Dave Short

Just got back from Bozeman a few hours ago. Jesse, AJo, Andy, Cullen and I went there to check out how their ResNet program compares to our DirectConnect program. It was informative, despite the fact that we spent twice as long traveling (eight hours) as we did doing what we came there to do (four hours). They’ve got complete control of their network (we don’t), so they can do stuff like VLAN switching and bandwidth control much easier than we can. Their web-based tools aren’t as pretty as ours, however. This is a result of my design-first, code-second philosophy.

We stayed at the Western Heritage Inn, which sounds like a front for a white power group (“Free racist mint on every pillow!”). We all played Mario Kart 64 until the wee hours of the morn; this includes my boss Jesse, which pretty much makes him the coolest boss ever.

On an altogether unrelated note, last weekend I finished vocals for inside, the new record that I’ve been working on for two years. Tracks:

1. I Miss You – slow, moody homesickness song.
2. This Could Be Any Day – uptempo piano pop with strings.
3. Fret – a worried dirge.
4. Temperamental – frenetic song about changing moods at the drop of a hat.
5. Mary’s Plea – A synth-folk number about abortion.
6. Jenny Lewis Will Never Go Out With You – The name says it all. Power pop.
7. Here There Be Monsters – A riff-heavy song with horns and strings.
8. Let’s Get Away – Lolling folk about hitting the road, Jack.
9. Written Off – An angry folk song about cowardly homophobes.
10. Soap – A peppy song about a shower (more philosophical than prurient)
11. Torn – A synthy yet rocky song with beats.
12. Polarize – Quasi-raggae horn-infused polemic.
13. Glut of Food – Synthy
14. The Highway – Folk-rock about Interstate 90.

It sounds pretty good. I’ll probably have CDPrintExpress run up copies again, considering the fantastic job they did on Pick Your Poison. I also have plans in the works for an EP by Page Fault, my hardcore pet project. It’s an EP called Two Minute Hate.

But first, I plan to record some B-side vocals over the weekend while I’m visiting my parents. A country song about finding god (“Lifted Up”) is first on my list. I haven’t really found him (perhaps he’s hiding under the covers), but I find songs like it beautiful. I would also like to re-record the vocals for “Synth Pop” (not its final title), a former album cut for inside but now relegated to B-side status. I might also do a ‘stripped’ version of “Written Off”, with just vocals and acoustic guitar.