Botulinum Toxin #1 (Merry F'n Xmas #6)

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances, and it is the most toxic protein. Though it is highly toxic, it is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment in some parts of the world. It is sold commercially under the brand names Botox, Dysport, and Myobloc for this purpose. The terms Botox, Dysport, and Myobloc are trade names and are not used generically to describe the neurotoxins produced by C. botulinum. (-Wikipedia)

Even though I shipped the big broadcast project last week (the previous post has been edited since I posted it on the internet prematurely... sorry!) I am still saddled with the frights and horrors of This interactive CD-ROM, the other god-awful P.O.S. we've been dealing with for almost 12 months. Again, I can't stress enough how long 12 months is to be working on a single project for me... at least the Channel ID was with world famous Graphic Designers and will air across 22 countries of the Middle East. THIS? I wouldn't show this finished piece to my worst enemy, even if they were looking into getting some Chemical cosmetic work done!!! I mean, really... is this the sort of procedure that is BENEFITED by an interactive CD-ROM experience? I mean, does allowing the "user" to control a needle and inject an eyeball really illuminating in the medical sense? The amount of money these morons dump into this crap is staggering, and yet, with a 3 month budget that is now in month 12, all that cash is long dried up. Now I am just finishing it so I can have such an awesome piece in my portfolio. Because, you know, I haven't really been working on anything too good these past few years, I thought it was time to get some Botulism Toxin on the reel.

Sorry about the rant. things have been particularly bad and difficult over here with this crap, and I just wanted to rant and share my pain. Plus I thought it would give a good laugh or two! I kept muscling through hoping that I could finish it this calendar-year, but it seems the fates have aligned against me yet again. Oh well, you never know.... Christmas wishes DO come true sometimes I guess (although if I had only a single Christmas wish, I guess I'd use it for my lawsuit, not waste it on botulism!)

Anyway, a presription for this misery (take these 7 songs and call me in the morning):

Download: Radiohead: Fake Plastic Trees (Live, Acoustic 2003)

Download: Foo Fighters: Stacked Actors

Download: Amen: California's Bleeding

Download: Bon Jovi: Bad Medecine

Download: Faith No More: Midlife Crisis

Download: Hole: Miss World

Download: Radiohead: Fitter, Happier

I'll post more as the turd continues to burn...

Cooper (re)Union

This Saturday was my 10 year college reunion of the little school in the Village nobody's heard of. All in all it was a good time. Turnout was just about as low as I expected it to be (after all, Cooper Students are not really known for their common courtesies, much less actual friendship or bonding.) It was a solitary school experience, so having maybe 5 of the art students show up is I guess par for the course.

Any chance to see Theo is always fun (although I see him all the time... no need for a reunion) and of course I was excited to see Heather and Catherine and Eric and Shaun, as well as some engineer friends (Felicia, Sanjeevanee) and was disappointed that Grace (whom I spoke to last year) and Rob and Mark were MIA. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

First there was a non-tour of the new academic building being erected in the footprint of the old Hewitt Building. I say non-tour because it was ludicrously uneventful. We walked inside the construction about 10 feet... stood there while the guy told us nothing, then asked if we had any QUESTIONS about the nothing he just told us, then we walked outside to the street and around the building... I could have just done that on my own (as a matter of fact, I DID do that entirely on my own a few months ago!!!)

Then we stood around (outside in the frigid element, no less) for about 2.5 hours while we waited for the actual reunion to sart, down the street at a little bar called Sophe's. Most people who WERE there just grumbled and left.

Once we hit Sophe's the atmospphere picked up alot. More people showed up for the evening event, and once the beer was flowing it all loosened up alot. Most people didn't recognize me at first (a fact I braced myself for a few moths ago) but Catherine didn't reconize me at ALL, actually ignoring me a bit while I tried to say "hi" to her 3 times, then doing a double take, freaked out and laughed and jumped on me with a giant hug (nearly knocked me over) when she realized who I was!!!

Heather walking in, and across the room, didn't recognize me, but saw me standing at the bar rapidly shaking my leg in the nervous way I always have, and she came over cautiously until she saw it was in fact me, then just lit up like a Christmas Tree with smiles and hugs.

We all mingled for a while, then as the evening wore on we broke out for dinner with Theo, Heather and Patrick, and Alicia. It was nice to actually sit and talk and catch up (although I feel like I drank too much to actually talk clearly)...

After dinner, it was back to Upstate NY for Heather and Patrick, back to Park Slope for Theo, and back home for Alicia and I. I regret not keeping more in touch over the past 10 years, but it sure was nice to actually see these folks and I am glad to hear how well most of them are doing in their respective careers and lives.

And to all of those who DIDN'T show? That's ok... we just talked shit about you anyway...

Well, see you in 10 more years I guess!

Download: Beach Boys: Be True To Your School

Download: Foo Fighters: (How good it is to) See You

Download: The Hold Steady: Certain Songs

Download: John Mellencamp: Jack and Diane

Download: Hole: Rock Star

Download: Mike Ness: Don't Think Twice (Dylan)

enjoy.

Some Folks Inherit Star Spangled Eyes

This blog has been posting a lot of youtube political clips lately, so I thought it was time to steer it back (momentarily) to it's more musical pursuits. I swear, I don't think I am going to MAKE IT 12 more days... my tension/anxiety level is through the roof...

Shuffling the iPod during my nighttime walk saved the day again, when REM's cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" came up. I then remembered some great OTHER covers and collaborations I had of CCR and John Fogerty, so I thought that this election season would be a timely time to post them!

Culled here are 6 x tracks, R.E.M. (1985), Pearl Jam (Rock for Choice 2004), Foo Fighters (Hurricane Katrina Benefit), and Bruce Springsteen with John Fogerty (Rock for Choice 2004).

Download: R.E.M: Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (CCR)

Download: Pearl Jam: Fortunate Son (CCR)

Download: Foo Fighters: Born On The Bayou (CCR)

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (1993): Who'll Stop The Rain?

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (2004): Proud Mary

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (2004): Bad Moon Rising

And, as an added bonus for all you John Fogerty/CCR lovers out there, I have a big ol' ZIP file of a bootleg of John Fogerty "Swampfox." Unfortunately I don't have a lot of notation on it (Where? When? Setlist?) But the sound quality is A+ and the setlist is fantastic.

Here's the Zip!

Download: John Fogerty: Live "Swampfox" (zipped)

Download and enjoy!

P.S. I have a metric TON of the concerts, collabortations and rarities from the 2004 Rock For Change Tour (Bruce, PJ, REM, John Fogerty, Bonnie Raitt, the list goes on and on) so if this post proves to be a hit, let me know, and I'll dig out some other stuff and post it! Feedback is the only way I can tell who's liking what, and what more I should post!