Well?!

The End of the Beginning

2007-11-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

As much at is pains me to disclose this personal and unsettling information, I feel the time is due to provide my honest and thought filled intentions to all of you lovely literates.

My time here at Well?! has come to its abrupt end. I feel I’ve offered all I can in the form of Well?! By no means does this imply my awareness of your loyal and thorough obedience has gone overlooked. I’ve simply been provided with a more lucrative and profitable offer from my first home, the home I never really left, Yeah, I Figured That Much.

I will offer my strict and overpowering views on a regular basis at my original site, yeahifigured.blogspot.com. Please take this departure as a blessing in disguise and look inward from now on as your “new” source of guidance and solace.

Take care Well-less world. It wasn’t a complete waste of time.

RIP Well?! May 7th, 2007 – November 7th, 2007.

2007-09-07T22:31:00.001-07:00

2007-09-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

Got this pic from a friend who got it from a coworker, so I sent it to my coworker.

Funny stuff maynard.

Produced by Rick Rubin

2007-08-29T11:49:00.001-07:00

1985: Radio - LL Cool J
1986: Licensed to Ill - Beastie Boys
1986: Raising Hell - Run-DMC
1986: Reign in Blood - Slayer
1987: Electric - The Cult
1988: Danzig - Danzig
1988: Tougher Than Leather - Run-DMC
1988: South of Heaven - Slayer
1988: Masters of Reality - Masters of Reality
1989: Dice - Andrew Dice Clay
1989: Live Fast, Die Fast - Wolfsbane
1990: Same - Geto Boys
1990: Trouble - Trouble
1990: Danzig II: Lucifuge - Danzig
1990: Seasons in the Abyss - Slayer
1991: Nobody Said It Was Easy - The Four Horsemen
1991: Manic Frustration - Trouble
1991: Decade of Aggression - Slayer
1991: Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1992: Danzig III: How the Gods Kill - Danzig
1992: King King - Red Devils
1993: Thrall: Demonsweatlive - Danzig
1993: Wandering Spirit - Mick Jagger
1993: 21st Century Jesus - Messiah
1994: Danzig 4 - Danzig
1994: American Recordings - Johnny Cash
1994: Divine Intervention - Slayer
1994: Wildflowers - Tom Petty
1995: One Hot Minute - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1995: Ballbreaker - AC/DC
1995: God Lives Underwater - God Lives Underwater
1995: Empty - God Lives Underwater
1996: Songs and Music from "She's the One" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1996: Unchained - Johnny Cash
1996: Undisputed Attitude - Slayer
1996: Sutras - Donovan
1998: "Let Me Give the World to You" - The Smashing Pumpkins (an unreleased song)
1998: VH1 Storytellers - Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson
1998: Diabolus in Musica - Slayer
1998: System of a Down - System of a Down
1998: Chef Aid: The South Park Album - South Park
1999: Northern Star - Melanie C ("Suddenly Monday" and "Ga Ga")
1999: Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1999: Echo - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
1999: Loud Rocks - V/A ("Shame" by System of a Down and Wu-Tang Clan, "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing Ta Fuck Wit" Tom Morello, Chad Smith and Wu-Tang Clan)
1999: The Globe Sessions - Sheryl Crow ("Sweet Child O'Mine")
2000: American III: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash
2000: Paloalto - Paloalto
2000: Renegades - Rage Against the Machine
2001: Amethyst Rock Star - Saul Williams
2001: The War of Art - American Head Charge
2001: Breath of the Heart - Krishna Das
2001: The Final Studio Recordings - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2001: Toxicity - System of a Down
2002: American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
2002: By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
2002: Audioslave - Audioslave
2002: Steal This Album! - System of a Down
2003: Results May Vary - Limp Bizkit (with Terry Date and Jordan Schur)
2003: Unearthed - Johnny Cash
2003: Door of Faith - Krishna Das
2003: De-Loused in the Comatorium - The Mars Volta (with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez)
2003: The Black Album - Jay-Z ("99 Problems")
2003: Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium - Rage Against the Machine
2003: Heroes and Villains - Paloalto
2004: Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) - Slipknot
2004: Armed Love - The (International) Noise Conspiracy
2004: Crunk Juice - Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz ("Stop Fuckin' Wit Me")
2005: Make Believe - Weezer
2005: Fijación Oral Vol. 1 - Shakira
2005: Oral Fixation Vol. 2 - Shakira
2005: Out of Exile - Audioslave
2005: Mezmerize - System of a Down
2005: Hypnotize - System of a Down
2005: 12 Songs - Neil Diamond
2006: Christ Illusion - Slayer
2006: Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
2006: Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks
2006: American V: A Hundred Highways - Johnny Cash
2006: FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake ("(Another Song) All Over Again")
2006: The Saints are Coming - U2 and Green Day (single)
2006: Window in the Skies - U2 (single)
2007: Fixing Cities - The (International) Noise Conspiracy
2007: American VI - Johnny Cash
2007: Heroes and Thieves - Vanessa Carlton (with Irv Gotti, 7 Aurelius and Stephan Jenkins)
2007: Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy" - Ours
2007: "Better Than I've Ever Been" - Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One (single)
2007: Rock And Roll Jesus - Kid Rock
2007: Minutes to Midnight - Linkin Park
2007: 99 Ways To Rock 'N Peace - Fukface
2008: Metallica's ninth studio album - Metallica
2008: "Untitled" - Weezer
????: Untitled- U2
2008: 4th Studio Album - Slipknot

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH!

2007-08-23T11:33:00.001-07:00

Marti Says (8/21/7)

2007-08-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Marti says, "The term good music can be directly contributed to the size of a listener's ears."

2007-08-21T17:57:00.001-07:00

2007-08-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

2007-08-17T16:38:00.001-07:00

Marti Says (8/17/7)

2007-08-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

Marti says, "When deciding on which MC is the best consider the fact that your choice is really only limited to 2 options: Kool Keith and Del tha Funkee Homosapien."

Art by Matt Furie

2007-08-16T17:10:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across an interview with San Fran based artist Matt Furie on http://www.facalface.com/. They have posted a bunch of colored pencil pieces, many of which include an early 80's BMX.

This one is my favorite.

Bubblers on the 118

2007-08-15T12:29:00.001-07:00

Dudes smokin’ bowls out of bubblers in the fast lane on the 118. That’s funny. A good start to my run-of-the-mill Wednesday morning. I remember those days, but instead of a bubbler I used a pinchy. Much less conspicuous.

I don’t condone or disregard this behavior, I just got a laugh out of it.

Marti says (8/14/7)

2007-08-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Marti says, "Given the overwhelming popularity of current rock bands, it may be a good idea to research specific acts of interest BEFORE they show up in your town. Tickets may become unavailable."

2007-08-14T13:56:00.001-07:00

Found this great image at the New York Times website: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/health/14seco.html

The D Man Rants

2007-08-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

I met this girl last night with a peculiar cackle
I laid the bait and then she took the tackle
Had too much to drink at the Red Lobster
Now the room is spinning around like the blades of a helicopter
I never met a girl that was too finicky
If the press has their way then they're going to finish me
You might know this but you've never been this see
If I ate spinach then I'd be called Spinach D
I shed light like cats shed fur
Ride around town like Raymond Burr
I'm so high that they call me Your Highness
If you don't know me then pardon my shyness
I live in the Village wherever I go I walk to
I keep my friends around so I have someone to talk to
I play my music loud because you know it's got clout to it

It's a trip it's got a funky beat and I can bug out to it

Recent Revolutions

2007-08-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

These albums have been getting stereo play recently. The R.E.M. was initially for nostalgic purposes but eventually turned into a slight week long obsession.

The Chemical Brothers – We Are the Night
I got this from our Music department. Coincidently enough, the day I brought it home Lance brought up the fact that he picked up a copy at the San Fran Amoeba. I had to listen to it almost immediately. I haven’t finished it yet but I dig what I’ve heard. The Klaxons and good ol’ Fatlip guest on this album. That alone is worth anyone giving it a spin.

Knuckledragger – Knuckledragger
I was working a 2nd job at an independent toy store when I acquired this album. Rockabilly surf from Madison Wisconsin. Great Horror movie theme and hilarious samples. I remember seeing these guys a few times at the Inferno. I was also told that one of them works at Mad City Music Exchange. I haven’t confirmed that rumor.

Motor – Unhuman
I was blown away by Motor’s first album, Klunk. Unhuman works so well it could have been an extension to Klunk had Klunk been a double album. I was never into the whole rave scene and for some this music may be familiar territory. But for someone with an Industrial/Dark Wave background Motor fits in quite nicely. If I had to say, for instance if my life were hanging in the balance, I’d say that by the amount of spins both of these Motor records are getting that they’d be my favorite group as of late. But as everyone knows my favorite band is TMBG.

R.E.M. – Out of Time
There is a song on this album that I listened to in Jr. High that filled my mind during my first sexually based game with a sister to a classmate. I can’t listen to this song and not think of that night on the outskirts of Portage. I wonder what April is up to these days. Anyway this album is classic. I remember quoting Losing My Religion with Box at basketball camp. I scratched my LP copy of this album. I don’t want to talk about it.

R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
Another classic album. This may be a bit more mature than Out of Time, but it may be that I was little more mature when it came out. A very solid album throughout. Nightswimming is a personal favorite as well as Find the River. An overall sad album. I can dig it.

Sean Na Na – Family Trees: Or Cope We Must
I put this album in to prepare myself for the Sean Na Na/The Cribs show and although it’s sad to admit, it was the first time I gave it a proper listen. I really dig it. It’s no Dance Until Your Baby Is A Man, but then again nothing Sean Na Na has put out since has even come close to matching that superior album. That’s the problem with starting out with a bang. Everything else is just a set up for disappointment. But if disappointment sounds as good as Family Trees: Or Cope We Must then sign me up for a life with nothing but sheer and unconcentrated disappointment.

The Bean

2007-07-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

CA – Without coffee I’d be angry and bitter. I’d be short tempered and agitated. If I didn’t drink at least half a pot a day I’d wouldn’t make it into work. I wouldn’t be able to communicate or gather the strength to walk down the hall for more coffee. Coffee, like Mobel Synthetic for my Prelude, is a requirement for daily function.

There is an album somebody put out describing in detail the many great functions of consuming coffee. I’ll have to pour myself a cup and dig that album up.

2007-07-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

2007-07-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

MAKE WAR NOT LOVE
MAKE WAR NOT LOVE
MAKE WAR NOT LOVE
MAKE WAR NOT LOVE
MAKE WAR NOT LOVE
MAKE WAR NOT LOVE

Yet Another Friday Rant

2007-07-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

SO CAL– Since my last post I’ve turned Prince Fielder’s jersey number, taken a thousand plus mile journey around my home state, played the shit out of Milo Goes to College, met my new boss, contributed to an OC bottle polishing off, received news of my cousin’s unfortunate but long time coming earthly departure, ironed several pairs of pants, fought with my Vision Street Wear high tops (too old and uncomfortable, but still badass), watched the 2007 MLB All-Star game, lost a roommate, conversed with a long time best friend for the first time in 5 months, ate steak on a camping trip, visited Yosemite, had a “moment” with a cutie at the Getty, fell in love with yet another Statler Brothers song, visited Mark Twain’s cabin, drove the PCH from San Fran to Ventura, kicked some cowboy ass at pool, and drunkenly mumbled on video while walking through swinging cowboy style doors the phrase, “Is it my turn?”

I’ve been busy. I’ve had fun. The likes of which I’m sure I’ll never see again.

Friday Rants

2007-06-22T15:50:00.001-07:00

GLENDALE, CA – It’s been a few days since my last post. Since then I started a new job, enjoyed a few days of “relax” time, switched from the Doc Martin’s to the Vision Street Wears and confirmed a Mij visit.

This weekend will be spent cleaning out the garage, swimming, watching season 2 of Soap, and welcoming the one and only Omar over on Saturday for some grill’n’swimmin'.

A more focused social rant is scheduled for the weekend.

6/11/7 Quick Note

2007-06-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA - I trust both of you had an exciting weekend. As for me I got a chance to lunch with my Godmother, spent some time in the pool, drank too much, watched Cordero blow his first save of the year, bought a new washing machine, grilled out and watched Maltese Falcon.

Now that the summer is (almost) here be sure to get outdoors as much as possible. Grab a bike and ride. I recently purchased a nice Trek and the roomies and I have been enjoying some decent night riding.

I’m in a monotone kind of mood today. This article/post is really only serving to knock of one of the Paris articles. It sounds like she found God. Good for her. Hopefully she’ll come out of this entire ordeal ahead.

Today's Ray of Sunshine

2007-06-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - I’m sick of the news. I’m sick of the negativity. I’m sick of the hate that pumps like blood through the veins of mother earth. All the things that are meaningless that the media deems necessary to report on are enough to make anyone wish they lived in the woods, far removed from the social plastics of today.

There are, as though it seems, no right answers. We will continue to be fed the same old shit day in and day out. We’ll fill our faces until we are sick then politely ask for more.

I don’t have a solution. God. Hope. Bitter happiness. We are all designed to fail, and like clockwork we make our designers proud.

Milwaukee Night Riders

2007-06-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

MILWAUKEE, WI - What I remember most about my limited days in Milwaukee were the night bike rides through the deserted city. Chump and fellow blood brother DJ Skeet, Dr. Alias and I would command the concrete as we’d joyride throughout Wisconsin’s biggest city.

3 GT’s ridden by 3 idiots making the most of our young lives. We had some damn good times. Milwaukee is beautiful at night. Much more so than the daytime, but that’s my opinion.

During one of our night travels we came across a passed out bum near a grocery store. Minutes later the fire dept. came and gave the guy some assistance. Another time DJ Skeet and I rode the steps of City Hall where I proceeded to miscalculate a jump. DJ Skeet almost cried he laughed so hard and I’ve still got the scar to remind me in case I should forget.

Night bike riding. Pump up those tires, grab a sweatshirt, tie up one pant leg, call up your buds and enjoy the peaceful night air.

PARIS IS IN JAIL!

2007-06-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
PARIS IS IN JAIL!

Let the summer begin! There is a definite odor missing in the day’s air. A sense of cleanliness that we’ve not seen in ages. Unfortunately this vacation from Paris will be short lived, much like her career.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
PARIS IS IN JAIL!

The Countdown to a Paris-less Hollywood Summer Continues

2007-06-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA – I’d have to say this summer, above all others since arriving in the warm and “pretend” celebrity filled Hollywood vicinity, is going to be my favorite. No it’s not because we moved into a house with a pool and working central air. No it’s not because a good friend from “back home” might come out to visit, and no it’s not because a Vegas trip is in the preliminary planning stage. It’s solely because PARIS HILTON IS GOING TO JAIL!

The jolt of excitement that I receive as I type these glorified words comes as a pleasant surprise. I can’t stand Paris Hilton, and the only thing that would make this summer better would be if the ugly princess would be serving the entire 45 day sentence instead of the 23 day break she’s getting.

This is going to be a great summer. 4 days to go!

In Need of a More Challenging Set of Circumstances

2007-05-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA - In a day filled with Loch Ness sightings, free food, a found determination to get back into shape and an angelic poll vaulter, the not so creative desk job that I inhabit has done its duty to offer an adequate amount of excitement for 1 day. As I sat here earning $16 an hour to do nothing more than answer an occasional phone call should it ring (and today it didn’t) I attempt to fight off sleep until the 18th hour of the day rolls along.

I’m currently chatting with an old high school friend about upcoming Red Rock concerts, as well as savoring the occasional Bottle Cap. I continue to tell myself that I’ve got to crawl through the mud in order to realize my dream. And it’s not as though I don’t understand this boring fact, it’s just that I wish I had something much more productive to do than to ramble about my insignificant day.

God willing the sun will come up again tomorrow and with it hopes for a more challenging set of circumstances.

2007-05-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA - According to the Global Peace Index, created by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the United States is ranked 96th out of 121 countries in the category of Least Peaceful Nations. Why am I not surprised? With the uneducated bigotry and the hate filled racism that lingers throughout this country like LA smog, it’s no wonder our ranking is so damned piss poor.

We are so damned selfish in this “great” nation that we feel the only valid opinion worthy of consideration is our own. As we face another day enveloped in war, we (myself included) selfishly find it necessary to give 2 shits about what Lindsay Lohan did over the weekend. We (again, myself included) need to open our eyes and begin focusing on the important issues that help shape this world, and as much as I’d like to believe it, any story involving Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears does not do that.

I can understand (if only because I find myself doing the same) that NOT dealing with important issues and circumstances can be a way to avoid the depressing reality that all of our selfish acts help create. But as I attempt to strive for a more focused understanding of our Nation and our social behavior, I offer this humble suggestion to anyone willing to consider another person's point of view: If it’s not positive don’t do it, and we are all in this together so let’s lend each other a helping hand.

An Honest Promise of Failure

2007-05-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

GLENDALE, CA - It’s been some time since our last post. For that I’m sure you’re truly grateful. Fellow idiot and lazy comrade Gangsta has launched his new site, The In Between. Check ‘em out at http://theinbet.blogspot.com/. His sudden surge of productive activity has prompted me to spend a little more of my not so precious time on Well?!

In the coming weeks we here at Well?! will attempt to offer a 1 sided rant on various issues that our society has become so infatuated with. We are by no means a news site, and time is sure to prove that future posts will only serve my own personal selfish means.

I’m not going to spend $28 on the record just because it’s an import. What the fuck?

2007-05-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, The Good The Bad & The Queen’s self-titled debut is good. Shit, it’s my favorite so far this year. But it’s not worth $28! That’s 28 full-length albums from the $1 bin. That’s a quarter tank of gas!

That’s an outrageous amount for an album. Imports are overrated. I’m a collector but this is where I draw the line. A line I’m sure to erase and draw several feet forward in due time.

New & Hot: Summer Things For People

2007-05-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

Stewie Griffin ice trays

Getting cheated out of the “Stacker” game at the Universal City Walk

Old Thompson Blended Whiskey

Post Kornfeld The Onion (weekly)

$1 Record bin at Amoeba

Pretending to listen when others are talking (It’s back again this summer)

$11 lunches

$18 CD’s (Thank you Barnes & Noble)

$4.10 per gallon gasoline ($4.50 in CA)

Broken hearts

$90 cell phone bills

Free Paris t-shirts

Maim Paris t-shirts

Steroids hitting home runs (it was big last year too)

Well?! Moment #24

2007-05-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

"Color Me Overwhelmed"

I'll color you black and blue with my fist colored crayon. How's that?

Welcome

2007-05-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

OAKLAND, CA (WELL?!) - Welcome to the house of Well?! We hope you enjoy your stay, but please take your shoes off. (Does anyone know where I can order some stickers? No? That's cool. I'll figure it out)

Here on Well?! you may or may not find things that deal with spur of the moment emotional outbursts and/or cultural references dating back to the mid 1990's. You may find news, opinions and/or uneducated views. But rest assured, you’ll never find what you’re looking for.

Enjoy your stay and grab a plate. The buns are outside and the burgers are almost done. Anything to drink?