My New Year's Resolution

It seems that you can't go about celebrating a new year without everyone in the world (aka America) adopting resolutions. These resolutions range from the clichéd "loose weight", "get a job", or "get out of debt"; to the more exotic ones like "learn to ride a motorcycle", "sleep ten hours a night", or even "get laid more often". While I could greatly benefit from all of these, I never pick them. Considering that roughly 88% of resolutions end in failure[*], one has to wonder why anyone bothers at all. The answer is simple: Resolutions blind our failures while shining a bright spotlight on our assumed potential possibilities. It is comfortable to look back and say "Wow, I gained a tonzillion pounds this year, but just you watch, next year it's going to be all different!". Of course the new year typically ends up being just like the previous thereby continuing an infinite loop of disappointment. At this point you should be asking (and if not, go ahead and do it now): "If you truly feel this way, why would you ever take part in this tradition of doom?" Simple: I make my resolution knowing full well that I am going to fail and I expect nothing.

While most people get greedy and make a long list of resolutions, I only have one:

1. Be less Glennish.

This means that whenever I am presented with a situation I shall do the opposite of what my brain wants me to do. This is based on the realization that the only thing keeping me down is myself. It doesn't necessarily mean I don't like who I am (I'm adorable!), I just want to experience things differently without having to resort to hallucinogens or trepanation.[*]

With that out of the way, I wish all of you (yes even you) a Happy New Year and I hope whichever lucky charm or deity you've attached yourself to, brings you joy, prosperity and satchel upon satchel of money.

What I learned yesterday.

1) The smell of wildfires gets annoying after a few hours.
2) Horrible ash air makes my lungs hurt.
3) Apparently winning three NASCAR Sprint Cup championships in a row is a big deal for the south.
4) Homestead-Miami Speedway is a really boring oval track.
5) I still only enjoy four NASCAR Races a year (Watkins Glenn (Road Course, rednecks can't quite figure out a right turn so they crash a lot), Infineon (road course again), and the two Bristol races (a half-mile small track --they crash a lot).
6) Even though the air quality is already toxic, some people don't mind making it worse by smoking cigarettes.
7) I don't have the balls to shave my head all the way.
8) I always forget about the Red Line Civic Center Station.
9) Laist.com is the best site in the world, and not only because they gave me free Ellis Marsalis Jr tickets.
10) Quizno's Meatball Primo sandwich is a really dry piece of shit.
11) Quizno's can't translate "Drinks" into spanish. They have a sign that reads "Rinfrescos". Miguel De Cervantes rolls in his grave.
12) The Weekend Observatory DASH shuttle is a really cool looking trolley with slippery wooden seats.
13) There is such a thing as the Weekend Observatory DASH shuttle.
14) The Greek Theater is a really intimate venue.
15) Steinway and Sons pianos sound amazingly beautiful even when mic'ed.
16) Jazz concert etiquette is not as strict as Classical Music but not as relaxed as Rock concerts.
17) I can't quite figure out when to clap during Jazz performances.
18) A station by the name of KJAZZ actually exists.
19) I know absolutely nothing about Jazz besides Miles Davis and Coltrane.
20) McCoy Tyner played with John Coltrane.
21) Ellis Marsalis Jr is a Jazz legend.
22) Ellis Marsalis grandson goes to Pitzer.
23) A Jazz crowd smells like Wine.
24) While listening to McCoy Tyner I realized that we are all going to be ok. The world takes care of itself and all it needs is a little motivation.
25) Shrubbery is a hilarious word when pronounced wrong on purpose.
26) When pretending to send a text message do not hit the actual button that will turn the message into data transmitted to another party's phone via wizardry.
27) Starbucks dark chocolate is expensive.
28) CVS Pharmacy is a cool place at 1am.
29) The blood pressure machine can be treated as a game.
30) I can control my blood pressure on command.

How I am voting, and you should too

After two long years of bickering, technicolor pantsuits, bitter former presidents, subtle (and not-so-subtle) bigotry, promises of change, Joes (Biden, Six Pack, and [unlicensed] Plumber), terrorist fist-bumps, conservative ignorance disguised as gun-toting milf-sex-appeal, self-mutilation in an attempt to race-bait by retarded campaign volunteers without a slight clue of how a mirror functions, distribution of wealth, strong fundamentals of our economy, the "pro-American parts of the country" versus the heathen big cities, and the difference between a hockey mom and a pit-bull, "my friends," the election is finally upon us. In less than a week the votes shall be cast, counted and made public and "I will make them famous and you will know their names". Sorry, couldn't stop myself from including one more douchey thing this campaign will be remembered for. Hopefully on November 4th you will go out and vote. The only way a democratic republic (aka mob-rule) can efficiently function the way it was designed is if everyone takes part in the process. It doesn't matter for who or what, or whether we agree or not, just have your small say in how your country, state, county, and city functions accounted for. E pluribus unum -- out of many one, and no matter who wins or what passes, we will all still be represented as citizens of the United States of America, entrusted with the task of turning the dreams of the past into the reality of today and the prosperity of tomorrow. With that incredibly pompous and patriotic statement out of the way, this is how I am voting, and you should too.

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President/Vice President:
Barack Obama / Joe Biden

The policies of the GOP did a stupendous amount of damage to our country in a relatively short span of eight years: Two wars, four-thousand American casualties in Iraq, recession, inflation, huge-increase of the national debt, declining international status (both diplomatic and economic), suspension of habeus corpus and a sneaky transformation into a surveillance state... I could go on and on. Who in their right fucking mind would trust Republicans with four more years in power? Obama is an intellectual and has demonstrated that he can pull us out of this collective misery we have been in for the past eight years.

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* These only apply to you if you happen to live in the same district as me. Don't know what districts you are in? Find out here --

United States Representative:
CA-31st Congressional District:
Xavier Becerra --
My tocayo (we share a name) is the incumbent and no one is running against him. Regardless of that fact he earned my vote when he voted against the corporate bail-out twice.

Member of the State Assembly 48th District:
Mike Davis --
He is the Democratic incumbent. The only person running against him is a 19-year old Lucilla M. Esguerra, a socialist student from LACC who wants California to be "a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants", and "She believes in full equality and immediate legalization for all[.]"

County Supervisor 2nd District:
Mark Ridley Thomas --
Bernard Parks was Police chief during the Rampart police scandal. Thomas is a former school teacher and current state senator.

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State Measures (Propositions)

1A - Safe, reliable high-speed passenger train bond act
YES.
In our current financial situation there is no better investment than infrastructure. A low-emission high-speed train will help the environment by giving people a more safe, reliable and fast alternative to driving and flying from NoCal to SoCal. Plus trains are cool.

2 - Standards for confining farm animals
NO.
We all love animals, but if this passes it will completely destroy California's egg production industry. Prices for eggs will rise since most eggs sold here will be imported from others states or even Mexico. The brunt of this will be felt by working class families and not by the well-off, tote-bag-carrying, NPR listening, Prius driving crowd that is pushing for it.

3 - Children's Hospital Bond Act
YES.
As much as I hate that TV commercial with Jamie Lee Curtis fake conducting a choir of kids as they sing a horrid version of John Lennon's "Imagine", I have to vote yes on this. The state will have to take a financial hit when it repays the bonds this proposition authorizes but it is all for a good cause.

4 - Waiting period and parental notification... underage abortion
NO.
Does anyone actually think this will in any way deter underage girls from having sex?  Of course not. If this passes it will force many girls to seek dangerous back alley abortions out of fear of repercussion from their parents.

5 - Non-violent drug offences, sentencing, parole, and rehabilitation
NO.
Shortens parole for methamphetamine dealers and other convicted drug felons from 3 years to six months. It allows criminals who commit violent acts to blame drugs in order to lessen their punishment. 

6 - Police and Law Enforcement Funding, Criminal penalties and laws
NO.
Kids from 14 years old and on will be tried as adults if convicted of a "gang-related" felony. It will take money away from California's general fund and will impact the amount of money allocated for education, health and human services, transportation, etc. It will require that all recipients of public housing submit to an annual criminal background check. Basically if any member of the family is found to have any recent criminal activity, the whole family is kicked out. It changes rules to allow certain hearsay statements as evidence when there are no witnesses available.

7 - Renewable Energy Generation
NO.
The Democratic, Republican, Green, and Peace'n'Freedom parties all oppose this measure. The LA Times, Daily News, La Opinion, Sacramento Bee, and San Francisco Chronicle all oppose it as well. Their main beef? This proposition is written so poorly that it might instead end up hurting California's cause for renewable energy.

8 - Eliminates right of same sex couples to marry. Initiative constitutional amendment.
BIG NO.
This measure will add an amendment to our state constitution that denies a certain group of our population their civil rights. This proposition is fueled by intolerance and bigotry. Proponents say they want to "restore marriage and protect children". If anyone really wanted to protect marriage they would outlaw divorce since roughly half of marriages end in divorce. Protect children? From what? The evil ungodly queer lifestyle? For some stupid reason these people believe that if gay marriage isn't outlawed kids will jump at the chance to suck some cock or munch some lesbian carpet all while denouncing the lords name. Give me a fucking break. Homosexuality is not a choice. People don't turn gay. No matter if you disagree with some one's lifestyle you simply can't deny their civil rights because of your own personal retarded religious views.

9 - Criminal justice system. Victims' rights. Parole.
NO.
This doesn't really do anything at all since most of the provisions are already law.

10 - Alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy bonds
NO.
The main supporter and donor to this is none other than T. Boon Pickens. Why would this oil-man support such a proposition? He happens to own a company that by pure coincidence provides natural gas for vehicles. It is a self-serving bill that takes money away from the general fund.

11 - Redistricting
UNDECIDED.
I haven't made my mind up yet. This would add an amendment to the state constitution that will hand over the task of redistricting California's 120 legislative districts every ten years to a 14-member non-partisan committee.

12 - Veterans bond act
YES.
Money for veterans is always a good thing no matter how big the financial hit the state takes.

County Measures
R - Traffic relief, train extensions. Reduce foreign oil dependence.
YES.
Subway to the sea! Expo line to LAX! Synchronized traffic lights! Who would oppose these things? The Bus Rider's Union. Why? Because they are stupid. Seriously. They call this a "racist tax" because it "guts [the MTA's] most successful and cost-effective transit project—the bus system". According to them light-rail and subways are racist because a greater number of white people ride them more than buses. As someone who owns a TAP card and rides the bus on a daily basis, I can say that buses fucking suck. They are part of the traffic problem. What sounds like a better option? Being stuck in traffic in your own air-conditioned car while listening to "All things considered" on NPR or being stuck in traffic inside a hot, standing room only bus full of weird stinky people and screaming children? Light rail might be more expensive but they have a clear advantage of being more efficient. If we truly want to solve LA's traffic nightmare, we must build a light rail network.

Quite possible the worst concert sing along ever

We've all been there (except for Rocky, he doesn't go out much), you're at a show and a douchebag near you starts singing out loud. You paid assloads of cash and probably had to battle your way through Ticketmaster's website in order to buy tickets only to have it spoiled by some idiot who thinks singing out loud makes him look like a real fan. Sure, sometimes they can get away with it in loud songs, but this is especially annoying when they start singing along to a slow song. While perusing the youtubes for Radiohead videos (yeah yeah, obsession shut up) I found this little gem. Get ready folks, this is horrible like all other things french. My favorite spot is 2:21 when he jumps the gun and completely forgets the rest of the lyrics!

Radiohead - Paranoid Android - Live in Paris

Summer 2008 - Trail-thought Recap

Well the best season of the year is over and boy what a summer it was. I started of with a bang by quitting the depot and then proceeded to do absolutely nothing for the rest of the season --work wise that is. I turned 21 on July 24th and can now be a legal alcoholic if I wish it so. Honestly I haven't drank much since my birthday. A few beers and a couple of bottles of wine here and there. Drinking looses a lot of its coolness once you can go to your local Vons and buy it without any problems. Summer had been a pretty empty season when it came to concerts until my birthday when I saw Tokyo Police Club for free. They have so much energy on stage. Their songs are like short barrages of indie-rockish/slightly emo ammunition. The crowd was so young and I've never felt so old in my life before. Two weeks after that I caught Conor Oberst's free in-store performance at Amoeba. He never fails to satisfy. His new solo record moves him closer to being full-fledged Country Rock. The big show of this year for me was Radiohead. Yes, I fucking-finally saw Radiohead. Twice. For the second show I was about ten yards away from the stage in front of Johnny Greenwood. It was the most awe-aspiring moment of my worthless life. There they were, the five guys who created the soundtrack to my happiness and misery. Right there. Musically they are so tight live. Everything on cue. The light show was spectacular. They covered Neil Young's "Tell Me Why" on Monday. It was the only time this tour. I can now say I was there during one of their infamous moments. Sunday's show was awesome too, but Monday was 1000% better. True Love Waits into Everything In Its Right Place... i almost lost my shit. I'm going through a post concert obsession/depression. I'm listening to the bootlegs a lot (in fact im listening right now). Emotionally I've been ok. No summer depression this year? It's still there, I have just managed to not let it take over me. I don't think that's ever going away. School starts tomorrow. Last chance. Take it, there is no leave it. It's kinda weird going back after so long, knowing everyone is so much younger than me. I'll get over it. Regrets? Two. One: I told myself not to do something yet I did it anyway. Two: Took out my anger and frustration out on someone I shouldn't have. Sometimes I feel like apologizing but my pride gets in the way. I don't want to seem like i'm begging to be accepted. I miss having something to do. I hate waking up and realizing theres nothing planned. I hate being indoors. I hate waking up late and realizing the mornings gone. I hate feeling lonely. I hate being a failure. (theres the depression. right there! See it!?) It's late. I have to wake up early tomorrow. Fuck off now.

Bleeding Red Again

Three weeks ago I finally did something I had thought of doing for more than two years. I quit Home Depot. A bunch of little things added up and in the middle of a closing associates meeting I decided I could no longer force myself to deal with the bullshit I've dealt with for two years. I quit on the spot on Wednesday  May 28th, at 10:30pm. 

I'll miss a few things, mostly working with people I consider my friends. I'll also miss driving the good old reach truck. 

What now? I am going back to school. I cannot allow the time to continue passing me by. I've been reading a lot since I quit and my brain feels useful again. It is a feeling I must continue to feel. I will start looking for a new job in a few weeks and see what I can get but for now I will relax a bit more.

My Top Forty Favourite Songs of All Time Excluding Radiohead (Mixtape?)

40) The National - Mistaken For Strangers
39) Pulp - Common People
38) Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
37) The Dresden Dolls - Good Day
36) Foo Fighters - Aurora
35) Talking Heads - Once in a lifetime
34) Placebo - The Bitter End
33) Oasis - Don't Look back in anger
32) A Perfect Circle - Judith
31) Metric - Poster of a Girl
30) Bright Eyes - The Calendar Hung Itself
29) The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
28) The Smiths - How Soon is now?
27) Tool - Forty Six & 2
26) NIN - Sanctified
25) Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
24) The Walkmen - The Rat
23) Talking Heads - This must be the place (Naive Melody)
22) Violent Femmes - Add it up
21) The Pixies - Where is my mind?
20) The Decemberists - California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade
19) David Bowie - Five Years
18) Alanis Morissette - Uninvited
17) Wilco - Hummingbird
16) Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
15) Pearl Jam - Black
14) The Beatles - A Day In The Life
13) Blonde Readhead - In Particular
12) The Format - Dog Problems
11) The Smashing Pumpkins - Mayonnaise
10) The Flaming Lips - Do you realize??
9) David Bowie - Five Years
8) Bright Eyes - A Perfect Sonnet
7) REM - Losing My Religion
6) Portishead - Sour Times (Roseland NYC Version)
5) Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (Unplugged)
4) Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
3) Jeff Buckley - Grace
2) Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
1) Arcade Fire - Wake Up

Things I have to accomplish before June

• Finish that fucking Air album review that has taken me almost a year to fucking write.
• Finally watch "Thumbsucker".
• Finish that post about Denny's
• Brainstorm possible ideas for a story that do not involve me or my stupid personal problems in whichever way.
• Try to listen to Radiohead less so when August comes around I enjoy them even more. This one's going to be a tough one.
• Finally try to build that CMOY Headphone amplifier you have been anxious to build.
  1. Find your fucking soldering iron.
  2. Learn to fucking solder already.
• Learn more chords beyond Em and G. Barred preferred
• Go to guitar center and buy a pack of Earnie Ball Slinky strings and lighter gauge plectrum
• Find your binoculars so I can have them handy in August.
• Try not to over think about Radiohead.
• Learn to lighten up squirt

W.A.S.T.E. wasted

Bullshit.

7:20AM EDIT: Success bitches! Two tickets for monday!

Radiohead presale

All nighter. It will be worth it. Fuck work!

Mobile Update

There's nothing i like to do more than driving at night.

Coachella 2008 Line-Up

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It's coming!

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Talkie walkie [sic]