Oh banal eruptions! The boredom of the furnace is apparent tonight. This is a time for mediocre pleasures and barely shifting ideologies. I feel what you felt what they feel something before and will again.
Come up for air. Your drowning has been replayed in infinity. Just like naked eye visions these stars have been dead for years. And so have we. Someone change the channel before we lose all attention.
So, today you were interested in the making of atom clusters and tomorrow you won't care about the intake of nourishment. Am I supposed to follow along or just record your plate tectonic movement? Carpal tunnel afflicts the least of us.
I know that tides are of the moon but I know that I don't know anything about tides, your tides, your tides. May they wash some reasonings up on my shore. I will be the one clutching the sad junipers upland. I would yell to you but my voice has been carried eastward and you aren't interested anyway.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Dear Godspeed, I hear what you are saying even when you are not saying anything. I have decided to add my own inflection. Have a good morning. Bye.
I see the rotting carcass below
the twisted skeletal frames, the civil engineered decay
fingers of asphalt explode the horizon
cinders falling, a furnace in the skies
sit on the rusted hulk with me
as we watch it being born all over again
the blur of the coal and livestock cars
a constant drone to block out thought
I also like to lay down in the meadow and shape the clouds
this is not a requiem
I find funerals of eras most comforting
sagebrush high desert, five gallons of water
there is a limit, an end of the road
like a book read backwards, the protagonist shot dead first
surprising that this Kigali blood plant grows faultless over
massacre Dresden and rape Nanking, the boneyards of voracious mimicry
something to hear, nothing to witness
every forty-two miles a blinking radio towers lights the way
Come, reject the declination, rejoice in her voice lofted
when sunday mornings are no longer sunday mornings
an interval of planting, a fraction of zero
a man-made aberration of riot gear and chalk-fingered teachers
the dogs are grazing on neglect and the rivers washing themselves anew
this aero dream is reaching one hundred
there is a night where I, don't you
so saccharin and distant and unfamiliar are these ghosts
shouldn't there be some chin-rubbing by now
a “what does that mean” feels about right
the gospel of grinding, screeching metal has commenced
a spectrum of emotive ranging from boring to indured
somewhat palatable, often explored
I love you more than you will ever know
the twisted skeletal frames, the civil engineered decay
fingers of asphalt explode the horizon
cinders falling, a furnace in the skies
sit on the rusted hulk with me
as we watch it being born all over again
the blur of the coal and livestock cars
a constant drone to block out thought
I also like to lay down in the meadow and shape the clouds
this is not a requiem
I find funerals of eras most comforting
sagebrush high desert, five gallons of water
there is a limit, an end of the road
like a book read backwards, the protagonist shot dead first
surprising that this Kigali blood plant grows faultless over
massacre Dresden and rape Nanking, the boneyards of voracious mimicry
something to hear, nothing to witness
every forty-two miles a blinking radio towers lights the way
Come, reject the declination, rejoice in her voice lofted
when sunday mornings are no longer sunday mornings
an interval of planting, a fraction of zero
a man-made aberration of riot gear and chalk-fingered teachers
the dogs are grazing on neglect and the rivers washing themselves anew
this aero dream is reaching one hundred
there is a night where I, don't you
so saccharin and distant and unfamiliar are these ghosts
shouldn't there be some chin-rubbing by now
a “what does that mean” feels about right
the gospel of grinding, screeching metal has commenced
a spectrum of emotive ranging from boring to indured
somewhat palatable, often explored
I love you more than you will ever know
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Long Lonely Drive Big Vast Empty West or "I am sorry Mike Wild. I didn't know you were paying attention!"
I just got back from the Tundra, the homeland, the womb of my formation, the Icebox of America and a couple of things stuck out in my mind.
-I was amazed at how quickly my Minnesota accent came rushing back.
-There are various levels of where some friends I know are and I wade amongst them trying to place myself in the their swimming lanes...didn't really fit anywhere.
-Not just pandering but you, Mike, are one of my favorite people. Always have been. It's funny how people pick lives and they just work out and they are happy. Obviously not my forte.
-I had at least four different lives in Fargo. Weird.
OK, what I really wanted to talk about was driving halfway across country by yourself. I love it, especially across the extremely lonely, beautiful West. The space in between Bismarck, ND and Billings, MT is so incredibly haunting to me. It magnifies the real lonely parts on my mind and soul but also is kind of reaffirming in fact that no one is out there. Or whoever is out there, why the hell are you out there. It's timeless and primordial. You can see the long formation of landscapes. You can envision the stupefying hardships of native nomads or later, the relentless onslaught of frontier folk. The impressive lack of civilization out there just fucking kills me. I always turn on some AM radio on these long drives. I listen to it all---nutjob right-wingers, local women sharing recipes, crop reports, and Canadian broadcasts from Manitoba. However, my favorite comes at night when you are all alone out on the Interstate. I see a car about every hour and the only artificial light comes from my headlights or the rare ranch miles and miles in the distance. This is the time at night when they do the conspiracy theory shows, the UFO craziness, the not uncommon devil possessed family member, the haunting horror radio plays. It just creeps the hell out of me. In reality the Interstate is the easy way out and is really more insulating than I give it credit. If I really wanted to freak myself out I would do the old Blue Highways trip with no map (which I have done much in the past but I didn't have the time or money this time). AM radio is the shit...
I about drove myself insane on this trip. I did it in 27 hours. It was kind of stupid as I almost fell asleep numerous times on road. I only slept once at a scuzzy Rest Area in Idaho. Pulled in to the place and it was filled with truckers sleeping off some rust and when I woke up I was the only car in the place. For once, though, I really ran out of things to say to myself. Absolutely I was annoyed with my own thoughts, sick of talking to myself in my own head so I decided to go off with the weirdness. I will spare you the boring details but here are some highlights.
-I did pretty much the exact same trip that Lewis & Clark did except it only took me 27 hours. I kept having fake conversation with them and their hardscrabble crew as though I had just picked them up as hitchhikers.
-I was delirious enough to actually visualize dinosaurs roaming on the plains.
-Pretended I met a women in Cut Bank, MT and married her. How would my life be then? Sundays down at the ol' VFW? Pickup truck and bent hat?
-Knew if there was an Apocalyptic event that this is where I would be. Gas and gun running across the interior basin.
Enough. But, damn, what a trip!
This is my favorite song of the month.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
We Scandinavian-Americans---Godless and Happy or Just Waiting for the Bottle to Point that Gun Towards the Head
I have always been secretly proud of my heritage. It may be true that I am actually just as much Swiss as I am Scandinavian but I can't quite remember. However, this article reinforces everything I hold true in my sisters and brothers of the cold, beautiful Northern Europe. http://www.salon.com/books/review/2008/10/22/zuckerman/
I, too, am a godless heathen with tendencies towards alcoholism, bouts of depression, extreme compassion for fellow citizens, the belief in universal health care and education for all. If McCain wins maybe I will move to the Motherland.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Redesign part deux
Hey, we also redesigned our MySpace profile. Well, we are not done yet. New songs, new info, new bio's, hopefully new videos. Hmmm, at least the font is different.
One in the Oktopus MySpace:
www.myspace.com/oneintheoktopusmusic
One in the Oktopus MySpace:
www.myspace.com/oneintheoktopusmusic
Monday, October 13, 2008
We Have Changed Genres. Did You Notice?
Our band has changed from an experimental noise band based on scoring visual mediums to a experimental ambient found sound band based on creating and scoring visual mediums. Confused? Yeah, me too. We did this all without even having any practices since the last time we played. Not entirely true, I guess. Mo' and I have written about four albums worth of ideas and parodies and high art concepts. However, we are gunning to do a little minivan touring by playing ambient soundscapes created out of Mo's Frankenstein lab audio manipulations, crazy inventive instruments and my, well, hopefully undying urge to play these wonderful toys. We look to lick our chops locally before hitting the great beyond. If there are any grantwriters out there, we need your expertise. We have an insanely excellent project in the cobwebs of our lab lockers. We need an injection of cash to make it a reality. You could help us make history or at least propel us down the blacktops of Ameri-Canada, bringing smiles to arty hipsters and befuddling pretentious alternative newspaper reviewers everywhere. I promised Mo' that I would drive most of the way. We just have to get his family into the house before the horrible gray rains wash our enthusiasm into the filling gutters of our humble town.
My dog Loki says she thinks you are sweet,
E. Charles Fridell
New List---
Last Five Shows I Have Overheard Mo' & Vangie's Kids Watching While
I Slack Off from My Questionably Helpful House Building Duties
5. Scooby Doo Meets The Boo Brothers (new, ghosts have cell phones)
4. Spirit (a show where a very bored Matt Damon voices a horse)
3. The Berenstein Bears (also updated with internet references)
2. Something? Poo (claymation kids show about a talking piece of dog shit and a Deep South, post-Emancipation Proclamation clump of soil---weirdly awesome)
1. Astro Boy (don't know anything except that it's Mo's fav theme song ever)
My dog Loki says she thinks you are sweet,
E. Charles Fridell
New List---
Last Five Shows I Have Overheard Mo' & Vangie's Kids Watching While
I Slack Off from My Questionably Helpful House Building Duties
5. Scooby Doo Meets The Boo Brothers (new, ghosts have cell phones)
4. Spirit (a show where a very bored Matt Damon voices a horse)
3. The Berenstein Bears (also updated with internet references)
2. Something? Poo (claymation kids show about a talking piece of dog shit and a Deep South, post-Emancipation Proclamation clump of soil---weirdly awesome)
1. Astro Boy (don't know anything except that it's Mo's fav theme song ever)
New Blogtastic Blog! (I know, too many exclamation points)
Whaddya think? Let me know. I think it looks better. Anyone?
Let's Start Linking or Let's Start Forcible Internet Surfing
This is my old, old friend Tom Musgrave imitating fantasy Me in a funny commercial role for Cisco Systems. He plays the 04, the Screenwriter. Go to the pluses at the end of the actual commercial and you will see Meet the Screenwriter plus sign. http://www.cisco.com/cdc_content_elements/humannetwork/index.html
Actors, ha! I guess he just joined the overpopulation team. Congratulations!
I love this band, loooooove.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/146223-interview-sigur-rs.
And no they are not in those Audi A4 commercials. http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2.html
They are just a few (really awesome) composers from a LA-based music house (albeit one of the coolest music houses in the entire world). I smell an uncredited rip-off. But I like the music...of course.
Are you a Scientologist?
If you are a breathing human or alien and claim to be funny, creative, or awesome, you need to know this person and what he does. http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/. OK, most of you who read this already do.
On The Simpsons right now---
Moe- If Homer had used protection we would all be pooping roses right now.
Yes, I realize this is not a link. It was just funny, OK?
One in the Oktopus ad nausea plug. Go to The Internet Archive. http//www.archive.org. Completely free public domain government movies from the past, free live concert downloads, free music, free books, free...you get the point. Go there, GO NOW, GO! If you are unimpressed we will play your birthday, anniversary, or funeral...for a nominal fee.
Can you tell I learned how to use hyperlinks and embed videos? I am such an idiot. Twelve-year-olds do this one-handed while playing Halo 3. Speaking of that check out my somewhat mediocre stats on online multiplayer Halo 3 at http//www.bungie.net. Go to "My Stats" on the header, then scroll to "Find a Player" and type in Oktopusloki. You should be on my profile and click Halo 3 Service Record. All the stats from every game I have ever played are on there. Already bored? At least check out my cool picture. That's me throwing a sticky grenade from the heavens. My opponent soon tastes a plasma-y, gooey death. Then again, that's pretty lame. Go outside and kick footballs (or futbols for my Canadian and non-American friends).
This has been fun!
Another new, pointless feature---
The Last Five Songs I Listened To
5. Colorado by Grizzly Bear
4. Holy Smokes/Winners Take All by Aesop Rock
3. In the Reins by Calexico and Iron & Wine
2. The Hamm's Beer Theme Song from 1956 (Very Cool)
1. Fireworks by Animal Collective
Parting Shot brought to you by God, the invisible giant you turn to when you die.
I love you and yours madly,
ECF
Actors, ha! I guess he just joined the overpopulation team. Congratulations!
I love this band, loooooove.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/146223-interview-sigur-rs.
And no they are not in those Audi A4 commercials. http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2.html
They are just a few (really awesome) composers from a LA-based music house (albeit one of the coolest music houses in the entire world). I smell an uncredited rip-off. But I like the music...of course.
Are you a Scientologist?
See more funny videos at Funny or Die
If you are a breathing human or alien and claim to be funny, creative, or awesome, you need to know this person and what he does. http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/. OK, most of you who read this already do.
On The Simpsons right now---
Moe- If Homer had used protection we would all be pooping roses right now.
Yes, I realize this is not a link. It was just funny, OK?
One in the Oktopus ad nausea plug. Go to The Internet Archive. http//www.archive.org. Completely free public domain government movies from the past, free live concert downloads, free music, free books, free...you get the point. Go there, GO NOW, GO! If you are unimpressed we will play your birthday, anniversary, or funeral...for a nominal fee.
Can you tell I learned how to use hyperlinks and embed videos? I am such an idiot. Twelve-year-olds do this one-handed while playing Halo 3. Speaking of that check out my somewhat mediocre stats on online multiplayer Halo 3 at http//www.bungie.net. Go to "My Stats" on the header, then scroll to "Find a Player" and type in Oktopusloki. You should be on my profile and click Halo 3 Service Record. All the stats from every game I have ever played are on there. Already bored? At least check out my cool picture. That's me throwing a sticky grenade from the heavens. My opponent soon tastes a plasma-y, gooey death. Then again, that's pretty lame. Go outside and kick footballs (or futbols for my Canadian and non-American friends).
This has been fun!
Another new, pointless feature---
The Last Five Songs I Listened To
5. Colorado by Grizzly Bear
4. Holy Smokes/Winners Take All by Aesop Rock
3. In the Reins by Calexico and Iron & Wine
2. The Hamm's Beer Theme Song from 1956 (Very Cool)
1. Fireworks by Animal Collective
Parting Shot brought to you by God, the invisible giant you turn to when you die.
I love you and yours madly,
ECF
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The wiping of strange butts and other oddities from the Land of How Did I Get Here in Life
There is a three-year-old asking me to wipe his butt after his poop. Since he is not in any way related to me, I find it weird. However, he diffused my apprehension by claiming that we are "best buds" and singing something about rocket ships to the universe of Love. Truly!
I think my online poker game (thanks Pat!) is at an all-time high. I am placing in about fifty percent of my tournaments. I would love to take a shot at this full time. Anyone want to give me $1,000 in seed money. I guarantee I will come up ahead. OK, maybe not guarantee, but I promise to not blow it all on blackjack. Remember the birthday car, son.
Just saw a Fuck Buttons (they are a band) show on www.pitchfork.tv. They kinda blatantly ripped our band (One in the Oktopus or One and the Oktopus) off. Pretty sure they never heard of us, though.
The filming of a few of our shorts is on the horizon. More details later.
Kristine, sorry about the turnaround on Chuck Klosterman. You should know that I have softened many hardline stances I used to take on subjects. The only thing that remains is the perception that I am still a stubborn prick who pounds his fists drunkenly at points that I deem universal (Freddy) truths. I am constantly amazed at people saying shit about me that is blatantly off-the-mark.
-No I am not a loose poker player. (Change your styles up, dummy)
-I do not hate things. I merely like something more than others.
-I am generally very happy and easygoing.
-I do not fancy myself an intellectual. (I know I am kinda smart and have some different interest...maps...instrumental drone...soviet lore...metaphysical philosophic meditation) However, that does not mean I am conceited. I don't know how to plumb a toilet, split an atom, design a artful ad campaign, run for office, survey a sightline, run a rapid, gut a salmon, build a defensive trenchwork system, control weather, read tarot cards, make money, do over half of the positions in the Kama Sutra, play the cello, please my parents, fly an airplane, calm the fuck down, and a few other things. In other words, I know my limitations before you (said knower of my life) decide to exclaim how/who/what I am or believe. I also know my strong suits.
-I realize trivia does not mean you are smart.
-Finally, I am not gay (entirely). No matter how it weirds you out that I don't like seeing dudes kick the shit out of each other (which, by the way, half-naked ripped dudes grappling for an quarter of an hour is REALLY GAY! Ask the old Greeks). I really, really, stupidly, agonizingly, happily love the fairer sex, the (supposedly) better half.
Yeah, I like Grizzly Bear. Supergay, right!
I golfed yesterday for the first time in almost a year. I miss you golf. You were near and dear to me. Too bad you are so expensive, you haughty mistress.
I was going to post a picture of me on a mini-excavator ripping up my friend Mo's house but I lost it. You will just have to envision me as a manual laborer. Tough, right? Yeah, I don't blame you.
OK, that's all for now. I wiped the butt and I feel OK about it. I think his parents are enjoying my crash course in the whirlwind world of parenting. Kids are super-manipulative. They are little brilliant (in the words of my brother-in-law) dicks.
More scholarly shit later like this missive...
My friend told me yesterday that some guy posted on Craigslist for help at his contracting business. The workers were to meet at a bank dressed in blue overalls first thing in the morning. He received twelve or more confirmations. Well, they came down to work...the dude robbed the armored truck arriving at a bank, slipped away down a manhole and caught a boat for a getaway at a designated spot on the river. The cops, meanwhile, were busy interviewing the twelve or more look-alikes in their blue jumpsuits. Dude made off with a half million. Brilliant. Kudos. I said, "that should be made into a movie". Friend said, "already did...Thomas Crown Affair!" Never saw it but now I am little less impressed but love the real life application. Since all the money is federally insured we should all be taking out our own "buyout package". I am easily as financially incompetent as supposed business leaders, plus probably not even as corrupt. I do fancy myself a philanthropists, after all. Where's my goddamn bailout?
Until then, I love you all deeply.
E. Charles Fridell
I think my online poker game (thanks Pat!) is at an all-time high. I am placing in about fifty percent of my tournaments. I would love to take a shot at this full time. Anyone want to give me $1,000 in seed money. I guarantee I will come up ahead. OK, maybe not guarantee, but I promise to not blow it all on blackjack. Remember the birthday car, son.
Just saw a Fuck Buttons (they are a band) show on www.pitchfork.tv. They kinda blatantly ripped our band (One in the Oktopus or One and the Oktopus) off. Pretty sure they never heard of us, though.
The filming of a few of our shorts is on the horizon. More details later.
Kristine, sorry about the turnaround on Chuck Klosterman. You should know that I have softened many hardline stances I used to take on subjects. The only thing that remains is the perception that I am still a stubborn prick who pounds his fists drunkenly at points that I deem universal (Freddy) truths. I am constantly amazed at people saying shit about me that is blatantly off-the-mark.
-No I am not a loose poker player. (Change your styles up, dummy)
-I do not hate things. I merely like something more than others.
-I am generally very happy and easygoing.
-I do not fancy myself an intellectual. (I know I am kinda smart and have some different interest...maps...instrumental drone...soviet lore...metaphysical philosophic meditation) However, that does not mean I am conceited. I don't know how to plumb a toilet, split an atom, design a artful ad campaign, run for office, survey a sightline, run a rapid, gut a salmon, build a defensive trenchwork system, control weather, read tarot cards, make money, do over half of the positions in the Kama Sutra, play the cello, please my parents, fly an airplane, calm the fuck down, and a few other things. In other words, I know my limitations before you (said knower of my life) decide to exclaim how/who/what I am or believe. I also know my strong suits.
-I realize trivia does not mean you are smart.
-Finally, I am not gay (entirely). No matter how it weirds you out that I don't like seeing dudes kick the shit out of each other (which, by the way, half-naked ripped dudes grappling for an quarter of an hour is REALLY GAY! Ask the old Greeks). I really, really, stupidly, agonizingly, happily love the fairer sex, the (supposedly) better half.
Yeah, I like Grizzly Bear. Supergay, right!
I golfed yesterday for the first time in almost a year. I miss you golf. You were near and dear to me. Too bad you are so expensive, you haughty mistress.
I was going to post a picture of me on a mini-excavator ripping up my friend Mo's house but I lost it. You will just have to envision me as a manual laborer. Tough, right? Yeah, I don't blame you.
OK, that's all for now. I wiped the butt and I feel OK about it. I think his parents are enjoying my crash course in the whirlwind world of parenting. Kids are super-manipulative. They are little brilliant (in the words of my brother-in-law) dicks.
More scholarly shit later like this missive...
My friend told me yesterday that some guy posted on Craigslist for help at his contracting business. The workers were to meet at a bank dressed in blue overalls first thing in the morning. He received twelve or more confirmations. Well, they came down to work...the dude robbed the armored truck arriving at a bank, slipped away down a manhole and caught a boat for a getaway at a designated spot on the river. The cops, meanwhile, were busy interviewing the twelve or more look-alikes in their blue jumpsuits. Dude made off with a half million. Brilliant. Kudos. I said, "that should be made into a movie". Friend said, "already did...Thomas Crown Affair!" Never saw it but now I am little less impressed but love the real life application. Since all the money is federally insured we should all be taking out our own "buyout package". I am easily as financially incompetent as supposed business leaders, plus probably not even as corrupt. I do fancy myself a philanthropists, after all. Where's my goddamn bailout?
Until then, I love you all deeply.
E. Charles Fridell
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