A quick note:
On Friday evening, at 7 PM EST, sirius.B will be on the radio station WWCU (Western Carolina University). Brett Barnes, who runs a local music show, will be interviewing us and playing some of our music. If you have the time, go to their website at www.wwcufm.com and tune in.
Friday @ 7 PM
www.wwcufm.com
sirius.B with Brett Barnes
--ALSO--
I just got this email from "Bad Ash", a DJ at another local radio station:
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know, you will be one of the bands that will be played on this week’s edition of Local Licks, airing Sunday night @ 9pm. If you have any questions send them my way. Thanks!
Ashley “Bad Ash” Davis
On-air Personality
105.9 The Mountain
Asheville Radio Group
30 October 2007
Auckland, NZ
Wikipedia says:
"The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area of the country. It is also New Zealand's most populous city with over 1.3 million people, it has over a quarter of the country's population (32.4% of NZ's total population), [3] and demographic trends indicate that it will continue growing faster than the rest of the country. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world."
I say:
Auckaland Readers!
Oh Auckland Readers!
You pique my curiosity
Like no other Readers!
Come out of hiding
Drop the cloak of anonymity!
Leave a comment!
Who are You?
"The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area of the country. It is also New Zealand's most populous city with over 1.3 million people, it has over a quarter of the country's population (32.4% of NZ's total population), [3] and demographic trends indicate that it will continue growing faster than the rest of the country. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world."
I say:
Auckaland Readers!
Oh Auckland Readers!
You pique my curiosity
Like no other Readers!
Come out of hiding
Drop the cloak of anonymity!
Leave a comment!
Who are You?
29 October 2007
Terrorists
Here's a link to an Op-Ed piece that I just read in the NY Times. It is worth reading, even if only to see how little government has changed over the last few hundred years.
NY Times Op-Ed Piece
NY Times Op-Ed Piece
28 October 2007
Halloween Party Highlights
24 October 2007
The Pogues
In the recent review of sirius.B in the Mountain Xpress, the reporter made a comparison between us and the band "The Pogues." She wrote:
"One more comparison: The Pogues. I have to say it. There’s a certain sense of unpredictability (perhaps staged, but palpable, nonetheless) and an undercurrent of righteous anger to Sirius.B’s songs. Take the raucous, irascible “Francophile”: emotive, danceable and fiery. Surely there’s an element of the Shane McGowan (with a few more teeth and a chip on his shoulder) who took his band’s name from the Irish phrase “póg mo thóin” (meaning “kiss my arse"), yet still sweetly penned “Christmas in New York.”
Now, I had truly never heard of this band, and so I took it upon myself to do a bit of research, looking into some YouTube videos of these characters. I was already aware from the article of Mr. McGowan's missing teeth, but I certainly wasn't prepared fully. Check out the videos below. . . The first one shows a bit of a Pogues concert. The second shows why I should hope for this connection never to be applied too strictly.
Enjoy.
"One more comparison: The Pogues. I have to say it. There’s a certain sense of unpredictability (perhaps staged, but palpable, nonetheless) and an undercurrent of righteous anger to Sirius.B’s songs. Take the raucous, irascible “Francophile”: emotive, danceable and fiery. Surely there’s an element of the Shane McGowan (with a few more teeth and a chip on his shoulder) who took his band’s name from the Irish phrase “póg mo thóin” (meaning “kiss my arse"), yet still sweetly penned “Christmas in New York.”
Now, I had truly never heard of this band, and so I took it upon myself to do a bit of research, looking into some YouTube videos of these characters. I was already aware from the article of Mr. McGowan's missing teeth, but I certainly wasn't prepared fully. Check out the videos below. . . The first one shows a bit of a Pogues concert. The second shows why I should hope for this connection never to be applied too strictly.
Enjoy.
Wedding
After attending the Weinstein-Simson wedding the other day, I've decided that I'd really like to become Jewish. I am, however, not all that interested in the spiritual aspects of the religion (not to in any way detract from their worth), but rather in their ancient traditions, their super-cool weddings, and their kick-ass music.
I was the best man at this wedding, and it was truly an incredible experience to watch my best friend be married to a wonderful girl. I spoke for around ten minutes or so, giving a long and heartfelt speech, and followed it up with an acoustic version of my song, "Weinstein Cut His Hair Today", which I had mentioned during the toast. Unfortunately, the video of the toast is too long to get up on YouTube, though I hope to figure out a way to do so soon.
As usual, I'm in a rush and have much less time to write than I'd like. I must say, however, that the Horah is perhaps the most incredible of dances in the world. For those uninitiated, the Horah is a circular dance that is present in most Jewish weddings. Everyone dances (in a circle) to Jewish music, the bride and groom (and then their parents) are lifted high in the air in chairs, and everyone goes absolutely insane. There are, in fact, many different versions of the Horah in many different cultures. If you're interested in that sort of thing, check out Wikipedia's Article on the Hora(h)
I blame the Horah for my behavior late in the evening, when I harassed the 13-piece band until they played it again. In the words of the groom:
"I loved your speech and the song was incredible. I want to cry just thinking about them, it really meant a lot to me and Liz. But the moment that I will truly never forget is looking over at you, standing in front of the band, screaming "Come on! Come on!". All I could think was, "Oh no, Bond is going to get his ass kicked by the band at my wedding. What the hell is he doing?" And there you were, screaming "Come on guys!" And then, incredibly, you didn't get your ass kicked, and the band suddenly started playing the Horah again! That I will never forget."
To listen to a version of the song similar to the one in question, go HERE and scroll down to the song "Horah - Jewish Medley". After the "Hava Nagila" part, you'll hear what I heard the other night.
Sort of.
I was the best man at this wedding, and it was truly an incredible experience to watch my best friend be married to a wonderful girl. I spoke for around ten minutes or so, giving a long and heartfelt speech, and followed it up with an acoustic version of my song, "Weinstein Cut His Hair Today", which I had mentioned during the toast. Unfortunately, the video of the toast is too long to get up on YouTube, though I hope to figure out a way to do so soon.
As usual, I'm in a rush and have much less time to write than I'd like. I must say, however, that the Horah is perhaps the most incredible of dances in the world. For those uninitiated, the Horah is a circular dance that is present in most Jewish weddings. Everyone dances (in a circle) to Jewish music, the bride and groom (and then their parents) are lifted high in the air in chairs, and everyone goes absolutely insane. There are, in fact, many different versions of the Horah in many different cultures. If you're interested in that sort of thing, check out Wikipedia's Article on the Hora(h)
I blame the Horah for my behavior late in the evening, when I harassed the 13-piece band until they played it again. In the words of the groom:
"I loved your speech and the song was incredible. I want to cry just thinking about them, it really meant a lot to me and Liz. But the moment that I will truly never forget is looking over at you, standing in front of the band, screaming "Come on! Come on!". All I could think was, "Oh no, Bond is going to get his ass kicked by the band at my wedding. What the hell is he doing?" And there you were, screaming "Come on guys!" And then, incredibly, you didn't get your ass kicked, and the band suddenly started playing the Horah again! That I will never forget."
To listen to a version of the song similar to the one in question, go HERE and scroll down to the song "Horah - Jewish Medley". After the "Hava Nagila" part, you'll hear what I heard the other night.
Sort of.
22 October 2007
Sirius.B in the News
Just a quick note here--I've got a lot to write, but now is not the time. Later today I'll be back in Asheville and able to write with leisure.
In the meantime, check out this link to the Mountain Xpress (the same paper I mentioned the other day, but now for a different reason):
Sirius.B Show Review
In the meantime, check out this link to the Mountain Xpress (the same paper I mentioned the other day, but now for a different reason):
Sirius.B Show Review
18 October 2007
Mountain Xpress II
Regardig the recent post about the Mountain Xpress "Best of 2007", apparently I totally missed the part where they actually mention us:
"You also told us who to check out in the visual arts: Photographer Jen Lepkowski and anime painter Taiyo la Paix are new names in this section. And you clued us in on what bands have been flying under our radar. While funk quartet Ol' Hoopty garnered enough of a following to place among the best local rock groups, neo-soul act the Secret B-Sides, indie rockers the Broomstars and folk-punk artists Sirius B are, according to Xpress readers, the ones to watch."
"You also told us who to check out in the visual arts: Photographer Jen Lepkowski and anime painter Taiyo la Paix are new names in this section. And you clued us in on what bands have been flying under our radar. While funk quartet Ol' Hoopty garnered enough of a following to place among the best local rock groups, neo-soul act the Secret B-Sides, indie rockers the Broomstars and folk-punk artists Sirius B are, according to Xpress readers, the ones to watch."
17 October 2007
3rd Best Band (That Nobody's Ever Heard Of)
sirius.B, according to the most recent Mountain Xpress poll (magazine out of Asheville), is the 3rd Best Band that Nobody's Ever Heard of. Here's the order:
Local Band Nobody's Heard of
1. Ol' Hoopty
http://www.olhoopty.com
2. Secret B-Sides
http://www.myspace.com/entertheboom
2. Broomstars
http://www.broomstars.com
3. Sirius B
http://www.siriusbmusic.com
You can see all of the recent winners of the polls at the Mountain Xpress Website
Local Band Nobody's Heard of
1. Ol' Hoopty
http://www.olhoopty.com
2. Secret B-Sides
http://www.myspace.com/entertheboom
2. Broomstars
http://www.broomstars.com
3. Sirius B
http://www.siriusbmusic.com
You can see all of the recent winners of the polls at the Mountain Xpress Website
16 October 2007
Busking
*Editorial Note: While the post to follow does indeed sound rather bitter and rant-like, the reader can be assured that it has been exaggerated for the sake of its literary merit, if it does indeed possess some. Pancho likes playing on the street more than doing many other things. In fact, Pancho loves playing on the street.
------------------
I went out busking again today, this time with Laura, one of the vioinists in sirius.B. As usual, the experience was a lesson in many ways. Just a few of those lessons were:
1. Life is fickle, as is the business of busking.
2. Some people are cheap and uanppreciative, and I must learn to accept that.
3. Some people are incredibly scared of so much around them.
Allow me to expand upon these lessons:
1. Life is fickle, as is the business of busking.
I have been trying to turn this busking thing into a science. Perhaps all that I need is more time, more experience, more information on which to base my conclusions. Nonetheless, I have decided at this point (though my opinion may change) that so much of busking is based on luck. There are, of course, many factors that can make one day lucrative and another day a waste of time (in an economic sense). The time of day is important to consider, as is the day itself. The weather is of course always an issue as well. Location is obviously key as well.
Still, even with all of these issues factored into the equation, it seems to me that some days luck smiles down on buskers, and some days she laughts maliciously. (Speaking of which, check out this article about Hillary's laugh.)
In case you have not guessed, Laura and I did not make much money today. In one and a half hours, we managed to pull in a whopping six dollars.
2. People are cheap and scared
I'll take these together. First, regarding the fear of some people, I am amazed at how suspicious people are of anyone doing anything for money on any street. I chuckle each time an old lady tourist walks by, clutching her purse to her chest, smiling nervously in my direction. It is amazing--I am fairly well dressed and washed. I have all of my teeth, and I am playing music for a few bucks. If I wanted to steal someone's purse, would I make the getaway so difficult?
Can you imagine the theft? I rip the purse off of the fragile arm of the oldish tourist lady. I run back to my guitar case frantically, putting aside the compact discs and random accoutrements littering the inside. I carefully pack up my beautiful guitar, unleash my dog from the nearby tree, grab my open bag of kazoos, harmonica holders, mailing lists and water. And then, I run off, never to be seen again.
Unbelievable.
As for people's cheapness, I will limit myself to a mere few points about people passing street musicians.
1. Many people pretend not to listen and walk by rather quickly. I understand this, as it is often my own personal way of dealing with street performers when I am not in the mood to pay them. This does not bother me. Nor does a quick smile as someone walks by.
2. I'm not sure if it is worse or better to watch people smile, look, listen as they walk by, going so far as to give me a cheesy thumbs up or a sign of approval, and still not pay. Part of me is incredibly annoyed by such behavior, as I think, "Well damn! If you enjoyed the tunes that much, couldn't you show me your appreciation in the form of a buck?"
The less bitter part of me (this part still reigns, dear readers) thinks that I'd rather have someone show appreciation for my music. I'd rather brighten someone's day with a tune than not brighten their day, of course, even if the person whose day I'm brightening is a tightwad.
3. The worst of all: Dear Readers, as a public service announcement, I present the following idea to you: It is not okay to take photographs of street performers without paying a small amount of money. Even if you hide across the street, you are noticed. I see you there, just as I saw the woman the other day for who I composed a song on the spot. The lyrics included such lines as:
Hey lady, I'm not here just for kicks
I'm here for money too
Hey lady, I'm not just some monkey
In your Asheville zoo.
It truly is a strange feeling, as I know that most of the picture takers are thinking in terms of the story they will tell their friends back at home, something like, "Oh, look at this picture! Asheville is so quaint and quirky. There are street performers everywhere, outdoor cafes, galleries...Its really nice."
And I ain't no monkey.
Anyway, as I said above, I'm not really bitter about any of this, though I am on occasion momentarily annoyed with people. In all though, I can imagine few things I'd rather be doing than playing music outside on a fresh October day. And the people that truly do enjoy, that show their appreciation, that stop and talk (and give me money) make it all worthwhile.
Usually.
------------------
I went out busking again today, this time with Laura, one of the vioinists in sirius.B. As usual, the experience was a lesson in many ways. Just a few of those lessons were:
1. Life is fickle, as is the business of busking.
2. Some people are cheap and uanppreciative, and I must learn to accept that.
3. Some people are incredibly scared of so much around them.
Allow me to expand upon these lessons:
1. Life is fickle, as is the business of busking.
I have been trying to turn this busking thing into a science. Perhaps all that I need is more time, more experience, more information on which to base my conclusions. Nonetheless, I have decided at this point (though my opinion may change) that so much of busking is based on luck. There are, of course, many factors that can make one day lucrative and another day a waste of time (in an economic sense). The time of day is important to consider, as is the day itself. The weather is of course always an issue as well. Location is obviously key as well.
Still, even with all of these issues factored into the equation, it seems to me that some days luck smiles down on buskers, and some days she laughts maliciously. (Speaking of which, check out this article about Hillary's laugh.)
In case you have not guessed, Laura and I did not make much money today. In one and a half hours, we managed to pull in a whopping six dollars.
2. People are cheap and scared
I'll take these together. First, regarding the fear of some people, I am amazed at how suspicious people are of anyone doing anything for money on any street. I chuckle each time an old lady tourist walks by, clutching her purse to her chest, smiling nervously in my direction. It is amazing--I am fairly well dressed and washed. I have all of my teeth, and I am playing music for a few bucks. If I wanted to steal someone's purse, would I make the getaway so difficult?
Can you imagine the theft? I rip the purse off of the fragile arm of the oldish tourist lady. I run back to my guitar case frantically, putting aside the compact discs and random accoutrements littering the inside. I carefully pack up my beautiful guitar, unleash my dog from the nearby tree, grab my open bag of kazoos, harmonica holders, mailing lists and water. And then, I run off, never to be seen again.
Unbelievable.
As for people's cheapness, I will limit myself to a mere few points about people passing street musicians.
1. Many people pretend not to listen and walk by rather quickly. I understand this, as it is often my own personal way of dealing with street performers when I am not in the mood to pay them. This does not bother me. Nor does a quick smile as someone walks by.
2. I'm not sure if it is worse or better to watch people smile, look, listen as they walk by, going so far as to give me a cheesy thumbs up or a sign of approval, and still not pay. Part of me is incredibly annoyed by such behavior, as I think, "Well damn! If you enjoyed the tunes that much, couldn't you show me your appreciation in the form of a buck?"
The less bitter part of me (this part still reigns, dear readers) thinks that I'd rather have someone show appreciation for my music. I'd rather brighten someone's day with a tune than not brighten their day, of course, even if the person whose day I'm brightening is a tightwad.
3. The worst of all: Dear Readers, as a public service announcement, I present the following idea to you: It is not okay to take photographs of street performers without paying a small amount of money. Even if you hide across the street, you are noticed. I see you there, just as I saw the woman the other day for who I composed a song on the spot. The lyrics included such lines as:
Hey lady, I'm not here just for kicks
I'm here for money too
Hey lady, I'm not just some monkey
In your Asheville zoo.
It truly is a strange feeling, as I know that most of the picture takers are thinking in terms of the story they will tell their friends back at home, something like, "Oh, look at this picture! Asheville is so quaint and quirky. There are street performers everywhere, outdoor cafes, galleries...Its really nice."
And I ain't no monkey.
Anyway, as I said above, I'm not really bitter about any of this, though I am on occasion momentarily annoyed with people. In all though, I can imagine few things I'd rather be doing than playing music outside on a fresh October day. And the people that truly do enjoy, that show their appreciation, that stop and talk (and give me money) make it all worthwhile.
Usually.
15 October 2007
Regarding Natascha
By popular demand:
Regarding the last post, and my reply to "Natascha" -- Here are the posts on which she commented. Follow the links to see the posts and her comments.
SEX, Butcher, and Promised Land
Regarding the last post, and my reply to "Natascha" -- Here are the posts on which she commented. Follow the links to see the posts and her comments.
SEX, Butcher, and Promised Land
13 October 2007
Natascha
Dear Natascha from Morocco,
I am sorry that you found my posts on Morocco to be offensive, as they were meant to be anything but that. Nonetheless, I do not apologize for any content in this blog. I report what I feel and see while I am traveling, even if at times this is an "inconvenient truth."
As per your specific complaints:
1. In the post entitled "Sex in Morocco" I was reporting what I was told by a number of Moroccan men during my most recent stay in the country. Please note the certain use of irony and jest when reporting what was for me a few very interesting conversations.
2. Regarding the videos of my friend's house: You seem to feel that I unfairly posted these videos without his permission. This is untrue. It is, in fact, the opposite of the truth, as my friend was perhaps more excited than I about creating and sharing these videos.
3. Regarding your complaint that I am a Western something-or-other, I can do nothing to change my birthplace. You say that if I don't like your country, I should stay away. This is unfair and ridiculous, as I love Morocco, I have always loved the companionship and friendship of Moroccans, and I hope to return many times.
I hope that this clears this up for you.
I am sorry that you found my posts on Morocco to be offensive, as they were meant to be anything but that. Nonetheless, I do not apologize for any content in this blog. I report what I feel and see while I am traveling, even if at times this is an "inconvenient truth."
As per your specific complaints:
1. In the post entitled "Sex in Morocco" I was reporting what I was told by a number of Moroccan men during my most recent stay in the country. Please note the certain use of irony and jest when reporting what was for me a few very interesting conversations.
2. Regarding the videos of my friend's house: You seem to feel that I unfairly posted these videos without his permission. This is untrue. It is, in fact, the opposite of the truth, as my friend was perhaps more excited than I about creating and sharing these videos.
3. Regarding your complaint that I am a Western something-or-other, I can do nothing to change my birthplace. You say that if I don't like your country, I should stay away. This is unfair and ridiculous, as I love Morocco, I have always loved the companionship and friendship of Moroccans, and I hope to return many times.
I hope that this clears this up for you.
10 October 2007
The Birthday
Yesterday was quite a day. Yesterday was such an incredible day, in fact, that it may rate highest on the list of best birthday memories. (The award for Worst birthday memories is reserved for my 26th birthday, on which I was robbed blind by NYC thugs as a result of my own stupidity and trust).
Stupidity and trust were in full effect this year as well, but to a better end, as the machinations of Ellen and company were completely successful in suprising me with an amazing celebration. I'd like to give a play-by-play of the evening, but seem unable to do so (I don't know if this is a result of my slightly hungover state, my sub-par writing skills, or the nature of the story). I will therefore, tell the tale in a bullet-point style.
- Ellen took me to Shoji Retreats, "Asheville's Japanese Style Outdoor Hot Tub and Massage Spa". The place is beautiful, and I was treated to a one hour hot tub soak (in a private area, with views of the mountains and a bottle of champange) and a one hour massage. This was one of the most decadent moments in my life.
- Ellen had told me that after Shoji (which was a surprise in itself) there remained two parts of the evening, both of which were mysteries to me. I was also told that I would not be spending the night in Asheville, and I assumed that part two of the evening would be some sort of dining experience.
- When we stopped by Ellen's house so that she could "pop in and grab her bag for the night" I was greeted by a large number of screaming voices (saying "Surprise!") and noisemakers. The entire house was decorated with pictures of my face (including on the inside of the toilet seat) and balloons. I was very surprised, to say the least.
- Everyone was wearing small pictures of me on their shirts, many of them quite unflattering.
- The cupcakes were decorated with pictures of me.
The whole night was amazing. So many good friends came out (on a Tuesday), we ate great food and drank good beer, and played music late into the night.
I wish I could spin this yarn in a more entertaining fashion, but I am finding this impossible, so I'll stop here. Check out the pictures below.
THESE LITTLE GUYS, GIVEN TO ME BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, ARE MADE WITH ONE CONTINUOUS PIECE OF STRING
<
NO BIRTHDAY WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF DELUXE DRIED SQUID
ALSO NECESSARY ARE SHAKERS THAT LOOK LIKE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Stupidity and trust were in full effect this year as well, but to a better end, as the machinations of Ellen and company were completely successful in suprising me with an amazing celebration. I'd like to give a play-by-play of the evening, but seem unable to do so (I don't know if this is a result of my slightly hungover state, my sub-par writing skills, or the nature of the story). I will therefore, tell the tale in a bullet-point style.
- Ellen took me to Shoji Retreats, "Asheville's Japanese Style Outdoor Hot Tub and Massage Spa". The place is beautiful, and I was treated to a one hour hot tub soak (in a private area, with views of the mountains and a bottle of champange) and a one hour massage. This was one of the most decadent moments in my life.
- Ellen had told me that after Shoji (which was a surprise in itself) there remained two parts of the evening, both of which were mysteries to me. I was also told that I would not be spending the night in Asheville, and I assumed that part two of the evening would be some sort of dining experience.
- When we stopped by Ellen's house so that she could "pop in and grab her bag for the night" I was greeted by a large number of screaming voices (saying "Surprise!") and noisemakers. The entire house was decorated with pictures of my face (including on the inside of the toilet seat) and balloons. I was very surprised, to say the least.
- Everyone was wearing small pictures of me on their shirts, many of them quite unflattering.
- The cupcakes were decorated with pictures of me.
The whole night was amazing. So many good friends came out (on a Tuesday), we ate great food and drank good beer, and played music late into the night.
I wish I could spin this yarn in a more entertaining fashion, but I am finding this impossible, so I'll stop here. Check out the pictures below.
09 October 2007
Panchos Via Dot Com II
There seem to be a few problems with the www.panchosvia.com address. Hopefully I'll have it working soon.
08 October 2007
Pancho's Via DOT com
This BLOG can now be reached at the following, much more user-friendly, much less stupid and ridiculous web address: www.panchosvia.com
The Swimming Hole, Seafood Adventures and Taqueria Gonzalez
Yesterday, Ellen and I took Lupe out to my favorite swimming hole, which is about an hour away from here, just off of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a beautiful place, with some of the clearest water I have ever seen, nice trails and campsites, and plenty of places for Lupe to swim and run around like a lunatic.
After hanging out there for a while, we headed off back to Asheville and out to dinner. Now, we have recently been discussing our lack of experience with many of Asheville's restaurants. Sure, we've eaten at nearly all of the local vegetarian places, the Indian restaurants, the sushi places, and some fancy places. You get the picture, I'm sure. There are so many local places, "normal" places, however, that we have not yet tried.
In our defense, in many cases this is because many of the places we haven't eaten don't look appetizing. Nonetheless, we decided to venture out and give one of them a try. "Fisherman's Quarters II" was the name of the place we picked, due both to its proximity to our homes and the cheesy sign looming over the parking lot.
I'll make a long story short: I will, in the future, trust my instincts more with regard to food establishments in the region. The place wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't anyplace I would recommend to a friend. Nonetheless, I suppose that I can congratulate myself on eating in a restaurant in Asheville in which at least 75% of the people eating there were surely from North Carolina. This is rarity here in Asheville, as much of the town, and nearly all of my friends, are Asheville immigrants. I rarely, in fact, ever meet anyone that is actually from here.
So, at least I get local points for my adventurous spirit. I lose points, however, for going to a seafood joint in the mountains.
There is, however, one type of restaurant here in town that I am always prepared to try--Mexican. Much of the Mexican food in Asheville, unsurprisingly, is terrible. There are a number of places that serve insipid, uninspired, overly cheesy, overly saucy, messes of food that they claim is Mexican. A quick story about one such place:
I went to a certain restaurant for lunch one afternoon with a friend. It was a beautiful day, we had just played a game of basketball. We sat outside and each ordered a beer and enjoyed the restaurant's tortilla chips and salsa. We ordered--I can't remember what my friend asked for, but I ordered a "chile relleno", which, in Spanish means "stuffed chile pepper".
(A quick aside: I have lived and traveled and studied in Spain and Mexico. I taught Spanish for five years. I have eaten Mexican food in great quantities. I just want to be clear on one point--my qualifications for understanding perfectly the nature of the chile relleno are outstanding, stellar, spotless.)
The waiter delivers our food, and on my plate is a mess of cheese, random morsels of ground beef, and a few strips of green pepper. I look at it with suprise, try it, and look up at my friend with disgust. We both wonder what the hell I have just been served. So I call the waiter over to the table, and I ask him, "Where is the chile relleno?" I ask him in Spanish.
"it is there on your plate," he responds.
"No," I say, "on my plate there is cheese and meat and a few strips of pepper."
"That," he explains to me with an air of superiority, "is how the chile relleno is served."
"But," I tell him, "it is impossible to call this a stuffed pepper. By definition it is impossible. Where is the pepper with things on the inside of it?"
The conversation continued for a bit along this line, as he tried to explain to me that I was eating a stuffed pepper, and I tried to tell him that in order for something to be called a stuffed pepper, there must actually be a stuffed pepper present in the meal. This is the kind of Mexican food that I could really do without.
There are, thankfully, also a few places in town that serve delicious, though somewhat "Americanized" Mexican food. And then, there are the Taquerias.
Ahhhh, the taquerias of Asheville. Never before have I seen a white face (besides my own and those of my friends of course) in these places, these hidden gems, these havens for lovers of true Mexican flavors. I am not, of course, the only non-Mexican in town that enjoys these places, but truly--I have never, ever seen "whitey" in any of these places.
These totally under-utilized places serve up incredible plates and delicious, cheap tacos (usually around $1.50 per taco. I am stuffed with three, Ellen gets two.) And where else in town can you get a cow's head taco? I mean, come on! Look below for an example of a delicious dinner from Taqueria Gonzalez (located on Haywood Rd. in West Asheville.) The tacos shown are (starting from the top and moving clockwise) chicken, barbeque, and tacos al pastor.
After hanging out there for a while, we headed off back to Asheville and out to dinner. Now, we have recently been discussing our lack of experience with many of Asheville's restaurants. Sure, we've eaten at nearly all of the local vegetarian places, the Indian restaurants, the sushi places, and some fancy places. You get the picture, I'm sure. There are so many local places, "normal" places, however, that we have not yet tried.
In our defense, in many cases this is because many of the places we haven't eaten don't look appetizing. Nonetheless, we decided to venture out and give one of them a try. "Fisherman's Quarters II" was the name of the place we picked, due both to its proximity to our homes and the cheesy sign looming over the parking lot.
I'll make a long story short: I will, in the future, trust my instincts more with regard to food establishments in the region. The place wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't anyplace I would recommend to a friend. Nonetheless, I suppose that I can congratulate myself on eating in a restaurant in Asheville in which at least 75% of the people eating there were surely from North Carolina. This is rarity here in Asheville, as much of the town, and nearly all of my friends, are Asheville immigrants. I rarely, in fact, ever meet anyone that is actually from here.
So, at least I get local points for my adventurous spirit. I lose points, however, for going to a seafood joint in the mountains.
There is, however, one type of restaurant here in town that I am always prepared to try--Mexican. Much of the Mexican food in Asheville, unsurprisingly, is terrible. There are a number of places that serve insipid, uninspired, overly cheesy, overly saucy, messes of food that they claim is Mexican. A quick story about one such place:
I went to a certain restaurant for lunch one afternoon with a friend. It was a beautiful day, we had just played a game of basketball. We sat outside and each ordered a beer and enjoyed the restaurant's tortilla chips and salsa. We ordered--I can't remember what my friend asked for, but I ordered a "chile relleno", which, in Spanish means "stuffed chile pepper".
(A quick aside: I have lived and traveled and studied in Spain and Mexico. I taught Spanish for five years. I have eaten Mexican food in great quantities. I just want to be clear on one point--my qualifications for understanding perfectly the nature of the chile relleno are outstanding, stellar, spotless.)
The waiter delivers our food, and on my plate is a mess of cheese, random morsels of ground beef, and a few strips of green pepper. I look at it with suprise, try it, and look up at my friend with disgust. We both wonder what the hell I have just been served. So I call the waiter over to the table, and I ask him, "Where is the chile relleno?" I ask him in Spanish.
"it is there on your plate," he responds.
"No," I say, "on my plate there is cheese and meat and a few strips of pepper."
"That," he explains to me with an air of superiority, "is how the chile relleno is served."
"But," I tell him, "it is impossible to call this a stuffed pepper. By definition it is impossible. Where is the pepper with things on the inside of it?"
The conversation continued for a bit along this line, as he tried to explain to me that I was eating a stuffed pepper, and I tried to tell him that in order for something to be called a stuffed pepper, there must actually be a stuffed pepper present in the meal. This is the kind of Mexican food that I could really do without.
There are, thankfully, also a few places in town that serve delicious, though somewhat "Americanized" Mexican food. And then, there are the Taquerias.
Ahhhh, the taquerias of Asheville. Never before have I seen a white face (besides my own and those of my friends of course) in these places, these hidden gems, these havens for lovers of true Mexican flavors. I am not, of course, the only non-Mexican in town that enjoys these places, but truly--I have never, ever seen "whitey" in any of these places.
These totally under-utilized places serve up incredible plates and delicious, cheap tacos (usually around $1.50 per taco. I am stuffed with three, Ellen gets two.) And where else in town can you get a cow's head taco? I mean, come on! Look below for an example of a delicious dinner from Taqueria Gonzalez (located on Haywood Rd. in West Asheville.) The tacos shown are (starting from the top and moving clockwise) chicken, barbeque, and tacos al pastor.
An Inconvenient Truth
I have finally gotten around to watching Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth". For anyone who has not yet seen it, it is imperative that you do so. It is a sobering, frightening, and inspiring movie. Gore is eloquent and passionate about the issue of global warming, and demonstrates, in a simple and straightforward fashion, the global crisis we are currently facing.
We in the United States are responsible for 30.3% of the total carbon emissions that lead to global warming, and so it is we that, more than anyone, need to act to arrest this phenomenon.
Honestly, the film is amazing and scary, and I would recommend it to anyone. Also check out the companion website, www.climatecrisis.net.
Sorry if this seems overly preachy and political, but as Gore says in his film, there really is nothing political about all of this. The world is going to hell in a handbasket--glaciers are melting, sea temperature is rising, ocean levels are rising, the number of violent storms of all types is increasing. We are f#*@ed unless we do something.
I'm biking to the gym today.
We in the United States are responsible for 30.3% of the total carbon emissions that lead to global warming, and so it is we that, more than anyone, need to act to arrest this phenomenon.
Honestly, the film is amazing and scary, and I would recommend it to anyone. Also check out the companion website, www.climatecrisis.net.
Sorry if this seems overly preachy and political, but as Gore says in his film, there really is nothing political about all of this. The world is going to hell in a handbasket--glaciers are melting, sea temperature is rising, ocean levels are rising, the number of violent storms of all types is increasing. We are f#*@ed unless we do something.
I'm biking to the gym today.
White Chocolate
*Editorial Note: Pancho's politics, while not generally an issue in this blog, fall rather far to the left. They fail, however, to reach the often silly and ridiculous reaches of some of the dreadlocked, kaffiyeh-wearing, tattered clothes-sporting university students of many European cities.
*Second Editorial Note: Though Pancho does indeed quote Jesus Christ in the lines below, this is not meant in any way as a claim of religiosity, but rather as an attempt to faithfully quote an often mis-quoted line.
-----------------
Sometime ago, a friend and I (see his blog on Italian politics here) began planning on a still unwritten book. The proposed book title was something along the lines of "You're As Bad As U.S." and would have detailed certain inconsistencies, as we perceived them, in European ultra-lefty politics.
The idea was this: The U.S., in the field of International Policy, does some pretty terrible things. Nonetheless, we felt that many Europeans that we met were wholly ignorant of the terrible nature of the foreign policy of their own country, not to mention the foreign policy of other countries within the European Union. Our book was meant to expose everyone, showing that while we recognized our own problems, we also could see the problems inherent in the politics of our detractors.
In the words of Jesus, the star of the New Testament, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. . ."
Anyway, this theoretical book comes to mind now as I read a New York Times article about the current state of Swiss poltics. (You can find the article, entitled "Immigration, Black Sheep and Swiss Rage" HERE.) According to the article, the country of Switzerland, known for its international neutrality, chocolate, skiing and raclette, is also a nation of racists, xenophobes, and budding fascists.
The image below, which has been mailed to thouands of households in Switzerland, put on billboards, and generally advertised everywhere, is the work of "the most powerful party in Switzerland’s federal Parliament and a member of the coalition government, an extreme right-wing party called the Swiss People’s Party, or SVP." The SVP, campaigning for upcoming elections, is focusing increasing energy on the perceived problems of immigration. Unfortunately, rather than engaging in a rational debate on the issue, they are utilizing scare tactics, racist advertisements, and proposed draconian policies to garner votes.
And so, I once again humbly remind the world of one simple fact: We've got problems, and lots of them. We've got a lunatic in the White House, corruption and hypocrisy in Congress, and a generally violent and greedy record of foreign affairs. We've also got our share of problems in domestic affairs. But remember--we're not the only ones. Sometimes, you're as bad as U.S.
*Second Editorial Note: Though Pancho does indeed quote Jesus Christ in the lines below, this is not meant in any way as a claim of religiosity, but rather as an attempt to faithfully quote an often mis-quoted line.
-----------------
Sometime ago, a friend and I (see his blog on Italian politics here) began planning on a still unwritten book. The proposed book title was something along the lines of "You're As Bad As U.S." and would have detailed certain inconsistencies, as we perceived them, in European ultra-lefty politics.
The idea was this: The U.S., in the field of International Policy, does some pretty terrible things. Nonetheless, we felt that many Europeans that we met were wholly ignorant of the terrible nature of the foreign policy of their own country, not to mention the foreign policy of other countries within the European Union. Our book was meant to expose everyone, showing that while we recognized our own problems, we also could see the problems inherent in the politics of our detractors.
In the words of Jesus, the star of the New Testament, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. . ."
Anyway, this theoretical book comes to mind now as I read a New York Times article about the current state of Swiss poltics. (You can find the article, entitled "Immigration, Black Sheep and Swiss Rage" HERE.) According to the article, the country of Switzerland, known for its international neutrality, chocolate, skiing and raclette, is also a nation of racists, xenophobes, and budding fascists.
The image below, which has been mailed to thouands of households in Switzerland, put on billboards, and generally advertised everywhere, is the work of "the most powerful party in Switzerland’s federal Parliament and a member of the coalition government, an extreme right-wing party called the Swiss People’s Party, or SVP." The SVP, campaigning for upcoming elections, is focusing increasing energy on the perceived problems of immigration. Unfortunately, rather than engaging in a rational debate on the issue, they are utilizing scare tactics, racist advertisements, and proposed draconian policies to garner votes.
And so, I once again humbly remind the world of one simple fact: We've got problems, and lots of them. We've got a lunatic in the White House, corruption and hypocrisy in Congress, and a generally violent and greedy record of foreign affairs. We've also got our share of problems in domestic affairs. But remember--we're not the only ones. Sometimes, you're as bad as U.S.
06 October 2007
Demetri Martin
For whatever reason, I am the blog-master today. Just a quick note to all about a comedian I recently discovered. By discovered, I mean, of course, found out about long after everyone else in the country.
Anyway, he's got a website with a really strange, funny, quirky short movie called Clearification. You can find it at www.clearification.com, though the website is really slow. You can also find the movie on YouTube.
Check it out.
Anyway, he's got a website with a really strange, funny, quirky short movie called Clearification. You can find it at www.clearification.com, though the website is really slow. You can also find the movie on YouTube.
Check it out.
The Yard Dogs Road Show
Rather than write too much about last night's show, I am going to put up these movies (not my movies, nor are they from last night's show), which should give a pretty good idea of what it was all about. I must say, however, that this was honestly one of the most incredible shows I have ever seen. I left the building swearing to my friends that "I would never be normal again."
Once you've seen the alternatives to normal, normal just seems like a waste of time.
Enjoy.
Once you've seen the alternatives to normal, normal just seems like a waste of time.
Enjoy.
Asheville in the Times
Asheville was recently featured in the New York Times, in their travel section. While the writer didn't exactly get everything right, it wasn't all that bad, and it is nice to see my home in the news. Though, of course, this does mean that the "yuppification" of Asheville is gaining steam and energy.
You can read the article, entitled "36 hours in Asheville, N.C." (the Times does this sort of article quite often) at the New York Times website.
Yuppification or not, Asheville is still pretty weird, as many wish it to be. One can even find bumper stickers all over town that read "Keep Asheville Weird". And, amazingly, this guy, Chris Chiaromonte, is running for City Council in the upcoming elections. He alone is proof enough that Asheville is still quite weird.
Elections will be held on October 9th, which, coincidentally, is my birthday.
You can read the article, entitled "36 hours in Asheville, N.C." (the Times does this sort of article quite often) at the New York Times website.
Yuppification or not, Asheville is still pretty weird, as many wish it to be. One can even find bumper stickers all over town that read "Keep Asheville Weird". And, amazingly, this guy, Chris Chiaromonte, is running for City Council in the upcoming elections. He alone is proof enough that Asheville is still quite weird.
Elections will be held on October 9th, which, coincidentally, is my birthday.
The Anarchist Cookbook
Last year for Christmas, my brother PJ gave me a collection of inspiring and revolutionary books. One of the books is called "The Anarchist Cookbook: Recipes for Disaster", though it is not to be confused with the older and far more cheesy book entitled, as well, "The Anarchist Cookbook".
While the older book by the same name told 1970s hippies how to smoke banana peels (which, it turns out, do absolutely nothing for the smoker), this book details actual anarchist techniques for wreaking havoc and displaying true displeasure with the "system". The book is published by Crimethinc. Agents Provacateurs, and can be purchased at the Crimethinc. website for only ten dollars.
Okay, so some of it is a bit ridiculous, and much of it is hard to justify morally. Nonetheless, there are chapters and sections that are, with no irony, truly inspiring. It is nice to read of people who are unhappy with the current state of things (aren't most people?) in the world and who really attempt to do something about it.
Here are a few juicy entries in the index:
Arrest
evading 212-218
health issues relating to 263-264
ETC.
automobiles
as blockade 162, 175, 428
The list goes on, obviously, and treats the reader to instructions on creating and displaying banners, means of graffiti-ing, creating musical instruments, and having sex. Best of all is this quote on the back of the book, which is in fact what inspirired me to write about the book in the first place:
"You must always have a secret plan. Everything depends on this: it is the only question. So as not to be conquered by the conquered territory in which you lead your life, so as not to feel the horrible weight of inertia wrecking your will and bending you to the ground, so as not to spend a single night more wondering what there is to do or how to connect with your neighbors and countrymen, you must make secret plans without respite. Plan for adventure, plan for pleasure, plan for pandemonium, as you wish; but plan, lay plans constantly.
And when you come to, on the steps of the presidential palace, in the green grass beside the highway, in your cell's gloomy solitude, your secret plan finished or foiled, ask your comrades, ask your cellmates, ask the wind, the waves, the stars, the sea, ask everything that ponders, everything that wanders, everything that sings, everything that stings -- ask them what time it is; and your comrades, your cellmates, the wind, the waves, the stars, the sea all will answer: "It is time for a new secret plan. So as not to be the martyred slave of routine, plan adventure, plan pleasure, plan pandemonium, as you wish; but plan, plan secretly and without respite."
'Nuff said.
While the older book by the same name told 1970s hippies how to smoke banana peels (which, it turns out, do absolutely nothing for the smoker), this book details actual anarchist techniques for wreaking havoc and displaying true displeasure with the "system". The book is published by Crimethinc. Agents Provacateurs, and can be purchased at the Crimethinc. website for only ten dollars.
Okay, so some of it is a bit ridiculous, and much of it is hard to justify morally. Nonetheless, there are chapters and sections that are, with no irony, truly inspiring. It is nice to read of people who are unhappy with the current state of things (aren't most people?) in the world and who really attempt to do something about it.
Here are a few juicy entries in the index:
Arrest
evading 212-218
health issues relating to 263-264
ETC.
automobiles
as blockade 162, 175, 428
The list goes on, obviously, and treats the reader to instructions on creating and displaying banners, means of graffiti-ing, creating musical instruments, and having sex. Best of all is this quote on the back of the book, which is in fact what inspirired me to write about the book in the first place:
"You must always have a secret plan. Everything depends on this: it is the only question. So as not to be conquered by the conquered territory in which you lead your life, so as not to feel the horrible weight of inertia wrecking your will and bending you to the ground, so as not to spend a single night more wondering what there is to do or how to connect with your neighbors and countrymen, you must make secret plans without respite. Plan for adventure, plan for pleasure, plan for pandemonium, as you wish; but plan, lay plans constantly.
And when you come to, on the steps of the presidential palace, in the green grass beside the highway, in your cell's gloomy solitude, your secret plan finished or foiled, ask your comrades, ask your cellmates, ask the wind, the waves, the stars, the sea, ask everything that ponders, everything that wanders, everything that sings, everything that stings -- ask them what time it is; and your comrades, your cellmates, the wind, the waves, the stars, the sea all will answer: "It is time for a new secret plan. So as not to be the martyred slave of routine, plan adventure, plan pleasure, plan pandemonium, as you wish; but plan, plan secretly and without respite."
'Nuff said.
05 October 2007
Falling Behind
I've been falling behind a bit on the posting, but will soon begin with greater regularity.
Things in Asheville continue much as they have been--playing music, going to the gym (a new thing, since I quit smoking), walking the dog...Life is not so tough at the moment, I cannot tell a lie.
I left town with Ellen the other day, and we rode out to Hot Springs, a town about 45 minutes from here. We camped alongside the French Broad River there, sleeping in the back of my van (aka Mrs. Breeze). I've got the back of my van pretty well set up, with a nice, thick futon mattress that fits in perfectly. I open the windows to feel the fresh air, and have a great view in the morning. It really is perfect.
Whilst there, I purchased a fishing rod, lures, and the such. I enjoy fly fishing on occasion, but locals informed me that the French Broad is not much a fly-fishing-conducive river, and so I broke down and went the route of the rod and reel. Using a bright orange plastic bug, I quickly caught myself a nice-sized smallmouth bass, which I roasted over the hot coals a few hours later. Quite delicious.
Tonight I am heading out to see The Yard Dog Road Show. I'm not really sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be some sort of burlesque / musical / sideshow type performance. From what I hear, it is very entertaining. I've been looking to become as ridiculous and side-show-like as possible while performing, so perhaps this will inspire me.
Finally, my band, Sirius.B now has the new website nearly completed. You can check it out at www.siriusbmusic.com. Tell all of your friends, listen to the tunes, and enjoy. (Note: some of the tunes are not quite completed, such as "Spice Bullet" which is currently undergoing renovations.)
More soon.
Things in Asheville continue much as they have been--playing music, going to the gym (a new thing, since I quit smoking), walking the dog...Life is not so tough at the moment, I cannot tell a lie.
I left town with Ellen the other day, and we rode out to Hot Springs, a town about 45 minutes from here. We camped alongside the French Broad River there, sleeping in the back of my van (aka Mrs. Breeze). I've got the back of my van pretty well set up, with a nice, thick futon mattress that fits in perfectly. I open the windows to feel the fresh air, and have a great view in the morning. It really is perfect.
Whilst there, I purchased a fishing rod, lures, and the such. I enjoy fly fishing on occasion, but locals informed me that the French Broad is not much a fly-fishing-conducive river, and so I broke down and went the route of the rod and reel. Using a bright orange plastic bug, I quickly caught myself a nice-sized smallmouth bass, which I roasted over the hot coals a few hours later. Quite delicious.
Tonight I am heading out to see The Yard Dog Road Show. I'm not really sure exactly what it is, but it seems to be some sort of burlesque / musical / sideshow type performance. From what I hear, it is very entertaining. I've been looking to become as ridiculous and side-show-like as possible while performing, so perhaps this will inspire me.
Finally, my band, Sirius.B now has the new website nearly completed. You can check it out at www.siriusbmusic.com. Tell all of your friends, listen to the tunes, and enjoy. (Note: some of the tunes are not quite completed, such as "Spice Bullet" which is currently undergoing renovations.)
More soon.
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