pabst blue ribbon...

is still my favorite beer.

Even after seeing this:

For more history of PBR advertising, check this out.

-steve

some people...

really suck.

Like this lady:

What the hell?

-steve

i want this...

really really badly.

-steve

somewhere along the way...

I made a mistake.  I decided to focus on my education and pursue a life in medicine.

It could have been so much better...

bring this shit to detroit

woah

Talk about unnecessary...

Read the article here.

-steve

feist...

is the shit

see below

-steve

have you heard?

The new album from The Notwist? It drops stateside tomorrow, but has been available as an import since 3 June. At least that's what Amazon leads me to believe. Either way, I just got through it during study breaks. It's just right.

Get your hands on it, or you're a fool.

-steve

maybe...

... I don't want kids like I always thought...

Then again, if I have a kid like that, does that mean I get to act like Charlie as a dad?  Because that would be sweet.

Because Charlie is ridiculous.

And amazing.

-steve

america

Word, Charlie.  Word

-steve

art

This isn't an art blog.  I don't pretend that it is.  But when I find neat examples of art that I dig, I'm sure to post it up here so that the few who read this can share in it.

And see that I really am cultured.

Just go here.

-steve

ratatat + predator = sweet

Matt Flint can't break all the Ratatat news.

-steve

new things

I'm not trying to brag, I'm just excited.

To complete my entertainment center.

To complete my home.

-steve

so i'm home

In redford after about 20 hours at Sparrow Hospital. Here's the skinny:

So Sunday night, around 6:00 or so, my gut started cramping. It was pretty general, more or less all over. I didn't like it, but I didn't think much of it. However, when it continued throughout Monday, I started thinking. I wasn't running a fever, I wasn't nauseous and I still had a decent appetite. I skipped a lecture in the evening because I wasn't feeling hot and I took a nap. Since the pain was still there after the rest, I started poking around. Not much on the left, not much up top but, lower right - there it was. For those not medically inclined, draw a picture from your bellybutton (umbilicus) to your right hip bone (anterior superior iliac spine). Two thirds of the way out from your umbilicus, along this line, is a specific point - McBurney's. Lots of pain when you press there? First on your list would be appendicitis, even with a lack of fever or referral from the LLQ and a normal WBC (found out later).

So I guess you figured it out, like I did. After a consult with a family friend/doctor/MSUCOM grad I called Sigro and had her take me to the ED over at Sparrow. It took a while, but I eventually got in and a barium contrast CT (at 4:00AM) confirmed it. Two hours later I was prepped and by 6:45AM or so, I was out of surgery less one vestigial organ with my parents at my side. I hung out in recover for a while. Got sick, found out that morphine doesn't do a damn thing for me and made the switch over to Vicodin, which seems to do the trick.

So at the moment, I'm relaxing at home in Redford with my parents taking good care of me. They got the appendix out laparoscopically, which means that I only have three small incisions instead of one big one. Only problem is that my appendix was so inflamed that it was two big for the 1cm incision in my left lower quadrant - meaning that they had to stretch it out a bit, leading to a bit more tenderness and bleeding post op. Other than that, everything went fine and should stay fine.

Oh, and there's a marking on my liver that looks like a peace sign. Dr. Khoo said that he's never seen anything like it. Fun stuff.

I want to write more, but that's all there is to the story. Holler at me.

-steve

again and again

Excellent video to follow...

-steve

picture

As promised:

Photo by PhotoBooth, which means it's mirrored and that's my left arm, not my right.

Also, first picture taken in my new place.  Pretty sweet wall, yeah?

-steve

another day...

...just another bike inspired tattoo. I got my stylized drivetrain done today on my left upper arm. Expect a shot as soon as I get the wrap off and get around to snapping a pic.

I got Jesus' face touched up, too. I'm excited to see what he looks like when the swelling is down.

-steve

vince

Today sucks. Vince just finished packing up and left, on his way to Flint and then Grand Rapids. He was right with what he said standing outside his car. This is just the end of the house for the both of us, not the end of our friendship. I know that's true. Over the last 4 years, Vince has become my very best friend and one of the most important people in my life. I'm endlessly proud of him and his accomplishments, and I respect him in every way a person can be respected. We've helped each other out through some of the worst times in our lives, and we've laughed with each other through some of the very best. I'm lucky to even know him and privileged to be his friend. That's probably why I broke down as I walked away from him and back into the emptying house and why I'm holding more back right now.

Vince: I love you very much and you mean more to me than I think you'll ever really know. Our friendship is something that I cherish deeply and know will last the rest of our lives. In between times we see each other, know that I'm missing you and wishing you the very best.

-steve

ride

I forgot to post about this...

So Vince put together this amazing ride that he, Scott, Erik and I went on Wednesday night. Google Maps had it listed as 45 miles, but we did a little extra when riding through the state park. We started around 6:20 when we picked up Scott, rode as far north as Sleepy Hollow State Park and all the way back. Some of the hills were intense, but the ride itself was really fucking smooth. The roads were all in great condition and the scenery was typical for Michigan country - beautiful at times, boring at others. We got back at around 9:45 or a little earlier. Considering the half hour or so break that we took to have our snacks at the halfway point or the other little breaks along the way, we probably rode that 45+ in about 3 hours. I would say that's some damn good pacing.

I'm looking forward to more of these long ass rides in the summer to come. Hopefully I'll find the time to get out and make them. It's just good to know that I really don't have that much of an upper limit; that 45 miles, though long in the process, is entirely doable.

Oh, and I got my Kremlin in today. Sick big. Ask me and I'll let you get in and take you for a ride on my back. It could totally happen.

-steve

place

So I signed my lease for, and moved some things into, my new townhouse in Oak Park. Hit me up for the address so you can stop by. I have every intention of turning my mini fridge into nothing more than a PBR dispenser (keg w. CO2 plus as many bottles/cans it can fit ... word). If that's not attraction enough to stop the fuck over, I don't know what is.

So, the first things I moved in? 3 boxes of notes, a bike frame and all the shit that was in my trunk. Pretty much sums up my life, yeah?

Oh, and within my first two hours at the place there was damage done to my car. No joke. Some silly ass neighborhood kids thought it was a good idea to throw rocks and one of them broke my right side mirror. At least that's what I've convinced myself as having happened to both give the kids the benefit of the doubt and not cast any sort of shadow on my new living arrangement. Oddly enough, it's the same complex that Charissa, my old coworker and dear friend used to live in, and she never had any complaints.

But I took my tour and tossed some stuff in the basement, and I'm really excited for this place. I'm thrilled at the prospect of being able to do decorate the place as I see fit. Trust that it's going to be great.

The PBR Kegerator is really going to tie the whole place together.

-steve

bike 1, car 0

I just got into my first car v. bike. While I'm not happy that the guy changed lanes right in front of me, I do like how as I ran into it, the left horn of my pursuit bars skewered his right brake light, shattering that piece on the road.

I have to admit, though, that I do feel a little bad about the situation. The kid was just moving here, probably isn't used to bikes on the road and was super nice about the whole deal. His sister, Jody, is a COM student, I came to learn. I think I may look her up so I can get in touch with this dude and see if I can help him out with his car at all. Really, super nice guy.

-steve

marijuana

I don't know if anybody else heard this, but it's news to me and it's pretty sweet.

First I'll hit you with some links.

Article that has a good read on what went down. It also has a video after the jump that's not that bad aside from the excessive bongos, stupid reporting and interview with dumb high people. Yes, there's boobs near the end too (about 3:45).

Also, there are some youtube videos. Downside: obligatory pot referencing song. Upside: zero interaction with the population. Take a look at the related videos too as some of those may be decent as well.

Alright, now I'll hit you with some opinions.

1. Pot should be legalized. Look at this. 10,000 people got together and smoked marijuana. NOT ONE OF THEM GOT ARRESTED. Meanwhile, half as many people gather in East Lansing and we have dozens of arrests (hundreds in the past) as well as obvious acts of violence. Sure, this was in Boulder, CO and not E.L., which says something, but the sentiment still remains.

2. Pot should be regulated and taxed. Put in safety and quality control, educate the public about the harmful pulmonary effects and tax the shit out of them. One 20ct. box could easily sell for 5-10$, about 25-75% of which could be pure tax revenue. Trillions of dollars of debt? This may not erase it, but it sure as hell would help.

3. Hippies still suck.

4. Tie die is still ugly.

5. The only way for legalization to take place is for the majority of people who advocate it to STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN. Yes, what you are advocating for has, for a long time, been illegal. Yes, by advocating the legalization of a controlled substance everybody understands that it is likely because you enjoy it when you can, illegally. Yes, the substance that you are advocating the legalization of makes you stupid. You still don't have to act like the dumb little 8 year old who just found his dad's stash of porn who feels excited and guilty at the same time. Calm the fuck down. Stop saying things like, "get baked," "smoke reefer," and "are the brownies magical?" and start saying "get high," (even now accepted and understood language) and "smoke marijuana." Politicians don't refer to alcohol as "booze." If politicians are ever going to listen to advocates, they have to start using the words that the politicians use: high, weed, marijuana. Drop the jargon, you sound like an idiot.

6. In accordance with the above, people need to stop acting like idiots regarding weed, too. Hackie sack is lame, frisbees are for dogs only and your music sounds like shit. Phish is for assholes.

7. Old people smoke pot too. Stop encouraging your asshole friends to start speaking up. Nobody cares how many stupid, punk 18-24 year old white, male college students you have speaking up for marijuana legalization (and even less for minorities). Get the 40-50+ crowd involved. Get the people who KNOW HOW THE WORLD WORKS and aren't overly idealistic to start the conversation with the politicians who are, in more respects than for the younger crowd, their PEERS.

8. Hippies still suck. It needed to be said again.

-steve

good things

...tend to happen when you have a large amount of music on your computer.

Especially when it's rediscovering great songs that you have forgotten about.

Like this:

 

Huzzah for 22,290 items in iTunes.

-steve

so there's more to the story

That previous post about the Yale student's art project just got a bit more interesting. Head here to read up on the latest press releases. Apparently she's saying two things to two different groups of people (administrators and, er, the general public).

The fact, though, that a couple of Yale Deans still think this has happened in the way that it's been presented (which I hope isn't the case) kind of confuses me. I'm sure that everything will come out in the end (pun definitely not intended - that would be gross). Until then, I guess I'm just going to buckle up and hope both that this really is art and that it doesn't get stifled if that's all it is.

-steve

umm... wow?

Make sure you go here when your stomach isn't full.

I'm all for art, and I'm all for women's choice, but this combination of the two seems wrong if only because it's simply unnecessary.

-steve

[edit]

Apparently, it's just performance art.  According to the Yale Office of Public Affairs (page may change)...

Ms. Shvarts is engaged in performance art.  Her art project includes visual representations, a press release and other narrative materials.  She stated to three senior Yale University officials today, including two deans, that she did not impregnate herself and that she did not induce any miscarriages.  The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman's body.

She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art.

Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns.

Thank goodness.

i want one

bad

-steve

back

I'm back from Costa Rica.

Things are cool.

Why? is the shit.  For real.

Hilary needs to shut the fuck up and pack it in.

Denver in three days.

I need a real job.

cute

"The shiny guy always worries"

Sho nuff, little one.  So nuff...

-steve

yes we can

Barak Obama is doing something amazing.  And it's much more than being a charismatic candidate who promises change.  It's much more than having an amazing chance of being the first black president.  It's more than what he stands for and what he believes in and what he will accomplish.

At least it's more than all of that to me.  Because what Obama is doing for me, and for many others like me, is more remarkable than any of those other accomplishments combined.

He's making me care about America and its future.

For the past few years, I've been giving serious thought to just jumping ship.  The state of our economy, education, healthcare and social security program.  Our participation in foreign wars where we aren't wanted, and our lack of participation in global environmental treaties where we are.  It all seems like too much, and I feel like I would be much more at home in Canada or Europe.  Maybe that will still happen, but I have good reason to believe that if Barak Obama really is the harbinger of change that he, I, and millions of people believe him to be, maybe it won't have to.  

beer + art = ?

Just go here.

Especially juicyvneck.

religion can be fucked

Now, if you know me at all, you are probably aware that I, as an active atheist, don't just have a lack of faith, but adamantly speak out about the fallacy of faith and the out and out wrongness of religion.  If you're religious and your my friend, don't be put off by that.  I still like you.  I like plenty of religious people.  I also like plenty of other people with other qualities that I can't stand.

I'm getting off topic.

The above cartoon is one piece of why I don't like religion.  I know, I know.  I can hear you already.  I'm well aware that this is just an example of how extreme people can get and that it doesn't represent the whole of the Christian faith.  To me, though, that's just as bad.  The fact that a religion can aid in the formation of thoughts that can grow to these lengths is part of what I find unconscionable and, frankly, wrong/awful/evil about religion.  People who allow their faith (belief without evidence) to take them to this extent is amazing to me.  I can't imagine allowing my freedom of thought to be sacrificed to the extent that it reaches levels like this.

So no, I don't take this as the whole of religion.  But I take it as a solid example of at least one of the facets of organized religion that I take to be an extreme negative.

And don't even get me started on the topic of gay rights...

-steve, active, aggressive atheist and freethinker

help!

oh shit

So, there's a good article on pitchfork talking about how Björk asked Ratatat to open for her two shows this December on the west coast - of course they said yes.  And that's hot as shit.

But then there's also this:

That's Ratatat remixing Wanderlust from Volta.  That's right, I'm telling the truth and the audio is obviously not lying.  (I'm sorry for the quality - I ripped it from a youtube movie and had to convert it a couple times to get it up here - it should still be enjoyable).

Apparently that track is from a 4 song remix vinyl white album that is coming out soon.  Of course I love Björk more than most people (ask me about my next tattoo), and Ratatat is dope as hell, but I'm just not into vinyl.  This may make me reconsider so that I can have this in good quality, but the only problem I see is that it may make me want to get all of Björk's vinyls.  And I'm having a hard enough time, even with my 30+ CDs, keeping up with all her mad singles releases and rare finds.

But I do have that radio only copy of Quiet Fireworks that is actually illegal for me to possess.

-steve

obama is the shit

that's all for now

-steve

something substantial

Many of you reading this (all six or so of you, most likely) will remember an excellent movie Pan's Labyrinth.  Well, the director of that magnificent film, Guillermo del Toro (don't forget his production on The Orphanage), has OFFICIALLY signed up to ... are you ready for it? ... direct the Hobbit.  Don't believe me?  The Guardian has this to say.

So I think that's really good news.  Jackson, that fat ass, will still be producing it, but I have all the confidence in the world that a person like del Toro will have vision enough to give a Tolkien narrative the imagery that it deserves.  Fingers are crossed that the story doesn't get fucked.

sarah's secret is out

She told me where she finds good pictures.  I'm not sure if it was told in confidence, but really, I would still share that shit here because it's great.  And I'm sure other people are already aware of the site.

So there you go.

I need to start posting things other than pictures, videos and links.  I'm talking something substantial.  Maybe that will happen.  Maybe.

-steve

war is ugly

well...

It is unless you're fighting Russians.

-steve

reposting

I know it's kind of lame to publish things that other people have posted, but everybody needs to see this video, and the more times it's out there, the better the chances that somebody will find it.

I really have no words for it.  The only ones that come to mind are "fucking wow."

Oh, and notice how two of those dudez have the same unridable (for all practical purposes) super narrow straight bars.  I kind of miss those...

Yeah, do a search for "rip slyme" on youtube and you'll see that these guys pretty much have the most amazing music videos.

-steve

guidos

Guidos suck.  Everybody knows that.

The following link has a set of pictures that attest to that, and do so without any words describing the d-bags found in the photos.  Likely the picture heavy post was made so because the person putting the pictures up realized, after the third one, that words - descriptive, comedic or otherwise - would have been simply redundant.

I am never moving to Jersey.  Fuck, if I can help, I'll never even fly over it.

Get sick here.

-steve

as a future physician...

i completely agree with this sentiment:

-steve

this confirms it

All sheep are fucking aliens.

Or maybe the aliens are just pretending to be sheep.  I don't know.

Read more here.

-steve

typical... for LA

So apparently, an ATM for marijuana is going to be open for business soon in LA.

Apparently, it's only for people with prescriptions (I'm going to be a doctor) and there will be round the clock security.  I just wish that it weren't a big black box reminiscent of the monolith.  There's just something kind of appealing about going to a vending machine for weed, seeing your choices through a plexiglass window, and watching the little screw turn and your pot fall.

Oh well.  Click here for the full story.

Oh, and click here if you need to clean your monitor.  It'll help reach those tricky spots.

-steve

wow

It's amazing how some things can be so damn creepy that they're attractive.

Cute, even.

Get more here.

-steve

now it makes sense

I think I finally understand this whole "rap" thing.

There's a bunch more useful charts and graphs to be found here.

-steve

posting videos is easy

So here's another.  This one's from Final Fantasy - basically Owen Pallett, his violin and a sampler.

Simply said, he's the shit when it comes to one-person-making-enough-sound-to-make-you-think-it's-a-whole-fucking-band.  He's what Panther would be if he were from Canada and more indie instead of crazy (and sweet, don't worry).

Check out some of his live videos if you feel like being impressed.

-steve

2 minutes 15 seconds

In the same vein as posting fly pics and videos, here's a video that Sarah showed me (how the hell I didn't find it first baffles me - I introduced her to Emily Haines and the Soft Skeletons).



The song is good (obviously) but just how well the video accompanies it is what I find most impressive.

-steve

all my friends

I like this song way too much.

And I'm big enough of a nerd to figure out how to embed audio into my blogspot.

-steve

what the shit

is this going to be about?

Here I am, joining the second coming (or third or fourth, depending on how old you be) of blogging.  

Am I following a trend set by my friends?  You bet.  

But really.  I need to have a topic, right?  Based on the address and title, you can guess what this blog is going to be to me.  Just one more in a long line of distractions that I don't need in my life right now.  Distractions that come in the guise of websites, friends, social situations, music, games, bikes and all serve the same purpose - to both take me away from the purposes of learning medicine (shit, I didn't mention it yet - I'm going to be a doctor) and bring me back to the life that I once had.  A life where time was on my hands, not running through my fingers.

Wow.  That last sentence sounded good.  Too good.  

But really, what the shit am I going to distract myself and others with regarding this blog?  I mean, I can't just be sweet and write things.  I'm not that sweet, and 8008 has that covered, right?  So lets look for another adjective.  Fly?  No, same thing.  I'm not that fly and juicyvneck has that shit down.

I could write about being smart, but shit, even I'm not that pretentious (fuck you Vince, Julie, Jenne, Matt... anybody who knows me - I'm not that much of a dick).

I could write about the trials and tribulations of being a medical student, but who would want to read that shit?  And besides, it's supposed to take me away from school life, right?

I could write about my life but ... no, see one above.

Fuck it.  I'll probably just relay the obscure things that I find on digg and my casual opinion of the world around me.  In all likelyhood, I'll probably just forget about this shit in about a month or two, and just be content to live vicariously through the blogs of my friends.

-steve

ps. I'm going to be a doctor.