What's In A Name?

This was an in class assignment I had to do today. It was an icebreaker so we could get to know our class and sort of get to know ourselves (or at the very least look at our names). Anyways. Ten minutes well spent:

Nicolas Birondo. Nicolas Birondo. "A rose..." blah blah blah. I can't say that I've really put much thought into my name over the years. It's just that. A name. It's a word like chair, helium, or Godzilla. Ok, maybe not like Godzilla, but it's just a word. A series of words.
To begin, I'm Nicolas (not "K" not "H"). I took the name from my dad who got it from his dad. People ask "Are you going to name your son Nicolas" and I think "I have no idea," or "who cares?" It's just a name. I don't ave any legacy to follow or anything to continue.
My middle name is "Barry" and that always gets a laugh or two (I guarantee someone's laughing right now). Barry is my mom's maiden name. Barry. That's such a boring middle name. Barry. The Irish have so many awesome last names Like McCloud, McMullan, Sands and all those "O" names. They make me think of the Spirit of Ireland captured in the way that only a "Mc" or an "O" can. But no it's Barry. Perhaps it's the blandness of Barry wedged in the secret spot of the middle name that makes it so funny. Middle names offer some kind of mysterious insight into a person and captues a strange essence most people don't get to see, like a birthmark on the shoulder blade. My birthmark says "Barry" which doesn't say much at all.
My last name is Birondo. Again: Birondo. "Oh are you Italian?" No. (My mom gets that all the time). Are you Mexican? No. Spanish? No, I'm Filipino. It's a name that was probably given to my family in Sebu after the Spanish came, saw and conquered. It's not a name that holds a meaning of "My People" or anything, but I have no plans of changing it anytime soon or replacing it with an "X".
The final punctuation to my 19 letter name is that I'm the third (III). Three generations of Nicolas Birondos. I probably won't pass the name to my kid. My old roommate was Edward Burgess IX. Telemarketers and Junk mail called him Mr. Ix, which is such a James Bond Villain name. So cool. But Nicolas Birondo IV? Mr. Iv? That's just lame. But then, I get to name my child anything I want. Heck, she could be called Nicolas Birondo X (the tenth). Miss X. Doctor X. That's pretty good.

The Future Looks Bright...

...perhaps even radioactive. LG just released a brand new TV in Korea. Is it smaller than an iPhone? Bigger than a house? Flatter than a 12 year old boy? No, no and no. It's a brand spanking new 14" whopper using fragile, limited and outdated CRT technology. And boy is it worth it. The Serie 1 Retro Classic looks like it was plucked right out of the 1962 World Fair. It has all the outdated features you need including bunny ear antenna and rotating, analog volume and channel knobs. And if that wasn't enough, flip a switch and the screen goes to black and white or sepia tone! The low $200 price tag is enough to make me want to turn my whole room into a James Bond movie set. Here's hoping LG releases the lil' guy stateside (and that it doesn't cause sterility).

The Greatest Day Ever Is Upon Me...

...for two reasons:

1) I got accepted to USF! I got my CSET results back the other night and then two days later I got an email saying I start my masters/credential program at the end of January. Only 1 1/2 months away.

2) I found out that Spoon's new album, "Transference", comes out two weeks ahead of schedule on January 19th. And so far it sounds amazing.

Two days ago I got a series of emails that ambiguously told me I may (or may not have) passed the necessary tests, so I've been hesitantly passing the news on. Today, only two days after my application was fully received (which included SCREEN CAPTURES as my weak proof that I passed the CSET), I got an email saying I was accepted to USF. This is such a relief, as I've been stressing over those four tests since I found out I had to take them back in July. Although I could have retaken any of the tests again if I failed, it would have meant that I wouldn't have been able to start school until a year from now. Instead, there's no downtime, and I only have to figure out my next month, not my next year.

And then, as a generous amount of icing on the cake, I find out that my favorite band of the decade has a new album coming out two weeks sooner than I expected! There's no band as consistent and awesome as Spoon. Accessible and familiar, but completely elusive to description (seriously, try to do it). One of the few artists that still writes albums instead of singles, and know that immortality is built on their next move and not their last.

Anyways, to quote the Cube: "Today was a good day."

Chris Ware vs. Andrew Bird

I don't know what to even say about this. One of the most amazing/incredible/important/inspiring/depressing/*insert powerful adjective here* artists I've seen animates his character Quimby the Mouse (which is one part Krazy one part Mickey ) to the tune of "Eugene" by Andrew Bird.
I can't stop watching it! Chris Ware's stuff is always awe inducing (I'm serious. Check out any Acme Novelty book) and he constatly proves that he's smarter than me (in his self-deprecating way) on every panel. Anyways, enough of my stiff attempt at flattery. The video is good. As for Andrew Bird, I haven't ever been a fan. My friend described him best when I asked her if she's listened to Bird. She said "Andrew Bird...I think I heard his stuff, but I don't remember..." That's about how I felt after listening to his album. But this song is great. I have no idea what album it's on or if it's from his forthcoming one or what. If anyone knows, I'd love to hear it!

Quimby The Mouse from This American Life on Vimeo.

The Prisoner Remake?!

Dear Lord, how did I not know this was coming out in THREE WEEKS?! One of my favorite shows of all time is getting a remake. I'd normally call this a bad idea, but it's done by AMC (home of Mad Men) and has an awesome trailer, so I'm definitely willing to give it a go. Some instant fears I have include the use of a boring and dumpy American taking the place of the slick, charismatic, Patrick McGoohan (I've seriously been trying to channel the look of Patrick McGoohan for the last 15 years of my life), the similarities to Lost it might get (though Lost is actually a massive tribute to the original Prisoner) and the lack of 60's mod suits and primary colors of the original. Seriously, I'm really worried about Caviezel trying to play Number 6. The only thing I know about Jim Caviezel is he was Jesus in Passion of the Christ, and he was the only word that could rhyme with "weasel" in the SNL "Iran So Far" video. The things that are going for the remake? Ian McKellen and Rover. I really hope they can pull off the surreal psychological games and abstract symbolism of the original.
If they can make this and The Walking Dead work, AMC could have the best show lineup out there. Here's hoping they pull it off.

Be seeing you.

Metafiction + Comedy = The Greatest TV Shows EVER

30 Rock
Arrested Development
The Office

And now Community?

I just watched the first two episodes, and it was amazing! Everyone should go watch the show right now.


Possibly my favorite part about this trailer (can I call it a metatrailer?) is how they make it look like a heartfelt after school special/Glee commercial about half way through; manipulative and overly emotional music, unnecessary slow motion, a dissolve that goes from one guy walking to the same guy walking in a different direction, and culminating with people fighting then coming to terms with things. This formula has been seen in EVERYTHING EVER ON TV. Don't believe me? Jump 3/4 into any of the trailers below, right to the point when the music changes to something overly dramatic or emotional, and take a look (especially the last trailer).

"Shouldn't the name for 'dyslexia' be a palandrome?"

I recently bought Keith Lowell Jensen's CD "To The Moon...Live at Luna's" on accident when I was told that it was a "best of" compilation of Mort Sahl and Don Rickles. Deception aside, it turned out to be a damn good (non-Jewish) comedy album. Jensen has been featured on Spike TV, some news programs in Sacramento, and a bunch of other shows that I can't think of right now, and he's basically been getting a lot of press for someone out of Sacramento that hasn't killed anybody. Keith's comedy is a blend of great storytelling and observations, and stays away from heavy handed politics and cynicism that other indie comedians of his ilk use. Clever, sarcastic, strangely optimistic and slightly self-deprecating; sometimes abstract, and often lowbrow. Basically a combination of everything I love. Keith's topics range from having a kid, being told he was "hella gay at being straight", Indian tech support, and scooters and Segways.

Speaking of non sequiturs, did I tell you about the Coexist Comedy Tour? Keith is the same guy that created a religious themed comedy tour where a Muslim, a Hindu, a Christian, an Atheist, and a Jew all get together and show their tolerance by badmouthing each other. It's sickly beautiful like a mushroom cloud, or a lake of fire. Check it out and pray to your gods that they come back around.

Please support indie comedy and check out the CD and tour! At the very least, support his panhandling skills.

Dead Is The New Black

The logo for one of the gangs that Ashley and I are in: The Lazor Saviorz

I don't really know what to write, but it's been way too long, so I've got to put something.
I went to Outside Lands last weekend and got to see some...interesting sets. On Saturday I had to sit through the whitest set of music possible. It was Jason Mraz, Black Eyed Peas and Dave Matthews Band. So brutal. Dave Matthews totally reminds me of watered down Kool-Aid: It's bland enough that everyone can drink it, and no one can enjoy it. It's basically the kind of stuff my parents want to see when they go to a county fair. It makes me wonder what place in the world this music has for anyone that's over the age of 10 or under the age of 60.
Though it sounds like an Apocalyptic line up (The E.N.D. must be BEP's way of preparing us for their brothers War, Death and Famine), there were some brilliant flashes of light. The National, Autolux, Silversun Pickups all played amazing sets. But the single best thing all weekend was The Dead Weather, who hands down stole the show. That's got to be the hottest, most charismatic band I've possibly ever seen. It was just a 45 minute smokey, sexy, seductive set as Jack White and Alison Mosshart stalked the stage. I swear I walked out of there pregnant, and with a nicotine habit. Totally worth it. After seeing that band, Modest Mouse, Tenacious D, and even MIA, couldn't compete. Everything else just seemed flat.
Oh yeah! I just remembered I've got another story to tell, but I'll put that in another post so you're not forced to choke down another paragraph of this.

"We've got more trees than Green Acre's got green"

The Funniest Thing In The World

I just spent two weeks in the Santa Cruz mountains at Bosch Baha'i School as co-director for Youth Institute (kids age 15-17). Now I'm back in SF, and though I was physically exhausted and spent when I got back, I was mentally feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for the world.

What an adventure it was. To summarize, there was a busted ankle, a back injury, heat stroke, not one but TWO trees falling on people (though Dariush did catch one of them mid-fall. I mean he literally CAUGHT a tree), a flu epidemic, the near loss of an eye due to improper use of a name tag, my discovery that Robitussin and sea salt truly can cure all those problems ("just rub a little in your eye. It'll work, trust me."), a guitar-off, a dance-off, an impromptu lunch time sing-off (where the students learned the true power of the teachers/directors), the first performance of the speed metal band Satan's Juice (or Zeus Juice, or Thor's Hammer, or something), the near riot caused by an epic pillow fight, a fire (and near evacuation of the entire mountain), a tribute to MIA with cups, a tribute to Twilight with teachers, multiple tributes to Michael Jackson. We learned how to beautify our tongues and what to adorn ourselves with, and we also learned what was to be found "20 degrees off of zero", what was the spirit of Bosch, the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Youth Week, and what songs were truly "hot in the streets."

For those that were there, is there anything I missed?

Life Is Still Dancing

If My Life Were A Dance...

Life is this good.

Knowing Is Half the Battle

The GI Joe movie is going to be terrible I'm sure. Why can't they make it like the new TV movie GI Joe Resolute (written by Warren Ellis?!) or these PSAs? I'm just sayin'.

X ON U2!!!

A lot of bands have unnecessarily long names, so I decided to create the nine-headed hydra of band names. I need to start a band just so I can call it this:

They Shoot Horses Don't They Clap Your Hands Say You Will Know Us By The Pains of Being Pure at Godspeed, You Black Rebel Motorcycle Soundtrack of Our Sunny Day Panic at The Brian Jonestown Massacre As I Lay Dying I Am The Plot to Blow Up The World Trade Social Club Does It Offend You, Yeah But I've Chosen The (International) Noise Conspiracy Through The Eyes of the Five Bodies Four Suburban Kids With Biblical Names With Blood Comes Thee Michelle Gun Elephant Bullet For My Airborne Toxic Black Moth Super Cute Is What We Aim For Everything But the Evolution Control Committee Against the Machines of Loving Makers of the Dead Travel Fast Training For Utopia On the Radio From The Crypt In Helsinki What Made Milwaukee Famous For The Painfully Pretty Girls Make Rich Kids On Scary Kids Scaring Handsome Boy Modeling School Presidents of the United States of America From Autumn to Saturday Looks Good to These Arms Are...Boris Yeltsin


Worst band name ever: Cute Is What We Aim For
Runners up: I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, and Five Bodies Four Graves

Any band names I left out?

Burton In Wonderland

I'll see you,too, in Wonderland on March 5th next year. But 'till then...

Seeking Staff for Hamburger Helper Beyonce Tour

That is NOT a joke. That was the real title for the following email:

Seeking Outgoing and Fit Females and Males for Hamburger Helper Promotion at Special Event!

Requirements:

- Fit and Attractive

- Must have previous experience demonstrating and promoting diet and fitness related products

- Friendly & Approachable

- Ability to sell and engage consumers

- Must be able to interact actively and informatively to consumers on the newest trends in exercise and healthy eating habits.

Event Details: Promote Hamburger Helper assist tour crew with any duties and event set up and breakdown and execution.

IMPORTANT: All staff must be very flexible with this schedule. Hours are subject to change! YOU MUST BE ABLE TO WORK ALL DATES. NO EXCEPTIONS.

The Truly Important Debates Continue

The pretentious bearded NY indie art "Harvard Grad Writing Program" alumni battle rages on with Brooklyn based Dirty Projectors. I don't really care about anyone else's reviews of Bitte Orca other than this one here (begin at 3:15):



Regardless of what I thought of Rise Above, the new album (especially "Stillness Is the Move") is pretty much amazing.

Ed. Note: Ok, I'm listening to the album while I write this, and I have to say that the guy singing kind of makes my brain want to kill itself. It's like Einar of The Sugarcubes or Fred Schneider of the B-52's (though Fred's voice is kind of endearing). Maybe they can survive on their own, but when compared to their female counterparts, it just sounds like Music Day at deaf camp.

"Surprise! You're Dead!"

My friend celebrated her 30th birthday last weekend with a "Death of My 20's" themed party. While at the party, gorging on three layer chocolate cake with tombstones made of Milano cookies, we got to talking about the Scary Stories books we all had as a kid. Well, everyone but me, as they were too damn scary to actually own. But I did read all of them, and more importantly, I had the incredibly disturbing images seared into my brain. I remember when the Scholastic Book Fair would come to my school and I would sit there reading the Scary Stories books, or borrow them from friends during lunch or recess.

I don't know what it is that's so hypnotic about the morbid imagery of those books; a disfigured head, a distorted horse skeleton, a bloated, rotting and gnarled image of "Sam's New Pet." It's the same way I always felt (and still feel to this day) about walking into the horror section of a good local video rental shop. I remember walking into Roy's TV and Appliance and picking up Ultraman on VHS then taking a furtive walk down the horror aisle (family section in the front right, then comedy, drama, and finally horror way at the back). I was never allowed to watch horror films as a kid, so I was left with the clamshell VHS box covers. Images from the covers of Nightmare On Elm Street, The Company of Wolves, Poltergeist (1 and 2), C.H.U.D., House, Puppet Master, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (it was the last movie on the bottom row of the second to last aisle), and Ghoulies stand out to this day.

Not to go too far off on a tangent, but I'm glad I was raised in the great horror filled world of the 80's instead of the depressing bland world of the 90's. Kids of the 90's were stuck with Scream and Deepstar Six and Dr. Giggles, and will never know what it was like to grow up in a world of The Fly and The Thing. Plus, no matter how bad the 80's movies were, the covers were always brilliant. In fact, the worse the movie, the more literal and flagrant the covers became.

Horror films are back to being amazing, and kids born in 2000 get to be traumatized by the likes of The Ring, Saw and The Descent (awesome movie cover).

In six months time, I'll be celebrating my 30th birthday, and three decades of horror film curiosity. In honor of this flashback down a darkened Memory Lane and a look towards a dystopia filled with Old Gods, here's a couple videos that incorporate some of my favorite things.




I love this video so much. Many tears of joy for using clips from Carnival of Souls, Plan 9 and Tarantula

A Threat to Marriage

I don't like to get political on these posts, but I think this story is something we all should worry about.


Conservatives Warn Quick Sex Change Only Barrier Between Gays, Marriage