tap my glass

I’ve had this video embedded in my brain since i was a wee tike, watching the first “music videos” ever to hit the mainstream. Only bits and pieces of the beginning of it can i remember… so i googled for a bit, and found it.

The only problem is, YouTube stalls on it for me!!! It gets about 2 seconds in, then it stalls! You can drag around throughout to catch a bit of the video, it is there, but it keeps stalling!!!

Let me know if the video works for you. Hopefully the massive traffic my site will generate towards the video will make those folks at google wake up.

Update:

I guess that massive outpouring of hits to YouTube from my site caused those guys at google to wake up.

Gimme a bottle of anything. And a glazed donut. To GOOOO

Ok mabye its not as good as i remember it being… oh well.

Pretty much what i did too. That and clean the basement.

Off to bluesfest, yay tv on the radio!!!

The cats are getting a little out of control these days. In an effort to be “stern” and to convey my sense of disapproval, i often grimace or put on a mean face. I also attempt to “shush” the “meeeooeeehhh’s” and “reeeeehhh’s” that are meant to convey something to *me*, that i’m too dull or incognizant of.

It got me thinking this morning. Human’s have this incredible ability to smile and form a variety of other highly elaborate facial expressions. Cats (and most other animals i’m assuming) do not. I’d like to think my cats are smiling sometimes, or are frowning, but the reality is they lack this ability to convey emotions with their faces (i could be wrong, please let me know if your cat can smile for real). If they’re happy or they’re sad, its the same face (although their eyes being slightly closed or twitching or whatever may convey something, their mouths/cheeks do not seem to). This begs the question – can cats sense our emotions through our facial expressions?

I think cats can sense emotions, or at least i’d like to believe this. Before i ever had cats, i’d heard they’re great at sensing when your down, and spending some quality time snuggling with you. What are they using to determine this? The sad look on your face, or is something deeper? Or is it total nonsense, a coincidence brought on by human’s sponge-like emotions willing to accept any gesture as one of love when we sorely needed reinforcement?

I think another scientific cat experiment is in order. The next time i need to be stern, i’m going to do so smiling. If i get a different response, i’ll have to conclude that my cats are in fact, cognizant of my facial expression. If not, i’ll have to scientifically conclude that they are not, and it will be a great day for science. I likely will fail to mention the results here, you’ll have to see the journal of nature for that.

btw, the title is inspired by when you smile by the flaming lips

A few of us took the country drive this past thurs out to wakefield to see perhaps my first favorite singer songwriter, Hayden.

Apparently he’s been busy and just finished his new album “yesterday”. It was his first show in 3 years. He didn’t practice. It showed. I love the guy, i think he’s great, he’s still a great storyteller, but i was a little peeved at how many times he fucked shit up, or had to start over. The first time its funny and shows a bit of personality and humanity, but the 10th time its annoying and shows a lack of respect. The tickets were not cheap (18 bux i think), and its a tour to get out there. He should’ve practiced.

I’m sure he lost a fan or two that night. He didn’t loose me, but i’ll certainly think twice about going to see him the next time he’s around… i’ll probably go anyway. And i will get his new album. At least i know he’s human. Like me!!!

Myself and several accompaniments had the incredible pleasure of seeing the newest best band ever Mother Mother at zaphods last night.

We’ve been listening to their album for the past 6 months or so since my buddy turned me on to them after hearing them on cbc radio 3. Hot damn, they are imo the most diverse and talented sound since arcade fire, for darn sure. Its sooo good, and now i realize there is ridiculous talent as well as amazing song writing. Its hard to tell sometimes, but last night proved all.

We gushed over them all night. They actually opened for 2 other far inferior bands. Dragonette, who features Martina Sorbera (apparently the daughter of our late finance minister) either greatly benefited from accompanying vocal tracks, or was flat out lip syncing. Catchy, but not a live performance. The other dudes, Most Serene Republic or something, had some cool sounds, but very little vocal talent/hooks to keep me interested. We left mid way through their performance. No idea why the gigs were ordered as such, Mother Mother stole the show shortly after 8pm when they started in on “Legs Away” and playing half their album and 2 other songs i’ve never heard. In that half hour there were no other sounds in the universe worth listening to.

As i was saying, we gushed hard. After their show they were mostly just swag selling and hanging out… i bought a t-shirt as we attempted to book them for future birthday parties; tour pending, it was something they seemed quite open to. Some autographs were signed.

They’re from Vancouver, and likely won’t be back till next spring. We all must go again!!! YES!!!

They rule!!!! Check out some tracks on their site. Note the following picture is the best pic i could get as i was mostly too busy listening in complete awe…

I’ve been reading pitchforkmedia for some time, mostly for their top albums reviews (2006, 2005, 90s). 2006 is no different, i’m supremely interested in all they recommend. And thanks to a friend of mine, i discovered another music site, short list of music, that has also catalogued their favorite albums of the previous few years (in no particular order).

In order to “give something back” to the community and at the advice of this same friend, i’ve decided to cross reference the 2 lists this year, looking for hip similarities, exclusions, and things that i already think are large, or think i will probably think is large at some point during 2007.

If you’ve got any suggestions for albums to check out on the list, let me hear em. Or perhaps if you know of a better way of presenting this massive tabular data on a blog, cause i agree this is nasty.

Been out a few times recently. Saw the hold steady at zaphods:

Then last weekend saw his brood ness elliott brood at barrymore’s:

They were both incredibly large shows. Massive in fact.

In other news, my renovation obsession is almost done. As i last updated you, the drywall is done. Unfortunately, it looks like shit, i did a pretty crap job, but the job is done. It has since been painted, and the floors are in. Now its to the moldings, frames, paint those, and then ly on the floor and bask. Then its nothing but computer games and for a few months. Ay…. well, we’ll see about all that. But definitely some chillout time is in order.

So i’m watching this funny video about sex and lawyers:
Sexual Consent

I saw beruit last nite at zaphods. Very interesting, albeit incredibly childish band. Ya, it was pretty large for sure but the one kid with add kinda got on my good nerves in so much that it was almost more intesteting to watch and see what he was doing than to just listen to the music. Bah, whatever, they’ve got a kickass vibe, i’ll probably check their cd for sure. I woulda got it there but all 8 of em were on stage so they couldn’t man their merch.

I realized something tonite. When you get older, you have a natural tendancy to feel people owe you respect. You (and by you, i really mean me, but i’m hoping this is a general phenomenon) become more and more sensitive to rudeness, and feel people should just act nicer to you, and give you more attention.

I attended “the islands” show tonite at babylon, which was quite an “old man” feat in itself as i was butt tired, my bones are sore, and its a long weekend which i really woulda liked to cap off with a quiet night in with food and a movie. But i went, and did enjoy. However, the lead singer came accross as an ass. Or at least i thought so. I would guess most of the early 20somthings didn’t notice. When the band left the stage to go “wait” out back before their encore i was peeved as they just walked off like we weren’t there. I was annoyed. I was like “c’mon, we’re right frickin here!!! don’t bother, this is rude, just play your silly encore, i only came to hear the swan song anyways”. Then when they came back on, i affinized, and realized myself 5 years ago wouldn’t of thought anything of it, and would have greeted them with more appreciation for having done so.

Blah blah, the moral is, i think i’ll try to observe this tendancy towards sensitivity to what might be considered rudeness, and make mental notes on it. People aren’t out to piss you off, they’re just trying to build mystique if anything. And if they are, their true colours always come out in the wash. Acceptance is key, and judging never leads anywhere good, even if you’re judging people you’ll probably never talk to and have far to little to judge anyways.

Saw joel plaskett and pa perform at capital music hall. His pa being there was definitely a welcome surprise. Pegged from the beginning, his father ripped and tore the plaskettesque guitar solos throughout most of joel’s 10 or so numbers. I don’t know why, but i think joel is amazing now, so original, he seems to carry this impression that if nobody was in the crowd he’d be performing the exact same way. The guy loves music, loves playing his music, and while i’m sure he adores the attention, that ain’t why he does it. And wholly crap, he just keeps getting skinnier.

What else… katheleen edwards was the headliner. I didn’t stay for all that. I was with 2 friends so they were cool, i just had to get outta the tight quarters, the beer-getting-and-washroom-going-unfriendly surroundings. Damn i hate capital music hall for that. Unless you’re next to the bar or can, its kinda unpleasant. You have to cop eight or nine feels unintentiallly just to get outta the place. Its horribly laid out, and if 900 is capacity, its too much. Great for a rock show though, but this wadn’t no rock show. Ie i saw ministry there, and motorhead, and for both, it was perfect as you get a 100% greater people density towards the stage because of all the well intentioned pushing and shoving.

The rest of my nite was of course super. Fox for drinks with locals, then with girls… i was playing darts, eyeing friends on the pool table, and deking into and out of the main bar waiting for them. The folks on the pool table were like “stop acting like you’ve got something better to do”. And then 2 girls arrived. And then all that was answered. Aloha later, hello goodbye, good luck mr. chavez, andre the giant has a posse, and i don’t feel too good today. But i must tile. And tile i will.