NEW SINGER I'M DIGGING...GABRIELLA CILMI!

So I was listening to KCRW.com last week when I heard this great track called "Sanctuary" by upcoming singer-songwriter, Gabriella Cilmi. She's Australian but now living the UK. The version of "Sanctuary" that I heard was from the soundtrack for 2007 UK film, St Trinians. She's a little reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, so if you're a fan of the latter, then you will probably enjoy Cilmi. She may not be as talented as Winehouse but I believe she is still very young, 17 or 18, quite attractive and doesn't appear to have any substance abuse issues.

All I could find on You-Tube however, was a live version of the track.




And here is her current hit in the UK, Ireland, and Australia, "Sweet About Me"

Eighties....I'm livin' in the Eighties...

Yes...I lived through the 80s and I loved every awkward, pimple-covered face moment. Well, I really didn't, but this was the Guero in 1986. Punk Rock was already dead and I was a straight-out poseur but I was just about to graduate after 12 years of Catholic education so I just didn't give a flying fuck anymore. I liked Jimi Hendrix, The Stones, The Beatles (John Lennon was my fucking hero)and Bob Marley but I hated the hippie, especially those old peace and love burn-outs who stunk up and littered the the Haight and Golden Gate Park 20 years after their failed scene was over. I was a real piece of shit. I had a bad attitude back then and I was an angry, angry young man but hey...I'm all better now!

The leather jacket was borrowed from my friend Gene who was probably too busy cruising the the EL or getting royally shit-faced and moshing it up while watching his favorite local band, Metallica or some other speed-metal maniac band.

Notice the ripped t-shirt that I bought on Haight Street. It's an R. Crumb reproduction of his famous Tommy the Toilet sign. I was soooo counter-culture dude.

Funny because less then a year after this, under the influence of my talented friend Matt, I started getting into Hip-Hop. They wouldn't even play rap on the radio back then, except late at night or only on local station KPOO. Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J, EPMD, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys and too many others to mention. The Golden Age of Hip-Hop had arrived just in time....the 80s were starting to get boring.

THE DEATH OF A STORE

So our Bliss store in Plaza Camino Real is NO MORE. Closed. Finished. It's a sad time. We worked so hard. Tried to so hard to make it work but the mall is dead. The decline of the mall, the economy, the Marines from Camp Pendleton in Iraq, the closure of Robinson's May Co., the price of gas, home foreclosures, the fires....all that and more...

The mall has been left to suffer aimless youths hanging about with nothing better to do but shoplift and make trouble. Three years ago, there were women in their 20s and 30s who came to shop but they are all gone now, perhaps shopping at the popular Carlsbad Outlet instead. I really wish we could have stuck it until improvements are made but it may be quite some time.

It's strange now. It feels like something is missing. There is no store to call and check in. So now we move on and try to save the shop at Mission Valley. Hopefully, with all the inventory from the other store, we can have a fighting chance. It will be difficult, we still have bills to pay from the other store but still we move on. What choice do we have?

LEFTIST REVOLUTIONARY CHICKS ARE HOT!

So this most recent mess in South America, got me to Googling the FARC and some other related subjects when this photo popped up. My goodness, who wouldn't want to share a fox hole in jungle with this leftist mamacita and her AK-47? It makes me wonder, who is she? Where is she? Talk about marketing for the Farc. Can Maxim get her to do a cover?

Anyway, so things really seem be going south in South America. I think Hugo Chavez is really enjoying all this. Anything to make him like a Castro type of figure. But sorry Hugo, even Fidel has more class and tact than you. Restrain yourself man!

I think it also has the dual effect of taking the some the attention of Venezuelans away from the fact that Chavez's socialized supply structures are creating shortages of basic goods. So he wants to start a war when he can't even manage his own country? I don't think so...this all just another photo-op.

However, the fact that Columbia conducted a military operation in the sovereign nation of Ecuador does cause certain problems. I can't imagine that if some one like Mr. Chavez did the same thing, that the United States would be as understanding as they are with Columbia. Actually I wonder if that privately, the Bush Administration is tearing a Columbia a new asshole for getting into this mess. I don't think old Jorge the gringo needs anymore problems.

and you may ask yourself...

I've had fever and flu for a week. My employees infected 3 PCs including the server with a nasty trojan(s) while using myspace while "working". I don't have the rent. Some asshole hit my parked car and ran off ...and all the money's gone...once in a lifetime/water flowing underground.

same as it ever was...same as it ever was....same as it ever was...same as it ever was...