Sonic Avenger

In Memoriam

2009-07-08T23:09:00.020Z

Listening to: Mighty Dub Katz - Let the Drums Speak

Well, it was a fitting end I suppose. A surreal life followed by a truly surreal spectacle in death. I can't say I watched much of the Michael Jackson funeral-memorial to be honest, but I was compelled enough to keep channel-hopping back to it. Every time I did I was presented with something I just couldn't quite get my head around. The intense grieving of a family and an extended family, presented live onstage. The coffin, spot-lit in front of the stage was the final unreal cherry on the cake for me. Jeff Koons himself couldn't have done it better.
I'm wondering if this will mark the start of similar events around future showbiz deaths. Truth is though, that not many people ever get to the level of global celebrity that Jacko did. World politicians don't get send-offs like this one, never mind slebs.
Given that the depressing economics of the recording industry will almost certainly ensure that U2 are the last of the Huge Monster rock acts to roam the Earth, (if they were a new band, they'd have been dropped after the first album) MJ will similarly be the last of the Uber-solo performers. I can't think of anyone bigger right now anyway.

Michael Jackson

2009-06-29T12:59:00.028Z

Listening to: Jackson 5 - Looking Thru the Windows

I wasn't planning to contribute anything to the already overwhelming volume of online responses to the death Michael Jackson last Thursday. To be honest, like most of us, it's a long time since I've thought of him as anything other than the world's most famous victim of Sleb Culture. But as someone pretty good at writing about these things once said, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone -and I got to thinking. Ok, it's been a while since he's been on top of his game recording-wise but so what? When Sir Paul eventually goes to meet his maker, my bet is that Macca tributes will be waxing poetic about The Beatles, not Wings...who were actually together for longer.

My own first MJ-moment came as a child when I heard the guitar-chiming/stop-start-bass intro to I want You back on the radio. It still makes me, mentally at least, stop what I'm doing when I hear it now. It also occurred to me; how many of us ever buy records, that have lasting value decades after being released, by someone whose voice hasn't yet broken? The Jackson 5 were fronted by just such a performer, but as a listener you never question the 10 year-old pre-pubescent vocal chords. You don't need to, because of the sheer Greatness thereof. Not many 13 year-olds get to record ballads about waking up in the morning next to the love of their life, but his is up there with the best of 'em.

Of course there's the plethora of non-musical reasons for which he had the world's attention: The plastic surgery, the confused sexuality, the (alleged) abusive childhood, the Messiah complex, the children, Neverland, his marriages, his own closely-guarded brood, and so it goes. I always thought that some aspects of his public image throughout the years were bad attempts to look wierd and therefore press-worthy (Bubbles the chimp springs to mind) but there was enough genuine intrigue around him as an individual to warrant attention most of the time, without any invention. One thing's for sure - there'll be some interesting books on their way to the highstreet as I type this.
I'm currently re-evaluating MJ's place on Popular Culture's scale of importance, and I'm placing him a fair bit higher than I might have this time last week.
For now though, just click on the above clip of the J5 performing the awesome Looking Thru the Windows on TV. MJ's great vocal, the orchestration, the airborne backing-vocals, the cavernous chunks of Theme From Shaft-informed guitar alongside it's fuzzed-out punctuations, the moves. It was all there, even then.

Is it safe?

2009-06-19T20:19:00.019Z

Listening to: The Monkees - The Girl That I Knew Somewhere

It's been one of those weeks. Found myself back at the Dental surgery yesterday morning. Ok, I knew I was in for the first installment of a root-canal treatment, and that this probably wouldn't involve many laffs. But I also figured that I'd be dosed to the gills with enough anaesthetic to render this a merely uncomfortable encounter, as opposed to a painful one. Funny how wrong you can be. He (my dental practitioner of choice, name withheld) had decided whilst looking at an X-ray that the nerve of the tooth was dead, and as a result no anaesthesia would be called for. I replied that I really wouldn't mind having some, even if it were for no reason. He ploughed on regardless, partly I think because he was behind schedule with his appointments.
Yes, you know what's coming. No dead nerve to be found, just a live and very angry one. First time I've ever been remotely vocal in a dental situation I have to say. Screaming was simply the natural, primal response to that particular kind of deeply invasive pain.
My dental visits are rarely a leisurely experience these days. Costly too. Private dental treatment costs £180 per half-hour...and that's just the time. Treatment-costs are added to that. You can see why a lot of people who don't have access to NHS treatment are staying away in droves. Back there in three weeks for the second installment. I'm losing sleep already.

April to June

2009-06-01T22:21:00.035Z

Listening to: Burial - Ghost Hardware

Ok, so apparently May didn't exist this year. I'm officially a bad blogger. That's bad meaning bad. It's not that stuff didn't occur in Sonic World this past month, (quite the contrary) just nothing that urged me to render it in written form and blast it into the blogosphere. Bear with me citizens, as this will happen occasionally.
On the upside, the sun has indeed been shining down on this green and pleasant wasteland we know as Cruel Britannia over the last few days. In fact the sun continues to beat down as I write this. I'm feeling quite Mediterranean I have to say. You know those mornings when the sky is that certain shade of blue that seems to make the likelihood of cloud-formation extremely unlikely? Well normally, we don't here...but this last weekend has seen a daily succession of those azure, cloud-free skies. As a result, yours truly is a little less caucasian than I've been for quite some time. Plus, just over one year on from my unfortunate mishap of 2008, my right-leg is working fine again. In fact, it's better than before.
Things are on the Up pop-kids, I can feel it...

Swines

2009-04-30T12:53:00.018Z

Listening to: Grand Funk Railroad - Into the Sun

It's amazing just how quickly you can become totally out-of-touch with what's going on in the world these days. When I went to bed on Monday night, there was some vague news on TV concerning one death in Mexico from something called Swine Influenza. On Tuesday morning I was up at 5.00am (yes, it happens) out all day, and was indisposed for most of that evening due to someone breaking into the Sonic Chariot. The perpetrator had bent the passenger-side door at the top to gain access then made off with a pair of Primark sunglasses that cost £2.00. Don't you just love smackheads?
Anyhoo, my point is that I managed not to see a newspaper or TV news bulletin for a little under 24 hours. By the time I got to see some news on Tuesday night, there were 150 Mexican deaths, with reports of outbreaks in Scotland and numerous other parts of the globe. At the time of writing (Thursday) it is now a Level 5 global epidemic. We're getting leaflets through the door, schools are closing, people are wearing surgical masks to have sex and sales of pork scratchings have plummeted. Those germs sure can shift themselves pop-kids. It really is like one of those future-doom dramas from the 70's.
Come to think of it, I have at least two of those symptoms listed up there...

Unbridled Optimism

2009-04-24T15:09:00.018Z

Listening to: The Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle

It must be said that us Brits are enjoying somthing of an early summer at present. I mean, you can pretty much get a sun-tan if you put your mind to it. Excellent for April. Mind you, I recall waxing lyrical about the Weather Gods smiling down upon us around this time last year, and things went downhill for yours truly pretty soon after that. Reminded me that unbridled optimism doesn't always mean that sh*t won't happen. Summer turned into something I only saw on TV and shook one of my crutches at in anger.
Still, as I've been heard to mutter before, this is not a weather blog, although this very topic - The Weather - for me is right up there with 9/11, Scientology in Hollywood, and Seinfeld as being something I rarely tire of talking about.
You'll find examples of each of these scattered around this site in various places, though thinking about it now, it's been a while since I even mentioned the crazy futuristic cult of Scientology...and now we have the whole Will Smith thing to think about. Expect an update on this.

Fear of Facial Hair

2009-04-07T09:48:00.036Z

Listening to: Wicker Man OST - Willow's Song

Caught Fleet Foxes on the Culture Show over the weekend. Music aside, what caught my attention was the band's apparent devotion to facial hair. The appeal of the latter has always been a mystery to me, especially when exhibited by the under-60's. Ok, your songs may be sourced directly from 1968 but you can still indulge in a little grooming now and again, no? Whatever fashion-based skeletons I may have packed tightly in my cupboard, I can assure thee that face-fuzz sure ain't one of 'em.
And while we're at it, that interview... jeez, it's like something from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I'm sure the lead-beard is one helluva song-writing prodigy, but if you remove the word 'Like,' he actually utters about 6 words in total, proving that sometimes there's a lot to be said for faceless techno anonymity.
Don't get me wrong pop-kids, I can be a sucker for timeless-acoustic-guitar-from-wooded-glade-in-Laurel-Canyon music as much as the next Mojo-reading beard-jockey, (check out today's Listening to selection) but many of it's exponents, these days at least, don't make for great interviews it has to be said. Now this band of folk-revisionists did it right in my book. Exactly how I like it - no song-explanations, and never, ever any facial hair.

British Summertime

2009-03-29T09:43:00.018Z

Listening to: Chris Rea - On the Beach

And so beginneth another British Summertime. Yes boys and girls, the clocks have gone forward, the shorts are on standby and high-hopes for a long, lazy summer begin to emerge. No matter how much of a pipe-dream it really is these days, you just can't help thinking that a 1976-style summer just might happen again. Aside from the weather though, Summer is also a state of mind. Longer days and lighter mornings make for happier, shinier (and here in Brit-land drunker) people. Could be an interesting season given the predictions earlier in the year of a summer of civil unrest within these shores. Conditions are pretty favourable this year I think.
The tone has been well and truly set this weekend with the Put People First protest in London yesterday, ahead of the G20 Summit on April 2nd. Earlier this week, the the former CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland had his house and car vandalised by well-wishers - or more correctly, one of his houses and one of his cars. He's probably considering spending the summer at one of his holiday-homes.
Of course, whilst behaviour like this can't be condoned, it's a measure of just how hacked off people in this country are right now. Given the international scope of the current economic mess we've all been plunged into, and the amount of heads in the financial-sector that don't appear to be rolling as a result, it could be a very significant summer the world over, one way or another.
Ok, time to wax that board...

Ace of Wands

2009-03-25T19:55:00.040Z

Listening to: Iron roads, asphalt sky, windows made from water

Sometimes you stumble upon something that awakens a memory you'd forgotten you had. No, I'm not talking about Satanic ritual abuse pop-kids - think quirky, of-it's-time 70's kid's TV, the kind that would never get made nowadays. I give you Ace of Wands.
The series featured the adventures of enigmatic blow-dried stage magician and general mystic guy Tarot along with his elemental owl Ozymandias (street-name: Fred the owl) plus a selection of offbeat side-kicks. Amongst these was classic early 70's ethereal chick Lulli, whose telepathic link to Tarot was first discovered when her spooky mind-waves caused him to drive his Jag into her Beach-Buggy. I kid you not Blogettes, this is what life was really like back then...all running along the beach holding onto your floppy hat en route to solving psychic mysteries and infiltrating secret covens of maxi skirt-clad witches in Biba makeup, (some of whom would later reappear in George & Mildred and The Benny Hill Show), against a musical backdrop of freak-out fuzz guitar and free-form Hammond organ improv. In my view, we need to get back to this.
And the theme-tune! Opens with the line 'Jet White Dove, Snow Black Snake' ... see what they did there? Come on, that's early 70's GOLD baby! The music's composer now resides within the ranks of Status Quo, so it's not a story untouched by tragedy. But as the song says: Take what you can from yesterday, the rest beg, steal - or borrow. Wise words for Tarot Children everywhere.
Take heed.

Clear Blue Skies

2009-03-18T15:06:00.009Z

Listening to: Sly & The Family Stone - A Whole New Thing

Greetings my people. Ok, it's been a bit too long since my last post, but to say I've been uninspired in all areas of late would be an understatement. Today however is different. After a warm spring-like weekend and start of the week, today is the day when Winter is undisputably in retreat. I say this every year I know, but unbridled optimism is the natural companion of these unseasonable clear blue skies and warm sunshine, and blow me down, it's still only March pop-kids.
Aside from this I've had little to report of late. As predicted, I'm developing the leg-power of a Teen-Titan, reaping as I am the twin benefits of the Vibrogym and plain old school weight-humping, with a touch of aerobic activity thrown in. By the time Summer is in full-effect, I shall be lightly tanned and finely honed, Greek deity-style, just you wait. Expect photos.

Quads Hams & Glutes

2009-02-27T17:32:00.010Z

Listening to: A Certain Ratio - Flight

Another day, another Physio session pop-kids. I'm now onto below-the-waist weightlifting, and frequently pepper my conversation with terms such as Quads, Hams and Glutes. All very necessary en route to complete recovery I know, but at the same time I'm concerned that my right-leg (the left one isn't involved much at all in these shenanagins) will end up looking like it once belonged to the Thing from the Fantastic 4, while the rest of my withered and under-developed frame looks on with horror and foreboding. Come to think of it, I may even end up in the Fantastic 4 at this rate.
Whatever the case I'll look sensational in a bikini come June, this much I know.

Crunchy Credit

2009-02-16T23:07:00.010Z

Listening to: Stevie Wonder - Living for the City

And lo, it came to pass that another Winter of Discontent is upon us all over again. It was so cold last week that yours truly took to sleeping in a hat, and my accountant advises that I may have to consider a paper-round soon. Yes indeed, these are tough times and no mistake.
My knee problem is still ... a problem, but getting better slowly. Hopefully it'll be right and exact in time for the April-September Shorts-Season that I had to largely forego in 08 due to wearing a leg-brace/using crutches, and being mostly housebound.
Still, Spring is not far away Blog-Children and despite the unremitting bad news economy-wise, there's a down-but-not-completely-out Optimist in me that sits back, smiles, and waits to see what might happen next.
Onward™....

Sunglasses After Dark

2009-02-05T00:22:00.014Z

Listening to: The Cramps - Sunglasses After Dark

Just about to climb into bed when I learned that Lux Interior, singer and founder of The Cramps died earlier today, or yesterday as it now is. Simply one of the greatest performers to front a band ever. Definitely gave me an appreciation of certain kinds of Old Music. He seemed to Live the Life, as it's politely put, without endlessly banging on about it in the press like bands these days do. He was married to the guitar-player Poison Ivy. You just had to see him in the flesh, staggering round the stage in stilettos with his pants around his knees, and it was clear that this guy probably never prioritised getting down to the gym much.
I prefer to remember them from the bass-less Lux/Ivy/Brian Gregory/Nick Knox era, so I've posted the only footage I could find (with audio) featuring that line-up. It's their now legendary mental hospital gig in '78.
Tomorrow, do yourselves a favour pop-kids, obtain and listen to Songs the Lord taught Us.

Exit George

2009-01-31T11:45:00.016Z

Listening to: Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

OK, a tad late with this one, but worth ruminating on nevertheless. I've never been aware of quite so many outraged, and plain ol' pissed-off Americans as I have during the reign of Bush - and of course, by and large the rest of the world shared their feelings. However, one aspect of this was, and still is, puzzling; they voted him into office not once but twice. So you could maybe forgive ol' George for thinking that folks kinda liked him, and his policies. It's a bit like when Thatcher was thrice-voted into power over here - you just couldn't find anyone who'd admit to voting for her.
Made for laffs though clips like the above are, it's still genuinely chilling to consider that this was the most powerful individual on the planet for the best part of a decade.

Patti Sonic Avenger-Smith

2009-01-28T10:00:00.035Z

Listening to: The Banana Splits - Tra La La

Not in great shape this morning people. Had a restless, partial sleep at best last night. I dreamt I was married to Patti Smith - as you do - and we were working intensively on 'Because the Night' which was causing big arguments, arrangement-wise. I was thinking 'Why are we working on this now, when it was released back in 1978?' Woke up at 5am with this very thought in my head and perhaps wisely, never went back to sleep.
This is why I'm currently listening to a reassuringly happy tune from my childhood (see above). Great days.
Spookily though, she was married to the MC5's Fred 'Sonic' Smith (until his untimely death in the '90's), so in my fevered dream she would've been Patti 'Sonic' Avenger-Smith. Either way, she didn't need to give up her surname.
Speaking of strangeness, this morning's papers trumpet the bizarre news that Tory party leader (sic) David Cameron has resorted to an appeal to Cruel Brittania's UFO Community, of all things, in an effort to boost it's voter-base. A bit like getting a PowerRangers action-figure free with your Frosties, as an inducement to puchase. Strange days indeed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm open to the extra-terrestrial truth and it's obvious that there is plentiful compelling evidence Out There. But for the leader of the opposition to attempt to use it as a political tool is a big indicator that these are indeed Hard Times.

Vision Off

2009-01-18T15:04:00.036Z

Listening to: Vision On - Gallery Theme

Just reading about the death this morning of Tony Hart, resident artist on BBC's Vision On, the children's art-based series of the 60's and 70's. A generation or three of paintbrush and pastel-wielding kids mourn his passing.
Today's header up there is a link, (as discussed in the post-before-last), so click on it and bathe in the cool n' mellow vibe-fest that was the soundtrack to thousands of gifted and not-so-gifted art-kidettes waiting to see if their daubings would adorn the wall of the Vision On Gallery each week. Remember "We're sorry that we can't return any of your pictures, but there's a prize for every one we show" ? C'mon, what well-adjusted primary schoolboy in their right mind didn't have a thing for Pat Keysell?
For a generation of kids too young to see the 60's (or the 70's) swing, the show's near-psychedelic sections were created by the BBC's back-door Situationist, one Wilf Makepeace Lunn. Can you guess which one he is in the picture up there boys and girls? And they wonder why we grew up strange.
RIP Tone.

Oxygen Thievery

2009-01-13T21:13:00.017Z

Listening to: Burial - In McDonald's

Ok, settling into the 09 nicely now. Not much to show for it as yet, but not to worry. Once we start to get more daylight, good things will follow.
In a week where citizens of Cruel Britannia are reeling from the shocking news that members of our very own Royal Family alledgedly view non-white folk in a less-than-dignified light, my own personal view - that some of the people with whom we share planet Earth are essentially oxygen thieves - continues apace. Not very Christian of me, but there you have it. In 09 I shall work at being a more understanding soul. I'm fairly sure of this.

The Year Starts Here

2009-01-05T20:39:00.010Z

Listening to: David Bowie - Footstompin'

Greetings and salutations people. Hope y'all are recovered from the Yuletide/Nu-Year festivities. Personally I'm more than glad to see the back of 2008, the year that for me became dominated by my right knee. It's still not back to normal but hopefully will be at some point in the new year.
I'm a few days late with my New Year address because my computer decided to blow up on me last week (as did the sonic chariot just before Christmas). I only got it back from being repaired a couple of hours ago, but hopefully normal service can now resume.
Incidentally, I've had a few emails concerning the Listening to: headings at the top of each post. The more inquisitive amongst you have discovered that some of 'em are actually links, and have asked me why some don't seem to work properly.
This is because not all of them actually are links, pop-kids. I occasionally link to, for instance, a piece of Youtube footage that shows a great or better version of whatever I'm currently listening to. All done on a fairly whimsical basis. Some of the pics are links too, but again, not all.
Today you get Bowie doing Footstompin' on the Dick Cavett Show in '74. They don't make 'em like that any more.
So, here's to 2009. Onward™...

Sonic Seasonal Sentiments

2008-12-21T20:21:00.010Z

Listening to: The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection

Christmas greetings to thee, my people. I have now embraced the sentiments of the Yuletide season in full, and am looking at this winter wonderland through the eyes of a child - albeit one that will be allowed by his parents to drink alcohol in all it's forms for three days solid.

In the spirit of a picture being worth a thousand words, I leave you all with my fondest Yuletide wishes. Please worship responsibly X.

Zippedy Doo-Dah

2008-12-16T12:14:00.020Z

Listening to: James Brown - Soulful Christmas

This morning found me queueing up outside the local Wesleyan Hall, for this is where the nearest Citizen's Advice Bureau to Chéz Sonique is located, and I'm in need of some impartial advice from a grown-up.
On the the phone, the CAB-lady told me to be there around 9am. What she failed to add was that the doors don't open until 10am, so I had an hour in which to admire the imposingly dark satanic facade of this once magnificent religious establishment. Makes Miss Havisham's gaff in Great Expectations look like Studio 54. The clock is permanently stopped like hers, too. If you look closely, you'll also see that the local brethren have named the basement drinking-den Wesley's, in honour of the building's proud past.
Still, as the advice centre operates on a first-come-first-served basis, I ended up as #1 in the queue. I duly got myself the relevant advice - no details yet people, you'll be reading about it in the society pages soon enough - and am back home now. Not for long though because in one hour exactly, I have yet another appointment with a purveyor of the worst form of institutionalised cruelty, sometimes referred to as the Physiotherapist. Yes, my day continues to get better.

Yuletide Gladness

2008-12-15T16:58:00.016Z

Listening to: Miss Kubelik - Autumn's Hallway

Deepest apologies for leaving y'all hanging with that painful Kilroy-Silk pic (see last post). I've had numerous complaints concerning this and rightly so. I am a bad person.
Anyhoo, am pleased to report that I'm getting the Yuletide Gladness at last. Normally by this point in December it's the Yuletide Fear I'd be suffering from but not this year pop-kids. Being untroubled by any kind of work-schedule has it's advantages I have found. Suffice it to say that, for the first time ever, I have finished my Christmas shopping and everything is wrapped-up and ready to go. High quality prezzies too mind you - no hand-painted-pebble-paper-weights or recycled-from-last-year-after-shave.
Regifting is a cardinal sin in my book and I can smell a re-gift from ten paces. Potential bringers of sonic offerings please take note.

I'm a Celebrity?

2008-11-27T00:42:00.023Z

Listening to: Get Carter - Original Soundtrack

Interesting tonight to see that Robert Kilroy-Silk, independent member of the European Parliament, was the first person to be voted out of ITV's reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
The public, who (allegedly) vote by phone for who stays or leaves, were swift to grant him this wish. Now that's what I call unloved by the general public, pop-kids.
Much media-debate has taken place over the value or not of shows like these, but from the point-of-view of those involved the advantages are obvious. Bigger wages and job opportunities upon exit, generally. Apart from Johnny Rotten, who can blame 'em?
However, can there be any more odious an entrant for such a TV show than a practicing politician?
Apart from anything else, Kilroy-Silk has been taking his parliamentary wage, despite being absent from duty, alongside his fee for the show. Preening self-obsession is generally expected in applicants for IACGMOOH - after all, that's where most of the laffs for the viewing public are - but when it's a politician that's involved, as opposed to some forgotten Variety star, the mirth takes on a different, often more uncomfortable tone. Plus, politicians are generally more self-aware, self-obsessed and self-deluded than the average D-List Sleb. George Galloway, please come on down!
It has to be said - and American readers know this already -there's nothing more dangerous or unfunny than a politician with an eye on a show-biz career.

Cassandra Complex

2008-11-17T20:42:00.018Z

Listening to: Dick Dale - Hava Nagila

This is how I began my week.
Just me and Cassandra in the Sonic Chariot parked up a sidestreet in Harehills, Leeds, waiting for a noon appointment with Pain. Another of those Monday morning in-car hot-water bottle scenarios. I definitely need to go somewhere very sunny for quite a while right now, that's for sure.

Same Road - Other Way

2008-11-16T23:57:00.013Z

Listening to: The Spotnicks - Orange Blossom Special

3.00pm today found yours truly hurtling the opposite way over The Pennines on what turned out to be a nice afternoon for a drive...even if it was on Satan's Slip-road. It's still far from being a leisurely outing though, even on a Sunday. Still, I arrived at Chéz Sonique in one piece, so all's well.
It only dawned on me after the fact, but I didn't procure any photo-evidence of either of my two trips into the outside world on foot, this last week. I actually took my camera with me on both occasions ... just forgot to use it at the appropriate times. I'm sure I'll get better at this kind of thing once I remember how to mingle with the public at large again. Just give me time pop-kids, it'll all come flooding back.
Noon tomorrow sees me back on the physio bench at St. James' Hospital, Leeds. Not entirely looking forward to this, as the physiotherapist isn't what you'd call a People Person. Apart from this he specialises in dubious painful physical manipulations,, but not in that this-is-probably-doing-me-a-world-of-good way. My day will improve once I've gotten this part of it done and dusted.
I shall then proceed with my week in a most positive fashion.
Onwards™....

The Opposite

2008-11-12T17:18:00.045Z

Listening to: Todd Rundgren - Hello it's Me

Whilst pondering life's Big Questions, as you do, I've started to consider - as a serious mode for living - a philosphy posited in one of the greatest of all Seinfeld episodes. Seriously. Entitled The Opposite, it's intended as a working method for overcoming pitfalls and hauling yourself onto the right-track in life: If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.

There's something so monumentally correct about this idea, so Zen-like in it's obviousness, that it's just impossible to disagree with the logic of it. It's fair to say that at the moment, my life resembles George Costanza's quite a bit, apart from the fact that I have hair. Thick, lustrous, flowing hair, but I digress. Whatever the case, I'm going to give this approach a serious trial period. As Elaine puts it, there's no telling what could happen from this.