That "dave" guy

DaveSplash's Night Out

2004-11-24T13:26:00.000-05:00

Saw a new local band last night called Ladyfinger at Sokol Underground. Fucking rocked!! Kind of a combination of The Datsuns and Drive Like Jehu. Rob from Saddle Creek Records was in attendance. Not sure it was his "thing." Could Saddle Creek handle such a band? I look forward to seeing these guys again. Next big show: Starlite Desperation at O'Leavers on December 9!!

Bright Eyes on Letterman

2004-11-23T19:18:00.000-05:00

Found a clip of Bright Eyes on the David Letterman Show from a few years back on my hard-drive while I was cleaning up. What a great performance! I had forgotten about it.

I'm back

2004-10-18T17:03:00.000-04:00

I'm still alive. Living in Omaha. I will write more tomorrow.

No post for a few days while I move

2004-08-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

That's right, friends, I will be making my move across country tomorrow and will not have computer access for 4-5 days. I don't have a laptop, so I can't take it with me as I travel. I'm sure I'll lots of interesting things to talk about once I get to Nebraska. Talk to you all soon.

Military records prove 'Swift Boat Vets' are liars

2004-08-19T08:12:00.000-04:00

MSNBC - Military records counter Kerry critic. Yet another of the so-called Swift Boat Vets for Bush is proven to be a liar. As if it needed proving.

YO LA TENGO plan election tour for Kerry

2004-08-19T07:59:00.000-04:00

Pitchfork: Yo La Tengo plan election oriented variety show tour . That's right, straight outta Hoboken-- Ira and the rest of Yo La Tengo will be doing their part to help elect John Kerry. While not packing the star-power of the Springsteen/R.E.M. package, the show will feature a variety of artists and styles of performance. According to the band's website:"...our plan/hope is to have guest musicians, singer and comedians at all the shows. If all works out, then there will be no opening act, but just a single performance during which people will come and go from the stage, playing on each others' songs, etc."

09-21 Philadelphia, PA - 1st Unitarian Church
09-22 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre
09-23 State College, PA - Dark Horse Tavern
09-24 Newport, KY - Southgate House
09-25 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
09-27 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
09-28 Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection...
09-29 Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin Terrace
09-30 Iowa City, IA - University of Iowa (Wheel Room)
10-01 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop
10-02 Kansas City, MO - Grand Emporium
10-04 St Louis, MO - Washington University/Gargoyle Club
10-05 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
10-07 Knoxville, TN - Blue Cat's
10-08 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
10-09 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
10-10 Chapel Hill, NC - Cat's Cradle

Poster Children release new "protest" CD feat. 80s political songs!

2004-08-18T10:21:00.000-04:00

Champaign, Illinois' finest, Poster Children, have just stepped into the political fray by releasing a new CD EP featuring covers of great political protest songs from the 80s. Accoring to the band's website, the CD will be in stores September 21 and is called "On the Offensive". However, the band is selling them through their online store and will sell it to you early if you promise to register and vote. Here is the tracklisting along with the original artist:
1. "Clampdown" (The Clash)
2. "Fascist Groove Thang" (Heaven 17)
3. "The New World" (X)
4. "Let's Have a War" (Fear)
5. "Divide and Conquer" (Husker Du)
6. "Complicated Game" (XTC)

Looks like a good collection. I'm excited to hear their version "Divide and Conquer."

Abuse of Power: GOP uses FBI to track potential protesters at convention

2004-08-17T11:37:00.000-04:00

ABCNEWS.com:FBI Tracks Potential GOP Protesters First, the GOP makes anyone who attends a rally sign a loyalty oath to the President, now they are monitoring democratic activists. Does this remind anyone of the old USSR?

Washington Times: Kerry leads Jewish vote by 53 points!!!

2004-08-17T08:51:00.000-04:00

According to right-wing newspaper The Washington Times, John Kerry is leading in the presidential race by 53 points among Jewish voters. Despite all of Bush's pandering to the Jewish community, they are by-and-large rejecting him in favor of Kerry. The Republicans, typically, say the results are biased against them. P-lease!

MOTLEY CRUE Reunion? "Everyone Is On Board And Committed"

2004-08-17T08:03:00.000-04:00

According to Blabbermouth.net, the original members of 80s hair-metal kings MOTLEY CRUE will be re-uniting for a future tour. That's right: Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, and Mick Mars. This could be cool, but I have heard a number of rumors that Mick is in no condition to play. He has some type of degenerative disease which would not allow him to even stand up on stage. I hear Tracii Guns (LA Guns, Brides of Destruction) will be filling in on guitar for the ailing Mars. The article does not say this at all. It is a davesplash exclusive.

A direct quote from the commander in chief

2004-08-16T16:08:00.001-04:00

"Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a .... you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities."-- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004

What the.....? How does this guy tie his shoes let alone pretend to be President?

Watch this: The Prep-school Bushies

2004-08-16T13:41:00.000-04:00

Check out this funny video created by RNCnotwelcome.org. It features the "prep-school Bush administration." (Parental advisory: there is some naughty language in the video, but nothing Dick Cheney hasn't said on the Senate floor.)

How to sell American products overseas

2004-08-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

I hope this is real. This is priceless. I found this on Sarah's blog.

2004-08-15T19:07:00.000-04:00

The GOP lays the groundwork for Bush's second term.

I survived the hurricane! Now I'm getting the fuck out of Florida!

2004-08-15T12:42:00.000-04:00

Guess who's back? That's right friends, I survived hurricane Charley completely unscathed. Thank God for that. The storm took a sudden detour to the east, and missed the Tampa Bay area completely. I feel quite badly for the folks in Punta Gorda, Florida, and those in central Florida who unexpectedly took the brunt of the storm. I was ready for the worst, though (sort of)

I grew up in the midwest, and have never had any experience with hurricanes. We had tornadoes, and I've seen firsthand the kind of destruction they can cause. Even with this experience, I was pretty naive about what type of preparations are needed for a disaster like a hurricane. Last Thursday, the local media was alerting everyone about the storm's trajectory, and its' likely target of the Tampa area. In my county, Pinellas, they issued a Level C mandatory evacuation. I have lived here for three years, but had no idea what that meant. I was told to look in the phone book, and see inside what level my house was located. Best I could tell, I was in Level D. A level C evacuation meant those in levels A, B, and C had to leave their homes. This was the law, and failure to comply could result in your arrest. In my county alone, nearly 400,000 people left their homes and went to higher ground.

Seeing as I was level D, I assumed I'd be safe. If I wasn't going to be safe, they would have evacuated me, also. Right? Well, the levels only correspond to an area's elevation above sea level. It is designed for flood evacuation in case of heavy rains. Hurricanes do have heavy rains, but there is a lot more to it as any meteorologist will tell you. But since I was not "forced" to evacuate, I decided to stay put. I went to the grocery store and got a few things -- some water, some food, and batteries. I only had enough for a day or so, but figured that would be enough. I didn't get gas for my car, or get cash. If I had been hit, this could have been a huge problem. In addition, I was not one of the thousands rushing to Home Depot to buy wood to board up my house. I just decided to risk it -- hoping since I was not on the water that I would be spared any real damage. Many of my neighbors were more pro-active, but I just let it go.

By this time (early evening Thursday 8/12), the story of the hurricane had made national news. My parents began trying to get ahold of me. I do not have a land-line phone, I use a cell phone exclusively. Apparently, the cell lines were jammed with so many people trying to notify family and friends, that my phone was ringing busy. When I called out, I got through right away. My folks had said my phone was busy for the last two hours. I assured them I was okay, and would be fine sticking it out at home. They were not so sure. They suggested I leave my house and either go to a shelter or a hotel. Problem with those scenarios was that since the evacuation was many hours old, all hotel rooms within 70 miles were booked solid. I ruled out a shelter, as they forbid pets, and I wasn't going to abandon my two cats. The folks kept at it, and next suggested I drive to Orlando (a 90 min. drive with no traffic) to stay with a cousin I had never met. I figured the roads would be jammed with cars (they were) and it could take me hours to get there. This didn't seem like the way to go either.

Bottom line is...I stayed. I hunkered down in a bathroom in my house with my radio, some Doritos, water, and my two cats. The media was expecting the storm would be a direct hit on Tampa Bay sometime around 8pm on Friday (8/13). They said to expect to see the early indicators of the storm by noon. But something happened overnight. The storm began moving in a north-northeast direction. If this trend continued, the storm would hit south of the bay and I would be just fine. No meteorologist was reporting this new direction as anything significant. All of them locally and nationally still held to an 8pm touchdown in Tampa -- except one. One guy on local cable channel Bay News 9, made a bold prediction that the storm would continue to move east and spare the Tampa Bay area. I clung to this renegade weather guy and his admittedly off the wall prediction.

By mid-day on the 13th, everyone else joined this guy in predicting the storm would hit further south. I was still not out of the woods by any means. The storm was increasing speed, and was now gusting at around 145 mph, thus making it a category 4 hurricane. Even without a direct hit, I was told we could still expect major rain and wind, and large-scale destruction was anticipated.

I won't give you a play-by-play of the storm or my activities inside the bunker. Suffice to say, the storm did not hit my area. It did hit about 100 miles south in Punta Gorda, and destroyed the city. It looks worse than Iraq there now. Fortunately for me, I was spared. I barely saw even a drizzle of rain, and virtually no wind to speak of. The storm moved inland and continued to ravage central Florida. It even hit Orlando, the city I almost evacuated to. Glad I stayed in place.

I believe in signs. This was a sign that I made the right decision to leave Florida. About 10 years ago, while living in Seattle, I made the decision to leave town. I went back and forth about it for weeks. About a week before I was set to move Kurt Cobain killed himself. I viewed this as a sign that I was supposed to leave town. Now I am more convinced than ever that I am right about leaving Florida. Being a part of one major national tragedy was good enough for me. I am leaving in five days, and can't wait.

My only regret is that I can't vote in Florida, where my vote is desperately needed. It is so important to elect John Kerry as President that I almost delayed my move so I could vote here. Over the last week (excluding my two days in hurricane mode) I have discovered even MORE reasons why I feel George W. Bush is the worst president in our nation's history. It's not all his fault; his Republican party enablers allow him to engage in this awful sociological experiment he calls a plan for America, and refuses to even attempt to reign in his extremist ideology. In only three and half years, we have seen negative job growth (that means fewer people have jobs now than before Dubya came into office), record high deficits, and an unnecessary war costing billions of dollars, thousands of lives, and the international standing of our great nation.

But frankly, I don't care whether you agree with that or not. You have a right to your opinion as an American. But Republicans in general have problems distinguishing facts from opinions, and therefore will likely try to dispute those facts. The negative job growth is fact, and cannot be disputed. Republicans will try and explain away the deficits by saying over and over "9/11! 9/11! 9/11!" until you just want to strangle them. They say that if it were not for the terrorist attack and our subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, that problem would not exist (or if you are Dick "Go Fuck Yourself" Cheney you will simply say deficits don't matter). I will grant that those events have taken a toll, but they didn't have to take such an extreme toll. The Bush administration has been operating on an economic plan they devised during the 2000 election. This was BEFORE 9/11, obviously. The "plan" called for a massive tax cut for those in the top income brackets, and a few breadcrumbs for the rest of us. (I got a check for $300, but with the increases in property taxes my state had to impose to make up for the federal shortfall, I am in the red as far as tax cuts go)

Bush and his cronies made no adjustments to their plan after 9/11, or after the invasion of Afghanistan. They just spent more and more while tax revenues continued to decline. The US economy is resilient, and probably could have recovered from those two events, but then came Iraq...and another round of tax cuts. I swear, the Republican solution to any problem is to reduce taxes on the rich. "How do we stop the epidemic of obesity?" -- simple, just reduce the tax burden on the wealthy and people will start slimming down immediately. Problem solved.

The argument that Bush's economic plan is anything but a failure is simple hogwash. One cannot simply remove 9/11 and the Iraq war, and then say "were it not for those two events, we'd be in the best economic shape ever." Those things happened, and Bush failed to make any adjustments whatsoever. Maybe Iraq wouldn't be so expensive if the Bush administration hadn't alienated our allies, thus forcing us to go it alone. What was the allies' rationale for not supporting Bush in Iraq? They didn't believe there was enough proof of Bush's claims to justify invasion. They wanted actual proof, not loaded assurances (based on false intelligence) that we knew what we were talking about. They asked for something, anything tangible that showed we were right. The Bush crew countered by mocking them, and stating that our word was good enough. Obviously, in this instance, the world was right, and Bush was wrong. All Americans are now suffering because of the arrogance of Bush, Cheney, Donald Rumsfield, Paul Wolfowitz, Condi Rice, and Colin Powell. What treacherous activity did this gang engage in this week? Well, they blew the cover of the only mole we have ever had inside Al-queda. Thats' right, we had a guy on the inside who was working as a double agent helping the US. The Bushies were so desperate to regain their slipping poll numbers, that they outed this guy and ruined any future potential for information from him. Both Britain and Pakistan were shocked that the US would do such a horrible thing and jeopardize such an operation. But, nothing is too low for the Bush crowd as long as they get to keep their power! They all belong in the hall of shame.

But, again, I don't care if you disagree. I have had enough of debating conservatives in blogland, and in the real world. The Bush administration is a disaster no matter how you slice it, and those who would vote for his re-election do so at our nation's peril. They have sacrifised our national security for their economic and political gain, they have destroyed our national economy and our international standing, and have become so desperate to retain their power that they are even resorting to lying about John Kerry's war service just to get a few more votes. It is the lowest, sleaziest political move I have ever seen. Support Bush if you must, but how can anyone defend the scurillious lies told by the "Republican swift boat vets for Bush"? It is so sad that an incumbent President of the US has accompished so little in his first term that he has to resort to lying about his opponent's war record! John Kerry was a rich, white college guy who could have avoided going to Vietnam (like Cheney who took five deferments because he had "other priorities"), but he CHOSE to go. And got wounded. That beats drinking beer and snorting coke in Alabama by any reasonable measure of service to one's country. That is all I have to say on this matter. Vote Kerry -- we need a real leader, one with a brain.

But, to show that I bear no ill-will toward my conservative friends, I have posted a picture of my favorite new right-winger. Her name is Michelle Malkin, and she's a syndicated columnist. Her right-wing wack-job bonafides are in-tact -- she has a new book out that defends the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. I saw her on Real Time with Bill Maher this week, and fell in lust. She is quite beautiful, and articulate. Her views are crazy, and she is a total toadie for the administration, but if James Carville and Mary Matalin can make it work, maybe we can, too.

My new favorite right-winger, Michelle Malkin

Alan Keyes - GOP hypocrite of the year!!!

2004-08-15T10:58:00.000-04:00

This is Alan Keyes. He lives in Maryland. You may remember him from such things as: his two failed bids to become Senator from Maryland, or his two failed attempts to get the Republican nomination for President. You may also remember him being an anti-choice extremist who is against all abortion -- even in cases of incest, rape, or death to the mother.

Now Mr. Keyes is running for Senate again. This time in Illinois. In the most cynical move the GOP could make, they decided to run a black man from out of state against Barak Obama (a black man who resides in Illinois). The GOP could not find a single credible candidate in the entire state (or even a black Republican) so they decided to enlist Keyes. Do they actually believe that just because Keyes is black he will draw black votes away from Obama? Or are they just looking to appear more "inclusive" as a party. I think the move is insulting to blacks, but more insulting to Republicans in Illinois. They are now the laughing stock of the nation, and appear so desperate to win that they would try anything or anyone to achieve their goal.

The carpetbagger issue is not an issue to me. But it is for Mr. Keyes. Keyes was a huge, vocal opponent of Hillary Clinton running for Senate in New York because she hadn't lived there prior. Here is an example of his feeling in 2000:
"I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent the people there. So I certainly wouldn't imitate it."

Hmmmm....so how is it that Keyes has changed one of his fundamental principles to run for office in a state he has never lived in? Simple. Keyes claims he is running at the express wishes of God, and therefore he is not a hypocrite. So, just like with Pat Robertson and George Bush, God has again come down to earth to get involved in our political process. He has stated his preference, apparenlty, for the GOP. I dare ANYONE to defend this idiocy. Alan Keyes, like many in the GOP, will stoop to anything to advance their agenda. Even if it means claiming to talk to God. What a jack-ass!

Hurricane Charley comes dave's way

2004-08-12T14:25:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Charley is coming my way! If you don't hear from me for a few days...I may have had to evacuate. Dave's not kidding, folks.

The Bush economy

2004-08-12T13:44:00.000-04:00

The Bush economy is working exactly as predicted. (courtesy of buzzflash.com)

Onion: Kerry's One-Point Plan

2004-08-12T12:18:00.000-04:00

No Bush. That IS a good plan for America

Playlist 08.11.2004

2004-08-12T07:58:00.000-04:00

1.Bash & Pop 'Friday Night is Killing Me' (1993 Sire)
2.Spain 'The Blue Moods of Spain' (1995 Restless)
3.Sonic Youth 'Murray Street' (2002 Geffen)
4.Longwave 'The Strangest Things' (2003 RCA)
5.Beck 'Stereopathic Soulmanure' (1993 Flipside)

Playlist 08.10.2004

2004-08-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

1. Mudhoney 'March To Fuzz' (2000 Sub Pop)
2. Cheap Trick 'Heaven Tonight' (1978 Epic)
3. Helmet 'Unsung:The Best Of' (2004 Interscope)
4. Alex Chilton 'Top 30' (1997 Last Call)
5. Built To Spill 'Ancient Melodies of the Future' (2001 Warner Bros.)

Go ahead...thank a liberal

2004-08-10T14:37:00.000-04:00

By John Gray of Cincinnatti, OH (a battleground state, folks)
Day in the Life of Joe, Middle-Class Republican: Joe gets up at 6:00am to prepare his morning coffee. He fills his pot full of good clean drinking water because some liberal fought for minimum water quality standards. He takes his daily medication with his first swallow of coffee. His medications are safe to take because some liberal fought to insure their safety and work as advertised.

All but $10.00 of his medications are paid for by his employers medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance, now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs this day. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

Joe takes his morning shower reaching for his shampoo; His bottle is properly labeled with every ingredient and the amount of its contents because some liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained. Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some tree hugging liberal fought for laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government subsidized ride to work; it saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees. You see, some liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day; he has a good job with excellent pay, medicals benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some liberal didn’t think he should loose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

Its noon time, Joe needs to make a Bank Deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the depression.

Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae underwritten Mortgage and his below market federal student loan because some stupid liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his life-time.

Joe is home from work, he plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive to dad's; his car is among the safest in the world because some liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. He was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electric until some big government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification. (Those rural Republican’s would still be sitting in the dark)

He is happy to see his dad who is now retired. His dad lives on Social Security and his union pension because some liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to. After his visit with dad he gets back in his car for the ride home.

He turns on a radio talk show, the host’s keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. (He doesn’t tell Joe that his beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day) Joe agrees, “We don’t need those big government liberals ruining our lives; after all, I’m a self made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have”.

Bush: "really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway"

2004-08-10T11:51:00.000-04:00

Bush has some class warfare of his own, stating that high taxes on the rich are a failed strategy (see more).

Well our President knows failure if he knows anything.

Cartoon: Dick Cheney on Howard Stern Show

2004-08-10T11:35:00.000-04:00

Hilarious. You must see this!

Cat in cockpit forces emergency landing

2004-08-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, but did this cat have any "contacts" with Saddam? Dick Cheney calls this further proof of the "Saddam-Al Queda-feline" axis of evil.