JOHN DOE ( Aaron J. Esposito )

The 11th Dimension

2009-09-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

I strolled to work in a short-sleeve shirt, but ended up snagging a jacket from my apartment around ~06:30 p.m., and hoofing it downtown to grab some cheap dinner from "Jack In The Box" on Bellevue Way. First things first, the day started with clear skies and mild weather, but ended dark and ominous (w/ slight rain). At 06:00 p.m. it seemed 09:00 p.m. On the way back I cut through a small (semi-secluded) concrete park off of NE 2nd St., across from the CIVICA Office Commons. The shrouded nook has a few circular bench structures with a barrage of flora sprouting from the centers. I sat down to mellow out for a few minutes with my loaded backpack of steaming $0.99 cheese-burgers. I casually absorbed the surroundings when I glanced to the far corner. I thought I heard a muffled groan, then noticed the small burning 'cherry' of a cigarette. A voice (man) started talking to me (non-threatening). So I slowly paced over to his bench so I could listen more intently. There was just enough light to make-out he was wearing jeans, boots, jacket, sunglasses, and a cowboy hat. One could see he was scruffy, wore a pony-tail, and nursed a bottle (Jim Beam). The bottom line is you knew this guy was down on his luck. I discovered he was an ex-sailor (captain) that was supposed to get paid to commandeer a vessel of 'goods' from somewhere in the Caribbean. Immediately I took everything with a minor grain of salt. Namely because the whole scenario seemed a little too fishy, and just a tad on the shady side. What were the 'goods', and where was he supposed to deliver them? Apparently he had trouble with the law in the past (never mentioned what), had no money, was former Navy, and just trying to make money the only way he knew how (sailing). He managed to hop a flight to Seattle, and was attempting to get into Canada (then jump to the Caribbean), but got his passport snaked, and had no other form of ID. So how did he buy booze and cigarettes? Regardless, he was stuck in Bellevue, after proclaiming he had to get out of Seattle. My burgers were getting cold, but the guy was (believe it or not) very articulate, well-mannered, and laid-back. He had a modest buzz, held a decent conversation, and never asked for anything. In the end I wished him luck, took one swig of J.B. (after he insisted), and that was that. Though these moments are rare, they manage to strike you on a basic level of humanity, one which can't be ignored. Time to eat.

Urban Escapade

2009-09-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

So I caught some lunch with friends in Kirkland, and ended up in Seattle until the early hours of the morning. Shorty's on 2nd, drowning cheap pitchers, witness to some inconspicuous projectile vomiting, walking the streets a bit, and cabbing over to Capitol Hill. More observation (public urination) and street vendor cuisine near the intersection of Pike & 10th (hot dog & cream cheese / grilled onions / mustard / rooster sauce). The Comet Tavern was far beyond loaded (live music), charging cover, but found Linda's Tavern (sardine pack) and an open table. More brew, chat, and melting of time. In conversation I learned this was supposedly where Kurt Cobain was last seen alive in public. Not that I cared, but it sorta struck a chord. Then a few slices of pizza (pesto-goat-cheese) at Hot Mama's before a jaunt through Cal Anderson park (sleeping inhabitants included). Zero energy and motivation the following day. But my head was still heavy, stuck on Cobain, and so I pulled out BLEACH (Nirvana). Forgot how early (1989), pure, and raw the sound was. Some say NEVERMIND is 'commercial' in comparison. This was before Grohl was drumming (Chad Channing), and was produced for only ~$600. Got fixed on some tracks (Blew / School / Paper Cuts / Negative Creep / Sifting). Is this noise buried forever? Or will there be a second coming? One can only wait.

PPPFFFFTTTTT... I Farted

2009-07-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel as though I've hit an invisible wall in the social networking universe. I am currently plugged into FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and LINKEDIN, etc. However, my posting frequency has declined. Not because I don't enjoy their services, but because I just don't feel as motivated as I once did. The nerd inside has been slowly bored to tears, yet I still remain on the hunt for the next 'thing'. It has taken me months to return (here) to BLOGGER, but I'm scratching my creative itch again. I randomly enter periods of intense mental bursts through film, music, travel, people, experiences, thoughts, feelings, smells, tastes, etc. Over time I have managed to write (sporadically), which is something I truly enjoy. Not to mention, it allows me to flex the brain muscle. Don't expect a steady stream of inspired genius, but I'll try to accommodate my legion of rabid followers. Ciao.

_#3_

2009-06-30T00:08:00.000-07:00

LOST CAUSE

hear me... your voice
know me... your face
guide me... your hand
defy me... your fear
heal me... your scar
lose me... your mind
find me... your world
touch me... your life
burn me... your fire
taste me... your skin
tear me... your heart
kill me... your love

_#2_

2009-06-29T23:58:00.001-07:00

PUBLIC TRANSIT

i saw you only yesterday
on the bus to nowhere
stuck between strangers
the sigh of some reality
face of damaged beauty
waiting for something
to show you life again
yet the truth was cold
no means for a savior
only to wait for a stop
the time came and went
a cheap glance was all
but in just one moment
you were gone forever
and i am left to ponder
if you found your way

_#1_

2009-06-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

ALONG THE WAY

here comes the beacon light
as the sheep drown in sleep
such a burden to be the one
witness to the waking world
observing change over time
human order of progression
like the turning of a leaf
colors change during season
must we decide our destiny
against random possibility
upon the saddle of oblivion
a pony ride toward infinity

TOKYO!

2009-03-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

[ http://www.tokyothemovie.com ]

Five Finger Discount

2009-02-13T20:56:00.001-08:00

After work I walked into downtown Bellevue to buy a "super burrito" at Casa Ds. I witnessed a car pull-up to another vehicle. A guy jumped out and grabbed a set of skis off the roof rack of the other car. Other people walking out of the nearby sports gear shop quickly saw, and another guy ran back to the scene and yelled the license plate number of the thief vehicle. The irony is that when I walked into the burrito shop, there were two cops sitting down and eating. I haven't seen anything like this for awhile, and thought it was interesting enough to post. It's been awhile since I've done so. I'll try to get back to being a little more regular. Is this just the "tip of the iceberg" for this type of shit? What a bizarre encounter.

Bill Hicks ( Lost Footage )

2009-01-02T22:39:00.001-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL_uiPbMTLU ]

JCVD

2008-11-29T23:47:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/jcvd ]

The Other Side Of The Sound

2008-11-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

I bailed to the other side of the Puget Sound for ThanksGiving. Worth every penny from every aspect. Getting away is sometimes the best medicine. The ferry ride to Bremerton was mellow, and my aunt picked me up with her dog jumping around the car in a hyper-panic. I ate loads of food, and drank loads of wine. Some of her friends came over, which was a little strange at first, but I quickly struck a chord, because that's what I do. The quick back-story is that her husband (my uncle) passed away not too long ago, after falling out of a tree. The house is amazing in it's own right, and resides up a semi-concealed road within a mellow NorthWestern town. From the balcony on the second floor, you see trees, mist, and overcast skies. I helped out as much as I could, which she definitely appreciated, and I felt good about doing. Ultimately it was nice to spend the holiday with some blood, and get some old-fashion home-cooking. I ate like a fiend, and didn't care one way or the other. I realized I am lucky to have some family around the area, and can't take it for granted, which many do. All in all, a pleasant weekend, interesting people, and plenty of grubbing. I made it back across the pond tonight, and am now going low-key. The turkey sessions are still settling in the stomach, and I just need to relax. Hopefully everyone had a redemptive holiday... One which they can truly appreciate. Most folks typically forget their lives aren't so fucked up.

Give Me The Good Stuff

2008-11-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

After I finished work today, I walked down to "Mexico Video" to get some cheap (and light) brew (Tecate) to pair with a mammoth burrito (carnitas) from "Casa D's". If you ever make it down there, get the max heat level on the hot sauce. This stuff is some sort of special blend of diced habaneros, jalapenos, chilis, etc. If you go level 5, you'll know why it's level 5. But back to "Mexico Video". This place is pretty mellow. The little old Mexican lady running the counter is "super bueno" (thick accent). The 'ranchero' music is always playing, and they have cheap beer, food, and videos (spanish). Anyway, you really can't go wrong. The insanely hot burrito was filling as hell, and it was a nice compliment to the cold weather during the jaunt. So... If you haven't been to either spot... "Mexico Video" or "Casa D's"... Go for it if you know your way around Bellevue, WA. Where the TUMs at?

Chapi Chapo

2008-11-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

01 : [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkpNVVJUnA ]
02 : [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3x--Z5tBQ ]
03 : [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJp42Rp3_T4 ]

french animation (stop-motion) on acid... circa 1974
the sound production is what comes through in spades
60 total episodes... ~5 minutes apiece... quite brilliant

World Record Suicide Dive ( Redux )

2008-11-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MNJOmdE_4U ]

World Record Suicide Dive

2008-11-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uHkyMh9FW4 ]

man risks potential death... one judge only scores a 7.5

MAN vs. NATURE ( Big Wave Surf )

2008-11-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Pw7vKtqpo ]

the greatest ever? if you follow the surf crowd... enjoy

B.O.C. ( The Beach At Redpoint )

2008-11-06T21:08:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b4efyoC_aE ]

Barack Inhaled... That Was The Point

2008-11-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpBzQI_7ez8 ]

grown politicians acting like pre-schoolers... stupidity

11/04/08

2008-11-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

[ OBAMA ] : change = nature

Brain Fodder

2008-10-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

[ Sky Television - Conspiracies : IRAQ ] : 2006

of course... only believe what you can validate...
do your own research... form your own opinions

EVOLUTION vs. REVOLUTION

2008-10-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

interesting and uncertain times are upon us. the stuff that nobody wants to talk about, and in essence, we are programmed not to. why? because if we do, we sound psychotic or mentally unsound. we supposedly live in a prosperous and powerful nation. though i don't necessarily believe everything i hear, the confusing message is that elements of truth can always be hidden in tandem with untruth. ultimately you never know what is around the corner with 100% certainty. fact vs. speculation. the scenarios are so convoluted that one can never comprehend that they could be legitimate, or complete fabrication. what am i talking about? i don't even really understand, which keeps me in the dark, along with everyone else. i am of course speaking about the current state of the u.s. economy. or should i say global economy? what happens in the u.s. has implications in trade countries, such as china, and others, etc. is it a simple financial debacle, revolving around dollars and cents, or is that just a single piece tied to a larger outcome? trying to maintain a balanced point of view is nearly impossible, considering the bombardment of daily media, which attempts to gain your approval, and keep you in check with the views being fed to you. no, i am not a theorist, but a "john doe" trying to make sense of what is taking place on a daily basis. will the dollar collapse under the weight of the actions of the federal reserve? are precious metals the only real currency that retain value? rumors are flying regarding potential monetary bankruptcy, and hyper-inflation on the way. banks are consolidating, which, is that really positive? is big-brother syndrome growing by the second? surging lay-offs are a fact, and are happening right now. all this, and the presidential election is also thrown into the pit. so many things bombarding the receptors of everyone, that you just want to disconnect from it. i think this is the first real crisis that my generation has faced, and i am curious what they think, feel, etc. if nothing else, i hope i can provide some brain-food for those that can freely acknowledge that 'something' is happening, even though i can't quite finger what it is. regardless... be smart, be safe, and pay attention. L8ER

AMERICA : Freedom to Fascism ( Aaron Russo )

2008-10-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

[ http://www.freedomtofascism.com ] [ IMDb ] [ FREE ]

insightful documentary surrounding relevant subject matter...
IRS, Federal Reserve, banks, taxes, debt, enslavement, etc.

BlackJack II ( SAMSUNG )

2008-10-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Soon after joining my latest employer, I was issued a "BlackJack II" (SAMSUNG) cell phone running "Windows Mobile" (6.0). I immediately applied the latest OS update (6.1). The look and feel was a big step in the right direction, yet still left behind by the modified version of "Mac OS X" running on the "iPhone" and "iPod Touch". In the past, I have been a heavy user of the "BlackBerry" platform, so this comes as somewhat of an adjustment. I have managed to rapidly pick-up the nuances of WM, but I'm still not completely sold on it as a product. I can setup "Gmail" and "Exchange" e-mail access, which is essential. But it is the extra functions that don't really do it for me. WM applications seem to be difficult to find on the web, and there is no centralized app store (that I am aware of), which would simplify the process, and score some bonus points. From a hardware stand-point, the phone is actually a sleek form-factor, and includes an integrated GPS radio, along with a 2.0 mega-pixel camera. There is an "SD Micro" slot on the device, so I'm thinking about picking up a card to expand storage. Anyway, I'll keep playing with it, and digging into the details. As I write this post, I have been watching the progress of "Android" (cellular hand-set OS) from GOOGLE. I can see this potentially becoming the hot ticket behind the "iPhone". In the end... MICROSOFT vs. APPLE vs. GOOGLE for cellular superiority. The "smart phone" wars have only just begun.

ASAHI ( Super Dry )

2008-10-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

SILVER BULLET ( 33.8 oz. )... "JAPAN'S No.1 BEER" ( almost a 40... in a can )

The Edge Of Heaven ( Fatih Akin ) : 2008

2008-10-12T00:33:00.000-07:00

[ APPLE ] [ Rotten Tomatoes ]

multi-layered foreign film... German / Turkish cross-culture...
noteworthy acting... something to ponder beyond the credits