Linux, musical road-dogging, and daily life by Paul W. Frields
 
Author: <span>Paul Frields</span>

A couple nights ago we saw eXistenZ, the most recent film by David Cronenberg. This is probably the best Cronenberg film since Dead Ringers; and in that sense it was every bit as disturbing although in very different ways. While Dead Ringers was more about the psychology of obsession, eXistenZ …

I don’t know what to say about rathergood.com, except that I have rarely seen anything so completely hilarious, yet profoundly disturbing as a punk rock band of kittens singing “Lightsabre ****sucking Blues.” Kids, let Joel Veitch crush your will to live, today! I’m glad I found this since the Columbia …

In a somewhat happier note, I put a new picture of Evie up (linked to the left as well). This was taken by our good friend Jenny at her son’s birthday party in August. There will be newer pictures coming as soon as they’re developed.

Please everyone, keep the families of the brave crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia in your thoughts this weekend. They continue to endure one of the most painful events possible for any family, the loss of a loved one in an untimely tragedy. And remember to take the media’s meanderings …

I can’t explain it, but lately I’ve been on a huge ELO kick. I really love Jeff Lynne’s songs as well as his production work; John Lennon once admiringly called them “son of the Beatles,” and it shows in amazing tunes like Mr. Blue Sky [Real] and Twilight. I picked …

I am selling my 12-string Chapman Grand Stick on eBay, and the auction ends tomorrow night. I have a 10-string that I play much more regularly, and both are in fantastic shape. My hands are just too small for me to get comfortable with the 12-string, but they are smaller …

I have a more recent picture of Evie available on the links to the left. Still haven’t gotten to organizing them all. Time to go practice, I love my new GuitarPort!

I ordered a new Variax yesterday from Guitar Center. A lot of “talkback lusers” seem to have a problem with GC, but I never have. Plus I have a friend who works there who got me a deep discount price. ? Hopefully I should see it in a few weeks; …

I played one of the Variax guitars this weekend at Chuck Levin’s in Wheaton, MD. The physical report is that they are a very good value for their cost ($909), especially considering the cost of the electronic components that do the guitar modeling. This guitar feels more solid and playable …