· · · — — — · · · Same Old Shite (Or, iPick-A-Little, iTalk-A-Little Less)

"Yes, I'm just rowing up to the dock (in my floppy 'I'm on vacation, and I don't care how stupid I look on a cell phone rowing a boat' hat on) now. Where are you? Oh, yeah, I can see you from here."

Nauti-call Lymie
Rockland Harbor
June 29, 2007

•••

I'm not sure if you've heard anything about this yet but, apparently, Apple has come out with some type of new 'phone' thingie, and people (which so far includes, the media, anybody owning stocks in Apple, and maybe that tool in the picture above, although my guess would be that he is PC all the way) are pretty darn giddy.

So, here's the deals, as I think I understand them. The iPhone itself, is only about $500. to $600. depending on how much money you have, and how much memory you require. (But, orders are limited to two per customer, so please, don't get greedy!)

You'll also be required to sign up for a two-year AT&T service agreement and an activation fee (and are subject to AT&T credit approval). The minimum plan prices out at $59.99 per month (or, $1,439.76 over the two-year required contract), not including any service charges (and, being AT&T, you know there will be plenty), which will only 450 minutes (which is only 7.5 hours. But who talks more than that on the phone in a month?) of talk time a month.

Intrigued yet?

Well, if you're coming out to The Rock, don't be — because your iPhone (or, cellphone for that matter) won't work here. (That would be another one of those great things about living out on The Rock.)

•••

Connection
(Buy: Elastica: Elastica)

Telephone Line
(Buy: Electric Light Orchestra: A New World Record)

Call Me
(Buy: Nancy Wilson: Cocktail Mix, Vol. 2: Martini Madness)

The Call Up
(Buy: The Clash: Clash On Broadway [Disc 3])

Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little
(Buy: Hermione Gingold & The Biddys: The Music Man [Original Soundtrack])

In The Future (Pretty Much Everything I Do Has The Potential To Be This Time-Wasting)

Daft Punk
Is Playing At My House (As well as, some LCD Soundsystem, and a healthy dose of Ground Components.)
March 2007

Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world

Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world

Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world
Around the world, around the world

'Around The World', words and music by Daft Punk.

This morning, I figured out that I have traveled over 48,409.16433 kilometers (That's 30,080 miles, you metric-phobe!) over the past 4 years of my daily ferry commute. (That's 2,350 hours over the past 4 years — to think about things like this — that potentially, become this time-wasting.)

You can check the math, and see what the hell got me on this track in the first place, here.

•••

Around The World
(Buy: Daft Punk: Homework)

Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
(Buy: LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem)

Coming In From All Angles (Feat. Macromantics)
(Buy: Ground Components: An Eye For A Brow, A Tooth For A Pick)

The Heavens Open Up To Cover The Rock With A Beautiful White Blanket Of Snow (And Kick The Arse of Wall Street)

Photograph © Alex Kraus/Bloomberg News

Tao Jones'n
Wall Street
February 28, 2007

An old, miserable guy goes down to the banks of the river. He raises his arms to the heavens. He beseeches the angels. He calls on them to make things better for him. They show up, but their mood is ugly. They tell him he has a scrawny neck, that they're tired of guys like him. When he complains, they knock him down. They beat him with their thick fists. They roll him into the river. They walk off stolidly through the mists, not saying anything, breathing hard. Under their robes their shoulders are big and violent, under the great horns of their wings.

Angels, from A Man Jumps Out of an Airplane by Barry Yourgrau.


(Oh, and Wall Street, if you're reading this — Get a friggin grip!)

•••

Angels
(Buy: Robbie Williams: Life Thru A Lens)

He Needs Me
(Buy: Harry Nilsson & Shelley Duvall: Punch-Drunk Love Original Soundtrack)

Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
(Buy: Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings and Food)

Shambala
(Buy: Three Dog Night: The Complete Hit Singles)

Spring Is Not Yet Here

Morning Commute
Penobscot Bay
February 20, 2007

But, the last few days have given me some hope.

•••

February Sea
(Buy: George Winston: Winter Into Spring)

Let's Talk About Sex (On The Beach)

Morning Commute
Lawrys Narrows
January 4, 2007

Once nearly exterminated, New England harbor and gray seals are on the increase in the Gulf of Maine. This rebound, the result of two decades of legal protection, is an environmental success story. It has also created a new set of environmental management problems: as seal populations have grown, encounters between humans and seals have also increased, both on shore and off. Commercial fishers and salmon farmers, in particular, are concerned that increasing seal populations are threatening their livelihoods — a situation which is complicated by the concurrent collapse of wild groundfish stocks in the region. (via: WhaleNet)

Male seals are taking advantage of the effects of climate change by having more sex, according to a new study. — BBC NEWS

All I'm saying, is that it sounds like somebody's keeping (Read: gettin') busy.

Or, take:

1 1/2 oz. Vodka
3/4 oz. Peachtree Schnapps
1/2 oz. Creme de Cassis
2 oz. Orange juice
2 oz. Cranberry juice
Orange slice
Maraschino cherry

Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a highball glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

And meet me in Lawrys Narrows.

•••

Salt-N-Pepa: Whatta Man
Salt-N-Pepa: Shoop

(Buy: Salt-N-Pepa: Very Necessary)

Full Egg Man

3:15
Full Moon Rising
January 2, 2007

'I looked out the window and seen his bald head.'

I guess this big egg had places to be — and couldn't wait until this evening.

•••

Beastie Boys: Egg Man
(Buy: Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique)

This Is The Worst Christmas Ever (or, You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Season's About You)

'Sad Jesus'
Paint-by-Number Art
Artist Unknown

I leave for my morning commute in the dark these days — because of the ever depressing Daylight Savings Time — with an ever growing number of people leaving The Rock for the mainland to do their holiday shopping. On the last ferry of the day (which at 3:15 PM, is also in the dark), the same people are back aboard — arms and carts overflowing with the days booty.

"Mushi, have you started your shopping yet?" someone will often ask.

I smile, carrying the same bag — holding my laptop, camera, a book, notepads, shuffle, thermos, and any other things I think I might need during the day — and answer, "We really don't celebrate the holidays with all the gifts and presents."

There is often not much to say after that. Some just smile awkwardly and walk a little faster ahead. Some understand and will say that they too, wish that they didn't have to do so much — but the kids wouldn't understand. One parent told me that every Christmas – regardless of how much was under the tree on the final day — after the final present will have been opened, his child will stand up and say, "This was the worst Christmas ever."

I think the holidays were meant for something else. Give it a shot.

•••

De La Soul: Me Myself And I
(Buy: De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising)

Lene Lovich: Lucky Number
(Buy: Lene Lovich: The Best of Lene Lovich)

Al Green: Love and Happiness
(Buy: Al Green's Greatest Hits)

Riders In Rapture

Friday Evening Ferry
November 17, 2006

Red sky at night, blah, blah, blah.

My cold is (mostly) gone and I'm just glad it stopped raining. By the look of the clouds above — tomorrow looks like it might be a psychelectrodelica type of day. But, I'd just settle for a little sun.

•••

Go Home Productions: Psychelectrodelica(2003)
(Download: Go Home Productions: Psychelectrodelica(2003))

Go Home Productions: Rapture Riders (Blondie vs. The Doors)
(Buy: Go Home Productions: Rapture Riders)

Boat Friends

November 2006

•••

Black Moth Super Rainbow: Boatfriend
(Buy: Black Moth Super Rainbow: Falling Through A Field)

Two, No. One, Maybe.

Boat Thinking (Isn't Always Constructive)
The end of a day.
November 2006

I'm sitting two seats behind the next random county officer to come out to The Rock for an evening of law enforcement fun, and I stare at the back of his head. It has been a pretty long day — one of those days that takes more out of you then you were willing to give. I have my music plugged to my ears and I'm trying not to think.

And then I notice that the hair at the center of his head is patterned in a clockwise direction. Now I'm starting to think. This will do nobody any good. And I think: Does the hair of people born below the Equator grow in a counterclockwise pattern? Do I care enough to really wonder? Will I ever look it up? The answer to two of the three questions, for sure, is no. But I (think I will) take my camera out and take the picture anyway.

•••

Brian Eno: And Then So Clear
(Buy: Brian Eno: Another Day On Earth)

The Divine Comedy: Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World
(Buy: The Divine Comedy: Victory For The Comic Muse)

A Good Day To Die

Ferry Terminal Ramp
The Other Side
March 10, 2003

No, really, this was the day that I thought it was over. Just for a second — but even for a second, it's not a good thought to have in your head.

On the island side, the guy in the photo walked into the cabin with his shotgun (or whatever kind of gun it is — I don't know guns from nothin') and, without saying anything to anyone, sat in the front seat with his back to all. I wasn't even supposed to be on this ferry. I missed the first boat and caught the second to get in a few hours. And now I was on the boat with five other passengers — one, bearing arms.

Short story shorter — I lived to tell the tale — but had to get a picture to show my friends and family or they would not have believed it. When the ferry docked, everybody let the 'Rifleman' exit first, keeping their distance (and I'm sure, like me, breathing a bit easier). I took out my camera and snapped this shot like I was Michael Moore hound-dogging Charlton Heston.

L7: Stuck Here Again
(Buy: L7: Hungry For Stink)

L7: Riding With A Movie Star
(Buy: L7: Hungry For Stink)

It's A Mighty Fine Ride

My Rock Island (Ferry) Ride
December, 2005

Leadbelly: Rock Island Line (Buy It!)