Tedium

Nothing much to report today. Work. Classes. Nearly falling asleep on the bus.

1. Magnet: The Tourniquet
2. Television: Marquee Moon
3. The Microphones: The Glow, Pt. 2
4. Nina Simone: Nina Simone at Newport
5. Nôze: Craft Sounds and Noises
6. Vacabou: Vacabou

Weekend illness

Michael and I were both ill this weekend (Michael much more so), so we didn't get to ride or hike like we had planned. I, however, found that I had lost three pounds since the previous Saturday. I know that this is well within the expected margin of error, but I choose to take it as a good sign. The weight loss isn't even the true goal; my objective is to feel healthier and have more energy. However, weight loss is an index that can tell me whether I am moving in the right direction, even in increments that I can't feel.

Last night I was able to catch up on my readings for my most challenging class. I would like to complete each week's work by the previous Friday, whenever possible, so that I will not have to do homework or read on weekends. This may be a naïve goal, but I think it's worth a try.

My listening since Saturday:

1. Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters
2. Test Icicles: For Screening Purposes Only
3. The Plastic Constellations: Crusades
4. Bibio: fi
5. Galaxie 500: On Fire
6. The Notwist: Neon Golden
7. Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump

paleunderweight podcast 1

You can download the new podcast here.

Tracklisting:

1. Daft Punk: "Veridis Quo"
2. XTC: "Burning With Optimism's Flames"
3. Tortoise + Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "Daniel"
4. Fennesz: "Rivers of Sand"
5. Nina Simone: "The Other Woman"
6. Can: "Moonshake"
7. Saint Etienne: "Teenage Winter"
8. The Modern Lovers: "Pablo Picasso"
9. Funkadelic: "Can You Get to That"
10. The Soft Pink Truth: "Make Up"
11. Califone: "Trick Bird"
12. Cut Copy: "Saturdays"
13. Cat Power: "Lived in Bars"
14. Mr. Bungle: "Pink Cigarette"
15. AFX: "Every Day"
16. OutKast: "Prototype"
17. Mirah: "Sweepstakes Prize"
18. Sonic Youth: "Unmade Bed"

Smo'mo!

• Yesterday marked nine continuous months without nicotine. Someone I know has referred to it as 'smobriety', which I thought was pretty clever. But I think it should be shortened to just 'smo'. It could be an adjective (abstinent from nicotine after a long period of smoking), a noun (one who has quit or the state of having quit), or a verb (to quit). It could be combined with other slang: a smo'mo (such as myself) is a gay man who has quit smoking. If it catches on, it could start a trend of peer pressure against smoking: "C'mon, everyone else is smo! You'll be cool! Wanna see my pink, healthy lungs? I've got 98% blood oxygen saturation!"
• I'm surprised at how much energy I have. I was at work for an hour before realizing I had forgotten to pour myself some coffee. Two hours later, having had only one cup of coffee and absolutely no soda, I was positively hyper. I later started to sag a bit and had a couple bottles of soda, but I've had even more water. I have already exceeded the recommended minimum water intake today. I think I'm already beginning to experience the benefits of moderate cardio-vascular exercise and increased water consumption after less than a week.
• Last night I took my bike for a ride around the block: starting at 15th Ave. and San Miguel, I rode to Bethany Home Rd., then to 7th Ave, the to Missouri, back to 15th Ave. and back home. That's a little over two miles. I took a spill on about 8th Ave. and Bethany, which would have been embarrassing if anyone had been around to see it. Fortunately, I only skinned my knee. I'm glad I was wearing my helmet because it would have hurt a lot worse otherwise.
• I'm suddenly weirded out by how grown-up I'm becoming: responsibilities, regular exercise, concern for my health and safety, volunteer work, etc. I'll have to do something really juvenile soon to feel normal again. Maybe I'll watch cartoons in my underwear while eating Cap'n Crunch this Saturday morning.

Today's listening:

1. The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers
2. Daft Punk: Discovery
3. XTC: Black Sea
4. Saint Etienne: Tales From Turnpike House
5. Funkadelic: Maggot Brain

WTF?!

I am in a funk.

I think it started with my commute this morning. It involved a bizarre episode that began with a bus driver closing the door in my face as I was trying to board and ended with the driver refusing to drive until I got off the bus because I had called Valley Metro to report him. In between was a lot of drama. Valley Metro sent someone to take a report and he was really nice, even giving me a ride to a stop where I could catch another route to work. Admittedly, I stew much longer than necessary over events like this. I just hate it when people turn episodes of mildly unprofessional behavior into appallingly unprofessional.

My day is going better now, but I haven't gotten to listen to as much music as I wanted.

So far:

1. OutKast: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
2. Mirah: You Think It's Like This, But Really It's Like This

Graduation news and podcast update

• It's official: I will be graduating in May. Today I paid the graduation fee, confirmed that my requirements will be met (pending the completion of this semester's classes), and picked up my gold honor cords symbolizing summa cum laude status.
• My podcast will be resurrected this Saturday. Each week I will cull tracks from the previous week's listening. I knew that keeping track would come in handy eventually.

Speaking of which, today's listening:

1. Tortoise + Bonnie "Prince" Billy: The Brave and the Bold
2. Cut Copy: Bright Like Neon Love
3. The Soft Pink Truth: Do You Party?
4. Cat Power: The Greatest
5. Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse

Eventful days

Lots to blog about:

• Michael and I finally saw Brokeback Mountain. We were both pretty bored and felt underwhelmed at first. However, the film is beginning to make sense on different levels as I try to understand the characters' motiviations. Perhaps I'll see it again soon.
• The next morning, we went hiking Piestewa Peak. I hadn't been hiking in about 20 years, so I wasn't sure how I would do. We just barely made a start on the trail before I had to turn back, but I'm pleased at how much I could finish. We decided that we'll try to make it our Sunday morning tradition.
• I bought a bike this afternoon. I hope to rely more on the bike and less on the bus for transportation, thus losing weight and strengthening my heart and lungs. I am at 197.5 lbs. right now. I will post about my progress in the coming weeks and months. I biked for over an hour total this evening, so I think I'm off to a good start.

Today's listening:

1. Fennesz: Venice
2. Mr. Bungle: California
3. Califone: Heron King Blues
4. Can: Future Days
5. AFX: Hangable Auto Bulb

Waning gibbous moon

Well, it was close enough to a full moon last night that it might explain the day I had yesterday. First, I overslept and missed my bus. I arrived at work 45 minutes late. Upon arriving, I had difficulty getting anything accomplished because the software we rely upon most heavily worked only sporadically. Going home, my one of my routes was running 35 minutes behind schedule. I improvised and took a different route, which was infested with rowdy teenagers. After getting home, I didn't accomplish anything. Then I was about to post when Blogger went down for several hours.

On a more positive note, I saw another episode of Animal Rescue Heroes Phoenix last night. They showed a scenario remarkably similar to my own, just a lot more dramatic. The EAMTs on last night's episode rescued five kittens from an attic and from the brick wall beneath. The EAMTs that visited my house (the same EAMTs from the aforementioned kitten rescue) only rescued one kitten and only broke through drywall to get to it. Admittedly, it's pretty mundane compared to the rescues they have been showing. I now doubt that it will ever be shown. However, I'm hooked on the show now and I will keep watching.

Today's listening has so far been scant:

1. Nina Simone: Nina Simone at Town Hall

Today's listening

1. CocoRosie: La Maison de Mon Rêve
2. Manuel Göttsching: E2-E4
3. Supergrass: I Should Coco
4. The Clash: London Calling

Catch-up

This week I haven't had much time or energy for blogging. The semester began Tuesday and it seems that I have had next to zero free time since then. However, I need to blog regularly or I'll lose momentum.

Sugarfoot has become very interested in my mouse and how it moves the cursor on the screen. I now have to lock her out of the room if I want to get anything done. She has also started doing a kind of hermit crab impression with sheets of newspaper, which is just as cute as swatting at a two-dimensional arrow on my monitor, but less likely to disrupt my productivity.

I am going to try to get all my reading and homework done for all of next week by Saturday afternoon. Michael has been gone the last two weekends, so this will be our first opportunity to spend the weekend together in three weeks. Hopefully we will finally get to see Brokeback Mountain Sunday morning. We tried to go three weeks ago but it was sold out at the one theater showing it. I hope we can also watch Kill Bill Vol. 2, which I gave to Michael for Christmas.

I may also decide to go to Torah study and services at Temple Beth Israel Saturday morning. This will most likely depend on a) how much reading/homework I will have finished and b) whether I can drag myself out of bed early enough.

Here is the complete list of today's listening:

1. Max Tundra: Mastered by the Guy at the Exchange
2. Slowdive: Souvlaki
3. Scraping Foetus off the Wheel: Hole
4. M. Ward: Transfiguration of Vincent
5. Jan Jelinek: Kosmischer Pitch
6. Jason Anderson: New England
7. Animal Collective: Here Comes the Indian
8. Grand National: Kicking the National Habit

Fickle fate

Last night I composed a post about new definitions for the word 'pimp' and how the English language would be better off without them. Unfortunately, my internet connection went down just as I was about to publish it. Oh well. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

I don't have much to talk about right now, so I will just tell you what I listened to today:

1. David Thomas Broughton: The Complete Guide to Insufficiency
2. Modeselektor: Hello Mom!
3. Cat Power: What Would the Community Think
4. Tim Buckley: Lorca
5. Meat Beat Manifesto: 99%
6. Built to Spill: Perfect From Now On

Last week in review

• I started e-mail correspondence with a rabbi at a local Reform congregation, hoping to set up an appointment to discuss learning about that aspect of my heritage and possibly starting to attend services and Torah study. We are having a hard time finding a time when we will both be free.
• I received my financial aid, got caught up with my bills (mostly), and put a significant chunk into savings for moving expenses and furniture once I graduate.
• I contacted a reputable credit counselling service (non-profit, of course) so I can reduce my monthly payments and get them paid off sooner. We have set up a start date of February 1st.
• I got a nasty phone call from Citibank's henchmen threatening to sue me and do all sorts of nasty things to me. It was upsetting, but Michael, relying upon his experience in the financial industry, reassured me that I will probably not get sued. It is in their best interest to work with me and get paid, rather than not.
• Sugarfoot had her first veterinary appointment this morning after I found blood in the litter box. She registered her objections all the way to the examination room. The vet suggested that she could have an infection or a parasitic infestation. Running all the tests would have cost nearly $400, so we decided to treat both without running the tests. This cost just under $100. The only challenge left now is learning how to administer a pill to a cat.
• The spring semester begins tomorrow. I need to meet with the anthropology undergraduate advisor to correct some minor misclassifications of past classes on my transcript and to remove my minor. Then I can pay for graduation.
• Tim Buckley's long out-of-print sixth album, Starsailor, is now available on iTunes!
• Jnana Records is releasing a five-disc charity compilation benefiting Médecins Sans Frontières for $24.99 plus shipping! It includes tracks by Damon and Naomi, Matmos, Devendra Banhart, Jarboe, Six Organs of Admittance, Edward Ka-Spel, Larsen, Vashti Bunyan, The Angels of Light, Jad Fair, Antony, The Hafler Trio, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Nurse With Wound, Shirley Collins, Current 93, Thurston Moore, Marc Almond, Simon Finn, Jim O'Rourke, Ghostigital, Coil, Ghost, and lots, lots more.
• Last Tuesday signaled a good start for 2006 in terms of new music. The first domestic release of Sia's Colour the Small One, Standing in the Way of Control by The Gossip, With Love and Squalor by We Are Scientists, and Morningwood's eponymous debut all left me wanting to hear them again. I'm not aware of anything decent coming out tomorrow, but the 24th of this month has me salivating. We will finally see domestic release of 2005's albums by Clearlake and Test Icicles, new stuff from Cat Power, Ariel Pink and The National Trust, and the long-awaited covers album collaboration between Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.

Animal Planet Heroes Phoenix

Tonight was the premiere episode of Animal Planet Heroes Phoenix. Some of you may recall that an animal rescue crew cut a hole in the wall where I live to rescue a newborn kitten that had apparently fallen down by the water main from the attic. An Animal Planet crew was there filming the rescue also. I was told that the segment may or may not be included in one of the episodes, so I'll update this post if and when it shows.

Homecoming

Michael is finally home from his trip. He finally gave me a decent picture of him and Bridget with their medals to put up on the blog. More to follow tomorrow...

Speaking of kittens...

Vote for Sugarfoot!

This photo always makes me giggle

I don't remember where I originally got this, but I've seen it everywhere and it's never credited to anyone.

Pencils and paper: WMD's?

This story makes sense, because everyone knows that writing words on paper makes airplanes explode.

Every time I read a story like this, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Our society has become so paranoid about terrorism that vaguely resembling a terrorist in somebody's morbid, depraved imagination - "Well, it looks like a turban if you tilt your head and squint" - is enough evidence to ground the flight. I wonder, what would happen if I wore a hoodie that said "I ♥ kittens" in Arabic and dangly earrings shaped like grenades and tried to board a flight for which I had purchased a ticket? The airport would be shut down and I would be interrogated for months without access to counsel. Meanwhile, in another airport, real terrorists (who are much more discrete than I am) would get on a flight without a hitch.

Helpful tip for airport security: terrorists don't wear t-shirts that say "I suicide-bombed a bus in Haifa and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!"

Dogs - and cats - in the news

As the owner of a dog and a cat, I am conflicted about this article. I certainly sympathize with both families. But I also think both are at fault for this incident. No environment, urban or rural, is safe for domesticated animals to roam freely. They have lost their natural defenses and instincts that would help them survive on their own. Consequently, I don't think the dog should be destroyed, but he should be kept in a fenced area. The other family's remaining cat(s) should be kept indoors, not just to protect against potential predators, but also disease and malicious humans.

Cats in the news

A new set of DNA analyses yields a comprehensive phylogeny of all living Felidae species.

Dogs in the news

Yet another way that having the companionship of a dog can extend your lifespan.

More from HST

The newest HST press release includes a photograph of a cluster containing fourteen red supergiant stars on the verge of supernova! Each has between 8 and 25 times the mass of our sun (1 solar mass = 2×10³⁰ kg). This means that the total mass of the stars is between 2.2×10³² and 7.0×10³² kg. To put it into perspective, that is roughly equivalent to 4.1×10³¹ Miraphone 186 Series "S" CC 4-valve tubas! I won't even try to calculate how much it will cost to ship them.

Comments welcome

I know from my hit counter that a lot of people have been visiting my blog. I really appreciate that my friends are reading it. Having said that, I'd love it if some of you could leave comments periodically. The only comments I've gotten so far are from a complete stranger asking me questions that they should be asking Blogger about.

So here is a perfect opportunity. I have set up the blog to let you leave comments without having a Blogger account. Please feel free to comment on this post and just tell me that you've been here. Also, please comment on my previous posts at your convenience. I appreciate it very much. Thank you.

Be your own Ghost of Christmas Past

Creep out your future self with an e-mail from the past!

Now, if only someone would create a site that would allow me to e-mail my past self. I think my message would go something like this:

Dear past me,

Beware of dating bartenders, barbacks, strippers, etc. Also, never get involved with anyone named Scott. Barring that, don't date nine men named Scott. Most of them will turn out to be jerks.

Don't accept a cigarette from anyone, even if she is paying for your ticket to the Depeche Mode concert. Also, show up late to that concert: Stabbing Westward is never worth seeing, and Primal Scream will have one of their worst performances that night.

Don't bother going to the Rozz Williams/Gitane Demone show. They will both be detained on drug charges that night and you will be stuck watching that douchebag from Godless strutting around in a jockstrap.

Drunkenly making sand-angels on the volleyball court at Charlie's is not cute. It's tacky as hell. Also, puking off the balcony at a party is a major faux pas. It's probably best if you don't drink at all, lest you make an ass out of yourself.

On that note, don't bounce two rent checks buying drugs for a guy named Scott so he will have sex with you. Nobody's that hot.

Finally, don't spend the night of your 18th birthday riding around with Jenny and Aviva trying to find an Italian bisexual vampire wearing a red velvet dress and making reckless U-turns on busy streets in Glendale with half a bottle of vodka under the passenger seat. Do not bring him back to the house. Believe me: the chemical burns that will result from that evening will not be pleasant.

Sincerely,
Your future self.

P.S. Never, ever, ever shave your head.

Campus Ladies premiere

After seeing the overzealous promotion that Oxygen has done for their first original series, Campus Ladies, I felt that the show could go either way: original and absurdly funny, or dreadfully boring. Having seen the hour-long premiere, my feelings haven't changed.

These first two episodes were a mixed bag. Unfortunately, most of the parts that would have been funny had already been shown ad nauseum in the promos. There were some surprising highlights, however. Abdul (Amir Talai) showed signs that he may develop beyond a tired, dimensionless stereotype and become the most interesting character. Barri (Christen Sussin) has a comic delivery that could really bring out the potential of a good script (which is forthcoming, I hope).

The remaining characters, through no fault of their own, were as dynamic as week-old corpses. The odor, however, came not from the characters, but from the writing. The script seemed at odds with itself. The premise of the show really begs for raunchiness, but it seems the writers hesitated when they should have gone for the gusto. And why is it that, in a show about not fitting in, these two middle-aged and out-of-touch women manage to fit in so quickly? This undermines the vulnerability and awkwardness that supposedly makes them likeable.

Despite its faults, I think I'll watch a couple more episodes to see how it develops. With better writing and character development, this show could become a winner after all. It won't be easy, but I always like to root for the underdog.

Michael finishes marathon

Michael achieved his goal of finishing the marathon, despite the accident and his friend getting hurt halfway through the run. Congratulations to both of them!

Unfortunately, the pictures taken on Michael's cell phone weren't very good. Michael will send me photos of him and his friend, taken with his digital camera, with their medals tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a photo of the fireworks at the start of the marathon.

Planetary annihilation... for dummies!

Behind on your thesis? Indicted for fraud? Can't get out of that blind date?

This handy guide has the perfect solution*: the utter destruction of the entire planet!

Solve all of your (and everyone else's) problems in one fell swoop!

*Warning: Destroying the planet may alienate your friends and family, not to mention make it impossible to ever get laid again.

Good news regarding grad school prospects

I have just been informed that I do not need a degree in music to apply for the ethnomusicology program. I will just need to take some courses as a non-degree graduate student to fortify my formal music education before I apply. This option has now risen to the top of my short list of graduate school prospects. Now it just hinges on how many courses I will need to take and how I can fit them into my schedule.

Where do I enroll?

I think I will register for BND101.

Accident photo

Michael sent me this picture of his friend's vehicle taken last night after the accident.

Mixtape

Michael left this morning for Florida. He and a friend were in a car accident earlier this evening, but apparently nobody was hurt. He couldn't talk very long so I didn't get many details. I hope he doesn't have any hidden back or neck injuries that would prevent him from running.

Speaking of Michael's absence, I have decided to use the tape to make a mixtape - mix CD, actually - to familiarize him with the scope of my musical tastes.

I have never found a tidy word or phrase to replace 'mixtape'. I haven't made a mixtape in years, but 'mix CD' seems unwieldy and fails to capture the connotations associated with the former. To me, it seems that one makes a 'mix CD' for a party and a 'mixtape' for a boyfriend or girlfriend. 'CD-R' just seems too clinical. Any suggestions?

The challenge to making a mix CD/tape is distilling my collection of almost 10,000 tracks to just a handful of representative tracks. I know that one CD just won't cut it. Four or five may be going a little overboard. Luckily, Michael already knows that I am incapable of moderation when it comes to music. Maybe I'll spread it out over the course of a few weeks so he has time to listen to it all.

To give an idea of the variety I will try to represent, here is a list of the albums I have listened to in full in the last 12 hours: Robyn by Robyn, Shake Off the Dust... Arise by Matisyahu, Ruby Blue by Róisín Murphy, Nous Non Plus by Nous Non Plus, Vocal City by Luomo, Faith by The Cure, The Red Shoes by Kate Bush, and Chunga's Revenge by Frank Zappa.

In other music-related news, I finally e-mailed a professor at the School of Music to get more information on the M.A. in ethnomusicology program. I am waiting to find out whether I would need to get a B.A. in music first, or if my B.A. in anthropology will be applicable. In the meantime, I have started looking for articles in music journals that might be interesting to me. Today I read an article about forms of Buddhist music in China and Taiwan. To tell the truth, the article wasn't very interesting to me. This is probably because my primary interests are forms arising directly out of punk and industrial. I am waiting for a book about modern Finnish folk music that I ordered through interlibrary loan. This will probably be more interesting to me, considering the recent explosion of freak-folk artists and collectives from Finland like Lau Nau, Islaja, Päivänsäde, etc. I'll post more about it when I read it.

Fantastic HST image of the Crab Nebula

Fifteen years later, the Hubble Space Telescope is still capturing stunning images. I hope that NASA Administrator Mike Griffin realizes how important the HST is and will approve a servicing mission to keep it alive.

Why I am pro-choice

This is the most well-reasoned analysis of the need for sane and realistic family planning I have read in a long time.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

This Thursday, Michael will embark on a ten-day trip. His first stop will be Orlando, where he will compete in the Walt Disney World Marathon. Though his goal is just to finish, I'm still making a voodoo doll to represent all the other runners so that I might influence the outcome in Michael's favor.

Next, he will fly back to his hometown of Philadelphia (his childhood home is three houses down from that of Vida Boheme). He will spend a week catching up with his family and friends before returning to Phoenix and to me, provided I haven't been lynched by a thousand angry and bewitched marathon runners. Our reunion will look something like this famous photograph by Robert Doisneau titled "Le Baiser du Trottoir":

(Except, of course, it will be two men.)

J. Brundage and her amazing monologuing vagina*

Okay, it has never been proven that her vagina talks. However, she now writes the regular lesbian-oriented local events column in Red called "Red Girl". Pick up the January 2006 issue at any of the local GLBT drinking establishments or at Movies on Central or at Unique on Central. For the more slothful or agoraphobic among you, download the Adobe file.

In related news, my good friend J. is also a professional massage therapist. (Legit only: no happy endings!!! Don't even ask unless you love the sound of a dial tone!) If you would like to contact J. for info, drop me a line and I'll get you in touch with her.

*Warning: Statements made by J. Brundage's vagina have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Amateur modelling

Last month I was asked my my good friend and hair stylist, Robert Verdugo, to be one of his hair models for the grand opening party at Brandon Alexander Salon. The The party was excellent: great buffet, interesting people, and an amazing photographer (cute, too!). His name is J.T. Pals. His portfolio is amazing! Check out his site. Also, watch the slideshow of the party.

Good karma

While I remember it, I'd like to encourage anyone reading this to give money to or volunteer for or adopt a pet through HALO Animal Rescue. They are a no-kill animal shelter that runs the adoption centers in Phoenix-area Petsmart locations. All animals available for adoption have already been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and (in the case of cats) litter-trained. I have just started volunteering for them a few weeks ago. It is so fun being around the animals that one forgets that it's work!

I have had my cat Sugarfoot (pictured below) for just over a month and she is a pure joy. My boyfriend and I fell in love with her while shopping at Petsmart one day and I decided to adopt her on a whim. I decided then to volunteer for HALO because Sugarfoot wouldn't have lived long enough to find a loving home if it weren't for them. I hope I can help do the same for the other animals they shelter.

Some facts about the Republic of Gothistan

Language: Primarily English, almost always flowery and baroque (not necessarily Baroque) prose.
Currency: Clove cigarettes.
Motto: "I like their old stuff a lot better."
Population: Unknown. Citizens of Gothistan are unique in that they claim not to be citizens of Gothistan, especially their highest officials. Furthermore, it is generally believed that anyone claiming to be a citizen of Gothistan is a "poseur".
Religion: Gnostic, Wiccan, Kabbalist, or atheist.
Prime Minister: Andrew Eldritch.
Surgeon General: Doktor Avalanche.

That's right: despite his protestations, Andrew is not only Goth, but he is the Prime Minister of Gothistan. As Gothette might say to Papa Goth, "He's the Gothiest!!!"

Luckily for those of us living in the greater Phoenix area, The Sisters' of Mercy goodwill diplomatic tour will include a stop at the Marquee Theater on Saturday, February 18th. Tickets will be $25 in advance or $26 at the door. They go on sale January 14th.

Remember: Clove smoking only in designated areas.

My babies

The Tom Tapes - 10th Anniversary

Happy new year! I hope all of you had a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve last night.

Ten years ago this month I had begun training as a directory assistance operator. In my training class I met a guy named Tom. Tom co-ran a local dance club and had superb taste in music. We began a monthly tape exchange that, despite lasting only eight months, permanently changed the way I listened to music.

Up to that point, I had only begun to dabble in music that was outside of the 'mainstream' (as I understood it): Bowie, Joy Division, The Smiths, The Cure, Siouxsie, Christian Death, etc. Tom's tapes opened my eyes to music I had never dreamed existed or could exist. Though they sound so familiar to me now, my first exposures to COIL, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Swans, Current 93, Pigface, Cabaret Voltaire, and other 'industrial' mainstays short-circuited my parietal lobes. In addition to industrial, post-punk, glam, etc., Tom introduced me to music that was truly genre-defying and formless, presaging the current deconstruction of genre on independent labels. I believe this exchange was most influential in the development of my insatiable curiosity for music.

To commemorate this milestone, I have begun to digitize the original cassettes so they may be preserved my own enjoyment and for others'. I hope I can make them available via my podcast sometime soon. I feel I should first make a good-faith effort to contact Tom and secure his permission. Though he doesn't hold any legal rights to the music, I would want to treat the dissemination of the tapes in a manner of which he would approve. The tapes would be attributed to him, after all, and he did not intend such a use at the time (I assume). If I cannot contact him, I will post them on my webspace and include a link on this blog.