Doctor's visit. There really is a little embryo in there, complete with pulsing heart.
- Pregnancy books arrive in the mail.
- E and S go to Washington; we start telling peeps. Everyone is super excited. Everyone is convinced that we would make swell parents. We are both starting to feel really excited.
- S is back in the bay. E is still up in Washington and will be back next week. S starts to feel the pangs of loneliness (Hey, I'm not used to this week by myself thing). I miss Elizabeth, and want you to come home soon!
- February 3rd is when they tell us it will become a people.
- E takes pregnancy test.
- S is incredibly composed; takes E out to lunch and provides the initial "of course everything will be fantastic".
- This is promptly followed by two weeks of complete and total freaking out.
- Denial Week.
- E starts feeling the morning sickness. Reality begins to take hold. This is fo' rillz.
- The news starts leaking as friends start to question "unusual" behavior.
- Doctor's visit. There really is a little embryo in there, complete with pulsing heart.
- Pregnancy books arrive in the mail.
- E and S go to Washington; we start telling peeps. Everyone is super excited. Everyone is convinced that we would make swell parents. We are both starting to feel really excited.
- S is back in the bay. E is still up in Washington and will be back next week. S starts to feel the pangs of loneliness (Hey, I'm not used to this week by myself thing). I miss Elizabeth, and want you to come home soon!
- February 3rd is when they tell us it will become a people.
Jul 12, 2006
Sigh
Mumbai seems to be holding on after the horrible attacks yesterday. People want peace and normalcy more than anything else, and have been very nice about helping each other out. At least this is what I gather from talking to my Granddad.
Of course, this sort of thing makes me wonder about the rationality of bringing a child into this world*. But then I realize that the only way to ensure lasting good is through good old fashioned breeding. The notion of breeding has been virtualized to some extent (memes and viral ideas), but there is nothing wrong with allowing complex systems to evolve in the old fashioned, physical way. Sprinkle in a few simple memes (People reluctant to kill for an abstraction). Push start. Hopefully there will be enough like-minded breeders (and I use the term breeder in an all-inclusive, non-discriminatory, queer-friendly way) out there to help foster in the revolution. My child as a social experiment. Hah!
*Yes, the rumors are true. There will be a little D running around early next year. And I will have plenty more to say about this in the near future. More on this soon ...
Of course, this sort of thing makes me wonder about the rationality of bringing a child into this world*. But then I realize that the only way to ensure lasting good is through good old fashioned breeding. The notion of breeding has been virtualized to some extent (memes and viral ideas), but there is nothing wrong with allowing complex systems to evolve in the old fashioned, physical way. Sprinkle in a few simple memes (People reluctant to kill for an abstraction). Push start. Hopefully there will be enough like-minded breeders (and I use the term breeder in an all-inclusive, non-discriminatory, queer-friendly way) out there to help foster in the revolution. My child as a social experiment. Hah!
*Yes, the rumors are true. There will be a little D running around early next year. And I will have plenty more to say about this in the near future. More on this soon ...
Jun 13, 2006
Footblog
It takes me back, every single time. May 23, 1990. Thirteen years old. We are spending the weekend at a beach house outside of Bombay. I get up at 2 a.m. to watch the finals of the European Cup-Winners Cup (yes - that is really what it was called). AC Milan vs. Benfica. We didn't have cable at home, but these fancy corporate guest houses - they've got da hookup. That is when I fell in love with football and with the Orange. AC Milan with their brilliant dutch triumvirate of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. Funny thing is that the clubs in the match weren't even Dutch. They were from Italy and Portugal respectively, but in a way, it was portentious of the state of things to come - the internationalization of club football. In any case, the rebirth of the Clockwork Orange was in full effect, and I was there to witness it. In the end, the match was probably disappointing (Milan won 1-0, on a penalty by Rijkaard), but the allure of star power, of possibility, had me hooked. Love is inexplicable like that.
Even now, as I get up at 6 a.m. to catch the World Cup fixtures between, say England and Paraguay, I am still really in the same place as I was back in 1990 on Madh Island. It is all child-like adulation and wonder. I am thirteen going on thirty.
Can you tell I've been reading the book?
Even now, as I get up at 6 a.m. to catch the World Cup fixtures between, say England and Paraguay, I am still really in the same place as I was back in 1990 on Madh Island. It is all child-like adulation and wonder. I am thirteen going on thirty.
Can you tell I've been reading the book?
Dec 22, 2005
Love and Rockets
Don't worry - we'll have a final edition of our music list at the end of the month. For now, I'm enjoying the process.
It has been a somewhat challenging time for me personally. Massive upheaval at work. Stupid apartment related crap that won't go away (Hello, $200 gas bills). Watching my friends wither and crumble under failed relationship stress. The sad part, in all of this, is that I'm letting it affect my relationship with Lil, which is, ostensibly, the one thing that has been working for me. So I'm taking stock here. By putting this out there, I'm attempting a reconciliation with the real issues, so that I don't create more problems for myself. And I'm going to look for a counsellor, so that I can actually have a trained professional help me cope with my stress.
I've also been reading a couple of somewhat depressing books, which I would give up, were it not for the fact that one of them is genius and the other one is crack in paper form.
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth is an absolutely stunning graphic novel, chronicling a dysfunctional middle aged man, finding his place in the world. It will someday be recognized as a literary masterpiece for the ages. The illustrations are both simultaneously dense and minimal. One gets the sense that each panel comes with layers and layers of metaphor and meaning. I've honestly been content to stare at a single frame for close to an hour. Not to mention, the truly excellent writing. Like the illustrations, sentences are crafted carefully and meticulously. This is a labor of love, imagination and detail. Full of pain and pathos, it shines through as the "the first formal masterpiece of the medium" (New Yorker - 10.17.2005).
And then there is Platform by Michel Houellebecq. Dirty, sexy, vulgar ... pornographic even, while flirting with moments of wit and depth. And thoroughly dark and chilling at the same time. I want to hate it and yet I cannot stop reading it. The protagonist is almost completely nihilistic, and could be vaguely interesting, but isn't, mostly because his main interests seem to revolve around Thai prostitutes. The first half of novel plays out like a creepy forty year male's sex fantasy. And yet, I am compelled to read on, because there is an intelligence behind the writing that I cannot ignore. And I've been promised that it takes a really crazy and dramatic turn towards the end, that has the potential of addressing meaning of life (or lack thereof) level questions. Kinda like Ghost Dog, and how he turned out to be gay in the end. Ghost Dog? Gay? WTF????!!! Poor Veej.
Hey, this was fun. Maybe I'll continue a doing a book review column, a la Nick Hornby's Polyphonic Spree. Except it will be about books that I haven't finished reading yet, so that you don't have to worry about spoilers. And I don't have to worry about actually finishing the book.
It has been a somewhat challenging time for me personally. Massive upheaval at work. Stupid apartment related crap that won't go away (Hello, $200 gas bills). Watching my friends wither and crumble under failed relationship stress. The sad part, in all of this, is that I'm letting it affect my relationship with Lil, which is, ostensibly, the one thing that has been working for me. So I'm taking stock here. By putting this out there, I'm attempting a reconciliation with the real issues, so that I don't create more problems for myself. And I'm going to look for a counsellor, so that I can actually have a trained professional help me cope with my stress.
I've also been reading a couple of somewhat depressing books, which I would give up, were it not for the fact that one of them is genius and the other one is crack in paper form.
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth is an absolutely stunning graphic novel, chronicling a dysfunctional middle aged man, finding his place in the world. It will someday be recognized as a literary masterpiece for the ages. The illustrations are both simultaneously dense and minimal. One gets the sense that each panel comes with layers and layers of metaphor and meaning. I've honestly been content to stare at a single frame for close to an hour. Not to mention, the truly excellent writing. Like the illustrations, sentences are crafted carefully and meticulously. This is a labor of love, imagination and detail. Full of pain and pathos, it shines through as the "the first formal masterpiece of the medium" (New Yorker - 10.17.2005).
And then there is Platform by Michel Houellebecq. Dirty, sexy, vulgar ... pornographic even, while flirting with moments of wit and depth. And thoroughly dark and chilling at the same time. I want to hate it and yet I cannot stop reading it. The protagonist is almost completely nihilistic, and could be vaguely interesting, but isn't, mostly because his main interests seem to revolve around Thai prostitutes. The first half of novel plays out like a creepy forty year male's sex fantasy. And yet, I am compelled to read on, because there is an intelligence behind the writing that I cannot ignore. And I've been promised that it takes a really crazy and dramatic turn towards the end, that has the potential of addressing meaning of life (or lack thereof) level questions. Kinda like Ghost Dog, and how he turned out to be gay in the end. Ghost Dog? Gay? WTF????!!! Poor Veej.
Hey, this was fun. Maybe I'll continue a doing a book review column, a la Nick Hornby's Polyphonic Spree. Except it will be about books that I haven't finished reading yet, so that you don't have to worry about spoilers. And I don't have to worry about actually finishing the book.
Dec 16, 2004
Feb 10, 2004
backup blogging
so i guess this is now my backup blog. i can't post to the regular coredumpin' site so i'm going to have to scratch my blogging itch here.
listening to the new pornographers - "the end of medicine" sounds dangerously like the shins.
ok, so, more importantly, for the first time in a while, i feel a sense of hope, for the political future of this country. there seems to be enough simmering discontentment among the general populace, and even a lot of republican types seem to be getting increasingly irritated with dubya's brainfucked economic policies. not to mention the iraq fiasco, and the barrage of doublespeak being spewed by the administration. i think the dems actually have a shot, despite the lack of a truly compelling candidate. for a while, i was convinced that we were under the connivances of a vast right wing conspiracy. now i'm back to thinking that the bush administration simply consists of a bunch of smarmy morons, who really don't have a clue as to what they are doing, while masking it under a veneer of bravado. i still think bush has the upper hand in the next general election, but the democratic contender (prolly john kerry) has a very legitimate shot if he actually decides to harp on some of the real "issues". seriously, if nothing much changes in the next few months, bush could get hammered pretty hard. well, at least i can hope.
and, i think, howard dean, despite his rather ignominious fall from grace, was the best thing that could have happened to the democratic party. he was the only candidate with the balls to criticize iraq, and he has effectively shifted the national debate to the point where the president is finally being held accountable for his actions. so even if (or rather when) dean withdraws from the race, he has done his part to keep the other dems honest, and has single-handedly revitalized the "democratic" wing of the democratic party. word!
listening to the new pornographers - "the end of medicine" sounds dangerously like the shins.
ok, so, more importantly, for the first time in a while, i feel a sense of hope, for the political future of this country. there seems to be enough simmering discontentment among the general populace, and even a lot of republican types seem to be getting increasingly irritated with dubya's brainfucked economic policies. not to mention the iraq fiasco, and the barrage of doublespeak being spewed by the administration. i think the dems actually have a shot, despite the lack of a truly compelling candidate. for a while, i was convinced that we were under the connivances of a vast right wing conspiracy. now i'm back to thinking that the bush administration simply consists of a bunch of smarmy morons, who really don't have a clue as to what they are doing, while masking it under a veneer of bravado. i still think bush has the upper hand in the next general election, but the democratic contender (prolly john kerry) has a very legitimate shot if he actually decides to harp on some of the real "issues". seriously, if nothing much changes in the next few months, bush could get hammered pretty hard. well, at least i can hope.
and, i think, howard dean, despite his rather ignominious fall from grace, was the best thing that could have happened to the democratic party. he was the only candidate with the balls to criticize iraq, and he has effectively shifted the national debate to the point where the president is finally being held accountable for his actions. so even if (or rather when) dean withdraws from the race, he has done his part to keep the other dems honest, and has single-handedly revitalized the "democratic" wing of the democratic party. word!
Nov 20, 2003
power lunch
lunch today: honey roasted peanuts, nacho cheesier doritos and famous amos chocolate chip cookies
Nov 16, 2003
like i said ... there is nothing else interesting. really!
"+"
- kissing the lipless
- the postal service
- scarves
- knee jerk irony/post irony
- hands ... no hands
"-"
- "un"ironic trucker hats
- blowing sunshine up your own ass
- the odeon
- knee jerk irony
- blogging
- kissing the lipless
- the postal service
- scarves
- knee jerk irony/post irony
- hands ... no hands
"-"
- "un"ironic trucker hats
- blowing sunshine up your own ass
- the odeon
- knee jerk irony
- blogging
Oct 29, 2003
until next week
it's official - there is nothing interesting on the internet anymore. the world wide web is dead dead dead.
Oct 17, 2003
the curse lives on
i don't live in chicago. i don't live in boston. i occasionally follow baseball, but i'm only a casual fan really. and yet, i find myself inexplicably heartbroken after both the cubbies and the bo-sox lost in such dramatic fashion. i can only imagine the sense of despondence and collective depression that people in chi/bean- town must feel right now. and yet, as i watched both teams fall prey to their respective curses, i felt a part of that helplessness. i understood what true frustration felt like. arrrrrgggggh!
Oct 13, 2003
input
i've started reading again which means i'm performing my usual juggling act; vaccilating from one book to another to another. so, in keeping with the fine traditions of blogging, i will now put out my current booklist.
. cryptonomicon - neal stephenson
. the life of pi - yann martel
. generation x - douglas coupland
. believer magazine - various
at first glance, this might appear to be a trying-too-hard attempt to acquire sort of geek chic cred. but i'm genuinely enjoying my reading, so ... umm ... yeah. [unable to come up with witty conclusion, that serves to both underscore my point, and simultaneously act as a clever insight into modern life]
. cryptonomicon - neal stephenson
. the life of pi - yann martel
. generation x - douglas coupland
. believer magazine - various
at first glance, this might appear to be a trying-too-hard attempt to acquire sort of geek chic cred. but i'm genuinely enjoying my reading, so ... umm ... yeah. [unable to come up with witty conclusion, that serves to both underscore my point, and simultaneously act as a clever insight into modern life]
Oct 12, 2003
stop making sense
and you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack / and you may find yourself in another part of the world / and you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile / and you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife / and you may ask yourself - well ... how did I get here?
Sep 9, 2003
burnin' down the house
Sep 4, 2003
gurgle and coo
"where da shrey doggie been?", you may ask ...
i've been busy falling in love. i'm never sure of the right time to bust out the l-word, but it feels like something that will eventually lead to it's usage. so here's to pre-love. e ... i think i pre-love you.
i've been busy falling in love. i'm never sure of the right time to bust out the l-word, but it feels like something that will eventually lead to it's usage. so here's to pre-love. e ... i think i pre-love you.
Aug 11, 2003
the new florida
i'd be remiss in my civic duties if i didn't pass this brilliant little cartoon along. it's funny cos' it's true.
Aug 8, 2003
celebrity deathmatch
homer simpson vs. peter griffin.
the family guy is easily the best show on network television today. all the things you can't do on the simpsons - they're on the family guy. psychopathic megalomaniacal babies. alcoholic dogs. gratuitous pop culture references. abundant swear words. feminism disguied as misogyny. blasphemy. cartoon sex.
peter griffin wins by a belch.
the family guy is easily the best show on network television today. all the things you can't do on the simpsons - they're on the family guy. psychopathic megalomaniacal babies. alcoholic dogs. gratuitous pop culture references. abundant swear words. feminism disguied as misogyny. blasphemy. cartoon sex.
peter griffin wins by a belch.
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