Halloween Roman Stylee...

KormaCurry and I arrived in Rome just in time for lunch. We found a lovely restaurante' and both dove into some amazing wood-fired pizzas, ensalada & some fabulous local vino rosa. Since we had flown out of Manchester at 3am, we settled into our space age come oppulant roman B&B for a nap. Gussied up and went on a lovely stroll to the Trevi Fountain, now restored back to it's original waters...Happy Halloween my fellow Pagans, witches, ghosts and goblins....

Little Horror on the Prairie?!!

Yes, I loved 70's tv, Little House on the Prairie, growing up.
I have to say though, this cast looks much more interesting than the original cast.

Photo Credit: ANON

Social Stress + Darkness = Increased Anxiety

Just in time for Halloween, researchers are releasing new data that show darkness increases the impact of social stress, in an article scheduled for publication in the November 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry. As children and adults alike gear up for the anticipation and excitement of this "spooky" holiday, this study lends a further understanding to our inherent fear of the dark.

Link: Science Daily

Amy Winehouse Ashtray.

Amy Winehouse is releasing a Combo edition of her new live DVD I Told You I Was Trouble, which comes complete with a pint glass and an ashtray, both engraved with her name.

Link: www.amywinehouse.com

RIP Paul Raven.

The Wolverhampton musician's body was found on Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was recording. Raven earned his stripes in local punk band, the Neon Hearts. Raven joined Killing Joke in 1982 as the bassist, and later Ministry.

Album: Extremities Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions - Killing Joke
Link: Killing Joke Live
Link: Tribute Website

Canned Silk Worms.

Want to try something different for your next party?

Wired Magazine has an awesome gallery of strange canned food stuffs.

Link: Wired Magazine

Trevi Fountain Waters now Red.

KormaCurry & I fly into Rome for Halloween and plan to be at Trevi Fountain. Some "Futurist Movement" guy dumped dye into the fountain and ran into the crowd. Hopefully the nutjob did not use toxic material.

The Roman Aquaducts are apparently some of the only in the world with pure water you can still drink.
Link: Roman Aquaducts
Story Link: www.lifeinitaly.com

Rockstars in Cartoonland

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rollercoaster of Love- Video









Beatles
Yellow Submarine - Movie








Radiohead
SouthPark - TV Program








LINK: Rockstar Cartoon Slideshow
Photos: New Music Express

Devandra does Joplin...

There is nothing better than the psychedelic licks of Devandra B singing "Summertime" with the added bonus of a handsome hippie boy in boxers dancing on the sidelines.




Link: Devendra Banhart MySpace

Quite a Saucy Prince...

Love this mag cover of the beer swillin' Harry.
www.radar.com

White Stripes Cameras?

Yes, the Lomo lives. I had a few friends in Seattle that took some pretty kool pictures with their Lomos in the 90's. I was reading through the New Music Express and came across this interesting bit of news...Meg & Jack custom lomo cameras. If you are not familiar with Lomo Photography here are some links.

Meg & Jack Cameras
Lomo History
Lomo Site
The White Stripes

Platinum, diamonds & human teeth.

Part of Damon Hirst's latest exhibition. "For the Love of God" is a life-size cast of a human skull in platinum, covered entirely by 8,601 VVS to flawless pavé-set diamonds, weighing a total of 1,106.18 carats.

The skull sold for $100M

For the Halloween Baby...

No need for words.
Link: www.buycostumes.com

Amalfi, here we come...

We visited Amalfi, Italy on a whim in 2004, a tiny, jewel of a town, built into the cliffs. Amalfi Coast is where all of the Italian ceramics are made. The cliff towns in the area have brightly colored tiles on the duomos. Via the Tourismo office, we were hooked up to stay in a family’s home. The family was lovely and so was the stay with a private terrace all to ourselves, where we ate lunch & had vino every night gazing at the sea. The man of the house is from generations of ceramic artists in the area. His art was displayed all over their home. We are headed back to Amalfi in a month…we will visit our friend at her café, eat at our favorite places, take walks amongst the lemon groves, drink the local wine and chill the heck out…One of my top "destinations to see before you die"...

Kurt Cobain: About a Son

Journalist, Michael Azerrad was granted several midnight to dawn interviews with Kurt C between December 1992 & March 1993 which has been made into a film. Cobain on "Aliens"...
"I always wanted to think that I was an alien. I used to think when I was young that I was adopted by my mother because they found me and a spaceship let me off. I was from a different planet. I wanted to be from a different planet really bad. Every night I used to talk to my real parents and my real family in the skies." ~ K.C.

Photo & Content: SeattlePI

Grim Autumn Haiku.

Insomnia has taken hold, so I am keeping amused with a bit of haiku. I have not written poetry since high school & you will soon know why. My inspiration for this or lack thereof, is that we have had literally, no summer here in Vancouver this year and now it is fall...

Trees of fiery red
Leaves tumble down
Summer is gone.

Made in Vancouver... Lightning Dust.

I have been listening to Lightning Dust, a side project from Black Mountain's psychedelic duo, Amber Webber & Josh Wells. Fav new tune is "Listened On".

Link: Lightning Dust MySpace

~ Photo: Tyee.ca

DIY Dead Disk Chair.

Yet another amazing use of those disks that go awry. This chair looks quite comfortable. "Panda Chair" was designed by Belen Hermosa.
Photo: Gizmoto.com
Previous Post: DIY Dead Disk Mobile

They're Back and Touring.

Yes, the original members of Van Halen are together once again with David as the front man finally. I was hooked when they came out with the first VH album, and what girl in the 80's did not love David Lee Roth in spandex. Saw them at the Seattle Kindome / Monsters of Rock Tour on their Jump tour. Very kool.

Listen to my fav "Ain't talking 'bout Love"

Vancouver Film Fest Nominee / Forever...

Saw an awesome documentary with Dub Master C at the Vancouver Film Fest. Many years ago, KormaCurry & I went to Père-Lachaise Cemetery specifically to see Jim Morrison's grave. The experience was moving, for the simple fact, that Jim is bigger than life, even in death. The cemetery is the resting place of everyone who is anyone, in life. The whole experience really moved me and this documentary just brings all of those emotions home...I am not a critic, so this is the premise of the film...

Forever ~ Netherlands
A day in the life of the famed Paris cemetery Père-Lachaise turns into a supremely graceful meditation on the importance of art in life. Documentarian Heddy Honigmann's ( O Amor natural, The Underground Orchestra ) best film to date.

Image: www.facade.com

I have mostly been listening to...

I've always been a Jane's Addiction fan from the time I first heard "Been Caught Stealing". Had the opportunity to see them a few times, including the first Lollapalooza, located at a very muddy Fairground in Bremerton, WA in '92. (**where Perry was macking his girlfriend on stage so hard, we were lucky he actually sang) Followed Perry Farrell's solo career ie. Porno for Pyros. I love the latest project, a bit of Janes, Pyros & a touch of electronica. Not sure about the Jim Morrison track, love JimM, but I dig the message...Don't try and stop us-We're going to love! A very melodic "feel good" album which is what I am all about.
* * = s i d e n o t e / l i s t e n t o m y f a v t r a c k

Buddahfingers, Munchy Ways & Rasta Reece's

Tainted Inc.'s products first came to the attention of investigators in April 2004 when an internal DEA publication reported that agents had recently seized marijuana-laced soda & candy bars called Buddafingas and Stoners that were wrapped in packages mimicking the popular brands Butterfingers and Snickers. ~ Seattle PI

NOTE: The packaging said "For medical use only" & Tainted Inc. is apparently affiliated with the SF marijuana lobby. The sophisticated operation, which called itself "Beyond Bomb", cultivated thousands of plants in warehouses with factorylike precision. Employees in one location wore white doctors' gowns and punched time clocks when they came to work, said officials.

Nasty Neighbors Beware!

While reading through the NYTimes, I found a great article on a very funny website...where you can report, name & map your unruly neighbors.

www.rottenneighbors.com

Mortality...

"The purpose of reflection on death is to make a real change in the depths of our hearts. Often this will require a period of retreat & deep concentration, because only that can truly open our eyes to what we are doing with our lives." ~ Sogyal Rinpoche, Tibet

[ CLICK PLAY FOR BUDDAHBROT FRACTAL IMAGERY ]

LINK: BUDDAHBROT FRACTALS

Verve is Reforming!

I am stoked! One of my all-time #1 albums (CD's)
is "Urban Hymns". A modern day classic on par with Dark Side or any Zep album of yesteryear. The music is haunting, beautiful & melodic. Blah, Blah, Blah. Singer, Richard Ashcroft, made a few solo albums but not as powerful as the Verve debut.

Bittersweet Symphony Vid Link:

Photo Courtesy: New Music Express

A Few Favorite Eating Spots...

Venice, Italy: Accademia Foscarina is a beautiful, quiet spot where you can dine by candlelight canalside. Great Pizza.
Location: Base of Accademia Bridge







Manchester, UK: Punjab is an amazing place located in Rusholme, on the “Curry Mile”. Best appetizer selection & curry going. Location: 177 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme




Seattle, WA, USA: Emmett Watson’s Oyster House, which is a little hidden spot in Post Alley in the Pike Street Market. Amazing garlic aioli laden soup & oysters. Location:1916 Pike Place >



San Francisco, CA, USA: Mona Lisa is a lovely Italian eatery with Mama’s homemade pastas in awesome North Beach. The Fettucine alla Pescatore with cream sauce is amazing.
Location: 353 Columbus

Artist Builds Secret dwelling in a Shopping Mall!

The leader of an artists' cooperative has been sentenced to probation for setting up a secret apartment inside a shopping mall's parking garage as part of a project on mall life. Michael Townsend, 36, said he and seven other artists built the 750-square-foot apartment beginning in 2003 and lived there for up to three weeks at a time. The artists built a cinderblock wall and nondescript utility door to keep the loft hidden from the outside world.

Artist Website:
www.trummerkind.com