I just finished a really good memoir called Life On Planet Rock. Lonn Friend was best known as the editor of RIP magazine in the late 80s and early 90s, and was instrumental in documenting the cultural shift from L.A. sleaze rock to the so-called alt-rock revolution of the early 90s. He had a (kind of goofy) weekly spot on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, which I bet rockfestfreak will remember. He did a stint as an A&R rep for a major label, and documents in horrifying detail all the reasons the actual music is pretty much the last thing the suits wanna talk about. That section was interesting to read; it starts with his first big find, which you know right from the start never made it big because you've never heard the name of the band. So it's kind of heartbreaking to read, like a tragic story where you already know it ends badly from the first page. The tone of the book feels a little like Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous." Anyway, he had a really interesting life and met some really interesting people, and he's a great writer; I kind of wish I'd have saved my copies of RIP now.

Next up is Lemmy's autobiography, which promises to be entertaining.

So today I changed the strings on my Les Paul and polished the thing up so it's just like new! It's SHINY. Coffee Hag owner/Sister Gin vocalist Jenn Melby says that people have requested Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" and Concrete Blond's "Joey," so I made sure I remembered how to play 'em. It's funny the stuff you remember -- I hadn't played that little lead guitar bit at the beginning of "White Rabbit" in YEARS now, but as soon as I got going the whole thing came back to me. I'm a little out of practice, but I should be fine if I just play a little every day from now 'till the gig...

lonely_doll and I went to the Mall of America! Imagine THAT, right?? I got some sweet dealz:

Stomp! by Nicholas van Pelt for $0.49.
KISS: Behind the Mask by David Leaf and Ken Sharp for $5.98
A version of the old vertical scroller Xevious for GBA for $3.99.
"March of the Penguins" for GBA for $9.99. (I have a feeling this game is dumb, but it came with a stuffed penguin so I couldn't resist...)

There's an interview with Ellen Page in the latest Entertainment Weekly. This bit is pretty funny -- she's talking about seeing "The Breakfast Club" for the first time and being a bit let down:

"It's obviously not about my generation, but I was like, okay, they're all just talking and realizing they're human beings," says Page, who was born in 1987, two years after the movie was released. "But then it was all about Ally Sheedy changing to look like the pretty girl to get with Emilio Estevez, for chrissakes." She bangs her fist on the table. "I was so angry."

Ellen Page is awesome. You should all check out Hard Candy if you haven't seen it yet.

OMG Valentine's Day this week!! :-D

So HERE'S the third book I bought from the Barnes & Noble bargain table.

lonely_doll and I discovered this about a week ago, and I decided it was hilarious enough to buy for what ended up being about $1.70. In a nutshell, it contains some of the most astonishingly awful "advice" I've ever come across.

I have mixed feelings about mocking crap like this, because really it's pretty awful and irresponsible of someone to suggest plastic surgery as one of 365 "proven ways to find love" or whatever. Seriously, I didn't even make that up -- it's number 46. Anyway, for your entertainment I opened to a random page, and here's what we have:

163. PICK HIM UP WITH AN IRRESISTIBLE LINE

Sexy lines for when you are feeling hot, confident, and playful:

"I love your belt -- especially the buckle." (um, WTF?? I can't even imagine what I'd think if someone came up to me and praised my belt buckle. Although, it's a Sex Pistols belt, so I guess it IS pretty sexy...)

"I have never seen more magnetic eyes in my life. I'm feeling a little shaky!" ("And I'm feeling a little creeped out, ma'am...")

"I'm a sucker for cashmere, especially when it's covering such broad shoulders."

"If I didn't have to go to work tomorrow, I'd kidnap you and take you to Paris." (because all deep and meaningful relationships should begin with a hostage situation...)

"You are an incredible specimen!" (because men like to be compared to single-cell microorganisms...)

I got THIS off a "3 for $4.98" clearance shelf at Barnes & Noble tonight.

I also got THIS book.

The third one is both hysterical and horrifying, and thus warrants its own (if not multiple) post(s).