archives
200512
2005 In Review
2005-12-30 -- Morgan
As we did a scant 365 days ago, we look back at the events and people that made us forget about our dead-end jobs, miserable relationships, and empty lives. Come now and take heed of the year that was 2005.
Our United States
Due to last years surprise success, a second season of Extreme Home Makeover: God Edition was launched in New Orleans. Until September, If you'd asked me what came to mind when you said the name Katrina, I'd have to describe an overweight hippie that I went to school with, not that storm that ruined Mardi Gras for 2006. Kudos to the federal and state government for doing so little in response, but in their defense, it was mostly poor minorities and not their constituents. Besides, how cool was it to see the Superdome become Thunderdome? Amidst the filth and devastation, there was one hero to emerge from the waters, because the person of the year wasn't Bono or Bill and Melinda Gates.
Gas prices continued to spiral upward at the whim of the oil companies -- who knew that surgery was so expensive? Perhaps the fresh faces on the Supreme Court will herald some noteworthy governmental changes, considering the current government has been busy getting indicted...repeatedly. On the plus side, we finally figured out Deep Throat wasn't Linda Lovelace and sent the space shuttle back into orbit, thereby making it safe for Virgin Galactic to begin their NM spaceport. For the text impaired, here are some of the aforementioned highlights and more in cartoon.
The World
Not to be outdone by the Big Easy, southern Asia served up a disaster sequel to their tsunami called giant earthquake. International business exploded in China as quotas were lifted...and reinstated, and last year's SARS fear gave way to Avian Flu. London tasted terrorism, possibly out of confusion over the background of Lyndie England as an attempt at retaliation. Jesus freaks around the world mourned but celebrated shortly after with the arrival of the scariest looking and stupidest named Pope of the last 500 years.
On the war front, Dubya continued tirelessly to sell Americans on the losing proposition that is Iraq, noting that Halliburton and other affiliated oil companies profited far more than the value of the 2000 lost soldiers lives. There were more mix tapes from DJ Osama and the biggest monkey trial since Scopes, a.k.a. Saddamarama, began in earnest. There were thrills and chills in the dirt called the Middle East, but mostly lots of shit exploding in accordance with the tenets of rebellion and terrorism. "Democratic" elections were held in Iraq and a pull out of the Gaza Strip by Israel was initiated.
Sports
The biggest story (as far as I'm concerned) is the return of the NHL after losing a season to fiscal squabbling between the players and owners. The results have been favorable early on as new rules have given way to higher scoring and faster play, and the excess of free agents created several new formidable teams as superstars around the league found themselves donning new jerseys. Not that any other sports outside of hockey matter, but there were additional noteworthy events.
USC started and ended the year proving they are the most dominant team in football, although the Indianapolis Colts made a strong claim with a 13-0 run. T.O. got a big F-U from the Eagles, who apparently have less stomach for shenanigans than the Vikings. New England persevered again in the Super Bowl, but there was no repeat in Beantown in the stickball department as the White Sox bitchslaped Houston for the championship. Off the field, 'roid boys Bonds and Palmeiro kept from running the bases as an investigation into BALCO opened the window into the doped up world of athletes. Personally, I think you'd have to be on drugs to like baseball.
In a historic 7th Tour De France victory Lance Armstrong proved that, much like sex with a corpse or beating cancer, it's mind over matter. Detroit ran out of gas against San Antonio in the NBA finals, and Danica Patrick didn't have enough to win the Indy 500 -- but led for the first 187 laps...not bad for a woman, eh? I'm told that there were events in tennis, boxing, NASCAR, soccer, and golf, but some of those are arguably not even sports, and most people don't care about them anyway.
Entertainment And People
Who can talk about 2005 and not include everybody's favorite cultist Tom Cruise, who was busy melting down on talk shows and dealing premarital impregnations. Divorces, splits, and hook-ups a-plenty as Brad, Jen, Angelina, Vince, Nick, Jessica, Paris, Nicole, the other Paris, Nacho, Mary-Kate, and Renee all mixed it up more than the Wisteria Lane middle aged whore squad. There were new celebs hatched into the Affleck, Klum, and Spears media sphere, and new blond Bond, but the headline with the most pizzazz was Jacko getting off. Fiddy went 8 Mile while Kanye went 8F, and the Rolling Stones managed to live long enough to make a new album. On the silver screen Star Wars ended as Batman began, and the boy wizard persevered through franchising. Howard Stern is no longer of this Earth while Dave Chappelle is no longer of his show, and even though Hollywood is noticeably less funny, at least it gained some weight back.
Dirt Nap: The Year In Dead
God's Sidekick. The Hunter. The King Of Late Night. The Little Buddy. The Renegade. The Broadcaster. The Justice. The Moog. The Sitter. The Time Machine Maker. The Funny Freebaser. The Original Gidget. The Poet. The Dallas Matron. The Riviera Prince. The Playwright. The Riddler. The Father Of The Graphic Novel. The Architect. The Transporter. Mrs. Robinson. The Ugly One. The Jazz Singer. The Baker. The Chief Of Staff. The Historian. The NBA Logo. The Cripple. The Juice Defender. The Smart Guy. The Oil King. The Chicken. The Retarded Sister. The Guru.
Thanks for another great year and your support! MAGNA will see you sooner than you think in 2006...
2005-12-30 -- Morgan
As we did a scant 365 days ago, we look back at the events and people that made us forget about our dead-end jobs, miserable relationships, and empty lives. Come now and take heed of the year that was 2005.
Our United States
Due to last years surprise success, a second season of Extreme Home Makeover: God Edition was launched in New Orleans. Until September, If you'd asked me what came to mind when you said the name Katrina, I'd have to describe an overweight hippie that I went to school with, not that storm that ruined Mardi Gras for 2006. Kudos to the federal and state government for doing so little in response, but in their defense, it was mostly poor minorities and not their constituents. Besides, how cool was it to see the Superdome become Thunderdome? Amidst the filth and devastation, there was one hero to emerge from the waters, because the person of the year wasn't Bono or Bill and Melinda Gates.
Gas prices continued to spiral upward at the whim of the oil companies -- who knew that surgery was so expensive? Perhaps the fresh faces on the Supreme Court will herald some noteworthy governmental changes, considering the current government has been busy getting indicted...repeatedly. On the plus side, we finally figured out Deep Throat wasn't Linda Lovelace and sent the space shuttle back into orbit, thereby making it safe for Virgin Galactic to begin their NM spaceport. For the text impaired, here are some of the aforementioned highlights and more in cartoon.
The World
Not to be outdone by the Big Easy, southern Asia served up a disaster sequel to their tsunami called giant earthquake. International business exploded in China as quotas were lifted...and reinstated, and last year's SARS fear gave way to Avian Flu. London tasted terrorism, possibly out of confusion over the background of Lyndie England as an attempt at retaliation. Jesus freaks around the world mourned but celebrated shortly after with the arrival of the scariest looking and stupidest named Pope of the last 500 years.
On the war front, Dubya continued tirelessly to sell Americans on the losing proposition that is Iraq, noting that Halliburton and other affiliated oil companies profited far more than the value of the 2000 lost soldiers lives. There were more mix tapes from DJ Osama and the biggest monkey trial since Scopes, a.k.a. Saddamarama, began in earnest. There were thrills and chills in the dirt called the Middle East, but mostly lots of shit exploding in accordance with the tenets of rebellion and terrorism. "Democratic" elections were held in Iraq and a pull out of the Gaza Strip by Israel was initiated.
Sports
The biggest story (as far as I'm concerned) is the return of the NHL after losing a season to fiscal squabbling between the players and owners. The results have been favorable early on as new rules have given way to higher scoring and faster play, and the excess of free agents created several new formidable teams as superstars around the league found themselves donning new jerseys. Not that any other sports outside of hockey matter, but there were additional noteworthy events.
USC started and ended the year proving they are the most dominant team in football, although the Indianapolis Colts made a strong claim with a 13-0 run. T.O. got a big F-U from the Eagles, who apparently have less stomach for shenanigans than the Vikings. New England persevered again in the Super Bowl, but there was no repeat in Beantown in the stickball department as the White Sox bitchslaped Houston for the championship. Off the field, 'roid boys Bonds and Palmeiro kept from running the bases as an investigation into BALCO opened the window into the doped up world of athletes. Personally, I think you'd have to be on drugs to like baseball.
In a historic 7th Tour De France victory Lance Armstrong proved that, much like sex with a corpse or beating cancer, it's mind over matter. Detroit ran out of gas against San Antonio in the NBA finals, and Danica Patrick didn't have enough to win the Indy 500 -- but led for the first 187 laps...not bad for a woman, eh? I'm told that there were events in tennis, boxing, NASCAR, soccer, and golf, but some of those are arguably not even sports, and most people don't care about them anyway.
Entertainment And People
Who can talk about 2005 and not include everybody's favorite cultist Tom Cruise, who was busy melting down on talk shows and dealing premarital impregnations. Divorces, splits, and hook-ups a-plenty as Brad, Jen, Angelina, Vince, Nick, Jessica, Paris, Nicole, the other Paris, Nacho, Mary-Kate, and Renee all mixed it up more than the Wisteria Lane middle aged whore squad. There were new celebs hatched into the Affleck, Klum, and Spears media sphere, and new blond Bond, but the headline with the most pizzazz was Jacko getting off. Fiddy went 8 Mile while Kanye went 8F, and the Rolling Stones managed to live long enough to make a new album. On the silver screen Star Wars ended as Batman began, and the boy wizard persevered through franchising. Howard Stern is no longer of this Earth while Dave Chappelle is no longer of his show, and even though Hollywood is noticeably less funny, at least it gained some weight back.
Dirt Nap: The Year In Dead
God's Sidekick. The Hunter. The King Of Late Night. The Little Buddy. The Renegade. The Broadcaster. The Justice. The Moog. The Sitter. The Time Machine Maker. The Funny Freebaser. The Original Gidget. The Poet. The Dallas Matron. The Riviera Prince. The Playwright. The Riddler. The Father Of The Graphic Novel. The Architect. The Transporter. Mrs. Robinson. The Ugly One. The Jazz Singer. The Baker. The Chief Of Staff. The Historian. The NBA Logo. The Cripple. The Juice Defender. The Smart Guy. The Oil King. The Chicken. The Retarded Sister. The Guru.
Thanks for another great year and your support! MAGNA will see you sooner than you think in 2006...
Congratulations To Dan On Parenthood!
2005-12-22 -- Morgan
Dan and his wife Michelle welcomed daughter Grace into the world on December 21st!
Everybody is back at home now and doing fine, and I'm sure Dan will have more to add soon. All of the "uncles" in MAGNA are very happy for the newly expanded family!
2005-12-22 -- Morgan
Dan and his wife Michelle welcomed daughter Grace into the world on December 21st!
Everybody is back at home now and doing fine, and I'm sure Dan will have more to add soon. All of the "uncles" in MAGNA are very happy for the newly expanded family!
Happy 65th
2005-12-21 -- Morgan
"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." -- Frank Zappa
2005-12-21 -- Morgan
"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." -- Frank Zappa
Band Photo
2005-12-13 -- Morgan
Who would have thought a band promo photo would be so hard to accomplish which didn't make the group look like total tools?
However, if you did want to see a cool one of MAGNA...
2005-12-13 -- Morgan
Who would have thought a band promo photo would be so hard to accomplish which didn't make the group look like total tools?
However, if you did want to see a cool one of MAGNA...
No MAGNA News = Insult Hollywood To Pass The Time
2005-12-13 -- Morgan
Perhaps if she petitions enough, they'll introduce a transsexual category next year...
This is an awesome contradiction.
Having a snaggletooth is not a handicap (although being a shitty actress is).
And remember, even when you're a marginally successful celeb (and I hesitate to use that word in this case), you can't do anything that makes you look like the rest of us commoners.
Check out mein Schadenfreude en das forum in a few days for more...
2005-12-13 -- Morgan
Perhaps if she petitions enough, they'll introduce a transsexual category next year...
This is an awesome contradiction.
Having a snaggletooth is not a handicap (although being a shitty actress is).
And remember, even when you're a marginally successful celeb (and I hesitate to use that word in this case), you can't do anything that makes you look like the rest of us commoners.
Check out mein Schadenfreude en das forum in a few days for more...
COIMK!
2005-12-05 -- Morgan
Come On In My Kitchen is Dan on his days off from MAGNA. If you bug him enough, I bet you could get him to produce some episodes with See-Thru or a classically styled Rybot.
It's really a singer / songwriter showcase, but who knows -- maybe the annual acoustic MAGNA birthday jam may make it in '06. Hmmm...
2005-12-05 -- Morgan
Come On In My Kitchen is Dan on his days off from MAGNA. If you bug him enough, I bet you could get him to produce some episodes with See-Thru or a classically styled Rybot.
It's really a singer / songwriter showcase, but who knows -- maybe the annual acoustic MAGNA birthday jam may make it in '06. Hmmm...
So What Else?
2005-12-05 -- Morgan
Our performance at Cannibal Flower marked the final show of the 2005, and big time thanks are due to John for overseeing and manning the visuals for the show. Debts are also due to Ryan and his crew who helped document to the show and for additional footage. Muchos gracias to Billy for helping to man our merch hutch, and Matt for busting ass to get the album art finished enough to display. LC and the Cannibal Flower / Hanger 1018 family are owed a giant thanks for having us, and as always, everybody who came to the show, especially you repeaters who made somebody see and hear us for the first time.
The show itself was multi-track recorded and shot on a quartet of DV cams, which we will be editing together for a possible DVD release next year, but we will likely post some clips to the site before then. The album is looking better and better every day, for an early (but still unscheduled) release in 2006. With the coming new tunes, a website redesign will roll out roughly the same time to reflect the album art and color palate. Between now and then expect a ton of media that we've been sorting through for the past year to start showing up -- photos, jams, live shows. We'll be hibernating and starting to write new music through December, but we're firing up again in January with a special all instrumental show.
Keep your eyes peeled here and in the forum for updates throughout the month of December!
2005-12-05 -- Morgan
Our performance at Cannibal Flower marked the final show of the 2005, and big time thanks are due to John for overseeing and manning the visuals for the show. Debts are also due to Ryan and his crew who helped document to the show and for additional footage. Muchos gracias to Billy for helping to man our merch hutch, and Matt for busting ass to get the album art finished enough to display. LC and the Cannibal Flower / Hanger 1018 family are owed a giant thanks for having us, and as always, everybody who came to the show, especially you repeaters who made somebody see and hear us for the first time.
The show itself was multi-track recorded and shot on a quartet of DV cams, which we will be editing together for a possible DVD release next year, but we will likely post some clips to the site before then. The album is looking better and better every day, for an early (but still unscheduled) release in 2006. With the coming new tunes, a website redesign will roll out roughly the same time to reflect the album art and color palate. Between now and then expect a ton of media that we've been sorting through for the past year to start showing up -- photos, jams, live shows. We'll be hibernating and starting to write new music through December, but we're firing up again in January with a special all instrumental show.
Keep your eyes peeled here and in the forum for updates throughout the month of December!
