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November 30, 2005

Portraits of Home

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So, through some semi-random Googling, I found the above photo (taken by Cathy ten Broeke), and thought "Wow. There's a familiar image." Then I looked at the site that it came from and found some more really amazing photographs. The site is for an exhibit called Portraits of Home: Families in Search of Shelter in Greater Minnesota.

I was really engaged by the photos. Squalid and despressing, but very beautiful. I also like it when I see art of this kind that deals with the more rural parts of the state. More and more, it seems that that part of Minnesota is being ignored as the Twin Cities area grows and grows.

There are a lot of photos of Duluthians in the exhibit, so check it out. You might know somebody.

View the exhibit online

Watch the video/slideshow

November 29, 2005

My new 2nd favorite blog...

Small Town Misfit
A selection of police blots from small-town papers

Has anyone checked this out? It's not so much the misfortunes of the (very) petty criminals in any small town, anywhere, u.s.@., it's the responses. Being fairly new to blogging (what is this "weblog", all you kids with your rock-n-roll music and your MTV video games...) I thought that all bloggers were as smart, witty and well-informed as PDDers. Boy was I in for a rude awakening!! It's like being able to watch people watch COPS, like you're in somebody's trailer watching them watch somebody get beaten up by cops (or something) in somebody's trailer. Like if someone at TNN had developed the MST3K concept instead of the wiseasses at Comedy Central. Some (or rather a lot) of the bloggers are actually talking to the people mentioned in the police blotter "Well you should carry a gun.." "That's what you get for screaming for help..." Not exactly direct quotes, but you get the idea. Anyway, enough of my ranting, go to the site, I know that's where I'm going.

http://www.smalltownmisfit.com

F%#@ You Very Much FCC.

Fuck you very much FCC

click the pic.

RockNRollTV.NET is a new Vlog doing great work. Check out their video of the wonderfully funny Eric Idle ode to the FCC.

Multiculturism run amok?

Yesterday I was picking up milk at the Jubilee at Arrowhead and Kenwood, and there was a Salvation Army bellringer at the exit. She was shaking a maraca instead of a bell.

Check behind the Tilt-a-Whirl...

If memory serves me right, there used to be a page with pictures of PDD members 'round here somewhere...and on that page, there was a picture of a squirrel. I believe his name was Squirrelfire.

Well, in case anyone was wondering where he might've gone & wandered off to, I think I spotted him in Helena this past July, guarding a cooler full of brews for some carnies at the county fair...
SQUIRRELFIRE.jpg
That Squirrelfire, he's livin' the dream.

November 28, 2005

She’s Such a Geek

Calling all Girl-Geeks!
"She's Such a Geek" is looking for contributions from geeky women. I am so there!
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She’s Such a Geek
An Anthology by and for Women Obsessed with Computers, Science, Comic Books, Gaming, Spaceships, and Revolution

Slated for Fall 2006

Geeks are taking over the world. They make the most popular movies and games, pioneer new ways to communicate using technology, and create new ideas that will change the future. But the stereotype is that only men can be geeks. So when are we going to hear from the triumphant female nerds whose stories of outer space battles will inspire generations, and whose inventions will change the future? Right now.

Female geeks are busting out of the labs and into the spotlight. They have the skills and knowledge that can inspire social progress, scientific breakthroughs, and change the world for the better, and they’re making their voices heard, some for the first time, in Annalee Newitz and Charlie Anders’ book She’s Such a Geek. This anthology will celebrate women who have flourished in the male-dominated realms of technical and cultural arcana. We’re looking for a wide range of personal essays about the meaning of female nerdhood by women who are in love with genomics, obsessed with blogging, learned about sex from Dungeons and Dragons, and aren’t afraid to match wits with men or computers. The essays in She’s Such a Geek will explain what it means to be passionately engaged with technical or obscure topics—and how to deal with it when people tell you that your interests are weird, especially for a girl. This book aims to bust stereotypes of what it means to be a geek, as well as what it means to be female.

More than anything, She’s Such a Geek is a celebration and call to arms: it’s a hopeful book which looks forward to a day when women will pilot spaceships, invent molecular motors, design the next ultra-tiny supercomputer, write epics, and run the government.

We want introspective essays that explain what being a geek has meant to you. Describe how you’ve fought stereotypes to be accepted among nerds. Explore why you are obsessed with topics and ideas that are supposed to be “for boys only.” Tell us how you felt the day you realized that you would be devoting the rest of your life to discovering algorithms or collecting comic books. We want strong, personal writing that is also smart and critical. We don’t mind if you use the word “fuck,” and we don’t mind if you use the word “telomerase.” Be celebratory, polemical, wistful, angry, and just plain dorky.

Possible topics include:

  • what turned you into a geek

  • your career in science, technology, or engineering

  • growing up geeky

  • being a geek in high school today

  • battling geek stereotypes (i.e racial stereotypes and geekdom, cultural analysis of geek chic and the truth about nerds, the idea that women have to choose between being sexually desirable and smart, stereotypes about geek professions such as computer programmers)

  • sex and dating among geeks

  • science fiction fandom

  • role-playing game or comic-book subcultures

  • the joys of math

  • blogging or videogames

  • female geek bonding

  • geek role models for women

  • feminist commentary on geek culture

  • women’s involvement in DIY science and technology groups

  • stories from women involved in geek pop and underground cultures. These might include comic book writers, science fiction writers, electronic music musicians, and women interested in the gaming world.

  • women’s web networks and web zine grrrl culture

  • issues of sexism in any or all of the above themes

Editors: Annalee Newitz and Charlie Anders are geeky women writers. Annalee is a contributing editor at Wired magazine and writes the syndicated column Techsploitation. Charlie is the author of Choir Boy (Soft Skull Press) and publisher of other magazine.

Publisher: Seal Press, an imprint of Avalon Publishing Group, publishes groundbreaking books by and for women in a variety of topics.

Deadline: January 15, 2006

Length: 3,000-6,000 words

Format: Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and paginated. Please include your address, phone number, email address, and a short bio on the last page. Essays will not be returned.

Submitting: Send essay electronically as a Document or Rich Text Format file to Annalee Newitz and Charlie Anders at [email protected].

Payment: $100 plus two books

Reply: Please allow until February 15 for a response. If you haven’t received a response by then, please assume your essay has not been selected. It is not possible to reply to every submission personally.

November 27, 2005

Troll Anyone?

trollturkey.jpg
A website called worth1000 had a contest to come up with the most horrifying Thanksgiving day meal. There are all sorts of interesting creations, but I thought this one was particularly disgusting. Enjoy!

November 25, 2005

rrradio

As some of you know, awhile back I did a short run of podcasts. I had to stop because in amongst all the other things I HAVE to do the podcasts took a vital chunk of time, and after a while I got tired of apologizing for not being on time.

So, I'm trying something new. If you have the capacity to stream audio check my new online streaming station:
Edgeways Productions Radio. Nothing fancy. I hope with a monthly deadline this will be easier on me. Perhaps (no promises, I’ll revive the short interview segment at some point.

November 24, 2005

A Thanksgiving Prayer, by William S. Burroughs

WSB.jpg
For John Dillinger
In hope he is still alive
Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986

Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenger Pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts

thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison —

thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger —

thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin, leaving the carcass to rot —

thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes —

thanks for the AMERICAN DREAM to vulgarize and falsify until the bare lies shine through —

thanks for the KKK, for nigger-killing lawmen feeling their notches, for decent church-going women with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces —

thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers —

thanks for laboratory AIDS —

thanks for Prohibition and the War Against Drugs —

thanks for a country where nobody is allowed to mind his own business —

thanks for a nation of finks — yes, thanks for all the memories... all right, let's see your arms... you always were a headache and you always were a bore —

thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

Link to .mov
Via Boing Boing


Wow. In a day of an American vision of a "picture-perfect" Thanksgiving, it's nice to know that someone was around to tell it like it is.
Anyone else watching the parade and avoiding their family today like me?
-Bad Cat

November 23, 2005

Buy Nothing Day

November 25th is Buy Nothing Day.

November 22, 2005

66.6 FM - Wrekt Radio - 24/7 - Underground Soundz

go to www.wrekt.net then click the radio link

"I always wondered where my mandibula was."

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A few years ago, I wrote on my website about Donavan Freberg, the star of the annoying Encyclopedia Britannica commercials in the late '80s-early '90s ("Remember me? I'm the kid who had a report due on space!"). At the time I was irritated because I have always been a fan of his father Stan Freberg (who it turns out has some ties to Duluth, as he did work for Jeno Paulucci's ad campaigns), but I hated the Britannica commercials with an almost perfect hate.

Anyway, now, according to Metafilter, Donavan has a blog. And it turns out he's a really weird guy. I highly recommend you check out his bio. Here's a teaser:

At eight, I shit in my pants at Rosemary Clooneys house in front of Dean Martins son while we were picking strawberrys together in aunt Rosie's garden. Then I went scuba diving in her black bottom pool with her two golden retrievers and got hypothermia.

Also, for "perverts only" there's Donavan's site Creamsicle, which is a blog about porn.

In short, I think I've changed my mind about Donavan Freberg. He's totally mint.

And oh, yeah -- aside from his bio and the link to my site, none of these links are safe for work.

November 21, 2005

bummer: link wray dead at 76

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/entertainment/13224699.htm

i'm glad i got to see him at the shor.

November 19, 2005

An Early Christmas Present

http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2004/barneycam004.v.html

November 18, 2005

madison twinporters

I know there are a few Madison lurkers on PDD.

Just thought I'd let you know that Cloud Cult and Kid Dakota are playing at the Tornado Club tonight ($5) and Charlie Parr is playing at Cafe Montmartre ($4).

Tough decision but I decided on the CC/KD show.

November 17, 2005

Christmas City, Wonderful City.

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Does anyone out there have a copy of the Christmas City, Wonderful City song? I have been searching online with no luck and I really want a copy for a future Vlogging project. Drop me an email if you can help.

Thankee.

Possibly the best web-cam ever

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Here is a link to a webcam for Butterstick / Tai Shan, the baby panda at the National Zoo in Washington DC. Hearts, prepare to be melted. . .

http://http://animal.discovery.com/cams/pandavidr.html

November 16, 2005

Can't wait for summer

A few times in my life (not yet in Duluth), I've looked down at the pavement and spotted art just sitting in the street. Not on the street, in the street. How did a rogue graphitti artist create this permanent art, then embed it in the pavement?!? Now I know. Come summer, I may have to branch my delinquency into new areas...
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Snowboarders....

Sunday we are having a "Pre-Turkey Day Rail Jam" at 1302 E 7th St High Noon
Boxes, Rails and TONS OF SNOW
FREE BBQ and Fire to keep us warm
Prizes and Schwag to give out

Any Questions E-Mail me [email protected]

November 15, 2005

So, I was watching commercials on the Toob tonight (I often flip stations til I come to a block of commercials and watch them...when the block of commercials ends I flip around til I find another block and so on...) and one of those fast food commercials came on with a Star Wars Stormtrooper in it.

I thought to myself..."Self, where would a guy like me get his mitts on a stormtrooper costume?"

Of course, a cheap replica bought from target simply wouldn't suffice...what with the nylon and the silkscreened decals and such...I did some digging around on our friend Google, and after a while came up with...

Complete Stormtrooper Costume

It even comes with a blaster! The one glitch that I could think of would be that I'd have to take out a small loan to get it.

W.F.C.

WFC

Hello kitties. The new Whole Foods Coop has been open for a couple of weeks now. What do you all think? I for one wish the aisles were a bit wider, I still find it hard to get around when it's busy. Also what's with all the surveillance cameras? I understand they need to protect their product but I've never seen so many cameras in a store that size before. You can watch for yourself here.

On the positive side. They carry my favorite bottled water now and the quart size of Silk Soy Creamer.

Discuss.

Sirius Radio <3s PDD.

Hey everybody, I got an email today that I thought I should share with all of you. I think it's pretty cool.

Hello!

I'm not sure if this is the correct contact, but I damn near found an e-mail from the site!

I'm known as Reno Dakota on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's Left of Center. I usually hunt down stories or facts about bands or anything funny/interesting known to man. I came upon the site perfectduluthday a little while back but wanted to drop a "kudos" to all who work on the site... it's really, really awesome!

Never been to Duluth, barely get out of NYC.

If this is your site, high five. If not, sorry about the e-mail!

-Reno

November 14, 2005

Classic Video Games

Hi there - I thought I'd drop in and tell you about the store in between the porn store and tattoo shop on 1st street across from the tux shop. My ma and brother are opening up the store tomorrow (11/15). It's all old antique video games and consoles from a time where it was all about gameplay rather than graphics, e.g. NES, SNES, Atari, Lynx, Game Gear, Coleco Telstar, Jaguar, 3DO, etc etc. There are a lot of older systems I haven't even heard of!

Everybody I talk to gets very excited about it. If it stirrs up memories for people the way it does for me going through all these games I think it will be a lot of fun. So go check it out tomorrow! Hang out. Reminisce. GET YOUR GAME BACK!

Free Couch.

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If anyone out there wants this free couch let me know. Big House Bobby needs to make some room in his garage and he WILL DELIVER it for free. It does need a repair on one of the legs but is in overall good condition. Drop me an email if you are interested.

November 13, 2005

sad news for rastling fans

http://www.wwe.com/

Liquid Speed ???

mdx.tiff
As a certified Mt. Dew addict it was necessary for me test Pepsi's new product "Mt. Dew MDX", a energy drink/ soda. Right, like this is all I need. Anyone else tried this yet? I figured I would be bouncing of the walls with this stuff..

I have tried it twice now and have noticed a bit more kick than Mt. Dew's normal sugar and caffeine high, but this may simply be a placebo effect for I do not drink other energy drinks. It tastes alright but I do not think I will buy this on a regular basis. Soda is my last vice and I limit myself to one a day and I wish I could quit it all together. This product may be good for final exams, hangovers and long road trips.

The Jingoistic States of Harrison National News 11/12/2005

In all likelihood, such proficient internet users such as yourselves know of this site. But if you don't, it's a shame because http://www.43things.com/ seems to me a "Duluth" thing. There's something for everyone here. Be careful, it can be addictive.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

November 12, 2005

Vlog Request from a boy that misses home!

I was wondering if anyone is planing on vlogging the Christmas City of the North Parade. I spoke to my dad last night and he reminded me that it is coming up next week. It would be wonderful if someone could be there to record some of it and post it here. Thanks.

"Christmas City, Wonderful City, al wrapped up in snow and................................"

Jeff

One Night Without a Home

There is a community action tonight to raise awareness of Homelessness in the Duluth area. Please come show support by attending the opening of this event:

TONIGHT - Saturday November 12, 2005
Gathering by the Christmas Tree downtown (across from Pizza Luce)
7:00pm-8:00pm

FULL event includes a sleep out downtown (more information below).
Thanks so Much,
Jerree Small 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Duluth is home to over 500 homeless people, many of whom have at least part time employment. 

- LSS Street Outreach estimates there are over 100 teenagers without permanent shelter on any given night.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


SLEEP OUT-One Night Without a Home:  To raise awareness of Homelessness in the Duluth area and kick off National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week, and raise funds for the Renaissance Street Outreach Program and the CHUM emergency shelter.
 
Saturday November 12 
7:00 pm- 7:00 am
Corner of Lake Ave and Superior St. (next to the fountain)
 
In an event co-sponsored by CHUM (Gabriel Project), Amnesty International Local 642, MPIRG, and St. Scholastica’s Just Living Center, students from UMD and St. Scholastica along with people from the community at large will sleep outside on Saturday night to raise money for and awareness of the problem of homelessness in our community.  Students will be joined by speakers who have experienced homelessness, and community leaders including City Councilor Donny Ness, Commissioner Steve O’Neil and Mayor Bergson.

This year’s National Hunger and Homelessness week will involve events throughout the Twin Ports and be an opportunity to focus on the City’s current work on a Ten Year Plan to end homelessness and the County’s recent commitment to address the problem.
 

Participants will gather at the corner of Lake Ave and Superior St next to the Electric Fetus at 7:00 pm, where we will hold signs and hear from our speakers before setting up our boxes for the night.
 
For information contact:                       
 
Ben Small                                             Auburn Powell                         
Gabriel Project (CHUM)                      Amnesty International   Local 642                   
625-1739                                             218-340-4991                                                
393-1017
                       

Yurt

The yurt is entering its fourth winter. She has a bit of a lean, but otherwise she's sturdy and strong.
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A big wind last wednesday shredded the stage's "roof".
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November 11, 2005

Sony tries to screw you again

Not sure if everyone knew about Sony and their audio cd protection. Basicly it can total your PC and now viri are using it to hide in.


QUOTE
Virus writers have begun taking advantage of Sony-BMG's use of rootkit technology in DRM software bundled with its music CDs.

Sony-BMG's rootkit DRM technology masks files whose filenames start with "$sys$". A newly-discovered variant of of the Breplibot Trojan takes advantage of this to drop the file "$sys$drv.exe" in the Windows system directory.

Mal Wart

Wow. These guys are organized. What a great way to release a movie. Sell the DVD's for 10 bucks to anyone that would like to show it free to a group. Set up a website that lists all the free screenings, make available tons of Blog resources, press releases and other promotional help. Voila, you have an army of passionate citizens selling your film.

Well, I signed up to go to Chester Creek Cafe and watch the movie next Tuesday. They have room for 50 people. Maybe it should be a PDD field trip.


November 10, 2005

Photo Exhibit

I will be sharing an exhibit for the months of November and December at the Duluth Teacher's Credit Union. If you've never seen my photos in person come check them out!

You can view them online at : http://www.pepper-land.net/photos/.

The new vinyl room at Fetus ROCKS!!!!!

If you haven't been, please do yourself a favor and go. Great selection, great prices, new 7" as well as used LPs. Also a great place for geeks to see and be seen. If you're there, you know who you are. The Fetus vinyl annex is the new Chili's!!!

11-10-75

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Click on the pic.

November 09, 2005

A Little Survey

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Barrett Chase wrote about The Who yesterday on his blog, and it inspired me to ask you all a question:

How many times did you look at the "Who's Next" album cover before you noticed that obviously the band members have just pissed on that thing?

I swear I glaced at that album cover 20,000 times before I finally noticed what is so obvious to me now. There must be someone out there even slower on the uptake than me. Admit it.

Craig Finn hyping Duluth ...

I guess this goes to show that Duluth is only 98% self-congratulatory -- Craig Finn covers the rest:

I was in NYC on Monday night and saw the Hold Steady's last show of their tour at Webster Hall in Manhattan. Craig Finn (the lead singer guy) was saying something about how long the tour had been, and that they'd started it in "the rock triumverate of Duluth, Minnesota, Fargo, North Dakota and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada." A little while later, he said that "NYC thinks it's a rock city, but if you want to see a real show, go to Duluth."

Did the Chamber of Commerce hire this guy? Has he been made an honorary citizen? Somebody get hold of Donny Ness ...

Oh yeah, and has anyone else noticed that he looks like Starfire and Andy Smentkowski's love child?

November 08, 2005

PSA: D/S GLBTAQI PRIDE

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hardcore show @ luce

fri nov 11th
$5

hattie
the keepaways
all the pretty horses

same day in-store solo performance @ electric fetus
4:30 pm
venus de mars of atph

www.prettyhorses.net


Don't Forget To Vote!

It's election day...get out there before the polls close and do your duty...who YOU (yes, you) vote for greatly affects events in the space-time continuum...

November 07, 2005

Mugison and Bill Holm

I have to make a trip to the TCs so I looked to see what was going on there this week (besides traffic jams and such). Turns out Mugison (from Iceland) will be at the 400 Bar. With Bill Holm. I wonder if he will be playing piano and/or reading? Has anyone seen Bill Holm or Mugison live? I haven't been to Iceland, yet.

Grab A Slice Of Deep Dish MN Rock!

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Stnnng-pronounced the Stunning due to name conflicts (mpls)
Signal To Trust (mpls)
Portrait Of A Drowned Man
Farewell Tour

Pizza Lucé
Saturday, November 19th
All Ages

This show will definately kick ass, so come check it out.
Here are some applicable sites to spark your enthusiasm.
stnnng.com
squareblue.com/signaltotrust
modern-radio.com
myspace.com/portraitofadrownedman
http://www.myspace.com/breakyourradio

Help Jessie Meet Newman

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Duluth's own Jessie Hetland is a finalist in a dance contest in which the winner will get to shine on Broadway in "Sweet Charity." Not only that, but the musical features Wayne Knight, TV's "Newman."

Go to Sweet Charity the Musical's Web site to view Jessie's video and vote for her. It'll be good practice for Election Day.

I know the last time a dance video was linked to PDD it crashed the whole thing, but I hope it'll be OK this time.

November 06, 2005

Well, that's just plain fun.

vmittens.jpg

An exotic dancer aboard the infamous Vikings sex cruise describes what she saw:

She got a drink from the bar and mingled with people, she said. When she went the bathroom, she said, she opened the door and saw a woman putting on her clothes "real quickly."

"I got the sense she and the man inside had just finished having sex," she said. "There were several used condoms on the floor."

She then went to the open-air top floor of the boat to smoke. That's where she said she saw two people having intercourse. The woman was only wearing mittens, she said.

Say what you want about the scandal, but you have to give that chick some points for flat-out awesomeness.

November 05, 2005

The Jingoistic States of Harrison National News 11/5/2005

I'm sure such proficient internet users as yourselves have come across this site at some point. But if you haven't, gaze upon it now in all it's splendor!

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

The Brick Testament (http://www.thebricktestament.com/) is made by a guy named The Reverand who, if popular inquiry is correct, is actually an atheist. That didn't stop him from spending more time than I can fathom recreating the different books of the Bible with Legos.

Naughty Naughty.

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The Duluth Citizen's Blog is in trouble. I always wanted to take them on in a Kickball game. But seeing as most of them prefer anonymity we would probably have to play at night.

November 04, 2005

If that van's a-rockin'

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From the FedEx "Quality P & D Learning Participant Manual," Day two, page nine, parking tips:

"8. Avoid head in parking spaces and driveways."

Hyphens. Learn to use them, people.

November 03, 2005

Attitude City Does Duluth.

http://attitudecity.com/

Finally, Google Print

Google Print has finally launched through all of the drama.......

Here is a simple link for a Duluth search. http://print.google.com/print?ie=UTF-8&q=duluth


Jeff

November 02, 2005



Oh, and Toronto was fun

November 01, 2005

This was posted at the old PDD. I am reposting it here.


I too heard that N.W.W. is taking a break. I've come across Marc a few times on tv in the last few days (now that he's got all that extra time). He seems to be doing some cool things, yet there's a far-off look in his eyes, as if he's longing for something (like playing with his band).

I think he needs a fan club, like Kelly.

REMEMBER FOLKS. WE ARE USING MOVABLE TYPE NOW.
You can sign up at the top right of PDD where it says "Join PDD."