Friday Night Is Killing Me

Looking for merch people...

2011-01-12T11:04:00.001-08:00

US Swans / Wooden Wand fans - wanna get on the guest list for any Swans / Wooden Wand gigs between Austin and Vancouver? Looking for people to do merch. In exchange, two guest list spots and other goodies. Email me at madmonkvinyl@hotmail.com if interested. Tour dates on the wensite - www.woodenwand.org

Best of 2010 list

2010-12-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

As seen on several blogs and websites

Best of 2010:

neil young – le noise
the body – all the waters of the earth have turned to blood
bottomless pit – blood under the bridge
endless boogie – full house head
the war on drugs – future weather
lindstrom and christabelle – real life is no cool
wolfgang voigt – freiland klaviermusik
aTelecine – a cassette tape culture
gate – a republic of sadness
girls – broken dreams club
deer tick – the black dirt sessions
swans – my father will guide me up a rope in the sky
salem – king night

I also listened to these a whole lot:

bethbewildered – s/t (cdr)
ghostface killah – apollo kids
infinity people – in love with the light
demdike stare - symbiosis
tony joe white - the shine
happy birthday – s/t
kelly kneiser – s/t
wold – working together for our privacy
william tyler – behold the spirit
taylor swift – speak now
scarcity of tanks – bleed now
centro-matic / south san gabriel – eyas
jamey johnson – the guitar song
th’ legendary shack shakers - agridustrial
donovan quinn – your wicked man
heartbeater – slow waves
horse to water - junkie
harlem –hippies
scout niblett – the calcination of…
damien jurado – saint bartlett
thou – summit

song of the year:

“the making of grief point” by loscil featuring dan bejar

reissues: too many to name, but phantom payn, chrisma, ted lucas, springsteen all top the list

live:

rangda, ben frost, black swans, d charles speer and the helix, warmer milks, damien jurado

NFL Predictions, Week 13

2010-12-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

NFL Predictions, Week 13

Just in time for kickoff.

Texans @ Eagles : Iggles

Saints @ Bengals : Saints

Bears @ Lions : Bears but beware the Lions defensive line

49ers @ Packers : GB

Jaguars @ Titans : (sigh) Titans

Broncos @ Chiefs : Chiefs

Browns @ Dolphins : Dolphins at home

Bills @ Vikings : Bills?

Redskins @ NYG : NYG

Raiders @ Chargers : Chargers continue the surge

Cowboys @ Colts : Cowboys in an upset (though it would surely not upset ME) against the wounded Colts

Rams @ Cardinals : St Louis

Panthers @ Seahawks : Panthers I guess Zzzzzzzzzz

Falcons @ Bucs : Falcons

Steelers @ Ravens : This’ll be great. Ravens, but could really go either way. I’ll be watching this one.

NYJ @ Patriots : Another great game. Pats.

NFL Predictions, Week 12

2010-11-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

NFL Predictions, Week 12

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful that shitty coaches are getting the comeuppance they deserve - the mid-season firings of Wade Philips and now Brad Childress make me very happy. Well done. More of that. Usually, football is the best thing about Thanksgiving, but Sweet Leah is making stuffing, so, you know, second best thing. Still, some great games this week:

New England @ Detroit : I generally like the Lions and will usually pick ‘em, but not after losses to the Bills and the disastrous Cowboys, two of the most ROFLMAO teams in the NFL, and certainly not against the formidable Pats. Pats in a not-totally-embarrassing game.

New Orleans @ Dallas : Saints

Cincinnati @ New York Jets : Jets. No love for the Bungles.

Green Bay @ Atlanta : Should be a good one – two teams coming off 4 game winning streaks. Falcons in a close one, taking home field advantage into account.

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo : Steelers

Carolina @ Cleveland : Giving Cleveland some love this week.

Jacksonville @ New York Giants : Jags in an upset

Minnesota @ Washington : Redskins

Tennessee @ Houston : Very touchy subject. Can I just say, publicly, that I hate Vince Young and always have? I nearly got beaten up for a drunken tirade at LP Field a few years ago after an embarrassing Titans loss to the Panthers, wherein I called for the crybaby’s head. This is what’s known as joyless vindication, friends, but hopefully this latest VY tantrum is the last straw. Surely even VY superfan Bud Adams has to see the writing on the wall by now. Kerry Collins doesn’t inspire confidence, nor does a QB with the unfortunate moniker “Rusty” who will be making his NFL debut on Sunday. I’m sorry, Tennessee, I’m sorry Fish, I’m sorry sorry sorry – but I see a team in turmoil. This is my first ever pick against my team, and I hope it’s the last. Texans in a weeper.

Miami @ Oakland : Raiders will make fewer mistakes - Oakland

Kansas City @ Seattle : Chiefs

Philadelphia @ Chicago : This should be a great game – Michael Vick (who I still despise, by the way, but let’s face it, his presence on the field has become synonymous with good football) against a killer Bears defense. Picking Bears but strictly out of favoritism. This could go either way.

St. Louis @ Denver : Picking the underdog Rams on the road

Tampa Bay @ Baltimore : Ravens

San Diego @ Indianapolis : Chargers

San Francisco @ Arizona : Cardinals in a snoozer

NFL Predictions, Week 11

2010-11-21T05:59:00.000-08:00

NFL Predictions, Week 11

I gotta start getting these in earlier, now that Thursday night games have begun. To keep things on the up and up I’ll take the Bears - Dolphins game as a loss, even though I’d have picked Chicago to win. Fair is fair.

Here goes:

Chicago @ Miami : Oops.
Detroit @ Dallas : Detroit!
Buffalo @ Cincinnati : I’m going with Buffalo here. Hey, why not?
Washington @ Tennessee : Titans
Green Bay @ Minnesota : Packers
Arizona @ Kansas City : Chiefs
Houston @ New York Jets : Texans
Oakland @ Pittsburgh - Raiders
Baltimore @ Carolina - Baltimore
Cleveland @ Jacksonville : Jags
Atlanta @ St. Louis : Falcons
Seattle @ New Orleans : Saints. Coming off a bye? Against the Seahawks? Cakewalk.
Tampa Bay @ San Francisco : Niners
Indianapolis @ New England : Oh dear God let it be the Pats. Pats.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia : Eagles
Denver @ San Diego : Chargers

NFL Predictions, Week 10

2010-11-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

NFL Predictions, Week 10

Deion Sanders on the Cowboys: “You can get fancier and fancier houses, but at some point you gotta buy nicer furniture." Couldn’t have said it better myself. Say what you will about my predictions, but I predicted the firing of Wade back in September. I like this trend. Watch your back, Brad Childress.

Gotta start getting my picks in earlier – Thursday night games start this week.

Here we go, week 10!

Baltimore @ Atlanta: Ravens.

Detroit @ Buffalo : Lions even without Stafford. Still, have the Lions really not won a road game since 2007? Jeezus.

Minnesota @ Chicago : DABears

NY Jets @ Cleveland : Jets despite Sanchezzzzzzzzzz and something resembling a midseason slumparoonie

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis: Bungles got the running game, but still, Peyton here.

Tennessee @ Miami : LADIES AND GENTLEMEN MR. RANDY MOSS

Carolina @ Tampa Bay : Really? Bucs.

Houston @ Jacksonville : Two 4-4 teams. Texans

Kansas City @ Denver : Chiefs

Dallas @ NYG : Giants

Seattle @ Arizona : Flipped a coin. Seahawks. Is bowling on?

St. Louis @ San Francisco : Rams are looking decent. Picking Rams.

New England @ Pittsburgh : Pats

Philadelphia @ Washington : Redskins here!

NFL Predictions, Week 9

2010-11-06T10:04:00.001-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 9

Week 9?? Say it ain’t so! 9-5 last week, 63-55 overall for the season. Lots of heartbreaking games last week. Anyway, here goes:

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta : ATL at home

Chicago @ Buffalo : Bears

New England @ Cleveland : Pats

New York Jets @ Detroit : Jets looked terrible last week and I’m a Stafford fan. Jets shit the bed here. Lions

Arizona @ Minnesota : Vikes

New Orleans @ Carolina : Saints

Miami @ Baltimore : Ravens

San Diego @ Houston : Tex

New York Giants @ Seattle : Giants

Kansas City @ Oakland : Tough one. You know it’s a weird season when Chiefs @ Raiders is a “game to watch.” Chiefs in a close one.

Indianapolis @ Philadelphia : Iggles

Dallas @ Green Bay : Didn’t this game happen already? Packers

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati : Steelers

NFL Predictions, Week 8

2010-10-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 8

9-5 last week (54-50 overall). Now we’re talkin.’

I may miss a highlight or two due to my gettin’ hitched this weekend. I’m feeling rather confident in my picks this week, though. Let's fight!

Miami @ Cincinnati : Miami

Jacksonville @ Dallas : Jags in an abortion

Washington @ Detroit : kinda sorta feeling the Lions here

Buffalo @ Kansas City : Chiefs!

Carolina @ St. Louis : Rams

Green Bay @ New York Jets : Jets

Denver @ San Francisco : Niners

Tennessee @ San Diego : T I T A N S

Seattle @ Oakland : Raiders

Minnesota @ New England : Pats (sigh)

Tampa Bay @ Arizona : Flipped a coin. TB

Pittsburgh @ New Orleans : Steelers

Houston @ Indianapolis : Texans

NFL Predictions, Week 7

2010-10-22T07:47:00.001-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 7

Let’s get something straight – The Raiders, Ravens, Bears and Chiefs all should have won their games last week, so I’m not going to cry about my lousy 8-6 (45-45 overall) record this week. Flukes, all. As for “devastating” hits…good grief.

Let’s go:

Cincinnati @ Atlanta : Falcons

Washington @ Chicago : Redskins. Bears offense looks terrible.

Philadelphia @ Tennessee : Titans

Jacksonville @ Kansas City : Jacksonville was disgraceful last week. Chiefs

Pittsburgh @ Miami : Should be interesting. Picking Steelers, though this could be an away game they lose.

Cleveland @ New Orleans : Saints

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay : Rams I guess? Couldn’t care less.

San Francisco @ Carolina : Panthers in what will be another excruciating game to behold.

Buffalo @ Baltimore : Ravens

Arizona @ Seattle : I like how Boomer will sometimes incredulously pronounce the word ‘Cardinals’ when they manage a surprising win, so I’m picking them in hopes that he does that during the post game.

Oakland @ Denver : Raidernation

New England @ San Diego : I’d like to think the Chargers will finally win one, and they’re at home. They’re due. Bolts.

Minnesota @ Green Bay : Vikes

New York Giants @ Dallas : Giants

Heroin Helper

2010-10-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sudden Death 6:
Dealing With Sudden Death

The most important thing to remember when someone around you experiences sudden death, is that in the vast majority of cases, the victim can be saved. Do not just give up. In the song "Street Hassle" by Lou Reed, the narrator says,

When someone turns that blue
It is a universal truth
And you just know that bitch
Will never fuck again.

The problem with this is that it is not true, and the woman in the song would probably survive if the others around her were more knowledgeable and (probably more important) caring.

Most "official" sources will tell you that the first thing you should do in the event of a sudden death is call 9-1-1. I think that this is a judgment call. There are situations when you should call 9-1-1, but in most cases it is not necessary. Below is a table and a list of guidelines on what you should do if someone you are with has a negative reaction after ingesting heroin. But bear in mind that these are my opinions based upon my experiences. You may want to be more conservative, and always call 9-1-1. It is up to you; in the end, what is most important is helping the person in danger.

HEROIN helper Recommendations

State of Victim and What You Should Do:

Frothing at the mouth : Call 9-1-1
Stopped Heart : Perform CPR
Stopped Breathing : Perform CPR
Stopped Heart (3+ minutes) : Call 9-1-1
Stopped Breathing (3+ minutes) : Call 9-1-1
Convulsing : Put in safe place
Convulsing (3+ minutes) : Call 9-1-1
Labored Breathing : Watch closely
Can't wake : Watch closely

R.I.P Robert Truax

2010-10-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Rocket pioneer Robert Truax. Following his retirement from the Navy, Truax pretty much dedicated his life to working on cheap and public access to space and set about building rockets in his San Diego backyard. He was a regular guest on Johnny Carson, showing off the latest rockets he built and always expounding on how space exploration doesn't have to be monolithic and expensive. A pretty compelling figure.

Perhaps most notably, Truax was most famous for building the rocket engine for this guy (that's Truax on the left).

NFL Predictions, Week 6

2010-10-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 6

6-8 last week and a disgusting 37-39 overall. I was recently accused of picking "from hunger,” and I wouldn’t necessarily argue with that. Nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking where the NFL is concerned, especially this season, which has been unpredictable to say the least. One week a team will look like a lock for the playoffs, the next, they’ll look terrible. Anyway, let’s try this again.

Seattle at Chicago : DABears, especially if Cutler's good to go.

Miami at Green Bay : Dolphins, providing they used their bye-week to get their special teams issues worked out. Green Bay’s also had some significant injuries.

San Diego at St. Louis : Chargers have something to prove, even though defeating the Rams will be no one’s idea of a ‘statement.’ Still, Chargers.

Baltimore at New England : Ravens

New Orleans at Tampa Bay : Saints

Detroit at NY Giants : Rooting for Detroit, picking Giants. Get well soon, Matthew Stafford.

Atlanta at Philadelphia : Iggles, even without Vick. Kolb’s an underrated QB who more than held his own last week.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh : Counting on Big Ben to energize the Steelers passing game, which is ranked last in the league. Steelers here. Welcome back, Ben.

Kansas City at Houston : Looking forward to this one, oughta be good. I'm still pulling for the Chiefs, and probably will continue to until their two against Tennessee.

Oakland at San Francisco : Raiders. How the hell can you pick the Niners?

NY Jets at Denver : God help me, Jets. Denver's not prepared for New York’s secondary. Hate both of these teams.

Dallas at Minnesota : Vikings if Favre actually plays. Minnesota beat Dallas in 6 of their last 7 meetings. You gotta believe. (My pick automatically becomes the Cowboys if Tarvaris Jackson takes the field).

Indianapolis at Washington : Colts on the road have not beaten the Redskins at home since 1967. Picking Redskins, and if they do beat the Colts on Sunday, and I mean really beat ‘em, I will buy a Redskins jersey.

Titans at Jacksonville : Two televised Titans games in two weeks! Christmas in October here in Bungles country. Titans in a good one.

NFL Predictions, Week 5

2010-10-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 5

Holy hell, 6-8 last week. I don’t even wanna talk about it. Without further ado –

Jacksonville @ Buffalo : Jags in a game I won’t be watching. Bills could very well go winless this season, from the looks of it.

Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati : Bungles in a close one.

Atlanta @ Cleveland : Falcons

St. Louis @ Detroit : Lions, especially if Stafford returns.

KC @ Indianapolis : May be wishful thinking, but Chiefs, who, in case you weren’t paying attention, are the last unbeaten team in the NFL. Colts defense can’t fuck with the running game, and if there is any justice in the world, Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones should run all over 'em.

GB @ Washington : Donovan impressed me last week against the Iggles, going Skins on this one.

Chicago @ Carolina : Thinking the Panthers get their first win of the season in a very close upset.

Denver @ Baltimore : Ravens despite a floundering Flacco.

NYG @ Houston : Texans

New Orleans @ Arizona : Saints despite an inconsistent offense and lingering Super Bowl hangover.

Tennessee @ Dallas : Cowboys have had a bye week to rest up and get their ducks in a row, but still picking Titans here.

SD @ Oakland : SD

Philadelphia @ San Francisco : Niners, especially if Kolb starts. Poor guy. Expect the Michael Vick media smoochfest to continue unabated.

Minnesota @ NYJ : Two words: Randy Moss. Finally, my man Favre has somebody to throw to who can make plays!

NFL Predictions, Week 4

2010-09-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, week 4

10-6 last week, 25-23 overall. Didn't see Chargers, GB losing at all.

Stay tuned for an op-ed piece I'm working on about the controversial plan to expand the regular NFL season to 18 games. For now, here are my week 4 picks.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh : Steelers have somehow managed to go 3-0 without Roethlisberger, and their defense is smart and airtight. I've bet against them three times - this time I'm reluctantly going with the Steelers.

Carolina @ New Orleans : Saints

Seattle @ St. Louis : Hawks

Denver @ Tennessee : Titans

Detroit @ Green Bay : Packers

Cincinnati @ Cleveland : Bungles

New York Jets @ Buffalo : Jets

San Francisco @ Atlanta : Niners

Arizona @ San Diego : Bolts

Washington @ Philadelphia : Don't you mean McNabb @ Vick? My pick: Vick (sorry, Tim).

Indianapolis @ Jacksonville : Colts

Houston @ Oakland : Texans

Chicago @ New York Giants : DAbears

New England @ Miami : Pats

NFL Predictions, Week 3

2010-09-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 3

8-8 last week, 15-17 overall. That's better than Boomer.

DET @ MIN : Still pullin' for my man Favre, and Lions don't win on the road. MIN

DAL @ HOU : Texans

BUF @ NE : NE, easily

CIN @ CAR : Bungles

ATL @ NO : Saints

PIT @ TB : Steelers...maybe? Zzzzzzz

CLE @ BAL : Baltimore

TEN @ NYG : Titans (or else).

SF @ KC : SF looked more than decent in the 2nd half Monday night, but still going with the Chiefs here. Looking forward to this one.

WAS @ STL : Skins

PHI @ JAC : Iggles Vicktory

SD @ SEA : Chargers

OAK @ ARI : Every week there is at least one game I'd just as soon not watch. But Raiders.

IND @ DEN : Colts

NYJ @ MIA : Hoping Miami but betting Jets

GB @ CHI : Packers

NFL Predictions, Week 2

2010-09-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions, Week 2:

7 - 9 last week, but, hey, lotta upsets! How the hell did Tampa Bay beat ANYONE? And who’d have guessed the Chiefs would look like a Playoff caliber team? Certainly not this asshole. Anyway, let’s get on with it.

Baltimore @ Cincinnati – Ravens!

Tampa Bay @ Carolina – Ugh. Is there any, like, tennis on, or something? (Panthers).

Buffalo @ Green Bay – LOL

KC @ Cleveland – KC. I became a fan of this team over the course of their drubbing of SD on Monday night. If these rookies keep up what they’re doing, I think they’re a lock to win the AFC West.

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee – TITANS

Chi @ Dallas – Dallas, but, for God’s sake, keep Alex Barron off the field, dudes.

Arizona @ Atlanta - Falcons

Philly @ Detroit – Much as I hate to root for that dickbag Michael Vick (get well soon, Kolb), with Stafford out, this’ll be a cakewalk for the Iggles.

Miami @ MN: MN

Seattle @ Denver: Seattle

St Louis @ Oakland: Raiders were a disaster last week but I’ll give ’em the edge over the Rams.

Houston @ Washington: Redksins

NE @ Jets – Jets’ nonexistent offense VS Pats’ nonexistent defense. Hmmm. I hope it’s a massacre so we won’t have to hear Rex Ryan’s big fat mouth anymore. NE

Jacksonville @ SD: SD.

Giants @ Colts – This’ll be a good, exciting game for all the obvious reasons, but my fantasy is that Eli gets hurt and Jim Sorgi comes in and decimates Peyton and co. A Manning-free victory. But that won’t happen, so, in the interest of solidifying my reputation as NFL clairvoyant, begrudgingly going with the Colts here, who'll never open the season 0 - 2.

NO @ SF - Saints

 
 

NFL Predictions, week 1

2010-09-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

NFL Predictions week 1:

Minnesota at New Orleans: This oughta be great. Can’t think of many better games to open the season. Counting on my man Brett to lead the Vikings to victory here. Also, hangover factor. MIN

Carolina at NYG: NYG, though skeptical about that o-line.

Atlanta at Pittsburgh: Can’t see Steelers beating the dirty birds without Big Ben. First four Steelers games are gonna be rough. ATL

Cleveland at Tampa Bay: My time is too valuable to even sit through the highlights (LOL) of this awful game. Browns I guess.

Denver at Jacksonville: Broncos

Indianapolis at Houston: Colts, though I’m counting on Houston to give ‘em a hard time. Sweep the leg, Johnny!

Miami at Buffalo: Miami

Detroit at Chicago: Bears (but don’t underestimate Detroit!).

Oakland at Tennessee: T E N E S S E E always

Cincinnati at New England: Pats

Arizona at St. Louis: St Louis

San Fran at Seattle: SF

Green Bay at Philadelphia: Green Bay. Looking forward to this one!

Dallas at Washington: Redskins

Baltimore at NJ Jets: Last season's Jets playoff run was a fluke and this is perhaps the most overrated team in the NFL. Don’t believe the hype. Go Ravens!

SD at KC: Chargers