Why am i even here?

So, it's my weekend to work at the hospital. My schedule is 10 am to 6 pm. Not horrible, certainly not as good as, say, just waking up or even just being at home playing video games or watching The adventures of Baron Munchausin (just re-released). Thats all beside the point. I'm here and have to deal with it. So while I'm here I will reveal some interesting things about working in a hospital.

1. First and foremost, working in a hospital in not like being on the show E.R. No one here looks like George clooney, or John Stamos. Most people here look like Anthony Edwards, which in my book is a-ok. Why, you might ask? Well it's my hope that eventually more of the staff will start to look, and act like Dudley 'Booger' Dawson. And eventually the hospital will consist of nothing but charicatures of the entire cast of Revenge of the Nerds (except forWormser,that kid sucked). Oh in a perfect world.....

2. On the whole point of no one looking like Clooney or Stamos. The main reason for that is because you never see anyones face. Most everyone who works anywhere near an OR or an ER is required to wear a surgical mask most of the time, so all you ever see is peoples eyes, and part of their nose.When you do see a face, you propably don't even know who it is. And the scrubs, not so sexy. If you think amorphous clothing is sexy, chances are there is a website catering to your particular kink somewhere on the internets. Right next to the shit porn and the furries.

3. Working on a weekend as a transporter is possibly the most pointless thing they could ever have a person do. The grand total of cases for today is four. Four friggin cases to last me eight hours. Are you fucking kidding me? And the whole extra dollar an hour incentive to work on the weekends equals about ten dollars extra on my paycheck. Hold on Ma, I can afford that operation for ya now! Not that I mind getting paid to do absolutely nothing for a day. I've always been the kind of person that when I enjoy a job, I WANT to work. I know, crazy aint it?

4. I (unfortunately) have yet to see some really gnarly operations. I've caught glimpses of them while bringing carts down to the OR and OC. A darkend room with a video screen and some unkown part of the body being worked on is always kinda cool. Nine times out of ten though I just see someone mopping up some blood, or I notice what the particular pieces were for a surgery. Let me tell you, seeing a Bariatric vaginal kit makes me throw up a little in my mouth. What are bariatrics you might ask? It's a nice way of saying "for fat people" i.e.- Heart pan becomes "Heart pan for fat people" when you add bariatric to it. Fun stuff huh?

next time: Wherein Eric reveals his review of "There will be blood" and masturbates into a corpse....

Dark Matter WTF?

Really, Dark matter? I love the Guardian UK.

read the article HERE

The Best Show on WFMU

For a couple of years now I've been listening to The Best Show on WFMU. Why? Because it's hilarious. The 3 hour show, airing every Tuesday evening @ 8, centers around call-in segments and boasts some fantastic guests (such as Patton Oswalt and Ted Leo). Tom Scharpling, television writer/producer, is the host and John Wurster, drummer for Superchunk and The Mountain Goats, provides the various call-in gags.

Their best on-air material is released under their own comedy label:
http://stereolaffs.com/

Their blog continues bringing the laffs (check out the "Doug Cliford Mysteries" entry—and the 007 DVD reviews)
http://www.scharplingandwurster.com/index.php?cat=6

Oh. and for those of you within the south central/eastern PA area...look in the mirror
http://stereolaffs.com/audio/slap/pbrsample.mp3

...It should also be noted that WFMU has a handful of other great shows, like Nickel and Dime Radio, The Cherry Blossom Clinic, and plenty of others

Peyr

It's great to stumble upon something that feels so much like a hidden treasure. There are those day's when your ennui hits you really hard and you're convinced that despite all the digging you've done over the years the stockpile of these hidden treasures is ever dwindling. So when you are lucky enough to find one it's worth checking out.

Peyr(or Theyr) an Icelandic group circa 1982, until last week I had never heard of them, and for good reason. The records they put out in the eighties are now incredibly hard to come by, well that and the masters were destroyed so there never has been and probably never will be any reissues.

I'm not going to get into their history or story, I'll leave that up to the great and wise Wikipedia. But they were into Thelema (Alister Crowley's belief system), and who knows what else, (I'm seeing images of bizarre sex rites performed in near zero degree weather with health doses of elks blood rubbed all over themselves, gross).

Sufficed to say they have a really strange sort of sound. To my ears it's like a combination of Rites of spring, U2 (Boy years), and some Joy Division. Interesting stuff. There is a link at the bottom of the wikipedia page for a few videos on you tube.


click here PEYR

Legowelt

OK...first post...reeeally nervous...sweating on my keyboard. Here goes...

You Should Be Listening To:
Legowelt

This guy right here happens to be one that I discovered while crate digging with Mr. Clipr himself. It was barely a year ago, but in that short while I’ve delved into the catalog of the prolific Danny Wolfers, who records under the nom-de-plume Legowelt. I’ll save the background information and anecdotes for the Wikipedia page (short story: he’s fron Den Haag, Netherlands and he released his first album in 1998). My first exposure was to the popular Classics 1998-2003: A Selection Of Tracks From The Archive Bunker double 12” LP. The Legowelt sound draws from straight-up electro, Italo disco, Miami bass, Chicago house, slam jack, and Euro-horror and classic science fiction soundtracks/scores.

With close to 20 proper releases under the Legowelt moniker (not counting remixes and compilation appearances), there are yet more, scarcer efforts recorded under peripheral guises. Night of the Illuminati, his ode to Italian horror film soundtracks, was released under the name Squadra Blanco. Mystery Organisation is a Cold War-era spy thriller homage EP listed under the “code name” Venom 18. Slave of Rome, released as Gladio, is his epic period piece set in the ancient metropolis, with filthy, throbbing analogue disco as the perfect soundtrack to oppressive hedonistic good times. It’s apparent that Danny would have been a director, or at least a movie critic, had he not crossed over into the sound-world where he now dwells— surrounded by vintage Roland and Korg synthesizers, drum machines, reel-to-reels, and other beautiful, nerdy analogue detritus.

Danny Wolfers has also developed this storytelling further through his various ambient music personae: Smackos (heavily influenced by John Carpenter), Franz Falckenhaus, Phalangius, Klaus Weltman—all released on his Strange Life label. The most recent of these is the forthcoming Twilight Moose, which he has described as “Scandinavian, Drexciyan electro…with an Alaska feeling”. Sounds ridiculous, but from the tracks I’ve heard it’s accurate.

This cinematic style has taken center stage in the Wolfers universe over the past few years. Even releases under the Legowelt alias have taken on a more brooding, ominous tone with less emphasis on melody and bounce than on texture and overall drama. When asked during a 2007 radio interview for Tweak FM in Sweden whether he has considered going back to a more disco-oriented sound he replied that there’s no “revival” planned, but that there is some “dark, tragic, evil disco” brewing in the Ewok Village (Legowelt’s home studio). ...And I'm drooling.

-------------------

Recommended:

Wirtschaftswunder : Bunker Records : 2000
An italo disco monster. This sounds like a more muscular version of New Order—one with a Mopar engine and glass packs.
Favorite Tracks: The Hague Disco Elite, Dirty Love

Klaus Kinski EP : Bunker Records : 2002
The birth of Wolfers cinematic musings. The opener ‘Fizzcaraldo’ is the perfect example of his meshing of styles (Miami bass with melodic old school electro—maybe this reviewers favorite Lego’ track ever). This 30 minute EP comfortably packs in bass-heavy dancefloor tracks alongside atonal, experimental compositions.
Favorite Tracks: Fizzcaraldo, Against the World, Arrival At the Station

Night of the Illuminati : Holosynthesis : 2002 [released as Squadra Blanco]
Remember the first time you saw Suspiria or Black Sunday? This album evokes those same feelings. Set in a remote Alpine resort, the story unfolds of a young girl drawn into a secret society with unholy traditions and appetites. Creepy. Brilliant.
Favorite Tracks: The Dream That Doesn’t Stop, Theme From The Forgotten Cable Car

Tracks From The Tube : Stilleben Records : 2002
Anyone who has tried to spin Legowelt into your average North American techno or House set knows that it is no venture to go into lightly. This shit is filthy, heavy and does not play well with other tracks.
Favorite Tracks: Gotoburg Jacks, Don’t Cry For What I Am

Master of House : Acid Planet/Bunker Records : 2005 [released as Salamandos]
Billed as an “obscure 80’s” acid producer from Chicago, 4 solid limited edition releases under the Salamandos moniker trickled out of the Bunker “vaults” in 2005. All are dance floor destroyers, but this one is the best.
Favorite Tracks: World of Salamandos, Kick Out The Jocks

The Land Of Lonzo : Strange Life Records : 2006
Another jaunt into the underbelly of the Chicago sound. Sweaty, claustrophobic jams with plenty of old school drums and acidic synths. Lyrical yet—jacking. As one would expect.
Favorite Tracks: Mysteries Of The Ghetto, Lonzo Dance

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Label Links:
Bunker
Clone Records
Creme Organisation
Strange Life

Here's some older detroit techno for you!

http://www.myspace.com/transmat

Many old school/eclectic sounds, that's all i'm going to say.

Before electronica their was this...

I am having a profound respect for classical music lately. An old record that had not been played in years came back into my hand. In the past listening to a symphony was like hanging out with your grandparents, or so i thought. I hear more and more bands incorporating melodies that remind me of classical music, or more of an orchestrated sound...Do Make Say Think, Dirty 3, The Cinematic Orchestra (Of course),

Since everyone in the world samples a smudge or more of a tune from the original artist/composer/musician i've decided to pay homage to those that came before us, cause without them inspiration may have been hard to come by.

To me, music is timeless and if i were to hear this in 1885 when it was completed or now i would not be able to tell where/when it came from... I guess that's the beauty of it. Hope you enjoy...
Here is Brahms Symphony #4 in e minor, op. 98

Damn Eric, you were born to do this,

One quick thing of interest. Someone actually compiles and publishes top 100 lists of all music genres on the interweb. I'm imagining a rotund middle aged divorce' with little else to do but ponder back and forth who's achievements in the category of "best rock keyboard performance" are greater Emerson!, no Wakeman!, no Emerson! But the end result is fascinating, and good lord is it ever a time waster. It doesn't stop at music either. The site design is pretty horrid though and it reminds me of what a rotund middle aged divorce' would do with a few dreamweaver and html classes, nevertheless

Here it is

And for Shitzengiggles here is a photo of entry # 398 on the "best rock keyboard" category

Some more stuff....

Two in one day.
Shut up.

Since my work consists of long periods of mind destroying boringness (or in my case time to hone my neuroticism). I think I shall list some movies and video games I've really been into recently.

Movies

1.Atonemet.

Jesus Christ is this movie depressing. I challenge anyone to watch it and not openly weep. Just Desolate, unrequited love at it's best/worst. Well unrequited isn't quite right, but it gets the point across. And the little girl in the movie is possibly the most despicable person in the history of film.

2. The Mist

I read the short story years ago (for those who don't know . It was a Steven King short story originally published in "Skeleton Crew". First story ion the book).
This movies ending is possibly one of the most brutal things i've seen in a long while. King has even gone on record to say that he enjoys this ending more than the original. Plus Frank Darabont directed this. He seems to be the only director able to get King's work across on celuloid.

3. No country for old men

No need to explain. Just go see it.

4.King of Kong

Story of a man trying to get the world record score on Donkey Kong.While it's presented as a documentary, I really question some of it. Regardless, worth a watching if you have any love for video games. Plus Billy Mitchell (the current record holder for Pac-man) is an insufferable cocksucker.



Games

1.Bioshock

I've beaten this game twice, and I'm still going back for more. Great First Person Shooter with RPG elements. Takes place in an underwater city in 1960. Amazing Art Deco design, amazing music, amazing gameplay. You actually have a morality based decision to make at various points in the game. Do you kill a little girl to gain powers from her, or do you save her and gain less, but save your soul? Ending falls a little flat, but all in all a great game.


2.Mass Effect

If anyone has played the Knights of the Old Republic games for the original XBox, then you will love this game. More action oriented than either of those games, but deeper gameplay, and dialouge options. Took me somewhere around 30 hours to beat, and i'm going back through to get the rest of the achievments. Wonderful game.

alright, i'm tired of writing, and I feel I should go do some work.

All right....

So, I guess i'm gonna start putting some stuff up in this here computers digital guts. Well in all truth it would be the internets digital guts, but you get the picture (hopefully not).

I guess to start out I'll just post a few of the more interesting things I've found recently.



1.Number stations

http://home.freeuk.com/spook007/



This is some creepy ass, post apocalypse, possibly cold war (if not current) era spy type shit.

If anyone is familiar with lost they'll recognize the basic idea at least right away. For those who don't know,let me explain.

The whole "thing" with number stations is this. They are signals that are picked up on short wave radio. They consist of voices reading off numbers, words, and letters. Some in english, some in german, russian, so on and so forth. It's been speculated that they were used for spys to recieve encoded messages for their next mission (as seen in Red Dawn "the door is against the wall" "john has a long moustache").

To me there is just such a creepy destitude and loneliness to them. I don't know exactly why I feel that way. Maybe it's the sound of the static in the back ground, maybe it's the idea of someone having to rely on these for what to do next in their "mission". It also reminds me of the movie "Prince of Darkness".For those of you who haven't seen it (why the fuck not?), throughout the movie all the characters share a dream. The dream consists of a figure in a doorway, backlit, moving their arms as if to embrace them, while the phrase "we are transmitting this from the year 1-9-9..." plays each time. DJ Shadow sampled it for Entroducing (which is something else that you should all listen to if you haven't yet). My recomendation is not to listen to any of these at two in the morning as I did the first time...



2.The 2006 O'Hare International airport sighting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_O'Hare_UFO_sighting_2006
(if this doesn't work for some reason, just copy and paste it)


This one shocked me that I didn't hear any more about it. Long story short, UFO seen over O'hare airport. Tons of people see it, pictures are taken, airport claims its a weather phenomenon. Theres a video somewhere of a newscaster for the area talking about it before, and in-between taping. The thing that gets to me is, you can tell he never even believed in any of this shit till now. His mannerisms are just so much like a child who has been introduced to a new concept, and he finds himself completely enthralled by it. Interesting stuff...



3.The Bloop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloop



Another weird one. Apparently the "bloop" is an ultra low frequency, underwater sound detected by the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1997. It apparently matches the audio profile of a living creature, there is no known creature large enough to produce this sound. Larger than a blue whale is what we're talking about.

Here's where it gets kinda creepy. The location of it is said to be where R'lyeh is located. What's that you might ask? Why it's just the location of the sunken city of the same name in Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu". The squid headed elder god of the outer dark lives! And he's coming to drive us mad with hellish visions and non-Euclidean shapes that spit upon our known world....



Just a few things to keep you entertained.....

So I'm completely taken with sidechains. Huge lush sounds with a devastating momentum, clearly dance candy but of the finest flavor.

SIDECHAINS check out "turn your body on"

Also a group with an odd name but a fantastic sound "Apple & Chicken electro". I'm not sure what thy're aiming for with the name but I love the track

Dogs don't do cats

On a completely different note Morcheeba has a new album out. I'm not too excited about that but the video for the single is outstanding. The animation mixed with the somber crooning in this track creates something highly effective.

"Enjoy the Ride"

And so I'm a sucker for nostalgia, but there are some things that deserve to be dug up and need to resurface. Sly Fox needs a second run. The video alone should convince you of that. Here's the video.

zhum zhum zinna-ninny


Which brings me to a final point. I f someone could take old school party rap, Freestyle, and the kind of electropop we saw in the early eighties (mainstream and obscure) and throw in a blender peppered with a little Daft Punk sensability I think you might have a hit.

This will hopefully become a repository for all the varied sounds, sights, and whatever else we've gleaned from the interwebs. I'm sure there will also eventually be some complaining, as these things are often apt to become a watershed for heated opinion. I would however prefer that we instead catalogue the best music, videos, tour dates, movies, etc that we can find. So, let this be our dumping ground amongst which we scatter our cultural leavings.