I am only me, do what you will.

Backstabbing.

2007-01-01T03:22:50Z

Last night was a rollercoaster of sorts. In the week building up to it, I was debating if I really wanted to go to the TCE III CD release show, mostly just not feeling it. But, in the end I decided to go, since The Eighth is on the compilation, I should at least represent.

It started out nice, seeing people I haven't seen in a while. I had brought some hastily made demo CDs and "coming soon" flyers, many thanks to behindmirrors. Then a certain someone came up to me and in rather cynical tones threw some words that were biting, using information that would have only been found in my locked posts.

This is why this will be my last post in this journal, because it appears to be that I can't trust those on my friends list anymore with what I write in my personal journal. I had assumed that this was a general understanding. Apparently not.

Thankfully OBCT played such a great set that it helped me get my mind off of it for the time being. And Jen of Thosquanta, thanks for the waves. It was nice of you.

I'll seek out those who are not local or are not connected to last night's events when I have my new journal up and going. blackmoth, I'll do the yearly picture poll you made up again this year, but in the new journal as well as a reply in yours. The rest of you, all I can say is don't try to start a war with me.

chewthegristle @ 2006-12-25T21:22:00

2006-12-26T04:02:58Z

Two thousand six. What can I say about it? A lot changed and a lot stayed the same. Kinda pathetic, in a way.

I moved out of the "dream-turned-hell" accomodations of luxury apartment life and into a large-yet-in-need-of-work older house. Began to live with a partner for the first time since 2003, and I lost an old friend in a way.

Recording sessions for The Eighth began roughly around that time as well. UCKF simmered down to the point of stagnant water.

Decent productivity level in regards to art, focused mainly on photography and photo manipulation. Some design work for the TITAN installation too.

Lots of reading and research this year. Read the original Dragonlance trilogy and the Summer Flame one, Interview With The Vampire, Introduction to the Kabbala, a numer of Chuck Palanhuik novels, and I don't remember what else, there were quite a few.

Saw some films that were nice and inspiring.

I still work at the same place, surrounded by the slowly escalating drama, though at least this time, I'm not the antagonist in any way. Lawsuits involving the MPD and a certain Timberwolves basketball player, foreigners wanting to marry my sister shortly after her engagement was broken off, the idiocy and incompetence of other employees and people in general.

Conclusion: people must die.

I dunno, 2006 was okay. It had some pretty awesome moments, but it also had it just-as-equally-bad pits. I'm still alive, and I'm still fighting, though some days I'd just rather not.

I made moving pick-tures!

2006-12-21T20:14:41Z

So I looked around, and discovered that Adobe has this animation feature. I'm sure there are a number of you out there that are, "duh", but I've never come across it before. So, I've been making animated gifs. Simple, for the most part, but I'll get to being especially creative soon enough.

chewthegristle @ 2006-12-14T10:34:00

2006-12-14T16:35:10Z

Non-PC, but I appreciate it.

2006-12-11T21:36:14Z

So, randomosity:

There's some burger joint in Arizona called the Heart Attack Grill that serves items such as "Quadruple Bypass Burger" and "Flatliner Fries", served by "nurses". Sexy nurses.

No, neither of these patrons are crippled, it's a service they provide to those who can finish off the triple or quadruple bypass burger.

The Yahoo news article with a few pictures

The website itself

Discuss!

Because I steal things from people like mzmel

2006-12-09T04:16:36Z

1. Who was your best friend?
Randy Zachmeier. Two years we shared a locker, though he really didn't need it, he just caried this oversized duffle bag, about the size of a small body bag. We drove to Little Ceasars during lunch brek in his AMC Scout II plasting any "out there" music, be it Quiet Riot, Beastie Boys, Dennis Leary, Weird Al. We were in the "other" category.

2.What sports did u play?
I quit my skateboarding sponsorships back in my freshman year. Lost interest in competitive sports, though I was sought after by the wrestling team, which I found amusing.

3. What kind of car did you drive?
I drove truck on a ranch I helped out on in the summer, that's about it. I didn't get a car until after I graduated.

4. It's Friday night, where were you?
Church, out to eat, at a friend's house, or at home. Sometimes I'd ride bike at night.

5. Were you much of a party animal?
Not really. That didn't happen until much later.

6. Were you considered a flirt/player?
I don't think people could agree on what they considered me. I had a football player ask me in a bar years later to explain women to him because he thought I was smart in school.

7. Ever skip school?
I honestly don't remember.

8. Were you a nerd?
I wasn't book-smart enough to be in that crowd.

9. What's a funny memory?
Our phy ed class was pretty rowdy (and I have to include myself in the antics on this one, maybe it was a precursor of future craziness, I dunno) to the point of setting benches on fire, putting the instructor's chair in the showers, and watching TV in his office. One day he didn't show up.

10. Did u get expelled or suspended?
I had detention once, but I don't recall why.

11. Can you sing the fight song?
I don't think I ever heard it.

12. Who were your favorite teachers?
My art teacher. We argued, but it was good. My poetry teacher too. Those two were the only real push I had towards what I'm doing today.

13. Favorite class?
Art class, by far. Poetry a second.

14. Your school's full name?
Mandan Senior High

15. School mascot?
An Indian brave, Sioux-like.

16. Did you go to Prom?
I got asked, but I couldn't go.

17. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
Probably not. While there were a few good moments, once was enough.

18. What do you remember most about graduation?
Standing next to Ryan Pins for the last time, and we joked about how there we were, lined up in alphabetical order, the small guy next to the big guy. Through junior high and high school it always was an interesting juxtaposition.

19. Favorite memory of your Senior Year?
I don't remember much, really, probably the silent respect I had started to earn for someone who kept to themself, but wasn't afraid to put up fists or words. Oh, there was the film my partner and I made for Creative Writing that started out as a Batman send-up, but turned into a documentary about making a movie for Creative Writing class. Due to time restraints and basement flooding ruining previously-shot footage, we wrote and filmed on the fly.

20. Where were you on senior skip day?
Probably at school, if there was one of those things going on. By the time senior year came around, I only was there for maybe four hours, so it wasn't a big deal.

21. Did you have a job your senior year?
Odd jobs mostly, tutored third grade kids in reading, yard work, the occasional janitorial job with my mum, some babysitting.

22. Where did you go most often for lunch?
Little Ceasars and the grocery store next door. Bread sticks and twenty-five cent kool-aid drinks, that was living!

23. What did you do after graduation?
My grandfather's, I think. I remember having two parties, one for family and one for friends, a week apart, because of having a large extended family and for having a number of out-of town friends.

24. When did u graduate?
1994. (Unlike mzmel I'm not afraid to post such things, even if I do have grey hair.)

25. Who were your prom dates?
Alas, if I did go to prom, I know who I would like to have had as my date. No, such romantic things didn't happen for me until later.

26. Are you going to your ten year reunion?
I had considered sending a life-sized marque of me when my ten-year came around, but even that wasn't worth the effort.

27. Who was your homeroom teacher?
I didn't have home room, as I was only in school for four hours a day.

28. Who will repost this after you?
Someone younger than me.

29. Who was President of your class?
Dan Clouston, I think. He was popular, but nice, one of the guys who respected me.

30. What were you voted as your senior year?
This is either a custom before my time, after my time, or in a time located outside of where I went to school.

31. What were your accomplishments your senior year?
One- Despite popularity, it was understood overall that I was the better artist than Chad Olmest, the Math teacher's kid, who could only draw crappy Garfield knock-offs.
Two- Acing Poetry class
Three- Being in journalism class and stumping the Attorney Govorner at a NIPA convention with a simple question about what she has for breakfast.
Four- Finally being done with school.

Something with creative content.

2006-12-06T11:08:46Z

Wrote a new song. It's kinda dance-friendly, but dark. Even lyrics.

Fléau l'anathème

Bless this child, for he will be
Your lord and saint - Almighty
To rule over and dominate
His fellow man to injury
Fear this child, for Legion will be
His name and face - plain to see
It is his to dominate
His fellow man indefinitely

I know, I know, it's hard to see
But really you've got to trust me
I know, I know, this just can't be
But really just have faith in me

Curse this child, for he will be
Your lord and saint - Demonseed
With opened wings, claiming his prey
And spreading his disease
Dread this child, for Legion will be
Everywhere and anywhere with cruelty
It is his to feed on hate
It's all his for the taking

I know, I know, it's hard to see
But really you've got to trust me
I know, I know, this just can't be
But really just have faith in me

I manipulate the games you play
I drink of souls every day
I siphon from the weak
I inherit from the meek
I reap what you sow
And everything else in tow
I hoard what you save
I smile when you're afraid

I dominate
I instigate
I manipulate your purpose to me

I dominate
I instigate
I dedicate your purpose to me

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-30T17:43:00

2006-11-30T22:43:52Z

So, yeah, finally going to see the Body Worlds exhibit tonight. Found out that they will be running around the clock until it's over on Sunday. That meaus that if you had an itch to see dead bodies perserved in a plastic coatinq at four in the morning, now's your chance.

I'll be going in the evening, in case your imagination was getting out of hand.

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-29T15:49:00

2006-11-29T20:49:23Z

So I'm trying out the letter transcriber on my phone. It's a little difficult. The main problem is learning to write certain letters a specific way, and in one stroke, but not in a cursive way. I'm also using a new phone, one I had purchased quite a while ago but for some reason could not get to work right. There are still some kinks I'm working out, but overall an enlightening experience.

And now off to work.

Viewed via minahal

2006-11-29T07:14:47Z

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-14T02:09:00

2006-11-14T07:09:29Z

Yeah, stuff.

I'm hear, keeping on keeping on.

My head's all a'swirl.

Yesth.

You shall know what I'm up to soon enough.

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-09T02:53:00

2006-11-09T07:53:25Z

Wow, cool things in music. New Skinny Puppy is due out early 2007, it's about 70% mixed, from what I read at the Litany site. I went to the forums there, and there was a thread on a poll I made years ago entitled "Which Skinny Puppy song are you?" I found this to be amusing, so I had to sign up to lay claim to the subject of their attention. Genesis (that would be the Banks/Collins/Rutherford version that spawned all the hits you love and/or hate) reunited for a tour (a tip via gloomchen), hopefully they come stateside. Then I found a video of Pink Floyd's performance (this would be the Gilmour/Mason/Waters/Wright version that put out those great albums in the seventies) at the Live 8 hubbaloo. Waiting for that one to load now.

Looking forward to the new TCEP compilation, then I'll have something official to give people for The Eighth until I get the promos printed up.

Speaking of, "Typecast" is still doing well on GarageBand, and "Ghost" has slowly started to get better. The latter of the two got a beating in reviews, but I expected worse. Plus I'm pretty happy with what I did get, more than I expected.

Need to get the car fixed, hopefully soon.

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-03T16:47:00

2006-11-03T21:47:59Z

I think it's funny that "Ghost" was picked Song of the Day on Halloween.

Wakka-wakka.

If they test it at one PM on Wednesdays, how is it that I've never heard it?

2006-11-02T05:05:43Z

I would like to thank mzmel, mythoughts22, thosquanta, gloomchen, and killxthexr0ck for educating me on tornado siren testing, and related topics.

chewthegristle @ 2006-11-01T14:07:00

2006-11-01T19:07:43Z

Someone want to explain to me why I hear the tornado alarm?

chewthegristle @ 2006-10-28T21:43:00

2006-10-29T02:45:30Z

I love Primus, and they'll be here on the nineteenth of November at the Orpheum. But thirty-seven bucks? Fuck.

But I'd still pay it.

Almost forgot to do this...

2006-10-25T05:28:09Z

from mzmel

Comment with your username and I'll give you an honest compliment. Then post this in your journal and spread the love.

Twelve days later...

2006-10-24T02:34:24Z

..."Typecast" jumped to #33.

New award: "Most Original" for the week of October 23rd.

Geoff is challenging me to surpass "Corporate Rock America", the OBCT track sitting at #29. At this rate, it's quite possible. Wow.

For those of you who don't know, GarageBand was co-founded and chaired by Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) and is also chaired by Sir George Martin (producer of the Beatles), which I think makes it a bit more reputable than any of those band hosting sites from a few years ago.

Yeah, I've been crowing about this, but hell, any good news in my life right now keeps me breathing.

I can't wait to see all this come to the final product.

Allow me to crow a little more...

2006-10-17T04:33:44Z

Since Thursday "Typecast" has risen to #52, and still getting positive responses.

Cyndi of Ciara Blaze:
intriguing..
great intro to this song here..I like the vocals--they're kind of in a low growl instead of a scream like most people would expect of industrial music. the production works well for this song. it makes me think of quiet rage, overall, with the vocals being the way they are and then the grinding music in the background being as blatant as they are. great job.

Extra Credit: Male Vocals, Programming, Production, Lyrics, Mood, Originality, Most Bitter Breakup Song.

Glenn Kuchenbeiser of Too Many Voices
catchy
this sparseness here is interesting. I can't say that i care for the main sample/drum programming. The vox are intriguing, good voice, cool lyrics. nice subtle backing vox. killer change at 1:09. very NIN but not overdone, makes me want more. after a 2nd and 3rd listen i really dig this. i didn't get it at first but this is pretty brilliant. nice job!

Extra Credit: Male Vocals.

With most everything else in my life currently being not so great, I'm thankful for this. As an artist one gets self-doubt, often, and strongly. The process of this album has been no exception. I am thankful for the commitment and faith given by Geoff and Dan, I'm thankful to the friends and associates who've encouraged/supported/advised me, and I'm thankful for the honest feedback from all. To know that you're doing something right, and it's not all in your head, well, it keeps me from throwing in the towel, which I've come pretty close to doing a few times.

I promise to give this my all.

So it begins.

2006-10-15T04:18:40Z

Thursday I uploaded "Typecast" to GarageBand. Today it made Track of the Day, and sits at #56 on the Industrial charts. From a guy in Chicago: "i really like this track and the simplicity it uses to deliver its message... the change up at 1:10 is awesome... there's nothing i complain about... this is great music... best i've heard from this site yet..." And this guy's music is ridiculously amazing.

Fuck yeah.

chewthegristle @ 2006-10-10T05:11:00

2006-10-10T05:13:28Z

Done.

2006-10-10T04:05:43Z

Recording is complete. Mastering should be done in a couple weeks. Working on buying rights and listening party booking now.

Who wants to come?

Updation.

2006-09-29T02:07:56Z

Been updating the website and MySpace pages, adding new bios, new members, and a new song. Met with David today, explored the maze that is the Minneapolis skyway. Should hopefully be going up to record next week.

Got second season of Lost in the house, thanks to Sarah.

Darren brought me some tasty noodles.

And that's that.

chewthegristle @ 2006-09-22T21:09:00

2006-09-23T02:19:27Z

Been offline for nearly two weeks. Partially my fault.

Let's see, what I've been up to...

Been reading a lot. Read Ruskin's Rose: A Venetian Love Story, Choke*, and am in the middle of Introduction to the Caballa. The latter of the three I've been extensively cross-referencing with other books in my library. Also started Lullaby*. *Both by Chuck Palahnuik.

Had an Eighth meeting recently, where guerrilla marketing concepts were brilliantly brainstormed before my eyes, as well as much more elaboration on the stage design. Of this I am very excited.

Was going to write more, but I'm hungry. More later.

chewthegristle @ 2006-09-10T22:19:00

2006-09-11T03:20:44Z

Create your own! Originally Written By ga_woo, Hosted and ReWritten by darkman424

The Eighth "Titan" listening party, at Club Underground, with tracks from OBCT and the upcoming UCKF album played as well.
	Hells yeah I'll be there!
	Fuck that shit, I have episodes of Battlestar Galactica to catch up on.
	How much is it going to cost me?
	Can't you just send me the mp3s?
	I'll wait for the CD release show or after.

Free polls from Pollhost.com