A Stupid Song on the Radio

A stupid song on the radio — that I can't seem to get out of my head — is "Grenade" by Bruno Mars.

This stupid song is all about the way Bruno is willing to kill himself to prove he loves the listener.

He would "catch a grenade" ... "jump in front of a train" ... "take a bullet to the brain" ... etc.

Then to top it off he says, "I would die for you baby, but you won't do the same."

Hold on there buddy ... You want me (the listener) to kill myself for you???  And you're saying I'm a bad person if I won't?

Since when does killing yourself help anybody, or prove one's love? 

The Christians love to say that that is what Jesus did, but I still don't get how his death helped anybody.

Bruno, if you're so eager to die for a cause, why don't you put down your microphone and go join the Army?

Now get out of my head!

Owen's Birthday

So far today is off to a good start.  I bot some milk and a delicious sausage, egg + cheese croissant at the corner QuikTrip earlier.  The cold air was not unpleasant, and there were almost no cars on the road, being 5:45 AM on a Sunday.

Today is Owen's birthday, and I think he will like the G.I. Joe action figures I got for him.

I think I will finally burn my latest mix tape (mentioned in my previous post) today.  The title of it is "Muchas Cosas" — which is Spanish for "Many Things."

My Current "Mix Tape"

1.  "The Only Exception" by Paramore
2.  "Who's Johnny?" by El Debarge
3.  "Encore" by Daniel Johnston
4.  "Silly Love" by Daniel Johnston
5.  "Magic" by B.o.B and Rivers Cuomo
6.  "Like a G6" by Far East Movement
7.  "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani
8.  "Hummer" by Smashing Pumpkins
9.  "If It's Love" by Train

An Interesting Image

I found this on Desert Island's website.  It is by Jim Woodring.

Masters of the Universe

In the 1980's, the cheese level was off the charts.  This is a picture of an in-store advertising display from that era.  What could be more appealing to a kid than a toy that proclaimed, "I have the Power!"?

When it comes to the artistic merits of toys, they have come a LONG way in 30 years.  Looking back, the good ole days weren't quite so awesome as today.

Changing Religious Beliefs

I was at the bus stop this week, and I encountered a man in a wheelchair.  He was partially disfigured and had no use of one of his arms.  I noticed he wore a cross keychain, and it got me thinking about Jesus and the miracles described in the gospels.

What I really thought about this pathetic creature in the wheelchair was, "There's no way that I or God could possibly heal you."


I discovered "The Jefferson Bible" a while ago.  It's Thomas Jefferson's version of the life of Jesus, where he cut and pasted passages of Jesus' life, with all the miracles and divinity left out.

My favorite part is the way Jefferson's version ends:
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus, And rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

THE END!

No rising from the dead, no second coming, he's just dead.  What a relief.  We can all get back to living our lives without him judging us.

A Little Weirdness

This video is by the son of two of my very close frenemies from college.

How to Spell Some Difficult to Remember Words

Yes, it's time for English Class.  Today I'm gonna teach you two tricks for spelling two hard-to-spell words.

First, "Caribbean."

I break this down into 3 parts. First "CA."  This is easy to remember as the abbreviation for California.  Then the word "rib."  And finally "bean."

So when you think, "How in hell do I spell Caribbean?" --- just think "California Rib Bean"

Okay, now "diarrhea."  Whoever invented this word was a convoluted fuck.  But it's easy if you break it down. 

First, "diar."  Think of the word diary, drop the y.  Second "rhea," like the woman's name.  (Like Rhea Perlman, the waitress from Cheers).

That's it.  Class dismissed.  Have a good day.

Impression of Saturn

"Impression of Saturn" from November 1999

It's kind of like Vincents paintings were meant to be seen in person, and my paintings were designed to be seen in out of focus photos.

Art Made When Sober vs. Stoned

The level of control when drawing sober is truly outrageous.

Snuffy

When I was 5, it was Mr. Snuffleupagus.  Now, 30 years later it's Mastodon.  Still love the wooly mammoth.

The Path to God

First saying, "There is no God."

Then saying, "I am God."

Finally, God showing Himself to you with undeniable proof.

A Pot Head Turns Prohibitionist

For more than a decade I have been a sort of activist for medical marijuana.  But after ten years of living without it, and living WELL without it, I'm changing my tune. 

Yes, it had a place in my life when I couldn't figure out any other way to manage my mental illness.  I'm not saying it didn't work, just that it is an imperfect solution.  For one thing, it scrambles yer brain pretty bad and makes it very difficult to keep yer life organized.  Also, it's so hard to prepare and ingest.  An antipsychotic PILL is so much easier to take, and so much more reliable and consistent.  A little caffeine is all I need for those times that I'm feeling run-down/depressed.

Marijuana is so damned expensive, even in California where it's "legal."  Also I feel I look and dress so much better without the incapacitating effects of weed.

I don't see any changes in the marijuana culture.  It still seems like the road leads to turning into a tie-dye wearing hippie.  I don't want to become that.

Extended Family

My cousin's boyfriend's son with awesome voodoo face paint.

The Man

Jack Kerouac.  Nobody else even came close.

Good Times, Good Times

My Casio SK-1 from the 80s.  There are a lot of dreams in this little, old keyboard.  Really, it's a miracle that I still have it after 14 years of schizophrenia.

And the keys aren't painted randomly.  They are the colors I "saw" when I played guitar.

Good times.

Money Shot

This is a very good photo of Marvel's Series 6 Legends figures.

An Open Letter to Sam Kieth

Things get around in mysterious ways, so I'm putting this out there.

Sam, please bring back The Maxx.  Batman Confidential shows your skills have never been better.  Surely you miss ole Maxx.  He's gotta be older now, and wiser, with cooler ideas. 

Yer buddy Todd McFarlane is kicking ass with Spawn again and Haunt too.  Doesn't that entice you to do a monthly again? 

Okay, you were never on schedule with Maxx before, and I will always prefer quality over speed, so...what was I saying?

I miss my rabbit habit.

Mike Boast

Anti-Squatter

There is no reason to be out on the streets at night, when shelters go out of their way to make space.

I am anti-squatter because after they spend the night in the laundry room, they thank you by going to the bathroom on the floor.

Squatter, you are too proud to ask for help, but have no respect for anyone.  Honestly, I hope you freeze to death.

Someone Must Agree with Me

Someone must agree with me, that Walmart is gouging the Hell out of people with their LCD TVs, because they took a baseball bat from sporting goods and smashed all the overpriced TVs to smithereens.

'Nuff said.

Sigh

The sculpture featured on this piece of Swiss money, sold at auction yesterday for $104,000,000.

Sigh.

No comment.

Sunday Service

I think everyone is officially sick and tired of the "Christian Sabbath."  Nobody believes anymore that you can find God in a church.

So let's get those buses running on Sunday, and I'm ready to see mail in my mailbox 7 days a week.

If Walmart and McDonald's can do it, why can't the government?  Separation of church and state, people!

Art & the Times

I think a lot of people are waiting for the Post-Modern era, but I think it has come and gone already.

I think the Modern Era was typified by Impressionism, and found its perfect expression with van Gogh.  And I think the Modern Era ended with van Gogh's extremely tragic suicide.

I think Post-Modernism is the only way to account for the success of painters like Picasso and Dali.

And I think Post-Modernism ended in 1980 with the election of Ronald Reagan.  What began then I can only call the Cartoon Era, which saw the rise of a comic-like reality.

My Disguise

This is my ironic winter hat.  In a world of junkies, Satanists and witches, I don't stand out so much.  "Tenacious D" is right.

My World

Not the most flattering photo, but gives you an idea of who you're dealing with.

Blast from the Past

My good friend from KU days, Matt, sent me this scan of a sketch I did in his sketchbook back in the day.  I was really into the "psychic wind" back then.

Big props to my cousin, Elizabite, for being my first (and most likely, only) follower.

Price Gouging

I'm convinced that Walmart and Sony are gouging the Hell out of people with these LCD TVs.  This is a 32" one that sells for $450.  I really think it can't possibly be worth more than $200.  $150 sounds reasonable to me.  So that's like a 200% profit?  I'm sure half goes to Walmart and half goes to Sony. 

Is this really such advanced technology?  More likely a conspiracy to sell TVs and dip out of bloated disposable incomes.

Funny

Hitler goes off about Jay.  Must watch.

How do people get addicted to this stuff??

I've tried tobacco.  At many different times in my life.  And I just don't like it.

Sure, sometimes it's a little fun, but very rarely.

How can anyone smoke more than one of these things per day?  I have to think they're just not paying any attention.

Just For Fun

Do you know someone who is charming far beyond their years?  They may be a vampire!

It is written, that one undeniable sign is the knuckles --- that that is the one thing you cant stop from aging.

If you find someone you know IS in fact a vampire...Run away!  They are probably also a junky!  (You know, a heroin addict.)

P.S.

Bobby Bones, you are totally gay --- and not a metrosexual.

Super-Weird Ideas

The older I get, the less I believe in the brain.  So what's in my skull you ask.  Well, not what one may expect.  You see, I believe in re-incarnation, but not necessarily the soul.  The only ghosts I believe in are God and demons.  So how does one go from death to babyhood.  Well that's where the skull comes in.  Yes it's totally crazy, but so is the idea that chemicals and electricity create this movie we see and hear everyday.  I'm not the first person to suggest a very small person living inside my head.

I'm convinced docters (yes that's how I spell it) are major hallucinators, and truly BELIEVE that they are removing say, half of a person's brain.  According to neuro-anatomy, this should kill the people, or at the very least make half their body completely paralyzed.  Not what happens.

I have to say, I also believe in magic, so the fact that no one has ever heard of this does not make it impossible.  Gives a new meaning to the term "baby trafficking."  I don't want to freak anyone out so I'll stop here.  Maybe more on the subject another day.

The Curse of Seven

VIMBY - Michael Sieben

This is a video of Michael Sieben.  Judge him as you must.  I feel this video shows him in a really bad light, which may be the truth.  Just like Daniel Johnston, he's either hit or miss --- mostly miss --- but when he hits really nails it.