Tonight, I’ll perform as part of 20×2 v. 8.0, a unique SXSW event that I participated in last year. The show features twenty writers, musicians, filmmakers, thinkers, programmers, etc. taking two minutes each to answer a single question in their own way. Last year, the question was “What if…?” This year, it’s “What’s the Difference?”

It’s quite a fun deal, a bit of short-attention-span theater as you might imagine. I’ll spend my two minutes musically exploring well-known left-handers versus well-known right-handers. The show starts at 7 pm tonight at The Parish above Jazz, 614 E. 6th St. Here is a list of performers who are not me:

• simon batistoni (flickr)

• jeremy ettinghausen (penguin books)

• lila king (cnn interactive)

• andrew huff (gapers block)

• amy hoy (hyphenated people)

• rusty hodge (somafm)

• jessica reynolds (projekt 202)

• ro choy (rockyou)

• jina bolton (sushi & robots)

• george kelly (allaboutgeorge)

• jerm pollet (musician)

• rannie turingan (photojunkie)

• steve basile (bd rileys)

• lux nightmare (thatstrangegirl.com)

• jason hoffmann (joyent)

• thomas crenshaw (whoisthomas)

• arin crumley (arincrumley.com)

• jake cressman (electronic arts)

• ron pippin (shiny object)

Come see us!

as reported in The New York Times

March 10, 1908
BARS WOMEN CHAUFFEURS.
Cincinnati’s Mayor Says They Should Only Run Sewing Machines.

One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

He just sits at home, clearly resisting the trend of driving eighteen-wheelers around the country. Is he truly a nonconformist, or does he just get a kick out of…

Highlight here for answer: [bucking trucking]


Great Clocks of Christendom

Many of us do not believe in capital punishment, because thus society takes from a man what society cannot give.
Katharine Fullerton Gerould

EVERY DANG THURSDAY
with Matt the Electrician
8:00 PM
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
AUSTIN, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://flipnotics.com

Zilker Park (Spooky) Kite Festival 2008
Pics by Maggie Wilhite

I’m lazy and still quite undressed
Taking the day off to rest
This entry is late!
And it’s far from great
Monday, I’ll be back at my best

as reported in The New York Times

March 7, 1908
25 CENTS A DAY ENOUGH.
Beggar Quits Work, He Says in Court, After Making a Quarter.

One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

We’re trying to pave our driveway with curved top stones, but we can’t decide on colors. It’s a silly thing to have a petty quarrel about , but we can’t seem to stop this..

Highlight here for answer: [cobble squabble]


Garfield Minus Garfield

Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best—
God! but the interest!
Paul Laurnce Dunbar

EVERY DANG THURSDAY
with Matt the Electrician
8:00 PM
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
AUSTIN, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://flipnotics.com

2 Nerds in the Sunshine – February 24, 2008

The show last night was spectacular, thanks for asking! They Might Be Giants brought the rock to Stubb’s, and They can’t come back soon enough. I knew every song They played, and They played a lot of songs. I got to enjoy it all with good friends, good fans, and my best girl. I don’t want this to become a TMBG fan site, so I’ll just post my favorite five songs of the night and let the wonderful night dissolve into history.

• Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal

• Ana Ng

• The Mesopotamians

• Dr. Worm

• Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head

Career spanning! Also, John Linnell said “yeah” and “woo” consecutively in a completely uncharacteristic way. You have to enjoy the little things, you know. Rock!

as reported in The New York Times

March 6, 1908
INVITED TO BECOME A SPY.
Jack Treadwell Says Japan Offered Him $150 a Month.

One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

Man, that’s the last time I buy a briny cucumber for five cents. Do you want the rest of my…

Highlight here for answer: [nickel pickle]


Garfield Minus Garfield

Reasoning at every step he treads,
Man yet mistakes his way,
Whilst meaner things, whom instinct leads,
Are rarely known to stray.
William Cowper

EVERY DANG THURSDAY
with Matt the Electrician
8:00 PM
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
AUSTIN, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://flipnotics.com

2 Nerds in the Sunshine – February 24, 2008

I don’t usually do this, but sometimes I see things on the interwebs that are actually worth sharing. This is a 20-minute animation called The Story of Stuff, and it does a good job summarizing some of the issues we have to face as Americans and human beings. You can see the full-size version and much more at storyofstuff.com. I didn’t look through the entire site, so forgive me if this turns out to be a front for environmental terrorists.

as reported in The New York Times

March 4, 1908
SHOT OVER THE COFFEE CUPS.
French Circus Girl Dead and Woman Singer Held — Says It Was Accident. The theatrical boarding house at 215 West Forty-second Street, next door to the Lyric Theatre, was startled at 6 o’clock last night to hear a loud report from the room of Mme. Mitzel Morok on the third floor, who loops the loop in an automobile for circus and vaudeville attractions.

One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

Your approximations are far too high, sir! There’s no way that number of beans would fit in this jar! You need to lower your estimate, you know…

Highlight here for answer: [guess less]


Garfield Minus Garfield

But we must not fall to the temptation of intolerance against right-handed Americans. We must be the ones to hold out our (left) hand and reach across the aisle to our righty brethren. There are no righty states, there are no lefty states, we live in the United States, where left and right must join together to solve the problems we face as a nation.
LeftiesforObama.com

EVERY DANG THURSDAY
with Matt the Electrician
8:00 PM
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
AUSTIN, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://flipnotics.com

2 Nerds in the Sunshine – February 24, 2008