Starting with a pictorial account of our Coachella roadtrip,  I created a photo tumblog called Edmonton Ericsson.

After a couple of weeks I noticed tumblr’s allure and created a catch all tumblog to repost treasures (trash?) found while internetting. It’s called Beatbank.

Posts here will be few and far between for a while.

love,

jenni

p.s. the term ‘tumblog’ is lame and makes me cringe. i apologize for using it.

Our journey itinerary resembles an amoeba of continental proportions complete with a flagellum propelling us away from and back to home (zoom out to confirm). The GPS has been given a name, Tomatilla, which should ensure accuracy, loyalty and spunk. Dixie Cup, our white ’89 Civic DX hatchback, has all new speakers, a small selection of thrifted 80′s new wave juxtaposed with Canadian fringe cassettes and ipod via car kit. As of last night Dixie also has a properly functioning passenger belt and an oil change is scheduled. She’s pushing 300,000 but doesn’t look a click over 250.

We are now outfitted with carefully chosen Coleman camping paraphernalia. Just a couple more items culled from MEC and family then we’ll be road ready. No sight of our third roadtripper, Shamira’s brother Sean, or my passport as of yet.

Here begins my photo research. Feel free to suggest any of your favourite holes in walls, back road oddities, or typical landmarks.

Today I look forward to finding:

Stomach turning chasms

Religious Kitch

Sacreligious Kitch

Woodland rest stop playtimes beneath anonymous overpasses.

Thaw fed waterfalls

An Experience Music visit extending beyond the foyer

The boss man gathered us up for a Teddy’s breakfast this past Saturday. The anticipated staff meeting lasted for about 5 seconds with only one request, “it’s gonna be real busy. make sure to put everything away.” Then Bill dropped a huge bomb on us. He’s taking everyone – all of the staff and their partners – to Interbike in September. I guess we’re doing something right. Once more for good measure: Thank You Recession!

Las Vegas has never been on my must see list but I’m unquestionably giddy about going for Interbike. It looks like we’ll be walking the strip at least twice this year between the Coachella road trip and work adventures. I love my job.

My Interbike Must-See/Wish list:

1. Dashing Tweeds – It is highly unlikely that they will bother hopping the pond but a girl can wish.

2. Charge or 14BikeCo or Hell Yeah – Maybe all in one!

3. DVDs – GOrilla, Macaframa, Bootleg Sessions

Hooray for bikes.

SARS, HIV, Herpes, Influenza, Hepadna

i’m drooling as i dream of having my very own bespoke shop14 bike.

if only they weren’t across the sea.

Last night we watched the final piece of the triptych film Tokyo!

The representations of transormation, anarchy and rebirth will definitely stick with me. Who can forget a milky eyed Godzilla Christ figure of leprechaun proportions? Not this lady. The title character of the second film, Merde, reminds me of a recurring dream I had as a child that Satan in 12 inch fat Elvis impersonator form was following me around the house, hovering beside me saying seriously inappropriate things that were endearingly irritating, irrelevant, and suddenly creepy just before waking. After viewing it three times that’s how I feel about the centerpiece of this dreamlike film.

The most resonant third of Toyko! for me was the last, shedding light (little viewers’ inside joke there) on the Hikikomori phenomenon. It may be more accurate modify the phenomenon as ‘Japanese’ but there is a undeniable looming tendency towards reclusiveness as self prescribed therapy for stimulation overload (see: life) and it is not foreign, at least not in my family- the Canadian born side. Withdrawl is the current pandemic of the developed world made possible by the last 100 years of family history:

[insert immigration into the appropriate generation]

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS’ STRIFE

begat GRANDPARENTS’ STRUGGLE

begat PARENTS’ STATUS

begat OUR MEANDERING PRIVILEGE

The more I learn about Japanese culture the more fascinated I am. As an admittedly ignorant outsider I can’t help but see it as the canary in the mine of our consumptive culture. Are things really as bleak as some Japanese self portraits would have me believe? Is Japan at the edge of a decadent empire that chooses to fester rather than burn?

What happens when the memory of origin and emigration is long forgone by the passing of dynasties, invisibility of the indigenous and minorities is state mandate, Western occupation promises limitless progress to an ultra-ambitious  hyper-hierarchical honour driven society, corporate efforts reach an economic plateau, then the achievement of ultimate convenience renders success meaningless? Is this it? What is there to do but absorb the barrage of entertainments and roll into a ball?

My favourite director, Akira Kurosawa, is best known for his Samurai adaptions of Shakespeare. He stepped aside in the middle of his heyday to present Ikiru (To Live), an illustration of a contemporary bureaucrat’s transformation in the final hours of terminal illness. There is hope for the everyman.

Tokyo!’s hero, the love sick shut-in, said it best, “If you don’t come out now, you never will.”

Get me out of this office.

Spring is nigh! I propose picnics and bike rides and dance parties and road trips.  Maybe this year I will learn to swim.

Who’s in?

by MYTHS

Just heard tell of them playing the Biltmore (Vancouver) with HEALTH next week. I definitely will not be in attendance and I will miss HEALTH in Edmonton with Bayonets!!! too. Double shit.

via

the ‘shitty’ thing is that i did three loads of laundry yesterday (after three people showered) and our sewer drain backed up again. there wasn’t flooding but there was a disgustingly fascinating cloud of poo coloured bubbles coming out of the drain and our house now smells like eggs.

no one seems to be concerned but shenni. we’re calling in a plumber.

cut & run. can’t wait to be gone.”

CAUTION: The video below is really gross but I found it fascinating. You have been warned.