This Is The Noise That Keeps Me Awake

• Been a long time since I got in here. Let's start cleaning house.
• Tragically, this might've been my best NaNo showing to date. And in Vonnegutian fashion I find the first three chapters fine and don't want to change a page after about 478 hours of minor tweaking. I just got to figure out how I'm opening chapter 4 and keep going from there. I can finish before I turn 28. This I know now.
• Living broke without a cellphone in 2006 America is the next closest thing to being homeless. I think this is why I don't feel like writing; my character is living a much better life than I am, and I'm holding it against her. Everything is a stress. I'm thinking about getting a credit card, which in the long run is like deciding injection over the chair, but it's getting to the 11th hour where people are going to go without Christmas presents. Le sigh.
• Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan. My groin's starting to itch just looking at it.
• BAHAHAHAHAHAHA on cue my mix CD has launched into "Hoochie Mama". All my audio knows me better than I know myself.
• Everybody's leaving to go to Vegas right before Christmas. Not going. Family vacation, let alone in Vegas, is like taunting Suge Knight. There's a way I spend my time in Vegas, and it ain't got jack shit to do with family. Unless you count mother/daughter. Plus, family vacations always sound more placid in theory and then about 45 minutes into it somebody (say, Mom) is at somebody else's (say, Quay's) throat and the room becomes a cell. Besides, when The Medicore Depression ends in employment and I get back in black I'm going with my friends, who are like family you can ditch without the guilt trips.
• Poor Rob. You want to talk, I'm here.
• I hate you, NFL Network.
• You speak/of signs and wonders/but I need/something other/I would believe/if I was able/but I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table...
• Why is everybody breaking up BUT Jessica & Cash? And if that Jessica Biel rumor is true, she can expect to swanddive down the fuck ladder on the next go-round.
• I want to think about doing something for New Year's Eve, but what?
• The one highlight of my life is the party I'm throwing when the fam is out of town getting such a tremendous response the first week out--I'm already looking at around 15 definites so far. Not only that, a great combination of at least my 3 closest friends, some new friends (my DJ buddy might change his mind about doing some work when he sees my 18 gigs), and some friends I haven't seen in forever. Plus I can neither confirm nor deny rumors John Mayer may show up. It'll be nice to be with everybody who's carried me through this time, have some poker, drinks, good times. Niiiiiiiiiiice!
• Friendistry? Chemistry? Stupid Joey and her plus one. I need a hook-up, damnit!
• By the way, about the whole waiting to declare Chapter 11 thing before finding a potential, there's a reason Groin's name isn't Brain.
• Did I mention I have a wishlist on the sidebar? Done.
• Funny moment as Danny worried about the Chargers losing to the Aaron Brooks led Raiders going into the 4th quarter. I pointed this out to him, and 2 plays later the pic was in the air. Should also be said Danny's excellent photography, no matter how evil it may make me look, will be at the partay.
• Scrubs is back tonight after The Office and My Name Is Earl. Waaaaayyyyyyyyyy too excited about this, I am.
• The more I hear "Baby Got Back", the more I'm convinced a) Sir-Mix-A-Lot was a prophet and b) here's another thing (said song's mentality going out) the white man stole from us.
• I promise to play "Christmas In Hollis" every hour on the hour until I get too drunk to do so.
• This is the hardest time of the year anyway. Just got to keep on keepin' on and get to '07. After all, I have a 10-year-reunion to think about and alternate life I'm leading to tell people.
• Now, does anyone care besides KRS-One?

Brimful Of Asha (Fatboy Slim remix) Cornershop

Radio Free Chula

DROPS:
All Gnarls--"Crazy" was #8, "Gone Daddy Gone" #13

15. Nausea ¤ Beck (12)
14. Maneater ¤ Nelly Furtado (debut)
13. London Bridge (Oh, Shit) ¤ Fergie (14)*
12. Fergalicious ¤ Fergie (15)*
11. Show Me What You Got ¤ Jay-Z (11)*

10. SexyLove ¤ Ne-Yo (6)
9. Snow (Hey Oh) ¤ Red Hot Chili Peppers (debut)
8. I Will Follow You Into The Dark ¤ Death Cab For Cutie (3)
7. Hate (I Really Don't Like You) ¤ Plain White Ts (9)*
6. Waiting On The World To Change ¤ John Mayer (7)*

5. Anna Molly ¤ Incubus (10)*
4. Steady, As She Goes ¤ the Raconteurs (5)

3. Tell Me Baby ¤ Red Hot Chili Peppers (2)

2. Money Maker ¤ Ludacris feat. Pharrell (4)*

1. When You Were Young ¤ the Killers (1) [6w]

Go Common feat. John Mayer

KOSC: Lesson One

Stuck On Pam

Further evidence this is Tom's world and we just have profiles on it--

ACT I
So I wrote to Jenna Fischer's MS blog a few weeks ago that since she loved 24 (as do I) and was going to be on Letterman with Keifer that she should totally get him to be her voicemail message; some sort of variant on "WHAT ARE THE DIGITS?! WHAT PURPOSE ARE YOU SERVING!"

ACT II
We fast-forward to today's blog from Jenna:

I met Kiefer!!! It was only for like 1 minute backstage. He was leaving stage and I was getting ready to go on. I didn't have my cell phone with me so I couldn't ask him to record an outgoing message. Instead, I babbled on and on about how much I love 24 and how he totally deserved the Emmy win. He was very polite and humble and wished me luck with Dave.

I better not tell her I'm rooting for Karen the rest of the year and Jim/Pam for life after that, she'd be furious. Which would be kinda cute, actually...

ACT III
I was quick and decisive with my response, however--

That's so sad you didn't get Keifer to do the voicemail. I would've called myself all the time if I'd been able to get one and never picked up. I bet friends would've gotten upset if you actually, you know, answered your own phone.

Uh...DVD recommendations. I'm a little goofy and whatnot, but I recommend anything with Kevin Smith, John Cusack, and, of course, Coming To America.

I am now officially psyched up for Thursday. Here's to your good luck and improving ratings!
-

More on this story as it develops...

Fortune Faded Red Hot Chili Peppers

More Than Word

Ironically Sweet Brown Medicine was my first AIM handle.

Fidelity Regina Spektor

20%.

I'm sure if I hadn't gone out for 8 jobs this week and already gotten shut down for 2, if the installation fee for the internet didn't fall on my head somehow due to the move, if I had any money, if the people looking for said money stopped calling three times a day and I didn't have to stay up until 2 a.m. to get some fucking quiet in this house I would be on pace or ahead.

Then again, wouldn't be my life, would it?

A village of supporting characters is cropping up. My idea to write four times a day in 15-minute bursts is going okay. Perhaps I should've thought of it before 5 hours ago. Brittany is going to have to address her singlehood, her brother David is going to have to address whether she wants it, and she might be into either the guy who was a victim of his girlfriend beating him in the library, the officer making the arrest, the reporter who's about to launch her into the stratosphere, or the guy her best friend wants to set her up with.

I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm goin'
I'm on my way
I'm taking my time but I don't know where...

Oh, in order to write the first club scene I did put together the DJ BC Saturday Night Mix, which for all none of you who care goes like this

1 - Madison Avenue, "Don't Call Me Baby"
2 - Mobb Deep feat. 50 Cent & Nate Dogg, "Have A Party"
3 - Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana, "Run It (remix)"
4 - Purple Ribbon All-Stars feat. Big Boi, "Kryptonite (I'm On It)"
5 - Jackson 5, "I Want You Back"
6 - Dem Franchize Boyz feat. Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, and Bow Wow, "I Think They Like Me (remix)"
7 - Chamillionaire feat. Lil' Flip, "Turn It Up"
8 - Cassie, "Me & U" (in a perfect world it would've been the DJ Steve 1nder mash with the Cure's "Close To You" with the backbeat. ahhhhhhhhh.)

9
Tears Of A Shakeoff DJ AM's Mariah Carey/Smokey Robinson and the Miracles mash

10 - Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"
11 - Three 6 Mafia feat. 8-Ball, MJG, and Young Buck, "Stay Fly"
12 - E-40 feat. Keak Da Sneak, "Tell Me When To Go"
13 - Bubba Sparxxx feat. Ying Yang Twins, "Ms. New Booty"
14 - Fall Out Boy, "Dance, Dance"
15 - Yung Joc, "It's Goin' Down"
16 - Sean Paul, "Temperature"
17 - The Outfield, "Your Love"
18 - Lighter Shade Of Brown, "Hey DJ"
19 - Kurupt feat. Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and Nate Dogg, "Ain't No Fun"

Feel free to burn it and try it on your own fun endeavors. I'm going to take a short break and hopefully can get another half hour's work in before I go out and fuel up.

I can do this.

Even now.

Just got to keep chopping.

Radio Free Chula

Before you say anything...I know.

DROPS:
"U & Dat" (11)
"Here It Goes Again" (12)

15. Fergalicious ¤ Fergie (debut)
14. London Bridge (Oh, Shit) ¤ Fergie (14)
13. Gone Daddy Gone ¤ Gnarls Barkley (7)
12. Nausea ¤ Beck (15)*
11. Show Me What You Got ¤ Jay-Z (13)*

10. Anna Molly ¤ Incubus (debut)
9. Hate (I Really Don't Like You) ¤ Plain White Ts (9)*
8. Crazy ¤ Gnarls Barkley (8)
7. Waiting On The World To Change ¤ John Mayer (10)*
6. SexyLove ¤ Ne-Yo (4)

5. Steady, As She Goes ¤ the Raconteurs (5)
4. Money Maker ¤ Ludacris feat. Pharrell (6)*

3. I Will Follow You Into The Dark ¤ Death Cab For Cutie (3)*

2. Tell Me Baby ¤ Red Hot Chili Peppers (2)

1. When You Were Young ¤ the Killers (1) [1m]

So Whatcha Want Beasties

Sacre Blue!

OVERTHROW

THAT

SHIT

I believe I will be marking the invitation BYOB for bring your own BOOYAH! Now do I keep him on the Dead To Me list since the psuedorreroists have taken care of it already, or...



BYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~!

Unconditional the Bravery

Our Freedom Of Speech Is Freedom Or Death*

*= this post won't have the gravitas necessary to both my foreign fans.

And you should know how the rest of that lyric goes. KO?

We are, as every generation, inseparable from our own time.

Thus is our perspective, inevitably that of the explorer looking into the wrong end of the telescope.

But even accounting for our myopia, it’s hard to imagine there have been many elections more important than this one, certainly not in non-presidential years.

And so we look at the verdict in the trial of Saddam Hussein yesterday, and, with the very phrase “October, or November, Surprise” now a part of our vernacular, and the chest-thumping coming from so many of the Republican campaigners today, each of us must wonder about the convenience of the timing of his conviction and sentencing.

But let us give history and coincidence the benefit of the doubt—let’s say it’s just “happened” that way—and for a moment not look into the wrong end of the telescope.

Let’s perceive instead the bigger picture:

Saddam Hussein, found guilty in an Iraqi court.

Who can argue against that?

He is officially, what the world always knew he was: a war criminal.

Mr. Bush, was this imprimatur, worth the cost of 2,832 American lives, and thousands more American lives yet to be lost?

Is the conviction of Saddam Hussein the reason you went to war in Iraq?

Or did you go to war in Iraq because of the weapons of mass destruction that did not exist?

Or did you go to war in Iraq because of the connection between Iraq and al-Qaida that did not exist?

Or did you go to war in Iraq to break the bonds of tyranny there, while installing the mechanisms of tyranny here?

Or did you go to war in Iraq because you felt the need to wreak vengeance against somebody, anybody?

Or did you go to war in Iraq to contain a rogue state which, months earlier, your own administration had declared had been fully contained by sanctions?

Or did you go to war in Iraq to keep gas prices down?

How startling it was, sir, to hear you introduce oil to your stump speeches over the weekend.

Not four years removed from the most dismissive, the most condescending, the most ridiculing denials of the very hint at, as Mr. Rumsfeld put it, this “nonsense.”

There you were, campaigning in Colorado, in Nebraska, in Florida, in Kansas -- suddenly turning this ‘unpatriotic idea’ into a platform plank.

"You can imagine a world in which these extremists and radicals got control of energy resources," you told us. "And then you can imagine them saying, 'We're going to pull a bunch of oil off the market to run your price of oil up unless you do the following.'"

Having frightened us, having bullied us, having lied to us, having ignored and rewritten the Constitution under our noses, having stayed the course, having denied you’ve stayed the course, having belittled us about "timelines" but instead extolled "benchmarks," you’ve now resorted, sir, to this?

We must stay in Iraq to save the $2 gallon of gas?

Mr. President, there is no other conclusion we can draw as we go to the polls tomorrow.

Sir, you have been making this up as you went along.

This country was founded to prevent anybody from making it up as they went along.

Those vaunted Founding Fathers of ours have been so quoted up, that they appear as marble statues: like the chiseled guards of China, or the faces on Mount Rushmore. But in fact they were practical people and the thing they obviously feared most was a government of men and not laws.

They provided the checks and balances for a reason.

No one man could run the government the way he saw fit -- unless he, at the least, took into consideration what those he governed saw.

A House of Representatives would be the people's eyes.

A Senate would be the corrective force on that House.

An executive would do the work, and hold the Constitution to his chest like his child.

A Supreme Court would oversee it all.

Checks and balances.

Where did that go, Mr. Bush?

And what price did we pay because we have let it go?

Saddam Hussein will get out of Iraq the same way 2,832 Americans have and thousands more.

He’ll get out faster than we will.

And if nothing changes tomorrow, you, sir, will be out of the White House long before the rest of us can say we are out of Iraq.

And whose fault is this?

Not truly yours. You took advantage of those of us who were afraid, and those of us who believed unity and nation took precedence over all else.

But we let you take that advantage.

And so we let you go to war in Iraq to oust Saddam or find non-existant weapons or avenge 9/11 or fight terrorists who only got there after we did or as cover to change the fabric of our Constitution or for lower prices at The Texaco or…?

There are still a few hours left before the polls open, sir. There are many rationalizations still untried.

And whatever your motives of the moment, we the people have, in true good faith and with the genuine patriotism of self-sacrifice (of which you have shown you know nothing), we have let you go on making it up as you went along.

Unchecked and unbalanced.

Vote.

10%!

I figured this year every 5,000 words I would reward myself with a post about the novel and how it's going. One, because I figure talking about it will keep me doing it (barring horrible illness again). Two, because I know some of you are wondering how a normal person is trying to do a 50k novel in the course of a month as opposed to Crazy Aussie Man who last I heard is rocking himself to sleep muttering "semi-colon, semi-colon, semi-colon". And three, because I can't live on writing the novel alone; I need to break it up.

First of all, the decision to leave the house today and go to a community computer was awesome. No brother pouting, no mother yelling, just me and the taunting cursor. Better yet, no waiting for 2 a.m. for the quiet, or trying to steal it in 110-word bursts in the middle of the day wondering when the other shoe is going to drop and the real world unfocuses me. I unfocus myself enough, thanks--don't need help on the arms of outside services.

Second, the goal is 1,750 a day. It's a little bit better than average with the idea that that little bit better over the course of a month is to get me done a day or two early (a good idea seeing Thanksgiving is around the corner--where did the year go? OH. Right.). So far I am batting 66%, which will be up to 75% by the time I get done today.

Third, I wrote the opening stuff. I'm pretty sure how I am going to end it, and know of at least 4--maybe 6?--semi-major to major events I want to happen in the creamy middle. The rest? We leave that up to the ether and what comes out of it.

This year's novel is actually one of those fun "inspired by real life events" that I didn't know I was going to do until the day before Labor Day. It's a simple story of a DJ. Who happens to be rich. And white. And a girl. I threw in a black adopted younger brother, his girlfriend who goes from struggling actress to supernova, a best friend coming back from her dad's suicide after his Golden Boy status at a network went from Midas to DeLorean (those parts inspired by the five-star Desperate Networks, which is probably going to end up my Book of the Year by Bill Carter), and a couple of ancillary characters who are surprisingly making good cases to stick around more than I had booked them into being. Presto. This is drawing from some of last year's failed attempt, but Brittany Cattroli is her own girl and this is her own story. Matter of fact, she's beginning to come up with stuff on her own. I hope it continues.

If you guys have any questions, I'll try to answer them in the comments or send you messages. See ya when I see ya--right now I got a cute girl who's got a Rakim itch she needs to scratch.

(Scratch! DJ! I slay me.)

P.S.: This Is A Journey Into Sound. Spin Spin Sugar. Possible titles. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Black Tambourine Beck

Throwing Muses (Out There)

AWWW:
Brooke Burke, 19 -- Mariah Carey, 26 -- Keira Knightley, 33 --
Lacey Chabert, 37 -- Carmen Electra, 39

(40) Anna Kournikova (re)
(39) Kristin Cavallari (d)
(38) Kelly Clarkson (d)
(37) Petra Nemcova (36)
(36) Elizabeth Hurley (25)
(35) Kelly Hu (40)
(34) Jessica Simpson (re)
(33) Michelle Trachtenberg (re)
(32) Jamie Pressly (32)
(31) Vanessa Minillo (31)

(30) Sofia Vergara (21)
(29) Adriana Lima (38)
(28) Esther Baxter (34)
(27) Mayra Veronica (27)
(26) Vida Guerra (23)
(25) Eva Mendes (35*)
(24) Summer Altice (30)
(23) C.J. Gibson (24*)
(22) Charisma Carpenter (18)
(21) Beyonce (17)

(20) Monica Bellucci (28*)
(19) Shakira (12)
(18) Halle Berry (20)
(17) Sarah Shahi (29*)
(16) Kim Smith (22)

(15) Raquel Gibson (14)
(14) Katherine Heigl (13)
(13) Jennifer Walcott (10)
(12) Kate Beckinsale (6)
(11) Jennifer Love Hewitt (9)

(10) Kristen Bell (8)
(9) Stacy Keibler (11)
(8) Scarlett Johannson (16*)
(7) Marisa Miller (15*)
(6) Trish Stratus (4)

(5) Salma Hayek (7)
(4) Eva Longoria (3)

(3) Angelina Jolie (5)

(2) Jessica Biel (2)

(1) Jessica Alba (1)

No Sensitivity Jimmy Eat World