Tweet tweet

So I've become a Twittaddict (oo-err, fortunately I picked up the absent 'w' before publishing, having just watched an episde of American Dad where Dad and Steve bathe in the popularity of their new, ample and perfectly formed breasts - Freudian, perhaps).

Twitter, hey? Really, it's just another way of living vicariously through people more famous and talented, and allowing people less famous and talented to be fascinated by your own mundane adventures. It is the perfect e-stalking tool. I have discovered very few people I know on there - it is far different to social networking sites like Facebook, which allows you to narrate your life to your friends. This is more like tapping into global communities and meeting like-minded strangers. Among my discoveries: comic writers and artists including Warren Ellis and Neil Gaiman, and a posse mostly based in Kansas City, it would seem, with a few really interesting parallel blogs to boot. The perfect comics consumerism aide.

I must say, it seems that Australian users are further behind in Twitter than we are in the economic downturn. I'm curious to see what 2009 holds for both locally, as an umemployed Twitter addict.

Snowmen

Revealing the weaknesses of a less than comprehensively researched list of annual highlights (and reasons for not having been asked to compile one), I was heartened to see the new Snowman album, The Horse, The Rat and The Swan end up on multiple end of year lists, not least of all several contributors to Pitchfork - sufficient for it to make the Honourable Mentions, although surprisingly not the top 50, given the widespread kudos on the site. It also topped the Mess + Noise critics' list, registering second on the readers' list.
Speaking of which, I noticed there was only one lady amongst M+N's critics. Scandalous. Thought I might make it among my goals to contribute next year to the site. Also to hear the Snowman album. And, in an annual feature on my resolutions list, sustaining a regular radio program (hello Gary Seven).

In theme, here is an image of a misunderstood snowman from a 1927 postcard:

Wanky Writer's Wrap Up

Beat Magazine's underwhelming 2008 writer's wrap up (part two) was published today. Dull.

In response, here's my take for starters:

Top Albums of the Year

• Pivot - O Soundtrack My Heart
• Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
• MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
• Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Top 10 Live Gigs

• Iron Maiden - Rod Laver Arena, Wednesday February 6
• Band of Horses - Billboard, Monday August 4
• Patti Smith - Hamer Hall, Saturday October 11
• Rufus Wainwright - Hamer Hall, Friday February 1
• Devo - Festival Hall, Thursday July 31
• Goldfrapp - Palais Theatre, Friday September 26
• Jesus & Mary Chain - Forum Theatre, Thursday April 3
• Built To Spill - East Brunswick Club, Tuesday January 1
• Midnight Juggernauts/M83 - Forum Theatre, Wednesday March 12
• David Bazan/Clemente - Northcote Social Club, Thursday August 15

Highlights of the Year

• Burke Shelley from Budgie's passionate performance to an almost empty Forum Theatre
• The Third Annual Golden Plains Festival - Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre (Dirtbombs, Beirut, Ween, Jay Reatard etc)
• The 18th Annual Muddy Meredith Music Festival at the Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre (with Holy Fuck, Ten East, Adam Green, Tame Impala, The Bronx etc)
• Flip Out Festival at the Corner Hotel (with Beaches, Eddy Current Suppression Ring etc)
• The enthusiastic but poorly attended and insanely humorous performance by Grand National at the Prince of Wales
• The sparce but enjoyable V Festival - Royal Melbourne Showgrounds (Jesus & Mary Chain, Duran Duran, CSS etc)

Travesty of the Year

• MGMT live (at both Festival Hall and Meredith Music Festival)
  
• High expectations for Chinese Democracy

Predictions for 2009

• Twitter
• Tame Impala
  

The week in review

I've got quite a lot of time on my hands at the moment. Let it be known that this is a pretty damn dull time for me and I really don't expect this blog to come into its own for a little while (if at all). I'm new to the whole blogosphere in any case, so get those expectations low. Here are a few things I have been doing:

• having a ball at muddy Meredith with the siblings and crew
  
• harbouring a crush for the first time in three years
• finding a dream job (or two - link/s withheld)
• getting over Him
• rediscovering summer programming at ABC 774 (Catherine Deveny and Ali Moore love) and Triple R
  
• (re)watching Con Air and Die Harder (Die Hard 2)
• finishing Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
• playing Settlers of Catan
• rebuilding my lost characters in Disgaea

In leaving, here is a picture for you of Disgaea's precocious Laharl.

Dog gone...

I've been doing some research into dog breeds - since the recent loss of my boyfriend's dog (and my boyfriend; I'm not sure which I miss more) I have decided I could really go a new best buddy like Bogart. Not sure if I am quite ready for one as yet, but will document my discoveries here.

The best breed selection test I have found so far is at the Discovery Channel's Animal Planet website. Whilst not an Australian site, and therefore missing some of our more popular breeds, their Dog Breed Selector rates and calculates the 55 breeds that might suit you best based on your lifestyle. Another couple of tests that provide a less thorough evaluation are Selectapet with a similar questionaire here.

Animal Planet have matched me first with the Harrier, a close but less demanding relative of the Beagle. It seems they are rather more popular in the UK than in Australia or the US, unfortunately - a perfect but unrealistic option.



The cocker spaniel frequently shows its face - it seems to be a bit of an all-rounder, but I fear that Bogart's absence might be the causal influence here. In any case I already have my eye on George (and Boomer and Barney) and still love Bogart and his loyal, romping, fun-loving, shoe-devouring and swimming ways. No doubt a winner.



But another relatively new breed in Australia is the Portuguese Water Dog. They've been in the country not much more than 10 years - by now there are a couple of breeders, and they fetch quite a lot of money. They don't shed, don't exacerbate allergies, are prettier than poodles and a whole lot of fun. I want one!

And before I forget....

Here's something I prepared earlier:



I have recently become a serious Rocka-fire Explosion fan. They do MGMT, Against Me!, Madonna, Usher, and a whole lot more.
And they love pizza.

And while I'm in link heaven, here's a great version of I'd Rather Go Blind by Etta James. Man Man hit Meredith and the East Brunswick Club next month. I'm still excited.

Where In The World Is Jacqueline Dee?

So I'm gonna say I forgot I even made this.
I'm gonna say that I forgot how to even login.

But for those of you who have been patiently waiting, here are a couple of happy snaps from my indefinite migration to Europe, which ended up lasting only six months for various reasons. I have a lot to catch up on. I had no idea my affair with Trebuchet MS had been ongoing for so long.

I think we need a new name. I'm home.

Proud Gallery, London

Remember that time I got drunk and fell asleep on the Proud toilets and the bouncer had to come fetch me and unlock the door when they were closing? Good times.
CIMG2051
Originally uploaded by Jacqueline Dee

Birds over Brighton (West Pier)

CIMG2087
Originally uploaded by Jacqueline Dee

Catching rays on Brighton Pier

So many forgotten memories. I saw Flaming Lips at Brighton Centre, November 4 2006. I remember taking my seat in disbelief that I had chosen such tickets for their grand live show - it's not like I hadn't seen it before. They had some gear stolen and I've never known Wayne Coyne to be so bothered. Then a girl had an epileptic fit right in front of the stage - the band stopped while she was attended to, for quite some time. Strange night. Get Cape Wear Cape Fly were awful.

This really was my favourite pic from the trip
CIMG2219
Originally uploaded by Jacqueline Dee

Barcelona

Gaudi, Clinic, cerveza, siestas... what more could one ask of a city? A magic fountain perhaps.
CIMG2378
Originally uploaded by Jacqueline Dee

Two weeks....

and counting.