It's Wednesday? Or Tuesday. Damn you, holiday weekend!

Ron and I are headed to Europe later on this year and it is our goal to not be seen as the "dumb Americans." Well, according to this article, at least people won't think we're rude and boring.

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I hope Jackie's par-tay was a rockin' good time. If you had the best time of your life, don't tell me. Lie to me. I hate it when I miss all the fun. Talk about super productive - Ron and I saw X-men 3, shopped for about 6 hours on Saturday, ran many miles, enjoyed the thick heat of New Knoxville, Ohio for my cousin's graudation ceremony and party with lots o' family (yes, "enjoyed" is correct - she's the first of My Kids to graudate!), and sat on the couch in mind-numbing air-conditioning. Paradise...

Okay, back to work - busy, busy world! Oh, and if you aren't doing anything tomorrow night - GO SEE MARY ABRAHAM AT THE NEW WAY IN FERNDALE! It's the debut of her full band. You will not be disappointed...

NINE INCH FUCKING BEST EVER

And so it begins - here is the setlist from this first show on this leg of the tour. Emily, Jackie, Jax and Amber, please have a seat:

somewhat damaged
you know what you are
sin
terrible lie
march of the pigs
something i can never have
closer
gave up
help me im in hell
non entity
only
wish
la mer
into the void
big come down
suck
get down make love
hurt
hand that feeds
head like a hole

GET DOWN MAKE LOVE ANNNNNNNND NON-ENTITY WITH A FULL BAND???? Not to mention so much more from "The Fragile"!!! June 25th can't get here soon enough!

Music news and notables

This is the next show that Neverending White Lights is playing:

JUNE 1st - WINDSOR ON @ Holy Names High School Auditorium,
1400 Northwood. 519-966-2504
Tix are available in the main office
7PM Performance

...TICKETS available at the main office. I almost fell out of my chair. I moisterize and drink plenty of water, but there is no way I'm going to be able to crash this school dance...or possibly the coolest pep rally on the face of the planet.

ONE MONTH UNTIL TRENT SUNDAY! And Trent looked upon what He had created, and it was good. And He played the tambourine. And He was angry. Praise be.

Experience "Lost" to the fullest...

Okay, for those who are married to the IntraWeb, you know about the ongoing "Lost"-based game involving the Hanso Foundation and a certain female hacker named Persephone. If you haven't yet started the game, here is everything you need to know thus far (the game will continue throughout the summer to bridge seasons 2 and 3) to access the secret world of Alvar Hanso. For the extremely nerdy only.

First, go to www.thehansofoundation.org...To get started you need to create a user name (any name will do) in the newsletter sign-up section. The password you will need to input is "breaking strain." Each time you visit the site, you need to log in first under the newsletter section and enter "breaking strain" every time. This allows you to input new passwords to access more hidden information.

Now, the good stuff: the following hidden treasures can be found under the Executive Bio section. Under Alvar Hanso, the date underneath his picture is a link. Click on it and you'll get a window into Hanso's travels and his public appearances. Under Thomas Mittelwerk, you will see an enter field in the middle of his biography. Enter the password "Heir Apparent" and you'll find out about his secret. Under Hugh McIntyre's bio, you'll see a log in field for press releases. Enter the password "the mouthpiece" and you'll find out about how he spends his free time. Under Peter Thompson, there is a hidden entry field under his photo in the actual bio. Double-click underneath the photo and you will see a blinking curser. Enter the password "survivor guilt" and you will see how Peter's manipulation within the system.

Now, onto the Board of Directors. Click on the 'Board of Directors' link and you will see an access denied screen - not so fast, mister. Enter the password "inmate asylum" in the password field (you don't ned to enter a login name) and click on 'submit' - oh, the tangled web of deceit!!!

Now that the season is over and ABC can no longer show any Hanso PSAs during their spotbreaks, I'm not exactly sure how they will keep up with the clues, but stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

Good luck and namaste.

3 pages, due by Friday - NO EXCUSES

Can anyone help me with my musical homework? These are bands that I've come to love over the last couple of weeks. Can anybody suggest any albums/tracks that might make my ears happy?

Aloha
Feist
Charlotte Martin
Autolux
Metric
The Replacements
Dresden Dolls
Electric Soft Parade
Mates of State
My Morning Jacket

And yes, I know, I'm late to the party again.

Quick Monday thoughts...

"Love Monkey" is truly television for hipsters. They name-drop Pitchfork and The Clash and CBGB's, where most of America just stars blankly at the television, hence the cancellation from CBS and subsequent pick-up from VH-1. I love this show and I love Tom Cavanaugh! I also have another new crush - Teddy Geiger. If you've seen "Love Monkey" you have seen Teddy, and like me, you may want to eat him for breakfast. Yeah, it's mini-John Mayer, but I really like John Mayer. AND HE IS ADORABLE...um...and he's 17. *whistles, twiddles thumbs, and darts eyes around*

Pearl Jam tonight! Time to have another 'wish I would have done this in high school' experience. Ten years too late - what can I say? Thank God they're still making music!

You will get no Forest Gump jokes out of me...

I never did give the River Bank Run recap. It goes something like this: last Saturday, Jax, Ron and I set out to achieve a goal, a very simple, somewhat athletic goal - run 3.2 miles and survive. Well, we did that. The weather was perfect - a crisp 49 degrees with no rain and little wind. Ron and I have officially caught the running bug and we're now working to beat our times in the next two 5k races this summer. For this race, I was 31:12 and Ron was 27:53. Ron is a finely tuned machine. I was really hoping for 30:00 or even 30:30. I held back because I didn't want my body hate me in the days to come, plus when you're running with about 4,000 other people, you tend to be less focused. I will say this, though; there's nothing like going over the bridge in downtown Grand Rapids and seeing a literal sea of runners up the next half mile, runners as far as the eye can see. Next race, the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure, will be in downtown Detroit on June 10th. You bet your sweet ass I'll be crossing that finish line in 30:00. Believe it, sister. Photos are forthcoming. I'm really smart, right, and I left the digital camera on for about a week. Hey, it was plugged into the computer, and your computer can charge a camera just like an iPod. Right? We'll have official photos from the race committee in a few weeks.

Rumor has it we'll be taking on the 25K (roughly 15 miles) next summer. You say I can't do it? Proving people wrong puts a ridiculous, glowing smile on my face. Just tell me I can't. Come on, you know you want to...

We're off on a leisurely walk to Royal Oak for an iced mocha. I haven't seen the sun in about five days. I'm gonna soak that shit up!!!

And lo, she gave birth to video...and it was good...

Check out some new media for The Holy Fire...and don't forget to wait for the credits. I'm so proud! Big ups to Cory, Kinch, CJ, Andy, Ryan and the band, OF COURSE!

Oh, and Ron just purchased The Grim Reaper. That's right. When I'm busting a move with "Ziggy Stardust," I am wielding my Skeletor guitar and smouting all of your ruins upon the mountainside. Now, when it's time to be a Guitar Hero, we really can kick it like rock death...with a tasty groove.

Adventures of Sloan

Following the rag-tag team of Chris, Andrew and Patrick as they search for Jay in the wilds of Edmonton. What will they do?

Emus can't take dictation

Sitting in the hot tub, watching "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law" - heaven.

Trying to figure out the 'Lost Exprience' at one o'clock in the morning during a thunderstorm - creepy..

Finding this spectacular ode to Guitar Hero through one Ryan Mulvaney - priceless.

Guitar Hero II is being previewed at E3 this week *knees becoming weak...must lean against wall*

DDR/Guitar Hero BLOWOUT at SarahVision - coming soon...

Who is your band?

I tend to associate certain bands/artists with friends of mine. So when I hear a particular song, I think "oh, I wonder what Ron is doing?" or "I wonder if Jax is listening right now!" Here is my band association.

Amber = Catherine Wheel
Emily = U2
Mel = Cat Stevens
Ron = Smashing Pumpkins
Jackie = Robbie Williams
Jax = Deftones
Matt = Bruce Springsteen
Shawn = any and all Broadway musicals
Sarah Bruce = Van Morrison
Jeff = Neil Finn
Russ = Ted Leo
EDIT: Cynthia and Chris = They Might Be Giants

If I haven't listed you, don't be offended! Either I haven't been able to pin you down or you music tastes are so varied that it's too hard to decide. Does anyone else do this?

Life Lessons from Aqua Teen Hunger Force

When Glen Danzig moves in across the street, make sure his pool is full of elf blood and that he always has his robot with him. It's unfortunate that Glen never wears a shirt - he scares everybody, including the robot.

Oh, and never hire a robot babysitter.

Jack Bauer needs a nap.

When it gets down to the end of the season, I realize just how long Jack has been up without a nap, without a chance to close his eyes and rest for five minutes. If I had a gun at this point, I would definitely shoot someone in the eye or myself in the foot. He must be mainlining Red Bull. What better product placement! Eff 'PDA's - energy drinks are where it's at!

Sexy Sex-off #5 - The Past vs. The Present

Inspired by Amber My-So-Called Miller, my question to you is this: who would you rather have, like, 10,000 babies with - Jared Leto as 30 Seconds to Mars, or Jared Leto as Jordan Catallano in Frozen Embryos? I've got backstage passes...

Take a breath...

I tend to be a workaholic by nature. When I'm not at work or engaged in a physical activity like cleaning or travel or carwheels, I start to think I'm not being productive or I'm not utilizing my time well. It drives me crazy. But, it's days like today that make me think, 'girl, you just need to CHILL.' This last month has been pretty wacktastically busy, but this weekend is devoted to...well...nothing.

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I get to enjoy the day - catch up on my comics, cuddle with the coolest pup in the world (shouts out to Riley, ya'll!), enjoy training for my 5k on this gloriously sunny day, spend two worthwhile hours emmersed in Guitar Hero (Incubus? Iron Maiden? No problem. Queens of the Stone Age? I'm going to die).

Tonight, there will be dancing. Alternative dancing. Lots of hip cats like myself and some other cool people I know. Tomorrow...you know what? Let's not think about that right now.

Rogue Wave puts me at ease with the world.

He was turned to steel, in the great magnetic fields

Guitar Hero, meet my friends. Friends, meet Guitar Hero. He's come to stay with us for a very long time. He'd love to get to know you better. He likes jogging, chocolate milkshakes, and ROCKING THE FUCK OUT. Come on over, don't be shy...

"The Lost Experience"

Come and visit the world of Dr. Alvar Hanso...I cannot put into words how much I love the IntraWeb at this very moment. You will be sucked in. Do not try and resist. It is useless. And if you're really nice to me, I'll give you the password.

And Michael is a bad guy now. I forgive you, Damon. It took you and your brilliant team seven months, but finally, you come through and are ready to drop da bomb on this season.

A good day to you all and namaste.

Fun facts of the Day

1. Luna on Tuesday Video Appreciation Night is best. Drinks are $1.25 and are dangerously potent. They don't take their full effect until you are ready to leave...then you're in trouble. Get there by 11 - it was flipping packed. I got to dance to some good ol' knee slappin' good tunes from Trent, The Bravery, Franz, She Wants Revenge and more. Jackie's cupcake was so tasty! Ron's cupcake made it home safety and is now resting comfortably in his belly.

2. I am totally late to the party. Wolfmother makes me want to stick out my chest and shake my hips.

3. I know that everyone on the planet has seen this, but relive the glory that is Stephen Colbert's speech from the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Oh. My. God. Colbert is my new personal hero. You won't believe what comes out of his mouth in front of the President. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. No one is safe.

4. I stumbled across this photo from the band Wires on Fire and felt the need to share it. I think this guy is officially the World's Most Enthusiastic Rock Fan. Nothing says "I really dig your music" than a face in your crotch. And with that, I bid you adieu on this fine Wednesday.