born under punches

seeing and experiencing these two great bands/acts last night was an experience in perfection in terms of what these guys are about.  costumes, a variance on both experimental, dissonance, and beats, virtuoso guitar playing in both bands led to my opinions that the residents were great and primus was super great.  

the res started at 8 and it was packed even then, the only challenge being that some people obviously were not prepared for a more reflective, spoken word and darker, slower act.  some complaints were heard.  most impressive was the guitarist who was called “bob” and like “chuck” the keyboardist wore a dreadlock wig and large goggles. “randy” the vocalist/harmonica and visual director wore an old man mask, bathrobe, clown tie and shoes.  stories and visuals were most like maybe david lynch, eraserhead, mulholland drive.  but the residents have been doing this since the late sixties, which makes them older than me.  I first heard them on a compilation in 83 on their label ralph records.  I lost touch but I think seeing them live is the best reintroduction.

primus was heavier and more introspective also than my previous experience seeing les claypool at the filmore.  I had forgotten how much even with primus the bass guitar and drums are the focus and the great electric guitar playing of Larry LaLonde is more rhythm in some ways.  Jay Lane on drums was amazing and there were definitely some very exciting moments as they played Sailing the Seas of Cheese in its entirety plus encores.  If I had to make a choice I think my personal preference would be to see Claypool solo again, but like the Residents, Primus was perfect last night.

I think a bunch of people just accidentally saw/experienced The residents. I am happy I was here. First heard them in 83… always impressed.

Michelle McAndrew Olsen: Start 2011 with support, inspiration, and a plan! Join us for the Greenlight Coaching teleclass starting January 4th, 2011.

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I created a daily post/paper using paper.li that just publishes tweets that I post, or that others might post, with the #keattsart hashtag, to highlight my art and whatever I may want to write about it.  It’s an experiment and hopefully not too annoying as I try to work out the kinks in my attempts to publish my art and thoughts as best I can.  I could see doing a similar thing with #keattswriting, etc.  I seem to have been somewhat successful with the taxcuts daily and I am happy to help Ms. Huffington out with more free PR.  If anyone has any feedback please contact me.

In moments, going to get fresh milk from one of our co-owned rescued cows!

I’m fried like an egg

so instead of jumping right into the writing or more difficult task of reaching out to agents, I started listening to a talk on Vajryana Buddhism by Patrick Sweeney, then did my own recording reading passages from Pali in the Island.  Very nice, but not part of my stated goal of writing, here at home or in a coffeeshop, either editing a novel, some other writing, or finding agents and publishers and writing to them.  Of course after a week of work and job-hunting I mainly just want to totally completely relax.  Honoring that, or at least postponing it, to say bouldering at Ironworks is fair enough.  Editing is not so bad, kindof intense, but way easier than the agent-publisher outreach which is quite difficult.  If I could only figure out a way to do it more efficiently, mechanically, without thought and without investing so much, that would be cool!  to use a sales technique I learned, I can say “I do not need this agent or publisher to accept my manuscript” over and over, as a mantra.  

and of course at the back of my mind is the temptations to self-publish this novel.  or work on my about.me page.  I have new head shots.  I can do that later.  as the partner of a woman who is 3 months pregnant, I am not going anywhere tonight (not totally true).

The Economist: Wall Street drinks our milkshake http://econ.st/f2fspl

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he was sitting at the top of the hill, rain falling all around, creating small streams around him in his yellow jacket, water running off him and down the hill on all sides.  it had been a long day.  watching her die was not the hardest part, it was the feelings after.  death was something that just put him into shock, really.  he didn’t see the end of it, these feelings.

tired but I want to write something before I crash.  long day of good stuff I suppose following up on many job leads, working, getting my bike fixed, being sore from climbing in the gym.  seeing some friends this evening and getting good feedback regarding my lack of confidence in some things…in other words, relax it’s going to be ok.

the novel online idea is compelling.  not like nanowrimo at all, as I will be editing for quality as posts appear and not going for quantity really.  but I probably won’t do a major overall edit until much later.  

I want to write a novel that can be read backwards, forwards, or from any point within.  If you know my writing or some of the writers who have influenced me or who I like that would not be a hard thing to imagine:  Proust, Beckett, Joyce, Kafka, Bowles, Calvino.  

Crystal Ainardi: Yeah, we tried that in WA, but the voters don’t get it. “OH MY GOD THE RICH THEY CREATE OUR JOBS BLAH BLAH ” Really? Is that why you got no job? We just screw our selves. Seriously folks, our worst enemy is ourselves. Point the finger all you want but you got several still pointing back at yourself. I’ve lost faith in my fellow people. i don’t bother blaming Obama or my government they are just a mirror that represe

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surviving unemployment/layoffs: tip #1, getting out of bed

It can be easy to miss half the work day when working people and hiring managers are actually checking work email and answering their phones, once you are jettisoned or gently eased out of your own regular working schedule.  Waking up late, getting sucked into fb, twitter, et al, before even eating food or drinking a liquid, like coffee or water.  Here are some tips from someone who is not a morning person and most recently had to get up for work at 5:30 am:

get up out of bed

put on clothes

check email, twitter, news etc. to get brain moving 

say hi to partner, cat, roommate, etc

go into kitchen, start coffee (or whatever) and food preparations for breakfast

respond to important emails, sit in front of your computer, close all the windows and tabs you were looking at last night that are not relevant to job search.

check the schedule you made the day before to see what is next on your agenda and what needs to get taken care of soon…

take a deep breath 

focus on what needs to get done

feel free to comment, share tips.  I have been in this situation a few times and there are many strategies not listed here….

hello, if you are using Diaspora feel free to add me as a contact…or let me know and I will add you!  we will take over the faceborg ship and ride that giant blue and white cube into some white dwarf!

I have five if anyone is interested in being in one of my “aspects” there if I understand correctly…

Finally climbed after a few weeks off. Got another crappy email from work, impersonal, borg-like. My group has been “integrated” which seems more like hacked, sliced, and dived. What else to expect from corporate America, even “the Forbes cream”.

the cream of the crop, as it were.  rises to the top.  spoils?  nothing last forever.  this is and could continue to be the beginning or first installment of a new novel, a rough draft, a tumblr draft.  written to be read backwards, perhaps, or sporadically, nonlinearly, not too original in some ways but in others…

the title is taken from the andre malraux book of the same name.  a great book.  his book is basically nonfiction.  

One of many many passages from this book that I have been looking at and pondering over the last year or so:

In meditation classes, people often start with a basic delusion that they never challenge: the idea that “I’m someone who grasps and has a lot of desires,and I have to practice in order to get rid of these desires and to stop grasping and clinging to things. I shouldn’t cling to anything.”  That’s often the position we start from. So we start our practice from this basis and, many times, the result is disillusionment and disappointment, because our practice is based on the grasping ofan idea.

This is why the metaphor of ‘The Island that you cannot go beyond’ is so very powerful, because it points to the

principle of an awareness that you can’t get beyond. It’s very simple, very direct, and you can’t conceive it. You have

to trust it. You have to trust this simple ability that we all have to be fully present and fullyawake, and begin to recognize

the grasping and the ideas we have taken on about ourselves, about the world around us, about our thoughts and

perceptions and feelings.

Ajahn Sumehdo

in his introduction to “The Island: An Anthology of the Buddha’sTeachings on Nibbana” Edited and with Commentary by Ajanhn Pasanno & Ajahn Amaro

http://abhayagiri.ehclients.com/pdf/books/The_Island_Web_Final.pdf

Michael Yochum: Sneaking into the postcard show at The Lab before it actually opens ensures best selection. Not the only one with this plan apparently!

http://www.thelab.org/events/467-postcard-14.html

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Writers with drinks was awesome. Daphne did great. Kirk Reed brought up memories of duck hunting with my dad. Great to see Keely, Tom and Larry.

NYTimes: Estate Tax Cutoff Draws Special Fire in Congress http://nyti.ms/ek2PuX

NYTimes: At Peace Prize Ceremony, Winner’s Chair Stays Empty http://nyti.ms/fBwOjQ

Nichola O’Hara: Underworld - Mama / Nuxx Jam (Rare)

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Another weird day in Adobe limbo…one moment at a time…progress was made…experiencing work-impermanence and kindness

Imagine

NYTimes: Murmurs of Primary Challenge to Obama http://nyti.ms/hKRIwY

Yes it was amazing. Reminded me of eyes wide shut. The mood, the surreality. Things slowly unravel. Portman was possibly perfect.

I now have an oakland library card, and have borrowed The Promise, first year of Obama’s Administration, by Jonathan Alter.  just started it.  my real goal, thanks to Jon, is to get the Damn Good Book of Resumes and work on my skill based resume for project management.  one step at a time, as I will need to go on the library website…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/20/the-promise-jonathan-alte_n_580628.html