I just read a really good article over at Kuro5hin regarding one’s trip through detox. ‘What drug?’ you ask. It’s not one that many would consider worthy of the gut-wrenching soul-crushing ordeal that we’ve come to see in movie-detoxes.

An interesting perspective on drugs and excess in general. The comments to the story are nearly as good as this little anecdote itself. The “geek” culture isn’t know for it’s heavy use of “normal drugs” (i.e. pot, coke, LSD, etc) — not for drugs not for mind expansion, but drugs to enhance concentration, elongate the short hours of the day, etc.

What makes a “drug”? Well, it’s anything really — sex, toast, coffee, pot — whatever. The outcome is the same. The body, the person, the mind craves whatever it is, even to do the smallest tasks. Bored? Do it. Just ate? Do it. About to eat? Do it. Waking up? Do it. Going to sleep? Do it. Party? Do it. It’s all the same, really. Some drugs are worse than others, for sure, but the mental position is essentially the same.

So do real, competent D.J.’s ever do weddings as I side gig? I wasn’t sure. Would it be an affront to their musical sensibilities? Are they willing to slum for a gig that pays the occasional fat bag of cash money?

I guess it’s analogous to the question — do web developers/designers ever do the occasional porn site? Do they ever throw up something for the local barber? Where do taste/morals/ethics collide?

Below is a short conversation on that very subject — a promising local DJ, skilled in the arts of the ambient, the trance, the “weird” — offered the job of DJ’ing a wedding. An affront? A sack of cash? Where is the line drawn?!
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BenCorvus: hey there!

weird*@%!: howdy

BenCorvus: i’m going to ask you a question which may undermine your entrie indie credibility

weird*@%!: heheh

weird*@%!: go

BenCorvus: you ever do weddings?

BenCorvus: hehe

weird*@%!: like dj at weddings?

BenCorvus: yah

weird*@%!: i have before

weird*@%!: it’s not the most glorious gig

BenCorvus: no, it’s not — but it’s good for the cash

weird*@%!: exactly

BenCorvus: well, Kelly and I are going to be married next spring

weird*@%!: and you need a dj…

BenCorvus: and i thought “who is the first dj who pops to mind?”

weird*@%!: superstar dj jason clark

BenCorvus: and then i thought “oh my, no! he’s TOO COOL”

weird*@%!: heheh… ya got that right, mister

weird*@%!: ;-)

BenCorvus: “it would undermine his indie cred, and he would scoff”

BenCorvus: hehe

weird*@%!: sheeeeesh

BenCorvus: hehe

weird*@%!: hmmm….

BenCorvus: well, give it some thought — i don’t even know how much money would be appropriate

weird*@%!: yeah… i’ll think about it… just don’t make me play the electric slide

BenCorvus: all i know is that NORMALLY, and by NORMALLY, i mean all the goddamned time

BenCorvus: OH NO!

BenCorvus: it’s funny you mention that

BenCorvus: kelly’s mother LOVES the electric slide

BenCorvus: i hate it

weird*@%!: kill me now

weird*@%!: ;-)

BenCorvus: i said “any self-respecting DJ would shoot themselves, or at least make a feeble attempt to wash away the dirty feeling”

weird*@%!: ha ha!!

weird*@%!: let me mull it over

BenCorvus: well, like i said, I didn’t know if you even did this, and if you did, if you still would.

BenCorvus: aight

BenCorvus: well, the opportunity is there — and thanks for the backup on the Electric Slide

BenCorvus: no duck dance, though! i managed to squeeze that one in.

weird*@%!: sometimes things like that are a blast, but then again sometimes they are _scary_

BenCorvus: true

BenCorvus: i’m attempting to avoid the “scary”

weird*@%!: gimme a couple days to think about it… is the date set?

BenCorvus: April 26th 2002

BenCorvus: yah, mull it over

BenCorvus: like Martin Mull

weird*@%!: alright… congrats either way!

BenCorvus: why thanks!

BenCorvus: you can go by a codename

BenCorvus: Dr. Octagon

BenCorvus: we’ll keep it on the hush-hust

BenCorvus: the QT

weird*@%!: yeah right

weird*@%!: ;-)

The more I read TV Go Home, the more I find it uproariously funny. Published bi-weekly, or is it bi-monthly? Whatever, every two weeks, it is. In any case, it’s set up like a page from TVGuide, except if TVGuide had the bollocks (it’s English, you see) to tell it how it really is. Every word, every disturbing little thought on this page skewers oh-so-perfectly the tv/radio/internet/infotainment cliche ever imagined.

There are recurring themes involved here, from weekly descriptions of “The Ten Tasks of One-Armed, One-Legged Hercules” to the occasional “Holiday Special. I don’t know how they manage to come up with such incredibly spot-on bits of humor, all the more incisive and uproariously funny as TheOnion.

Well, get on with it! Go read it. You’ll enjoy.

Well, a few years ago, my beloved girlie-friend Kelly introduced me to “Blenheim“, a strong ginger-ale that was served at Heine Brothers Coffee here in Louisville. Wowee-wow-wow was this stuff intense! Head-sweatinging hot, but not the sort of hot that hurts (like salsa or Indian death fire).

Well, Heine Brothers decided to bump down from the “Hot” version of Blenheim (apparently there is a “Not So Hot” version (and a “Diet” version) — and I longed for the lid-flipping “Hot” style — and I have found it for sale locally! At the Fresh Market (no website as I can tell) on Shelbyville Road. Rejoice! Rejoice!

As I come to find out, this stuff has been brewed in South Carolina by a tiny little company since 1903 — and it is considered a treasure of that state, and the South, really. Now, God knows I love some state-favorite ginger ales, and this is no exception. So, if you get a chance — get some Blenheim — and a glass of water, you’ll need it.

New pics in the gallery from the Kentucky State Fair are up!

Also, some pics from the Revenge of the Panini are up. Pretty uneventful there, but for posterity’s sake — here they are.

Kelly and I went to the fair today. Many people I know have an aversion to the fair, but frankly, I love it. Not for the expensive beer and the crap-filled Midway, but for the animals, art, and the various and sundry people you see there… There are quite a few shots of some of the excellent art found there — photographic and otherwise. You should check it out… Enjoy!

Another day older and deeper in debt. No, wait, that’s what Tennessee Ernie Ford gets you.

The Palestinians fight for land claimed for them in a book about a guy with decent core ideas.

The Israelis defend the land they sit on claimed for them in a book about a guy with decent core ideas.

Attack! Counter-Attack! Bomb! Snipe!

What would Muhammad/the Prophet/God/Allah do? I’m sure he’d shake his/her head and think “woah nelly! we are merely people who put forth ideas of love.”

And then they would be killed because they are standing across the wrong line.

Go watch Dogma.

dav urban: ya know whats wrong with the interent?
dav urban: http://www.love.com

Server Error
This server has encountered an internal error which prevents it from fulfilling your request. The most likely cause is a misconfiguration. Please ask the administrator to look for messages in the server’s error log.

dav urban: their ain’t no love man
dav urban: no love at all
BenCorvus: that is comedy
BenCorvus: it made me chuckle

If you peruse any internet news or entertainment sites you probably already know that the title of the next Star Wars film has been announced.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Everyone hates it. The fans hate it. Ewan Mcgregor hates it. Penny Arcade hates it. I hate it. So it seems like now might be a good time for a reminder.

These are children’s movies. Some of them, such as Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace, are not even particularly good children’s movies. There are plenty of other potentially good movies coming out that are far worthier of your attention.

And if you are looking for an examination of the basic concept of good versus evil that is intelligent, stylishly directed, emotionally resonant, and brilliantly acted, may I direct you to M. Night Shyamalan’s film Unbreakable? There now, isn’t everything better?

you may or may not have noticed that the “theLocust radio widget” seems curiously different. It is currently up and running, and i’ll try to keep it that way. The mp3 streamer i’m using keeps getting better. I’m considering a web interface soon. Just like i’m considering a billion other things to soak up my time like a wet sponge. Yay!

Listen — rock.

Some of you loyal theLocust.org readers will remember my run-in with Pablo Escobar a little while back… well, RSteven880 (as he is known on AOL, and subsequently on AIM) has been popping up on AIM recently — what follows is a hilarious outtake between RSteven880 and my friend and colleague, Geoff.

My favorite line — You are the sacred one who possesses the most beautiful leather cheerio

Read on for the complete transcript{more}

RoyalTrux666: Climb Mount Niitaka
RSteven880: huh?
RSteven880: who are you/
RoyalTrux666: Please tell Col. Round-Eye to say
no more.
RSteven880: what?
RoyalTrux666: this must be done by dawn.
RoyalTrux666: Or many will miss lunch.
RSteven880: i don’t know anyone named dawn to
tell to do it
RoyalTrux666: by dawn refers to a time, not a
person
RoyalTrux666: You are the sacred one who
possesses the most beautiful leather
cheerio
RSteven880: huh?
RoyalTrux666: the most splendiferous
cavity known to man
RoyalTrux666: I should not be suprised if it
were to tear asunder and from it’s gaping
depths — rose petals
RoyalTrux666: that is the beauty and grace
of the leather cheerio that you — and you
alone — possess

RoyalTrux666: Please
RoyalTrux666: Keep it safe
RSteven880: what the hell are you talking about?
RoyalTrux666: I may have said too much.
Please forgive me if you are not indeed the
chosen one.
RSteven880: um ok… just trying to figure out who
you are
RoyalTrux666: My true name must never be
spoken by an american
RSteven880: well, i’m not an american
RoyalTrux666:
http://www.ecnet.net/users/gemedia1/alum94
b.html
RoyalTrux666: this is NOT you?
RoyalTrux666: My friend, I am afraid that
there may have been a horrible mistake in
contacting you for this mission.
RSteven880: well, i hope no one self destructs
when the message is over… if it’s ever over
RoyalTrux666: That would be silly
RSteven880: as silly as this whole conversation
since i have no idea who you are…
RoyalTrux666: Our organization is here to
help the Pablos of the world get better
adjusted…we mean absolutely no harm to
any nonliving creature
RSteven880: um ok
RSteven880: i don’t know any pablo
RoyalTrux666: We seek those with
intelligence and media saavy to help our
cause
RoyalTrux666: Sorry for the mistake
RoyalTrux666: please, cdo carry on.
RoyalTrux666: c
RoyalTrux666: c
RoyalTrux666: c
RoyalTrux666: c
RoyalTrux666: oh my
RSteven880: well, the media likes to follow people
that are honest abou twho they are…

RSteven880 signed off at 5:40:40 PM.
RoyalTrux666: I have not misrepresented
myself. Nor have I telephone-machined
anyone regarding this matter, late at night
or otherwise