John’s Crawlspace

Apparently Francis Crick, the guy who discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, was on acid when he made the discovery. He subsequently won the Nobel Prize. According to a fellow scientist and acquaintance of his, he “often used small doses of LSD … to boost his powers of thought”, and that ” it was LSD … that helped him to unravel the structure of DNA”. Click here for the full article. So yeah, it’s definitely a good thing that LSD has been demonized in our culture and carries severe legal penalties. It’s also a good thing that I’m never, under any circumstances, the least bit sarcastic. Ever. On a related note, I’m slowly (but surely) finishing the book Acid Dreams, which is one of the most interesting things I’ve read in a long time.

For the past couple years, the majority of my downloads have been torrents. I use uTorrent and PeerGaurdian 2 (both of which I highly recommend) and rarely am I not able to find (and obtain) what I’m looking for. I’m aware that I’m not alone, I know many people that use similiar methods for downloading, but I was surprised to hear that BitTorrent transfers make up about one third of all internet traffic. I know some people that still use programs such as Limewire and DC++, and I still use IRC and FTPs as well, but for the most part… Anyway, this was all supposed to lead up to me linking to this article, which offers one man’s opinion on why BitTorrent, and P2P in general, is doomed. Thoughts and feelings?

The Transformers movie looks like it’s gonna be awesome - Check out these photos from the movie, which is directed by Michael Bay. Transformers hits theaters on July 4th.

That’s all I’ve got for now. I have the album that was requested (Big Business) but I don’t have time to sit and wait for it to upload, so I’ll post it tomorrow. I’ve been waking up at 5 AM to get to work on time (my commute is about an hour and a half) so yeah, it’s past my bedtime. Seriously. Oh yeah, and I’m checking into a retirement home next month.

Edit: You can grab a webrip of the new Clutch album, “From Beale Street To Oblivion”, right here. Also, someone requested this: Big Business - Head for the Shallow. Enjoy!

So I started my job today. A “real” job. Like the kind you get after you’re done with college - One of those. Surprised? Yeah, me too. Anyway, it’s in Trenton, New Jersey, and since I’m supposed to be there at 8 AM that means I wake up at 5 AM and leave the house at 6 to avoid traffic. Sure, I ended up being an hour early today, but I have to get a feel for the “morning commute”. Oh man… Listen to me. Next thing you know I’ll be buying a paper everyday and drinking coffee in the mornings, and watching the news before I go to bed at 10 PM. I’m shuddering at the mere though of such a monotonous routine. I miss college already, and I graduated what, a month ago? Someone get me a beer… Make that five. Alright, I’ll cut the rant short. I’ll be spending the weekend at a friend’s lake house in Eagles Mere, also known as Brokeback Mountain. So I have that to look forward to. I guess this is what it’s like to not be in school anymore… You actually look forward to social events, as opposed to going out (or not) and drinking almost every single night. At this rate maybe drinking and such will be fun and exciting again, the way it was back in high school? I bet if I were to step back and read this post as if someone else wrote it, I’d think, “golly gee, that guy has a drinking problem”. But I don’t - Have a drinking problem, that is. And I’d never say golly gee, not even if you held a gun to my head. Moving along…

So yeah, I’ve been keeping an eye on the Bonnaroo “rumor mill”, as well as several forums, and although the vast majority of you probably don’t care, there are now several (count: eight) confirmed artists. The reason this is newsworthy, or whatever, is because the official lineup hasn’t been announced yet, and having already purchased my ticket, I’m pretty damn excited to see who’s gonna be there. The acts that have been announced that I care about are: The Cold War Kids, John Butler Trio, Patton Oswalt, and The Hold Steady. At one point these were all confirmed in interviews/MySpace tour schedules/etc, but some have since been removed, most likely at the request of the people behind the scenes of Bonnaroo. There’s also a band confirmed that I am kind of mad about, and that’s Fountains of Wayne. I don’t see how they fit in at all at Bonnaroo, and if I hear “Stacy’s Mom” at any point while I’m in Manchester, I will rip someones face off. It is my understanding that these guys have been around for awhile, and that ridiculously annoying single (which I never at any point even remotely liked) is not at all representative of the bands catalog. Either way, I’ve already formed my opinion about them, and I’ll be damned if - What’s this? Oh, this is by Fountains of Wayne? Damn, this is catchy, send me the whole album. All joking aside… Shit. I have been listening to The Hold Steady’s new album, “Boys and Girls in America”, and I like it a lot. To me they sound like a combination of The Counting Crows and Bruce Springsteen, although sometimes a bit heavy on the boss. Okay, no more music.

I remember reading The Guiness Book of Records a while ago at a friends house, and coming across a part about music videos, and I remembered that it was a death metal/grind band that had the shortest music video ever. I don’t know what reminded me of it, but I decided to try and find it. Brutal Truth’s “Collateral Damage” The Shortest Music Video ever - the video clip, produced in 1994, is a record-breaking 2.18 seconds-long. While on the topic of music videos… Thank god for Hot Topic and MTV, or else we’d never have wonderful acts, like these clowns. And seriously, what the hell is this crap? I’ve never heard of Hollywood Undead, but they look like Good Charlotte’s cousins. With bands like this the focus is clearly like 10% on the music, and 90% on the image. That’s what music is all about, right? But all joking aside, they are absolutely god awful.

I’m gonna leave you with something Mizi sent me, I think this is pretty damn funny. Otherwise I wouldn’t post it. Did you just touch my ass?

25 Ways To A Girls Heart

1. When she asks how she looks, shrug and say “could be better.” This will keep her on her toes, and girls love that.

2. Never hold her hand. This can be interpreted as a sign of weakness. If she grabs your hand, squeeze hers really, really hard until she cries. This will impress her by showing her what a strong man you are.

3. Once a month sneak up on her from behind and knock her over. Girls are like dogs. They love to be roughed up.

4. Call her in the middle of the night to ask if she’s sleeping. If she is, say “you better be.” Repeat this 4 or 5 times until morning. This will show her you care.

5. When she is upset about something, suggest to her that it might be her fault. This will pave the way for her own personal improvement, and every girl needs some improvement.

6. Recognize the small things; they usually mean the most. Then when she’s sleeping, steal all her small things and break them. Because jewelry is for pussies and Asian ladies.

7. If you’re talking to another girl, make sure she’s looking. When she is, stare into her eyes, mouth the words ‘fuck you,’ and grab the other girl’s ass. Girls love competition.

8. Tell her you’re taking her out to dinner. Drive for miles so she thinks it’s going to be really special. Then take her to a burning tire yard. When she starts to get upset tell her you were just kidding and now you’re really going to take her to dinner. Then drive her home. When she starts crying and asks why you would do something like that lean over and whisper very quietly into her ear “…because I can.”

9. Introduce her to your friends as “some chick”. Women love those special nicknames.

10. Play with her hair. Play with it HARD.

11. Warm her up when she’s cold… but not by giving her your jacket, because then you might get cold. Rather, look her in the eye and say, “If you don’t stop bitching about the cold right now, you’re going to be bitching about a black eye.” The best way to get warm is with fear.

12. Take her to a party. When you get there she’ll have to go to the bathroom (they always do). Leave immediately. Come back right when the party’s dying and yell at her the whole way home for ditching you at the party.

13. Make her laugh. A good way to do this is if she has a small pet. Kick the pet. I always find stuff like that funny. Why shouldn’t girls?

14. Let her fall asleep in your arms. When she’s fast asleep, wait 10 minutes then JUMP UP AND SCREAM IN HER EAR! Repeat until she goes home and you can use your arms for more important things. Like basketball.

15. Spit often. I hear girls like guys that spit.

16. If you care about her, never ever tell her. This will only give her self confidence. Then you can never turn her into the object she deep down desires to be.

17. Every time you’re in her house steal one of the following: shoes, earrings, or anything else that comes in pairs. Only take one of the pair. This way she’ll go crazy.

18. Take her out to dinner. Right when she’s about to order interrupt and say “No, she’s not hungry”. Make her watch you eat. Girls love a guy that speaks for her.

19. Look her in the eyes and smile. Then clock her one. Girls love a spontaneous guy.

20. Give her one of your t-shirts… and make sure it has your smell on it. But not a sexy cologne smell. A bad smell. You know what I’m talking about.

22. If you’re listening to music, and she asks to hear it, tell her no. This way she’ll think you’re mysterious.

23. Remember her birthday, but don’t get her anything. Teach her material objects aren’t important. The only thing that’s important is that she keeps you happy. And your happiness is the greatest present she can ever get.

24. When she gives you a present on your birthday, Christmas, or just whenever, take it and tell her you love it. Then next time you know she’s coming over on a trash day leave the trash can open and have the present visibly sticking out of the can. Girls actually don’t like this one that much, but I think it’s funny.

25. If she’s mad at you for not calling her when you say you will, promise her that you will call her at a certain time of the day. This will ensure that she waits by the phone. Tell her when you call you’re going to tell her a special surprise. Now she’ll be really excited. Now don’t call. That’s also quite funny!

Don’t have much to post right now, but this alone is worth making a post for: Restaurant.com is currently offering 60% off gift certificates to local restaurants. Check out the site (which can be slow at times) and see if there are any places near you, then add your gift certificates to the cart and apply the code Member to get 60% off - Basically allowing you to get $25 gift certificates for $4 - That’s a damn good deal if you ask me. This, on the other hand, is the worst thing I’ve ever seen. Ever.

Hmmm… PS3 vs. Wii - That’s funny and all, but regardless of that commercial, I’d still go with a Wii.

What the hell is this crap?

So some moron went to turn in a final project to his college professor, but after burning the project to a CD, he must have grabbed the wrong one, because he accidentally turned in a disc full of kiddy porn. Anyway, after he realized he did this, he sent the professor an email. Here’s what it said:

“Oh snap, I am sorry. I accidentally gave you my friend’s mixed music CD that I meant to keep here and install the music on my computer. I found the CD with the (final exam) on it. If there’s some way I could send it to you, that would be great. I am sorry about that, and hope it didn’t affect the grade at all. Again, if I could get that CD back so that I can install the music. Sorry for the mix up.”

Forget the child porn for a second. The fact that the email to his teacher begins with “oh, snap” alone is enough to send this douche to jail, at least in my eyes. Oh yeah, and then I guess there’s the whole violation of innocent children thing too, he should probably get f’ed for that as well. What a moron.

For those of you that somehow haven’t already read about the iPhone… Check it out here. That’s pretty damn cool looking.

Headin’ to New York for a few days to see the girlfriend. Apparently checking out some abandoned hospital/asylum while I’m there, so hopefully you’ll be seeing pictures when I return.

I have gotten into more than one argument with someone over how MTV or Clear Channel (or both) supposedly “own” Bonnaroo, and dude, you shouldn’t go there, man, or even support them, they have satellites watching everything you do, and George Bush makes 15% of the profits, man, fight the power… MTV does not own Bonnaroo, nor do they have any connection to them. Obviously I’m not in a position to say this and be 100% sure, since this is just based on my own personal research, but this interview with Ashley Capps. Capps is the founder of AC Entertainment, who along with Superfly Productions produces both Bonnaroo and Vegoose.

FYE is having a big sale on DVD box sets and collector’s edition - Both TV shows and movies. You can check out the list here. Apply the code MCOCT2006 at checkout for an additional 10% off. If I wasn’t so broke I’d definitely buy those Arrested Development DVDs. While on the topic of sales… Urban Outfitters is having a sale, and you can get an additional 25% off all sale items by using coupon code SECRETSALE07. Not sure why I posted that, since I’d never give them my money. Why? Because.

Children of Men is supposed to be an amazing movie. I have yet to see it, but this promotional (?) type video makes it look pretty interesting, and several people have told me it’s amazing, so hopefully I’ll have a chance to see it soon.

I wonder how often bands actually pay royalties when they do covers of, say, classic rock songs in bars and stuff. I highly doubt it really ever happens. So I guess this restaurant owner is just really unlucky… He’s being sued by the companies that own the rights to three classic rock songs that were performed at his restaurant in 2005, and it’s gonna result in him having to shut down his restaurant. That sucks.

Modest Mouse’s upcoming album, “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank”, is set to come out sometime early 2007… As far as I know, there is no specific release date. But I got ahold of the first single from the album, “Dashboard”, and it sounds pretty good. You can download it here. Enjoy!

I’ve definitely seen lots of “different” things in my time at college, but I can honestly say I never came across a naked party.

I’d like to introduce you to a band. First, I’d like you to look at a picture of them, you can see it here. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, check out this video of them performing live. Not at all what you expected, is it? I’ve watched that video three times now, I just think it’s so funny. A good reminder not to judge a book by it’s cover, I suppose? Anyway, the band is called Yellow Machinegun, and they’re from Osaka, Japan. I don’t particularly like the music they make, but I think it’s noteworthy for obvious reasons. If you’re looking for a hardcore/metal band that writes songs about things like french toast and growing a tail, this band is for you.

Watermelon art? Yeah, and it’s actually pretty cool.

Moviebodycounts.com is… Well, it’s actually pretty self-explanatory. The site tallies the on-screen deaths in popular action/sci-fi/etc movies, and ranks them according to amounts. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King took the lead with a whopping 836 deaths.

This is kind of interesting: 18 patents by celebrities who are not usually known for being inventors.

I think Patton Oswalt is hilarious. I saw him at Bonnaroo last year and his set was pretty good, but I love his CD, “Feeling Kinda Patton”. Apparently I’m not the only one though… Some dude bought tons of items mentioned on the album for his friend for Christmas, which you can check out here. Seems a bit overboard to me, but uhh… That’s just me I guess.

Requests: We’ll start with Alice In Chains: Seattle, WA (12.20.92), Alice in Blunderland (1992), Bank Heist (1999), Come and Save Me (1993), Publisher Demos (1989), and Heroin (Live 1995). There were three other requests - God Dethroned’s The Grand Grimoire, Thyrane’s Travesty Of Heavenly Essence, and Deadlock’s Earth.Revolt. Sorry it took so long to get ‘em up here… Enjoy!