From Russia, With Blocks

Token.

Note: I wrote this back in January right after my life-changing roommates from hell got their 30 days. These songs helped me get through the next month and allowed me to heal, and forgive (but never forget of course). At the end is a little statement I hope they see someday.

I feel calmer now.

The house meeting with Sally just ended. To my friends, and the people who care about me: It went well. An eviction notice was handed down.

the pillows - I Think I Can

Its a great two part song. Inspirational anthem in the beginning, and emotional ballad at the end give it a great one-two punch of anime-inspired j-rock by the pillows. If you want your heart strings tugged at like Weezer’s “My Name is Jonas
” then hit up some FLCL and listen for the tunes from a rock band that has found a place in many anime-lover’s hearts, alongside Yoko Kanno, Tsuneo Imahori and The Seatbelts.

Who knows why the J-genres: J-pop, J-rock & J-indies are so endearing and approachable. “I Think I Can” is not the only anime tune that appeals to me so . It kinda reminds me of Joe Hisaishi’s themes for the Studio Ghibuli films, such as Mononoke Hime (Main Theme), Laputa (空から降ってきた少女 [The Girl Who Fell from the Sky] ),.
Listening to the Totoro theme - 風の通り道 ) [Kaze no tourimichi], I am still brought to tears by its beauty.




Its no coincidence that this song is about the wind, whose fleeting nature is perhaps the epitome of the Japanese concept of あわれ (a-wa-re). The song is also connected with memories of my Aunt passing away as a child, and is a sad, yet inspiring and hopeful reminder of nature’s—and life’s—transience.

Back to the pillows. Yes, apparently there is no capitalization.

かけがえのない
夢を知っちゃった
もう絶対ごまかせないんã
寝ても覚めても繰り返す
I - C - A - N

Kake ga e no nai
Yume o shicchatte (I found out about your dream that money can’t buy)
Mo zettai gomakasenai n da (And you definitely won’t )
Netemo sametemo kuri kaesu
I-C-A-N

I think I can
I think I can
I think I can

(repeat 3 times)

Walking around with this song playing through my iPod, I believe in myself, in my power, in my dreams. It has really been a nice pick-me-up song when the roommate drama at home gets me down. If you haven’t seen FLCL, really do take the chance to see it. Its a really short series (only 6 episodes) that has great animation, music and story. Like Totoro, its another “coming-of-age” story that blows the usual Disney affairs out of the atmosphere. Dubbing’s not too bad either.
. : .
It’s a shame about the split— it was not amicable.

Oletta, I really did feel that there is—as you would say—”potential” in you.. as a friend. I don’t really take anything you’ve said to me personally, and I don’t mean any harm to you either. It really hurt when you said you would stop cooking here, because I know its something that you probably enjoy doing. I don’t think anyone would want you to stop doing something that you have been able to do here at the house.

Erik, I’m sure we woulda kicked it plenty in another life. I really did enjoy your company those first few times we chilled. I know you’ve been in a rough situation since moving down here to SD, and I’m sorry that things didn’t work out here at the house. I’m really glad that you’ve been able to find cool people to kick it with here though; I remember when me, Adelina & James used to look back to kickin it with you in earlier in the year. And it would have been cool to have someone to play the cool games I had… Though we haven’t been able to get to know one another, I wish you well. But punk. I know you stole my games.

If these next 30 days prove to be easy going, that’d be nice. A shame, but nice. Ah, I hope Baby well too. Don’t keep her shivering in the cold like y’all do

Alas, at least I feel peace at heart.
Sorry it had to be
this way.

~
Terry

PS: I don’t plan on starving, or burning in hell

So one of the greatest tricks of elementary school education that I uncovered as a collegehigh school student was that all the holidays and celebrations that are inherently “American” are hella fucked up. Columbus Day (Kill the Savages and Take Their Land), Thanksgiving (KTSATTL II: Whitey Strikes Back), Black History “Month” (Here’s your twenty-eight days) etc., etc. But don’t shoot me! Its really about the celebration (OF PATRIOTISM!111) with friends and family right? And BBQ. Yeaaaah…

Fuck Yeah!

Perhaps as a reward for America’s thankless effort in the War Against Terror, some patriotic archaeologists have found the home of our 1st founding father himself, George Washington, in . While growing up, I envisioned Washington, Adams and the crew as crazy rugged, statuesque, super-people (Culture II Anyone?). Reading about them in history books and stuff, you get a lot of “pulled up by the bootstraps” epic hero shit.

But apparently these “humble beginnings” were as real as Washington’s fabled wooden teeth (i.e. as fake as a wooden nickel):

Dr. Levy and other members of the excavation team said the foundations, stone-lined cellars and other remains suggested that this was far from being the rustic cottage of common perception, but instead one befitting a family of the local gentry. It was a much larger one-and-a-half-story residence, with perhaps eight rooms and an adjacent structure for the kitchen.

Did you ever doubt it?

Call & Response

The Coup - Piss On Your Grave
(from Steal This Album)

Boots & Pam the Funkstress’ humble tribute to the #1 whitey. This song helped me understand what “privalege” is, both the white kind and my own.

your hands is soft as a peach/
cuz you ain’t never did work/
been rich ever since/
your daddy’s dick went squirt/
have you ever hurt from your back?
ducked from rat-a-tat-tats?
seen your mama on crack?
lived in a pontiac?
drank baby similac/
so you could have protein?
(just for enough energy
to hustle up some mo’ green?)

I ain’t no white person, but I’m a college student who don’t gotta worry bout the bills. Uncle Sam takes care of those thanks to my Vietnam Veteran Dad. Is it hypocritical to hate the military/industrial complex, but take and be thankful for their money? Oh opposing truths!

People say I have really soft hands. I wish I had the bankroll to match. Ah well.

PS: Gotta love the mini-skit halfway through—I too, love DC.

I found out awhile back that there is a new law in L.A. targeted towards Taco trucks that make it a misdemeanor to sell tacos for longer than an hour.

This is a M***af****n’ outrage.
(more…)

Saw this today on the TheirTube:

Its no “news” that Fox doesn’t like blogs but c’mon… This is ridiculous!

For the most part, blogging is an INDIVIDUAL effort. As such, it goes without saying that there will be some “bias”, or an individual’s point of view. Fox News on the other hand, is an organization, whose creed is “Fair & Balanced”.

Funny, ain’t it? Well not really.

I gotta admit though, its not like their rival, CNN is any better. EVERYONE (you, me, them, bush, world) knows that Fox is biased, and despite their slogan, they aren’t afraid to show their true colors. CNN on the other hand, is still trying to be the “neutral” party. Yeah right.

Suck it, news conglomerates. Hurry up and die (I wish), or at least get with the millenium and evolve (inevitable).