I want to talk about something that’s plagued mankind for centuries, (well, decades at least). “Selling out”. One can “sell out” in many aspects but i’d like to focus mainly on music. To many music fans this is probably something you don’t think or even care much about. If most of the music you listen to is just whatever you happen to hear on the radio… one, i feel sorry for you, and two, you may not understand why this is such a big deal. What i will try to explain here is how heartbreaking and excruciating it can be when a band or artist “Sells out”.
Rock On Dustin Helvig!
March 8th, 2010 by luke
It brings me great pleasure to introduce the latest member of the Our Thursday team. He has been an honorary member from the beginning with his constant appearance in our stories such a the first and third hair cut bets, my sprint to become the Supreme Leader of the world, or the audacious moments at Vincenzo’s. However, now it is time for Dustin to grace us with his own perspective on life and the stories that come from it.
Dustin was raised in the Knolls (as was I) and was brought up by viking parents who both stand 7 feet tall and not an inch less. He was invaluable as we were growing up since he worked at Play-it-again-Sports which supplied us with an arsenal of toys and activities. He drove around a lowered black ranger with airbags and no door handles and head lights that could blind Stevie Wonder from a thousand paces. He helped me transport a ratty old couch 250 miles on a single cylinder (out of four) because the tin foil was not sufficient to keep the other three in tact and was there to laugh as the cab filled with smoke when the final one blew and he didn’t mind when the cop yelled at us for sitting on the couch in the bed of the truck on the side of the freeway and because I did not realize that I had used the call box for mute people and had unintentionally offended the mute cop on the other end. Dustin let me duct-tape knives to the inside of my ankles so I could climb up his palm tree like a lumber jack and he was very reasonable when his Viking parents burned down the local village screaming for the neck of the one who damaged their palm tree.
Dustin has taken the very unofficial position, and the first position for that matter here at Our Thursday, as our music correspondent due to his absurd passion for collecting CDs, supporting music in all of its manifestations, and working at a Metal music label. But I will be disappointed if he does not tickle our pickles with some of the memories that have no relevance to music and can simply be described as ludicrous.
Welcome to the team Dustin!
The Time I Made Out With my Friend’s Ex-Girlfriend
March 2nd, 2010 by brian
He wasn’t taking the break up well and we were all suffering the consequences. “No Black!” He shouted over everyone’s conversation at the table, referring to the beans in the burrito he had just ordered, obviously. My face turned bright red. If it wasn’t already colorful from the day of sun and drinking I had just had, the waiter might have noticed how embarrassed I was. I quickly realized I wasn’t alone when I caught eyes with everyone sitting near me. Everyone but Scott, of course, who continued to casually look through the drink menu, oblivious to what had just happened. He flipped through the pages and muttered inaudible thoughts to himself. “You might want to be a little more careful with your choice of words, especially around the only black waiter in the restaurant,” Chris whispered as soon as the man was out of sight. Scott turned another page in the drink menu and ignored his friend’s advice by using a defense only drunk people and children practice known as “selective hearing”. I made a mental note to tip our server extra.
Close Your MySpace Account
March 1st, 2010 by charles
I read the newspaper regularly. That is why I was shocked when I recently discovered that MySpace, the social networking site with which I have an account that I seldom check, is owned by arch-nemesis to humanity Rupert Murdoch. MySpace has been owned by Murdoch’s News Corporation since 2005. Where have I been? I intend to make up for my oversight with this blog.
Photography and Me
February 17th, 2010 by charles
I like documenting my days and doings with pictures. I’ve never been committed enough to keep a journal, and I’m not a fan of useless souvenirs – so photos will serve me throughout my life to recall the people and places I’ve been fortunate enough to know. I consider photography a useful tool in reflection and appreciation for all I’ve been able to do. The albums I collect, reminders. During a recent trip I got into an argument about different photo taking philosophies. The depth and intensity of our discussion made me realize how defined my ideas are about amateur photography.
My 4th Grade Valentine
February 12th, 2010 by brian
It has to be sweet and sincere. Something that says “I like you” but not in a creepy, looked-up-your-address-on-the-teacher’s-class-roll-list-and-stalk-you-on-the-weekends, kind of way. Trying to sum up your feelings over the past 3 years on a tiny candy heart is not an easy task. I grabbed another handful and laid them out on the table, attempting to find the best ones to put in K.H.’s card.
Valentines Day in the Southern Hemisphere
February 4th, 2010 by luke
Here at Our Thursday we have decided to do monthly themes in addition to our usual writing. This months theme of course is Valentine’s Day. Here is my submission…
Are We Having Fun Yet?
January 12th, 2010 by luke
In the year 2000 I had discovered my identity. It had eluded me for many years with some pretty impressive guerilla tactics but a new era had to begin.
Çok Pahalı – That’s Too Expensive
January 12th, 2010 by charles
Living abroad one invariably will notice differences between their mother country and their host country – be they cultural, social, religious, political, economic, etcetera. For me, one of the most significant of my daily routine is the presence of an intense and pervasive bargaining culture here in Turkey, it is truly polar-opposite to the ‘everything labeled and posted’ consumer system we have in the States. Having grown up in Southern California the system of economic transactions was based largely around explicit, specifically written, rules – menus with prices, correctly labeled shelves, accurately priced products, a general uniformity in price for similar goods, and corresponding trust between consumer and merchant. The Turkish system is not like this, it is wonderfully and horribly different.
K.H.
December 28th, 2009 by brian
Her name was Kelly Hensler, but we called her K.H. My progress over the years with her could be described as dismal at best. In first grade, I threw powdered chalk in her best friend’s eyes. K.H. turned to me and shouted “What did you do that for!?” then followed her friend into the bathroom. In second grade, I asked her if she wanted to see me make my face turn red. I breathed heavily for a minute, then let out all the air in my lungs. I put my arms around my neck and strained all the muscles in my body as hard as I could. I think this made me pass out because when I got up from the floor, she was in a casual conversation with a friend and it seemed like a considerable amount of time had passed. In 3rd grade, I stood right behind her in the ragtag choir our class had assembled for the annual school play. In rehearsal I thought it was funny to sing not just the boys part, but also the girls, with a much higher pitch voice. She turned around and glared at me when I did this.
