skinbeatergreg skinbeatergreg Stories from The Big City as told by a daytime suit and a nighttime drummer. Articles
The Road Less Traveled
2007-12-11 01:46:00 In light of the Michael Vick sentencing today, here is a story of a ballplayer gone bad with a much happier ending.More on Ricky here, and the Sivananda Yoga Center in NYC here. More About: Road , The Road
Holiday Gifts I Don't Want vol 3
2007-12-09 16:05:00 Urinal MaskI'm pretty open-minded and experimental when it comes to this kind of stuff (the last Cooch party was at the end of November for those who missed it), but this whole Heavy Rubber scene? DAY-UM, that's scary! More About: Holiday , Gifts
Musical Interlude vol 1
2007-12-09 06:49:00 More christmas shopping tomorrow. My pals The Baghdaddios are setting the mood. Enjoy! More About: Musical
SBG Groovy Moovys vol 4
2007-12-08 17:18:00 Saw this last night. Wonderful family fare. I love having my emotions manipulated by the Hollywood Machine, and this one did it for me. It was mostly the fantastic music (amazing stunt guitar work by folk phenom Kaki King), and the cute kids. It's one of those magical Fairy Tale of NY kinds of movies that I absolutely love.NYC is really popping up on the big screen quite a bit now that the holidays are here (August Rush, Enchanted, the new Will Smith flick, et al). Even one of those irritating Verizon commercials before the movie featured a stroll down St Marks. So all you NYC voyeurs should get your fill this year.As a kid I had geographic schizophrenia it came to christmas (or as MB calls it, "stressmus"). When I drew pictures of Santa, he was always at the North Pole amid soaring mountains, snow-covered evergreens, and frozen lakes filled with skating elves. But when I drew pictures of christmas, it was always amid soaring pre-war skyscrapers, snow-covered mailboxes, and frozen ... More About: Groovy
Prurient Interests
2007-12-08 06:50:00 Back in October, 2 months to the day in fact, I decided to spend more time and energy to my journal writing so I began adding on to my pitiful, neglected blogger page. Tending to my intellectual garden, if you will.I got most of my tweaking info from . I am woefully HTML illiterate, so it took a whole lot of hunting, pecking, cutting, pasting, and scrolling through the template code making changes, then fixing the changes made to the previous changes, while inventing new combinations of George Carlin's 7 Dirty Words to get this page where it is today. And it's still a work in progress. One of the first things I added was . It keeps track of all the people, places and pages that are viewed every day. The Man has trained me to view metrics and graphs as my friend, so sitemeter's no-nonsense look really speaks to me. There are other meters with more graphic interfaces if that's more your bag. is one that I've tried. So I have seen more and more folks visiting, staying,... More About: Interests , Eres
Tagged!
2007-12-07 21:10:00 I've been tagged, and it's my first time (*pop*)!I caught one upside the blog from Megan over at Mundane Harangue.The Rules1.Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.2.Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (here's a link to all 12 months. Cut and paste yours from there).3.Pick your month of birth.4.Highlight the traits that apply to you.5.Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.6.Let the person who tagged you know when you?ve done it!Here goes nothin':JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people?s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal... More About: Tagged
Holiday Gifts I Don't Want vol 2
2007-12-07 07:46:00 The Willywarmer(via the Brooklyn Cheese.) More About: Holiday , Gifts
Blaze of Glory
2007-12-06 21:43:00 And yet another thug of an NYPD officer was arraigned yesterday on charges that he murdered yet another citizen of Gotham he had sworn to protect. [story here]The Bronx DA unsealed the indictment on Ofc Raphael Lora a 9 year veteran of the NYPD's hardcore, rompin-stompin TRAFFIC division. Traffic is about as non-tactical as they come. Lora spent a decade writing parking tickets and directing traffic. Here he is in an action photo:He pleaded not guilty to a charge of first degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Fermin Arzu an unarmed building porter after an alcohol-related car accident in May, when the officer was off duty.The Bronx DA said that after conducting a ?painstaking review of the facts? of the May incident, his office found that the shooting was ?unnecessary, unjustified and therefore illegal.?It's about damn time these Kowboy Keystone Kops are being held accountable! Way to go Mr. DA!Ofc. Lora heard a car crash outside his apartment, so he ran to the scene in ci... More About: Blaze , Glory
Holiday Gifts I Don't Want vol 1
2007-12-06 07:55:00 Muji NYC snotrag available at the MoMAstore.I LOVE Muji! I have yet to check out their new SOHO store that opened in November, but it (along with the new CB2 shop) will make my Must See list this weekend.But what the hell were they thinking?All I need now is some New Jersey toilet paper... More About: Holiday , Gifts
Beautiful...It's All I See When I Look at Me
2007-12-05 23:30:00 After tonight's dinner at the bestest South Indian place in the 'hood, I had planned on my usual mid-week movie. But as I shivered my way down 2nd Ave towards the Sunshine Cinema, my BlackBerry pitched a fit and I wound up in a deep hour-long discussion with an associate of mine who lives and works for The Man in California. (What can I say, we're a dispersed workforce). He was asking eternal corporate question posed most famously by Scarlet O'Hara and by many, many others who toil and slave away for The Man:"Whatever shall I do? Wherever shall I go?"You see, we are both of age. I've been in this corporate role for going on 4 years and he's rolling up on this 3 year mark. And as they do every so often, the corporate jewels embedded in our palms have turned red, and our thoughts are turning towards making a run for Sanctuary. We are successful, top performing Suits ripe for the picking, and the headhunting harvesters are rumbling beneath our tree. So should we cling to our... More About: Beautiful
Waste Not Want Not
2007-12-04 21:49:00 From time to time I'll peek my head up from the cloistered, left-wing loony, cultural, artistic and intellectual sanctuary known as New York City just to see what else is happenning in this here You-Ass-of-A.There are scary things happening out there, people. Things that you and I don't talk about at cocktail parties. Deep, dark, brutal things that one cannot stand to scrutinize for fear of losing one's soul.These are stories that capture the essence of Middle America; the stories that scream out "I AM AN AMERICAN!"; the stories that captivate the world.This is one such story. A story from Madison, Wisconsin. A story about a guy named Warren G. Whitelightning and how he spent his Saturday night...Crandon man bail set for donut truck theft.Cash bail of $2,100 was set today for Warren G. Whitelightning of Crandon, the man who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through Madison's west after stealing a Krispy Kreme Donut truck when he was drunk early Saturday morning.Whit... More About: Waste
A Writer Writes: Epilogue
2007-12-03 23:56:00 Well, it's all over except for the crying. NaBloPoMo 07 is over and done with. To celebrate I took the weekend off.And did nothing but think about things that needed posting. I began NaBloPoMo without caring about the possibility of prizes (I got none) or recognition (got none of that either) or fame (yep, bupkis on that as well). What I wanted was a challenge--something to push me out of my comfort zone and compel--nay, force--me to take proverbial pen in hand once a day and throw something out there to the readers. My brain needed discipline and structure and making this blog a daily part of my life gave me both.And in that way I hereby proclaim:VICTORY!!!!The fantastic part of all this was the people that I met. Yes, I met people through this blog. Fellow bloggers, lurkers, readers, cretins, creeps, bastards, assholes, optimists, lawyers, doctors, et al...pretty much the full spectrum of humanity laid bare before me. It was a real Field of Dreams: I built it and they came. My av... More About: Writer
I Hear The Train A-Comin...
2007-11-30 22:54:00 As a kid I lived in Germany for 3 years. It was total immersion. I went to a german school, had german friendsplayed soccer for a german club team (FC67 Waldhof! Achtung!) and lived on brotchen, wurst (slathered with that super hot ass mustard that melts your teeth), Kindereier, and those chewy strawberry candy that turned your fingertips blood red that they sold at the little candy shop on the way to school.The only thing my parents did more than drink german wine, was travel. All over Europe. I was too young to really appreciate what I was seeing and doing, so my memories of those trips center around my bratty kid brother, my domineering older sister, my Sainted Mother and my father who was a cross between Charles Emerson Winchester III and Clark W. Griswold IIIOn one trip in particular we took a train through East Germany into Berlin. This was years before the whole "Tear down this wall" speech. Rod Stewart and the Eurthymics were the big US artists in heavy rotation on German r... More About: Hear , Train
I Know It's Only Rock and Roll
2007-11-30 02:32:00 So if you think playing in an original NYC Rock band is all sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, check out the tirade below, written by an author known only to god. This was posted by my band's tireless, fabulous, bigtime promoter and all around raconteur, Frank Wood, of the world famous Frank Wood Promotions.I'm wtih this author 100% of the way. The NY scene saw a real resurgence of talented, professional committed musicians and I'm proud and happy to share the stage with them. But with the community boards and developers winning the noise control battles and more and more clubs disappearing, we all must do whatever we can to keep the scene alive. The NYC rock scene (I hesitate to even call it "indie" as it is so much more than any label can define) has spawned some of the biggest and brightest musical acts out there. Acts that came up the hard way. That wrote and gigged and recorded and toured every dive bar and juke joint in the 5 Boros, and clear across the country in New Jers... More About: Roll , Rock and Roll
If They Attack the Car, Save the Radio
2007-11-29 04:32:00 Introducing my next car: The fortwo. I like the blue Cabrio...Or maybe the red. Maybe I'll get them both and wear them like earrings! More About: Radio , Save , Attack , The Car , Atta
I Quit, Dammit! I Quit!
2007-11-28 00:47:00 Anti-smoking ad brought to you by the Austrailian Government, via Copyranter. A fantastic PSA--they tend to be a tad overwrought here in the US. Those Aussies don't mess around. Throw another tooth on the barbie, mate! More About: Quit
Sharing Means Caring
2007-11-27 07:38:00 "Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot...But the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!"So just to peel the skinbeater onion a little more and show you that I'm not just a NYPD hating, moviegoing, materialistic, hedonistic, Native American former Marine drummer with major authority issues that can be traced to my Sainted Mother (NO LINK: I wouldn't DARE post about her...She would know--even though she doesn't know about my blog believe me: She. Would. Know.), here is a way I've found to use $400 and your own computer to educate, empower and inspire kids who need it the most, and kickstart your karma for 2008:One Laptop Per Child is a program designed to put a computer in the hands of kids who live in developing countries. OLPC?s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education.From now through December 31, 2007, OLPC is offering a... More About: One Laptop per Child , Sharing , Hari
Another Show fo Farce
2007-11-25 21:05:00 Once again another sacred cow "9-11 Hero" scumbag cop has murdered one of the citizens he's supposed to be serving and the NYPD has done nothing about it--Their internal affairs division is deciding whether or not to bring this jerk cop up on charges. (Story here)Ofc. Sean Sawyer put 3 bullets into Jayson Tirado while off duty in what has been described as a "road rage" incident. Sawyer said he fired in self defense.At 7am after drinking all night in a bar with a female District Attorney (Sawyer is married with kids, by the way) Sawyer was on the FDR southbound which had closed due to an accident. So rather than flip on his siren and see if he could render aid, this drunk DUI cop decided to exit his yellow Xterra (can you say "overcompensation"?)at 116th St. He got pissed at Tirado who was with 2 other friends in his purple Accord as he tried to inch his car ahead of Tirado's. The two "exchanged words" as they slowly creeped side by side on the ramp. The corrupt cop then chas... More About: Show , Farce
Turkey Torture
2007-11-25 03:46:00 After ThirtySomething years on this planet, I have come to the conclusion that The Holidays (captialized) exist so that obnoxious people with whom you would never speak during the other 50 weeks of the year can feel they can engage you in whatever ridiculous conversation they've been meaning to have with you but haven't had reason enough to approach you. The Holidays give them that reason.I had a talk with one of my (distant) relations, Cousin It, this weekend. Since the only thing this particular person has in common with me was that he served in the military (as a pouge paper-pusher) back in the 80s, the conversation quickly and invariably turned to Iraq vis-a-vis Gitmo and torture.You would think that since he is as far to the right, as I am to the left we would have found a political fulcrum in the conversation. Alas, it was not to be.I tried. I really did. Honest. It was Thanksgiving and I didn't want to go there. I made a huge effort to change the subject to something more... More About: Turkey , Torture , Haditha , Turk
Give Thanks for the Visa and the MasterCard
2007-11-23 18:26:00 HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!SHOP TIL YOU DROP, ALL YOU LEMMINGS! More About: Give , Visa , Mastercard , Hank , Aster
Give Thanks for the Bullet and the Smallpox
2007-11-22 16:33:00 As you consume your dead bird, remember the First Nation Peoples that were erased to make your Holiday something special.I'm watching the parade on TV this year. I was too lazy to get out of bed, bundle up and stand around in a pre-dawn hangover haze.Ohhhh! There's spongebob! More About: Bullet , Give , Macy , Hank
Broken Promises
2007-11-21 11:09:00 Today I break yet another promise and post my mother's secret pumpkin pie recipe. (Note the cinnamon and vanilla extract--the secret weapon! And don't forget a dollop of Cool Whip.)Thanks, NoBloPoMo for killing me with these daily posts...Will I ever write again?A delicious pumpkin pie, spiced with ginger and cinnamon.INGREDIENTS:1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree, canned or fresh3/4 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon all-purpose flour2 eggs, lightly beaten1 cup evaporated milk, undiluted2 tablespoons water1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract1 unbaked pastry shell (9-inch)PREPARATION:Combine pumpkin, sugar, salt, spices, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add eggs; mix well. Add evaporated milk, water, and vanilla; mix well. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350° and bake about 35 minutes longer, or until center is set. More About: Promises , Broken
Procuration 'til I need glasses
2007-11-20 06:22:00 "Show me what you own and I'll show you what you believe."--VoltaireRight around this time when Fall falls and Winter waxes and I begin to breathe through my mouth because the air is cold enough to freeze the snot in my nose, I get bit by the shopping bug. Not the gotothestoresandfightthecrowd bug, but the sitinmyunderwearandshoponline bug. And man, this weekend it bit hard!I thought that my brief walk down 34th St to catch the 2/3 through the pre-Thanksgiving shopping crush this weekend after rehearsal at Funkadelic Studios would have innoculated me against the whole Tis the Season bullshit, but alas, I succumbed.Oddly enough, I only go on these cyber-shopping jags when the seasons change. Maybe it's a symptom of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or maybe Fall into Winter is a metaphor for death and I'm trying to sustain myself. Maybe it's just cold outside and I have nothing else to do.Whatever the reason, this yearly binary materialistic equinox is so unusual (am I really that ... More About: Glasses
Google Image Search vol 3
2007-11-18 19:41:00 LAUNDROMATDon't I wish... More About: Google , Search , Image , Google Image Search
Another Hero for Women Today
2007-11-17 11:19:00 Riskay The Drama Queen stands tall in Vagina Power!She sends out a strong message of empowerment to women and a warning to non-verifying men everywhere in her fantastic new song, Smell Yo Dick.Check out her other hits, Krispy Kreme, My Candy and You Ain't Shit on her MySpace page.Here is her new mix album, Gutta Bitch, Certified:I foresee an upcoming Riskay/Luther Campbell duet burning up the airwaves.Listening to Riskay's lyrical stylings, I find this an extremely educational song. Thanks to Riskay, I now will slather my junk with Purell hand sanitizer and several squirts of Axe body spray before coming home from the club. She has saved countless relationships by passing along this technique for detecting cuckolding. Men everywhere owe her a debt of gratitude. More About: Women , For Women , Today , Clinton
Rationing the Pussy like Government Cheese
2007-11-16 07:26:00 Say it loud, and say it proud:"I am standing in Vagina Power and manifesting my destiny!" More About: Government , Cheese , Puss , Pussy
Show of Farce
2007-11-15 23:09:00 Since moving to NYC I am shocked and saddened at the continual police shootings that are committed with impunity, especially in the poorer neighborhoods.The tragedy of Khiel Coppin is the latest.I gotta tell you, it's a freaking police state out there. I've spent many years in many places as part of an unjustified occupational force and when I walk the streets in some neighborhoods I get the same vibe as I did in Beirut, or Palestine, or Iraq.Except there we had strict rules of engagement and the discipline and professionalism enough to obey them. From what I've seen the NYPD does not have the tactical training or the professional discipline to perform their job effectively.To control indivuduals the police and military rely on the Escalation of Force to keep the populace from doing what The Man doesn't want them to do. The cops carry guns. The guns are in holsters out in the open for everyone to see. The cops wear uniforms and shiny badges--conspicuous symbols of their auth... More About: Show , Farce
Google Image Search pt 2
More articles from this author:2007-11-15 02:16:00 TERRORIST: More About: Google , Search , Image , Google Image Search 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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