"THE WHO WILL BE PLAYING TONIGHT AT SPRINGFIELD'S HISTORIC YAHOO SEARCH ENGINE ARENA" Roll on 4am. That seems to be when my nervous system overloads. Just found one of the most interesting and perhaps depressing round-ups of 2002 over on Google-Zeitgeist. Queries for the WTC made way for the Winter Olympics, Bin Laden was bettered by Avril Lavigne and the World Cup beat Iraq to the top of most searched for news stories. Top Google search for the whole of the UK? The BBC. Like it's difficult to work out that you just have to add .co.uk... fucking retards. Mike is not blogging to: the fucking ketchup song. Christ on a fucking bike.

"THEY'RE CALLED BREASTS, MAMA, AND EVERY WOMAN HAS THEM" So Jane is here. I have no idea how long for but she's good fun. The end of an interesting night wound down at the local Indian (Indian Ocean, Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common - try the veggie thali). Jane is smart and witty and loves England for all the good stuff we have - you know, culture, literature, the arts. Unluckily we were sat adjacent to an office party that got louder and louder until the loudest of the annoying women decided to bare her breasts and have them recorded for prosperity. Jane was not shocked but rather shell-shocked. More Americans should read Viz. I just cleaned out a soho strip joint and a crack house in 'The Getaway'. Excellent. Tomorrow should be busy. Must ignore the PS2. Bad PS2. Evil PS2. Preccciiiiioooousssss PS2. Jess is still OD'ing on My So Called Life. Is Claire Danes even still acting? This is why I love reading random blogs: The other day I went into a North Portland auto-parts store to return some pistons that didn't fit the engine in my little Jap car. Two straight-arrow Beefy Guys were working behind the counter. While one Beefy Guy quietly leafed through the yellowing pages of a giant auto-parts catalog, the other one began doing the paperwork for my piston refund. As he pecked endless serial numbers on a weather-beaten keyboard, we started talking about the sad state of work in America. "You know where we're headed?" he asked ominously, then answering before I could open my gob: "Corporate feudalism. You know what that is? The oligarchy, the elite, is going to squeeze us dry, giving us just enough to live on and no more." I said nothing, momentarily startled that an auto-parts clerk was talking about oligarchies and feudalism. "Aww," chimed in the other guy, "we wouldn't want to say anything bad about corporations and government officials, would we?" In the span of fifteen seconds, I had witnessed more political discourse than I'd seen in years from TV or newspapers. Must make more coffee. Coffee is my friend. Mike is blogging to: nothing

"HEY, SWEDEN!" Spent a little time sorting out one of the hard drives. The music was too formidable to tackle at such a late hour so I went for the photos instead. Found a lot of crap but also a lot of cool stuff. As soon as I get it organised I'll stick up the rest but here's a good one of Jess: Sweden - a few months ago I think. It's good to be back together. I've had a lot of email telling me I seem a hell of a lot happier. Yep - colour me over the moon. Tonight was good. I did some writing, Jess hit Brixton with Pippa and co. and the cat pretty much slept all day. Jess is now crashed out on the couch, despite the music I'm playing and the movie that's running at the same time. Give it another hour and I'll wake her and we'll go get some real sleep. Tomorrow Jane arrives from the USA. I'm not sure how long she's staying but the house is still a big fucking Christmas mess so I'll have to get up early. Can't remember the last time I went to bed before 4am. Too much coffee, man. Mike is blogging to: lots and lots of noise

�YOU JUST HAD A NEAR-LIFE EXPERIENCE� Tonight I am drinking Cuban rum. Slowly getting through the Christmas stockpiles. After the house is dry again I may well go back to being t-total in the New Year. Not as a resolution though as I find they rarely stick. I am thinking about the future and places I want to get back to in 2003: Amsterdam and New York And places I want to get to for the first time. Namely: Canada. I am also thinking of new and fun ways to fund these excursions: I could become a superhero or a hit-man or Brian Blessed. The more I think about these options the more I am faced with the harsh reality that I may have to resort to getting: a real job. Bollocks. Mike is blogging to: The Hissyfits

"VALHALLA, I AM COMING!" Led Zeppelin and small furry animals combine to horrific effect: beware The Viking Kittens Mike is blogging to: The Immigrant Song of course

"MY GIRLFRIEND STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHY HER SWEATERS ARE ALWAYS STRETCHED OUT" Jess now has her own blog. She's already started posting strange pictures of me, cute pictures of herself, and odd pictures of the characters from My So Called Life. I have no idea where she got the idea that it's acceptable to post pics from cancelled American television shows... Mike is blogging to: nothing

�MAN, IF THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF CHRISTMAS, I GOTTA BE HERE FOR NEW YEAR�S� Now if only Christmas was this exciting: Alas I had no Christmas-themed Hawaiian shirt wearing Santas pointing Uzi machine guns my way. Closest I came to that was discussing politics with Jess� grandfather. Shudder. Ate too much. Drank too much. Hardly watched any of the crap on the television, which was a bonus but then wasted too much time on the PS2. But The Getaway is awesome. After talking to a lot of people it does seem that I had a better Christmas than most. At least I managed to avoid my own family � everyone else I know seems to have trekked back to old childhood haunts and then been driven insane almost as soon as they walked through the door. Lots of people seemed to spend Boxing Day either very drunk or in tears. I watched The Royal Tenenbaums again last night, which is quickly gaining equal status with The Big Lebowski as one of those rare movies you can just sit back down and watch over and over again and still cry with laughter. Fucking genius. So... Jess and me. Lots of talking. Lots of talking. We seem to be back together. No. We are back together. Still early days but it is definitely working. The talking is probably something that we should have done a lot more of in the past. Took me a while to get my head out of my arse and work out where and when the problems started and we seemed to have worked most of them out. Still a way to go but we both feel a lot happier about stuff and each day seems to be a little bit better. We both want to stay together. That seems to be the important thing. It�s a good feeling to be happy again and see Jess smiling. The New Year. We are back again to making plans. Selling the house. Moving to London Bridge. Travelling. Amsterdam is now up in the air depending on the time it takes to sell this place. We do have an Amsterdam excursion planned in the summer to meet up with a bunch of people from Punk Planet. Should be fun although I also fear for my life. Mike from DC in Amsterdam... I dread to think. At the moment 2003 is going to be the last year I�ll be in London. Considering a new cat. Still planning the Ripper Walk. Also off to see Star Trek: Nemesis with Daisy next week. Although her name isn�t Daisy anymore. Not that it ever was. I plan to take more pictures: Oh you lucky readers. Mike is blogging to: nothing

Fairytale of New York It was Christmas Eve babe In the drunk tank An old man said to me, �Won't see another one� And then he sang a song The Rare Old Mountain Dew I turned my face away And dreamed about you Got on a lucky one Came in eighteen to one I've got a feeling This year's for me and you So happy Christmas I love you baby I can see a better time When all our dreams come true They got cars big as bars They got rivers of gold But the wind goes right through you It's no place for the old When you first took my hand On a cold Christmas Eve You promised me Broadway was waiting for me You were handsome You were pretty Queen of New York City When the band finished playing They howled out for more Sinatra was swinging All the drunks they were singing We kissed on the corner Then danced through the night The boys of the NYPD choir Were singing Galway Bay And the bells were ringing out For Christmas day You're a bum You're a punk You're an old slut on junk Living there almost dead on a drip In that bed You scumbag You maggot You cheap lousy faggot Happy Christmas your arse I pray God It's our last The boys of the NYPD choir Still singing Galway Bay And the bells are ringing out For Christmas day I could have been someone Well so could anyone You took my dreams from me When I first found you I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can't make it all alone I've built my dreams around you The boys of the NYPD choir Still singing Galway Bay And the bells are ringing out For Christmas day ~

"JUST ONCE I'D LIKE A REGULAR CHRISTMAS. A LITTLE EGGNOG... A FUCKIN' CHRISTMAS TREE... A LITTLE TURKEY. BUT, NO! I GOTTA CRAWL AROUND IN THIS MOTHERFUCKIN' TIN CAN" Mike is blogging to: nothing

"YOU FUCKIN' MUPPET" Tired. Watched Brotherhood of the Wolf again - still very fucking cool. If you think it's otherwise you are a moron. Then played 'The Getaway' on the Playstation until 6am. What a game. Mark - you need to get your hands on this one mate - you'll love it. Nothing like stealing a car, torching a soho club, executing innocent bystanders and then flooring it up and down Oxford Street until the police take out your tyres... Now if they can only use the same engine and make a decent 28 Days Later game I'd be very happy. Boag gave me a Star Wars figure last night - The Emperor, complete with raver flares. Excellent. Best sight of the day so far: two fox cubs playing in the garden. Excellent. Mike is blogging to: Alkaline Trio

"CHRISTMAS MEANS DINNER, DINNER MEANS DEATH! DEATH MEANS CARNAGE; CHRISTMAS MEANS CARNAGE!" Work, work, work... But tonight - fun. Tomorrow more party type antics. Monday - probably time to start Christmas shopping. Mike is blogging to: 13 Songs by Fugazi

"I'M HIS GARDENER!" Am about to set off for another showing of The Two Towers. Will post my thoughts on the movie later tonight. Will be up late as deadlines are about to crash down on me like Ent thrown rocks... Mike is blogging to: Jawbreaker

"WE'RE NOT WORTHY!" Peter Jackson: God Mike is listening to: nothing

"KEEP IT CONFUSED. FEED IT WITH USELESS INFORMATION. I WONDER IF I HAVE A TELEVISION SET HANDY?" Starting to make some headway. Aruna gave me some new work (thank-you) on the United Nations and the rights of children. I have to get John Baxter's A Pound of Paper and Anthony Lane's Nobody's Perfect read and reviewed for Friday for the next edition of Bookslut. Also working on a short story for San Francisco's Kitchen Sink magazine (Hi Kaya) alongside some non-fiction. And I've been posting on Punk Planet like a loon. Plus wrapping up some loose ends elsewhere and tidying up the hard-drives. The case is off the PC at the moment and every now and again I have to give one of the fans a kick to stop it making dumb noises. Time for a new overhaul I think. Have to call it a night soon so I can be in wide awake mode for Helm's Deep and all that jazz tomorrow morning. Cool. Mike is blogging to: The Dickies

Tired. Thirsty. Must do more work... Fuck these late night nights. I'm getting old. Mike is blogging to: Raw Power by Iggy & The Stooges

" THE FUTURE ISN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT. IT'S WHAT I AM!" Busy busy... Met up with the lovely Shannon and Misha today. Few days ago finally sat down and spoke to Graham (not you Doc - you would have remembered) who until that moment I only knew as Toksik. Wonderful place the Internet. I am having a bunch of London Punk Planet types over on Saturday for veggie sausages and horror movies - all are welcome. Also trying to fit in a Ripper Walk before xmas so if you fancy that drop me a line - already have 4 or 5 people up for that one. Got my ticket for The Two Towers on Wednesday morning and after having just seen the final trailer am pretty damn stoked. Mike is blogging to: Shellac at Action Park

"I COME BACK TO YOU NOW AT THE TURN OF THE TIDE" I went to a couple of gigs last week. One was a Palestinian fundraiser which although a worthy cause was a little lacking musically. I chose that over going to see the Danielson Famile - silly Mike. Also went to see Bright Eyes, which despite my initial doubts was actually one of the best gigs I've been to this year. On CD at least I always enjoyed what Conor Oberst had to say via Desaparecidos a lot more than with Bright Eyes but live they were not only technically proficient and good fun they were also very moving. Oberst ruled the stage and with ten musicians around him he reminded me of a young clean shaved Zappa. Fucking good stuff. If I can get tickets at this late hour I'm off to see Iain Sinclair interview JG Ballard at the ICA tonight. Looking forward to that. And isn't there some movie or other opening here on Wednesday? The Two... something or other. I may give that a go as well. Mike is Blogging to: The Danielson Famile

"WHAT IF YOU CAN GO BACK IN TIME AND TAKE AWAY ALL THOSE HOURS OF PAIN AND DARKNESS AND REPLACE THEM WITH SOMETHING BETTER" I am getting sleepy. I need more coffee. Not this much coffee though. I am on a roll with things tonight but I ache and am yawning like a backbencher. I would quite like an alcoholic beverage but I think a hot bath will do instead. I spent the whole day in the house and feel a little stir crazy. Tomorrow I'll go and wander around. Maybe annoy a few people. I just finished writing something on Eco-horror movies but wanna get some ideas down on paper about time travel movies too. Tell me you've seen Sengoku Jieitai (also known as TimeWars/Timeslip/GI Samurai). Probably the best Samurai vs tanks and helicopters movie ever made. Tomorrow I'll catch up on my email. Promise. Mike is blogging to: Waiting by Thursday

"YOU'RE PLAYING CATCH-UP" I got a lot of email about this: "LOS ANGELES (December 9, 6:59 p.m. AST) - Actor Tom Sizemore, who plays a police detective in the CBS series "Robbery Homicide Division," was arrested after a woman claimed he hit and threatened her, police said Monday. Sizemore's attorney, Robert Barta, called the allegations unfounded and said they were part of a "shakedown" for money by the woman. Her identity was not released by Barta or police. In her police report, made Saturday at the Van Nuys station, the woman claimed Sizemore "punched her in the face and threw her to the ground" that morning, Officer Renee Montoya said. She also said Sizemore "made threats to her," Montoya said. Sizemore, 41, was booked for investigation of domestic battery, a misdemeanor, and released on $2,500 bail, Montoya said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine and a year in jail. Sizemore was to be arraigned Jan. 8, according to the city attorney's office. His attorney said the "individual became unruly when asked to leave and was escorted out of Mr. Sizemore's house. Subsequently, the individual asked me, Mr. Sizemore's attorney, for money." "This is a shakedown and we are confident it will go away," Barta said. Sizemore's film credits include "Saving Private Ryan" and "Black Hawk Down." His CBS series debuted this season." Sheesh. Saw The Dancer Upstairs yesterday and very good it was too. On a bit of a roll with good movies. Finally saw Bowling for Columbine a few days ago and have already seen The Quiet American twice. Bowling was especially better than I thought it would be. A few nights earlier I saw Michael Moore get really angry on stage at the Roundhouse and this guy should get more coverage. Check out his website. One interesting thing that came up was the fact that he had been threatened by the 'security' that the Roundhouse had provided for him. Why? Because his book is called 'Stupid WHITE Men'. Seems racism is alive and well in Camden judging from the Combat 18 threats posted to his door. This led directly to a confrontation with a member of the Roundhouse's management in front of the audience in which she tried to defend the place and her staff to which Moore simply asked her whether she thought we had a right to know that the place was under police supervision that evening... that on top of ripping into the place because of the ridiculously high ticket prices. If a DVD of the show comes out you should track it down. I bumped into Michael Caine last week near Sloane Square. Tall and friendly. Danny Boyle actually had time for a chat when I collared him on Tottenham Court Road. Another good guy. I love London - full of interesting people. Like Nicky, the homeless guy who I gave my gloves to the other day. He gave me a limerick in return. More big changes ahead in the next couple of weeks but as I'm back in blogging mode I'll keep anyone who is interested posted. Before I forget can I take the opportunity to say congratufuckinglations to Duncan and Anu who are not only getting married but are off to Ethiopia to help save the world. Made my week that news did. Mike is blogging to: Evita - which Jess is watching cranked up to 11.

THE NAME'S NOTRETHA. LEAHCIM NOTRETHA. I usually steer clear of this kind of thing but after seeing Doc fill one in on his LiveJournal I thought it would be an easy way to get back into blogging mode. Apparently it was originally intended for girlies. [ x ] Spell your first name backwards � Leahcim or Ekim [ x ] The story behind your lj user name � I don�t have a live journal but �Visible Monsters� is a riff on Chuck Palahniuk�s �Invisible Monsters� [ x ] Are you a lesbian � only in spirit [ x ] Where do you live - London, England. [ x ] 4 words that sum you up � Friendly, Annoying, Lazy, Witty DESCRIBE YOUR [ x ] Wallet � Don�t own one. I like pockets. [ x ] Hairbrush � Don�t own one. My hair is currently styled by nature and a girl from New Zealand [ x ] Toothbrush - It's white. I�m always tempted by the kids� toothbrushes though. I like the idea of having Buzz Lightyear in my mouth. [ x ] Jewellery worn daily � My grandmothers wedding ring and a watch that should have a laser beam. [ x ] Pillow cover � I have no idea what to say about it. It�s a fucking pillow. [ x ] Blanket � I currently have this fake animal fur thing that makes me feel like Brian Blessed. I have no idea why. [ x ] Coffee cup � One with a young Captain Kirk on it. His clothes do not fall off when you put hot water in it though. [ x ] Sunglasses � I have a pair somewhere. As a kid I had a pair of mirrored ones which helped while playing ChiPs on my Striker. [ x ] Underwear - Boxers. [ x ] Shoes � Dirty pair of Reeboks. [ x ] Handbag � I have a great little black pack that fits in a book and a mini PC. [ x ] Favourite top � My Chuck Paluhniuk t shirt or maybe the Murakami one. Hooded tops rock, especially when they say Tomahawk on them.. [ x ] Cologne/Perfume � Wish I could say Lynx Africa but its just some odd Bodyshop product [ x ] CD in stereo right now � Bright Eyes � Fevers & Mirrors. [ x ] Tattoos � Dragon on my right upper arm. Cantonese symbol for dragon on my left. Thinking about more. [ x ] Piercings � All healed up nicely thank you. Right eyebrow and left nipple � both self-inflicted while at Uni. [ x ] What you are wearing now � Dirty Reeboks, 4 socks (all odd), black Dockers trousers, Ultimate Spiderman t shirt, blue Mambo shirt and a beard. [ x ] Hair � Brown I guess. [ x ] Makeup � Does Lip Balm count? WHO or WHAT (was/is/are) [ x ] In my mouth � Black coffee. [ x ] In my head � Plans for this evening � buying some music then off to the cinema I think. [ x ] Wishing - that Jess and I can carry on working some stuff out [ x ] After this � Meeting Jess for the movie � The Dancer Upstairs I think. [ x ] Talking to � Spoke to Jess last � she accused me of speaking like a Tweenie. [ x ] Eating � nothing but will probably go to Red Veg later [ x ] Fetishes � I�m so grateful for straight sex that anything else would be greedy. [ x ] If you could get away with it and murder anyone, who and for what reason � Too many people to list. Most world leaders I guess but a lot of random strangers. The other day on the rush hour train I was working out how many people I could kill with a bolt gun before I was overpowered. I figure about eleven. [ x ] Person you wish you could see right now � Henry Rollins on stage with Black Flag [ x ] Is next to you � Merry � the cat. Pissed off because he�s been to the vet but happy that he's stopped pissing blood. [ x ] Some of your favourite movies � The Killer, The Thing, Notorious, The Exterminating Angel, Night of the Living Dead. [ x ] Something you're looking forward to in the upcoming month � JG Ballard in conversation with Iain Sinclair on Saturday night [ x ] The last thing you ate - beans on toast at the local cafe [ x ] Something that you are deathly afraid of � that people in positions of power are fucking idiots [ x ] Do you like candles � Not really. There are better sex toys. [ x ] Do you like hot wax � No. Never recovered from seeing Willem Defoe and Madonna get it on. [ x ] Do you like incense � As much as I like insects and incest. [ x ] Do you like the taste of blood � not really but its been a while since someone hit me that hard [ x ] Do you believe in love - Yes. [ x ] Do you believe in soul mates - Yes - but oddly enough not in the soul. [ x ] Do you believe in love at first sight � I have my doubts but its a nice idea [ x ] Do you believe in Heaven � only as a place on earth (hey I agree with Belinda Carlisle). [ x ] Do you believe in forgiveness - Yes. [ x ] Do you believe in God � No. No higher being either. This is all you�ve got � no instructions and no guiding hand. And its fine if you fuck up. [ x ] What do you want done with your body when you die - I'd like to say �shot into space�. Like Spock and Doc. But it seems like littering. I�d like to be reanimated and fuck people up like in an old EC comic. [ x ] Who is your worst enemy � probably myself. Or maybe the baby across the street with one eyebrow. I have no idea. [ x ] If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be � Just a dog. [ x ] What is the latest you've ever stayed up � probably for the 48 hour film fest at the Prince Charles [ x ] Ever been to Belgium - No. [ x ] Can you eat with chopsticks - Oh yes. [ x ] What's your favourite coin - Why would anyone have a favourite coin. What a fucking stupid question. The one Two Face owns of course. [ x ] What are 5 cities you wouldn't mind relocating to - San Francisco, Chicago, Amsterdam, New York, The one in the Matrix as long as I was on Neo�s side of the mirror [ x ] What are some of your favourite pig out foods � Indian food or if I'm making it myself something I can cook in under five minutes. [ x ] What's something that you wish people would understand � that Widescreen is better. [ x ] What's something you wish you could understand better � women. But not in the Mel Gibson sense. [ x ] Anyone you miss that you haven't seen in a long time � My grandmother. Laurel and Hardy. [ x ] What's one thing you want to make happen for tomorrow � Actually write something that I�m happy with. Mike is Blogging to: Maybe I'll Catch Fire by The Alkaline Trio

Here's something I hoped I'd never have to say. Jess and I just split up. I'm not going to go into the details on here - for the obvious reason that Jess has a right to some privacy even if I choose to throw mine away on a daily basis. Perhaps simply saying it on here will make it that little more 'real' because to be honest I'm still in a daze over this. My plans at the moment are non-existent. I have no idea what to do next. As the mood takes me I'll post on here but don't panic if I drop off the radar for a while. I feel like I should have something more to say about this... but I don't

"LINCOLN SAID, "WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE, WITH CHARITY TO ALL." NOWADAYS THEY SAY, "THINK THE WAY I DO OR I'LL BOMB THE DAYLIGHTS OUTTA YOU"" The blog's audience went through the roof last week - no idea why - and ironic since I hardly posted anything new at all. Nice to see the stats go well past the 6000 mark though. Some of the new browsers have been in touch (hey Shannon and Bill) but a lot of people just seem to fly in and out. As with the last time I had a boost of readers I got a nice piece of guestbook abuse. One thing that I have noticed with the people that post anonymously and the topics that wind them up is it usually means I'm doing something right. It's always nice to get email saying that I've said something interesting or that someone likes the site but somehow its equally satisfying when some dumb cunt posts to call me names. This last post came with an accusation that I was fired from my last job. Utter bollocks - to be honest if I hadn't quit when I did I may have got fired eventually as I kept taking time off and most people could tell my heart wasn't in it. Even if it was a case of jumping before I was pushed it was still my decision. Bit disappointing really as I've never been fired from anything and maybe I could do with the experience. 'McFly' also gets a dig in at the fact that I'm fundraising now - well join the queue mate - I was told to "fuck off" on my very first day but I'm happy to say that the people who stop to say 'thankyou' or shake my hand outweigh those that are too busy to say 'no thanks' but have all the time in the world to try and convince me to piss off. Bottom line is that I'm raising money for Cancer Research and every night when I get home I feel good about that. I've only been at this a week and its already feeling like the most satisfying job I've ever had. On a better Borders note I popped into the store yesterday and finally met Daisy after a couple of months exchanging words on the PP message boards. Always good to make these 'real world' connections. Mike is Blogging to: Rise Above - 24 Black Flag songs to benefit the West Memphis Three