Michael <3's Barack Obama profile picture

Michael &lt;3's Barack Obama

Hell Yeah I'm A Frames Snob

About Me

I have a routine that I really want to destroy.
"Intellectually" Intelligent
You're 'Intellectually Intelligent.' That pretty much means that you're good with theoretical ideas and concepts - but this comes to you naturally. More or less, you're a natural brainiac. Good for you.
60% theoretical intelligence
40% natural intelligence
"When people speak of great men, they think of men like Napoleon - men of violence. Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles. Napoleon will arrive in pomp and in power, a man who's achieved the very summit of earthly ambition. And yet his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family, lay his head on his pillow and remember: the slave trade is no more." - Michael Gambon's Lord Charles Fox in "Amazing Grace."
"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends." - Peter O'Toole's Anton Ego in "Ratatouille"
..

My Interests

Travel (I'm cheaper than a travel agent and I'm easier than a flight attendant if you require my service. I mean I can help you book flights and such, perverts. Yeah, that's what I meant)
Politics (the Green Party, it's not just for college kids)
Music - BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ADD YOUR BAND (unless you're a bootleg DJ in which case, yeah I'll add you)! Besides my connections to the music world are all second hand and it won't help if I hype you
LiveJournal (some people might claim I'm obsessed with it)
Movies ( Netflix and me are good friends) - Thursday nights, Logan Theater, I'm there (stalker)
Footcer (Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, Fulham, Manchester City, and Villarreal not in that order except by country)
Toys (but not dorky Star Wars figurines)
Digital photography
Speed writing (once a year in November like thousands of others I try to write a crappy novel)
Making anal retentive lists like this one.

I'd like to meet:

Travel buddies who will drop everything on a moment's notice and fly to Europe with me. Willingness to sleep on trains a plus. :)
You know, I actually put that in a personals ad. Surprisingly, no takers.
And DEUCE! Thank goodness for this goal to make for at least one more year of Fulham in the Premiership!

The 15.37% of the population who got more correct than me. But I think I already know them.

Music:

Since some people seem to have a misimpression of what I actually listen to, here's a list of artists and bands in my mp3 player (at least more than one song) in alphabetical order:
Afghan Whigs, Ani DiFranco, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Art Brut, Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, Billy Bragg, Billy Joel, Bloc Party, Bloodhound Gang, Bob Dylan, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, Buffalo Tom, Concrete Blonde, Dinosaur Jr., DMX, Editors, Elvis Costello, Eminem, Hard-Fi, Hot Hot Heat, Interpol, Jay-Z, Joe Jackson, Johnny Cash, Kaiser Chiefs, Kanye West, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Ludacris, MC Lars, Misfits, Mustard Plug, Neil Young, Operation Ivy, Our Lady Peace, Pantera, Pat Benatar, Peter Gabriel, Public Enemy, R.E.M., Rancid, Reel Big Fish, Regina Spektor, Smashing Pumpkins, Snoop Dogg, Snow Patrol, Soul Coughing, Stellastarr, Stiff Little Fingers, Sting, Suicide Machines, Superchunk, T.I., Tapes N' Tapes, Ted Leo And The Pharmacists, The Alarm, The Clash, The Dead Milkmen, The Dresden Dolls, The Frames, The Futureheads, The Hush Sound, The Killers, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Replacements, The Rolling Stones, The Sounds, The Subways, The Tragically Hip, The Walkmen, They Might Be Giants, Tori Amos, Tupac Shakur, We Are Scientists, and Young Jeezy.

Movies:

Before Sunrise, Bowling For Columbine, Dark City, Fever Pitch, Field Of Dreams, Goodfellas, Life Is Beautiful, The Majestic, Memento, Pump Up The Volume, Reefer Madness: The Musical, Shattered Glass, The Shawshank Redemption, Training Day, 12 Monkeys, 24 Hour Party People, Adaptation, Amelie, American Splendor, Annie Hall, The Barbarian Invasions, Chasing Amy, Crash, Elizabethtown, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Everything Is Illuminated, Finding Neverland, Hard Candy, The Life Of David Gale, Merry Christmas, The Notebook, Once In A Lifetime, A Prairie Home Companion, Rent, Rounders, The Shape Of Things, Stranger Than Fiction

Television:

Chuck, Kid Nation, The Office, Family Guy, American Dad.
Those are seriously the only five shows I watch though my television is constantly set to the History Channel or Fox Soccer Channel when it is on other times.

Books:

I've been ready this totally dorky action/adventure book called "Stonehenge" since late March.

Heroes:

Bill Janovitz, that guy from "Office Space" who gets his stapler stolen, Mark Cuban (please buy the Cubs, please buy the Cubs), Janeane Garafolo (cause she's my future wife once I learn to spell her name), whoever ends up assassinating Jack White.
John Edwards because I've got a real soft spot for populist Democrats that speak the language of socialism between the lines.
Anyone who updates their profile a lot because I'm no damn good at it.

My Blog

This Is A Wonderful Day For A Wonderful Candidate

So here's where the political science major in me that I let sleep for two years at a time while the sociology second major takes over comes back to roost. I was watching MSNBC (the only news channel ...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:24:00 PST

Why My Lollapalooza Was Worth More Than $195

Admit it, everyone does the mental math in their head to figure out if Lollapalooza (or any festival for that matter) is worth the money that they paid for it.  For me, going in, Interpol was goi...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:13:00 PST

From Dinosaur Jr. To Buffalo Tom

When I last left this blog over two months ago, I was excited about the Dinosaur Jr. shows coming up in Chicago.  I ended up sleeping through the one of the three dates that I got tickets for.&nb...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:43:00 PST

Three Days Of J. Mascis? Yes Please!

It looks like Dinosaur Jr. is giving me the greatest birthday present in quite some time with a new album.  I just heard the new single on WXRT yesterday and it was awesome mcsweet! Then again, t...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:38:00 PST

Through My Fever, I Think I See An Internet Cafe

So apparently that show I mentioned in the last blog post was the final one ever at the Hammersmith Palais and there was no way I could have gotten tickets anyhow.  So instead I got drunk on cide...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:49:00 PST

I'm Going To Open A Travel Agency For Dorks

I am a huge dork.  I can't believe I've got this idea in my head tonight that it would be a good idea to see The Good, The Bad, and The Queen at Hammersmith Palais on Saturday just beca...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:12:00 PST

Hazy Shade Of Basketball Winter

Recently I have decided that basketball is the perfect game in all forms.  Sure I still love the footcer most of all, but I am a Yank so there is something to be said for always having a winner -...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:42:00 PST

Gambling My Life Away A Dollar At A Time

Hello my name is Michael and perhaps I am a gambling degenerate. My problem isn't so much that I gamble too much money - I mean I haven't blown 10 million dollars like Charles Barkley or anything (not...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:47:00 PST

After Years Of Trying To Be A Published Writer...

So I don't know if I mentioned this, but I sold another photo.  Or I should say I got another photo published since I got no monetary compensation for it (and well I suck at photography so w...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:24:00 PST

The Problem With December Is It Comes After November

Wow.  November kicked my ass six ways from Sunday. That's the last time I leave the state three times in the same month for quite some time I hope.  First it was Dallas, and then it was a re...
Posted by Michael <3's Barack Obama on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:07:00 PST