Pickle Surprise!

I'm not sure what to make of this. But it made me laugh and try to find out more about the director Tom Rubnitz. Don't hate...appreciate. From 1989...it's Pickle Surprise!

Integer - One Year Anniversary

I've officially spent one year working at The Integer Group. For my diligence, I was awarded a company-wide email acknowledgment of my service, a signed certificate in a cheap, plastic frame...but best of all, I was allowed to pick a restaurant for an afternoon luncheon for our studio team. I thought about it and casually tossed off the fact that we would be going to Luby's. Previous expeditions had been to Blue Mesa (twice), Chuy's and Sammy's BBQ. Luby's was sort of a joke, but I stuck to my guns. We ventured out today to the Mockingbird location. I think everyone enjoyed it. You got a choice of what you wanted to eat -- whether it was veggies, steak, spaghetti...etc. Lots o' iced tea, rolls...and the comfortable ambiance enjoyed by retirees everywhere in Texas. As predicted, we were probably the youngest diners in the joint. Who cares. There was no offensively loud music being played over the intercom and plenty of elbow room. I enjoyed a cajun tilapia filet with mac and cheese and pinto beans.

Queens of the Stone Age - House of Blues - Dallas 9.16.07

Had a fun-filled weekend that left me more than a little exhausted. Visited a bunch of places here in town that I've never been to before...

First off, Friday, after another late night at work, I trekked out to Gilley's in the Cedars section to check out my friend Ian Bjornstad who was playing with San Francisco's John Vanderslice. John is a pretty charismatic frontman whose songs are poppy slices of paranoia. I can't say I've ever been a big fan but after checking out the show, I don't know why not. The group finished off "unplugged" on the veranda of the club's upper deck. It was pretty cool hearing the ethereal vocals of John, his band and several hardcore fans drift into the night. Strangely enough, Wilco were playing the same night in the same venue downstairs which created some frustrating traffic problems. I like Wilco a lot but I've already seen them a few times and didn't feel like shelling out the dough. I really only wanted to hang with Ian for a few minutes and ended up squeezing in a pretty satisfying show. North Carolina's The Bowerbirds opened the show. They were totally original and great. Check 'em out

Saturday evening I met up with my old friend Julie Wade and some of her friends for a blitz through the gallery scene. It was gallery night in Dallas and we hit the Dallas Design District -- mainly to imbibe free alcohol (at least that seemed to be the objective of Julie and me). Ran into Richard Ross, and interesting Dallas artist who I used to play shows with back in the day. He was also the original bass guitar player for Brutal Juice. His work seemed to attract a lot of attention and deservedly so. More power to him. Ended up the evening in Deep Ellum. Todd Ramsell, Ean Schuessler and I walked to a glam rock party at Pawn Gallery. After several beers and a few glasses of wine, I actually danced to several songs. I don't think I made it to bed until 6am the next morning.

Sunday night, Dirty Cha Cha scored some free tickets to the Queens of the Stone Age at the new Dallas House of Blues. I had never been to the venue before but it was pretty much what I expected -- a bunch of corporate Nazi security guards pushing people around. And the price of the beers made the free tickets more of a push than anything. In all fairness, the bar staff were actually pretty cool and the show was awesome...made better by a GREAT sound system. I noted to Cha Cha that QOTSA lacked dynamics -- they pretty much go from loud to louder. She responded with a hearty 'Hell Yeah.' I guess that's what she likes. Opener Dax Riggs was pretty good too -- he of the Southern Gothic hard blues-influenced style. I ended up buying an expensive QOTSA T-shirt. A few drinks at Lakewood Landing helped round out the evening before I headed home. I'm tired, but with a great weekend like this, who's complaining?

9/11 -- Six Years Later

Erich Scholz - Sounds and Fury: 9/11 -- Five Years Later

I didn't really feel like giving it too much thought, but it is 9/11 -- which means something I suppose. And I was there. Click on the above link to take you to my blog about it last year. With picture.

Weng Weng Rap Lyrics

I know it's sorta old hat by now...but the Weng Weng Rap is still funny business. I was inspired this weekend to actually transcribe the lyrics as best I could. There could be a few mistakes here and there but here goes:





Weng Weng Rap
By the Chuds

Hey, yo, he’s good to go
Hell yeah, it’s Agent Double O
Don’t want no trouble though
So you best put your weapon down slow
Keep your hands low down where he can see ‘em
Don’t put up high
He’s a tiny human being
Guaranteeing security to Filipino citizens
It’s all the same thing to Weng Weng
Guilty, innocent
He’s got his own style
He’s got a cute little smile
In fact, one time he even got picked up
By a pedophile
But kill that, he's skilled at
The art of attack
He got a razor blade hat, a little gat
And a rocket pack
He doesn’t like booze
So never pour him a shot of scotch
Just give him a Coke
And you won’t get a pop in the crotch
His movies you love to watch
You know that they all sweet
Weng Weng is doing his thing thing
Under three feet
They say that he’s whack
That’s he’s weak
Yeah, you know what
They say that in the Philippines
You watch out for the bowl cut

You’re in the getaway car
Cause you just finished the heist
Got through the SWAT
Lots of cops
So you’re thinking you’re nice
Mastermind, genius-thief
You think you already own the title
From behind you the hear the whine
Of a mini-motorcycle
He roll up quick with two-six
Of trouble on top
He shoots a look, crooks get shook
And you could feel your heart stop
The kinda man that could chill you right thru to your soul
He shouts "Pull over to the side of the road, I'm interpol"
Best oblige, and subside
Cause if not you're sure to die
By a bo staff to the gonads
Or a sai in your eye
Try and flip the script
If he's outnumbered and underhanded
He's outstanding, he could jump the Grand Canyon and land it
A mini bandit, fighting for justice, he'll never lose
Finest barbers and tailors
You know he's always lookin' smooth
He'll take you out without a doubt,
Boom bing and bang bang
My advice to criminals is
"Stay the fuck away from Weng Weng."

Weng Weng Weng Weng 2'9
He'll kick you in the nutsack from behind
If you think Weng Weng is coming soft or slack
Never that, never that, never that, he's
Back on the scene it's the man
Who just cash checks and have sex
He's seen your mamma naked with his high tech mod specs
Burst in hotel rooms never givin' a shit
If he sees a naked bitch, best believe she get a tender kiss
After bustin' some heads, ya'll could catch him at the disco
Rockin' upskirts and clockin' more thongs than Cisqo
Stayin' alive is no jive, when he dance, the woman cry
They get hypnotized by his hips swayin' side to side
These fake secret agents try to front but they get played
Weng Weng could pierce Brosnan with a katana blade
Leave you in the hospital your condition is critical,
You're finished bro, even the doctors sound a little cynical

Eh yo, I'll tell you what. That Weng Weng? He's a stone-faced killer. I mean criminals ain't got no shot against him, why even try?

Conspiracy Theory Rock

This is one of the best things ever on SNL...Aired once and then pulled. Enjoy it while you can.

Back to Earth

What a long, strange trip it's been...and I'm only talking about this weekend. The past month has seen some changes in my life. The biggest is that my live-in galpal and I split. She left our Oak Cliff house earlier last month, leaving me with no furniture (I gave it up, y'all) and all alone. Bummer. I think it actually hurt worse when she took me off her MySpace friends list! Still love her to death though...go figure. Anyway, I've relocated to a loft near my old stomping grounds of Expo Park. It's strange. I like the space and the convenience factor -- closer to the "rest" of Dallas after living in the OC for a year -- but it's a lot to get used to. I was so accustomed to living alone in NYC that I settled into like a lobster in a rapidly temperature-elevating pot of water. Living with another living, breathing human being was difficult on me. I guess cause I thought my life was Burger King -- I'm gonna have it my way. Not with another person I don't. Other peeps got their own needs and agendas. You gotta get used to it or get out of the way, I suppose. I sometimes wonder if my anti-authoritarianism complex is getting the best of me. Sometimes I think it's doing me harm. But I digress...I'm actually feeling pretty vulnerable and lonely. I don't know why. It's not like I'm doing anything so differently from the past year. I guess I've always felt a little lonely here in Big D. This isn't my "hometown." I thought I'd know enough people to get by, and I suppose do. My career change has been pretty fantastic -- I've gone from a make-nothing entertainment reporter to a nicely compensated advertising production artist in a matter of a year...that makes a difference. Anyway, my point is, Dallas isn't looking so good right now and I'm considering a move to a different clime. Is New York out of the question? Stay tuned...