Tag Archives: UK

Weblogging is often a great exercise for my crap memory, so here’s a lil story that must be told:

I must have been about 10 years old when my parents had a teachers’ conference in the Azores, those beautiful islands in the middle of the Atlantic, smack-dab between New York and Lisbon. Naturally being the young son, I tagged along. I had pretty much never been on an island before, not including Manhattan, and certainly not a archipelago of volcanic orgin.

My memories, on the one hand, have gotten pretty fuzzy about that trip. But I definitely remember swimming in hot springs, along with a bunch of other strangers. Later we watched them cook bacalhau (cod) in a volcanic vent… or whatever they’re called in english (furnas). Basically deep holes in the ground filled with boiling water as a result of geothermic something something. They’d cover the holes with lids after lowering the pot in on a rope. Too cool. As if that wasn’t enough, I was baffled by the black sand of the beaches… crazy.

What I remember best of all, was sitting through what would have been boring ass presentations. Everyone was jotting down notes, while I – the token child – sketched fishing boats and sea monsters. They were to be gifts for the twenty something year old teacher from San Jos?, who I had fallen in love with on day 1. She would happily review my drawings and read the clever notes I would write to her, then she’d pat me on the head and give me words of encouragement which made me feel like a million bucks.

That was my thing… draw.. meet girl 20 years older than me… have crush,, draw some more. Ahhh the good old days.

Oh and wouldn’t you know it.. now they’ve got fucking European Blog Awards, they won’t be satisfied til they’ve made the internet a carbon copy of the stupid-ass entertainment industry. Not linking it… cause that would just encourage the fools.

I will, on the other hand, point you to the Torontonienne in the toilet, and the US Federal Budget… flushed down the toilet.

Today’s Sounds: Goin Deep Podcast – inauguration Retardation

I get brilliant ideas in the shower.. if only I had a pen and paper that would work in those conditions. Yesterday’s podcast generated so much great feedback, even folks who don’t normally read the blog came to hear it. (speakin of which.. if you haven’t heard it, just scroll down) I’m hoping that one of the next shows will be a BOAT-CAST or a CANAL-Cast, as Big Jim has been emailing me, and proposed we round up some cocktails, bundle up, and go out on his boat. So you can imagine what will happen if I just bring my Madonna Mic along, it’ll be like hangin out with operators who are always standing by.

Many of you have now heard me talkin about podcasts, but I worry that you don’t know the tools that are out there for you. See, some of you come to my blog whenever you get the chance and try to keep up with my verbal-abortion marathon. But in fact, if you would just register with bloglines and plug in (where it says add feed) my feed address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BicyclemarksCommunique , you would then get all my new posts as they come out, and never have to remember to come visit me. Even the new podcasts would show up there. If you love reading news from the BBC or Village Voice, or your favorite livejournal… all of those can be plugged in there as well. It’s called Really Simple Syndication for a reason… and I find myself getting frustrated with people who spend so much time on the internet yet have a sudden mental block when I say the words RSS.

My mom was on the phone with me for our daily Saturday chat… and she starts laughing it up. She says “At work.. I tell people about podcasts and weblogs and they look at me like they have no idea what these words are or why I know these things. You keep me on the cutting edge of technology son.” Right on momma, represent all the moms out there who don’t freak at the first sign of something new.

OH, and don’t miss DC’s hottest new intern and the uncensored photos.

Today’s Sounds: Seu Jorge – Songs off the Life Aquatic Soundtrack (thanks marty mcfly)

I used to think it was annoying when I was all fascinated by weblogging and mentioned it in conversation and a majority of peeps would give a blank stare and say “sorry, what’s a weblog?” I understand that its relatively new (you know.. only 6 years old or so!!) but it still bothered me cause it ruined my high, not to mention my conversation. BUT sure enough, I have found something FAR more annoying, bring up PODCASTING in conversation. Utter disaster. Conversations come to a screeching halt. Nerd alarms go off… it’s downright freakish apparently, to use the term. My point — I hate how long it takes for new technologies and, for that matter, words, to become widely understood. Its enough to make me want to hide in a little podcasters club where we all speak the same language.

So I’ll try and keep my concentration while one gorgeous british gal looks in at me over the monitor… must.. concentrate… blog.. not.. girl.

At this very moment in Washingtonland, the man they call president is being sworn in . I’m not sure if my buddy and local mover and shaker, D-Rock, is going… I’m pretty sure the administration has a restraining order against his ass. But I do know that Ms._Thingk is THERE. YES! She sent an email, she’s doing well in DC.. super busy.. as you can imagine happens to all young, smarty pants, hot, democratic senatorial interns. Hopefully she doesn’t end up like the ol’ Washingtonienne. Although I hear the fame and fortune are decent, not to mention the sex.

But my thoughts on the inauguration are few. I was there, along with D-Rock, in 2001, to express my dissent for a president who was not elected and I felt was absolutely not qualified (one term as gov. is a crap CV/Resume.. to me.) Sure enough we were corralled behind barriers, searched, and randomly intimidated by displays of police power. (aka.. helicopters, parades of police cars, snipers, riot gear.. ) Nothing says FREE SOCIETY and DEMOCRACY like a display of iron fisted militarism. And so today should be more of the same.. though probably fewer demonstrators… since well.. its widely accepted that he won the vote.

So I’m across the ocean watching it all, and when i’m not feeling blissfully isolated from the madness, I just think — I guess this is what the country has to do. Meaning.. relatively speaking, the US is a young country. Like a human.. countries make mistakes, especially when they are young… so in a weird kind of way, maybe this is what the country needs to go through… the BUSH phase, and all the thinking that comes with it. As for those who didn’t want this.. well you’re all being dragged along for the ride. Oh and so is Spongebob.. sorry buddy.

Tomorrow on I See Dead Historical Figures: Dick Nixon!

Today’s Sounds: Cardigans – Long Gone Before Midnight