Lucky post thirteen finds us actually dealing with Life life for real life on the cat circus so we at Construx Nunchux wanted to use the little sliver of internet we call our own to pay a horribly underwhelming tribute to a fantastic cat named Pinky who is more talented than most humans we know, including us for sure. We'd like to simply say that it was a pleasure and a privilege to get to know her on tour.

Today was a very exciting day for those of us who have tried covering the cat war. If you have been following, we have had little info we could share outside some pictures and audio of the war. However, today we have some news.

My insider (It is not Rock and Roll...) has sent me a newspaper article that is circulating on the war grounds. Sadly, it is obviously written in kitten so I will do my best to translate it into human. This article is from a Canadian cat named Mittens. It is about his view on what is happening in the war, and his thoughts on what the American strategy is.


Today is just like every other day since this war has begun. I napped, ate, napped,ate,cleaned myself, napped again and then killed some cats and kittens I don't even know. Though today for the first time I received mail. Sadly it was not from my wife and kittens who are living in our nice house in Scarborough, Ontario. It was from one of my leaders. 

It seems that in the next few days, America is going to start what he called "Operation Cat Nip". I was a little confused at first, trying to imagine what this could mean. After reading this I napped, and then thought about what it could mean. Are the Americans gonna try and dope us up? If this is the case, I am terrified. I don't use cat nip. In fact, I haven't touched the stuff since I was a kitten. The times I took it all I can remember was being distracted by my tail, and eating. Though, I know a few cats here have brought cat nip in for personal use, I don't think I will have the same tolerance if this is in fact what the Americans have planned.

Tonight we are planning on working on some top secret strategies. I am not allowed to explain, though it will involve over 100 rolls of yarn. We fear the plan will backfire because we are also unable to resist yarn, but we got to try anything at this point. We must win this war so in the future, our kittens will not have to fight for the rights we currently are fighting for. 

I was just told it was nap time.. So I will have to end this now. If I make it another day, I hope to update this. But if, well... If I dont, I hope this war ends soon. I want to go home and see my wife, my kittens and my owners. I miss the spot in the living room where the sun light hits every morning, the food that my owners feed me and those treats that drive me nuts every time they shake the packaging. Anyways, the lights are out so I should go.

Sargent Mittens.

 Again, all we can do is guess from this. Non of this is pretty. I would like to wish the soldiers from both sides can get out of this war, and go home where I am sure they are missed by family, friends and owners. I am not much of a prayer, but tonight I will pray for these brave cats and kittens.

Yes yes yes!!! A new new neeeeeewwww episode of Lobster Lobby!!! With a special guest star.

Its been awhile since I've actually written something on cXnX. We have turned our focus to more complex projects that have a broader appeal (from 2 people to 6). I love the direction that the site has taken and I love everything that we have done so far, but sometimes I forget the original intention that this site was established. It was created to function as a living eulogy of my brother and I. A legacy to leave behind. A treasure chest buried in our little slice of cyber infinity.
I have gone through a tremendous amount of pain this month. Mistakes from my past finally catching up to me reminding me that I am a vulnerable, fragile human being. Poor choices made under duress of a diseased mind have changed the direction my entire life has been heading.

For the first time I feel hopeless.

What I'm posting below is not really a poem or narrative but a stream of consciousness from a dark place I have seen recently. The pain and overwhelming sorrow I felt trumped anything I have felt in my lifetime. I wanted to share, as I always do, this with whomever was unfortunate enough to take a chance on our brand of entertainment for tonight. I apologize and please check out Lobster Lobby episode 3 tomorrow.

Sean Burns - Cab Driver. Another Canadian artist. Sean Burns is a Singer/Songwriter. Though he is from Ontario, Sean is constantly touring all across Canada while writing new songs while living off of Kraft Dinner and watching the Price is Right. I first heard this song last week and and loved it immediately. I loved the lyrics and the catchy chorus before he made it into the second verse. Having followed Sean since he was a young musician, I have had the chance to watch him grow into the artist that he is today. He has come a long way not only with his vocal style, but his songwriting. In my opinion, Sean is a true story teller and this song is a solid example of why I feel this way. Sadly, I have yet to see Sean preform live but I have seen videos of live performances. Not only does he have the ability to record a great song, but when live he truly presents the songs in a way that many artists wish they could in a recording studio. Great musician and an excellent human being.

If you want more, Sean's website is www.seanburns.ca
You can also follow Sean as he tours on twitter: @seanburns83

When we last left our courageously engaged, often-misnomered cat-wranglin-but-in-reality-cat-assistant-as-in-literally-an-assistant-for-cats, this is where we found him:




Well, he and his hired crew indeed found their way across that bridge into a less disgusting part of Washington State, the embarrassingly touristy Long Beach where the locals where loquacious, the food was mountainous and the view was intimidating.








And here's further evidential, evincial and provincial examinations of their exploits.  UREREURGHRHGHGHGHGHGHAHAHAHAHAGLLLLGHGHGHHHURRRERRRRRRGGGGGGKHAHAKKKHAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Jack Johnson - Posters. Cheesy? Possibly... But I love (most of) Jack Johnsons music. Very simple yet it comes across as very sincere to me. The man has an excellent voice. He always reminded me of Ben Harper. Not because they sound the same, I find their music is very different. Maybe it is because I feel they put everything into their music. If you enjoy this song, there is a good chance you would enjoy the majority of Jacks catalog. If you dont know much of his music, you should check it out.

Jack Johnson - Posters (Download link)

The second episode of the second season of the Second Greatest Show Of All Time.

One of my favorite stories to tell has always been about how I was invited out to Portland only to be promptly asked to turn my fool ass around and leave. Well, now I have fresh experiences in the PDX and can roundly assert that it is boring as shit. Here's some interesting stuffz, tho:

Our RV's floor literally started falling out--


But it did manage to trungle akross one of the most beautiful bridges I've ever seen, The St. John's:

Hey did you know there's chickens in our show?!

On my first night off, I hit Ground Kontrol, which is like live Fort Knox for video games, and....

...Right down the street is the World's Only 24 Hour Church Of Elvis!!

Here's the most interesting thing that happened whilst in Portland.
I didn't go here.


I walked around for a while...
...And ended up...
Here!  With two beautiful ladies who sold me gorgeous boots.  They happened to have been at the circus too!!!





Then we left

Once again we have received pictures from the Cat War.


We have learned that the Canadian Cats do not have the same weaponry as the American Cats. Though in this picture there is a Canadian cat operating a tank, it seems it is no match for what the Americans are using.  Sadly for this ball of fury love him and his tank were blown up by the American helicopter shown in this image shortly after it was captured. Breadcrumb was 7 years old and left behind a beautiful wife and 8 kittens.. 7 of which are in the war.




This is a recruitment photo that Canada is sending cats all across the country. Sources have told us that any cat who joins the Cat War for the Canadians will receive a lifetime supply of cat nip, all the yarn they can handle and the promise that their families will be taken care of while they are fighting in the war.





 In the last batch of pictures we posted, we assumed that cats were being modified somehow. We can not confirm how this is happening, however we can confirm it is happening. American cats have found a way they can have a more "man like" stature. Like any good news provider, we are gonna make up how we think this is happening until we are proven wrong. Clearly they have the ooze from Ninja Turtles....



Here is a American cat sleeping. Unlike house cats, the cats in the war only are allowed to sleep for 14 hours in a day. And when they get the chance for a cat nap this is what their quarters look like. In this image we see a American cat named Wagon Wheel who is two years old. Get your nap in, who knows where you will be sent when you wake up.




We will continue covering the cat war as it progresses and as soon as we have any updates we will let you know. Please pray that this terrible war ends soon, before any more kittens have to grow up without their mother or father..

You've been waiting. Such tension as has never before gripped you is now... uh... gripping you. Well, grip no more, here is it. The First episode of our Second Season of Construx Nunchux Lobster Lobby!!!

Gravediggaz - Zig Zag Chamber. If you do not know who the Gravediggaz are, it is a side "band" of RZA from Wu-Tang. I am a fan of almost anything RZA does. I like this song a lot because of the beat and the samples used, which if you know RZA's work, it is a specialty of his. Great beat, excellent lyrical timing is always a win in my books. Call me old fashioned, but I love insane and violent lyrics in my rap. And lucky for me, the Gravediggaz provide this on every track.

I first heard of these guys in 1997 when I was 14. They had a track on the "Demon Knight" soundtrack. I was amazed by them. I purchased the soundtrack because of bands like Pantera, Megadeth, Ministry and Filter and walked away with a band I didnt appreciate before. That soundtrack is still my favorite in movie history.

Gravediggaz - Zig Zag Chamber (Download link)

We interviewed some random children about lobsters. This is what they said.

Gang Starr with Nice N Smooth- dwyck


I hate saying "there are so many songs to choose from" etc etc but I really went back n forth with what track to feature that showcased Nice N Smooth. They were my runnin soundtrack last winter. They are straight up party shit but throw in the knowledge here and there and before you know it, boom you learn something. Anyway, DJ Premier is nothin to mess with and this track is just effortless. I get surprised that of all hip hop acts, Nice N Smooth never cracked creeped or cruised into my sheltered teenage world. They are sneakily PG but their formula is perfectly universal and and infectious. I guess what I'm saying is that it's a surprise they aren't more prominent in the mainstream as examples of 90's pioneers. Anyway, I enjoy it and though I'm not as well-versed with Gang Starr's catalog as a true hip-hop fan may be, I have nothing but respex.

Boogie Down Productions- Poetry


As far as I'm concerned, this is the heighth of hip-hop and all its offshoots. KRS's style is unflinching and hard. I could spout off endlessly about my favorite tracks, about what I've learned by listening to his trax, etc etc but really, it wouldn't be anything that ain't already been said. All I can really add is that the lines he delivers here apply to ALL forms of Poetry, especially "...All you seem to understand is the annihilation and destruction of another man. That isn't poetry; that is insanity... Poetry is the language of imagination, Poetry is a form of **positive** creation". Just genius. Just speechless.


We Can Get Down



Well, then, we have here an act that not only pervaded and invaded my youth, but dominated it. Low End Theory destroyed all other music I ever heard. Except maybe Ramones records. But really, these guys defined hip-hop and east coast for me from the outset. I do believe Phife Dawg is a very underrated MC with skills for miles. And again, as cheezy as it is, I had issues deciding on a track to share with everyone, but seeing as this is about our summer joints, here's one I'm rollin back and forth all day every day. Just smooth and energetic, or as has been said before, "The beats are hard but gentle."

It has been a little while since our last update on the Cat War. Sadly, (and in a small way, we are grateful) we have had little to share. We have only a few cats that have been able to give us any information from either side of the battlefield. This has been a very delicate situation here in the Construx Nunchux family, what with the brothers being American and myself being a Canadian. Plus as cat lovers, everything so far has crushed us. Though,  it has been difficult, we realize that being the only site covering the war, it is our responsibility to keep you informed.

On that note, we have received something from the war itself. The other day I got some audio footage from the war. Little details on the clip were provided, so we can only assume where the audio was recorded (Lower Saskatchewan), and what exactly is happening in the recording. I have also been asked that I don't disclose who my source is. If you knew what Rock and Roll was like to live with when he is upset, you would understand my silence.

Anyways, here is the footage.
WARNING!- This audio is not for the faint of heart. After hearing it, I couldn't eat or sleep. After this all I can do is pray that this brutal war ends soon...

Ben Harper - Please Bleed. I don't think there are many musicians as well rounded as Ben Harper. This guy can do anything. What a songwriter and singer. This is a more dark song from this guy, especially if the only song of his that you know is "Steal My Kisses." I love the music, the lyrics and Mr. Harpers voice. I am still hoping to see him in September for the first time and I cant wait. If you don't know much of his music, do yourself a favor and check him out. If you would like suggestions post in the comments and I can recommend a few albums.

Ben Harper - Please Bleed album version (download link)

Bandwagoning Ryan and Paul, I thought I'd let the group know what I'm digging into this season, mostly while driving up and down the West Coast.

I'll never not feel some shade of social guilt for claiming to love any soul, funk, hip-hop or jazz. I don't know if that's just the all-pervasive guilt I was trained to feel about everything or a larger guilt implied by society as a whole, and if so, from which end of society it comes I know not. I just love rhymes. I love Edna St Vincent-Millay, John Keats and The Treacherous Three. I suppose good hip-hop unifies regardless of race or economic background and isn't simply divisive or based on class or skin. So, no, I didn't have it very hard growing up, not financially at least, but There are so many mc's that have cut records that, musically, are just astounding. Here are three faves:

Wow. I always knew the name Just-Ice, mostly courtesy of KRS and BDP, but this track, apparently produced by KRS, is catchy as scabies... but in the good way. I love the piano and the drums and although simple, the interplay between them is tense and provides a damn good foundation for the knowledge dropping in milliseconds. True, I was not there, but this track makes me wish I woulda been, poverty, police brutality and all.


Now, anyone who's ever engaged in any serious discussion about hip-hop with me knows I am a full-fledged East Coast kinda guy, but King Tee, a West Coast pioneer, just floored me when I first heard this track. I think it's real impressive when an MC can sound forceful yet loquacious, intelligent yet whimsical and more or less rock that beat like a fiend. I guess what I'm saying here is that "flow" doesn't always have to sound evasive or lithe, just unique.


So taking it back east, Jungle Brothers were almost all I listened to about last summer. I have a vivid memory of walking to, from and near Tree House and Foremost Liquors with Straight Outta the Jungle cycling. It's back this summer by accident, happy accident and lemme share. The ELO sample version is better known, I think, but this version of a super famous J Beez track is my preferred. It was the first I heard and more to the point, it features a heavy Sly sample, and Sly is simply the greatest thing to ever happen to music. Sammy B gets it. Like that.

The Creepshow - Cheery Hill. Great song. I have been a Creepshow fan since I was in high school. I'm sure having a massive crush on the singer when I was younger didn't contribute at all. Excellent band, I really like the style of the song and think the vocals are great. I love the Halloween theme, which kinda goes with every song in their catalog. They are like The Misfits if Danzig was a pretty lady... which he is not. Enjoy,

The Creepshow - Cherry Hill (Download Link)

Our guide through the mysterious world of the cat circus missed his post deadline last week due to tour duties and excuses so this is a double wide post:

The cat circus broke into the proverbial hymen that is the golden state this past week. Before doing so, though, it passed through (and broke down in):


Salt Lake City:


The Doomed Saltair



Salt Flats of Utah:


The Wendover Casino Stop (on the state border):


Elko


And Sparks, NV.


(PART 2) But we eventually made it (by extending a 24 hour drive into four days) to San Fransisco:




While there, we stayed in the renowned Uptown Tenderloin district where I was told I looked like an asshole for wearing ears.  My mistake...







I had the opportunity to sample local flaava and catch some great incidental art:






We then left the glorious city of St Francis:





Made an impromptu stop in Santa Rosa, where Shikai Natural Personal Care Products are made.


And made a crippled crawl along State Rt 128, for which I want to go on the public record as not being one ounce apologetic.  Well, after making it through that gauntlet, we landed in the charming town of :





My thanks are currently extended to Ric's Corvette in Grant's Pass, OR, for the delicious chicken quesadilla and for the free wifi.  Check em out!



Coming up next week:  Portland, the 24 Hour Church of Elvis and Guest posts from http://ifilikeit.com editor in cheif, Polly "Scraggleloxxx" Smith.

                                                                           

The Newfie Shot. I don't drink often, but when I do I snort salt. Don't try this at home. If you do, please record video proof and share it with us!

For those who do not know, a "Newfie" is a name used for people from Newfoundland. Though, most of my life I have lived Ontario, I spent some of my younger years in the Province and my family is mostly from Newfoundland. Throughout Canada, Newfies have a reputation of being "stupid", hence the name of this shot. Newfoundlanders are some of the nicest people you will meet (if you can understand their accent) who will do anything for anyone, including a painful shot for a friends Birthday.

My choice for favorite Lobster Lobby episode features some silliness and pretends for two seconds it's a real show.  I think it's the most fully realized presentation of what we intended from the outset, which is saying a lot because most of the episodes tend to get off on tangents, as many of us do.  It's a physically demanding but very rewarding episode that sees the host behind the scenes and in front of lobsters.  It features cats, class and casual swearing... and a million pounds of lobsters.

Just a seamless episode that speaks for itself with subtle harmony.  Enjoy:





TZATZIKI!!