Mikey’s Friends and Family

Getting Ready!

nobody@vox.com(Pooka) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:41:40 -0700

I will be on my way to Las Vegas tomorrow for the big move! My Dad and I are driving out there and are leaving at 6am for the long 13 hour drive. We are going to go all in one day and will hopefully be there around 7pm Mountain time like here in Colorado. It will be 6pm there. :-) I will post about the move and changes real soon! <3

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MMM

nobody@vox.com(Andrea Koh) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:47:41 -0700

3 Ms I wanna mention tonite...

1st M: To Marcus, my closet lover's hubby, HAPPY BDAY! Sorry if I missed it. errr... u never told me when your bday was and I only found out after I saw pics on Cindy's FB profile. LOL. And since you do read my blog once in a while, decided to make my first M post about you. Hope u had a great day. Saw the choc cake you received, looks OH SO YUMMY!!!!!!! (making me hungry in the middle of the night)

2nd M: MONOPOLY! Yes, we're stuck to this old school game. Been playing Monopoly whenever possible since yesterday. LOL. I guess I love the buying and selling of property and collecting of rent. So far the score, 2 bankruptcy and 3 wins out of 5 games. hehehe. not too bad a score. i notice my luck is better when it's a 2 player game. Jon always ends up paying taxes. hahahaha.. poor baby, got stuck in jail for so many times while i went around collecting land and buying property that when he came out of jail, my stuff were all built up liao. just luck i guess. With the 3 ppl game, i'm always not in the luck and end up paying all the expensive rentals. Urgh

3rd M: Marriage. No lah, not getting married lah. dun be surprised or shocked ok! Eventho i am pretty sure, God willing, Jon is the one I wanna settle down with, it's not gonna be anytime soon yet lah... But i am thinking of going into wedding planning half time with my property since my time is very flexible.... I think i already thought that once when i was still in muse inc, tat's why i volunteer my services to my frens and so far have like 8-10 weddings under my belt... but we'll see coz T Harv Eker actually said we shd focus on one business.... So we'll see lah....

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今日のつぶやき

nobody@vox.com(crema) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:05:24 -0700

01:36 Listening to: 矢野顕子 - 椰子の実「矢野顕子って、こういう秋の夜中にぴったりなのよね…。ピアノの音が沁みます」 tinyurl.com/62ztda #
01:49 お風呂入って寝よっと！おやすみなさーい！ #
11:22 ほわわん。 #
11:27 一ヶ月以上前のチャットのログを引っ張り出してきたところ。 #
11:45 Watching: Amazon.co.jp： Movable Type 4.x 本格的CMSサイトを構築するためのMTスーパーテクニッククリエイターが身につけておくべき新・100の法則。 www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/48443 ... #
13:55 礼儀。礼節。義理。人情。 #
13:56 @mayurar 私も変な人に絡まれる回数は負けませんよ！（って、自慢になんないけどorz） #
14:01 @semisan おー！何食べました？私が行ったときは、半分ぐらい男性だったけどなぁ。 #
14:03 @mayurar 絡んで絡んで♪にゃうにゃう。 #
15:32 新宿へGO！[もばつい] #
15:35 @semisan きのこ大好き！やっぱり日によってメニューが全然違うということが分かりました。[もばつい] #
19:10 プチ勉強会中。 #
19:49 次回は、我々はゲームを勉強しなければいけないのでは？という話に。 #
21:54 @yhassy わーわーわー！聞きたいですっ！！！ #
22:09 プチ勉強会終了。経済的なことから、次にチャレンジすることまで、非常に濃い内容でした！ #
22:36 @taku_work @mersy ありがとうありがとう！&私の都合でごめんなさいね(>_<)でも、次に向けて夢が持てたです、まじで。[もばつい] #

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Tweets for Today

nobody@vox.com(chris) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:18:53 -0700

17:31 @muruch I loved High Anxiety. Have you seen the movies Mel Brooks is spoofing? Cloris Leachman is a gem in this. No dessert if you are late! #

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Birds fly into my windshield, thoughts fall from my thoughts

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:50:30 -0700

08/28/2008 02:28:40 ♥ written by vu ()

Birds, what is up with that? It seems lately that we're getting album artwork that features birds on the cover artwork (especially owls). Can someone explain this to me? Seriously.

Below are a ton of bird-album artwork.

AVIARY GHOST
aviaryghost.com ♥ myspace.com

Aviary Ghost - Somewhere Else

Fom Illinois is Aviary Ghost, a band that seems to be headed by Charlie Crimando and Stephen Kemsley. Reading their biography, it would seem that they spent a lot of time recording music in a one-room apartment in Michigan.

One of my favorite song on their album, Memory Is A Hallway (featuring cut-out birds over a scenic location), is the most fast-moving song is "Windowlight", which seems to be about the light through the window - sung in an old-fashion cabaret-style song, which I will say works very well for the song.

I thought "Somewhere Else" was also pretty good. The song is described as "catchy Swedish pop", which I'll have to agree with. The lyrics are pretty detailed too, I especially liked the chorus: "we're laughing, 'cause laughing is much better than a scream".

You can get their album, Memory Is A Hallway (recently released July 15^th), on iTunes or CD Baby.

Aviary Ghost

MORE TEETH
more-teeth.com ♥ myspace.com

More Teeth - Electricity (Remix)

I think someone in the W♥M group have this album, One Bird a Day, for review, so I won't go into too much details about it. Surfice to say that it's a compilation of three or four bands in the electro-genre.

Based on what I've heard, I really dig Sparkydog (sounds like new wave) and More Teeth (which sounds like very experimental noise art).

I've decided to go with More Teeth because of their snazzy drums and electroclashesque vocals of Mindy Abovitz.

JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD
jessicaleamayfield.com ♥ myspace.com

Jessica Lea Mayfield-Kiss Me Again

We're not really promoting Jessica Lea Mayfield (I don't think her PR company knows my address, which I will confess is fine as I have too much music to handle), but I couldn't resist the owl-art on her soon-to-be release album With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt out on September 16^th on Polymer Sounds on her press release.

What's there to say based on this one song, "Kiss Me Again"? She has a very nice voice, and sounds like Thao Nguyen.

PUTOIS
citizensofcontraryknowledge.com ♥ myspace.com

Putois-No More Dancing

Yet another Chicago, Illinois band - man, they really love their animals! I believe "putois" is actually a ferret or something.

Anyway, on their second album, Problem Is Not a Problem Anymore, we see a crane with some ducks (while their debut album, The Thinking Fireplace features a cartoon bird dressed as a gentleman).

It would seem that these introspective songs are written and sung by its creator, one Bob Mason since 1995.

Most of this album is acoustic, mostly folky and the song "No More Dancing" would best represent what currently Putois sounds like.

There are a few highlights on the record. For instance, I liked what he was trying to do with "Cta". This had a weird bass and quirky noises and beeps. Even his singing style is different here (although I think this might be a guest-vocalist? It just sounds very different).

The other song that isn't so acoustic is "The Lonely Traveler" with its arrangement of piano and harmonica.

If you like bands like Minnesota's Low, Putois might be right up your alley. Problem Is Not a Problem Anymore is out now, you can get it from CD Baby.

PLUSHGUN
plushgun.com ♥ myspace.com

Plushgun-Just Impolite

I love Tommy Boy Records. One of my first CD was a Tommy Boy and I just remember how big they were in the early 90s, especially with the b-boys and girls. Well, I guess the record label is still around and I have one of their latest release by one-man-band, Plushgun. Daniel Ingala's vocals sounds like he has a British accent, reminiscent of early 80s new wave pop bands.

His latest self-titled EP has a cute drawing of a bird with an old SNES controller in a cassette-tape-style mess in the sky. All the songs were available for download on August 19^th (iTunes).

The four songs on the EP is a very easy listen. I love all the songs actually, with the exception of the semi-sappy "14 Candles". Although it was nice to hear a woman singing backup on this song, but I didn't think this song belong on the EP. Maybe I just don't like love songs.

His other songs are more upbeat and sounds more like obsessive/stalker feel to them. There are some great lyrics on "Just Impolite" ("I walk the line, like Johnny Cash" and "I'm not upset, just impolite").

A physical copy of Plushgun will be available on September 9^th via Amazon and other retailers for $9.99, but if you can't wait the download is sold now for 60% cheaper ($3.98)

BRICE WOODALL AND THE POSITRONS
bricewoodall.com ♥ myspace.com

Brice Woodall-This, There, Where

Check out Brice Woodall and the Positrons with their album, Sine Wave Sea. The artwork on the cover is a flying bird block with a whole in its stomach. I know it's a bird because if you visit the artist's website (trevorbittinger.com) his all-flash website features these same block birds flying around.

Brice Woodall is currently based out of Chicago, Illinois, according to his myspace. Woodall's vocals has a woman quality to them, but not in a falsetto way (and not as a put down). His voice is very interesting, it definitely pulls you in.

I think my favorite songs off this album is easily "This, There, Where", a pop song with some interesting mix. I also dug the experiment on "Winter/Break/Down/Away".

Well, it looks like they are currently on tour, be sure to check them out.

08/29/08

09/12/08

09/24/08

09/25/08

09/26/08

09/27/08

11/08/08

11/19/08

11/20/08

11/21/08

11/22/08

You can pick up Sine Wave Sea from InSound.

CITIZENS OF CONTRARY KNOWLEDGE
citizensofcontraryknowledge.com ♥ myspace.com

Citizens of Contrary Knowledge-Complicated

Featuring a drawing of a chicken on the cover of Citizens of Contrary Knowledge's You're What You Wish You Are. Upon closer inspection, is that a cock? They do sound a bit southern cock rock...

Reading their biography, it would seem most of the band members are residing in Harlem, New York. Their singer/frontsman, Chris Barczynski, sounds like he doesn't take his biography too seriously (he writes that he was in the Witness Protection Program, etc). This is also a problem when he lists that he's appeared on stage with Green Day, Sugar Ray and Hootie - should you believe him? I'm leaning to 'no'.

I was drawn to the faster/rock song and my favorite is "Complicated" and "Lonely Hearts Society", which is driven by a muscular guitar playing (with some neat tricks). Despite as I have said about their music being rock, they do lean to the sensitive/slow side with "House of Cards", "Unless You Do", "Real Love", and "Wrong Side of the World".

I think listening to them that they might fare better as a live act, perhaps jamming their songs at a longer length at a dive bar.

You're What You Wish You Are is out now, available on CD Baby. They just finished playing Arlene's Grocery, which is apparently a bar?

Here is the bonus segment, some bird-bands we've previously covered: Tinkture, Birdflu, Story of the Year, The Alarmists, The Notwist, Loquat, El Perro Del Mar, Ben Sollee, Peter Bradley Adams (Owl), Death Valley Sleepers, Death Cab For Cutie, Patrick Wolf, Deadbird, Jeff Hanson (Owl), They Might be Giants (Owl), Eels, Biography Of Ferns, Computer Vs. Banjo (Owl), Ash, Susan Krebs

Bands we haven't covered, but I'm sure we'll get around to them. These features birds on the cover: The Great Northwest (Experimental Folk), Nebraska (Folk), Foals (British Rock), The Black Keys (Southern Rock), KYTE (Ambient Pop), and the talented Graeme K (Experimental/Old-time/Dance). Honorable worth mention is Abigail Washburn with her tiny birds on the cover.

Graeme K-And Rattle	They Might Be Giants-Number Two	Jeff Hanson - The Hills	Peter Bradley Adams-So Are You to Me	Computer Vs Banjo - Give Up On Ghosts
Tristan	Susan Krebs & The Soaring Sextet-Medley- I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry-Dink's Blues-Three Little Birds	Birdflu - Bird Flu	Eels - Dog Faced Boy [Alternate Version][#]	Death Valley Sleepers - In The Valley
Story of the Year - Wake Up	Biography Of Ferns - Not a Magician	Tinkture - Pyrotechnics	It's Not Impossible	The Notwist - Hands On Us
Feral Flame	The Lucksmiths - Frisbee	Nebraska-The Great Divide (Radio Edit)	Loquat - Swingset Chain	El Perro Del Mar-Dog
Death Cab For Cutie - The New Year	Haste the Day-Pressure the Hinges	Nostalgia 77-Knee Deep (Nostalgia 77 Remix)	The Great Northwest-Know What I Mean	Foals - Mathletics
The Black Keys-Your Touch	KYTE - Home	Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet - Sugar & Pie	Ash - Teenage Kicks	Collections of Colonies of Bees - Flocks I (excerpt)

Links: weheartmusic.com myspace.com/weheartmusik

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qotd: there's no place like home

nobody@vox.com(chris) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:23:35 -0700

What's your definition of home?
Submitted by NayNay72

I don't know that I can honestly say I have ever felt at home anywhere. Or maybe it is just because it has been so long, that I cannot remember.

Probably the closest I have come is when I was living downstairs from my paternal grandparents. We moved there when I was about 4, and moved out when I was 7. My grandmother's mother lived in the attic. We knew all of our neighbors on the dead end street where the house was located. In fact, next door was a family with a similar living arrangement who had two girls exactly our age. Around the corner lived my mother's brother and his family (of 5 kids) - our backyards were diagonal to each other. My mother's sister lived upstairs from their brother with her two boys.

There was always family nearby, but it was more than that. Overall I felt pretty safe in that house. Before we moved, another of my mother's brothers thanked us for letting him live there for a while by bringing over an Old English Sheepdog, which despite my mother's dismay, became part of our family. Clem became my confidante and protector, even if he was afraid of his own shadow.

For the past two years, I have been searching for home. Of late we have taken up residence in B's parents' second home. I refer to it as the lake cabin, although it is neither a cabin nor by a lake. It is located on the far northeast corner of Los Angeles County. It is suburbia personified with an Asian flair.

Every now and then I catch myself calling it home. I usually try to say things like "let's go back to the house" or "I left my cell phone is on the counter (not at home)."

We started a container garden this summer. I think it was a way of trying to plant roots. There is a yard out back that is quite large. B's mother told us we could plant whatever we wanted back there, and was actually quite encouraging - maybe too encouraging.

I don't think I could ever call this place home, even if my name were attached to it. Too many strange things have happened here. And as large as it is, there still is no space in it even that I have claimed as my own.

I would like to believe that "Home is where the heart is", but I think it takes a little more than love. I also think home is a place where you feel safe, and sometimes all the love in the world will not allow that.

A home provides shelter from the outside world. It is a place where you can let our hair down and be yourself. Home is a place where you can dance around in your underwear and sleep with your teddy bear, even if you are past the 10 year mark.

A true home nurtures us. It provides us a place to sleep and to eat. It gives us space to tend to the needs of our bodies. A home gives us room to explore and grow. It also allows us to express ourselves.

In some ways a home is like a mirror. What we bring inside of our homes - from paint colors to people - reflect who we are. When we are in chaos or turmoil, our homes often reflect that. When we change, our homes tend to reflect that as well - from big things like bringing a new baby home to small things like getting a raise - it shows.

Although a home is a place you can regroup from the outside world, ideally it is also a place where you let the world in. It should be a place where you can entertain those you love. A place where people want to come and look forward to the time that is shared.

Home is a place filled with fond memories. It is also a place where you can dream about and plan for the future. A home is a place that let's us see how far we have come and helps us reach out and achieve our potential. Home is where hope lives and love reigns.

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嵐 "A.RA.SHI"

nobody@vox.com(MorningBerryz) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:52:51 -0700

Arashi "A.RA.SHI" CD single

I got into Arashi so late but I still love to collect their older releases whenever I can find them at an affordable prices. First place to check of course would be Yahoo! Japan Auctions, however I couldn't believe it when I saw Arashi's debut single "A.RA.SHI" on eBay for only $8! And it's in really great shape considering it's been around since November of '99! I was so surprised when I first learned that Arashi actually announced their debut here right in Hawaii and it's really added a special kind of connection to them in a sense. And I wonder what Arashi will have in store for us late next year as their 10th anniversary approaches...I'm sure there'll be something special planned! I get a kick out of seeing how little they are here on this cover and I wonder if Riida will ever grow his hair out that long again. :) In happiness of this recent find I've uploaded their debut promotional video clip for this single...wow the resolution got really fuzzy there didn't it! :O...

Vlcsnap-54846

Arashi "A.RA.SHI" pv

...what's amazing is how athletic Johnny's artists are and even at this initial stage of their debut as a group all five members are so nimble and acrobatic as this debut clip shows. JE seems to have a regimen for developing their members this way. Awhile back zdorama whom I'm thankful for introducing me to Arashi, sent me a clip of various Johnny's members performing acrobatic stunts on a t.v. show and Nino along with Tackey stood out as the better athletes back then while Matsujun....um needed a bit more practice as he fell on his butt a couple of times. :P He's great now of course! Also Arashi vocally was always great and Riida's vocals were just as pure, mesmerizing and powerful back then as they are today!

Vlcsnap-56353

I've scanned the front and back covers here....

Scan0072

Scan0073

And here my Arashi obsession...I mean collection continues ^-^:

My Arashi collection

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The Know It All

nobody@vox.com(Kat the Acrobat) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:44:55 -0700

The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World

A. J. Jacobs

I've recently been inspired to read the full Encyclopedia Britannica from A-Z. Unfortunately, I won't be able to tell people I'm the first person in the world to have done it, though - an author by the name of A.J. Jacobs beat me to it and wrote a book about his Britannica quest already.

The Know-It-All is such an amusing book that it has joined the ranks of my book favorites (which include Tuesdays with Morrie, Animal Farm, The Phantom Tollbooth, and anything by Charles Schulz.

I've learned a lot of random bits of information from TKIA, including how Rene Descartes has a fetish for cross-eyed women, that you can get into Mensa simply by having a high SAT score, that there are IQ societies that are higher than Mensa, that the Opium Wars were started in a "Boston Tea Party-esque" way when a Chinese official dumped opium into the sea, that Absalom (a biblical hero) died by getting his flowing hair caught in the branches in an oak tree, thus allowing his enemy Joab to catch him and slay him, and that Alex Trebek likes gardening and thinks he would be a total failure at Jeopardy!

If anything, I might just read the World Book Encyclopedia...apparently that one has lots of pictures.

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