Weekly Recommendations, Week 26: Mean Jeans

“I’ve got my mean jeans on and I’m ready to go!” It’s punk rock, dudes! Mean Jeans are by far the best new pop punk band that I’ve heard in a while. If there are better ones, I have yet to find them, but I doubt they exist. Mean Jeans are a Portland, Oregon punk band specializing in snotty, poppy, party punk. Their songs are as catchy and as sing-along as can be, and their lyrics are witty, smart, humorous, and fun. As soon as I start thinking that pop punk is on the verge of dying out and that all the best pop punk bands have formed, another amazing band like Mean Jeans comes along to prove me wrong. So, if you were thinking the same thing, then allow Mean Jeans to rekindle your enthusiasm; and if you’ve never been much of a pop punk fan, then give Mean Jeans a try and hopefully you’ll see what you’ve been missing all these years. How about I just let the music speak for itself:





Be advised, there's much more where that came from. Find Mean Jeans albums as well as albums from many other great punk rock bands at Dirtnap Records.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 25: Spoonerisms

Spoonerisms are fun, and you should enjoy them as much as I do. Spoonerisms occur (as defined by Urban Dictionary) when the initial letters or first consonant sounds of two words or syllables are exchanged to form a new word or phrase. For example: “Free choosely” instead of “Choose freely.” Or: “Day prayly” instead of “Pray daily.” Spoonerisms actually occur quite frequently, especially when people are speaking quickly or are nervous or distracted. In fact, you have probably been guilty of such a thing on more than one occasion whether you have been aware of it or not. The greatest thing is when people commit a spoonerism and don’t even realize it and instead continue on talking as if what just came out of their mouth made serfect pense. After all, as far as that person is concerned, nothing incorrect occurred. The brain knows what it is saying even if the words come out of the mouth wrong and the ears don’t catch it. Some spoonerisms can be quite embarrassing, such as this popular one: “Three cheers for our queer old dean” rather than “Three cheers for our dear old queen.” Sometimes a spoonerism can be intentional just to get a laugh or to appear creative or original. Regardless, spoonerisms are quite entertaining, and once you become aware of them, you are likely to start noticing them continually. Hopefully, like me, you'll have a good smile or laugh whenever you come across these simple (and occasionally embarrassing) semantic misplacements.

relocation update

So, I finally have a permanent address back in Idaho. Actually, I have had this PO Box for a while now but have neglected to inform you about it (not that you were overly concerned, I'm sure). If you are interested in writing to me the old fashioned way and/or if you are interested in any of my various zine projects, etc. (please, please be interested), you can contact me at the following address for the foreseeable future.

Dan Murphy
PO Box 9862
Boise ID 83707

Weekly Recommendations, Week 24: Billy Childish is Dead

When I started writing these weekly recommendations at the beginning of 2012, I commenced by recommending the band, Thee Headcoats, fronted by an English gentleman who goes by the name, Billy Childish. Well, my interest in Billy Childish and his music has not waned, and so nearly six months later I am recommending a great, little documentary about the life and times of Billy Childish entitled, Billy Childish is Dead. This film, which was released in 2005, was obviously done with a very low budget and without the use of high quality video and editing equipment; however, that is actually quite fitting considering that it’s a film showcasing a man who despite his prolific contributions to the world of art, writing, and music, has very little interest in fame and fortune and has probably (without pretentiousness) made it a point to avoid such things. The film consists of various interviews with people associated with or interested in the life of Billy Childish, including bandmates, friends, lovers, and associates. Billy Childish himself is also interviewed, and his comments, stories, and quips were major highlights of the film for me. Mixed in with the interviews is footage from various shows that Billy Childish and his myriad bands have put on over the years. The footage includes performances by the Pop Rivets, The Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesers, Thee Headcoats, and The Buff Medways, as well as some solo stuff. The live footage was another big highlight for me, so I was pleased that the DVD included a lengthy bonus segment with extended versions of some of these performances as well as additional ones. This film is a great introduction to the world of Billy Childish, and I would implore you, if you aren’t already acquainted with the works of Billy Childish, to make yourself so. In my opinion, he is one of the few raw, genuine, unexploited, and unapologetic artists out there in this big, crazy world saturated with commercialism and pretended talent.

One of my favorite Billy Childish quotes from the film:
“The Beatles put the idea in mind that you could be in a group, and punk rock put the possibility of actually really being in one without really any talent.”

Weekly Recommendations, Week 23: Prickly Pear Cactus in Bloom

The prickly pears are now in bloom, and I highly recommend you check them out! At least that's the case here in Boise, Idaho. I'm not sure what the state of the prickly pears in your area is, or if you even have any, but here in southwestern Idaho they are blooming like mad. These pictures were taken at Idaho Botanical Garden, where you can see all kinds of things currently in bloom; however, if you get a chance to go there, make it a point to check out the prickly pears. They look amazing! Despite how foreboding they may appear with their spines and all, prickly pears are edible; although I have yet to try them. If you have any recipes or suggestions for eating them, I would love to hear about it. I will make it a point to eat some Opuntia this year for sure.   

Weekly Recommendations, Week 22: Avocados

You probably already know whether or not you like avocados, so my recommendation isn’t likely to change anything. However, I like avocados a lot, and this series is about things that I like (and recommend), so it seems fitting to say so. I usually eat avocados plain with a little salt. Avocados are also great on sandwiches, and they are the main ingredient in guacamole, which is also delicious. Apparently, avocados are considered a superfood, which I suppose just means that they are really good for your health. If you decided at some point that you don’t like avocados, I implore you to try them again; you may discover that they aren’t so bad after all. As far as I’m concerned, they taste good, they are good for you, and the only thing that keeps me from eating them more regularly and in large quantities is that they can be a bit expensive. Either way, feel free to share with me any recipes involving avocados that you might have; I’d be happy to give them a gander and possibly even try them out.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 21: Know Your Mushrooms

Mushrooms freaks, fungiphiles, and myco-fanatics alike are all probably well aware of this fantastic documentary film by Ron Mann entitled, Know Your Mushrooms, but for uninitiated folks and novices like myself, this is a great introduction. This film will acquaint you with a peculiar crowd of mushroom lovers and fungus aficionados, where you will marvel in their uniqueness and their vast knowledge concerning the fascinating world of mycology. Mann bases his film around his visit to the Telluride Mushroom Festival in Colorado, where mushroom fans have gathered annually for many years now to celebrate and revel in the fungal world. Mann converses with several mushroom experts and enthusiasts, but spends most of his time with self-proclaimed guru, Larry Evans. Alongside Evans, Mann explores numerous mycological topics, including mushroom hunting, mushroom cooking, poisonous mushrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, mushroom folklore, mushroom health benefits, and the ecological and environmental benefits of fungi (mycoremediation!). This is a very well-produced and well-directed film, maintaining the interest and attention of the viewer as it transitions from one aspect of mushroom culture to another while simultaneously providing education and entertainment. If your viewing experience is anything like mine, by the time this film is over, you will be wishing that you were as knowledgeable about ‘shrooms as the folks in this film. In my case, I have vowed to redouble my efforts and commit myself to the study of mycology so that one day I can join fellow fungus freaks in a celebration of this magnitude. Perhaps you will join us.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 20: First Aid Kit

This week I decided that I absolutely must recommend a band that I was recently introduced to me by way of one of Laura Veirs' mass emails. If you are familiar with the music of Laura Veirs and find it enjoyable then it is highly likely that you will also enjoy First Aid Kit, a folk duo composed of sisters from Sweden. I find their music very infectious and agreeable. Additionally, there music videos are very well done. Need I say more? I'll just go ahead and let the following videos speak for themselves.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 19: National Public Gardens Day

In case you were not already aware, this Friday is National Public Gardens Day. It's a day to celebrate our nation's public gardens. Public gardens provide communities with numerous beneftis, including educational opportunites, green spaces, examples of environmental stewardship, plant awareness and protection, and a place to get ideas and be inspired about gardening, horticulture, and botany. Participating gardens will be open free of charge and have various activities planned throughout the day. To find out where the nearest participating garden is, go here. For those in the Boise, Idaho area, I would encourage you to spend the day at Idaho Botanical Garden. It's springtime, the weather is nice, and there are tons of plants in bloom.
 

Weekly Recommendation, Week 18: Small Green Roofs

I have been interested in green roofs for quite some time. In fact, upon first learning about green roofs I became so obsessed that I decided to move halfway across the country to pursue a graduate degree that involved green roof research as my thesis project. And yet even after that ordeal, I remain quite interested in them. While I am not currently working in the green roof industry, I still enjoy reading/hearing about green roofs, as well as seeing them whenever I am lucky enough to have that chance.With that said, if you are at all interested in learning more about green roofs, or perhaps constructing a green roof of your own,  I would highly recommend checking out the book, Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living by Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, John Little, and Edmund C. Snodgrass. It's incredibly informative and very well-written and organized. The first part of the book offers a brief overview of green roofs, including the purposes for installing them and the myriad benefits they offer. Also included are green roof construction basics and a very informative planting primer which covers plant selection, planting methods, maintenance considerations, and designing for wildlife. The remaining part of the book is filled with the profiles of 42 small green roof projects broken up into 5 sections. Each profile includes information on the design and planning stage, the installation process, and the successes of the project, along with a personal note by one of the authors. Pictures of each of the projects are also included. These profiles are meant to inspire and encourage people to consider a green roof of their own and to offer ideas about how to go about it. Whether you are interested in putting a green roof on a rabbit hutch, a garden shed, or the roof of your house, this book is a great introduction to the fascinating world of green roof technology.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 17: Plantasia Cactus Gardens

I spent two days last week and will spend two days this week working at Plantasia Cactus Gardens in Twin Falls, Idaho. Plantasia is a privately owned garden that has been around for at least a couple of decades, but not too many people know about it. The owners became obsessed with cacti and other associated plants after taking a trip to the deserts of southwest USA, and so they decided to grow a few cacti in their backyard. Eventually, they were able to purchase 5 acres adjacent to their property, and so they expanded their cacti garden. Their current collection includes cacti and other desert plants from around the world. They also have a small nursery in which they propagate many of the plants in their collection and sell them to people locally and by mail order. They will be having an open house and plant sale the last two weekends in May, and they are open to visitors by appointment during any other time of the year. If you ever happen to be in the area, I would encourage you to stop by. Desert plants can be far more beautiful than you might think, and seeing a collection like this will definitely help you gain an appreciation for them.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 16: Eggshell Pots

If you're the kind of person who keeps a garden, then now is the time of year when you are probably thinking a lot about what you're going to grow and when and where you're going to grow it. If you're on top of things then you've probably already got a few things growing indoors - and possibly outdoors too, depending on where you live. Additionally, if you're like me and like to find re-uses for things, then eggshell pots can be a great way to combine both your gardening pursuits and your re-use interests. They are also a pretty great conversation starter and a fun idea for kids - mainly just a neat idea all around. If you're not an egg eater, perhaps you can get some eggshells from your egg eating friends. It's probably a good idea to poke a small drainage hole in the bottom of your eggshell pots. This is best done before cracking the egg. Use a hammer and a small nail to make the hole, then crack the egg carefully, leaving as large of an intact "pot" as possible. Fill the empty shells with potting soil and plant your seeds. Place the eggshell pots back in the egg carton for safe keeping. Easy as that.
   

Weekly Recommendations, Week 15: Monkey Squad One

Occasionally I write reviews for Syndicated Zine Reviews, but it has been forever since I have posted anything. This week I finally got around to posting a new review, and it just happened to be for one of my favorite independent comics, Monkey Squad One. Read the review for yourself and tell me it doesn't sound interesting, then get in touch with Doug (MSO creator) and get your mitts on a copy for yourself.

Monkey Squad One #8
digest, 24 pages, $2.50
The zombie apocalypse continues in the 8th issue of Monkey Squad One. The city of St. Louis has become overrun by zombies, and a team of three youngsters, known as Monkey Squad One, has been commissioned to take them out. A zombie killing spree ensues, and amid the carnage the sound of an acoustic guitar is heard. Enter washed-up, crybaby crooner, Cletus Whiteheart, hypnotizing zombies with his diminished chords. This is part two of the zombie apocalypse (check out MSO #7 to find out how it all started), and considering what happens in the last few pages of this issue, it’s clear that the affair is far from over. I have enjoyed reading several issues of this comic. It’s highly entertaining and very well done. It has a great mix of humor, adventure, action, and wit. Totally worth a look.
monkeysquadmailbox@gmail.com
www.monkeysquadone.blogspot.com
Etsy: Monkey Shop One
Twitter: MonkeySquadOne

Weekly Recommendations, Week 14: The Measure [sa]

As a big fan of punk rock and live music, the news that The Measure [sa] had disbanded followed by the realization that I had missed out on the opportunity to see such a standout band live was a profound letdown. I love The Measure [sa]! Why did their time on earth have to be so short?

It is difficult for me to articulate exactly what I love so much about The Measure [sa]. Their guitars were rhythmic but jangly. Their melodies were catchy but original. Their lyrics were memorable but unpredictable. They reminded me of a modern day Hüsker Dü fused with the energy and originality of bands like Crimpshine, Fifteen, American Steel, and Discount. Beyond that, there is really not much else to say except that they were incredible and fantastic. They were a New Jersey punk band that put out a handful of full-lengths and a bevy of 7-inches in their short career, touring all parts of countryside along the way. With their demise, they left behind a great legacy that punk bands of today and tomorrow will be challenged to live up to. Their existence helped renew my faith in punk rock and gave me the motivation to continue to seek out existing punk bands that are as relevant and moving as they were. While I sincerely wish that they were still around and that the possibility of someday seeing them live was still a reality, bands like The Measure [sa] keep me determined to stick with the punk rock genre for years to come. As long as bands of their ilk keep popping up from time to time, I’ll be hooked on punk for the foreseeable future.



...

Weekly Recommendations, Week 13: The Juniper #15

This week’s recommendation is blatant self-promotion, so consider yourself warned. However, this is my blog, so I can do whatever I want, right? Plus, everyone else is using their blogs, tweets, and wall postings to aggressively and excessively promote themselves, so what’s stopping me from doing the same? Hey, everybody! Look at me! Check out how cool I am and all the cool stuff I do! Please like me and be my friend! Post, post, post, tweet, blog, post, ad infinitum.
The Juniper is my 8 years running eco-zine. It's all about living the slow/simple/small life: bike riding, gardening, doing it yourself. In this issue I talk about finding sanity by being in nature, my obsession with my bicycle, how to set up a plant variety trial in your garden and why you should do it, and how lots of things in the world are actually getting better (despite what some folks might say or think) and as long as we make the effort to stay on this course, amazing things can happen. I also include a recipe specifically for springtime. If any of this sounds even remotely interesting to you, send me an email and I'll send you a copy. I usually ask for a stamp, 50¢, or a trade in return, but a nice note should also suffice. I'd give my address here, but I'm still in the middle of a transition and don't yet know what my permanent address will be. Either way, write to me here and we can figure something out: juniperjournal@hotmail.com

Weekly Recommendations, Week 12: Spring

It’s the first week of spring! Of course, spring-like weather has been with us for weeks now since winter really didn’t seem to be much of a force this year. Either way, spring has sprung, and in my opinion this is the best time of year. So, I highly recommend enjoying it. The days are getting longer. Temperatures are on the rise. Winter is transitioning into summer. As a plant nerd, spring is especially appealing, because this is the time when plants begin to come out of their winter dormancy and look alive again. It’s also the time when work really gets going in the garden. Now is your chance to get your hands dirty and your feet muddy. If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden plot, then you probably already have a plan and are itching to get going. If you’re like me and have no plot to call your own, then you’re probably in a desperate search for any kind of gardening experience you can weasel your way into. Lucky for me, I just landed a job at Idaho Botanical Garden, so I’ll be getting my gardening fix there on a regular basis. Still, I intend to find other gardening opportunities to go along with that because I’m insatiable…either that or I’m a lunatic. 

However, if you’re not a gardener, there are plenty of other great things about spring, including my other major passion: bike riding. Certainly you have your favorite spring activities, so enjoy them while you can. After all, spring comes but once a year, and as they say, you don’t know what you've got ‘til it’s gone.  

Weekly Recommendations, Week 11: Judge John Hodgman Podcast

I have recently become quite obsessed with podcasts. I spend dozens of hours a week listening to them, which is odd because I'm a huge fan of music as well, which means that my podcast listening has significantly reduced my music listening. In fact, I have very little music stored on my mp3 player these days. Instead, I have deleted most of the music in order to make room for the ever-expanding library of podcasts to which I have become a loyal listener. One such podcast is Judge John Hodgman, a podcast in a family of podcasts found at Maximum Fun. You may recognize John Hodgman from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or perhaps you have read one of his books or seen him in one or more of his various television and film appearances. If you're at all familiar with Mr. Hodgman, then certainly you're aware that he's a pretty funny guy. But is he a real judge? Well, no. But that's partly what makes his podcast so great. Each episode consists of him acting as judge endeavoring to solve a dispute brought before him by listeners of the podcast. The disputes are real, and they are usually pretty trite and mundane, but the whole process is made quite humorous due to the witty and comical comments of Judge Hodgman and his bailiff, Jesse Thorn. After Judge Hodgman has listened to both sides of the case and delivered his verdict, the complainant and defendant are excused, and together with Bailiff Jesse, they "clear the docket." In other words, they read emails from listeners who would like the Judge to solve minor disputes and answer petty questions. This podcast is always a fun listen and gets me laughing out loud quite a bit, so whether or not you're a regular podcast listener, this is definitely one that I'd recommend to pretty much anyone.
 

relocation

Hello folks...
I am interrupting your regular programing to inform you that I have moved. I had been living in Illinois for the past 2 and a half years while I was working on a masters degree. Alas, I completed that endeavor and have returned to the state of Idaho. I don't have a permanent address at this point, so the best way to contact me is by email. Stay tuned for future updates as to my whereabouts...

messyelephant@hotmail.com

Weekly Recommendation, Week 10: Blind Pilot - Keep You Right

Sometimes a song is just too catchy and too appealing that I can’t just listen to it once and move on, instead I am compelled to hit replay repeatedly. “Keep You Right” by Blind Pilot is one of those songs for me. Blind Pilot is an indie folk/pop group from Portland, Oregon. They have been around since 2005 and have released two full-length albums, the most recent being, We Are the Tide. They are currently on tour, so catch them if you get a chance. I unfortunately had to miss their St. Louis show, but I hope to meet up with them eventually somewhere along the trail.

 

Weekly Recommendations, Week 9: Suicide Squad

Back in September 2011, DC Comics made a very bold and unprecedented (even risky) move by ceasing all on-going series, selecting 52 unique series, and starting each of those series anew with issue number one. Many of the series selected were already in existence or had previously been in existence; regardless, every series began at number one. It’s my understanding that one reason why DC did this was to increase their readership by attracting new readers – first issues sell significantly more copies then mid-series issues because, logically, people like to start reading stories at the beginning; so, release 52 issue number ones all at once and you'll get a ton of new readers, right? One big problem that I see with this approach is that most people don’t have the disposable income necessary to purchase 52 comics in a month at $2.99 per issue. At best, most folks might select 2 or 3 series to purchase per month, and if it turns out that after a few months they realize they don’t really like a series they initially selected and want to start reading something else, they must select from an offering of series that are now several issues into their stories. Thus, DC is back to their initial dilemma of people not wanting to start reading a story mid-series. But that’s just a minor impediment, I guess.
When the New 52 started up, I did what I assume the average person would do and I selected a few books to start reading from the beginning. Along the way, I dropped most of them and picked up a few others, but the one and only book that I have stuck with for 6 months now is Suicide Squad. This is one of the series that wasn’t in existence at the time that DC decided to cease all current series, but it had been in existence several years earlier, and its long-awaited return is a welcome one. The Suicide Squad is comprised of a group of supervillians selected by the federal government from the prisoners at Belle Reve Penitentiary. The Squad (also known as Task Force X) is a secret group of powerful villains sent out to take on other high profile villains, and in exchange for the successful completion of their missions, their prison sentences may be shortened. It’s bad guys fighting bad guys, with one group of bad guys disguised as the good guys. Intriguing, eh? The fact that the Squad is comprised of bad guys means that killing members off is a liberty a writer can take without much remorse, and so it happens fairly regularly in any given issue. The main members of this incarnation of the Suicide Squad include Deadshot, Savant, Diablo, King Shark, and the infamous, fascinating, and captivating Harley Quinn. This is a series that is packed with action, suspense, mystery, violence, drama, and twists, and while I can’t speak to all of the New 52 series (considering that I’ve read very few of them), Suicide Squad is definitely one that I would recommend and I’m certain would be enjoyable regardless of which issue you initially purchase.