The new single, “Rather Be,” contains two b-sides that could easily have fit alongside anything else on the new album, Forth. “All Night Long” is a dreamy ethereal jam, and “Major Force” is a wall of f*cking sound!

Unfortunately, neither b-side is available on CD.  They are on the 7″ vinyl only.

Fortunately, however, both tracks are available on the “Rather Be” EP on iTunes.

That’ll do, pig.  That’ll do.

I’ve loved The Verve ever since Urban Hymns in 1997.  If they ever come to Vancouver, I will call out the big guns to help me get tickets: my fake ex-wife Ronda!  She is a Ticketmaster pro!  6th row or better!

• Bulk food sections. Unless the item is individually wrapped and sealed, I will not purchase it.  I’ve seen far too many people stick their grubby paws into a bin to “sample” the item.  Icky icky poo!   Yuck.
• Dog “kisses.” [shiver]  Sorry.  It’s not cute to be licked by an animal all over one’s mouth area.
• Public restrooms. Unless they’re scrubbed and disinfected, like, every three minutes, public restrooms are vile places.  Get in, get out.  Scrub yourself down, Silkwood style.
• Sharing straws. I’ll admit: I’ve done it many times, but it still gives me the heebies.  Doesn’t matter how wonderful or [ha ha ha!] “pure” I think the other person is.
• Stray hairs. Hair belongs on heads.  Nowhere else.  Not on the bathroom floor; not discovered randomly between the pages of a book; not [shiver] inside the door of a fridge.  In fact, seeing hair in a fridge is the #1 thing that will send me into full-tilt neurosis.

I’m not sure why I felt compelled to share all this just now.

But now you know.

As seen from Fatty’s Palace in Burnaby around 4:00pm today.

It’s magical!  After the jump, find out what was waiting for me at the rainbow’s end!  You’ll never guess!

I’m writing songs!

That’s right. I’m prepping myself for my future GarageBand career.  It’s checkout time, Hotel California!  Quiet down, Rumours!  Off to the pound, Hounds of Love!  You’ve had enough, Appetite for Destruction!

There’s a new classic album on the way!

You may think I’m joking, but I’m serious!  Dead serious.  I’m going to do this.  If Thom Yorke can make an album on his computer, so can I.  I’ve got my eye on an iMac. It’s only a matter of time before I cave!

This won’t end well!

]]> http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/19/add-this-to-the-pile-of-outlandish-statements/feed/ http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/19/she-met-me-and-shes-still-coming-back/ http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/19/she-met-me-and-shes-still-coming-back/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:56:32 +0000 admin http://www.14giants.com/?p=1032

(photo: unknown)

Kathleen Edwards is coming back to Vancouver!  And yours truly has tickets!

I met Kathleen after her fierce, ROCKING show at Richards on Richards back in the summer (there is a picture of the two of us, but I look SUPER MEGA OBESE in that photo next to her tiny self, and so it will never see the light of day).  She is sweet as pie and gorgeous in person.  (Although… in a rather awkward moment, I put my arm around her, and she winced as if praying for security to wander by.)

Friday, January 16th.  The Rio on Broadway.  $25.

I’ll be there!

It’s the “results show!”  My unpaid interns and I studied the survey results, and here’s a summary of what we learned:

• 14 Giants readers are 90% male and most are between the ages of 20-40.
• Geographically, they are located everywhere -  but mostly within North America.  Edmonton, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, etc.
• Many cited the “eccentric” content of the site (and frequent updates) as the major draw.
• Survey suggests… people enjoy The Darcys!
• Some expressed concerns with the sidebar design and would like to see the Asides moved to the top of the page.
• Some want more of me in the site (photos, personality, and whatnot.)
• Some don’t understand the password-protection thingy and/or feel excluded.

Here’s my response to reader concerns/quibbles:

• Regarding the sidebar: the theme I use did not come with built-in widgets, and so any rearrangement of items will need hard coding.  I’ll look into it.
• Regarding the pass-protection: I’m thinking of scrapping it. Unfortunately, if I throw out the pass-protection, with it will go certain blog content (self-portraits, “sensitive” posts, etc.)  Sorry, but due to the nature of my job, having personal information and/or public photos of myself on the blog is not an option.  And yet, keeping a pass-protection system in place inevitably leaves some readers feeling excluded.  And yet, I can’t go handing out the password all willy-nilly either.  See my dilemma?

I’m trying to think of ways around this.

Anyway, thanks to all who participated.  The results were very interesting, and will help shape the future of 14G.

As someone whose own hometown was threatened by fire last year (THE most powerless I have ever felt in my life), these pictures look all-too familiar.  Only a last-minute change in wind direction spared us.

* For reals.

I did not draw this.  I stole the bits from various places and Photochopped them together.  I have no talent.

Isn’t it lover-ly?

I know, I know. The economy is shit.  But I MUST have it.

And while we’re at it, let’s pair it with:

YES YES YES! Size 11, please.

Truth be told: shopping for clothes stresses me out.  Picking items out online is fine, but I don’t find going to the actual stores fun AT ALL.  The music’s too loud, there are too many people, and they never have my size. I get flustered and give up.  A Beautiful Mind all the way, man.  This is how it starts.

]]> http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/17/frivolous-change-of-subject/feed/ http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/17/survey-says/ http://www.14giants.com/2008/11/17/survey-says/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:45:59 +0000 admin http://www.14giants.com/?p=1002 Readers!

Please CLICK HERE to answer five important questions about yourself.  Doing so will help me (and my unpaid interns) get a better general sense of who is reading this site, where they are, and what they like/don’t like.  You don’t have to give your name.  And I designed the survey to take, like, 2 seconds.

Thanks in advance!