DATE: 31 Dec 2009, 5:46 pm / MOOD: Other

Hope y'all have a great new year and a better decade!

 

Love me some SonicJive peeps!

 

Jaymz

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DATE: 03 Sep 2009, 6:23 am / MOOD: Bitchy

Taking some refresher courses at Northwestern University - so I thought I would quote from one of the funniest Adam Sandler movies - "Billy Madison"

"Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school. Back to school."

 

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DATE: 15 Aug 2009, 9:39 am / MOOD: Catalyzed

*WOODSTOCK MUSIC AND ART FAIR OFFERS 3 DAYS OF PEACE & MUSIC

Serious and large scale preparations have been made by the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, a major pop festival to be held in upstate Wallkill, N.Y., Aug. 15, 16, & 17 to insure three days of harmonious living in anticipation of what is expected to result in the most heavily attended pop music festival of the season.

In a special meeting of the underground press and pop music leaders called by Woodstock Ventures, Inc., (Thursday June 26), ground rules were laid by VPs Artie Kornfield and Mike Lang, of the Woodstock Festival, concerned about the tones festivals are taking throughout the country. Heading the meeting with Kornfield and Lang was Jim Fouratt, freelance underground writer and originator of the first be-ins.

“We are here to curtail incidents between the kids and police,” said Kornfield. “If we want to stop violence and tension from becoming the norm on the fair grounds, (Newport, Calif., June 22: Denver Pop Festival, June 27) we’ve got to set new tones and for the festival and redefine its meaning.”

Woodstock has set its concept of the festival at “three days of peace and music.” “This is a scene away from all scenes or no scene at all,” said Lang. “At Wallkill we have 600 acres of free-space-to-roam on cleared country ground…perfect for a three day holiday.

Offered by the Woodstock festival are free camping grounds which will be the site of free round-the-clock workshops in poetry, craft, theatre, pottery and music, free cookouts and guitar playing around centrally controlled 24 hour fires and free rice kitchens for hungry music lovers with little or no money for food.

Camping supply stores will sell food for cooking out and organic food stands will offset a major delicatessen concessionaire contacted for the event.

Mathematically computed, are the number of comfort stations, first aid stations, water supply, food, and garbage detail to clean fair grounds daily.

Concerned with the esthetic as well, the four Woodstock principals, including VP Joel Rosenman and Woodstock Ventures president, John Roberts have planned “countless mind blowers” for the fair grounds. “Invisible art things, are one,” said Rosenman, “structures that you can’t tell if their natural or man-made.” Other things include chimes in the woods, things to play on, poems and paintings over rocks and “things to make for good vibrations.”

A carefully screened and briefed security staff headed by West Pomeroy, former Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Johnson Administration, will traffic the fair grounds and provide information and service at all fair-goers. Assisted by the Rev. Don Ganoung, Pomeroy said his men will be unarmed and plainclothed. “We are not there to police,” said Pomeroy. “Our function is to service.”

Woodstock does not figure on gate crashers. “Parking facilities will be provided for outside the fair ground area,” said John Roberts, “all patrons will be bussed to the gates, a twenty four hour service.”

Underground spokesman Jim Fouratt closed the meeting. “Part of the trouble stems from the fact that we really don’t know what to expect from the promoters, what their offering, what we are really paying for. The Woodstock people have laid it out so we don’t know what to expect.

Both Kornfield and Lang deny having backers. They say they and their partners Rosenman and Roberts have subsidized the entire event. All under thirty years of age, they say they got the idea of doing the festival because they needed one to go to that was groovy. “It all happened,” says Roberts, “because Mike and Artie wanted to see all their favorite performers on the same stage just once.”

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DATE: 10 Apr 2009, 1:08 am / MOOD: Bangin'

DISTURBING SANTAS: REVOLUTIONS

It is with a heavy heart that I provide the Calendar of Disturbing Santas.

It's been a lot of fun. It's been occasionally disturbing.  But mostly, it's been a device to create a blog, though it is still 7 months until the Christmas countdown . And for that, there is no price you can affix.

So without further delay, I offer an early warning.  You may want to have a moist towelette ready. This could get a little grimy.

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout,
or this baby will die. Santa Claus is coming to towwwwwwwwn.



Who knew that Santa was an isolationist?



While not immediately disturbing on its face, this photo upon further inspection showcases a disturbing phenomenon: Rotary Wood.



This one is possibly related to the Rotary photo, but I'm not going to be the one to make that jump.



Hey, look, it's the Insane Claus Posse.



Note to self: next year, put out a helping of RC Cola and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches for Santa.



Something I'd always suspected: Santa was Liberace's "beard."



Three words: Too much conditioner.



Two words: Urinal fruitcake.



In preparation for the newest reindeer: Gassy.



Dressed up or not, a flash mob is still a stupid idea.



Consider this your toasted Christmas bird.



Next on Bravo: "Queer Eye for the Santa Guy."



When thoughtful and innocent little children ask Santa what he wants for Christmas, this scenario is what immediately runs through his mind.



Vixen has some new competition.



A little road rage we could all live without.



New on home video: Santas Gone Wild.



Fo' shizzle, Santa Clizzle.



Grandma wasn't the only one who got run over by a reindeer.

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DATE: 28 Mar 2009, 10:26 am / MOOD: Drunk

5 ounces vanilla vodka

1 ounce  creme de cocao (light or dark)

1 ounce   Godiva Chocolate Liqueur (dark)

1/2 ounce cream

Shake hard in a martini shaker with ice.  Strain into Martini glass.  Garnish with chocolate shavings.

Makes one 7 1/2 ounce  martini

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DATE: 28 Mar 2009, 10:17 am / MOOD: Adventurous

Sorry Mike.

Yes, I called you the Sonic Guy.  When I move to Chicago in April I will start calling you Mike.

There are few things I’ve done in my adult life (or any other part of my life for that matter) that have brought me as much fun, fulfillment and satisfaction as taking guitar lessons at The Old Town School of Folk Music.

Now, don’t let the name “Old Town School of Folk Music” scare you away. Though the original school was founded fifty years ago in Old Town, I took a class at the Lincoln Square location.

As far as “Folk” is concerned, folk is taught here and is still a part of the curriculum, but not really in the group classes. The music I plan on learning will be Wilco, The Ramones, The Beatles, Bowie, Ani DiFranco, Greenday, Nirvana and a slew of other artists I love.

Acoustic guitar classes now cost $160 for an eight week session, but if you join more than a week before classes begin, you receive a $15 discount. If you buy a basic membership (this is NOT required) for $50, you receive an additional discount of $10 dollars. I don’t have a membership yet, I am moving to Lincoln Park in April, but even at $145 this place is a great bargain.

I’ve only taken acoustic guitar group lessons prior, but Old Town also offers private lessons for those of you wanting one-on-one training. However, if you’re thinking you’ll learn more going it alone, you may want to reconsider. Group lessons last longer (an hour and 40 minutes) than private lessons (between a half hour and an hour depending on your preference) and other students often raise questions you never even thought to ask. Also, you can pick up a lot of tips from other students.

If a tight schedule is your concern, Old Town offers morning, afternoon, early evening, mid-evening and weekend classes. And, if you only have time for class but no time to practice, it really doesn’t matter here. Sure, everyone hopes you’ll find time to practice in between classes, but the attitude of the instructors is that if you only play for an hour and 40 minutes a week in class and that’s it, well, that’s better than not playing at all.

Additionally, this school understands that as adults we get busy. So, if you miss your scheduled class, fear not, you can just show up on another night and take the same class. No questions, no forms to fill out, no hassles.

If your age is your rationalization for not learning an instrument or learning to sing or dance, if you’re worried you’ll be the oldest one there, you’ll have to come up with another excuse. While most of the students in the 8 p.m. classes are in their 20’s and 30’s, not all are. In fact, there are students of all ages here and the ones in their 60’s and beyond are perhaps the coolest. I mean, it’s pretty cool when a 65-year-old woman picks up a guitar and starts jamming Oasis tunes.

After the evening classes any student who wishes can go to the auditorium and play in a jam session dubbed “The Second Half.” It really only lasts a half hour, but it’s a great 30 minutes. Here, students from all the different levels of guitar class gather to play usually three songs from the Old Town music book and then two songs chosen each week by a different teacher. These two songs are called the “Twin Spin” as it consists of one piece of paper with a different song on each side. The songs are almost always contemporary rock songs. This is a big selling point as far as I’m concerned because it’s a great way to build your music collection. The value of the music you get each week easily offsets the price of the class.

And, if you like, you can go to as many second half sessions as you want, even if you don’t have class that night. You can even go if you’re not a student, the public is encouraged to show with a guitar and play.

Old Town offers a whole lot more than guitar. They offer classes in dance, theater, yoga, a ton of classes for kids - babies through teens - specialty classes and even ensemble classes for anyone who wants to play in a band regardless of experience level.

And then there are the concerts. The 400-seat auditorium is one of the best places to see international and national acts. The shows are affordable and hosted in a very intimate setting.

There is a cafe that sells food, coffee drinks, and yes, beer and wine.

If you’re interested in finally learning to play an instrument, if you just want to get out of the house once a week, maybe meet some people with similar interests, then The Old Town School of Folk Music is worth checking out. I can’t possibly express in a written review just how much I love this place. I guess you’ll just have to come hear me play sometime once I get there - I will be at nearly EVERY jam session, I guarantee.  That is when I am not chasing down the Sonic Guy who conveniently moved to Milwaukee as he is afraid he will simply love me too much LOL.

Sonic Guy - I am single now.  Oops, wasn't s'posed to say that.  See ya April 4th for your birthday!

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DATE: 28 Mar 2009, 10:05 am / MOOD: Animated

I don’t usually side with corporate giants in fights with the little guys, like baristas, but something about last week’s $100 million judgment against Starbucks didn’t sit quite right with me.

The ruling stems from a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of California baristas who claim Starbucks unfairly and illegally forced them to share their tips with “shift supervisors.” According to the lawsuit, rather than pay their shift supervisors more out of the corporate coffers, the company used tips as a means of subsidizing the supervisors’ income. The complaintants say shift supervisors are managers and managers in the service industry are not to a share of the tips.

This is true. In restaurants, bars and coffee houses, managers are not tipped employees. When tips are combined and then split among servers, as with Starbuck’s tip pool, or when one tipped employee shares a portion of tips with another employee, like when a waitress “tips out” a busser, managers receive no cut of the tips. Many states specifically prohibit employers from forcing tipped employees to share tips with traditionally non-tipped employees.

The real question, though, is what is the role of the shift supervisor? Is the shift supervisor an actual member of the management team?

In the service industry it’s not unusual to have a “head bartender,” a “head waitress” or a “head barista.” These people aren’t managers in the traditional sense. Usually they’re the most senior members of the service staff, trusted by management, and assigned duties like organizing the other servers on the shift and taking care of many of the little things necessary to making a place run - like getting change from the safe or taking a charge off of a check. They’re also the person management and ownership question, even blame, when something goes wrong on a shift. For this, they might, if they’re lucky, be paid slightly more than their co-workers.

I’ve been in this position plenty of times. I’ve been the head waiter who trains the rest of the staff, tells them what section they’ll be working in, fixes their checks when something is ordered incorrectly and tells them when they can checkout and go home. I’ve been the head bartender, often called the “bar manager,” who makes the schedules for all the bartenders and supervises their work. Often being the head bartender or bar manager involves hiring and firing bartenders, ordering liquor, doing inventory and counting the money at the end of the night - all the jobs actual managers hate doing. Always it includes taking the heat when a bartender insults a customer or drinks too much on the job.

But, I was always tipped. Why? Because despite the extra duties I took on, despite the title of “head waiter” or “bar manager,” my main job was to serve customers. As a waiter, I had my own section of tables. As a bartender, I stood behind the bar slinging drinks all night. I agreed to take on the extra duties for one reason only - I got to make my own schedule. That’s it. The one real perk I demanded whenever asked to be any kind of supervisor. To a waiter/bartender, making your own schedule is the best perk possible.

I wondered if the role of a Starbuck’s shift supervisor is more similar to a restaurant manager who jumps in to help others serve customers when things get busy or when someone needs a break, or if the role is more similar to that of a head waiter or bar manager.

So, I went to my favorite Starbucks, (yes, I have a favorite Starbucks…the staff there is very cool) and asked one of my regular baristas about the role of the shift supervisor. As luck would have it, he was a shift supervisor. I never would have guessed he was any different than the other baristas there…because he’s been making my drinks for at least a couple of years now.

“It’s frightening,” he said of the lawsuit, even though we’re in Jersey and the original suit was in California with similar suits now filed in Minnesota and Massachusetts. “I’m going to lose a few dollars an hour if I don’t share in the tips.”

I’ve seen this guy work. He does everything all the other baristas do, from making drinks, to preparing food to straightening up the store.

He pulled out two sets of keys. “These are the keys to the store and these are the keys to the safe. That’s the extent of my management power here.” Locking and unlocking the doors and making change from the safe.

“I’m not a manager,” he says, “I’m a barista-plus.”

Brarista-plus. That’s it in a nutshell. Barista-plus, waiter-plus, bartender-plus. Not management.

The finding in the lawsuit is wrong and Starbucks is appealing the ruling. Obviously the judge has never worked in a restaurant, bar or coffee house.

One more reason why I truly believe that at some point in everyone’s life, they should have to work in the service industry

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DATE: 28 Mar 2009, 9:59 am / MOOD: Bangin'



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DATE: 10 Mar 2009, 4:38 pm / MOOD: Other

Because they are GLARING omissions from his list.  And what is with Beehtoven.  He didn't make that album.  He was dead for like 300 years before the first records was made!

Mr. Excitement!, Jackie Wilson

The Doors, The Doors

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John

Closer, Joy Division

Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley

Thriller, Michael Jackson

Reach Out, Four Tops

Girls, Girls, Girls, Motley Crue

Pretenders, The Pretenders

The Joshua Tree, U2

Disintegration, The Cure

Murmur, R.E.M.

Astral Weeks, Van Morrison

Odelay, Beck

Purple Rain, Prince

It Still Moves, My Morning Jacket

Greatest Hits, Sly and the Family Stone

Dookie, Green Day

The Great Twenty-Eight, Chuck Berry

20 Golden Greats, Buddy Holly

King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1, Robert Johnson

Tres Hombres, ZZ Top

The Stooges, The Stooges

Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths

Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth

Never Mind the Bullocks, Sex Pistols

The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley

Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Byrds

Anything by Little Richard

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DATE: 23 Feb 2009, 3:31 am / MOOD: Other

Bar none, the weirdest theme park right now may be your own work cubicle...

Well, you might still remember the "World Craziest Roller Coasters" article that was on DRB some time ago, and with the recent economic meltdown, a visit to a theme park may not be of utmost importance (even almighty Disney is laying off park staff left and right...) However, remembering the good old times, and with hope for a better future for theme parks - here is a rundown of the most bizarre ones...

Is it really your fault that you're not amused any more?

"An amusement park on steroids, growing beyond all control, feeding on an unamused and increasingly terrified public. Increasing in complexity by the hour until it has developed a twisted kind of intelligence..." - (source)


(Busy water park at Hershey's. Photo by Stephen R. Mingle)

Don't get me wrong, if a real "Jurassic Park" came into existence, I’d be the first to line up. However, there are some theme parks today that seem to have forsaken a simple fun factor and are trying very hard to get visitors... trying too hard, we might say:


(some ideas, provided by Photoshop masters at Worth1000

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1. Willy Wonka is outranked by "Hershey Park", Hershey, PA

Giant huggable candies wander freely in that real world chocolate fantasy... as kids marvel at the hot steamy kisses popping up here and there:


(photos courtesy of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company)

Sure, you can still find Harmony at this park, but it turns out to be a cow:


(image credit: Noel)

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2. Diggerland vs. Bulldozer Carnage Fantasies

This theme park looks like it’s constantly under construction. A fantasy for almost every young boy (and some adults), as they can play in a larger-than-life sandbox with larger-than-life toys. Images of rambunctious eleven-year-olds at the helm of a 40-ton dump truck immediately come to mind, and YouTube videos of bulldozers spreading destruction everywhere - but the reality seems to be quite a lot tamer:



(images via)

You can drive a police vehicle there, host a corporate event (some heavy bonding there), and even rent it for stag parties... let your imagination run wild, but we're not going to elaborate.


(images via 1, )

Diggerland is purpotedly going to expand this year, building a "Reddit-Land" addition, smaller but significantly more intense.

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3. Dubailand: twice the size of Walt Disney World in Florida.


Dubailand is currently in development stages (which threatens to become a permanent condition with recent Dubai economic woes), but if completed, it will be a giant theme park 3-billion (yes with a b) square foot complex.



(image via)

The Great Dubai Wheel will be one of the biggest in the world (on the right is Dubai SnowDome):



On a Ferris Wheel - to the Stars!

Actually, Dubai ferris wheel is slated to be the second highest. The highest ferris wheel in the world will be a 200-meter structure in North Bud, Shanghai, China. Note, that it's not really a wheel - the pods are climbing up and down a strange-looking arc, not dissimilar to Star Trek logo - a coincidence?


(image via)

Back to Dubai, not a small part of Dubailand will be a futuristic City of Arabia, complete with dinosaurs, monorail transport - all on Dubai patented steroids, of course:



The gateway to City of Arabia is the super-mall (of course) and biggest in the world (of course), threatened by a flock of dinosaurs:




Built, or not built, enjoy another view of a mirage in a desert (bottom image is a four arena Sports City):



(images via)

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4. Dickens World, UK

The creators of Dickens World in Kent, England, promise a "dark, smoky, moody London, full of smells and mist". Steampunkers of the world, unite! Modern economy, though, may prove darker, smokier and moodier than anything these guys planned for...


(images via)

Charles Dickens drab portrayals of the United Kingdom during the industrial revolution come to life at Dickensworld, resembling a Tim Burton movie set. Now the whole family can pay to be bothered by grifters, hussies, walkabouts and other choreographed nuisances.



Animatronic "ghosts" from A Christmas Carol, a boat ride featuring a trip to the depths of a London sewer... exccciting!... A Victorian School complete with nasty schoolmaster is also among attractions (Harry Potter Theme Park - soon to open in Orlando - may have nice competition overseas)



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5. Mukluk Land, Alaska

Hardly Alaska’s most unique destination, Mukluk Land nevertheless features exciting attractions like skee ball, mini-golf and large Alaskan cabbage.


(images via 1, )

Mukluk Land’s hit attraction is the world largest Mukluk, suspended between trees and adorned with white balls. There are also a few rusting snowmobiles - and a red wonder vehicle, of unknown origin:


(image via)

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6. "Fantazy Land" is not abandoned, although it should be

Situated in Alexandria, Egypt, Fantazy Land is plain dangerous to anybody who enters there. Adrenaline junkies should draw insurance before checking out these rides - rusted, partly demolished, and yet still in operation (entry fee is 1.50 pounds for locals, and 30 pounds for foreign tourists, take note)




(images via)

See a lot more harrowing photos on this page.

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7. Cheezy and proud of it - "Pedro Land" in Dillon, South Carolina


(images via 1, 2)

Social ignorance runs strong at Pedro Land, where you’re in for a day of stereotypes, generalities and flamingos. Play a round of mini-golf at "The Golf of Mexico" and ride a glass elevator up the Sombrero Tower.


(images via)

Yes, get a load of reality: an ugly "Reality Ride"! -


(image credit: Coaster Image)

The park also features corniest billboard ads ever:



(images via)

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8. Limestone Heritage, Malta

Limestone Heritage is a theme park dedicated to - you guessed it - limestone! Located in on the Island of Malta, this destination teaches children and adults the vast importance of this stone with wax figures and interesing historic vehicles on display:



(images via 1, 2, 3)

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9. Harry Potter franchise is running out of sequels. Time to build a theme park.

Coming in 2010, a billion dollar theme park will open within Universal Studios in Florida. Now readers and movie-goers of the Harry Potter mega-seller can pay top dollar to experience the land of Muggles for themselves. After a relaxing day of spending boatloads of money (conjuring them out of thin air, surely), enjoy a “Harry Burger” or have a glass of mead.


(image via)

I like the tag line of this experience. "Let out your inner wizard!" Amen to that - he was peeking out from time to time, but now he can be properly unleashed in Orlando.


(image via)


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