I just got back from spending 5 hours at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco, at a concert featuring Thomas Dolby and BT. The lawyers at CIS and Kirkland Ellis, who are representing him in the Vargas v. Pfizer litigation I've been working on in the Cyberlaw Clinic, got me and fellow clinic student Shireen on BT's personal guest list. It was amazing.

The performance opened with Thomas Dolby, one the pioneers of the electronic genre. I don't know much about him, except his most famous hit was in the U.K. in the 80s, called "She Blinded Me With Science." Despite a few technical hiccups, his set was quite good.

Left: Dolby doing his thing -- doesn't he look like friggin' Hellboy with the bald head and the placement of the glasses? Right: BT applying a violin bow, of all things, to his awesome custom-made electric guitar (note the BT logo) during his performance of Inner Locus.

This was BT's first live performance of his new Binary Universe album -- kicking off his nationwide tour. I was not ten feet from the man, and it was truly an experience. Though one might imagine techno music as being dry, boring, or abstract, BT put such emotion into his performance, such variety (he must've picked up at least six different instruments, including an electric guitar, electric violin, acoustic guitar, xylophone, keyboard, and a couple others I can't name), such layering, that he made the Binary Universe really come to life.

But it got better. First off, I approached him after the show and asked him to sign my copy of Binary Universe -- he quite willingly obliged. And then David and Julie got us all back stage, where we chilled for another half an hour. It was a scene from beyond my wildest dreams..

BT is really a great guy -- modest, down to earth, friendly to all the fans who approached him, and not above packing up his own studio equipment after the show. All that, plus being one of the most creative and groundbreaking minds in techno..



Yes, I know I look maybe a little too happy in this picture.

Where to start? My mind has been going off in a hundred different directions in these past few weeks. It's now the fourth week of school, but it doesn't feel like it's been nearly that long.

So far, I've been heavily preoccupied with the Cyberlaw Clinic. This is a seven unit "course" in which students work with Center for Internet & Society lawyers on various public interest-related cases that deal with law and technology, and it's fascinating. The past two weeks, I have had the good fortune to help out on a copyright infringement case as CIS has prepared for their motion for Summary Judgment, due today. Our client is BT, one of my favorite electronic artists of all time, and he is a defendant in a frivolous copyright infringement suit in New York.

Basically, the kind of legal writing and research I'm doing now is the same as what I was doing this summer at O'Melveny and Quinn. I've even been working the same kinds of hours -- between 15 and 25 hours a week. I'm more well-versed in the law of copyright infringement right now than I've ever been. And it's sort of fun.

My only complaint is that this Clinic stuff is totally throwing my schedule out of whack. I have Trademark class, as well as a Negotiations seminar that requires 4 hours of activity a week, as well as ample preparation. More on that in another post.

Finally, just in case you're curious, "This Binary Universe" is BT's latest album, which strikes off in a new and creative direction. Each audio track was apparently developed by BT in complete synchrony with a global cast of visual artists, who created accompanying video shorts that are on a DVD that comes with the album.. pretty unique. Though I haven't been able to find the album in stores, I've been able to listen to it because BT gave one of our Clinic lawyers a copy when he came over for his deposition back in August. Nifty..

My favorite album right now is Imogen Heap's "Speak For Yourself." Imogen is the singer from Frou Frou -- whose 2002 album, "Details," is also one of my favorites.

Like "Details," this album features airy, beautiful soundscapes, odd harmonies, electronic- and classical-instrument tinged accompaniment, and stream of consciousness lyrics. But apparently, Imogen is more than just Frou Frou. First, this album is entirely her creation; she wrote and produced in its entirety. And it really feels like she has broken loose, creatively and musically, of the mold established in Frou Frou (which again, I like very much.) It's more intense, more joyful, more sophisticated, more layered. You'll have to trust me; it's hard to describe.

This album showcases her distinctive voice and musical sensibilities over a range of styles I haven't seen before. You have tracks like the airy, peppy "Goodnight and Go" and the dreamy impressions of "Just for Now," but also grittier sounds like "I Am In Love With You," and the intense "The Walk." And there's truly bizzare (yet enjoyable) tracks like "Hide and Seek," a vocoder-fueled tour de force. Every track is well done here, and I don't think I could ever get tired of listening to this album.

But see for yourself what Speak For Yourself is all about.

I was listening to 102.7 KIIS FM in the car late one night, a couple of weeks ago, and a bizarre advertisement came on the air. "Imagine that you have a single guitar," said a vaguely Latin sounding male voice, "and then the guitar is played by ten different people." "What you'll hear each time will be the same, but different." He drove his point home: "KIIS is just like that guitar."

Well, that statement struck home for me exactly what I hate about radio in LA. EVERYTHING SOUNDS THE DAMN SAME! KIIS is the worst, but even the relatively more "cutting edge" stations like Power and KROQ are just as guilty. It's just the commercial radio format that pisses me off -- you've got a "frequent" playlist of seemingly 50 or fewer songs that are played over and over again. Ostensibly this is because the demand is highest for them, and this is what sells. But where is the soul? the passion? the creativity? A zillion artists are making music and they have to choose the ones that fit the mold. "Alternative?" Give me a break. Even "indie" is becoming a meaningless term. But as long as the masses are kept just satisfied enough by half-assed, mediocre radio, a listener revolt is unlikely.

Also, I'd like to tie up Ryan Seacrest and Jo Jo, put them in a car trunk, and drive them off the Santa Monica pier. Those KIIS DJ's are as banal and irritating as the music they play.

This is the last album I've bought on iTunes -- Dynamite, Jamiroquai's first offering in four years. After listening to it for a few weeks, I must say it's really grown on me.

Admittedly, I haven't been keeping up on my Jamiroquai. The only album of theirs that I actually own is 1997's Travelling Without Moving, which I got as a Christmas present way back when from my grandma. Of course, I've heard their big dance hits over the years, like Canned Heat and Love Foolosophy. But Travelling is still my main reference point. I have never listened to most of 2001's A Funk Odyssey, which is apparently the most iconic of Jamiroquai's albums.

The Jamiroquai in "Dynamite" is both the same and not the same as what I remember of "Travelling." Arguably, there is still the same trademark sound, that distinctive meld of funk, disco and dance music, with lead singer Jay Kay's vocals layered on top. However, on Dynamite, the song structures are more complex, the sound is grittier, and the hooks come in all the places you don't expect. The variety among the tracks on this CD is impressive and kept me groovin' the whole way through. My favorite tracks are "Seven Days in Sunny June," "Hot Tequila Brown," and "Loveblind" -- very catchy, yet very personal. And I have to resist the urge to dance to "Feels Just Like it Should," "Dynamite," or "Time Won't Wait." Finally, "Give Hate a Chance" seems to be a pretty popular dance song, though it hasn't grown on me yet.

This album will definitely appeal to those who are already Jamiroquai fans; but it's worth a listen for anyone. Heck, it might make a Jamiroquai fan out of you.

I finished my memos to the judge today -- each one nearly twenty pages each. They concerned Plaintiff's and Defendant's Motions in Limine for the patent case I'm working on. Motions in Limine are pre-trial requests to exclude evidence offered by the other side; I got to consider the evidence on each side, do some research for each question, and "rule" on each. It's quite a power trip, deciding whether to allow or to exclude these parties' precious trial evidence -- even though in all reality, this case will settle before the end of next week. At least I was forced to leave early (the power to the entire building was going out at 5 pm.) The judge even gave me a ride to my car.

I spent the evening downloading songs from new artists. I haven't been keeping up or finding much new music lately, and this was a pretty good session. The iTunes Store is really a great place to start, especially the User iMixes section. Scissor Sisters sound pretty good, Second Sun seems decent; there's also interesting new albums from Daft Punk ("Human After All") and Air ("Talkie Walkie"). There's just so much good stuff out there to listen to -- and sadly (or not surprisingly?), they are almost all entirely outside of mainstream Los Angeles radio.

I am feeling jaded.. I've gone out three nights in a row this week. After my Thursday night outing to New Old Pro, Friday night I went to a really lame Valentine's Day party at the Graduate Center, and last night I went to a Karaoke bar for a classmate's birthday and then to Mazi's Eurotrash party on frat row. I feel like I could have gotten a lot more done.. then again, I'm not behind or anything and I got my reading for tomorrow finished.

The karaoke outing was a pretty shady looking place in the middle of a strip mall, I wouldn't be surprised if it were like, the only karaoke place in all of Mountain View. It was enjoyable however for two reasons -- there was a critical mass of law students there, plus there were clearly a group of regulars who hang out there all the time for the karaoke and are actually pretty good at it. Also, Joel did his best wedding singer impression and I backed him up.


On a random note, Sasha's Involver is fast becoming my favorite new album. It was released about nine months ago to rave reviews, and consists of ten exquisitely mixed and re-mixed tracks that flow seamlessly and beautifully into each other. Sasha is one of the founding giants of electronica, and he's got this expansive creative vision (don't know how else to describe it) that makes listening to his music a near-spiritual experience. I highly recommend.

Yesterday morning I went to Samy's Camera to get a cheap memory card for my uncle. I like that place.. it's huge and if it has something to do with cameras, they can probably handle it. Since I was there, I stopped by the repair counter and asked a guy about the viewfinder on my film SLR, which had funny black marks on it that wouldn't come off. Instead of quoting me a repair price of $100+ like the other camera store I visited, the guy calmly removed the lens, pulled out a q-tip and some cleaning fluid and got the gunk all off of the viewfinder glass. He told me the foam padding was so old it was disintegrating (that was the black gunk), and replaced that for me, too. And didn't charge me anything.. how nice.

Last night I went out for my first New Year's party ever (well, first ever that wasn't spent with family.) It was "Mystique" at the Henry Fonda, and it was the most fun on a night out that I've had in years (which admittedly isn't a terribly high bar to pass). I went with one of my friends, my sister and her friends... heck, it was fun even to drive around while looking for parking and looking at the other parties happening on Hollywood Blvd. There was a good vibe... I think it's actually quite fun to be buzzed right when midnight rolls around. Also, it was interesting that the average age was more around 25-30 rather than the usual college age crowd one sees at parties.

The DJ last night was Jimmy Kim. I used to listen to him every Saturday night spinning for KIIS FM when I was in high school, and I thought he was awesome. This night, the music was okay, but I noticed he is still playing the same sort of tracks and sequences - nothing exciting or adventurous, nothing has changed. I'm a bit disappointed in that. Anyway, I just think it's hard to find decent music at a club in LA (given that 95% of DJ's are going to play the same old hip hop club standards), let alone some of the good stuff like trance or electronica.

I have finals in slightly over 48 hours... gosh i'm just not prepared.. and I have a flight in ten.

I've decided I should write in this LJ whenever the inclination comes over me, so I can capture more of my current emotional states and less of a bland "summary of my life."
Well, I've been a little sick lately, due to staying out so late last week. It is just a head cold and mild symptoms, but it is still a drag. I've noticed something this time, though. Previously, I've observed that when i'm feeling sick, eating food makes me feel much better (but only during the time I am eating). And in the past week, I've discovered that working out has the same effect on me. I have no idea why either of those should be, but I'm not going to complain.
What did I do today? Well.. I took a two hour lunch break.. to visit Lien because today was her birthday (yay!). I also sat in on a talk by Professor Nicolas Christou on The Olympic Games From Antiquity to the Present, which is hilarious because he is a statistics teacher.
Sarah thinks I walk into work whenever I feel like it. Well, she's right. I believe getting a salary of only $250 a month should come with some privileges not afforded to higher wage workers. And hey, I get stuff done.
I went home feeling slightly feverish, so i took a shower and a nap. I don't think they helped..
I went to Bally's Fitness with my mom at 9 pm this evening.. the parking lot traffic was atrocious. I would almost vow to never go there during that time period again, except for the fact that at that hour, the gym is literally crawling with cute Asian girls. You must understand, at all other times of the day on every day of the week that I've gone there, the 'selection' of eye candy, if not nonexistent, is quite slim. So change of plan, I will hit the gym up at 8 pm every day, except I will park 6 blocks away and jog there. I believe this is an excellent incentive for me to visit the gym every day and get in shape :)
The Cardigans song "Good Horse" is stuck in my head. It's got a Western theme and some catchy lines. Let me share them with you:

Eyes burning on the quicksand
And I run it through the hollow land
I fed it with a shaky hand
I found myself a strong horse

These are the promises I can keep
These are the promises I can keep
To live like I must
And ride with the dust
in my face

Time flies when you've got too many things to do. Which is what I've been up to recently!
Let's see, the routine remains generally, the same, I work 3-4 days a week at the firm, try to go to the gym 4-5 times a week, and spend as much time as I can in the photo lab as I can. Although, it was the last week of photography class, so my last chance to develop pictures, and I spent 7 hours at LACC's darkroom on Tuesday.
I've been going out with my friends more often lately. I guess I realize that I won't see them anymore after this summer.. Last weekend, I had lunch with the Hidmaster and went to Lien's place afterwards because it was her little niece's 2nd birthday party. A good time was had by all. This week, I went out late on Wednesday and Thursday - Wed. with a group of UCLA friends who had graduated, and Thurs. with my old buddies from CSU because it was Justin the RC's birthday. It was a lot of fun, but now I think I messed up my sleep patterns :p
Justin is a cool guy, he is graduating as an Econ major in only three years and next year he'll be up at Stanford with me, he will be doing a graduate degree in Economics. I hope we will be great friends, we UCLA folks have to stick together you know.

I bought the Cardigans' new album, Long Gone Before Daylight, today on iTunes. It's not quite as good as I expected it to be, although I think my expectations were just too high and it's actually a decent album. Just a little bit too slow and "melancholy" for my tastes, I was hoping for something more peppy like their Gran Turismo album. But there are several outstanding tracks on that album, notably "Communication," "Good Horse," and "What It's Worth" and I'm sure the others will grow on me in time.
Oh... and it really was my digital camera that was turned into the Stanford police.. and i picked it up today from the post office. It is in perfect shape. I'm so happy.. I need to write a letter to the guy who turned it in, he was some professor.