2004 is ALMOST over

I don't know about others, but, I, for one, am grately relieved that 2004 is just about over. This was an awesome year, but a horrible year at the same time. Is that really possible? In my mind, yes.

Good thing: London trip
Bad thing: Another 4-Year trip to Camp Bush-Is-An-Asshole

Cheers to the NEW YEAR 2005 and cheers to lots and lots of blogging activity in 2005!

Any year is a better year than this year.

2005 New Year's Resolutions - A Work in Progress

1. Celibacy - there is no romance in the community I live in. At least, romance has been elusive for me. I have more to offer than a dick up another guy's ass. I have more to offer than a big cock. I have more to offer than a good blowjob. I simply want more dates and other experiences, rather than instantly throwing myself into random sexual situations with no feeling or no afterthought. I want to be respected and loved just like anyone else. That is not very much to ask. I am not completely innocent, though. Part of the problem is that I allow this behavior to continue and accept this behavior as the way it is. People tell me that it is the bar scene, and this behavior is not exclusive to the homosexual bar scene. I believe this for the most part, but the alternatives have not been any better yet.

2. Better finances - I am tired of always being broke and self-conscious over how and where I spend my money every waking second. I want to pay bills on time and save a little bit.

3. Trip to Iceland - Travelling to Iceland for Gay Pride is one of my big goals for this new year. Iceland's Gay Pride is usually the second week of August. From pictures I've seen, Iceland seems incredibly beautiful and not as cold as people might think.

4. Focus on my writing - Writing has been virtually non-existent during the year 2004. That will change in 2005. Self-publishing is a more viable option due to technological advances.

5. Website/Web Design - I want to learn web design and have plans for a website. This would also be helpful in working with my writing.

6. Back to School - I would like to start back at school by Spring term, even if it is only one or two classes. Along with this, I also want to take film courses again. My interest in filmmaking has come back.

Top Ten Favorite Recordings of 2004 - Year in Review Part 2

10. Self-titled - The Dead Texan
9. The Eye of Every Storm - Neurosis
8. This Island - LeTigre
7. The Greater Wrong of the Right - Skinny Puppy
6. Medulla - Bjork
5. I.Com - Miss Kittin
4. Kesto - Pan Sonic
3. Between The Devil - Fixmer/McCarthy
2. No Future No Past - Das Bierbeben
1. Sonic Nurse - Sonic Youth

Honorable Mentions: ANS - Coil; Astronaut - Duran Duran; Fly or Die - N.E.R.D.; TG Now -Throbbing Gristle; City - Client; Involver - Sasha; Antics - Interpol; We Fight Til Death - Windsor for the Derby

Compilations and Reissues: My Parade - Ellen Allien; Anhedoniac - Jarboe (reissue); Kompakt 100; Speicher 2 - Kompakt; Global Underground 26: Romania - James Lavelle; The Remix Collection - Ellen Allien; Soliloquies for Lilith - Nurse With Wound (reissue); First Album - Miss Kittin & The Hacker (reissue); Light & Magic - Ladytron (reissue)

Most frequently listened to 2003 Releases: Black Cherry - Goldfrapp; Neurosis & Jarboe; Fatherfucker - Peaches

Songs of the Year: I Love You Golden Blue - Sonic Youth; Requiem for a Hit - Miss Kittin; The End of the World - Kiki; Nanny Nanny Boo Boo - LeTigre; Pleasure from the Bass - Tiga

Remix of the Year: Shake Yer Dix (Tiga) - Peaches

Worst Artist of the Year: Scissors Sisters

Most Over-Played Artist of the Year: Maroon 5 (And, I hate them, too!!)

Christmas

Despite the fact that this year has not been the greatest, Christmas ended on a nice note. I had a fabulous Christmas dinner with Kent's sisters and families (Kent is my housemate). I also found myself pleasantly surprised with lottery tickets (won $13) and a Best Buy gift card, which I was not expecting. Adding all this to the Barnes & Noble card from one of the attorneys I work for, a Tully's card from the secretaries I file for, and a Gap gift card from Kent made me realize that I have been such a scrooge this holiday season. Bah humbug to me. But, it is generosity that makes the season what it is.

Best Concerts of 2004: Follow-up

Ooops. Posters tacked up all over Capital Hill reminds me that I forgot to add Derrick May, First Avenue, Mpls., October 16th, to the best-of shows of 2004. He is one of the founding fathers of Detroit techno.

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!??!?!?

Time voted George W. Bush as Person of the Year. That absolutely disgusts me. I am extremely disappointed in our media.

Best Concerts of 2004 - Year in Review Part 1

Overall, I think that 2004 has been one of the best years for shows that I can remember. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend some awesome shows over the last twelve months. Here is a list of my favorite shows of the year 2004 (not in any order):

Psychic TV, Chop Suey, Seattle, November 6
P.J. Harvey, First Avenue, Mpls., October 1
P.J. Harvey, Showbox, Seattle, October 31
Le Tigre, Showbox, Seattle, November 21
Throbbing Gristle, Astoria, London, U.K., May 16
Miss Kittin, Sound Bar, Chicago, July 22
Madonna, United Center, Chicago, July 11
Sex In Dallas, Nag Nag Nag/Ghetto, London, U.K., May 19
Laibach, Neumo's, Seattle, November 20
Diamanda Galas, TBA 2004, Portland, September 10 & 12
Peaches and All The Pretty Horses, First Avenue, Mpls., May 8
Einsturzende Neubauten, First Avenue, Mpls., May 1
Sonic Youth, The Quest Club, Mpls., July 28
Ministry and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, The Quest Club, Mpls., date ?
Richie Hawtin, The Quest Club, Mpls., July 3
UNKLE, Chop Suey, Seattle, November 4

Disappointments of the Year:

-- Interpol, First Avenue, Mpls, - The place was so crowded and was really hard to see the band with the lack of lighting. We were also distracted by obnoxious drunk nearby who could not stand straight.
-- The non-realization of the RE-TG event in England - Was supposed to be a "Celebration of Industrial Music," but was cancelled at last minute. At least, TG were kind enough to make it up to those who spent the dollars to travel all the way to the U.K.
-- The fact that I will never get the chance to see Coil live. Jhonn Balance, RIP
-- Missing N.E.R.D. because my friends were irritated and wanted to go home. The Black Eyed Peas were good, though.
-- The fact that Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie both sold out First Avenue this year.
-- The near-closing of First Avenue (it closed and then, re-opened)
-- I missed the Legendary Pink Dots for the third consecutive tour (exhaustion was at fault the first two times, the most recent time was that they played Mpls. the last day I was in London.)
-- Missing Ellen Allien in Portland for financial reasons.

The Pretenders - Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

The Pretenders are getting inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. They were one of my first favorite bands as a teenager. I can not believe it's been that long. However, I am surprised to hear that Patti Smith, The Stooges, and the Sex Pistols did not make it.

Andy Bell of Erasure

I was very sad to hear the news about Andy Bell being HIV+ positive. Another beautiful person living with this despicable disease. Some days prove difficult to see these things happening around me.

Unpopular

I am going to "cut" to the chase. I FUCKING HATE THE SCISSORS SISTERS! They are by the far the worst band of 2004. What doesn't make sense to me is the fact that everyone around me seems to LOVE them. Utter bullshit, if you ask me. The lead singer's pixiesque, sprite-ish voice grates on me so much. They were on SNL last Saturday night with Colin Farrell and were horrible. The lead singer's outfit during the second song, the horrific Pink Floyd cover, Comfortably Numb, was bad in a non-descript sort of way. Wait a minute. That outfit looks awfully familiar. Oh yeah, I think that I've seen that outfit on Sigourney Weaver. No, Sharon Stone. Nah, that can't be it. Wait - Angelina Jolie. Yeah, Angelina Jolie was the one. Aww, shucks. Dammit. Lord, I can never keep these actresses straight.

South Africa

Victory for Same-Sex Marriage Rights in South Africa

Larry Kramer's State of the Gay Community

Thought-provoking speech from Queer Rights activist Larry Kramer about the State of the Gay Community.

i am experimental

I am experimenting with various blogging programs to see what I like. Thus far, my biggest complaint is the lack of templates and different fonts that are available with these programs. I think that it might be best for me to learn HTML (no matter how I hard I resist it) so that I can be more creative with style, look, and fonts. This will be an ongoing process to try to weave my way through. Let the adventure begin.