A TIme To Act

CHECK THIS OUT MEMPHIS PEOPLE

Come join us as the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Democracy For Memphis and other local progressive groups as we join forces to protest the arrival of President George W. Bush in Memphis this Friday, June the 30th. This action will highlight not only our concerns about the war in Iraq, but the war at home as well, and the cost of human life in this war.

Memphis it is time for us to rise up and let him know that we will not sit idly by while death and destruction is wrought in our name. So spread the word and come on out this Friday to give George Bush a warm Memphis welcome.

What: King George Coming to Memphis

When: Friday June 30, 2006 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where: Sidewalk across the street from Graceland- 3765 Elvis Presley
Parking is available immediately to the north of protest site. If streets are blocked or parking is full, you can park at Kyles Campaign HQ, 3311 Elvis Presley (approx. 1 mile north of site)

We also wanted to remind everyone that we are people committed to achieving a lasting peace through nonviolence, not through war and occupation, as this administration has done. For more information on nonviolence please visit http://www.gandhiinstitute.org/Library/Nonviolence.cfm

Party of the Summer

Have I ever steered you wrong?

Looking For Lloyd Dobbler

I'm sure you've heard the hypothesis that John Cusack is the key to the downfall of the contemporary relationship. So the story goes, in Say Anything he set up this unattainable standard of devotion that all males wlll eventually fall short of, but most females continue to aim for. Too bad they're horribly disappointed when the reality of their real life partner sets in. Speaking of reality, I think this theory is actually way off the mark, not that it hasn't obviously had a cultural effect, but the reasons behind it are focused in the wrong direction.

While the character of Lloyd Dobbler is extremely sponge worthy, he was just a character played by Cusack, a fantasy if you will. Considering the real life Cusack, who turns 40 today, is still a single man, having never been married or fathered any children, it's easy to conclude that he may not be quite the catch that many female fans have projected him as. I mean, Lloyd would have surely settled down by 40, if not with Diane, with the rebound girlfriend he ended up with directly after Diane dumped him. And yes, she would have definitely been the one doing the dumping. She was spending her days working in a thinktank, and there never was a big market for kickboxing in France, the french are afterall lovers, not fighters.

No, Cusack can hardly be guilty of setting up millions of couples between the ages of 21 and 35 for failure. The true culprit is Cameron Crowe.

Don't get me wrong, Crowe is my favorite director, I even applied to work on Vanilla Sky after discovering the website for his production company, Vinyl Films, almost two years before production started. But it is likely that lying in bed dreaming of what it would be like to be Nancy Wilson and married to him has set me up for my own personal romantic failures.

I mean, I could go out on dates and listen to men talk about the World Cup, wrestling, and their love of Civil War re-enactment - but it is a lot more satisfying to fantasize about being married to Crowe. We would trade rock and roll stories, his from when he was a music journalist at Rolling Stone, me from when I was the lead guitarist in one of the greatest hard rock bands of the 70's and '80's. I would spend my days helping him with his film scripts, that were mostly thinly veiled love letters to me, and I would be inspired to write the score for such movies, and of course, we would sit and discuss the perfect songs for the soundtrack in our multi-million dollar home by our pool overlooking the ocean. Yeah, Crowe has definitely pretty much ruined me for most men in this particular town. John Cusack is obviously a normal person, Crowe on the other hand is the unattainable gift from the heavens.

See Also:

40 Reasons To Love John Cusack

An Inconvenient Truth

Zen Blogging

Ok, so I have a confession to make. I haven't written much lately because, well, because I've been scared. That's right, scared like a little itty bitty baby..

When I started this blog I had a million things to say because I was an anonymous outsider looking in. And I was stuck in my apartment all the time with my stoned boyfriend, so I needed someone to talk to. But then I moved back to Memphis and people began actually reading it, and seeing me out and I became the one living in the fishbowl. Writing this blog began to feel very awkard because everything I wanted to write about could quite possibly really offend one of my friends, my parents, an employer or a total stranger. And I never set out to make enemies or piss anyone off. So, I would often sit in front of my computer, spend an hour tapping away at the keyboard, only to read what came out of my sordid little mind and then promptly hit the delete button. Cause it just wasn't worth the trouble, ya know?

Because who asked me? Which is quite generally my opinion of people who defend their shitty attitudes with the idea that they're just being honest. Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint when it comes to unsolicited opinions; it was not too long ago when I heard things coming out of my mouth such as:

'What's with the beard?"

"I know you like him, but he just doesn't seem that smart."

'She looks like trouble to me."

"Dude, that's totally lame!"

All of these were uninvited opinions that when I heard them coming out of my mouth made me think of one thing: my mother. And so I had my Sartre moment and went through a sort of existential cleansing and tried to not say the very first thing that popped in my head in general conversation. Just because you think it doesn't mean you have to say it. But in doing so I went just a bit too far. Which is kind of my MO. Because everyone is offended by something! It wasn't a week ago when I was publicly thrashed for not being critical enough of bands that I profile in the CA. So, just being nice is clearly not the answer to not being criticized either.

Then I had a breakthrough over the weekend.

I was trolling the nets reading a couple of blogs when I realized that most people that have one are narcissistic and self-absorbed. Then I realized that most interesting people are. That's why people read Lester Bangs and Chuck Klosterman. Sure, I tried to go for the zen existence, but just existing is pretty boring. Just like most of the blogs I read. So, my commitment is to leave the Tao of Pooh on the shelf and kick the negative commentors in the head. If my biggest fear is being raked over the coals, then I should beg for it and just get ot over with. So, here I go.

And I promise not to write about writing anymore. Cause dude, that's totally lame.

Saturday Night Special

The Glass Plays MPACT Memphis

Here's the press release I recieved, but all you really need to know is: free wine, beer, and food and, oh yeah, The Glass is playing!!

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – June 12, 2006 – The Lofts at South Bluffs, Memphis’s only all-loft condo building, today announced that it will host the June 28th membership meeting of the young professionals organization, MPACT Memphis. The event is open to both members and those interested in becoming involved with MPACT.

The Lofts will kick off the meeting at 6:30 p.m. on its expansive rooftop deck, which offers sweeping views of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis. Complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres from Miss Cordelia’s will be provided, as well as live music from Memphis indie group The Glass. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to tour the building, including its Henry Award Winning designer units, each created by local interior designers.

“Our membership meetings are a great opportunity for our city’s young professionals to make social and professional contacts in a casual setting,” said MPACT Executive Director, Chris Allen. “By providing food, drinks and live music from such a great local band, The Lofts is creating a perfect venue and a great incentive for our members and potential members to network.”

Founded in 2001 by a group of young Memphians who saw the vast untapped city-changing potential in the city’s growing under-40 population, MPACT Memphis has grown to an organization of over 1,000 members who organize arts tours, volunteer projects, social events, political debates, recruitment campaigns, and much more. MPACT Memphis inspires and empowers a new generation of Memphians to make their city a better place. Through a long list of ongoing projects, events and campaigns, its members foster a new level of social, political, and cultural engagement among this new generation of the Memphis’ leaders. For more information or to register for the upcoming membership meeting, visit MpactMemphis.org.

The Lofts at South Bluffs was offered for individual purchase in October 2005. Pricing starts in the $150s, with a total of 117 lofts ranging from 861 to 2,434 square feet. Building ownership invested a substantial amount of money in upgrades to the building, including the re-piping of the plumbing system; repainting of walls and installation of artwork in halls; the relocation of a fitness center to a prime loft overlooking the Mississippi River; and the expansion of the building’s Skyline Club which includes an outdoor kitchen, sauna and rooftop pool. For more information on purchase opportunities, visit the sales office in suite 124, call 901-578-6915, or visit www.loftsmemphis.com

Arcade Funk!

Scenestars.net's Two Year Anniversary Party!!

For All My Lady Friends!!

Come and sing with us!!

Hosted By:
Elizabeth & Rachelandthecity

When:
Tuesday Jun 20, 2006
at 9:00 PM

Where:
The Windjammer
786 E. Brookhaven Circle
Memphis, TN
US

you, me, a microphone, and sweet sweet cacophony...

Seriously, come sing karaoke with me. I have been a lame workaholic lately, and I need a night of mindless fun. Why the Windjammer? Well, the only answer I have for that is why not? I know you rollerderby girls have practice tomorrow night, but what better way to unwind than to come have a beer with me and G'n'F'n'R? I mean really, how can you pass that up?
Click Here To View Invitation

Kill Your TV

If You've Been following The World Cup

The difference between them and us:

SWEDEN

BRAZIL

GERMANY

USA

Thanks Juan...

Wanna Go To ACL With Me And Blog?

"Be Our Field Blogger" Contest
Posted By: Sunni @ 5:00 PM 6/7/2006
Enter the Project D.U. blogging contest and win a trip for 2 to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

DETAILS
Grand prizes: One grand prize winner will receive an ACL Music Festival Press Pass, a 3-day pass for a guest, plus airfare and hotel for two.
First prize: Four first prize winners will receive two 3-day passes each.
Entry: One blog post about a recent music event you have attended, 400 words or less. Email entry to editor@projectdu.com.
Deadline: June 21, 2006
Judging: Entries will be judged by a team of music bloggers -- including Stereogum, Scenestars, Chromewaves and Largehearted Boy -- and music blogging experts.
Official rules: http://www.projectdu.com/blogcontestrules.aspx

That's right, I'm a judge, so hurry up and enter!

More On Net Neutrailty

PLUS: The Other Side of the Story

The Internet's Future
Congress should stay out of cyberspace.

Monday, June 12, 2006; Page A20

THE SENATE will hold hearings tomorrow on "net neutrality," the idea that the pipes and wires that form the Internet should treat all content equally. An alliance whose membership ranges from the Christian Coalition to MoveOn.org is demanding that Congress write this neutrality into law; the groups fear that the pipe owners -- cable companies, phone companies and so on -- might otherwise deliver corporate content at high speed for high fees, while consigning political Web sites and hobbyists to a slow information byway. These arguments are amplified by the big Internet firms -- Google, Microsoft, eBay -- that want their services delivered fast but don't want the pipe owners to extract fees from them. Although this coalition lost a House vote last week, its prospects are stronger in the Senate. (The Washington Post Co. owns broadband networks that might charge Web sites for fast delivery. It also produces Web content that might be subject to such fees, so it has interests on both sides of this issue.)

The advocates of neutrality suggest, absurdly, that a non-neutral Internet would resemble cable TV: a medium through which only corporate content is delivered. This analogy misses the fact that the market for Internet connections, unlike that for cable television, is competitive: More than 60 percent of Zip codes in the United States are served by four or more broadband providers that compete to give consumers what they want -- fast access to the full range of Web sites, including those of their kids' soccer league, their cousins' photos, MoveOn.org and the Christian Coalition. If one broadband provider slowed access to fringe bloggers, the blogosphere would rise up in protest -- and the provider would lose customers.

The cable TV analogy is doubly wrong because media culture reflects technology. Cable TV has been the province of Hollywood studios because making a sitcom is expensive and hard -- though, with cheap digital camcorders, this is changing. Equally, the Internet is the province of experimenters and hobbyists because creating your own Web site is cheap and easy. Thanks to technology, the Internet will always be a relatively democratic medium with low barriers to entry.

The serious argument for net neutrality has nothing to do with the cable TV boogeyman. It's that a non-neutral net will raise barriers to entry just slightly -- but enough to be alarming. To use a far better analogy: Competitive supermarkets aim to please customers by offering all kinds of goods, but the inventor of a new snack has to go through the hassle of negotiating for display space and may wind up on the bottom shelf, which dampens his incentives. Equally, if the owners of Internet pipes delivered the services of cyber-upstarts more slowly than those of cyber-incumbents, the incentive to innovate might suffer. Would instant messaging or Internet telephony have taken off if their inventors had had to plead with broadband firms to carry them?

This concern should not be exaggerated. Cyber-upstarts already face barriers: The incumbents have brand recognition and invest in tricks to make their sites load faster. The extra barrier created by a lack of net neutrality would probably be small because the pipe owners know that consumers want access to innovators.

Meanwhile, there are powerful arguments on the other side. If you want innovation on the Internet, you need better pipes: ones that are faster, less susceptible to hackers and spammers, or smarter in ways that nobody has yet thought of. The lack of incentives for pipe innovation is more pressing than the lack of incentives to create new Web services.

You can see this imbalance in Wall Street's low valuation of Internet infrastructure firms such as Verizon (price-to-earnings ratio: 12) and its infatuation with Internet service firms such as Google (price-to-earnings ratio: 69). You can see it, too, in the fact that U.S. broadband infrastructure lags behind that of East Asia and Europe. Allowing builders of Internet infrastructure to recoup their investment by charging the Googles and Amazons for use of their network would balance the incentives for innovation more closely. Ironically, a non-neutral net would accelerate the spread of zippy broadband that can deliver movies, allowing hobbyists with camcorders to take on Hollywood studios. The neutrality advocates who criticize corporatized cable TV should welcome that.

The weakest aspect of the neutrality case is that the dangers it alleges are speculative. It seems unlikely that broadband providers will degrade Web services that people want and far more likely that they will use non-neutrality to charge for upgrading services that depend on fast and reliable delivery, such as streaming high-definition video or relaying data from heart monitors. If this proves wrong, the government should step in. But it should not burden the Internet with preemptive regulation.

Please Watch This Video!

If you use the internet - this affects YOU!

God Save The Internerd!

Link it up!

Cow Logic

DEMOCRATIC
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
Barbara Streisand sings for you.

REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk
the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are
surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the
analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.

JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give
excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are.
While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.

TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private
parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives!
to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.

IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.

BELGIAN CORPORATION
You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish.
The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.

FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally
vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think
is the best-looking cow.

CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegals.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.

WMC-TV's 1st Satellite Transmission Via Westar1

From 1982: Mason Granger does the 5 o'clock news live from Washington, DC. It's the first time a station in the Memphis market initiates it's own satellite transmission using the Westar1 satellite, owned by Western Union and used to transmit telegrams. Westar1 was retired one year after Action News 5 used it for this broadcast.

Elvis Presley Dies - Historical Document

Letters From Henry Rollins

Tonight @ The Orpheum

We'll be dressed in our best heavy metal gear - for this:

Saturday Afternoon Ramble

Last night I had this incredibly long, beer fueled talk with another local blogger and we talked blog for most of the night. When I lamented about my lack of comments and how my readership, something that I care about but have never given much thought to, has certainly dropped off in the past few months, I was told this was due to my lack of wanting to be very personal anymore. Which probably has merit. But certainly, the more people I met in Memphis after moving back, and the more people that read this blog, the more vulnerable I have felt. I have a certain demeaner in person that I can get away with saying just about anything and not be offensive, it doesn't always work as well in print. So, it's a fine line, plus, I actually don't feel the need to put all of my thoughts on display. I have strong ideas about a lot of things, but I don't think that everyone else needs to think the way that I do or they're an idiot. I don't really belive there is much right or wrong, just different opinions.

Anyway, the other thing that was told to me that I found completely off the mark was that people didn't comment very much on this page because i exerted an air of cool that was hard to live up to. Well, that's completely ridiculous. If anyone in Memphis is approachable it's me. I meet people all of the time when I am out who read this blog and want to say hello, I doubt you could find one person who would say that I was anything but friendly and amicable. I like to meet new people, I don't want to talk about this blog all the time, and I may be put off when somone else does, but I am completely open to people walking up and asking if they can buy me a drink! (hint) Just Kidding! But not really.

Anyway, that's the problem with being a "public" (and I use that word in the weakest sense) figure. Everyone thinks that they have you all figured out, when really they have no idea. The good news is that it has taught me a lot about judging people. I fully realize that everyone is complex and everyone has a story. And we all have reasons behind our actions, and just because you don't understand them or even agree with them doesn't make them valueless.

I am obvioudly being incredibly vague here, but I hope you get the point. I do plan to try to write more personal items in the future. I just have to figure out what I want to share.

Todd Barry Brings The Funny To Memphis

Letters From Henry Rollins

Saturday June 17th = Busiest Day Ever

Live From Memphis™ Presents LI'L FILM FEST 2: it's BBQ ya'll!
A theme-based, mini-festival – the second one ever.
Saturday-June 17, 2006 at 2pm
@ The MeDiA Co-op 1000 S Cooper
Suggested "Pay what you can" Donations at the door

Live From Memphis™ is announcing round 2 of its quarterly film fest "Li'l Film Fest." Sponsored by Churchill Studios HD Production and Post, the Festival will be held at the Memphis Digital Arts Co-operative (1000 S. Cooper Memphis, TN 38104).

The following is a list of accepted films and filmmakers:

"The Nine Circles of BBQ Hell" Brett Hanover
"Christopher Lloyd's" Erik Morrison
"Good Slaw and Good Pork" Jon W. Sparks
"Lunch" Nick Ross
"The Champ" David Thompson
"Pig in a Poke" Morgan Jon Fox and Brett Hanover
"The Doctrine and Aesthetics of Pig-Husbandry" Adam and Melissa Remsen
"Divine Intervention" Christopher Reyes
"Plenty for Days" Eric Swartz
"The Guys Who Make the Movie Poster but Never Finish the Script" Valibus
"Barb-e-que" Sarah Fleming
"What It's All About" Tammy Marqueerius

The event is free and open to the public; Live From Memphis and the MeDiA Co-op will be accepting donations. Support Local Filmmakers! For More information about the LI'L FILM FEST please visit: http://www.livefrommemphis.com/filmfest or give us a call: (901) 523-9763.

Li'l Film Fest is a new kind of festival, highlighting local talent while showcasing interesting happenings around town. Here's how the festival works: Every 3 months LFM staff members announce a new theme to the filmmaking community. Filmmakers then put their own unique spin on producing a short film.

The theme for the second Li'l Film Fest is barbecue, meaning that each film submission must somehow relate to barbecue. The winner(s) will be awarded a $200 cash prize and will also be guaranteed a spot in the next Indie Memphis Film Festival. Additionally, the li'l films must not exceed 5 minutes in length.

Live From Memphis™ is a grassroots organization representing Memphis music, film and the arts. We support and promote local musicians, filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals who are the lifeblood of the Memphis creative scene. It is our goal to connect creatives, grow opportunities, and gain exposure for our creative culture.

This Weekend Is Gonna Kill Me

2nd Memphis Rock N Romp!

A bunch of people have emailed me about this!

Click here to enlarge image

Host: Memphis Rock-N-Romp

When: Saturday, June 17, 2:00pm
Memphis Rock-n-Romp...
http://www.memphisrocknromp.blogspot.com/
Join us for a family-friendly rockin' good time....

Rock-n-Romp has made it to Memphis! This year's 2nd Memphis Rock-n-Romp is scheduled for Saturday, June 17th (yes, the day before Father's Day!) from 2:00pm to 5:00pm (by invitation only) featuring Vending Machine, Jeffrey James and The Haul, Holly Cole and Unknown Pleasures DJs. Beer, changing / potty spaces and kiddy entertainment provided. Bring snacks to share, blankets / chairs & earplugs for wee-one's ears. Suggested donation for each adult is $5 (at the door). And this time we have t-shirts -- both for kiddos and adults (buy yours at the entrance; they won't last long!)....

For details see:
http://www.memphisrocknromp.blogspot.com/

A Note to Google Users on Net Neutrality:

The Internet as we know it is facing a serious threat. There's a debate heating up in Washington, DC on something called "net neutrality" – and it's a debate that's so important Google is asking you to get involved. We're asking you to take action to protect Internet freedom.

In the next few days, the House of Representatives is going to vote on a bill that would fundamentally alter the Internet. That bill, and one that may come up for a key vote in the Senate in the next few weeks, would give the big phone and cable companies the power to pick and choose what you will be able to see and do on the Internet.

Today the Internet is an information highway where anybody – no matter how large or small, how traditional or unconventional – has equal access. But the phone and cable monopolies, who control almost all Internet access, want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest. They want to build a two-tiered system and block the on-ramps for those who can't pay.

Creativity, innovation and a free and open marketplace are all at stake in this fight. Please call your representative (202-224-3121) and let your voice be heard.

Thanks for your time, your concern and your support.

Eric Schmidt

Take action now

Call Congress at 202-224-3121 or click here to enter your zip code to find your representative

Sign the Save the Internet petition to Congress for Internet freedom, and write a letter to your congressperson.

SOURCE

Letters From Henry Rollins

And So It Is

http://memphismusic.org

The Memphis Music Commission finally put up a new website.

It's a little stark, but let's give them some time to get up to speed.

Only three artists are featured right now, and I wouldn't say that they are necessarily the best Memphis has to offer, oh and by the way, Ross Rice lives in NYC.

I'm gonna back off now.

Another Quality Goner Approved Product

Paws in the Park Doggie Picnic

Shelby Farms
Off Leash Park

Toys and Treats by
Hollywood Petstar

Lunch by Lenny's
(First 100 People)

Pet Set Members $5
Non-members $15
Join for $25 and the event is free

For More Info or Directions Call the
Memphis Shelby County Humane Society
901-276-7770

MYSPACE PROFILE

I'm Totally In Small Timers, Circa 1996

We have a special Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club (IMMCC) program this month! The festivities go down on Wednesday June 14th!!!

The founder and tireless volunteer curator of IMMCC, Will O’Loughlen, is closing his tenure with this program and we are holding our annual IMMCC cook out in his honor. Please join us at Power House, 45 GE Patterson (between Main & Front streets) at 6:30 for the cook out. The movies will begin at 7:30 and this month all films featured are directed by or star our good friend Will. Please join us to congratulate and thank Will for all of his time and energy in building what is arguably one of the best programs in Memphis, Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club!

Ad Man
Hank is a small town guy with big city dreams. Passionate about advertising he decides to move to the big city and make his mark. He hits the streets to drum up new business and eventually starts his own firm training a pack of newcomers to be successful in advertising. 11 minutes, starring Will O’Loughlen.

Tea and Cigars
Is it the missing chapter from Jim Jarmusch's conversational film "Coffee and Cigarettes"? Not exactly! "Tea & Cigars" imitates the style and tone of the original as it finds two men discussing their concern for the lack of good service in this country. 8 minutes,
directed by Will O’Loughlen.

Small Timers
Six Memphis filmmakers set out to produce an independent feature film called "The Big Muddy" with no-budget and minimal resources. The crew tries all kinds of approaches to fundraising, including panhandling in the streets of Memphis only to encounter more problems in the actual production of the film and even more trying to secure distribution. An exploration into the world of no-budget, indie filmmaking. 40 minutes, directed by Will O’Loughlen.

Summer of Youth
A docu-film about the fans of the New York rock combo, Sonic Youth. Sonic Youth have been an institution in the American underground rock scene for more than 20 years. The band has legions of fans around the world and has recorded countless albums over the years. Summer of Youth is road movie, a concert film, and finally a profile of some of the most loyal fans in music. 30 minutes, directed by Will O’Loughlen.

Admission is always free, so is the popcorn!
Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson, between Main & Front Streets in the South Main Arts District

Operation Entertainment is an initiative aimed at collecting DVDs for soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Entertainment will continue until our troops return home.

New and used DVDs (in good condition) can be donated at:
Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson during the Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club, or at The Mail Center, 1910 Madison Avenue.

DVDs and tax-deductible donations can be mailed to:
Indie Memphis, 1910 Madison Avenue, PMB 632 Memphis, TN 38104

Delta Axis receives generous support for Indie Memphis programs from the Greater Memphis Arts Council, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Hohenberg Foundation.
For more information, please contact Tracy Lauritzen Wright, Executive Director, tracy@deltaaxis.org, 494-6543.

Act One On DVD

Old School Pictures is excited to announce the release of "Act One" on DVD. We had 1,000 copies replicated and are now selling them off our website (www.oldschoolpictures.net) through a PayPal link for $15/each, which includes shipping and handling. We've gone all out for this disc to give people a great deal; here are the extra features:

- 16 x 9 enhanced widescreen version of the film
- Motion menus
- Dolby Digital 2.0
- Scene Selection
- Feature Commentary with director Brad Ellis and writer/actor Allen Gardner
- Feature Commentary with lighting designer John Moore, producer Mark Norris, and director of photography Matt Weatherly
- ‘One More Take’ – Behind the Scenes of Act One, a 30 minute featurette
- Deleted Scenes with optional director commentary
- Audition Reel
- Outtake Reel
- Photo Slideshow with commentary by on-set photographer Michael Norris
- News Channel 3 “Live at 9” interview with Mark Norris and Matt Weatherly
- News Channel 3 “Live at 9” interview with Brad Ellis and Allen Gardner
- Time Warner TV spots
- Q107.5 Radio Interview with Brad Ellis
- Fox 13 Movie Review by Film Commissioner Linn Sitler

Official Spinal Tap Afterparty?

Technical Difficulties, Please Stand By

My desktop pc, which was top-o-the-line back in 2002 - like a "supa" pc if you will, has been effed up for almost a year now. It had some weirdo windows problem that I spent days trying to fix last fall. But as long as I used Firefox, I could stil surf the web and do work arounds and since I had 40 gigs of music I could not bear to part with and no way to back up, well, I just dealt with it and used my laptop a lot.

Fast forward to this week when my friend Chris got a new 750 Gig firewire backup thingamjig, and I finally busted out the effort to drag the old girl down to his studio and offload my precious folders and reinstall Windows. Now, don't get me wrong, there have been a few bumps along the way - but I basically have a brand new pc now, and I'm loving it! I spent most of last night downloading programs and getting eveything reset up, then I topped off the night with a marathon of Lost Season 2 that I was able to dl due to being able to finally use Bittorrent!!!!

Ah, it certainly is the little pleasures in life that truly make you happy!!!

Anyways, I just finally got around to setting up all of my emails in Outlook - so, if you have emailed me in the last week and I did not respond, feel free to try again, cause I have like 2000 spams to go through and I doubt I will be very thorough - holla!

We Love Imagination Head!

And So It Goes

Fame is but a fruit tree, So very unsound,
It can never flourish, Till its stalk is in the ground
So men of fame, Can never find a way
Till time has flown, Far from their dying day...
...Safe in your place deep in the earth
That's when they'll know what you were really worth...

Drue's Big Birthday Bash

Last night we partied until dawn for Ms. Drue's Birthday at Murphy's. Before we kicked off the dance party we went to The Orpheum and watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There was some kind of technical problem in the beginning of the film where we were left with no picture, only sound. Can you think of a better film for this to happen? Of course, a shitolad of people jumped up and started acting out the movie in the middle of the aisle. I started a chant to get them to go up on stage, but the ushers weren't having it! LAME!

Anyway, the film finally came back on and we watched the rest in all it's glory. I took a lot of pictures, but they didn't turn out so well. It was quite an experience though and I knew I would eventually get to do the time warp again. My only complaint were the 4 dollar beers! What's up with the stripper club prices? I remarked to the concession guy that there had better be some naked people in the theater for 4 dollar Budweisers. I was not disappointed.

More Pics Here

Making Peace Is Good For The Soul

Well, my battle royale over on that certain music board has died down quite a bit. I got several personal emails from folks who wanted to voice their support for my stance, I plan to post excerpts from a few in the next couple of days. Don't worry, I won't blow anyone's identity, as you emailed me, you obviously don't want to get in the middle of it. It's always funny to me how people with positive atittudes are not as likely to voice their opinions as people who are negativ as shit. I guess people who are miserable want everyone else to be also, and people who are generally happy don't want to get involved in bullshit that will make them not. Some people should probably feel thankful that I neglected to bring up the reasons why I know a few have negative feelings toward me, which I assume has to do with my lack of interest in their advances, if you catch my drift. One particular conversation went a little something like this: I know I'm drunk, but I'm not that drunk.

Right now I am unable to access my email as my desktop pc is at my friend Chris' studio where we are offloading a bunch of my files so that we can wipe the harddrive and start over. Too many kinks in the system right now. Lukily for me, I have three computers. I might not drive a fancy car, but I have plenty of cool technology. Yes, I'm a nerd.

In other news, I am going to try to set up a new comment script this weekend. Blogging is no fun without comments - good and bad!

This Week in Going Out

condensed version:

TONIGHT:

Benefit @ The Hitone

Lori Hernandez is having a benefit party at Young Avenue Deli on June
7th at 8pm. The benefit is to help fund Daisy Productions first
documentary about Memphis servers. The film will feature only local
musicians for its soundtrack.

The line up for the benefit is:
Phil and T
Walkie Talkies
Jeffrey James and the Haul(former members of snowglobe)
Noise Choir(featuring a new drummer)
Ben Nichols(lead singer of Lucero)
Augustine

It should be a great show! Admission is $10, and only $7 if you have a
restaurant paycheck stub.

THURSDAY:

Jamie Randolph CD Release @ The Hitone With The Lonely Hearts from NAshville

http://www.myspace.com/jamiesolo

Then Later join 'dem Feel-Harmonic Boys' as they throw down the funky sounds with the cheap shots & $5 buckets of brew. As Usual: No Cover.

Friday:



FRIDAY JUNE 9TH AT 8 PM
DOORS OPEN AT 7 PM
203 SOUTH MAIN STREET
COSTUME AND TRIVIA CONTESTS
DRINK SPECIALS
ONLY 6$ AT THE DOOR...
GROUP DISCOUNTS
CALL 525-7800 EXT. 242 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

COME WATCH A CULT CLASSIC ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!!

**************************************************
Afterwards it's Drue Diel's Birthday Dance Party: If you know, you know! If you don't, You Better Ask Somebody!

***************************************************

Saturday:

Don't forget Spin Magazine's pick for one of the 101 Best Parties of the Summer:

I'll see you out.

Benefit at Young Avenue Deli Tonight!

Lori Hernandez is having a benefit party at Young Avenue Deli on June
7th at 8pm. The benefit is to help fund Daisy Productions first
documentary about Memphis servers. The film will feature only local
musicians for its soundtrack.

The line up for the benefit is:
Phil and T
Walkie Talkies
Jeffrey James and the Haul(former members of snowglobe)
Noise Choir(featuring a new drummer)
Ben Nichols(lead singer of Lucero)
Augustine

It should be a great show! Admission is $10, and only $7 if you have a
restaurant paycheck stub.

This Is Stupid

Well, I haven't written anything personal in a while, but I'm fired up now. I have been taken to task on a certain music forum for the past two days, and while early on, I had decided to leave it be and not engage the taunters, I ended up changing my mind because I didn't want there to be an idea that they had beat me down. It's a fine line, isn't it?

And what was my crime you ask? Um, saying that it wasn't cool to go on a well known Memphis message board and make fun of another person's event. This warped into various personal attacks due to my refusal to write critical reviews of Memphis musicians. My viewpoint is simple. There's enough stuff that I like, there really is no reason to fill space with stuff that I do not like. Of course, as I stated in the forum, if I was writing very critical peices, the same people would be taking me to task for that, and why I don't have the background necessary to make my case.

Anyway, in simply explaining my forethought on how I conduct my writing, somehow the door was opened and the thread bacame about me. And I know I'm an easy target. What I couldn't understand was if a few people were purposely misconstruing things that I have said in the past or are really just that dumb. Things that I have said about how I handle things were all of a sudden written as an my rulebook for everyone. Which anyone who knows me knows is the antithesis of how I am.

Anyway, whatever.

Friday Night Shenanigans

FRIDAY JUNE 9TH AT 8 PM
DOORS OPEN AT 7 PM
203 SOUTH MAIN STREET
COSTUME AND TRIVIA CONTESTS
DRINK SPECIALS
ONLY 6$ AT THE DOOR...
GROUP DISCOUNTS
CALL 525-7800 EXT. 242 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

COME WATCH A CULT CLASSIC ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!!

Show Of The Week

You can read my profile on Jamie here.

MeDiA Co-op First Tuesday Filmmaking Workshop Series

Tuesday, June 6, 7:30pm donations accepted.

Chris McCoy and Laura Hocking of Oddly Buoyant Productions(Automusik Can Do No Wrong) will discuss their new work-in-progress "Eat" with the Media Co-op. Among the topics for discussion will be the writing process, casting and rehearsals, pre-production planning, shooting and editing of their latest project, and those they've worked on previously. Please join us for an amazing evening with these amazing individuals, winners of Indie Memphis' 2004 Best Hometowner Feature award, and leaders of the pack in throwing the best filmmaker parties around town. We'll also be signing up new members at the co-op for use of equipment, and space.

Steve Selvidge Is Hilarious

Rolling Stones Headed To Memphis

Well, pictures of them anyway...

If you just cant get no satisfaction this summer in the Memphis heat, come chill out at the Stax Museum and check out our exhibit Rolling Stones 40 X 20. This exhibit of 40 black-and-white and color photographs of one of the greatest rock-and-roll bands in history by some of the greatest photographers in the world, dating from 1963 through the late 1990s. See the flamboyant and raucous rockers like youve never seen them before, in this collection of photos that are as electrifying as the sound of their music.

Opening Reception Friday June 9, 7pm - 9pm, featuring the Chris Todd Band.

$9 general admission but FREE to Stax Museum members.

946-2535 or www.StaxMuseum.com for more info.

Hopefully, I Can Fit This In Friday Nigyht too!

Dashboard Confessional

Is there like a myspace war between these guys and Team Outsiders?

On a side note, I am totally depressed right now after someone stole my mack daddy stereo out of my car last weekend. It has just hit me that I will not be able to afford to replace it anytime soon and will instead spend the summer driving around town with a gaping hole in my dashboard as my companion.

A tear just welled up in my right eye.