When the bus doors open in LA, an almost undetectable stream of classical music floats around for about twenty seconds. In a city where private cars determine everything from architecture to the outcome of a night, not many folk I’ve talked to regard the public transportation highly, but I’m a huge fan.

Kicked it with some Indonesian frozen yogurt restauranters in Westwood last night. On the issue of health department ratings, they said some restaurants in Chinatown, and only there, recieve a C rating, and almost never make it past a B. Skip Yogurtland and follow the “Frozen Yogurt, .30 Cents per Ounce!” signs to the more low key spot just off Westwood. I never realized that Djarm clove cigarattes came from Indonesia.

(shameless self-promotion) If you’re in Shanghai Friday, check out our weekly Baijiu Robot, Knives Out party  and friends at Not Me on Dongping Lu. Great music, people dancing instead of sitting around tables playing dice, and cheap drinks.

I used to bump this track so hard in summer 2005. The ace of Harlem slang plus insane bass.

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Cam’ron - Killa Cam

Anyone reading this in LA know good places for wolf/robot costumes?

So the night I get back to Shanghai, we’ve got a show at The Shelter, which has the best mixer (DJM-800) of any club I’ve played in Shanghai. Mad props to Siesta and Slackerton for having us out. Lots of new music and equipment. Come dance. 

It’s my last weekend in Michigan before heading out to LA then back to Shanghai, that hotbed of hedonism. Time to go swimming, but enjoy this track. Kind of a synthy slow-burner that’s been on repeat for months. 

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Good Luck At The Gunfight - Puma

A few solid weeks of summer remain.

Sure hope those government folk get some health care legislation passed.

I used to hate on Chicago majorly, but I visited last weekend and left with much better feelings about it. Chinese visa secured.

Saw the biggest parking structure ever. Kinda like the Petronas Towers, for cars…and sans skywalk.

GRE in two days so it’s maths all the time.

But how fresh is this?

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Man Parish - Boogie Down Bronx

If you’re in Shanghai tonight (Tuesday), check out Baijiu Robot (Mau Mau) at LoGO with VJ Maculate looping the hottest  VHS bootlegs, plus our friend Adept spinning as well.

Yesterday at the gym, I read an article in the New York Times digest which discussed families who start their days online, often before getting out of bed. “We used to set alarm clocks for the boys, now I just send them a text” said the father, a Michigan State professor. Another mother told of her eventual acceptance of family members “sitting in four different rooms on four different computers.”

Before I could finish an article, one of the forty-seven tv screens surrounding me flashed “hundreds of houses leveled in Wenzhou, on the east coast of China.” Another screen showed dozens of Floridans trying to roll a sandy beached whale back into the sea. I immediately grabbed my phone and sent an email to my good friend from Wenzhou inquiring about the safety of her family. Then I went swimming.

I’m not here to lambast the pervasiveness of technology in society. Today I’d just like to take a moment to consider and extol the swimming pool, one of the few places where electronic screens do not exist, and probably will not for some time. No matter how quickly a swimmer’s thoughts may race about, there’s little to do besides that linear lap, save changing from freestyle to breast stroke, or an occasional somersault.

Kicking it old school today with the track, which still sounds like someone could have produced it yesterday. Hope some of the Brits reading this remember this cut from 1992. Unfortunately I’ve only got a 128kbs version, but it’s too fresh not to post.

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One Tribe - What Have You Done (Club Version) 1992!!!!

Back from another outing in America’s heartland. This time, Michigan’s bleak capital - Lansing. A rustbelt town with plenty of  liquor stores, paycheck-advance shops hunched next to diamond dealers, and dive restaurants. Dagwood’s, Golden Harvest, Sparty’s Coney Island to name a few. Hit up an old classic last night, The Airport Tavern. No windows, dim yellow lights, and olive burgers.  So solid.

Should also mention Quality Dairy, the pinnacle of Michigan convenience stores. I’ve grown accustomed to Chinese convenience stores, e.g. Lawson’s and Family Mart, where I can pay utility bills, eat kimchi sushi + drink fifty cent beers, and make photocopies. Contrastingly, Quality Dairy offers laundry, m&m cookies, and frozen ice drinks.

Too much electronic music lately. Been listening to the Beach House album since it came out. Perfect for almost any occasion.

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Beach House - Gila

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Beach House - Astronaut