.tiff’s Neighbors

Chiharu Shiota - Zustand des Seins

nobody@vox.com(Reckon) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:29 -0700

Chiharu Shiota

Chiharu Shiota HQ

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Laura's Daily Tweets

nobody@vox.com(Laura) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:59:55 -0700

Today in the Twitterverse:

10:36 bizarre - only part of my apartment seems to have lost power #
13:13 oh good, power is fully back now - that was weird #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

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Camera breaks. Blog ends. I cry.

nobody@vox.com(clairesays) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:44:47 -0700

Funny stuff is happening all over the place and I can't document any of it.

Take dinner with ex boyfriend, current boyfriend, my mother and ex room mate in SF last week - all gone, undocumented. Might as well not have happened.

Sinking into a steaming hot mud bath in Calistoga? - you'll just have to trust me.

Camera disaster proceeded only moments before by phone breaking. Some weeks are designed to test you.

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Photo of the day

nobody@vox.com(beth) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:22:57 -0700

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

IMG00290.jpg

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When Animals Attack!

nobody@vox.com(W♥M) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:12:25 -0700

10/14/2008 00:06:50 ♥ written by vu ()

Bears - Wait And See

Bears

BEARS
bearspop.com ♥ myspace.com/bearspop
Simple Machinery was released in early September of this year, and I did have several writers take a listen at the album for review. Due to conflicting scheduling and sheer laziness (haha), the album ended up back in my court.

The one thing that each of the writers told me was that this band is "really fun". I would also add that this band is actually pleasant-sounding, I mean these songs sounds like it's from a mellow 60s.

My favorite song on here is "Wait and See", surprisingly very retro-sounding and I wish it would've continued on - only it sort of just ends in the middle of the song or something (at least that's how it feels). A close second is the first track, "Please Don't", which grabbed me and made me pay attention. Both really great songs.

If you like indiepop, you should definitely give this band a chance - I think you'll find yourself humming along. Simple Machinery's been out since September 2, 2008. You can buy the album directly from them or the low-costing Tone Vendor. They promise a vinyl version of Simple Machinery will be "available soon".

Check them out live:

18 Oct 2008 St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York

Bela Karoli - Some Things That Fly There Be

Bela Karoli

BELA KAROLI
belakaroli.com ♥ myspace.com/belakaroli
I love this! There's no guitars anywhere, most of this music is a mix of electronic sounds and jazzniks (Jazz/Beatniks) with its upright bass, accordion, violins, and organ.

The reason why Bela Karoli is on here is that their 2008's Furnished Room features an odd bee's behind on its cover. The band seems to be driven by singer/upright bass player, Julie Davis. She sounds like a passive singer, letting the music play around her vocals - yet her voice does drive the songs.

My favorite song on this album is "Some Things That Fly There Be", which I think the cover art was inspired by this song or vice versa. Check out that French-sounding accordion, that cool, cool, cool, vocals saying "some things that fly there be, birds, hours, the bumblebee: of these no elegy". Yeah, I know, it sounds more like poetry than it sounds like a song!

Furnished Room is out now on Helmet R00m Records and it looks like they are playing Halloween! That should be an amazing sight to see:

31 Oct 2008 Boulder Theater w/ Devotchka and Paper Bird Boulder, Colorado

Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen

Miniature Tigers

MINIATURE TIGERS
miniaturetigers.com ♥ myspace.com/miniaturetigers
From Phoenix, Arizona, is this delightful indie rock band called Miniature Tigers. Fans of Weezer, will love this band.

Charlie Brand, the singer, has a very comfortable, laid back, and non-threatening vocals - that helps when he's singing these geeky love lyrics such as:

It's a very tiny risk that I'm willing to take, it's my foot, it's my heart, it's my back that I'm willing to break. It's the dog in me who's barking at you. What am I doing here, everybody wants you. Hands down, Pilgrim, your death is coming soon.

I don't want to move too fast, I don't want to scare you off.
I don't want to move too slow, someone's gonna snatch you off

-- from "Annie Oakley"

and

This is not a test or an SOS, I'm no longer on a quest to get girls undressed. I search through their hearts and no treasure found, I'm so lucky this one lets dogs hang around.

It's good having somebody good for a change, I thought that no good dirty cheats had drove me insane I had finally given up on love and romance.

-- from "Cannibal Queen"

The band is gaining momentum, already on Rolling Stone's "25 best bands on Myspace" and with this Tell It To the Volcano (released September 16^th on Modern Art Records), they are planning on playing the famed-CMJ in New York.

13 Oct 2008 w/ Birdmonster @ Yucca Tap Phoenix, Arizona
15 Oct 2008 w/ Say Hi @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona
21 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York
24 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York
03 Nov 2008 @ Echoplex Los Angeles, California
06 Nov 2008 @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona

PS, You can purchase their merchandise from them directly. Looking at the store, I did notice a very reasonly-priced limited edition of 1,000 copies (individually numbered-stamped) in an "Arigato-Pak, printed on a 150-year-old letterpress" - for, get this, only $10. That's a bargain.

Amy Ray - She's Got to Be

Amy Ray

AMY RAY
amy-ray.com ♥ myspace.com/amyray
Amy Ray is best known for being one half of the legendary Indigo Girls. She just released her latest album, Didn't It Feel Kinder last August.

I really love this album, there's a nice mix of easy-southern comfort feel, but there are the occasional rock-type songs such as "Bus Bus" to make you take notice. And it feels honest. Songs like "Cold Shoulder" tells us it is, detailing about a straight girl that is secretly into other girls.

My favorite song on the album is the love song, "She's Got to Be". I found out that this was Amy Ray's experimenting with using her head voice:
For ‘She's Got To Be,’ I was experimenting with using my head voice, my falsetto, and so I wrote in a different direction, too.

There's also an underlying statement in her songs, that's not blatant. Take for instance, "Who Sold the Gun", which is an anti-gun song from the sounds of it. The last line is pretty powerful: "because we're just as f*cked up, yeah".

I don't want to read too much in "SLC Radio", but I feel that this is a woman-rights/polygamy associated with Mormons and Salt Lake City.

These songs reminds me of classic protest songs.

Didn't It Feel Kinder is out now on her own non-profit label, Daemon Records. Vinyl fans should want to check out the 180gm limited edition with new artwork.

You can catch her on her upcoming fall tour:

19 Oct 2008 3rd & Lindsley Nashville, Tennessee
20 Oct 2008 Hi Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee
21 Oct 2008 Blueberry Hill St. Louis, Missouri
23 Oct 2008 The Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
24 Oct 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, Minnesota
25 Oct 2008 The Maintainance Shop Ames
26 Oct 2008 High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin
28 Oct 2008 High Dive Champaign, Illinois
29 Oct 2008 Metro Chicago, Illinois
31 Oct 2008 Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Cleveland, Ohio
01 Nov 2008 Mr Smalls Theater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
02 Nov 2008 Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, New York
04 Nov 2008 The Mod Club Toronto, Ontario
05 Nov 2008 Higher Ground Ballroom Burlington, Vermont
07 Nov 2008 Somerville Theater Somerville, Massachusetts
08 Nov 2008 Pearl Street Upstairs Northampton, Massachusetts
10 Nov 2008 Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
12 Nov 2008 Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
13 Nov 2008 North Star Bar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
14 Nov 2008 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
15 Nov 2008 Capital Ale House Richmond, Virginia
18 Nov 2008 The Jewish Mother Virginia Beach, Virginia
19 Nov 2008 Cat’s Cradle Carborro, North Carolina
21 Nov 2008 The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina
22 Nov 2008 The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia

Mercury Rev - Nocturne For Norwood

Mercury Rev

MERCURY REV
mercuryrev.com ♥ myspace.com/mercuryrevmusic
Mercury Rev released two albums simultaneously in 2008, one for sale (Snowflake Midnight) and one for free (Strange Attractor). If you were interested in the free album, details are on their official website.

I don't have Snowflake Midnight to compare to, but from what I've heard on Strange Attractor, Attractor seems to be more electronic/ambient - basically background-type of music. The most interesting song on here ("Nocturne For Norwood") uses samples from some guy talking.

For some reason, I thought Mercury Rev had singers? This feels like it's an album of background music that they lay down for audio to go on top of it, so it doesn't feel at all complete. I guess I can't complain because it is, after all, free.

Regardless, they are getting some major buzz and press, selling out all their dates in Ireland.

30 Oct 2008 Electric Avenue - SOLD OUT Waterford, Ireland
31 Oct 2008 Cyprus Avenue - SOLD OUT Cork, Ireland
01 Nov 2008 Roisin Dubh - SOLD OUT Galway, Ireland
02 Nov 2008 Vicar St. Dublin, Ireland
04 Nov 2008 Mandela Hall Belfast, UK
05 Nov 2008 Academy Manchester, UK
06 Nov 2008 Academy Leeds, UK
07 Nov 2008 Academy Birmingham, UK
09 Nov 2008 Academy Newcastle, UK
11 Nov 2008 Corn Exchange Brighton, UK
12 Nov 2008 Academy Bristol, UK
13 Nov 2008 Shepherds Bush Empire London, UK
14 Nov 2008 Academy Oxford, UK
16 Nov 2008 Den Atelier Luxembourg, Luxembourg
17 Nov 2008 Luxor Koln, Germany
18 Nov 2008 Train Aarhus, Denmark
19 Nov 2008 Vega Copenhagen, Denmark
21 Nov 2008 Lido Berlin, Germany
22 Nov 2008 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands
24 Nov 2008 Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium
25 Nov 2008 Elysee Montmartre Paris, France
26 Nov 2008 La Vapeur Dijon, France
27 Nov 2008 Espacio Movistar Barcelona, Spain
28 Nov 2008 Joy Madrid, Spain
29 Nov 2008 Aula Magna Lisbon, Portugal
30 Nov 2008 Art Cafe Muza Sosnowiec, Poland
05 Dec 2008 Paradise Boston, MA, Massachusetts
06 Dec 2008 Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
07 Dec 2008 Highline Ballroom New York, NY, New York
08 Dec 2008 Cabaret Du Musee Juste Pour Rire Montreal, QC, Quebec
09 Dec 2008 Opera House Toronto, ON, Ontario
11 Dec 2008 Metro Chicago, IL, Illinois
12 Dec 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN, Minnesota
14 Dec 2008 Fox Theater Boulder, CO, Colorado
16 Dec 2008 El Rey Los Angeles, CA, California
17 Dec 2008 The Independent San Francisco, CA, California

PS, the cover to this album is creepy! Check out that cat on the bottom, starring back.

Super XX Man - There'll Be Diamonds

Super XX Man

SUPER XX MAN
superxxman.com ♥ myspace.com/superxxman
Super XX Man's Volume XII: There'll Be Diamonds comes out October 21^st, which is in a couple of weeks. Because of their McGruff-ish cover art (but on closer inspection, you'll find that it's supposed to be a Panther - named after his song "Cautious Like a Panther"), I have decided to include them in this round up. As the title suggest, this is his twelfth album.

Once again, the fine people at Tender Loving Empire shows off their silk-screening awesomeness. I really dig these cover art, which kind of feels rubbery on touch.

Super XX Man is actually one Scott Garred, who started his career in the 90s in the Austin-based indiepop band Silver Scooter. There's elements of indiepop, but he's also experimenting here with a variety of instruments and sound (including the ukulele!).

Although it's mostly a serious storytelling album, I did find that there are hints of humor ("little duckie you're the one" line in "What Lies Beneath").

Check out my favorite song here, "There'll Be Diamonds", the title track, demonstrating said variety of instruments (can you hear a xylophone?)

Good news is that they'll be setting on an upcoming tour, including that crazy CMJ everyone is talking about:

22 Oct 2008 St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Alexandria, Virginia
23 Oct 2008 OS Art House - Fanatic Showcase New York
24 Oct 2008 Knitting Factory - PDX Showcase New Yok
24 Oct 2008 Alphabet Lounge CMJ Showcase New York
29 Oct 2008 White Eagle Portland
30 Oct 2008 Sam Bonds Garage Eugene
31 Oct 2008 Make Out Room San Francisco
01 Nov 2008 UC Davis The Old Firehouse Davis
23 Nov 2008 Someday Lounge Portland

PS, the artwork for this album is by Brian Oaster.

Links: weheartmusic.com news.weheartmusic.com

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...

nobody@vox.com(UNIKFREK) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:03:13 -0700

Staring at a blank tv is not nearly as exciting as staring at a tv displaying colorful pictures with sound.

-note to self-

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eh? what poverty?

nobody@vox.com(sighmon) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:47:19 -0700

poverty is a strange concept for a lot us growing up in Australia these days. for the majority of us, we live in relative comfort. we have access to jobs to earn money, if we can't work we have access to a (relatively) good welfare system. if we get sick, we have a (relatively) good health care system to get us better. we have access to clean water, electricity, & telephone / internet services.

so when we hear the word poverty mentioned, its pretty hard to imagine a life without all those luxuries and relate to the hardships that the majority of the world's people are going through.

even harder is trying to fathom that almost 50% of the world's population live on less than $2.50 a day.

and 80% live on less than $10 a day. 80%!!!

but the problems don't stop there, because the poorest countries of the world keep on getting poorer even with the aid they receive. how can this happen? because for every $1 of aid they receive, they have to pay back $25 for the debts their country have to rich world countries!

(want to see more scary facts? check out these facts and stats on poverty, oh and while you're at it, here's a nice definition of poverty to read too)

okay okay, enough overwhelming scary stuff, what can i do to help?

'live simply so that others may simply live'

this amazingly powerful quote by that gandhi guy has stuck with me for years. my parents had the poster on our kitchen wall, and although i read it every day growing up, i never really knew what it meant or how to live by it. its only in the last year that i've really got it. the simpler i live and the less i consume, the more there will be to go around for those that really need it.

simplifying my life

it took a few weeks to get used to the idea of simplifying my lifestyle. for me the hardest part was breaking my routines. but once broken, the changes were simple and in some cases, actually quite enjoyable!

here are some of the little things i've changed:

* stopped driving to work, started skateboarding to work. (travel time is actually 5 mins less door to door, and less dependency on oil!)

* sold my car. (i now share one with my girlfriend for emergencies)

* turned vegetarian. (vegetarians use 10 times less energy and 100 times less water!!)

* stopped buying lunch, and started making my own organic food at work in the kitchen. (saving $8 / day, eating healthier)

* started cooking bulk dinners at home. (its not that much extra work, costs less, and saves time! i have "fast food" in my freezer any night of the week now!)

* wear more clothes in winter / bought rugs for the couch. (so i use less heating at home)

* buying fair trade & organic t-shirts, shirts and jeans, and vintage (recycled) jumpers & jackets.

* put up partitions in my house so that if i do need to heat a room, i can heat a smaller space. (i've managed to reduce my electricity bill by 1/3!)

* have less lights on, installed power saving globes, burn more candles. (and get a lot more sexy time with my girlfriend!)

* share shorter showers with my girlfriend. (i now use less gas and water, even though i'm cooking more!)

* set a budget and put my savings away at the beginning of the month. (managing to save 30% of my income)

* set up automatic debits to donate to charity. (working towards donating 5% of my income, currently at 2.5%)

so what does all this mean?

well at the end of the month, i've now got more money left over. which means i can donate more to support the people who have less than me and are living in tough conditions around the world.

having more money left over also means i can work less. i've managed to stop working my second job, which has freed up much more time to do creative things and have more time to spend with my friends and girlfriend, go for walks, skateboard and relax.

this free time also gives me much more time to clear my mind, which has led to less stress and a generally happier lifestyle.

give it a try yourself!

i can highly recommend it.. and while you're at it, blog about it to share your experience. oh, and if you've got any suggestions or comments on my little life simplification, please ask!!!

links

i was inspired to write this post by world vision's learn about poverty campaign. which I heard about via the always switched on ross hill.

si.

http://sighmon.com

blog action day

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Salt House Water Bottles

nobody@vox.com(Kimmie) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:17:10 -0700

I want this!

photo.jpg

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QotD: Vox's 2nd Anniversary

nobody@vox.com(W. B. Mook) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:24:31 -0700

It's Vox's 2nd anniversary this month! Help us celebrate by sharing some of your fun Vox stories from the past two years.

Ah.. I remember the good old days... When it seemed like people were working on the things about VOX that were broken and appeared to be adding new features to make the site more awesome. Those days where we got decent themes every now and then...

Erm. Sorry. I recently opened my mouth about UU armchair liberalism and realized I was still drawing from the "bitter collegiate jackass" column for my material, and realized that my rhetoric had to be brought up to date with my new "I'm okay, you're okay, the only action is direct action, man in the prime of his life" state of mind that I'm trying to live up to.

The above is not, I'm afraid, in keeping with the new, more efficatious Mook.

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Help Boots Give The Gift of Reading!

nobody@vox.com(W. B. Mook) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:07:33 -0700

My darling, the illustrious Boots Valentine, is raising money to try to get some decent middle-school level books for the kids at the school in south Phoenix where she teaches. The school is a K-8, and the library focuses more on the younger end of the spectrum, so she's trying to put together some classics and some more recent favorites to encourage her kids to read.

Give! Give!

Even if you can't donate money yourself, post the widget, post the link, get the word out!

(I know there are librarians out there-- you shouldn't be able to resist donating to reading, right?)

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