welcome.
crazyknee.com is:
a personal Web page launched Nov. 1, 2000,
the day Leanne had ACL/meniscus repair performed
on her right leg. Hence the "crazy knee."
This page will be updated in some weekly way.

29 january 2003 . 12:58 am PT
I am utterly pathetic at this weblog thing, I know I know, and I just got back from seeing Hot Hot Heat (not quite as cute as Tamar reported but still Cute Cute Boys) and the Walkmen (why oh why are they on that car commercial now?) and it's soooooooo very late and I have a two-hour commute ONE WAY tomorrow, again, and oy isn't life difficult? Life is pain, life is bliss.

More very very soon. I promise.

19 january 2003 . 11:49 pm PT
First, reviews of recent film screenings:

"Adaptation": Expectations were too high for this one, so I was disappointed. Still, it is undeniably original and surprising, even if it fails to wow at the end (it does wow just a bit, hours later, after some quiet reflection). Meryl Streep does one hell of a dial tone impression.

"Talk to Her": Crowds of critics put this on top of their year-end lists. Whaaa? I did not get it. Sure, it's different (two woman in a coma and the men who love them) but it wasn't all that. I give it no thumbs up.

"CQ" (on DVD): This is Roman Coppola's film debut (watch for sister Sofia in a bit part), and every shot is beautiful. I found it funny, light, and bright. Jason Schwartzman has a hilarious, if small, role.

"Human Nature" (on DVD): The second screenplay by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation") is for the most part a dud. I was going to give a plot summary right about here, but I can't without sounding insane. Watch if your only other option is "The Bachelorette."

"Catch Me If You Can": I liked it, my mom liked it. Tom Hanks chases Leonard DiCaprio, a talented scam artist who passes himself off as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Great father-son themes throughout and it's based on a true story. Christopher Walken co-stars!

"Woman on the Run": Showing as part of the San Francisco Noir City series, this 1950 thriller proudly displays the steep streets, breathtaking views, and bustling downtown of '50s SF. The amusement park climax features spooky Laughing Sal; everyone clapped when she filled the screen. I also liked this snippet of "noir" dialogue:

"It's more frightening than romantic, don't you think?"
"That's the way love is, when you're young. And life is, when you're older."

Tens of thousands of people, many in costume, sardine-packed Market Street Saturday, swelling to the top of every statue, tree, bus shelter and phone booth along the way. Drop Bush not bombs! Peace, love, dope! Here here. A woman I sat next to at the Castro Theater that night told me her story, about how one of her sons has been a part of every Middle Eastern conflict. He reports that our involvement in Iraq, Iran, or anywhere else makes the people poorer, hungrier, and unhappier. The "help" of American soldiers takes away any vestiges of hope left in these troubled nations. Make love not war, kids.

And here are some big balls:

15 january 2003 . 09:49 pm PT
I did it! I got into the WIRED Magazine post-award show party at the swanky (and small) Ruby Skye to see Wilco perform several new songs (these aren't on any of those demos you all are trading around), make fun of Eminem (they beat him out for the WIRED award), and deliver the traditional encore of Calif Stars/Red-eyed/I got you/Casino Queen/Outtasite. Yes yes yes. Everyone in the audience spent half the time looking at pictures on their digital cameras, myself included.

Hi I'm Jeff Tweedy and I'm just a normal guy (sprucing up the plain ol tee with a little butterfly pin!):

Hi I'm Glenn, John and Leroy. We're in the band too. That's us next to Tweedy:

I slipped into the show (open bar!) at the last minute, thanks ever-so much to jumpingwill tuttle (who operates a website that I can't seem to find right now, curses!). The February Wired mag is all about the fall of the music industry as we know it. Delicious!

Seriously addicting: CityCreator.com. I'm begging you to check it out.

In case you didn't know, the fifth "Harry Potter" will be in your sweaty palms June 21. This one is even longer than the last one. I just don't know if I can do it. I've only read the first two. The book -- still without a price listing -- is currently Amazon's number one seller. People, that's insane.

12 january 2003 . 11:49 pm PT

Mmmmmwha! Aloha, friends. I managed to load the new camera software onto my ancient laptop, so off we go. Here's me modeling the new camera, and yes that's a hunk of fake meat I'm holding and oh yeah I look like hell warmed over (ha!). It was a rough morning:

But since it's the truth, it shall appear on Crazy Knee. I support the truth. And peace. Yeah, peace.

So the Christmas/New Year's break put me on the East Coast, in the snow and on couches and at rockenroll shows. There was guitar madness in a York, Pa., living room, the Dismemberment Plan on stage in D.C., and Incredibly excellent, with a myriad of entertaining web folks -- Bipolar, Erasing, Whatever, Werde, the always astounding and ever gracious Catwoman -- and their crew to meet and greet and laugh and watch movies with. We even ate "San Francisco Style Mission Burritos" there on the Lower East Side -- 'twas good! But the whole served-on-a-plate thing is so East Coast. Need to work in that aluminum foil, guys. NYEve was spent in (no sleep till) Brooklyn, flitting between a rock show (but of course: Radio 4 and Ted Leo) and a party (dance dance revolution). Too much time has passed for me to say anything more than: Thank you and good night. Make sure to check out Catherine's pictures.

I, uh, didn't take pictures during my eastern sojourn. I mean, here's my sister with the disco light ball from Grandma:

Yup, that's about it. Unless you want to see the dog in the snow. Truly scintillating, I assure you. Instead, I bring you Fun Times had at the office holiday bash, enjoyed by all, especially Deneb, John and Jen:

In online dating news, on Yahoo! Personals you can now record a voice or video "greeting" so potential dates can hear/see you loud and clear. I tentatively urge you to check out the sample voice greeting (you will need to log in). Go on, I dare you to listen to the drivel I wrote and recorded for the world to hear! Yes! Ohmygod, what's your idea of a perfect date? do you like to dance?

Random: Here's some SF graffiti in a vacant lot, and a shot from inside the Las Vegas airport. Ka-ching.

After six months, Kempa.com has updated and he is, as always, worth reading.

Wilco is playing right now, at the intimate Great American Music Hall. I am NOT there. I've never seen more desperate people hit Craigslist than the other (so-called) fans who missed out on tickets. My sources say that tomorrow night Wilco will play at Ruby Skye (!) for WIRED Magazine's Rave Awards post-party. Yikes. I probably won't be there either. But all the missed-show-sadness aside, I'm here to remind how much the "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos" RULE! Order your bootleg today!

When searching for info on the Wired Rave Awards, I came up with this: Steven Soderbergh is producing his screenplay of "A Confederacy of Dunces" (!) possibly starring Drew Barrymore and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The WIRED news and this little nugget showed up on -- you'll never guess -- GeorgeClooney.org. Whaaaaa?

Sure, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" has hit the bottom. It's so over, I'm not even sad. Last week's episode? TRASH. But the A.V. Club's interview with "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon is highly recommended, even for the casual fan. Joss tells all:
"I designed Buffy to be an icon, to be an emotional experience, to be loved in a way that other shows can't be loved. Because it's about adolescence, which is the most important thing people go through in their development. And it mythologizes it in such a romantic way..."

"Freddy Got Fingered" might be the worst movie in creation (metacritic score: 7 out of a possible 100). It's no wonder Drew B. left Tom Green after this fiasco (was it the roadkill jacket? the caning of a disabled girl? etc. etc.). Still, we laughed a lot in between screams of "he can't be doing this! he can't be doing this!" Check it out on cable.

There's so much more. I have more. I have film reviews and a report about suicide on the Caltrain tracks, and maybe even a firsthand account of how it feels when your blood sugar level drops so low you're paralyzed and can only blubber, grunt, and pray for help. But I've already written way too much. I promise to do better in the future. 2003, hell-oh.