YouTube Republican debate (like #8?)

Pre-debate: Lou Dobbs is creepy. Do people enjoy watching him? Is he Napoleon Dynamite all grown up? God, his voice is awful.

So we need somebody to introduce the guy who is introducing the candidates? w/e

Holy shit, Duncan Hunter is still here!

These intros are bizzare.

Awkward hug from John McCain!

...And then they just stand there....

8:06Look, I don't care which questions they're NOT going to ask.

8:08 wtf is this? a mfing song? I need some more beer. It's not a question dummies.

8:13 I just don't get worked up about immigration. Wait, Rudy says....BURRRRNNN!!! Smack.

8:15 I think Rudy is trying to score cheap points. Mitt the robo-executive tries to come back.

8:17 Really? Another immigration question? Criminy. So abortion and immigration? There are other issues people.

I'm bored with this boring immigration debate. I'm going to email my friend with the new baby.

8:22 That question guy is in the audience? Creepy.
8:23 Tancredo pretty much admits he's the immigration candidate, and that's it. Wait, he wants to stop ALL immigration? Uhhh....right.

Duncan Hunter is my least favorite.

8:26 Huckabee's question is stupid. And I'm no Huckabee supporter. Also, please, there are other issues than immigration. Like abortion.

30 minutes in and no Ron Paul. Oh well.

8:31 omg, give Ron Paul the crazy question. You goddamn assholes. He tries to turn it around though. Big applause? Ok then.

8:33 Hm, this seems like a question tailor-made for Paul...and you give it to McCain. (His indirect answer is to spend money killing brown people in other countries instead of science) But pretty good applause.

8:37 Ahhhh....right up my alley. Thompson's line didn't get a very big laugh for some reason. Paul and his cutting fucking DEPARTMENTS. fantastic.

Wait, Huckabee is copying Paul? Don't be an asshat. but good ending.

Wait, why is McCain attacking Paul?

Grover Norquist is exactly the nerd I'd thought he'd be.

8:45 Good question, but who the hell is this smarmy ass kid? Jesus!

It's not even an hour in and I'm ready to start doing shots.

Duncan Hunter REALLY hates China.

8:52 That was a pretty nasty Thompson attack ad. But he makes a fair point.

8"55 Holy shit, is this commercial for real?? Some Australian asshole talking about kids not drinking from Coors? Jesus. Fucking. Christ. I'm actually embarrassed to have even watched it.

still bored, so Quiet Riot comes back on.

Lame gun control question. Lamer answer from .....sigh, Hunter.

9:01 Did Guliani just admit he's a bullying jerk? I think so. Also, it's a shifty answer.

9:04 Another crazy question? OK. Also, please be quiet Duncan Hunter.

9:05 Black on black crime. Best question of the night (so far). Lame answer Romney. So far they are dodging the question. Guiliani associates black with "poor". I'm betting they dont'give this to Paul, who will give the only honest answer.

9:09 Good answer from Paul on abortion...hmmmm...just an OK answer. Saved by a federalist answer. Is Thompson telling states what to do?

Why does Rudy keep calling it "Roe against Wade"?

Mike Huckabee, king of the debate one-liners

9:16 wtf kind of question is that? Huckabee gives a heartfelt, honest answer. damn him. His best so far actually.


9:23 Lame Rudy ad.

RAH RAH RUDY!!
sorry, its RAH RAH war in iraq. Wait senior McCain, didn't Paul oppose Rumsfeld's strategy?

Hunter: omg.....WE HELP U LOTZ, LUV UZ!!!!!

9:31 I agree w/ McCain on torture. And I think he and Paul stand alone on this issue.

Holy crap??? The question is who wants to stay in Iraq the longest? Dumbass.

McCain's applause beats Paul's? Sigh.

Wow, lots of Paul boos.

9:37 Tancredo, we know you hate brown people.

I really think Thompson is runnig for VP.

ROFL: Duncan Hunter built a fence. lololol

shit, that coors don't drink if you're under 21 commercial is on AGAIN.

....Another question to Hunter? awwww.....Wait, conservatives hate gays? Uh...Romney's asnwer is laaaame and a non-answer. And people are booing the re-question? Morons. You can still try to answer the question.


9:52 Huckabee = mister jokester. These gay rights non-answers are troubling.

9"53 Mister lisp asks about the national debt.

9:56 The Mars Society? they get a question? Huckabee says NASA saved your life. Tancredo blames NASA for the national debt.

9:58 Why don't black people vote for republicans?......From what i understand, if they don't have an approved family, they should go to jail.

10:02
Confederate flag....Romney = nonanswer....again. Thompson gives a long winded but eventually correst answer.

Ron Paul vid last? Eff you CNN.

Ron Paul gives his best answer of the night at 10:06....when no one is watching.

10:07 Line item veto debate again? C'mon.

10:08 Yes, yes, we all love Ron Paul. Bad question though.

10:09 Fair BoSox question to Rudy. OK, now it's stupid. Just end it.
Thanks guys.

Tim and Eric

Awesome Great Job! started a new season last sunday. Now I gotta keep my ass awake until 12:15 every sunday.

I want to join the Heidecker family too.

Argggh

I now realize that there is a problem collaborating with people from other countries. Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of EST! This means that the only reasonable time for direct communication comes after 7pm (which is 8am there). Rapid back-and-forth emailing is near impossible. Which is slowing things down a bit. Hopefully I will have some idea and will be able to get started on the proposal some time this weekend. At any rate, the bio-sketch is about finished, but I still need my Case grades, to find my AU grades and to get the letter of acceptance from the host lab. Back to work!

Michael Strahan's guide to success:

Study hard.
Do your homework.
Make good decisions.

Babies: rethinking old positions

I have never liked babies. Or, I guess, more accurately, I used to not like babies. Or maybe it is the concept of babies that I've changed my mind about. That being said (and I'm not trying to sound cliche, or whatever) babies are amazing.

Chengzhuo had her son yesterday morning. I went to see the whole family today and left UH feeling better than I've felt in a long time. Like I said, I don't know if I've changed in terms of how I think of babies or maybe post-birth mothers release happy-phermones (if so, I will manufacture them and use/sell them). Maybe the fact that Chengzhuo, her husband and her mother-in-law were all so happy was infectious. Right now, I don't care.

I couldn't stop looking at the baby. I know it sounds gay or whatever, but it was breath-taking. That little guy was in her belly last wednesday (the last day she came to work) when she told me to quit being so sad and serious. Well, starting friday, I've been trying. And today I didn't even need to try.

He was still ugly in that baby way (before I meant that in a mean way, but not now). But it was still somehow cute. Like a tiny Jim Henson creation. I couldn't even touch him.

I can't wait to babysit when he gets older. I'm gonna be a rad uncle.

Great song you've probably never heard

I'll assume nobody's heard this song (unless you're a diehard Skynyrd fan), but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite songs, period. Give it a listen, if you can.

Was I Right or Wrong
Lynyrd Skynyrd

Like a restless leaf in the autumn breeze
Once I was a tumblin weed
Like a rollin stone, cold and all alone
Living for the day my train would come
I never cared for school or any golden rules
Papa used to always say I was a useless fool
So I left my home to show them thay was wrong
And headed out on the road singing my song
Then one sunny day. the man, he looked my way
And everything that I dreamed of, it was real
Money, girls and cars; and big long cigars
And I caught the first plane home so papa would see

When I went home to show em they was wrong
All that I found was two tombstones
Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong
Oh, such a sad song
First I got lost, then I got found
But the ones that I love are in the ground
Papa I only wish you could see me now
Take a listen papa
Whoo, I learnt how to play my guitar
Gonna be a superstar

First I got lost, then I got found
The ones I love are in the ground
Wont you tell me please was I right or wrong

If theres any way you can hear what I say
Papa, I never meant to do you wrong
All the money, girls and cars. and all the words and all the cigars
Papa, I just want you to know they couldnt take your place

When I went home to show em they was wrong
All that I found was two tombstones
Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong
Oh, such a sad song
First I got lost, then I got found
But the ones that I love are in the ground
Somebody tell me please was I right or wrong

I just found out

I'm proud to come from a state that only has 4 recognized political parties: Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Alaskan Independence. And I only support 2.5 of of those 4.

Sad saturday morning lyrics

"I Don't Want To Be Me" by Jethro Tull

Got a grand house out in the country.
Marble pillars holding the door.
Empty bottles lining the wall from the night before.
Got a Roller out in the garage.
But the wheels are stuck to the floor.
Got no reason to go anywhere--no friends call anymore.
I don't want to be me, I don't want to be me,
I know it's hard to see, But I don't want to be me.

Had me playing down at the palace.
I was declared the belle of the ball.
Made the boys take my goods and chattels away--
now I'm staring at an empty hall.
I don't want to be me.

Pardon me--I'm on my way.
Pardon me but I'm going.
Taking on the simple life and I feel the grass roots growing.
I'm going to ride the ragged road--
diamond spurs jangling into the sunset.
No circuits running overload--Well maybe I'm not done yet.

Now there's nothing left in the cupboard
and three bears' been eating my soup.
My life is one big critical mess if you take a look.
And the butler's off in Ibiza on expense account gone berserk.
But I can't check out of this crazy world
without being a jerk--I don't want to be me.

So,

TRANSFORMERS the movie totally makes sense, right? Orson Wells ftw!!!

Awesome Ween pics from that show:

The White Stripes:

If you think that a kiss is all in the lips
C'mon, you got it all wrong, man
And if you think that our dance was all in the hips
Oh well, then do the twist
If you think holding hands is all in the fingers
Grab hold of the soul where the memory lingers and
Make sure to never do it with a singer
Cause they'll tell everyone in the world

But he was thinking about the girl
Yeah, but he's thinking about the girl, oh

A lot of people get confused and they bruise
Real easy when it comes to love
They start putting on their shoes and walking out
And singing "boy, I think I had enough"

Just because she makes you feel wrong
She don't mean to be mean or hurt you on purpose, boy
Take a tip and do yourself a little service
Take a mountain turn it into a mole

Just by playing a different role
Yeah, by playing a different role, oh

The boat yeah you know she's rockin' it
And the truth well you know there's no stoppin' it

The boat yeah you know she's still rockin' it
The truth well you know there's no stoppin' it

So what, somebody left you in a rut
And wants to be the one who's in control
But the feeling that you're under can really make you wonder
How the hell she could be so cold

So now you're mad, denying the truth
And it's getting in the wisdom in the back of your tooth
You need ta spit it out, in a telephone booth
While you call everyone that you know, and ask 'em

Where do you think she goes
Oh yeah, where d'ya suppose she goes, oh

The truth well you know there's no stoppin' it
And the boat well you know she's still rockin' it

The boat well you know she's still rockin' it
And the truth yeah you know there's no stoppin' it

You recognize with your back in the back?
That it's colder when she rocks the boat
But it's the cause hittin on the Cardinal Laws?
'bout the proper place to hang her coat

So to you, the truth is still hidden
And the soul plays the role of a lost little kitten but
You should know that the doctors weren't kidding
She's been singing it all along

But you were hearin' a different song
Ya you were hearin' a different song
But you were hearin' a different song

ummmm......WEEN!!!!

Not sure what I need to say, other than Ween sold out HOB! It was PACKED. Crazy-ass Ween fans, people in costume, stupid effed-up HS kids passing out and fighting....everything you'd expect. Chilled at Nick's for a bit after picking Ryan's ass up out in Brunswick. Nick wanted to leave a little early to avoid the line to get in, so we left at 8:30....and still ran into a huge line. The Euclid construction didn't help either. We were still in before the start and they started right on the nose at 9. and played for 3 friggin' hours! Including 2 encores! Setlist:

Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese
Spinal Meningitis
Happy Colored Marbles
Piss Up A Rope
Learning To Love
Take Me Away
The Grobe
Even If You Don't
Voodoo Lady
Your Party
Buckingham Green
Albino Sunburned Girl
Leave Deaner Alone
Marble Tulip Juicy Tree
Don't Get 2 Close To My Fantasy
Stroker Ace
Touch My Tooter
Object
Woman & Man
Zoloft
Wavin' My Dick In The Wind
Dr. Rock (Mighty battle axe included!)
Did You See Me
My Own Bare Hands
Booze Me Up
The Mollusk
Buenos Tardes, Amigos

Encore 1: Fiesta
Gabrielle
Papa Zit
Mr. Richard Smoker
Powder Blue
Someday

Encore 2: I'll Be Your Jonny On Th' Spot
Young At Heart Jam w/Deaner On Drums

Great. Especially the Dr. Rock when an audience member tossed Gener a Halloween battleaxe and he used it to lead the crowd in some rock sing-along action. Too bad Nick missed it (and taking a picture of it). Gener acts like (and IS) a goddamn rock star. And Dean wasn't effing around either, he had some smokin' guitar parts, and really got into playing the guitar while it was on the ground. I was so beat after this and last night that I stayed in Brunswick and drove back this morning at 5:30 (somehow traffic is still bad that early). I still wish every night was a Ween concert.

DBT

Soooo....last night was supposed to be a kind of laid back acoustic DBT show....Not so much. First, the setlist:

"When I woke up this morning I thought this was going to be one of those Dirt Underneath shows"...Patterson Hood

New Patterson song (The Righteous Path?)
Women Without Whiskey
Little Bonnie
Gravity's Gone
Puttin' People On The Moon (The HEAVIEST version I've ever seen)
I'm Eighteen (Yeah, Alice Cooper)
Marry Me
Panties In Your Purse
The Opening Act
Self Destructive Zones
Sandwiches For The Road
One Of These Days
Heathens
Tales Facing Up
Daddy's Cup
Lookout Mountain

Encore:
Let There Be Rock
Three Dimes Down
Ronnie And Neil
Buttholeville/State Trooper

So, obviously a rock show. The rock show. Kick ass rock show. It was all worth it for the Moon>18, which rocked totally hard. Then, maybe about 2/3 through the show Amy texts me to say she's hanging out with....wait for it....Dean Ween. Like from Ween. Me: "No fucking way" Amy: "He's gonna sing Van Halen at karaoke" Me: (actually I had already peed my pants at this point).
I didn't get Zip City, but that's ok State Trooper was FanFuckingtastic when Patterson starts throwing the mic stand around cuz he's drank so much whiskey. I need to listen to the recording, I hope it turned out ok.

I would have driven out to Lakewood, but I was beat by the time the show got out at 12:15. And, embarassingly, I wanted to check my email. So I went home. But that email I've been waiting for was there, so still worth it in my opinion. ;)

And still got Ween tonight. Kick ass.

Pre-DBT show partying says:

Zip City is one of the best songs of the last 10 years.

Zip City
by the Drive-By Truckers

Your Daddy was mad as hell
He was mad at me and you
As he tied that chain to the front of my car and pulled me out of that ditch that we slid into
Don't know what his problem is
Why he keeps dragging you away
Don't know why I put up with this shit
When you don't put out and Zip City's so far away

Your Daddy is a deacon down at the Salem Church of Christ
And He makes good money as long as Reynolds Wrap keeps everything wrapped up tight
Your Mama's as good a wife and Mama as she can be
And your Sister's puttin' that sweet stuff on everybody in town but me
Your Brother was the first-born, got ten fingers and ten toes
And it's a damn good thing cause He needs all twenty to keep the closet door closed

Maybe it's the twenty-six mile drive from Zip City to Colbert Heights
Keeps my mind clean
Gets me through the night
Maybe you're just a destination, a place for me to go
Keeps me from having to deal with my seventeen-year-old mind all alone
Keep your drawers on, girl, it ain't worth the fight
By the time you drop them I'll be gone
And you'll be right where they fall the rest of your life

You say you're tired of me taking you for granted
Waitin' up till the last minute to call you up and see what you want to do
But you're only fifteen, girl, you ain't got no secretary
And "for granted" is a mighty big word for a country girl like you
I think that's just your Daddy talking
Cause He knows that blood red carpet at the Salem Church of Christ
Ain't gonna ever see no wedding between me and you

Zip City it's a good thing that they built a wall around you
Zip up to Tennessee then zip back down to Alabama
I got 350 heads on a 305 engine
I get ten miles to the gallon
I ain't got no good intentions

Porcupine Tree

So trucked back down to HOB last night for Porcupine Tree. And it was pretty awesome. Rode the rapid by myself and caught the second half of the openers, 3. They rocked pretty loud and hard. Not too bad. PT then came out and were awesome. Reminded me more of Tool than the stuff on that old double disc I got from Nick, but I enjoyed it. They even busted out some of those old ones that I recognized! Not that I actually know any song names. Anyway, here is the setlist, not that it means a whole helluva lot to me:

What Happens Now?
Fear of a Blank Planet
Sound of Muzak
Lazarus
Nil Recurring
Anesthetize
Open Car
Dark Matter
Cheating the Polygraph
A Smart Kid
Way Out of Here
Sleep Together

Encore:
The Sky Moves Sideways (!!!!!!)
Even Less
Halo

I left most of the way through Halo so as to not miss the last train back (11:30??? come on RTA). However, when I left it was pouring rain. So that sucked. Then it was still pouring when the train dropped me off, so another fun, wet walk back to lab. Then it was still pouring when I biked home. Then it was still raining when I biked in this morning. So my pants, shoes and socks are in the warm room and I'm wearing uncomfortable sandals and gym shorts.

Oh yeah, and the cute bartender was there again and she recognized me and then mocked my love of PBR tall boys. But those tattoos freak me out.

South Park

Is the best show on TV. Seriously, you will find no better satire of ANYTHING.

ANGEL ROCKS YOUR ASS OFF!!!

Holy crap

I come in this morning to the weirdest, coolest, funniest news ever.

Some crazyass Australian dude got an ear put on his forearm. A FUCKING EAR ON HIS ARM!!!

Well I guess I deserve a Ph.D. too, and not for my actual work. And so do the the guys from Futurama. 'Cuz if there's ever a Lucy Liu-bot, I'm marrying it/her. Hot.

Top ten Hot/Smart girls in Hollywood. I didn't even need to get past #10, I just went with her. But Jodie Foster? Maybe 20-30 years ago.

Congrats to Al Gore for winning the Nobel Prize (Peace? I guess.) If only for his Futurama appearances. Also, I watched Manbearpig last night. I might have peed my pants a little.

My name is Earl

consistently has the best music of any show, ever.

South Park

Crab People might be the best thing ever. Fucking ever.

Also, the new episode (last night) which I just finished tonight is awesome, if only for the ending. Heath was right, totally worth everything for the end.