Chernobyl thoughts

Today is the 21^st anniversary of reactor number four melting-down in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

When it happened I was just a kid living in Munich Germany. I remember going out for recess and the teachers running out and telling us all to go back inside. We asked "Why?" and they responded "because of the fallout". We were children of the Cold War with parents in the military. Needless to say we all thought Stanley Kubrick was a prophet and we were going to have to go all Road Warrior by the end of the week. "Wolverines!!"

It was difficult to get news of what was going on from the Soviet Union so we were in the dark for a while. When I finally did see a map of radioactive caesium-137 fallout from the Chernobyl catastrophe I got a little concerned.

Southern Germany seemed to get a good amount of fallout after all. We had been drinking the milk from the cows who ate the grass that had the cesium on it with little thought thanks to the news blackout.

My self-centered concern was understandable for a kid and my family seems to be fine so far. (My sister has had three kids with the proper number of fingers and toes.) So I haven't thought much about it in years.

When I heard about a Ukrainian video game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. it peaked my interest again. First in the Exclusion Zone itself and then in the ongoing containment battle.

I don't know why I am typing this. It is just that I have been learning a lot more about the people who lived in Prypyt and the surrounding areas and the mass number of people who suffered horrible deaths to help contain the reactor. It is not just history. There are those who still fight for their lives and those of their children even today. Mutation is not just in the movies.

Just take some time today to consider those people, what can be done for them and how to make sure this does not happen again.

Currently listening : Slavestate By Godflesh Release date: 07 March, 1995

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Don't keep nice crap in the hotel room
Current mood: pissed off

Spencer and I have been on the road for the last few weeks. We came back to the hotel from a bar tonight and found my hotel room door was standing wide open. My bag was gone thru but we had taken the gear with us today. I guess my regular sh*t just ain't of interest. Kind of humbling I guess. Can't wait to be home. - Swamp

Currently watching : Pee-wee's Playhouse #1 - Seasons 1 and 2 Release date: 16 November, 2004

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Swamp suffers from insomnia

Ok. What can the sleepless brain ramble on about? Oh! I got it.

Old cheesy industrial music really makes me happy. I discovered recently the most awesome song by Cat Rapes Dog those Scandinavian geniuses that brought you seminal works like Cannibal Hippies. It is entitled Gods, Guns and Gasoline. I swear, this song sounds like it was composed with a Casio including synth guitar. Every time I hear it now I get all giggly. Hell, some of the samples in the song are Crispin Glover!  Lyrical excerpt: There goes my car cus I not feelin good. Jesus Christ sitting up on the hood. Hes with some girl and carries a beer. Hes got some faith and you got the fear.  I dont know what the hell it all means but damn its awesome. 

Maybe I should just start drinking and hope for sleep. How long till deprivation makes you crazy?

Currently listening : Secrets of God By Cat Rapes Dog Release date: 04 April, 2006

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Swamp relents

Ok as much as I have resisted the Myspace thing in the past, it was inevitable. Our manager setup the account last month and refused to give me the password. It was finally finagled out of a turncoat. I have added a few of the old posts from the IV site to fatten up the blog. So I guess I am now part of the problem.

Currently listening : Zoon By Nefilim Release date: 05 November, 1996

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arrghh!

Here we go with the self absorbed whining: You know it is really freakin hard to produce new music when all your time is eaten up by work, school and serious video game addiction. So it comes down to music or partying.

People may not realize that electronic music takes quit a bit more work they more traditional fare. Not to knock standard rock and metal whose practitioners can spend years tweaking equipment to get just the right sound out of their gear but you have 4 basic tools to build with, guitar, bass, drums and vocals. When dealing with synths and samplers configurations and just figuring out what sounds to build with on top of the traditional instruments can be daunting at best along with the effects and crazy mixing stuff.

I wanted to spend yesterday working on a new song. Spencer had started playing some riff that was groovy at about 10 PM the night before and I had to crash so I could be reasonable for my commute in the morning. So I wanted to build on it. The problem is my main computer for composing has been suffering from a good bout of WinRot. So I spent last night setting up a new OS install. It has been about 2.5 years since the last one. So tonight I need to start installing applications and mapping sample directories and such.It should be the weekend by the time I am done but woo! hoo! I need to work most of the weekend for my hated real job and we are having an International Talk Like a Pirate Day party on Saturday. Oh Woah is me :P

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"Breakin' Electric boogaloo 59"

Today the lawn dudes smashed the sliding glass door in the studio. Spencer was 20 feet away sleeping and did not wake up. Moral of the story: You can probably shove hot pokers up Spencers ass while he is asleep with little consequence. Special props go out to Suzy the tarptress. (One who puts up tarps)

If you write dramatic stories about Spencers ass and hot pokers please email them to us and we will send you a free not so new Furby that has learned to cus like a sailor with a lisp. Offer not valid on planet Terra.

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In reference to our upcoming Vegas fiasco

From: Lucy Dog Music
So I heard a rumor that tix were purchased... I'm still awaiting your itinerary and artist rider...

From: Lucy Dog Music
Jon bitches at Swamp for not having a clue for a couple of paragraphs.
..don't make me angry or I'll bill transvestite midget porn to your CC.

your friendly manager,

Jon

From: Nate

Tickets have just been purchased for the East Coast portion of the Producers Contingent. We will
arrive early and lay the groundwork for the rest of the entourage's stay in Vegas. This will involve
establishing rapport with the community and the venue staff and will be accompanied by a quality
assurance sampling of the local libations. We want to make sure everything is kosher before the
larger group arrives. Rest assured, there will be NO brown M&Ms in the candy dishes when you arrive.

From: Suzy

Don't get your panties in a wad Jon. The problem here is that Nate tried to get information out of
Swamp. Swamp conveniently forgot that Spencer and I orchestrated the ticket buying on Sunday.

Our technical rider will be forthcoming, but I would like to emphasize that the Producers Contingent
is responsible for getting the Rock Star Phalanx a limo from the airport to the Luxor on Thursday
Aug 18th and a return trip to the airport from a location that will be determined on Aug 21st. It is
the primary condition of our participation in this life shortening escapade.

We would like to thank the Eastern Division of the Producers Contingent for "scoping out the
territory, making contacts, and sampling the local libations." Spencer will be working out the
details of the rider, but I would like to make a few suggestions:

13 Fleet enemas and a large box of extra small rubber gloves (small hands, smell like cabbage)
Clean red towels - bath sheet sized
The complete and utter absence of small drink umbrellas - they make my monkey fly into a rage
Mother of Pearl inlaid pentagram shaped symbol on silver hand held mirror
A man servant named "Chet" at our disposal at all times (This can NOT be a person pretending to be
a Chet. It must be a true Chet as evidenced by 2 forms of picture ID)
1 straight razor - unused
A unlimited rides pass to the "BIG SHOT" on top of Stratosphere
1 man's speedo swim suit sized 52 - blue
A fast car with no top and a case of soap in the back seat
Hooker repellent spray
1 case of Depends "overnights" and a salt shaker full of baby powder
Signed agreement that Jon will not try to steal anyone's soul while they are intoxicated or sleeping

That's all I askin for . . .
Suzy

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Back from Vegas.. soul is bruised

We have barely returned alive. I highly recommend the "Warp Core Breach" from the Star Trek bar. Nothing like rum and dry ice. Special thanks to Nate and not Jon for the limo.

Observations:
Evidently my friends are whore magnets. (Literally)
Mike and Sizzlor paid to watch shirtless men touch each other.
People get uncomfortable when you bring cameras into a bathroom.
Photos of Sinatra are soothing while you vomit.
Kobe beef really is that good. Thanks Spencer.
The Boardwalk Casino rocks!! <-- sarcasm
Jesus freaks really are better than I am.
Even sick Jon lacks the common decency for a reach around.. according to Brody.
Never wash out a flask with dish soap.
Crunk cups available at the Excalibur. Just add b-dazzler.
Jon will get knifed in prison after seeing how he handles a jello shot.

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OK, it is up!

As much as I hate the word 'Blog' and all of its derivatives (MoBlog, Pooplog, Smog, Troglodyte) I still like the concept. So here is a moblog for the collective. OK I also love the word troglodyte and need to type it a lot.

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