Read Some Stewf

Oldham

Whoops. The Brazilians of Music Para Motel have mistaken me for Will Oldham. Click on the bearded Stewf and see where it takes you.

Dream #91: John Denver’s War on Terror

In which I’m at a bookstore and see John Denver. He seems to be employed there. He’s packing boxes or sticking price tags or something. I walk up to him directly and we greet each other like we’re old friends. I have a memory of hanging out with him in Sun Valley and this is the first time in years since I’ve seen him. We chat a bit and he’s glad to see me too but there’s a sadness behind his otherwise cheery expression. He sets a book down in front of me.

Four Things

• William Morris wallpaper
• Orville Bug
• If I knew how to set tile...
• I Touch Myself in MIDI

This is Not My Beautiful Town

David Byrne is hanging out in SF this week. I'm going to go wonder around The Mission until I casually run into him and make it seem like an accident.

My Place

A few rooms of my palatial estate have already been documented, but some of you nonlocals have requested more pics of the apt. Here then: some friends were kind enough to take a few shots the other day.

The Paron Band

Another video for your entertainment: The Paron Band (Stockholm, 2003).

Hey Memphis! Whatchoo Doin’ in the Fridge?

The other day, Jen was in the kitchen, staring at the cupboards in despair as she pondered what to make for supper, when she turned around to find her 9-month-old in the fridge, preparing some things for the meal. What a guy.

Memphis can’t quite crawl yet, but he’s got his first tooth and he knows how to cook.
Watch the movie.

Alphonso D’Abruzzo

If you’ve seen even one episode of M.A.S.H. you probably have some level of fondness for Alan Alda. Well, I’m pretty fond of him. And it grows every time I see him in something new. Scientific American Frontiers, The Aviator, and now The West Wing (one of only three running TV shows worth watching). Me and everyone else who thinks Jimmy Smits’ Santos is stiff and yucky are rooting for Vinnick to win the White House. Yes, I know a Republican Pres. is unlikely, but Alda’s character is much more intriguing and would breathe new life into a show that’s been dragging in recent years.

As much as I like to see him on screen, interviews with Alda are even better. He’s very bright and a great story teller and he presents insights and commentary that make his interviews more than just actor Q&As, but conversations with a genuinely thoughtful, engaging person.

Hear him with Terry Gross and watch the (very lengthy) interview for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Unlike Terry, the ATASF interviewer must be some kind of intern because he’s nervous and uninformed, but Alda is fascinating anyway. In the last few minutes he describes his wife:

“She’s much smarter than me. Whenever we’re at a big dinner table, no matter who’s at the table, I find her to be the most interesting person there. I hear her say things that I’ve never heard before. I find myself saying the same things over and over again but I never hear her say the same thing twice.”

Now that’s a lady to shoot for.

It’s rare to discover the guy who played your favorite sitcom personality turns out to be as great as his character.

Same goes for David Byrne, but you already know how I feel about him.

Update: Continuing on his book tour, Alan eats rice krispies treats with the slightly obnoxious Josh Kornbluth. Here he talks about what I’ve always considered the most underrated of human traits: active listening.

I'm getting better at listening. Not really listening is not really being there. When I didn't listen as well as I do now I deprived myself of an enormous amount of pleasure. Because when I listen to you, more of you comes out, and then I get the real you. And then the real me comes out. And then we get something that's way more fun between us than just exchanging information.

My Dad Is Batman

Karaoke Tahoe Lobster

Sundry pics are up. (karaoke, Tahoe, lobster, Jessica, lounge, Nintendo)