toshiro mifune. bad assin'...

Toshiro Mifune-- a true Japanese bad-ass. In light of recent events in Japan, I found myself watching a lot of his work...

His qualities were best exemplified in the films of master director Akira Kurosawa, such as Seven Samurai, Rashomon, High and Low, Yojimbo (which was remade by Sergio Leone as Fistful of Dollars), Sanjuro, and many more (he appeared in over 150 films in his career).

Here's a montage I found of him hurting people and looking like a bad ass...

 Sanjuro is a personal fav. I fall asleep to it many evenings...not that it's boring, it's just that the pace of the foreign language dialogue is extremely relaxing in the film. 

 Bold and expressive with seemingly little effort, not so unlike American bad-asses like Clint Eastwood and Humphrey Bogart (who's biography, Tough without a Gun, by Stefan Kanfer is totally rad from what I've skimmed of it..).

 Maybe Mifune can be called tough without a sword...

be prepared or not live...in the future.

here's the 'fo (short for "info"...which is short for "information") on one the many terrifically taser factory ideas that j.m. and i kick around from our opposite coastal bases...

the title isn't solid yet. the original lean was towards something like "the ultimate control" smart phone. after all, it is a smart phone, with a built-in base at the top for one of two attachments that allow mankind (and girlkind) to further control their environment. 

1. electric shaver foil.

2. taser.

it also includes USB jumper cables. 

and yes, it is dangerous...but so is the world. so be prepared.

decidedly, battery technology will need to catch up with this design.

craiglist rants: part 1

southern cali is a terrific place to be a writer, especially if your interest includes ehow articles, hacked reposts, pot, and/or the adult entertainment industry. but seriously, there are a bunch of hard working copy writers out here. i'm one. 

freelancing can be really annoying, and craigslist.org can easily be consider a battle ground right on the front of the war between copy writers and the ever evolving industry, that seeks to supplant talent with tech and belief that "anyone", not only professionals, can do a "good enough" job for way less money. (kinda similar to the newspaper industry's push back against pro photographers with the advent and ease of digital camera technology that allows non photographers to take decent photos...)

anyway, whilst searchin' craigslist big ol' list for some freelance gigs, i would occasionally take a break for the hunt and read the over-inflated rantings of my fellow craigslisting warriors. 

this stuff is totally taser factory. i'm calling for a day of rage on the cl.org writing gigs page!

re: 3 Scoliosis Articles (The Gulag)

Date: 2010-03-11, 4:18PM PST

Reply to: gigs-w7rnx-1639877664@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

OK Skippy, lemme get your fabulous offer straight...

"3 articles (1,500-2,000 words each)

Scoliosis

Scoliosis Brace Treatments in Adults

Scoliosis Brace Treatments is Kids

$15 for each paper"

I'm no math whiz, but that's a small fraction of the legal minimum wage, and

requires research and expertise as well.

No thanks, we could do better in a slave-labor camp!

What kind of delusional ego-maniac are you to think that someone would take such an abusive

deal, and then look forward to "similar future work"?

Hope you can deal with the deluge of eager hopefuls who will beat a path to your door on this one.

Maybe your next "ghost-writtten assignment" should be something about mental patients on the

loose who want expert but free services for their money-making schemes?

Get your sorry ass off of CL...

Re: Freelance Journalists (anywhere)

Date: 2010-03-07, 9:06AM PST

Reply to: gigs-rxnvp-1632703539@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Oh, yummy!

I get to go to all these events for FREE!

And you get to publish my reviews for FREE!

And I buy the gas for my car to get to these events for FREE - uh -- no.

And I get to ride the Metro for FRE - er, no.

And I get my gas and electric and phone and water and food and medical FREE because they all read my reviews! Oh... No?

With my reviews in all your publications, I get to be the most famous writer in... umm... Skid Row.

No thanks.

With such national circulation, $.25 per word is a minimum.

re: proofread/editor needed to work for dirt wages

Date: 2010-03-07, 8:01AM PST

Reply to: gigs-ytcan-1632613058@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

The Original Poster wrote:

"We are a small publishing company and are looking for proofreaders and copy editors that have book experience. Our company reformats book content for mobile platforms. All of our work is on a project basis and we pay $10 per hour. The ideal candidate will have an extensive knowledge of book production, copyediting, and relentless attention to detail. To be considered for this gig, please send your resume. "

You want to pay $2 more than minimum age for a white collar job?

Ehhhh.... lemme see...

No.

Internships, "writing partners", and other BS (on CL)

Date: 2010-03-05, 7:15PM PST

Reply to: gigs-we3vw-1630786970@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Some motherfucker offered an "internship" of 3 months work with a $100 "stipend". A dollar a day? Abe Lincoln would be proud!

Gigs section is for short-term PAID employment, not a clearinghouse for free-labor scams.

These assholes keep posting about slave-labor interns or deferred-pay or "TBD" or "no pay at first" or "top performers might get more (unpaid) work later" or great exposure or "submissions for literary-journal contest"! FUCK YOU!

And the delusional unemployable hacks who want writing partners to sit at Starbucks with them and dream of hitting the bigtime...

If you're not offering employment then POST SOMEWHERE ELSE! Volunteers are people who read to patients at the convalescent hospital, NOT writers who donate free talent to your for-profit schemes. If you're making money or plan to make money from it, then PAY YOUR HELPERS!

I get so FUCKING tired of this shit sometimes!

Rite 4 pey! But naut MUCH pey! (scamsville)

Date: 2010-03-04, 5:01PM PST

Reply to: gigs-xkbfq-1629003763@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

"Tired of searching for writing jobs on Craigslist? Pay scale for each article is $3.50... word count is 250 - 300... two days to complete each piece... boy can those dollars add up!"

WOW, $3.50 FOR TWO DAYS WORK! THIRD-WORLD PAY RIGHT HERE IN THE USA!

THIS ASSHOLE HAS BEEN TWEAKING THESE SCAM-POSTS, TRYING TO MAKE DEATH-CAMP WAGES SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.

PLEASE KEEP FLAGGING THESE FUCKING RIPOFFS!

Those seeking free labor should post under "volunteers wanted".

re: Writer's Research Assistant (Santa Monica) (NO Free Work)

Date: 2010-03-04, 1:40PM PST

Reply to: gigs-8qevd-1628697452@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Okay.. been awhile since I ranted...

Erin, bubby, shhhweeetheart, daaaahlink... you want someone to work for you for free?

WTF?

20 years ago when I would hire someone to help me with my writing projects, I used green stuff outta my back pocket to take care of business.

The green stuff still works wonders.

The internship thing is bullshit. Complete bullshit. You are a working pro. PAY YOUR WORKERS.

re: Writer Needed (Los Angeles)

shane edge vs action stars: part tres

the latest installation of this series finds shane edge doing his best imitation of my best depiction of young doug masters (jason gedrick) from the first iron eagle movie (which is actually really good).

view the rest of the series at:

http://www.kneeshy.com/actionshane/

most def. louis gossett jr.'s best role ever.

The Bike Shelf...mount up.

Just when I was getting a little tired, enters the Bike Shelf by Bay Area designer/maker Knife and Saw (one Chris Brigham)! 

...Do I own this?

No. At least not yet. But I love it so much who knows....

Simple is Best.

Get the full pitch here:

http://knifeandsaw.wordpress.com/furniture/bike-shelf/

(i borrowed a few photos...)

"SLO-MO" number three...

"SLO-MO" is a reoccurring collection of photocopied items found (or other acquired/created) by justin clifford rhody...who i write about often. 

i recently received the latest copy "number three. it's absolutely taser factory. maybe even more taser factory than taser factory..?.

while breathing and laughing thru the booklet, it dawned on me that jcr has also been slowly making my desk, office, and other parts of our crib an archive for the original documents contained therein via the mailman.

here's a scan of a favorite from the pages...

available from friends and relatives records...and i've personally encountered it (or other f&r materials) in neat store when least expected.

the charred rampz- "hunt the grease" cassette...

alright! something else like new, from like fmsmprc. drawing inspiration from king kobra III, the cherred rumpz bring some hidden noise to the forefront as one of the single heaviest tapes we've yet to throw up. it's a fun listen if your ear likes brutal and _____. 

another taser factory aspect is that while a few tapes will make their way to a couple of select shoppe shelves for retail style procurement, the majority are available via TRADE only from fmsmprc. acceptable items for trade include about anything (i know we're asking for with that statement), and definitely NOT limited to audio. little artworks, words, found documents, etc. are totally rad. and i guess if you wanna trade cash, that's cool too...

The Charred Ramps

“Hunt the Grease”

fmsmprc27=cassette

blaring from the western parts, the charred ramps enact a heavy handed noise-core in the guise of back-handed thrash metal. hunt the grease profiles 30 minutes of broken sidewalks, broken wrists, and the smell of urethane in the hot sun.

this recording is available as cassette in selected stores (for sale) and direct from fmsmprc via TRADE (only)! send a recording or art or something and we’ll send tha tape.

fmsmprc
1558 n commonwealth ave
unit 9
Los Angeles, CA 90027

chrrd rmps is:
evol slej + carcar blahblah

take a listen::::

http://fmsmprc.bandcamp.com/album/hunt-the-grease

http://myspace.com/fmsmprc

Contact:

jeremy@kneeshy.com

Danke Netflix

Obsession Alert! Right, so I’ve recently been playing the fuck out of these 3 sci-fi films produced by former DDR state sponsored DEFA studios...The Silent Star (1960), Eolomea (1972), and In The Dust of Stars (1976).

While none of these are news, as a box-set of all three was released a few years ago, the latter 2 were new finds for me, but I’d seen The Silent Star as a feature for destruction at the hands of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew years ago.

Watching it without prodding from the Joel Robinson and friends unveiled a strangely beautiful film, complete with special effects signature of the times. But what really struck me was the multi-ethnic leading cast and extremely relaxed egalitarian attitude put forth without much of any string tied to then East German polita-scape.

Breaking chronologically, In The Dust of Stars is a by far the wildest, mostest funnest one of the trio. It hits up (sometimes a bit overboard) many awesome elements I would want with 70’s Eastern Bloc in mind and more. Rad colors, exotic space dancing, space drugs, fashionably Abba-esque space explorers led by a female captain...

Last but not least is the beautifully fractured Eolomea. Fans of Solaris take note as this films contains many of the enigmatic lures that make that film so special...plus actual dialogue and some pretty psychadeli]]\\\ ic effects!

I’ve had neither the time nor inclination to attempt to make much sense of Eolomea. It being German doesn’t help, but that’s how I roll. I like things that don’t make any sense to me.

Top booot, the soundtracks and sound effects for all are really great, ranging from some dark orchestral work to wishful kraut-rock. I wanna dig up some info on those responsible (future plan).

If you gots Netflix (Yeay Netflix), go instant style. Perfect for falling asleep to.

THE TOP 9 THINGS OF 2010! EAT IT!

Ha ha ha hrrrrr… how low can I fucking get? That’s right, a “TOP whatever-i-wanna-draw-attention-to” list of 2010!!! Why would I do such a thing?

1. It’s my birthday.
2. I’m kinda overworked, and this is the easiest online writing wonk I could manage.
3. If I don’t write it down I might forget some of this.
4. …

So hear it is…the TOP 9 random things I wish to mention. Enjoy:

1.Top thing I wish for, that came true: Rain in Socal, Jerry Brown as Gov’ner. 

2.Top book I’ve READ (as opposed to REREAD) this year:
“Angle of Yaw” by: Ben Lerner

 

3.Top favorite artist:
Ryan Trecartin.

4.Top insult directed at me as a person:
Something in Spanish…I’m still not sure what it twas, I’m still working on my Spanish. (tied with being confused for Julian Assange.)

 

5.Top event I kick myself in the ass for missing:
It’s a tie between:
1. Alice Coltrane tribute at Royce Hall featuring: Kyp Malone, Nels Cline, Han Bennik, Flying Lotus, + others
2. Yoko Ono at the Orpheum with special guests: Thurston Moore, Lady Gaga, RZA, Sean Lennon, Yuka Honda, Carrie Fisher, Iggy Pop…and I guess a bunch of other people. 

 

6.Favorite weird-ass kung fu movie watched on Netflix:
“Dressed To Fight”

7.Top most interesting person roaming my neighborhood: No hands man…a guy who has no hands and rants an insane star wars infused military-esque radio conversation about assassinating Frank Zappa.

8.Favorite local radio personality: Henry Rollins. He’s funny and he starts every show by yelling salaam alaikum, and when he doesn’t yell it, and just says it. I feel like it’s gonna be boring, but it isn’t.

9.Most favorite food of the year: Radish.

….oh. Anything important you wanted to mention?

-sure. Top mind-blowing reissued record: The Reactors- “I Want Sex” 7”

…actually anything Last Laugh is putting out.

Top suggested read for ya’ll in the new year: Send.

a ground-ups x-mas...

Mary Christmas told me to tell you...

Ground-Ups began in like 1999, or something like that. Shane and I were really into Ruins around that time, but definitely not up to that kinda like trap-kit blitz or stamina. To make up for it, we like put that influence together with our own art drives, and decided to like both play the drums.

We like talked the whole thing up to Chris Clavin and soon he found a home in g-ups via one of his lost passions, the trumpet (and/or) cornet.

Shawn and I love the trumpet (and/or) cornet, and welcomed the new movement of the ground-up. I don’t know...I think Chris just really liked playing trumpet (and/or) cornet.

The initial material really related to life, if you were on a boat, or worked in a hotel, like Shane and I did at the time.

We had some other stuff, like a floor tom with some trash in it, and some spray paint, and Chris had a bunch of stuff like a dictionary, and we spray-painted that and the cape. We record our first show on a video camera, and that appears in these recordings. Sounds like bad, but good bad too.

The second round includes Shan Egg and I with Leah Yeppi highlighting the vocals, playing banjo, banging keys and effex, and engineering the shit in a strange way. Shane and I came up with “GT Frame You Fucking Suck” on the way to record, when we saw some guy walking down the street either riding or carrying a GT mountain bike frame. One of said, “GT frame you fucking suck.” He heard us. We made it into a tape called: “OH! It Bites Me!”

Part 3 is some live recording a few years later when it was just Eric Weddle and I for the large part, and Shim on and off. Er’s horn action (trumpet and sax) is blasted well thru a cut down ancient quad fender amp.

E.W. and I moved on to record studio type ground sounds with Nhoj Daswon at White Ark. Things, like purpose, never really materialized, so these recordings have since sat, been fondled, and end up here in whatever form available from thy hard drive. There is also a few live tracks recorded by someone in PG Six. I like the way those sound.

I wanted to put together a disc or something and title it “Knights of the Ground Table”. But didn’t. The actual recordings sound great rad, but I went in over the course of time and mixed them around and screwed up a lot of the goodness. And that’s fine.

Ground-ups TNG featured Justin Clifford Rhody on trumpet and Clare Hubbard on saxophone. These could of been, and possibly were the best of times...I think I was drinking too much though. Here’s a few tunes from that, and I know there is more out there, but...

These appear via friends and relatives records as a cassingle, split with Crotch Council.

Shane was back on these tunes, at least some of them, and sometimes I can’t tell if it’s both or not. Regardless, it’s def jcr and Clare.

We’re still doing it...whoever we are.

hear it....http://www.last.fm/music/Ground-Ups

-jk 

Caked Up – the tasteful art of Kate Steffens

Kate is great. As is her whole damn family! Kate’s thing is cakes, and other sweets. She’s a pro at making them for both mouth and eye action...not eye action like you put the food in your eye, but rather the food is great to look at with your eye, then put in mouth.

Ms. Steffens folds in a variety of artistic direction. Among these, her application of musically motivated imagery seems to stand out most in my mind(s).

 Disraeli Gears gets the Straight Outta Chocolate treatment

From Fela Kuti to the Cure, she recreates album covers and other related imagery, and emblazons them onto this magic mouth/eye art. Powered with a mix of ingredients as eclectic as her influences, Kate makes great cake!

I’m not a fan of sweets...or at least I wasn’t before getting my mouth blown off by a few of these creations. I’ve since been lucky enough to happen upon her cakes and treats at openings and other events, and I’ve happily made the “I don’ t really like sweets, but...” exception, time after time.

Handpainted chocolate Cure cake

It’s a really fun visual and mouth attacking experience she puts on the table, so view more at her blog “Straight Outta Chocolate”, which is an absolutely amazing title. And you know how I feel about titles for things...or if you don’t, you will.

Trust me on the sweets, and if you’re into hearing some of the stars featured in her work, keep an eye out for her DJing efforts here locally (that means Los Angeles) as “Lady Kate”.

Rate Kate’s Cakes here:

http://straightouttachocolate.wordpress.com/