guaranteed to raise a smile

a surreal blog

the science of whimsy

kinetic sculpture

michael myers mushroom mask

Happy first day of autumn!

untitled

parting with the red sea

embrace the random x

This photo has been Hockneyized.

cry me a rhythm

96 Tears--? and the Mysterians
To Cry You a Song--Jethro Tull
Lament--King Crimson
Wailing Wall--Todd Rundgren
Sob Story--Minor Threat
And of course...
The Weeping Song--Nick Cave

now reading

I'm currently reading Needle in the Groove by Jeff Noon, a cyberpunk novel that plays with language by updating Burroughs' cut-up technique. Noon uses the metaphor of the remix, splicing and dicing sentences, running words through imaginary filters and phase shifters, playing with meaning like a literary DJ. This approach is demonstrated further in a recent collection called Cobralingus.

So I'm off to do a little bit of reading before the sandman shoots me in the face. Night all.

did someone say phallic?

embrace the random ix

Here's one I came up with recently. Go to Bing Translator and type in a snippet of a favorite paragraph, poem, or play. Translate that snippet into another language. Then translate the resulting translation back into English.

Alas, Poor Yorick.
I knew him, Horatio.
A fellow of infinite jest.

Alas, Yorick pobre.
Le conocía, Horatio.
Un compañero de la broma infinita.

Wings, poor Yorick.
It knew him, Horatio.
A companion of the infinite joke.

Or:

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

...transmogrified into Japanese and back becomes...

As for the woodchuck which when the woodchuck can install the wood with the chuck, is possible to install which rank wood with the chuck?

my tax dollars put to good use

Towpath Pedestrian Bridge, Valley View Ohio

autumn hymms

Autumn has arrived rather early in my corner of the world. No complaints here, as fall is my favorite season by far. Fall feels like possibility: change is everywhere, and new friends and places become oddly abundant.

There are certain albums that I associate with autumn. Some of them were released in autumns past. Others were played constantly on my car's tape deck as I commuted back and forth from Kent State. Here's a brief list of music that feels like fall:

Skylarking -- XTC
Another Green World -- Brian Eno
Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man -- Guadalcanal Diary
The Sensual World -- Kate Bush
Songs for Drella -- Lou Reed and John Cale
Just for a Day -- Slowdive
Broken Toy Shop -- E
Private Parts and Pieces -- Anthony Phillips
Big Science -- Laurie Anderson
Blonde Exodus -- Chris Connelly and the Bells
The Brunt -- Either/Orchestra
Taproot -- Michael Hedges

this just in...

If you write "prolly" instead of "probably", you are an asshole.

names for bands vii

Start a band this Labor Day weekend and ruin your neighbor's barbeque...or not.
* Beer Pressure
* Loud Sighs and Alibis
* Heavy Petting Zoo
* Canine Cologne
* Whore of Plenty
* Skullcrap
* Rat Bastard
* Full Body Erection
* Plague Never Dies

words, words, words

bridgerider

Inspired by Red House Painters, 4AD, and Lasse Hoile

princess monochrome awakes

something does not add up

Going by the above dates, Lester would have only been fifteen when World War II ended. Am I missing something? There has to be quite a fascinating story here.

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a-hunting we did go

I went used CD hunting on Saturday with my good friend Harry, and then on a solo safari the next day. Here is what I captured:

Jethro Tull--A Little Light Music: Live acoustic performances of classic Tull tunes, and a nice arrangement of John Barleycorn Must Die.

KTU--Eight Armed Monkey: Bizarre prog/electronica featuring two members of King Crimson and a European who plays the accordion more like Ritchie Blackmore than Frankie Yankovich. Strange and haunting music.

Morphine--The Best of, 1992-1995: I already own every Morphine CD but needed this one for the three previously unreleased songs, all of which are very cool.

Frank Zappa--The Dub Room Special: I have had this on VHS for years but am so happy to have it on DVD now. Killer live performances from 1974 and 1981, plus twisted clay animation from Bruce Bickford. Thanks to Harry for spotting this one.

Nick Drake--Bryter Later and Pink Moon: Folky, jazzy, mellow, wistful, spooky, dreamy, thoughtful. A timeless voice singing timeless songs.

Depeche Mode--Music for the Masses and Violator: The remastered editions, each with a DVD containing a mini-documentary about making the album, plus a 5.1 mix and bonus B-sides. Who knew there was a video made for Pimpf? Great stuff.

Eric Tamm--Brian Eno: His Music and the Vertical Color of Sound: Well-researched and insightful book on Eno's music and methodology. This will be a good one to leaf through while floating down ambient streams.

And to recap, all of these purchases were used. USED, I say! Good savings, good times.

profanity is dead?