One Girl Revolution

I'll have more to say about this on The Work Site, but for now, I just want to say for the love of all that is good and holy, buy it.

-Meant to wake up at 7:00 at the latest this morning so I could get to work early and leave early. Naturally, I sleep in and get to work at my normal time. After skipping breakfast.

-Apartment is still a wreck. At this point, I'll have just under two hours to clean up my bedroom, wash the sheets on my bed, vaccuum, make rice and clean the kitchen before my guests arrive. I would have had more time if I'd been able to get my ass out of bed earlier, but that would take all the fun out of making this a five for five hell week.

-No time to grind coffee. No time to get some at the bakery, which means both coffee and something for breakfast is out. Then again, I'm currently stressed to the point that the thought of food makes me nauseous, so that's one bright spot.

-Skipping lunch. The only way I'll get out of here by 5:15 is if I don't break, not even for 15 minutes. Wish me luck as I attempt to pound out three reviews and six artist profiles while having a psychedelic low blood sugar experience.

-Wouldn't mind having an adult beverage (and it would be just one, theycallmeboy ) once this damn day is over, but the guests in question are teetotalers. Out of respect for them, I abstain in their presence, since it would appear that such activities are frowned upon by them. (In contrast, my mom has made me a few after work mercy stress drinks in my day.) This means I'll have to wait until Sunday night before I can slow down the mental processes enough to maintain at least some semblance of being a sane, contributing member of society.


So in other words, this is going to be a very interesting 72 hours.

The moment of truth...


Created by OnePlusYou

...so basically, in the event of total societal collapse, a massive food shortage, a freak snow storm, or the zombie apocalypse, my biggest danger is...15 other humans.

Just for the record, you'll never take me alive.

It looks like the Fred Phelps Hate Machine will be in my general vicinity tomorrow. Fortunately, there is a genius plan in place to twist this around into something positive. No, no, come back. Just stay with me, 'kay?

Ok, here's the deal - according to this post:

Kate Brindle, Program Coordinator of the LGBTRC, and Dan Burns, Chair of the LGBTRC Advisory Committee, will each pledge $2.00 for every minute Members of the Westboro Baptist Church are protesting on EMU’s (Eastern Michigan University) campus to raise money for the LGBT Emergency Fund which provides financial assistance for EMU students who encounter immediate financial hardship do to issues surrounding sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

But wait, it gets better! You - yes, you, my friends - can get in on the fun as well! Just go to this online pledge form, enter what you'd like to pledge per minute (so be careful with your amounts), then count down to the Zero Hour of tomorrow, May 9, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Though no one wants to see them spend even a second dispensing their vile, filthy, ugly hate, at least this time around, something good will come of it. And won't they be thrilled to tears when they find out?

Even if you can't donate due to budget constraints (like myself at the moment), please feel free to pass this along to interested parties in any way you see fit. We certainly don't want to leave anyone out, you know?

It's been a tough week, but I have to admit that this made me feel slightly better.

I need to explore steampunk a bit more, possibly with theycallmeboy. It's one of the few costuming subcultures/lifestyles I can think of where the individual components of some outfits could used for everyday wear - meaning I don't need separate wardrobes. I can live with that.

Well, an e-mail just went around the office saying that there were tickets available for The Swell Season (the show I was desperate to see on May 10). I have friends coming in this weekend, and was hoping that by some miracle, there would be three tickets available.

There are two.

The Universe seems intent on telling me, "THOU SHALL NOT SEE INCREDIBLE IRISH MUSICIANS, FOR THOU ART NOT WORTHY."

Man, I totally cannot wait for this week to be over.

So, after learning that my first plan could possibly see me charged with discouraging morality and getting no feedback as to the best course of action, I did what I should have done in the first place and plunked the lot on eBay. Opening bid is $20, which sounds high until you realize that it's for six books, each of which are going for $9.99 on Amazon.

If there are no takers after 10 days, I'll have to take my chances with a used bookstore. I'm reluctant to do that; my one foray into selling books at a brick and mortar saw me carting in dozens of books and several rare CDs, only to be told after an hour or so of waiting that the entire lot - of over 30 books - would net me just under $20. Or, as they were so smug in telling me, just under $20 in store credit. Lesson learned. I will never sell through them again.

Not that I think I'd get any more from a local seller, but at least they won't be jerks about it.

Anyway, here's hoping I get a vaguely decent price for everything, as I'd feel like an idiot in handing over less than the books were originally worth.

It seems that the one sentence that best describes my life is, "Grandiose ideas that turn to folly rather than come to fruition."

After being advised that my attempt at a raffle could be construed as heading up a session of illegal gambling,¹ I've decided that it will have to either be eBay or my nearest brick and mortar comic/book store. Does anyone have any advice about which would be more likely to make more money? (I ask because I seem to have horrible eBay karma - the only way I've ever gotten anyone to bid on/buy any of my stuff was to list either the opening bid or the Buy It Now price (or both) for an absurdly low amount. Anything more (and we're talking in the reasonable range) doesn't even get viewed.




¹And for those saying, "But that's in Texas!" there are two issues. First, I have no idea if my state has the same sorts of regulations, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to pour through state, county and city legal codes to find out. Secondly, if a Texan won, they could possibly get in trouble for participating. Given that this was supposed to be an easy, fun process, there's really no reason for me to pursue the idea any longer.

Back when I worked at OldJob, one of my fellow employees was instrumental as a friend, mentor, and someone who kept me from going absolutely batty due to unrealistically high levels of stress. We had differing opinions on just about everything - religion, politics, culture, even music - but he was always tremendously respectful and kind. Now he needs help, and I want to see what I can do for him.

As you can see from reading through his LJ, he's currently preparing for a mission trip to Bolivia. I know this sort of thing is a touchy and/or dicey subject for some people, but I know this guy well enough to know that his trip isn't going to be a "Bibles Before Bread" sort of deal - yes, there will be some worship and such going on, but it would appear that this will be taking place with a pre-existing congregation; as far as I know, they won't be converting anyone. The main thrust of the trip is to go down there and help the community, which is something I can get behind.

Thing is, he needs to raise money for this to happen. He's not a rich guy.

To that end, I have volumes 1-6 of Bone trade paperbacks that this guy gave me a while back. They're mine to do with as I please, so I thought I'd use them to help out my friend. I was going to put them on eBay at first, but then I had an idea - why not a raffle?

Here's how it would work: people enter the raffle by leaving a comment on my blog and sending me $10 via PayPal. From there, their names (or rather, LJ handles) are put into a hat (there will be pictures, so as to prove that the raffle took place, hence the need for LJ names for privacy), one of which will be drawn at random. The lucky winner gets all six volumes for $10 - a real steal, given that I was hoping to get at least $50 for them on eBay. I'm hoping that at least five people would play, as I'd feel silly in just giving my friend $10.

Anyway, I wanted to see what the Great and Powerful Internets had to say about all of this. Good idea? Bad idea? I'll need to get on with this soon, as my friend will be leaving soon.

What say you?

HOLY SHIT I JUST HEARD SIMPLE KID'S "LIL' KING KONG" USED IN A SATURN COMMERCIAL!






*snif* Mah baybee's all grown up and...and licensing his songs for use in marketing campaigns.

Maybe this means he'll finally start making enough headway in America that he'll do a proper tour...

...but doesn't actually stop me from adding stuff to it.

I desperately need to have this music pouring out of my windows all summer, so I added it to my ridiculously long Wish List - the same one that reminds me that despite my desire (and ongoing attempts) to consume less in the name of environmental stewardship, I am actually a shameless music/world culture fanatic.

Also, a bad, bad educated liberal Westerner. With impeccable music taste.

I have to admit to not knowing much about daytime TV (partially because I'm not around in the morning to watch it, and mostly because women's morning shows in America seem to run under the assumption that we have an average IQ of 70 and think on a looped circuit of fashion, weight loss, and how to spice up our love life), but I will say that I like Kelly Ripa. I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm a fan - I know precious little about her - but she doesn't seem forced or falsely perky, and that's always a relief. I still remember the time she was on SNL, and though I can't remember the sketches, I do remember that I was impressed by her comedic timing.

Anyway, I recently found out about a contest that centers around Kelly Ripa - or more accurately, her handbags. Basically, you go to the Electrolux Appliances website, click on the ad for the "Kelly's Bags" contest, register, and follow clues each day as to where she's hidden her bag(s) on the Internets. Collect the bag(s), then match them to outfits and go to events - you score more points if you match the right bag(s) with the right outfit(s). (I would lose horribly, because when asked what bag to use for what occasion in real life, I ALWAYS answer, "The one that holds the most stuff, especially my good headphones." That said, I would love to see theycallmeboy review this for Big Mean Flash Gamer, because in addition to his snark and keen observations, he and I also have approximately the same concept of style and fashion - that is to say, centered on comfort, practicality, and utilitarianism - so we'd have a good laugh over the fact that he picked the biggest bag too.)

So, what's in it for you if you win? It's actually one of ten Electrolux kitchen appliance suites, which is a pretty awesome prize. However, this is what I consider to be the most impressive bit about the whole shebang:

"Electrolux will join Kelly in supporting the OCRF through a series of online promotions and through a portion of sales on select retail appliances. We plan to raise more than $500,000 over the next two years. Electrolux will make a $1 donation (with a minimum of $40,000 and a maximum of $45,000) to the OCRF (www.ocrf.org) for every eligible person who registers to play." - from the website

So even if you don't win, you're helping throw some money toward a truly worthy cause. And hey - since our leaders are busy liberating Iraq through shopping malls and condos, it looks like it's up to the rest of us to fund vital medical research.

Due to a scheduling conflict, our company had its Cinco de Mayo party today. This means I'm not longer craving junk food, but I think I've also reached critical mass. There will be no need to eat for days. Blug.

Anyway, I've decided that the time has come to resurrect a time-honored tradition on this here blog - FRIDAY ROCKS! That's right - five videos featuring only the best music by the finest artists, all centered around a theme of my choosing. Given the occasion, I've decided to go with Mexican and Mexican-American musicians. It's not just flamenco and mariachis, kids! Enjoy!

Rodrigo y Gabriella


Los Lobos


Rage Against the Machine (via Zach de la Rocha)


Santana


Joan Baez (with Bob Dylan - he gets a pass today)

Why the hell have I been craving junk food for the past month? I try not to have it - it's not good for me, it's not good for society, and it makes me feel like crap after eating it - but I want it.

It's not an emotional thing, and I think I get enough calories and such, since I'm not running around hungry all the time. I've been indulging from time to time, always in moderation, so it's not a deprivation thing. What gives?

It's just weird, you know?

So, what happens to American "tourists" who happen to get "lost" while "sightseeing" in your beautiful country?

All hypothetical. Of course.

You can all blame onceupon for this. She posted an entry featuring the whole, "What seven songs are you listening to right now?" meme, and invited anyone to participate. Anyone who's read this journal long enough knows that I see this as an excuse to geek, so you're stuck with this on your flist. Again, it's not voluntary! I was coerced!

All songs listed feature commentary and a video, each behind a cut to spare your flists. If anyone else wants to participate, feel free to rock it. Yeah.

Seven Songs

If it's good enough for theycallmeboy and teaandbitchery...

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Moderate
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Test


Not that I think this could possibly be in any way accurate, but whatever.

As already noted by cammila_radio, last night was company bowling night. Despite not having bowled since elementary school, I didn't completely embarrass myself. Which isn't to say that my score wasn't abysmal, but at least I hit some of the pins some of the time. On the whole, it was a very pleasurable time, marred only by the aforementioned hip problem. I think I pulled the muscle again when I went to leave the lane; my shoes grabbed the wood floor, I pivoted on the joint instead of properly spinning around, and...ow. I was limping pretty heavily that night and today, but this evening I figured out that it is indeed a muscular problem and not a joint one. That's fine - I can deal with muscle pain. I did some stretching, so hopefully that will help.

It had better, anyway. Even with just two days out of commission, I'm really feeling a need to get back to using the kettlebell. At the risk of making my blog sound like it has some sort of endorsement deal, I just want to say that it's unlike any other workout I've experienced, and I mean that in a good way. It's taken me only a few days to feel stronger, more energetic, and even leaner. My body's strange propensity for building muscle at a stupid fast rate is benefiting quite a bit from this too, which is all the more reason to keep going. I think I'll give it a gentle try tomorrow, or at the very least do the stuff that doesn't involve my hips and legs that much.

There's a little more news I could write about, but I'm still kind of tired (I've been tired ever since this whole hip thing happened) so I'll wrap it up for tonight.

Though I suppose I should mention that thanks to a conversation with ericadams, I now have over two hours of the stock production music used on the Ren and Stimpy show. (So if any of you are making films...) All I need now is a decent Raymond Scott CD, an extra iPod and some mini speakers to make my dream of a soundtracked life complete.

As of late last night, tickets were available for The Swell Season on May 10th. I just checked back now, and guess what?

The ticketing system currently indicates that no seats are available for this performance. This performance may not yet be onsale, may be sold-out or have other issues. Please try at a later time or contact customer service.

For more information, contact customer service.

Naturally. Fucking hell.

I'm starting to think that I'm not meant to see music live anymore or something.

I am irrationally upset about this. As in, near tears upset.