Blasphuphmus Radio Links

Well, January 6th is rapidly approaching, so here's some kpsu.org links that will help prepare you for my premiere episode at 3 PM:

Blasphuphmus Radio Program Page on kpsu.org: A little info to tease and tantalize potential listeners.

RSS Podcast Link: Slap this into your podcasting device of choice, and you'll always have the most current episode of Blasphuphmus Radio at your beck and call.

Playlists Link: Access this link to check out the tuneage you'll be hearing on Blasphuphmus Radio, which lists all the minutia and footnotes for every Audio-Essay we broadcast.

Track Content Link: Having trouble finding all the different Blasphuphmus Radio content on kpsu.org? Fear not! This "Track Content Link" will give you a list of everything we've ever added to the kpsu.org website. Pretty cool, huh?

Why Am I Not Surprised

Last term I went through a ridiculous series of Kafkan experiences with PSU, which involved (but was not limited to) being overcharged several times for services I never got, not receiving my financial aid due to clerical errors, lost pay checks (every single pay period, this term), bureaucratic policies that contradict other bureaucratic policies which make certain necesities impossible to accomplish, and a number of other lame problems that exist because people do not want to talk in person, nor do they want to deal with actual cash money.

I thought that Credit, combined with a lack of communication, caused this economic crisis in the first place. But, apparently, that hasn't gotten back to Corporate America yet.

My most recent frustration came in the form of an e-mail I got today, explaining that I could have received my Financial Aid check already if I had only explained to the dispersion company how I wanted to receive said check. (I shit you not: "We have a check for you, how do you want it?")

I called PSU and explained that since I started going to school four years ago, I have always received a check, and can't understand why they suddenly don't know that. PSU passed the buck, saying that they don't have access to their own students' Financial Aid information (!), but that the dispersion company does. (Why PSU doesn't have access to their own students records is only a small part of my confusion regarding this issue.)

After calling the dispersion company, I discovered that because they made a clerical error last term, and since I complained about not getting my check because of their error, they actually reset my account entirely to avoid making the same mistake twice. Rather than contact me and ask me how I'd like to get my money, they waited for the computer to catch the mistake as it was processing my refund, and they waited even longer for said computer to e-mail me, which in turn asked me to contact the dispersion company to set things straight. A mistake, I should point out, consisting of a several-tiered error THEY made.

Yeah. I'm sort of incredulous, too.

All of my attempts to point out how silly this was were met with complete confusion by the people I talked to on the phone. "What do you mean?" I mean, I said, how can someone who works in a job like this actually think this is a reasonable way to conduct business.

"Oh, I don't think about that stuff."

Right. Wasn't that the problem in the first place?

Be That Song? Links

Be That Song?: "Out With The New, In With The Old."

(Special "Is This Music?" Coverage for Hogwash while he's out of town.)

This is a 60 Minute audio essay about the Holiday Season, with music, sound effects, voice-overs, and a few commercials. For those of you who have never heard the kind of shows I do, this is an excellent introduction to my radio style, and a wonderful hour of holiday sounds for those New Year's parties around the corner. (Token mentions of X-Mas were, sadly, unavoidable.) Consider this my holiday gift to the city of Portland, and anyone else I forgot to get a gift for. Sorry.

6:43 PM Update:

Here's the official playlist.

X-Mass Day Recap

Historically, I have not been a fan of holidays, at least, not since I was a wee child. Once you are no longer the center of attention of the Holiday Season, it's hard to get excited about cold weather, unexpected winter expenses, and traveling to visit family that you might not be too interested in seeing just yet. I think most people go through this phase during the Cool Years: roughly, 16 - 30. It's when a human is most concerned with being cool and, more to the point, the most prone to behaving childish.

This year, things were markedly different for me, beginning with Thanksgiving with my Mom and Christmas with my Dad. There were a lot of other family members involved too, and what (exactly) about those two trips I enjoyed I can't exactly say for sure. All I know is that the usual sensations of wanting to get back home as soon as possible were not a part of this year's celebrations, to the point that I spent all day yesterday (after I got home) listlessly cleaning and trying to figure out what to do.

I can't exactly say that I'm a fan of the Holiday Season (as it's celebrated in the US), but this year I feel like something in me changed. Or, perhaps, it wasn't the holiday per se, but rather the act of spending time with my family that really set it off. I've been living on my own now for 15 years, and in that time I've spent only a very little time with my family. Part of that comes from different interests and pursuits: I'm in school, working on the long and hard road toward becoming some sort of academic, with all of the usual extreme-left tendencies and nuances that come with having been involved with bands and bars and that particular kind of subculture, while most of my family is involved in raising kids, keeping a job, and maintaining their sanity.

It's not that we don't understand each other, or even that we can't appreciate what the other does; it's just that, on a practical level, we don't relate to each other. It's hard to know what they're going through when I've never had to deal with babies on a day-to-day basis. Conversely, how many members of my family could make a 'zine from scratch, or know the differences between punk sub-genres?

The point being, I had a great time this year, and I don't know if that's because I've matured, or because they've gotten more interesting as people, friends, and family members. For the time being, I'm going to continue to believe that it's them and not me. I'm not quite ready to face the truth yet, anyway.

I Mean It

Happy Holidays.

I mean it.

New Radio Appearances

I will be offering my services twice in the next month to non-Blasphuphmus Radio appearances on KPSU:

On December 28th, 2008, I'll be guest-hosting Be That Song? (aka Is This Music?), presenting my newest musical assemblage, "Christmas Music (For People Who Don't Like Christmas Music)." Be That Song? will start at Noon, and run until 1 PM. You'll be able to listen by either tuning into to 1450 AM in the Portland, OR area, 98.1 FM on the PSU campus, or by accessing the webstream at kpsu.org.

Also, on January 31st, 2009, I'll be running sound for an in-studio appearance by Levator, who will be appearing on What's This Called? Levator has made several appearances on my old show, and prior to that made KPSU a stop on nearly every tour. This will be an awesome performance from Noon to 1 PM that day, and again, you can listen at 1450 AM, 98.1 on the PSU campus, or by accessing the webstream at kpsu.org.

And, of course, my new weekly show starts on the 6th of January. Wait, that's only a couple weeks from now!? Holy crap!

Blasphuphmus Radio! New Time!

Dig?

Blasphuphmus Radio News

There's been a lot going on lately as Blasphuphmus Radio prepares to become syndicated at KPSU, so as that process continues, I thought I'd tease a few of you with a preview of what to expect on the show.

Although we previously reported that we would be on at 1 PM Sundays, we have secured a 3 PM time slot on the holiest of holy days, Tuesday! I'll keep you posted with links and information about how you can tune in via the interweb, but if you live near or on the PSU campus, you can tune in at 98.1 FM. So, Tuesday at 3 PM. It's gonna rock.

I've made a tentative schedule for the 2009 Broadcast Season of Blasphuphmus Radio, but you should note that the operative word in the first half of this sentence is "a." It is not THE schedule, but merely A schedule, and is subject to change as I learn more information. I also wrote a Reference Guide that will help you interpret some of the things I put on the schedule.

Questions? You know who to ask...

Really?

When I was closing up the computer lab last night, I found a binder that a student had left behind. It happens all the time, actually, and with today being the last day for finals, I imagine some student was in a hurry to get to a party after his last test. I forget things all the time, and unless it's valuable, you don't have to worry about anything getting stolen.

So, no harm, no foul; I picked it up and went to put it in the Lost & Found box. As I set it down, I noticed that on the front was a huge, slightly torn Sublime sticker.

What? Sublime? Are they even still a thing? I mean, when was the last time you met an actual Sublime fan? At least, a big enough one to have a sticker on your binder for at least a year. In 2008. I mean, really?

Sometimes, I just don't get people.

As Of 3 PM...

I am done with school for 2008.

Now would be an excellent time to give me a call. I don't have anything to do for a month.

And not a moment too soon...