Why ‘Reka?: Nine times out of 10, when you tell someone you’re going to Eureka (hopefully, you’ll never have to say “I’m going to Eureka” more than 10 times in your life) they figure you’re probably talking Yreka, the humble piss-stop town off of I-5 North on the way to Oregon. But true scions of Northern California know that Eureka with a “eu” is a very, very different place than Yreka. The word Eureka is greek for “I have found it,” but a lot’s changed since the time someone was excited to find Eureka. The gold that gave it it’s name ran out a long time ago, and the other two rape-able natural resources that have kept Eureka from becoming a complete waste of time and space, timber and fish, are both quickly heading that way too. In fact the only things that Eureka seems to have in abundance these days is weed and crazy ass homeless people, and not necessarily in that order. (more…)

At 3:15 AM this morning, the New York Mets fired manager Willie Randolph. The Mets are currently underachieving with a record of 34-35, though the firing may have had more to do with the team’s monumental collapse at the end of 2007’s regular season. The Mets have posted winning numbers in each of Randolph’s three complete seasons, but with a payroll of $138 million, Randolph has apparently come up short—at least in the eyes of general manager Omar Minaya.

My take: The Mets are a classic example of a team built too much around free agency, much like the Yankees. Bulking up their roster with big names on year to year basis, they lack the chemistry necessary to make a World Series drive.

It should be buying the two new Thrice EPs that came out today: Fire and Water. Fire basically sounds like the music that Vikings would get fucking pumped on while braving the foamy surf to pillage the homes of barbarous seaside villagers, which i guess would make Water the soundtrack to the subsequent gentle love made to the captured concubines and assorted womenfolk. These records are so good they almost make up for the fact that their drummer has that super ghey column in AP with the fat-but-still-almost-hot broad from Morningwood. You should go see them on tour with mewithoutYou and Brand New and say whats up to these kids.

10/18 - The Filmore Detroit, Michigan
10/19 - The Filmore Detroit, Michigan
10/21 - The Pageant St. Louis, Missouri
10/23 - Myth Maplewood, Minnesota
10/25 - Uptown Theatre Kansas City, Missouri
10/26 - Fillmore Auditorium Denver, Colorado
10/27 - The Great Salt Air Magna, Utah
10/29 - Fenix Underground Seattle, Washington
10/30 - Fenix Underground Seattle, Washington
10/31 - Salem Armory Portland, Oregon
11/02 - San Jose Event Center San Jose, California
11/03 - Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, California
11/04 - Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, California
11/05 - Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, California
11/09 - Pearl Concert Theatre Las Vegas, Nevada
11/10 - Dodge Theatre Phoenix, Arizona
11/12 - Cains Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
11/14 - House Of Blues Dallas, Texas
11/15 - Sunset Station San Antonio, Texas
11/16 - Stubbs BBQ Austin, Texas
11/17 - Warehouse Live Houston, Texas
11/18 - Warehouse Live Houston, Texas
11/20 - House Of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
11/21 - The Tabernacle Atlanta, Georgia
11/23 - The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre Miami Beach, Florida
11/24 - House Of Blues Orlando, Florida
11/25 - House Of Blues Orlando, Florida
11/27 - House Of Blues Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
11/28 - Disco Rodeo Raleigh, North Carolina
11/30 - NorVa Norfolk, Virginia
12/01 - House Of Blues Atlantic City, New Jersey
12/02 - UMBC Baltimore, Maryland
12/04 - Hammerstein Ballroom New York, New York
12/06 - Electric Factory Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12/07 - Electric Factory Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12/08 - AJ Palumbo Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12/09 - Tsongas Arena Lowell, Massachusetts
12/11 - House Of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
12/11 - House Of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
12/13 - Arrow Hall Toronto, Ontario
12/14 - Gordon Field House at RIT Rochester, New York
12/15 - Washington Avenue Armory Albany, New York