"...and, by the dog, gentlemen of the jury---for I must tell you the truth..." --Apology, 21e

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Well, its my last night in Novgorod. Our second night the Fayetteville crew had dinner with our Professor and some russian gals at a real fancy Italian place, the likes of which I have never seen in America.
We then went to a local place called the Beer Harbor and watched the world cup. After everyone had 2 rounds they brought us the bill, even though the game was only half way over...apparently they do that to everyone.
the next afternoon we grabbed some beers at these little sidewalk stands and walked around the local kremlin, one side has a river with a little beach area.
some punk kid about 5 or 6 yrs old came up and started talking shit, then realized we were stupid americans and asked to to play him in chess, in excellent english.
I finally found a tobacco with rolling tobacco, and found a store selling music and books. Out front of it is a l;arge wooden statue of a Bear playing a cello with a giant grin on its face, i might be able to post some pictures when I get to St. Pete.

We hit up a Monestary and this outdoor museum where some prince or somewhat moved old tradional wooden houses and churches, in their entirety. Apparently the houses that had chimneys had to pay an extra chimney tax. the tiling and decorative work around the rims of the roofs and doors and windows was extremely detailed. apparently back in the day there was a mongel invasion and the mongels got all excited when they saw the glittering silvery tops of the cathedrals, then when they actuallt reached the town they stopped and turned around because they realized it was not silver but wood, which had turned grey in the sun.

Friday afternoon we get to visit a prison. Irena, a local girl who spent a year in FAyetteville, tells us these are the good prisoners, and that they are very artistic, big in cookiong and painting and such, the better behaved. That evening we board a train for Moskow (spelled Moskva, here) and ride down overnight, coming in around 5 in the morning. we spend all day roaming the city and around 12:30 that night take another train up to St. Pete, where we'll be for the next three weeks.

My professor assures me i should be abkle to find some fur hats there but they run around $200 or so. I found some pipes here that range from $20 to $50 so i may be a pipe smoker when i get home instead of a ciggerettes smoker. coffee averages about 40 cents a cup, most meals are massive, including an appetizer, for about 4-5 us dollars. they have beer in plastic bottles about liter and half big, sold 24 hrs a day. oddly, it is illegal to sale vodka after 11 in the evening, and they are very strict about no drinking while driving. the cars here are insane. New York traffic is safer. and they don't stop for people in crosswalks at all.

later.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Gentlemen, it was only a matter of time. Do look closely. You can click on the thumbnails. God help us all.
the flight was long. absolute hell. the amsterdam airport the cleanest, most efficient thing i have ever seen, america could learn a lot. the security deals are at each individual gate, the only line is the other people getting on th esame plane you are.
got into Novgorod on sunday, town founded in 859, original capital of Russia back in the day. just a little south of St. petersberg. It's 'white nights' right now, sun sets around 2-3 in the morning and comes back up between 4-5. the afternoons are hot as hell but the rest of the day is averaging 70 degrees, about 20 c. first night we walked out through a park, found a public stage where locals were singing karoake, a buddy in our group got up and sang a beetles song, recieving much applause. met a local metal head who only knew russian and dutch, but somehow we were able to carry on a conversation between bandnames and singing riffs. the food and beer here is very cheap and extremely good. classes started today, tuesday, going well. Nice to have european coffee again. cars do not stop for pedestrians. have yet to try the vodka, probably tonight. taking a train to moscow friday night, then back up to st. petersberg for the next three weeks on sunday night. I've figured out how to order beer, coffee, and say thank you, other than that, absolute language barrier. people are real nice here though.

Friday, June 23, 2006

HA HAH! Crackers! In 48 hours I'll be on the other side of the planet puking up the worlds finest Vodka for four weeks followed by a week in Amsterdam! I'll buy postcards for you all...

Saturday, June 17, 2006

I swear to fucking God I am going insane.

That is all.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

DOT COM!!

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Crazy Etymologies

multiply is similar to myspace, but much easier for sharing mp3's and photo/video files.
check here:
Bweneum Lounge :: The Astromo of Luv

New track here

I assume this is the Trotsky image you were referring to?

Early mix of so lonely I fucked the dog... song is up on Multiply. No lyrics or lead instruments as of yet.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Monday, June 12, 2006

Good Advice. You really can never tell until its too late.

Infidels


Anyone wanna see Fantomas up this way early next month? They have a couple of shows in NY and CT...

Sunday, June 11, 2006

just picked up Thrill Kill's

Saturday, June 10, 2006

...and these demons are not the passion of the self but the corruption of the finite. Your voices, explicit as they are silent, befoul the Spirit! Alas, wretched mute, arise toward your rotted duty! Your sedentary orgy denies your nihilism its hatred.

MySpace is the Devil. It just is.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

You Are Healed! In the Name of Bweneum, You Are Healed!
happy 6-6-06....

Sunday, June 04, 2006

As you most likely know, I've hit some hard times. Yet, I have no desire to pump round after round of searing lead into anyone---even the one who put me here (persona non grata). Fancy that. But now, alas, I have nothing to do ever. And so it is that you must bear witness to my directionless ramble.

Recently, some friends took me out for a night on the town. Only the finest liquors and sophisticated company could help heal my wounds. We ended up at the largest casino I have ever seen--an Indian casino not far from where I live.

Some observations:

There were a lot of asians there. My recollection of that not quite sober night was of an endless ocean of asians. Chinese, Japanese, Korean...all the colors of the rainbow. I say this, of course, not in any mean or racist spirit. Indeed, you all well know I have a strong fondness for the peoples of Asia. They are, in my experience, a clean, industrious people whose women often have features I find agreeable. I digress. I only mean to point out they did, as I recall, constitute the majority of both the employees and the customers.

This is a sociological mystery that I shall one day solve. My only clue thus far is a number of tour buses in the parking areas with an asian script. (Vacation in America = a night of gambling? By the way, I solved the mystery of the Indians that own hotels. Ask me and I'll tell you some time.)

There were many old people there. Indeed, the elderly seemed to make up a slight majority. (Obviously, there was quite a bit of overlap with the asians.) There is nothing sadder than a seventy year old, chainsmoking, leatherfaced woman plugging nickel after nickel into the slots, looking for the jackpot.

There is less of a mystery here---what else do old people have to do?

Craps is easy. I won about thirty bucks.

You could live the rest of your life in such a casino. They have every store you could ever need. It is like it's own little city.

On a completely unrelated note, I started a myspace page (against my better judgment), so that I might keep up with everything going on amongst various people--most of who read this blog. If you desire, I am sure you are crafty enough to locate it with the myspace search feature. If you are a bit more slow witted than I would hope, give me a call and I'll send you to the right location.

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MAN!