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A Day's Education

Listening to Vitesse while packing for Paris. Today's been a crazy end to one of those extreme weeks you sometimes have. Not awful, but just... extreme. Need to catch up on sleep bad but I have to be at the airport at 630 tomorrow morning. Sleep on the plane- it'll be a couple hours' worth at least. First time on Air France. Flying for pleasure this time and couldn't afford the tickets on SAS.

I'm looking forward to seeing Marton again and Hannah's flying in from Chicago by way of the weekend in London on Monday. I'm curious to see how the two hit it off (Marton's from the international journalist set and Hannah's from the Peace Corps/NGO/public policy set). Cecilie is bummed she can't make it- she lived in Paris for a year in the 90s- but she has to work.

Feel like there's something I'm forgetting to do. Alas. Must sleep.

iPod Conspiracy Theory

Are our iPods actually sentient? It's something I've thought about before. Mine definitely has good moods and bad moods. Some days I'll get solid feelgood uptempo while biking to work and an eclectic noötropic mix when I'm trying to be creative... and then there are days when the thing just can't seem to get it together. Stereolab followed by KMFDM, or long lost cheesy 80s tracks popping up when I least expect them.

Here's what the New York Times has to say.

Outbreed

Arrgh... this is why I should live in Australia. And be... you know... 21 and freaky again.

This is also why I shouldn't go randomly surfing at one in the morning when I have insomnia...

Must sleep.

German-Woman/Woman-German

Perverse news travels in packs, although this isn't really hard news I suppose. Anyone who's had to use the Langenscheidt guides will appreciate this one...

Let's Just Cuddle Wed Aug 25, 8:26 AM ET BERLIN (Reuters) - A leading German dictionary publisher plans to launch a guide it says will help men translate the subtext of female conversation. The Langenscheidt publishing group, best known for its well-respected yellow foreign language dictionaries, will launch sales of a 128-page book to translate such baffling female banter as: "Let's just cuddle" into "No sex tonight please!" "Each themed chapter offers men behavioral tips and exposes hidden messages transmitted by women in everyday situations, such as on holiday or during shopping trips," said Silke Exius, chief editor at Langenscheidt. Other examples in the "German-Woman/Woman-German" edition due out in October include explaining why a woman asks a man to take interest in the pair of shoes she may be trying on. She wants him to look because he's about to pay for them.

...and to point out a little bit of extra weirdness here, is “Chief Editor Silke Exius” just an awesome name, or what?

Thatcher vs. Equatorial Guinea

Some days I really love the news.

Here's a story that New York Times picked up from AP about Mark Thatcher, son of Margaret Thatcher, who's just been arrested in South Africa for plotting to overthrow the Equatorial Guinea. It's all just so... perverse... A sample:

Thatcher's court appearance was delayed when he was robbed of his shoes, jacket and cell phone in a crowded holding cell, according to a court official who witnessed the attack. Thatcher did not appear to have been injured and police were seeking to recover the items, the witness said. Thatcher, who has a twin sister and is the only son of Lady Thatcher and the late Denis Thatcher, was in his pajamas when police arrived at his home in the upscale suburb of Constantia and he was allowed to take a shower before they began examining his records and computers, Ngwema said. Thatcher is accused of helping finance a plot to oust President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, which authorities say was foiled in March. ``We believe Mr. Thatcher assisted in finance and logistics,'' Ngwema said.

Blonde Redhead live

I'd always liked Blonde Redhead because their earlier work reminded me of Chicks on Speed mixed with Sonic Youth mixed with the Pixies. I'm glad I got a chance to see them live though, because there are a lot of nuances in their music I hadn't really appreciated from listening to them on CD. Tivoli in Utrecht was a cozy little space with good acoustics, so I think I was lucky enough to see the band at their best.

What I hadn't picked up from listening to them before was this almost operatic, desperate, manic, apocalyptic, hopeless, frenetic, beautiful feeling their live music evokes.

I hadn't known what the band looks like, and that was a trip too. I don't know what I was expecting, but Kazu, the lead singer, is a drop dead gorgeous Japanese girl, while Amadeo and Simone, on backup vocals/guitar and drums are identical twins from Italy. They're an eclectic mix which is reflected in the exquisite schizophrenia of the music.

They're on the 4AD label too. I hadn't known that either until seeing the live act made me research it, and it makes sense given that their frazzled, manic songs evoke the Pixies and their slower, dirge-ish songs evoke This Mortal Coil. The music of Blonde Redhead tells you "the whole world is crashing, but we're going to enjoy the ride down."

These days, God knows, you can't ask for much more than that.

BR bio on 4AD

Big thanks to Bram and Jeanette for letting me crash at your place (and play Halo all night on your X-box)

Blonde Redhead

I'm so glad this week is over- I've worked 46 hours in the last three days- tied my record for 18 hours in one stretch last night. But it doesn't matter because I'm off to see Blonde Redhead in Utrecht in a couple of minutes. Man I need to do something fun for a change!

I'll be back in Denmark tomorrow afternoon and post a review.

Noncommunication

Let me generally apologize to everyone whose emails I have been blowing off for the last week. I've been working crazy hours and have hardly had time to eat or whatever.

Looking forward to saying hi Holland, Blonde Redhead and the Dutchies on Thursday, and just booked myself for Paris the weekend after to say hi to my good friends Marton and Hannah. They haven't met each other yet- I met Marton in J-school in Holland and I've known Hannah for, like, ever, but are both in town at the same time so I couldn't resist flying down.

Okay, gotta get back to work. There is just a chance I'll be able to finish while the sky is still dark.

Theme song for the evening: Atari Teenage Riot- Destroy 2000 Years of Culture

Move it

Two new videos, links courtesy of Jeremy

Looking for some action

Transformers

Right, I think it's time to go clubbing now...

Gajas ao volante

I've been meaning to get this up for a while. It's a pic my friend Ana (second from the right) took of herself and her friends at (I'm assuming) Porto airport in Portugal. This shot really feels like it should have some music behind it- I'm imagining it's a scene in a Ladytron video.

(click for full pic)

Bush misspeak cites U.S. readiness to harm U.S.

You'd think this came from The Onion, but no, it's for real... What can I say? At least the guy is entertaining...

WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush told a roomful of top Pentagon brass on Thursday that his administration would never stop looking for ways to harm the United States.
The latest installment of misspeak from a president long known for his malapropisms came during a signing ceremony for a new $417 billion defense appropriations bill that includes $25 billion in emergency funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we," Bush said.
The Republican incumbent, who is in a tight race for reelection against Democrat John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, used the 11-minute presentation to underscore his commitment to U.S. troops.
On hand for the ceremony were Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Cheers for the story Josiane!

Transatlantic playlist

I had a request for the iPod playlist I built for long flights. It's twelve and a half hours of strange, droning esoteric music, good for drowning out the cabin noise and for drifting away to some secret abstract place as the plane powers forwards, twelve thousand meters over the Atlantic.

Here goes...

A Positive Life	Aquasonic
Aerial-M	Always Farewell
Alex Gifford	Morecambe Bay
Banco de Gaia	Desert Wind
Banco de Gaia	One Billion Miles Out
Bill Laswell	Piece Of Blue Sky
Bill Laswell	Dream Spiral
Bill Laswell	Conspiracy Of Silence
Bill Laswell	Ladder Of Lights
Bill Laswell	Drafting Shadows - Leaving La Habana [Peaceful]
Boards Of Canada	In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country (Edit)
Boards Of Canada	Ready Lets Go
Boards Of Canada	1969
Boards Of Canada	The Beach At Redpoint
Boards Of Canada	Kid For Today
Boards Of Canada	Amo Bishop Roden
Boards Of Canada	Zoetrope
Boards Of Canada	Wildlife Analysis
Boards Of Canada	An Eagle In Your Mind
Boards Of Canada	The Color Of The Fire
Boards Of Canada	Telephasic Workshop
Boards Of Canada	Triangles & Rhombuses
Boards Of Canada	Sixtyten
Boards Of Canada	Turquoise Hexagon Sun
Boards Of Canada	Kaini Industries
Boards Of Canada	Bocuma
Boards Of Canada	Roygbiv
Boards Of Canada	Rue The Whirl
Boards Of Canada	Aquarius
Boards Of Canada	Olson
Boards Of Canada	Pete Standing Alone
Boards Of Canada	Smokes Quantity Remix
Boards Of Canada	Open The Light
Boards Of Canada	One Very Important Thought
Boards Of Canada	Sixtyniner
Boards Of Canada	Oirectine
Boards Of Canada	Iced Cooly
Boards Of Canada	Basefree
Boards Of Canada	Twoism
Boards Of Canada	Seeya Later
Boards Of Canada	Melissa Juice
Boards Of Canada	Smokes Quantity
Boards Of Canada	034 Alpha And Omega
Boards Of Canada	A Is To B As B Is To C
Boards Of Canada	Beware The Friendly Stranger
Boards Of Canada	Corsair
Boards Of Canada	Dandelion
Boards Of Canada	Dawn Chorus
Boards Of Canada	Diving Station
Boards Of Canada	Energy Warning
Boards Of Canada	I Saw Drones
Boards Of Canada	In The Annexe
Boards Of Canada	Julie And Candy
Boards Of Canada	Magic Window
Boards Of Canada	Music Is Math
Boards Of Canada	Opening The Mouth
Boards Of Canada	Over The Horizon Radar
Boards Of Canada	Sunshine Recorder
Boards Of Canada	The Smallest Weird Number
Boards Of Canada	You Could Feel The Sky
Bowery Electric	Coming Down
Bowery Electric	Without Stopping
Bowery Electric	Under The Sun
Bowery Electric	Black Light
Bowery Electric	Next To Nothing
Bowery Electric	Over And Over
Bowery Electric	Sounds In Motion
Bowery Electric	Another Road
Bowery Electric	Deep Sky Objects
Bowery Electric	Slow Thrills
Bowery Electric	Out Of Phase
Bowery Electric	Drift Away
Bowery Electric	Freedom Fighter
Bowery Electric	Soul City
Bowery Electric	Elementary Particles - Main Mix
Bowery Electric	Empty Words - Twisted Science Edit
Bowery Electric	Fear of Flying
Bowery Electric	Looped
Bowery Electric	Low Density
Brian Eno	Another Green World
Brian Eno	Zawinul - Lava
Brian Eno	An Ending
Brian Eno	Weightless
Brian Eno	Spider And I
Brian Eno	Julie With...
Dead Can Dance	Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book
Dead Can Dance	Musica Eternal
G.O.L.	Empirical Measures
The Gentle People	Selenographic Oceans
The Gentle People	Relaxation Central
The Gentle People	Stay
The Gentle People	A Close Encounter
The Grid with Sheila Chandra	Angel Tech
Icebreaker International	Melody For Nato
Icebreaker International	Co-Prosperity Sphere
Icebreaker International	Arctic Night
Icebreaker International	Reconnaissance Flight
Icebreaker International	Distant Early Warning System
Icebreaker International	Supply Lines
Icebreaker International	Track North
Icebreaker International	Listening Station
Loop Guru	Part 3: 3AM Outside Here
Loop Guru	Part 5: 7PM Tokyo Shrine
Lumin	Wild Orchid
Mira Calix	Sandsings (Boards Of Canada Remix)
Moby	Grace
Moby	My Weakness
Nav Katze	Wild Horses (Global Communication Remix)
Opus III	Cozyland
Opus III	When She Rises
Russel Mills	A Swoon in Amber
Russel Mills	Rooms of the Sixteen Shimmers
SETI	Beacon01
Stars Of The Lid	Requiem For Dying Mothers
Stars Of The Lid	Down 3
Stars Of The Lid	Austin Texas Mental Hospital
Stars Of The Lid	Austin Texas Mental Hospital : Part 3
Stars Of The Lid	Broken Harbors
Stars Of The Lid	The Lonely People (Are Getting Lonlier)
Stars Of The Lid	Gasfarming
Stars Of The Lid	Fac 21
Stars Of The Lid	Ballad Of Distances
Stars Of The Lid	A Lovesong (For Cubs)
This Mortal Coil	Song To The Siren
This Mortal Coil	Waves Become Wings
Unlight	Ambience

I'll probably put Eno's On Land album on too, I just haven't burned that yet. I spent about five years falling asleep to that album- I love the detailed dreamscapes it creates. When I was in SF a couple of weeks ago I bought some portable iPod speakers so I can pump music into my hotel room next time I'm stuck in a strange city. I'm looking forward to falling asleep to On Land again.

And on another note, it seems a little weird that I can copy an iTunes playlist and paste it as tab delineated text into BBEdit, but I can't move a playlist from the iPod to the host machine inside iTunes. What's up with that?

Arrgh, must sleep.

Back to this again

Seems I'm back to the falling-over-from-stress-and-exhaustion mode again. Just finished tonight's project with "Turquoise Hexagonal Sun" by Boards of Canada on the pod. If I can clean up some work tomorrow, I'll have a better shot at getting to relax this weekend.

I'm flying to Amsterdam to see Blonde Redhead in a couple of weeks. Always wanted to fly across national borders to see a show.

I'm being sent to Chicago and Detroit in October as well. Hannah, Jeremy and I are talking about getting together for the weekend there. That could potentially be a nice remix of the week I spent in San Diego last year when everybody lived there, the circumstances bringing us together would be a lot less traumatic. It would be cool if the timing worked.

Anyway, must sleep. It's rough having Boards of Canada stuck in your head because the tracks are just so complex.

Oh yeah... I'm trying to quit smoking too. (Cue sound of teeth grinding).