I'm enough of a mess traveling, with an overstuffed messenger bag, doing the coffee and iPod balancing act, boarding pass in an odd pocket, pants falling down bit, too hot to wear jacket, wife doing the bathroom stop, timing my step off weird walking treadmill things, blocking out sad looking sports bars: its alot for any dachshund to handle.  Then you find your gate.  You have 25 minutes till you watch all the first class people board.  Naturally, you go to the book store and pretend to maybe buy a magazine, Combos, a $4 water and do a quick inventory of people you are about to see who might appreciate a MILWAUKEE magnet. 

Then you hit the slim wall of books and thats when I realized I absoultely fucking had it.  Hey inspired traveler try these books on for size (one of these is made up, the rest are real):

I CAN MAKE YOU THIN

YOU'RE BROKE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE

YOU ARE YOUR OFFICE

DO'S and DON'TS OF CRAIGSLIST HOTEL RELATIONSHIPS

STRIVING TO BUILD CORPORATE STRENGTH

THE POWER OF UNREASONABLE PEOPLE

 On Jan 10, 1776, Thomas Paine, (the original T-Pain, holla), published COMMON SENSE and the colonists went all Star Wars and destroyed the British Death Star or something.  He rallied the troops.  John Adams said, "Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain".  That's pretty sick.  Oh yeah, and all this went down in New Rochelle, NY where I grew up.  Feel that Shorewood suckas!

MEMORIAL AT THOMAS PAINE'S HOUSE, ACROSS FROM NEW ROCHELLE HIGH SCHOOL IN NY.

click here for FACEBOOK invite page and meet some indie film n music kids.....

 + Headliners: Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats Records),
The Woes (from Brooklyn)

+ Meet the folks from Milwaukee Film and enter to win a chance for free tickets to upcoming screenings of "American Movie" and "Handmade Nation" @ The Oriental Theater

+ Exclusive DJ set by:DJ Tarik (88.9fm Radio Milwaukee / The Rhythm Lab).

+ Free Slamdance DVDs

+ $5 @ door -- a bargain! Support Independent Artists!!!

+ Doors open 9 p.m. , 21+

The Y Not III is 1854 E. Kenilworth Place,
near Beans and Barley.

Spread the word, and see you there!

There is art that moves you and then there is art that you are in.  Both are equally amazing for obvious reasons.  Kevin Callahan, main art dude at Alterra Coffee Roasters painted my portrait for what I am sure is meant to be consideration for when I chose an illustrator for the dust jacket of my autobiography.  While I will certainly hang this in my office, I leave all administrative matters, artwork and otherwise, to my agent.

As ever,

Otis

Fourteen months after his 1971 World Series victory, Roberto Clemente died on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1972, taking food and relief supplies to earthquake-torn Nicaragua.  He was 38 years old. Hearing that other supplies were being stolen before reaching the people in need, he proclaimed that "No one steals from Roberto Clemente" -- and, against warnings that the old, smaller-sized DC-7 was seriously overloaded, he went aloft but never returned.

2009 resolution: keep things in perspective, be bold, make everyday count, keep it real and take 'er easy.

As ever,

Otis

My word Walgreens!  You frisky bastards. I'm doing the late night lap around for weird stuff like Pet Safe Salt-Melter, Candy for the front desk at The Establishment, Sinus Medicine for the wife, maybe some 4/$10 Pringles - I dont know - I might get Post It Notes and a Tape Measure.  How about a refill on my printer cartridge and a case of Vitamin Water....you don't know me!  I like to keep my visits loose.  But, I was not expecting this.  Right there in the Heating Pad / Ace Bandage aisle.  Dildos.  3 different kinds.   Its hard to see but there is a picture of a just-out-of-the-shower lady looking at you with bedroom eyes.  At least they are only $9.99 - good value.  If this is your thing, keep it local and visit Laura @ The Tool Shed.

keeping it safe for all you sinners,

Otis

Saturday Dec 20

6 Secret Santa Retail Items Are On The Shelves
Buy The Marked Item and WIN a FREE HAIRCUT with your stylist. Get Here, Get Lucky & Win

Buy A $25 Gift Certificate, Get 2 FREE Aveda Hand Reliefs (1.7oz) (one for me, one for you sale)

Buy Gift Set & 10% off All Retail Sales

Enter To Win Aveda Spa Facial

If a picture is worth a thousand Stralkowski's sandwiches at $4.79, then the  photo's below are worth $9,580.  Skynyrd sammies and free Atari?  F off!

Koppa's Fulbeli Deli

1940 N Farwell Ave - Milwaukee, WI 53202
1Tele: 414-273-1273 - Fax: 414-273-0393
Open Daily 7:00am - 9:00pm

Chicago Sun Times writer / Rolling Stone & Spin contributor Jim DeRogatis once wrote about Billy Corgan that "Of all the memorable artists and characters that the alternative era produced, [Corgan] was the most traditional and explosive rock star, with all of the good and bad traits that implies and David Fricke of Rolling Stone once called him and his Smashing Pumpkins bandmates "ruthless virtuosos". So, of the big 3 (Pearl Jam, Nirvana, SP), the Pumpkins were kinda kickin ass.

I just saw the re-vamped version of The Smashing Pumpkins (only Billy and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain remain) at the Audiotorium Theater in Chicago.  It was great and sad at the same time.  Great because the songs are heartfelt and really well contructed and sad because Billy Corgan is a far cry from the jimi-hendrix-grunge-sunkissed-nerd of the early 90s Alternative scene.  Below is the set list from the show and also a clip from their greatest era: late 93-early 94 when Siamese Dream broke but they band was still booked into shithole clubs.  Despite PR and label pressure to reschedule shows, they opted not to bump the shows up to bigger spots; instead they honored the fans that believed in them early on and played sweet, geeked out shows full of crazy theatrics.  Pretty fresh.  Check out the video below....

As ever,

Otis

Smashing Pumpkins in Chicago December 8, 2008

 SMASHING PUMPKINS Live in Seattle Oct 1993 - song: GEEK USA from album: SIAMESE DREAM

Morrissey, former frontman for The Smiths, current King of Gloom, is releasing another album of melodrama cranked up to 11.  This guy is out of his sad mind.  The forthcoming album is titled YEARS OF REFUSAL and if that's not enough for you, the lead single is called "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris". 

For reals?  First, what's with the baby?  Creep show, dude.  And the song title?  Oh dear me, this world has thrown me so.  What else can I do but faint into the arms of my lady Paris?  Who the f*cks says that?  Who offhandedly throws their arms around Paris?  You know what, f*ckin Morrissey does and you better get on board 'cause his shit is so far past dramatic that it can't help but become awesome again.  Here are few insanely over-dramatic song title gems from Sir Moz.  Have a woeful day full of dread and isolation.

hang the DJ, 

Otis

Insane/Awesome Morrissey & Smiths Song Titles

 I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

William, It Was Really Nothing

Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

I've Changed My Plea To Guilty

Never Had No One Ever