Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Stamps, Heather the Boy Hater, and a Chicken...

"I had to purchase 10 stamps to mail some letters." How’s that sentence sound to you? It’s simple to understand right? It appears to be a simple task right?

Sure…but, maybe you’re in your local Walmart and you’ve waiting in line for twenty minutes to purchase stamps. Sure…maybe there‘s some ignorant shoppers wandering about. Sure…the old lady greeting customers smells like she needs her diaper changed. Sure…you’re just having one of those “I don’t really wanna be in f –ckin Walmart buying stamps right now,” kinda days.


But hey… after twenty minutes of standing in a line behind stinky-Bob and his dripping arm pits, or standing in front of Shana nay whom you’re pretty positive is a tranny, after she says hello provocatively in a deep male voice… it’s finally your turn. Yup…it’s your turn to stand in front of the register while Heather yaps on the phone to whoever the f-ck she’s yapping too. And they’re talking about boys. And she’s crying. And you’re a boy. And she notices this. And now she’s glaring at you…because you’re a boy (errr…in my case a man, but she really was talking about boys). Long story short… they don’t have any stamps.

So if you’re me, and you’re not, but just pretend that you are for a moment, which means you need to think all paranoid, like the whole world is caving in on you… So, if you’re me, you’d think she was holding back the goods all because you’re a boy! Which she’s not, but you’re a paranoid a-shole who asks for miserable, under paid managers at Walmart so you can ask where the f-cking stamps are because you’ve been standing in line for twenty f-ckin minutes and you feel entitled to them!

Then the manager informs you that not only do they not have any stamps, but they’ve never carried any. Then Heather Scoffs at you; gnarls her lips; and evil-eyes you. Oh…and do you remember my comment about paranoia, and the whole world being out to get you? Well…everyone really is starring at you as you walk out the front door trying to save face and look cool, but really you look like you’re squeezing you’re a-s cheeks so tight your head is gonna pop off! And you’re blushing. And your lips are trembling while you hold back tears of humiliation (this last parts all you Bro… I tend to strut like George Jefferson, and never cry like I have two daddies…Rambo, and Chuck Norris!…hell yeah!).

So there you are. Afraid that your significant other is gonna think you’re an idiot. You wise up and do what you’ve should’ve done in the first place; go to your local Post Office.



















[Maybe if every f-ck up was this valuable, I'd be a bazillionare by now]


On way to the Post Office; you’re cut off by one of those Smart Cars; flipped off by a homeless person for no apparent reason (but hey…at least he was smiling when he did it…him and his two teeth); and as you pull into the parking lot you’re stopped by an elderly women walking past…very, very slowly, thus causing the rear of your vehicle to hang out on the street blocking traffic. Now the whole city is honking at you for not running her over so they can get to where ever it is they need to get to.

Once inside, you check your P.O. Box on the slim chance that you’ll have thousands of fan letters pouring onto the floor. And they’re all from beautiful women. And they’re all sending you money, and cookies and pictures of them while they bake you the cookies. But no; it’s empty. It’s empty because people that write fan letters don’t listen to your music. It’s empty because you just got the d-mn box a couple of months ago for a new project no one even knows you’re in! -sighs-


So you close the empty box and head over to the front desk. The buildings empty except for the post woman…and you. As you approach the station she glares at you and points to the sign that reads [please wait your turn here]. So you wait. And you wait; still waiting. While you’re waiting might I add that YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE IN THE MOTHER F-CKIN POST OFFICE! And you wait some more. And she calls on you “Next.”

Now she’s smiling at you and she smells kind of familiar, but not old Walmart lady in soiled diapers familiar, and not clinically insane postal lady familiar, but kind of a cross between cheese, and baby powder. So you ask to buy some stamps, and she tells you they don’t have any.

The Post Office of the United States of America does not have any stamps. “Well go f-ck myself,” you blurt. “Excuse me,” she replies. You sigh, turn around, and with all of the attitude of a 5 year old girl, you walk out. And you’re not walking like George Jefferson, but more like that 5 year old girl after mommy told her she can’t have the new Breast Implant Barbie.

End note…A Post Office out of stamps is like a KFC out of chicken. It’s just not supposed to happen.

-Cog












[I don't know who made this pic, but It would be a better explanation then anything the Post Office could come up with]

Thursday, July 23, 2009

www.lithopedian.com


UPDATE: We've made a little headway recently and we released a track from 2007 called "Thief Of Silence." It's our creepiest song to date. The best description I can offer is... think of every vicious horror movie you've ever viewed. Are you imagining it? Yeah...good. Now imagine that your in the film and the villian is giving a spoken word performance to an audience of zombies. That's a pretty dead-on description.
The Ep and Lp aren't completed yet, but we've created a new MySpace account at: www.myspace.com/officiallithopedian as well as establishing it's own web site here at: http://www.lithopedian.com/
Pay us a visit, and get involved before the albums are released! And remember... "Shhh..."

www.secretasylum.com



I've been tinkering with the idea of starting a web based forum for some time now. I wanted to build a site for the sub-cultural side of the art and entertainment industry. A haven for rockers, tattoo artisist, piercers, etc.


I've been a member of several different forums over the years and I've enjoyed the privilage of moderating my own sub-forum: "Shhh...They're Listening!" at Mabus Incarnate but I felt that it was time to try my hand at Administrating an online community.

















The site allows users to join for free, create a small profile, post in the forums and start thier own threads. On the portal page there's a chat window where members and tourists can meet and greet, and the best part... it's all linked to Mabus Incarnate as well as my personal web site: http://www.secretcog.com/ and the band I'm currently working with http://www.lithopedian.com/

Before I forget, here's how you get to the forum: http://www.secretasylum.com/ Enjoy!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Mabus, Music, and My favorite sketches...

It's 3:26pm and I'd love to give you some ear candy! But... I can't. It Just isn't finished yet. The Lithopedian session went well, and we worked on a new tracks: "Pro Spiritubus," and "Into Twilight With Secret Fire."

Unrelated sketch of me slaying zombies by Rez at http://www.rnabrand.com/
We did remaster (and when I say remaster, I really mean lazily and totally unprofessionally convert the sloppy mix into a wav and mp3 file) the first Lithopedian song "Thief of Silence." I must admit that this is the creepiest work I've worked on yet. If I can get my partner to give the nod (yeah, most musicians work in pairs/twos like the d-mn Sith!) I'll post a sample of the track at http://www.myspace.com/secretcog with all of the other sample tracks.


Another unrelated sketch done by Rez at http://www.rnabrand.com/ of the Host of the Mabus Incarnate Show: BLC...


Regarding the samples on the above mentioned web site... They are just samples. Unfinished bits on a page I'm not promoting (haven't promoted jack since Monkey Mouse) and they are there for two reasons: 1) I'm an insanely busy person, and this pushes me to make time for my musical endeavors; and 2) It helps me brainstorm with other musicians I speak to all over this giant rock we live on.
My GQ pose.

That said... I'd like to give a shout out to my side thang...

She's a dirty lil'Tramp!

As for the SecretCog project... it's coming people. Be patient. I promise you'll hate it just as much as you hate me!

Lastly http://www.mabusincarnate.com/ If your into anything and everything from science to conspiracies; from theology to metaphysics, then visit this site. There's a chat service and the forums are loaded with brainy goodness. Joining is free, and be warned... this place is addictive!







Friday, July 10, 2009

The Lithopedian Project



I've worked on many projects over the years. Most of the ventures I assisted were punk/hardcore/metal based, but Lithopedian is the first time I've attempted doom thanks to the bands mastermind "Morg" formally of Orcen



Here's a snapshot of us at work in '07.

We began this undertaking back in 2007, and it's been a long time coming. We have tracks tucked away and awaiting release, and this Sunday July 12th, we should finally be able to finish up our new material.

Stay tuned!


Fourth of July in Sweet Home...

My family and I celebrated Uncle Sam's birthday on July 3rd at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. We spent the afternoon gorging ourselves at the Taste of Chicago and then threw a blanket on the grass along Lake Shore Drive right in front of Buckingham Fountain. Seated with a sea of an estimated 1 million spectators, we relaxed and enjoyed the show, and only one (1) person was carted off in an ambulance this year (that we witnessed)! Not bad considering last years mayhem...


A snapshot we took of the fireworks 2009

Last year we reclined inside of Butler Field in front of the Petrillo Music Shell to watch the fireworks show. Just as the grand finale kicked into full gear, a massive crowd started running along the fence line. I was able to catch the following image of the runners...


Marathon Chicago Style, "everyone run there's a gun!"

Okay... let's not be harsh. I'm not a photographer! We didn't even know why they were running until the news reported the disturbance during our drive home. Turns out there was a gunfight, and everyone fled. The point here is even though C.P.D. was in riot gear with helicopters, spotlights, watch towers, and perimeter fencing after this past incident...we still had a good time.

The annoying glowing stripes are part of the barrier erected at this years event.


Giant Turkey Legs smothered in BBQ sauce, Jerk Chicken and Rice, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Catfish Nuggets, Over-Priced Soda, Sweaty Crowds of Fat Gnarly People, then on to a Littered Over-Crowded Park, full of those same Sweaty Fat Gnarly People...who are now too Over-Stuffed, and hopped up on Ant-Acids to move from the craters they're forcing into the grass, Cops marching like Storm Troopers with massive explosions blazoned across the sky. I love my Chicago!
[DISCLAIMER: SC IS ONLY JOKING ABOUT THE SWEATY FAT GNARLY PEOPLE ATTENDING THE FESTIVITIES. HE WOULD NEVER THINK TO PRINT SOMETHING OFFENSIVE OR DEROGATORY ABOUT ANYONE. EVERYONE WAS BEAUTIFUL, DRY, AND THEY HAD PERFECT BODIES. IT WAS THE INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING FROM THE SUN THAT CAUSED THERE PERFECTLY CHISELED PHYSIQUES TO DISTORT AND SLOTH IN APPEARANCE AND THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR COLLECTED ON THE SHIRTS ALONG THE CHEST AREA AND UNDER THEIR ARM PITS...MAKING IT APPEAR AS IF THEY WERE SWEATING NIAGRA FALLS AND IT WAS THE CITY SEWER STINKING AND NOT THEM, OH NO... EVERYBODY WAS A F----N RUNWAY MODEL!]