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In a message dated 6/29/2007 8:36 P.M. GMT +3:00, Vice Cooler writes:



This moment I am in Moscow, Russia at the (un-airconditioned) airport. I had a lot of fear of flying Aeroflut (the Russian airline) after everyone in the world told me about how awful it is. These things hold true:

1.) Take off was the scariest I have ever been. I even started shaking and could feel tears forming in my eyes. We were constantly dropping while they were going practically straight up as fast as they could.

2.) Descent was about the same. We also landed so fast that they just through the emergency brake on throwing everyone's everything all over the place.

3.) It does bump pretty much the whole time.

When I landed they through all of us into this crazy maze/ line which surprisingly took forever considering what they were doing. They immigration was marking everyone's plane tickets, but they didn't have anything to mark it with. So they were just stapling it. After that we had to talk into another room with glass walls and wait. Then they checked to see if we had the staple and let us all out!

And once I was out it wasn't that pretty- the airport has everyone sleeping everywhere (including the steps) because you are confined to this small space and they don't have any waiting seats or anything. I'm pretty sure its a trick to get you to buy things instead or eat at their restaurant. Which is interesting because their restaurant has a traditional American menu (even though it's called "Tajmahal") with exception for the cigarettes and vodka sections, poshly placed between the vegetarian and dessert sections.


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In a message dated 6/26/2007 ?? A.M. GMT, Vice Cooler writes:



I wake up in the passenger side outside the venue. It's funny that my first time in Whales is me not even realizing I am there until I'm about to leave it.

A kid says "The drumming tonight changed my life"

"Why?" I ask.

"Because you and Greg keep missing yr parts and missing the snare and hitting the rims but you keep playing! It changed my life".

We lift up George with just our fingers, do to a mind over matter trick taught by Satomi.


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In a message dated 6/20/2007 ?? A.M. GMT, Vice Cooler writes:



Well, it's surprising we made it. We as a whole seem to attract characteristically bad luck, boo boo's and misorganisation. Such as the day before our flights George called me up and said he just realised his passport was expired. The day we flew out he got it though expediting.

Once we flew in we found out our work permits ended a week early. Then the bass didn't show up with the rest of our baggage.

The bass ended up showing up before we left, the permits we will try not to worry about.

The first show came with the drums running away about 15 feet between the sets start and finish. So I made a rug which is now holding it in place.

I become covered in stroop waffles and caramel pudding. Nothing has a bathroom to clean up, not even the grocery store or kfc!


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In a message dated 6/16/2007 01:31 A.M. GMT, Vice Cooler writes:

this has nothing to do with music, just me and my brothers dog sheila:::

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hey everyone,

so sheila got out of surgery and is getting a lot better. but the bad news is the tumor is malignant. the bills are still super intense and overwhelming. me and steve would like to express how grateful we are for everyone who has sent us something. this is totally no ones problem but ours and every cent that has been sent has been overwhelming. we really appreciate it.
luckily i heart tripods has been nice enough to donate some of this months proceeds to sheila:
http://www.ihearttripods.com/2007/06/dogs_helping_do.html

and we are also still accepting donations at n_f_j_m@hotmail.com via paypal.
thanks again. we are working on getting back to every person who has donated.
thanks!

VC + ST


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In a message dated 6/11/2007 1:17:26 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Stephen Touchstone writes:
Boots,

Knowing that you have been so well-intentioned, excited, and well-organized in planning this trip makes it painful for me to write this email. In a nutshell, my uneasiness about taking this trip increases with each passing day. And why would I do something that makes me so uneasy? Not only is something (and are some people) telling me not to go to China, part of me is particularly uncomfortable with the Shanghai portion.

Yes, I do want to experience China. Yes, I want to to vacation with my family. Yes, I would love to perform over there. But there are some suspicious circumstances that make me question if this is really the time to experience these things. And what's the point in experiencing them if there is a heavy risk? That's the thing, there are some very unnerving circumstances. If there's the smallest possibility that they will lead to where they could be pointing, it is just not worth the risk to me.
Here is what I am talking about (I see these as all connecting to make a whole):

* I do not know YiQi. She is a stranger to me. I have no reason to trust her any more than most people I've had minimal conversation with. But I do have reason *not* to trust her any more than most people I have minimal conversation with. I mean, me and the cashier at the Mexican restaurant down the street know each other much better than YiQi and I.

* What I do know is that the person I've met who has spent the most time with her (Xiao) seems to despise her. That's not a good character reference.

* If something happens to the four of us, YiQi will gain half a million dollars (life insurance), a house, and a car in addition to her recently recieved green card. This is also in addition to the apartment she still has in Shanghai. That's a lot to inherit, especially if spent mostly in China where the money can go firther than in the USA. It could go very far for someone in her position. This is really the most terrifying idea of them all.

* She has held on to her apartment and belongings in Shanghai.

* You mentioned she was wanting to learn how to shoot and mentioned wanting to bring a gun to China.

* I know you feel love toward YiQi but my gut feeling is that she is just waiting it out, tolerating our family while keeping her eye on the prize. You, Xiao, and Rich have all said she is selfish and materialistic. It seems like she may be more interested in the personal gain of status symbols than love or a new family.

* She nevers writes Chris letters but sent several when he bailed out on the trip-- she wants ALL OF US (all who can inherit) to be there.

* You had that sketchy thing with your first Chinese courtship where she got her visa and then vanished. China (along with Russia) is famous for sketchy brides looking for American men.

* She is already set to leave China solo without any of us.

I am not saying this is a solid concrete case for a conspiracy. What I am saying is that it is enough of a case to make me very uncomfortable and vulnerable. Even if I go on the trip as planned and nothing bad happens, my enjoyment of the trip will be greatly hindered by paranoia and anxiety. I can say the same for VC.

At the most I am thinking I only want to visit Beijing. I don't want to completely miss out on China. The reason I feel more comfortable with Beijing is because I know it was all your doing and YiQi doesn't want to go. She has her agenda in Shanghai and I am afraid some terrifying things might be part of that agenda.

It just isn't seeming worth it. The possible gain isn't worth the possible risk. I am fucking broke, not to mention in debt for Sheila's surgery, but am beginning to think paying you back for the expense of cancelling my going on the trip would be preferable to the possible physical/mental price of going. If all four of us aren't together, the chances of something bad happening seem like they'd greatly reduce. Shit, if so much time and effort were put toward a goal, why would she allow it to be only partially met?

I hate placing this on you but you deserve to know why I make a decision if I do make one. I don't want ANY of us to be harmed, especially myself!

I see myself as one who tends to observe and make good decisions based on those observations.

Well, I've said pretty much all I can say on the matter right now. Sorry for the distress it will likely cause.

Steve