Inside Your Company. Good Things Are Coming Our Way. I know They Always Have.

1. Went to the Plug Awards at Webster Hall last night. Man, did they do a fantastic job of promoting the show! When headliner, The National finally took the stage, the crowd was so thin, that you could hear individual conversations. Sad. The National, put together a wonderful show, despite having a fill in guitar player. Played mostly uptempo numbers and really capped off the night. Celebration and the Perceptionists both put on impressive sets as well. The awards were anti-climactic, then filled with shitty music by James "Boring" Friedman. The videos making fun of ad agents and the Other Music crew, were actually pretty funny. Sadly, the one word that comes to mind when describing the overall night, was Awkward.

2. The war on drugs starts at home huh? Well, did anyone see that former Full House star Jodie Sweetin has joined the lengthy list of child stars gone wrong. On Good Morning America this Wednesday, Sweetin, who played the loveable middle sister Stephanie Tanner on the sitcom, revealed that she is a recovering meth addict and once battled a daily drug habit. Worse part about it is she married a cop. Yeah, this guy gets the police officer of the year award. Dude, your wife is a meth head. Are you fucking blind! Sad sad day. I saw her on tv a few months ago and I just remember thinking to myself, damn, she's really got her shit together. Maybe she needs Candace Cameron to help her out a little and find out if she's a good person.

3.Anna Benson, the sexy wife of former Met and now Baltimore Oriole, Kris, has said she's planning on jumping on the poker tournament bandwagon. She's already sealed some sponsorship deals. And no lie, these words came out of her mouth, " I'm going to get schooled on how to play by some of these big-time pros," Benson said. "I want to play well. I'm not trying to do this as a joke, I'm dead serious about playing. I'm not like some bimbo sitting down at a table." You know, in fairness, she is right, she's a DUMB bimbo sitting down at a table. Anyhow, you can read the rest of his article here I especially love the part when she says she plans on winning money and giving it to the poor, because it changes lives.

4. There is a Boehner in D.C. No, for real. Earlier this week, the House Republicans elected Rep. John Boehner of Ohio as their new majority leader to replace indicted Rep. Tom DeLay. I don't know if I can make that any funnier. So, I'll just leave it at that.

5. So has anyone seen the US baseball uniforms for the World Baseball Classic. Jeez, just horrible. What the hell is up with the stupid wavey flag making an S. Just horrible. They all basically have the same design, but some colors and fonts are just way better than the US team's. For example, the black and orange of the Netherlands looks great. So does the Gold and Green of Australia. Mexico's looks like the University of Miami. And don't even get me started on the retarded hats. You can check them all out here.

6. Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora have announced they are getting a divorce. Man, it gets crazy. Sambora didn't even know. Nuts huh! Just the other night, he said the rumors weren't true. Newsflash man, you just got served! With divorce papers. Wow, that's just rough. The worst part is, Sambora, who's now 46, and whose band, Bon Jovi, just put out another god awful album, well, there is no worst part. That just sucks. But who knows, maybe there are some nice looking MILFS from New Jersey he can toil with. As for Heather, ever since Dynasty when she rescued that baby, she could do no wrong in my eyes and I've always had a crush on her and thought she should be with someone way cooler than Richie Sambora. She seems like she should be with a Clooney or something.

7. Ok, so the Super Bowl is two days away. Super Bowl Sunday is the day where the most pizza is delivered, and the Monday after, is the day most often called in sick. By this time Sunday night, we'll have consumed a good amount of alcohol, eaten more wings than should be allowed, seen many ridiculous commercials(mostly for beer or soft drinks) and finally find some time to be productive on Sunday afternoons. So, on that note, I just want Seattle to win so I don't have to keep seeing that retarded Fathead commercial with Big Ben anymore. Any more of Ben might make me flip out. 12 days until pitchers and catchers report. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Listening Pile
K, I'm gonna give a shout out to my friend Walter today. Mostly inspired by checking out United By Walter. Which is a fantastic fan site created, to bring light to his many projects and spectacular songs. I was listening to the Rival Schools album, United By Fate today. Man, this is easily one of my favorite records of all time. Each song, uniquely crafted and wonderful. Rival Schools, was led by the man himself, Walter Schreifels, who fronted the late great Quicksand as well. Drummer Sammy Siegler (who I've debated could be the greatest hardcore drummer of all time) played with CIV as well as many other N.Y. hardcore ensembles occasionally teaming up with Schreifels. The man on the other guitar with many a hot licks was Ian Love. Ian spent some time in the band Burn. Cache "Utah Slim" Tolman is in charge of the low end. He had formerly played in CIV w/ Sammy and the Iceburn Collective, when he was like 15.

Anyhow, the album saw a more melodic attack, then the post hardcore of Quicksand. From the opening "Travel by Telephone" to the Who inspired noise breakdowns of the instrumental closer, "Hooligans for Life," and "So Down On", Rival Schools rarely let up, and when they do occasionally slow the tempo down, the success of their experimentation leaves stunning results. "Undercovers On", was at that time, the most mature song Walter had ever written. The surfrock inspired guitar parst in "My Echo" were fantastic. The guitar melodies on this album are amazing, like on "Everything Has It's Point". And the use of a My Bloody Valentine drum loop in a song. Man, they hit on almost every single song on this album. And Walter hit some new territory with his vocals, also finding a bit more melody. Good Things, which was the 2nd single, was a fantastic song, with the most catchy chorus. Man, I could go on about this record for days. But I won't.

One album, all we got out of Rival Schools. But, if you check out United By Walter, you'll see a chat, where Walter mentions finally releasing the lost 2nd album, that never came out, and also more of his other projects, unreleased goodies. And, I know for sure, there are some more Walking Concert songs that are amazing, and need to come out. Ian Love, just put out a great record too. Totally solo stuff, not Cardia, which was good stuff too. And Sammy's been playing in Nightmare of You, who's record, I really need to listen to a bit more. Cache has been playing with Gavin Rossdale in Institute. I've not heard anything more than a song or two, which sadly was uninspiring.