Jay Nash and The Low Stars in LA Oct. 13th, 2009

I'm fortunate to call incredibly talented singer/songwriter, Jay Nash, a friend. If you're in LA on Tuesday, Oct. 13th please come to the Troubadour to see Jay and The Low Stars.

By your tix here.

Free Music!

Asthmatic Kitty, home to the brilliant Sufjan Stevens, has been sending me downloads all summer. I'm finally getting around to posting them here for your listening pleasure.

Especially, take a listen to Sufjan's new stuff. I love love The BQE, which hits stores Oct. 20. Save the date, you will not regret this decision.

Cryptacize - "Tail and Mane"

http://asthmatickitty.com/go/tailandmane

DM STITH - Heavy Ghost (Release: March 10, 2009)
QUICK LISTEN
“Pity Dance”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/pitydancemp3

ROYAL CITY – Royal City (Release: June 23, 2009)
QUICK LISTEN
“A Belly Was Made For Wine”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/royalcitybelly

AKR201 - 900X - Music for Lubbock, 1980 (Release Date: July 7, 2009)
http://asthmatickitty.com/900x-music-for-lubbock-1980

QUICK LISTEN
"101805"
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/101805

DESCRIPTION
900X is the moniker for James McAlister. James has released the first 900X record, titled "Lubbock, 1980" as the first in an instrumental Music Library series for the Lander, WY based record label Asthmatic Kitty. "Lubbock, 1980" is a collection of songs recorded both at home an on the road, in numerous environments and non-environments from 2004-2008. James continues to do remix work and original film music under the 900X umbrella with such artists as My Brightest Diamond, Slavic Soul Party, and Sufjan Stevens. 900X can also be heard on the Asthmatic Kitty-curated Habitat compilation.

Helado Negro – Awe Owe (Release Date: August 4, 2009)

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"Deja"
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/deja

Shannon Stephens – The Breadwinner (Release Date: September 8, 2009)

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"In Summer, in the Heat"
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/in-summer-in-the-heat

Castanets – Texas Rose, The Thaw, and the Beasts
(Release Date: September 22, 2009)

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"Worn From The Fight (With Fireworks)"
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/castanets-worn

Sufjan Stevens / Osso – Run Rabbit Run
(Release Date: October 6, 2009)

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"Enjoy Your Rabbit”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/osso-enjoy-your-rabbit

Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
(Release Date: October 20, 2009)
QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE

"Movement VI—Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/sufjan-bqe-mvi

Half-handed Cloud, Cut Me Down & Count My Rings
(Release Date: November 3, 2009)

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"Once, Twice, Seven Times a Werewolf”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/hhc-werewolf

Jookabox – Dead Zone Boys
Release Date: November 3, 2009
Release Date (Europe): January 26, 2010

QUICK LISTEN/BLOG SINGLE
"Phantom Don’t Go”
http://asthmatickitty.com/go/jookabox-phantom

Ill Advised Emails to Girls, Which Were Therefore Never Sent

As a writer, I'm most comfortable expressing myself in, well, writing. So I send emails. But emails can be tricky, because if the person doesn't know you well then they won't be able to read the intonation and meaning between your lines. The message is lost in binary code. Subtly and/or a nuanced smart-ass joke can be severely misunderstood, at least in my experiences. However, knowing this and knowing there are websites out there who's very popularity is as a result to ridicule "crazy emails", I still rely heavily on email.

I've had many a pseudo relationship/friendship with girls I've been attracted to mostly exist in email. This has prompted my closest friends to insist I take my crushes into the real world and out of email. Admittedly, I bristle at this suggestion because as a writer I'm pretty damn good, but in person when I'm attracted to a girl I tend to be spaztastic. Although, these same close friends often are given the chance to read my emails, which they thoroughly enjoy, but always follow up with, "Jessi, you're great. You're a great writer, but this girl doesn't know you. She's not going to get your email. She's not going to get that you're trying to be funny and charming." Sigh...

This same advice was recently given in response to my latest attraction just days ago, again by a close friend who often encourages me to move email relationships into the "real world." And by relationship, I mean want of connection, not an actual dating situation. However, I do want to date this person.

In the past I've also misread, scratch that, in the past I've had no friggin clue what was going on. I'm inept when it comes to dating. I don't play games, I don't understand games, I'm ridiculously honest, I can't read signals, this on top of my general weirdness has gotten me a whole lot of single-ness. So, in my current attraction I've wanted to send the following two emails. But because I don't know what's going on, I don't want to make undo assumptions about this person and I don't want to freak her out with either email intended to explain and not confuse, I have decided to not send them. Rather post them here, for my few friends who read my blog. Hopefully, y'all will enjoy a laugh or two, whilst I get to, at least, stay within my comfort zone.

Email One - I want to ask if you've been busy, because your last few correspondences have been truncated? But it would be weird to ask that, given you said you were busy. I do so enjoy our correspondence. I find you insightful, smart and funny. I don't know what your sudden reticence is about. I hope I didn't somehow offend you. I want to ask, are you scaling back because you're not interested in me? I want to ask, are you scaling back because you don't think I'm interested in you? Because this is my life, I'm going to assume you're scaling back because you're not interested in me.

Email Two - Okay, I really hope not to freak you out or offend or whatever, but I've been wondering about something. When you emailed earlier this week and said "We can be friends or whatever you like." what did you mean? I mean, I consider you to be fairly smart and smart doesn't strike me as cavalier about what you'd choose to write. Oh gosh, I think this is where I can get in trouble with email, cause my intent isn't being read in the way I want it to be.

I like you too...

Reese - The Real Love of My Life

Today I was taking a shower. They just redid my shower and it's VERY slippery. I had managed not to slip until today. Imagine the banana comedy slip. Feet up in the air and landing on your back and ass. Well, that's what happened to me today. Reese, my love, came running into the bathroom, meowing and jumping up on the lip of the tub. Now you know cats don't like water, but do you know that cat didn't leave the bathroom until I was out of the shower drying off and assessing the damage. I'm sure I dripped water on her as I crawled out of the tub. Actually, she didn't leave the bathroom until I did. Then she followed me around the apartment to make sure I was okay. I am okay, too. I landed square on the water nozzle. Huge bruise right between my shoulder blades and a small cut. It's gonna hurt for probably a week, currently any pressure on that area, even leaning back against the couch Hurts. But it could have been worse and I'm thankful it wasn't. And I'm SO thankful for Reese. Her concern was incredibly sweet and I love that cat more than I could ever say. I need to get those anti-slip pads.

What Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip can teach us

I love Aaron Sorkin's, now canceled, NBC dramedy "Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip". If you're unfamiliar with the show - it's a fictional look at the behind-the-scenes of a late night comedy sketch show, think "Saturday Night Live". It starred Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, Amanda Peet, Sarah Paulson, Steven Webber and D.L. Hughley. Having worked in TV for a few years now, I can tell you that people do not behave as they are portrayed in Sorkin's world. Actually, people in general don't behave as he portrays them, which I guess is the magic of TV. In Sorkin's world TV executives act with class, dignity, kindness, compassion. Actors aren't insecure children who act out more off camera than on. Executive producers aren't overpaid geeks still trying to get the popular girl to look at them in high school. In Sorkin's world people do the right thing, they don't hold grudges and they're not punishing just because they can be. They look at a friend on the ground and instead of kicking the person, they offer a helping hand. I can tell you for a fact, this is not the norm in TV. And unfortunately, it's not the norm in life, at least not in Los Angeles.

People often complain to me that they hate LA. They say it's a hard town. They say it's a hard town for good people. I admit, I've had my fair share of run-ins with people who are inscrutable, who'd sell their mothers to get ahead. When I first moved here I definitely got burned by people I thought were friends. I've had to put up a defense, I'm not as open and I'm definitely weary of new people. This is not to say I'm bitter, embattled or hateful. I still give people more than the benefit of the doubt, I've just learned to protect myself a little better. I enjoy meeting new interesting people all the time. I've been fortunate in finding many good friends in this town. I think there is more good, than bad. But after a few years out here I'll admit, this town can be a tough place for good people. Especially, when the people you know are good, sometimes are bad.

I've got a friend. I've done many nice things for this friend over the years. My behavior towards this person has always been consistent. Which is to say, I'm generally thought of (and try to be) as easygoing, laidback and gentle in demeanor and disposition. Additionally, I think my character is such that seeks to see the best in people, sometimes in the face of evidence proving otherwise, chooses kindness at ALL times, seeks compassion and prays for understanding in the face of cruelty. I believe kindness is the only thing that matters no matter what. Everything else doesn't matter and it falls off me like water off a tarp. To put it another way, if you're not going to think of it on your death bed, chances are it's really not that important. Someone cuts you off in traffic -oh well. People deride your soccer skills behind your back - whatever, I know I try hard. I promise these are not things I'm going to think about lying on my death bed. I'm hopefully going to thinking about the people I loved and who loved me and the reciprocation's of those acts of love in my life.

I show up for my friends. I support my friends. I love my friends. Despite ALWAYS acting in the aforementioned ways towards my aforementioned friend, this person forgot all this and assumed the very worst about my character recently. Despite my years of consistent patience, years of consistent kindnesses, years of consistent understanding, years of consistent acting in what is right and honorable, this person assumed the worst at the slightest suggestion of anything otherwise from someone, who over the years has proven time and again they are not a person of great character. I am disappointed. "Studio 60" makes me long for a world in which it's assumed EVERYONE acts with honor and character, but in life it seems the opposite more often than not.

What will I do regarding this recent offense? I'll forgive this person, as that is my nature. It's also my hope that if you read this and a situation in your life arises where you're called upon to be understanding, patient, kind and honorable in the face of someone who has acted opposite of these ideals that you, too, will seek strength to do so.

ELSEWHERE

If you're in Chicago, you may want to check out the Sears Tower and walk on the sky.

And for my fellow newspaper men/women visit The New Yorker and check out Malcolm Gladwell.

GLADWELL V. ANDERSON

At a hearing on Capitol Hill in May, James Moroney, the publisher of the Dallas Morning News, told Congress about negotiations he’d just had with the online retailer Amazon. The idea was to license his newspaper’s content to the Kindle, Amazon’s new electronic reader. “They want seventy per cent of the subscription revenue,” Moroney testified. “I get thirty per cent, they get seventy per cent. On top of that, they have said we get the right to republish your intellectual property to any portable device.” The idea was that if a Kindle subscription to the Dallas Morning News cost ten dollars a month, seven dollars of that belonged to Amazon, the provider of the gadget on which the news was read, and just three dollars belonged to the newspaper, the provider of an expensive and ever-changing variety of editorial content. The people at Amazon valued the newspaper’s contribution so little, in fact, that they felt they ought then to be able to license it to anyone else they wanted. Another witness at the hearing, Arianna Huffington, of the Huffington Post, said that she thought the Kindle could provide a business model to save the beleaguered newspaper industry. Moroney disagreed. “I get thirty per cent and they get the right to license my content to any portable device—not just ones made by Amazon?” He was incredulous. “That, to me, is not a model.”

Ah, Koreatown

This is the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Koreatown. One of these days I'm gonna go in and figure out what the friggin frack!

In other news, my life has a tendency to take me to places I've never imagined. For example, the cramped offices in a dingy building in the nowhere Koreatown, an office belonging to a notary public. A notary public that I can only guess has been there since 1969. Nice guy. Peter also does taxes, so hit me up if you need a new tax guy.

Now go do this...

FROM 3QUARKSDAILY.COM

ACT TO STOP THE VIOLENCE IN IRAN

Via Nico Pitney, something you can do right now to stop the violence in Iran:

Iranian Americans and people all over the world have been touched by the courage of the Iranian people--and horrified by the violence used against them.

Throughout the recent crisis, NIAC has been in contact with the White House almost daily to convey the views of our community, and policymakers have been listening. Based on your feedback, we have strongly condemned the crackdown and called for new elections as the best way to end the violence.

But we need to do more. We need to stop the bloodshed.

Send a letter to the Ambassadors from Russia, China, and the EU, and tell them to use their influence with Iran to bring the violence to an end.

Iran is a signatory to a number of international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and therefore has a responsibility to respect the human rights of the Iranian people. The government's brutality since the election is completely unacceptable regardless of the circumstances; irrespective of whether the election was fair or unfair, the ongoing violence cannot stand.

Without formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, there simply isn't a lot that the US can do. That is why it is so important for countries that do have formal ties with Iran to use their influence to stop the crackdown. By virtue of their diplomatic relations and extensive trade ties to Iran, the Europeans, Chinese, and Russians should seize the opportunity to use their influence with the Iranian government to end the violence.

Unfortunately, many of these governments have done little, if anything, to end the violence. That is why they need to hear from you.

Take a moment to ask the Europeans, Chinese, and Russians to leverage their relationships with Iran to ensure an end to the violence against the Iranian people.

Go here to send the email letter.

Friggin Frack!

There are two dumpsters behind my building, which are emptied twice a week. In fact, they were emptied this morning at 5 am. They also happen to be directly under my window, so I get to hear them being emptied each week. I look out my window tonight and both dumpsters are completely full. I find this incredibly depressing. How do people not understand that we must change! We must change our consumption and waste - now!

In other news, Michael Jackson passed away today. His personal life was much for gossip and strange, but no one can deny his influence on modern music. His talent is undeniable and he will be missed by me.

I'm a Bad Blogger

I know, it's been another minute since I've written something. Although, I'm unemployed I've been surprisingly busy.

I recently moved - AGAIN! Reese and I now live in a lovely studio in the area of Los Angeles known as Koreatown. It was a super deal I couldn't pass up, but I'm never moving again! That was effening exhausting! As the universe would have it, I ended up helping multiple friends move the following week. Everybody's moving! God Bless a recession, rent is cheap. Well, cheap for LA.

We love our new home. It's cheap, has beautiful hardwood floors and did I mention cheap. Reese particularly likes her new view. Lot's to look at for a curious kitty. I have to street park, but if I can manage to buy a new bike that will be less annoying. I'll be able to leave my car parked and have the freedom to leave without losing good parking. Cause today, got an amazing spot, which prevented me from leaving my apartment all day. Well, that and I haven't gotten out of my pajamas, but, I mean, it's mostly cause I've got a good spot.

You may have just discerned I need to buy a new bike. Being green in the new place has been a bit of a challenge. My new building doesn't have recycling, so I'm on the hunt for some place I can stash my recyclables nearby. I've been scoping out neighboring apt. buildings for blue cans. Also, my cruiser is having issues. It needs repair and to be smaller. I'm thinking craigslist for a new-to-me-hybrid. I need thinner, lighter and someplace to put it.

Love/dating/girls still hate my ever-loving guts. So that's awesome! But we're gonna do some soul searching, read some self-help, listen to Oprah and figure out why we keep crushing on these unavailable ladies. This last debacle wasn't even a crush, just friends. But she doesn't get me, so movin on. Maybe I should say "truckin", that's gayer. Although, "movin" is kinda lesbianonic, as lesbians have the horrible habit of uhauling. I won't uhaul, of course, cause I ain't moving again! And this place is too small for anyone else to move in. Well, she could move in if all she possessed in life fit into one suitcase. But would I really want to date someone whose earthly possessions fit into one suitcase? What does that say? I could probably whittle my stuff down to Reese and some pants, but that wouldn't even fit into one suitcase. Well, maybe one of those giant Swiss Army suitcases that cost $800 a piece. But I digress, chics suck and I'm over it! At least, until the next one comes along.

Here's some fun pics of the new place.