Fishtankonia

Austin '90s Spank-a-thon

2007-08-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

I don't think I'd even heard there was a video for this...

Since the Ed Hall - "White House Girls" video has been removed for some reason (try again?...), I'll post this:

Looking at the user's other video's brought me to this one. Also didn't know they had a vid for this. And so many thematic similarities.

And once you start talking about female-led Austin '90s bands, you'll end up with 16 Deluxe.

Whose singer later had a band with Ed Hall's original drummer.

Long time, no sé

2007-08-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

Don't tell me that harassing your favorite bands' blogs doesn't work.

With August's oppressive heat upon us, I checked in on Linus' blog, where last I heard the new album was due in "late summer." So I added a comment:

Last I heard was "late summer." Is that late Houston summer (May-October)?

One day later, news was posted that it would be October 30...
Happy Bnirthday to me!!

Plus, some seemingly innocuous links that take you to album details, including art/liner notes, and even a sample cut!

Read more by clicking the cover art below - and just send all y'all's friends to the LP4 blog itself.

Surgeon General Testimony

2007-07-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is getting more coverage than I'd expected. Apparently, the Bush administration is secretive and political, even with regards to science. The administration has issued a denial though.

Heard about it on the radio coming home yesterday.

And it's being blogged and covered in Salon.

O yeah, and Koop was there too.

Houstondopebandroundup!

2007-07-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

Such weird stuff ends up on Youtube...

The Mike Gunn "Liska"
[Larry Liska is the LPQ's drummer.]

Linus Pauling Quartet "Switzer"
["Almaron" is The Mike Gunn's 3rd album.]

Walking Timebombs "Junkyard Dog"

The Red Krayola "Hurricane Fighter Plane" (2004)

And kind of a weird thing, with the drummer from 60's Houston band Bubble Puppy:

And a very weird thing with Kenny Rogers:

And if you made it through all that... Your reward is:
Rusted Shut "Shot in the Head/Not Far from It"

Whoa, Duuuuuuude...

2007-07-04T06:12:00.001-07:00

Theoretical physics is bunk!

All this quantum uncertainty, multiverses, and two-way temporal causality, even the big bang's always seemed a little shaky to me. String theory? That one will be highly regarded in 100 years... One thing that never seems to be acknowledged is how much of this "spooky action" could be the result of imperfect measurements.

But these people talk about all this stuff with the confidence of those who considered our flat earth the center of the universe.

I'll just quote one part of this interesting article:

Now if you take that view - that the universe is a gigantic computer - then it leads immediately to the conclusion that the resources of that computer are limited. The universe is finite. It's finite because the speed of light is finite. There's been a finite time since the big bang. So if we have a finite universe, we have a computer with finite resources, and hence, finite accuracy. So once you recognize that the universe is a gigantic computer, then you see that the laws of physics can't be infinitely precise and perfect. There must be a certain amount of wiggle room or sloppiness or ambiguity in those laws.

Sure, first you accept that the universe is a "gigantic computer," then you realize all computers have limited resources, I mean the speed of light is finite, and there you have it, the law of physics can't really be depended on... Simple!

Anyway, this guy's got a point - maybe humanity, having evolved in forward time, is through observation, creating a universe (through backwards time) with the necessary physical laws to allow life to evolve. Simple!

Independence Day, 2007

2007-07-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, America!!!

Curtis/Jam

2007-07-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

Working on a couple of big things for the 'Shtank.

But found a couple things on The Jam/Curtis Mayfield connection.

"Move On Up" cover:

And a two-part interview with Curtis, done by Weller in 1988! Link is a whole YouTube Funk/Soul documentaries Playlist.

More soon...

And then...

2007-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in there, all the fish died.

And I also shaved the beard.

Holy crap, I'm on YouTube (PEI)

2007-06-29T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the East Beach (Cavendish) in video, co-starring me.

[My first video!]

Okay! Back to Canadia!

2007-06-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

So then, two months later, I went back up to PEI - this time for three weeks! In April, the winter had eased up, although snow had just dumped down over Easter weekend. The group of local kids on my flight from Montreal mentioned it, and I later found out it was a huge whiteout snowstorm that took the town from no-snow to piles-everywhere overnight. There was a big, cheering crowd awaiting our flight, and it turned out these kids had just won 2nd place in the national juniors Curling competition.

Since I was going to be living in Canada for so long, I decided to live like a native. So, I ate great seafood and drank Maritimes beer. By the way, I mentioned previously that PEI is known for their Island Blue Mussels - true enough. But apparently, their biggest agricultural product is potatoes, and several signs around refer to "Spud Island"...

[Picture is portal to a collection of Kris-pix!]

Mostly I worked. I'll spare the details. But I did get to the Racino - no horse races that day, and I played slots as long as I could stand it with no poker seats opening. Apparently, the Blackjack was coming around this summer. Another vice law change in the works: beer (and "pop") will soon be available in aluminium cans (nothing but glass bottles island-wide now). Also Sunday shopping has been approved, and many consider it the province's way of opening up retail alcohol sales on Sunday. Liquor stores are the only place to buy carry-away, and they are 100% government! I also visited the comic book store and bought this book.

Okay! The only real ray of sunshine during my trip (both figuratively and literally) was the long weekend Kristine came up. We had a great time, we rented a car, drove around a bunch, and you might not believe me if not for her pictures (click above example for more). Skies were gray and cloudy up until the day she arrived, but for the whole time she was there, it was really, really beautiful and sunny.

On Saturday, we drove up to Green Gables in Cavendish. Unfortunately, this iconic location wasn't open on Saturday. So we went to the nearby north shore, where we saw crazy cliffsides, next to grassy dunelands, next to a beautiful beach. The cliffs area was especially amazing with jutting, dark red clay crags battered by deep dark blue waters. It was primordial.

We saw New Glasgow, on the(ir) River Clyde, and this whole island somewhat resembled the Scotland of most of their ancestors. We drove down to Summerside, start of the North Cape Coastal Drive - see icon at bottom. We saw the Confederation Bridge - longest bridge over waters that freeze. If you make it to the island, don't miss the south shore's Victoria-By-The-Sea. We went because of the name, and it's as quaint as it sounds. Not at all set up for tourists (much unlike Cavendish/Green Gables), but it has an awesome 1950's or 60's fire engine.

Kristine eventually made it back to Green Gables (she read the book as a girl) when I returned to work, and we also had a great time in Charlottetown. She took my new favorite picture of myself in the fanciest restaurant we could find (clandestinely due to the fancitude):

The North Cape Coastal drive is something we missed, but I saw the sign a few times and really wish I could have gotten a t-shirt with the symbol on it. Great design!

P.S. The more I think about it, the more I think I got two events reversed. Now I think the Curling kids were in February, and the NHL playoffs started in April. This is why you blog in real-time, kids!

More Magic Pictures

2007-06-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

This popped up pseudo-randomly (or not at all) on Flickr.

Pretty interesting photo approach - click for set:

Whooo boy!

2007-06-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Speaking of my neighborhood, one week and two blocks away...

The Linus Pauling Quartet will be playing the 4th of July, at Rudyard's!

NovoxSpace.

Be there, or be elsewhere.

In The City

2007-06-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

Before we go back in time again, here are some modern (or contemporary, or taken-today) pictures of my "fonky" neighborhood. Full set, plus "Insomnia" diptych.

Okay! Back to the, uh... past.

2007-06-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

[First off, per Carey's request, I've now uploaded a batch of select Chicago '06 photos here. Photos by Kristine!]

So, soon after the new year, in February, I was sent on a business trip (one of two so far) to the frosty climes of Chalottetown, Prince Edward Island. For one week!

It's a sleepy seaside city, until summer - when it becomes the Florida Keys of eastern Canada. It's probably pretty hopping right now, with all it's beaches and campgrounds, pubs and discotheques. In February, it was bitterly cold... snow piled up everywhere, Atlantic winds whipping around - really great change from Texas.

The Stanley Cup playoffs were just starting, and I picked the Ottawa Senators to root for (no lie). Not too shabby, they only ended up losing in the Finals to the freaking Anaheim "Ducks".

Also, PEI is famous for their Blue Mussels - but really, I ate a lot of seafood and it was "all good" (as the kids say).

In addition to a bunch of work, I bought a disposable camera and took off to wander around. Click to see all the photos fit to view:

I am no photographer, and I basically got to roam as far around as I could during a cancelled interview slot. So, not bad!

Crash Course in ConLaw

2007-06-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Slate is starting their annual round-up of the soon-to-be-ending Supreme Court term.

Click the magic Supreme Court picture to begin!

[Ahhh, the good old days...]

Steranko!

2007-06-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

Working on a project, found some nice comic book art from the 1960's.

So I'm sharin'!

Click last cover for Wiki on artist, Jim Steranko!

Newsflash!

2007-06-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

I've just been informed that Guitar Hero II was a Christmas gift, and not birthday.

So, that brings us up to December...

I am a Hero II

2007-06-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

So, as usual, September ended, and October progressed along its merry way. Eventially culminating in my birthday (or Hallowe'en, if you're not me).

I was lucky enough to get Guitar Hero II for the PlayStation2.

This is a great game that everyone really enjoys. Between this and the first one (which I've since picked up), there's a lot of fun to be had. Good mix of songs, and the guitar controller makes it fun for non-gaming peoples and non-guitarist persons,... but also for the non-Non types.

Here comes the Wiki!!!
July brings the '80s. And then, GH3 will be released this fall, apparently with "Paint It, Black" rocked straight off the original masters. And rumors about about Rock Band, including mics and drums along with the guitars and bass.

So, if you have a PS2, XboX, etc..., get it and get ready!

[I believe this might be "Difficult."]

Videopongroundupyeah!

2007-06-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

More YouTube goodness. (Sorry for not mixing it up more, as I strive to catch up.) But several Pong videos are available, for those of you without Firefox.

Here are the two "studio" videos:

And two vintage (2000) live vids:

Just for posterity's sake... and your enjoymentainment!

Catching up, Pt. 2 (almost all YouTube's)

2007-06-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

So, after all of that running around Chicago, Mike and Ottto showed up, and Kristine left town. I moved into some slightly scummier digs, and went to the Touch And Go Records' 25th Anniversary celebration.

Neither Butthole Surfers nor Slint attended. And only PW Long performed, rather than all of Mule, but still...

We did see Scratch Acid (o yeah!):

And Killdozer:
V*I*D*E*O and crazy man finally gets kicked out.

And Big Black:

As well as Shellac. And that was all on Saturday...

Catching up, Pt. 1

2007-06-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Back when I left off regular blogging, we were in Chicago.

Going to provide a couple of pictures, and a whirlwind round up. Just to, y'know, catch up!

So, here's what Kristine and I saw:
State Farm HQ!
The Art Institute of Chicago - amazing amount of amazing art.
Millenium Park and Navy Pier... Meh.

The Shedd Aquarium, with a 7' eel! Very nice aquarium.

The John Hancock Building Observatory - dizzying.

And The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field!

Photographic evidence says that, in the battle for last place in the NL, the Pirates won. (Cubs 7-Pirates 2)

[Backfill: Carey asked for more pix, so there! Kristine's photography.]

Wha...? Where?

2007-06-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Mebbe I'm coming back!

Look out now...

Some pretty good pictures

2006-12-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas!

It was fourteen years ago today...

2006-12-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

NPR's always been pretty proud of their role in David Sedaris' success. Apparently today was the anniversary.

Click to listen.

Potions! Getcher red hot potions!!

2006-12-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

Har! Potions...

Only Four Shopping Days Until!

2006-12-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

Dead Sue Grave-Robber

2006-12-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

Click for plunder from Bill Graham's crypt:

Here's where I heard it:

Insomnia...

2006-09-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'm going through a biennial bout with insomnia.

I've been home for almost a week now. I have two Chicago updates in me, so there should be more posting this week.

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos I took this weekend. I've been meaning to walk the neighborhood and photograph different things (our corner's fire hydrant for one). When I saw the first sky, behind the power lines on our corner, it reminded me of something else. Not sure if it's an existing style, but I dig pictures where the foreground is disconnected from the background (like here, manmade/natural, silhouette/color).

Check it out:

Not much, I know. Just experimenting...

"What A Pleasant Surprise!"

2006-09-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, we're up to Chicago from Pekin, where the wedding was. And their marketing slogan rings true - it was a pleasant surprise.

It took a little prodding, but we made it to "The World's Greatest Sundial," right across from the paddle-boats - on the lagoon in the background here:

I paddled a boat as well.

Also, so far we've seen The Shake at The Captain's Wheel. Everything, the venue (small midwestern town's hotel bar), the act (extremely crowd-pleasin' cover band), and the cover ($3) were all in perfect sync. Did I mention The Captain's Wheel was our hotel's bar?
Aaargh, 'tis true!

What else have we done? O yeah! "The Friendliest Casino on the Water" - the Par-a-dice (sic). So I lost at Blackjack... a good time was had by all. Haven't found the nearest casino to Chicago. Yet!

More on the Chicago adventure later, but I'm not sure how it can top Pekin. What a Pleasant Surprise!

Just Explore...

2006-08-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

... starting here.

Coop's blog has lots of great stuff. Links to Woodring. And the Sluggo video is worth your 2:40 minutes. I'm finding BoingBoing invaluable, so I'll take the opportunity to thank Mike again!

Texas Bigfoot Action!

2006-08-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Well, since we couldn't muster enough interest in a Fantasy Football league of our own, I went ahead and took the plunge into the free/public ESPN.com world.

We just finished up our league, "houston big dogs", draft. So...
Introducing, your (my) 2006... Texas Bigfoot!!!

QB - Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks)
RB - Rudi Johnson (Bengals)
RB - Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)
WR - Hines Ward (Steelers)
WR - Reggie Wayne (Colts)
TE - Todd Heap (Ravens)
Def - Pittsburgh (Steelers)
K - Larry ("L.T.") Tynes (Chiefs)

On the bench - Marc Bulger (QB-StL), Fred Taylor (RB-Jax), Ryan Moats (RB-Phi), Eric Moulds (WR-HOU!!!), Brandon Lloyd (WR-Was), Lee Evans (WR-Buf), Ben Watson (TE-NE), Ravens (Def-Bal).

You can follow the team's fortunes at the homepage - here. Or by clicking the football helmet on the sidecar.

[P.S. I drafted 8th of the 10 teams, and was helped immeasureably by Kristine - since she had all the FFL draft knowledge. And success...]

Best Commercial Of Recentness

2006-08-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Please go click on "Foot" on this page.

I usually really, really (really, really) hate commercials. But this one did the job!

Stained Glass Bigfoot

2006-08-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

I finally opened a Flickr account - as always, thanks to SolCookie for pointing the way on the interweb.

I'll mainly be putting random pictures, rather than everything photographed. Such as the titular Stained Glass Bigfoot (which might be a work in progess):

Flickr "badge" in the sidecar.

Goodbye, nocturnal killer...

2006-08-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, one of the Upside-down Catfish appeared after a long absence. We hadn't seen them in awhile, but this was supposedly not usual - given that they're almost completely inactive at night. Problem was that it was gigantically bloated around the stomach area. A little fish-counting, and we realized one of the female German Blue Rams couldn't be located.

Further investigation shows that Mr. Bloatfish had disposed of his prey (the Ram and two fellow Catfish) the old-fashioned way. I cleared out potential hiding places (plants), and pulled out the big log. Verified the missing, and nabbed the perp. So, now he's gone... can't have a known killer skulking around.

As unfortunate as the whole scenario is, the tank was at its population limit, and this opens the window to a less nocturnal, more active, and hopefully less murderous future.

So long, Flipside and two subsequent "buddies"... So long, nameless harem Ram... I hardly knew ye.

Skinnymalink

2006-08-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

What I meant to say was, "It's a long season, and there's plenty of games to play!" Now let's change the subject (randomly).

The new issue [not pictured] of Uncut has a cover article on the "100 Greatest Debut Albums." In it, John Cale discusses four of the debut albums he produced, and he mentions how Iggy used to "skinnymalink" across the tables. Good word - feel free to use it in conversation, whenever possible.

Can you guess what #1 is? How many of the top 10?
[Turn your monitor upside down to read answers... or I'll comment them in later.]

Baseball (quasi)-Playoffs

2006-08-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

My problem with regular season Major League Baseball - too many games. I've long thought the World Series is the pinnacle of American professional sports, and the playoffs have been really good when there's something interesting going on. Like 2003, when the long-suffering Cubs and Red Sox looked destined to meet in the WS. And look how that ended up - a total classic meltdown: Bartman, Little/Martinez. But each regular season game just means too little... until now!

Well, in Houston at least. About a week ago, the season seemed almost done-for, and maybe even a little pointless. I think the Astros were 6-1/2 games out of the Wild Card race, nevermind the pennant. Now? A four-game winning streak (8-2 over the last ten), including: a 14-1 domination, actual run support for Clemens, and two pitchers' career first home runs (Oswalt, Pettite). The Astros must be feeling like Jeff Kent.

Now? 1-1/2 games out in the NL Wild Card, in 4th place. There are six teams within 2-1/2 games, and suddenly everything has changed. Each game really means something to Cincinnati, San Diego (1/2 game back, playing Astros), Arizona (1/2), Houston (1-1/2), Philadephia (2, playing the Reds), and Colorado (2-1/2 games back). The Astros are closer to the NC Central pennant now (5 games) than they were to the Wild Card a week ago.

Weird, wacky stuff...

(O yeah, and to answer the question linked behind Kent's walkoff picture: We were over by the Conoco pump, because Cheato wouldn't walk back up to our seats at the end of the 9th. He mocked me for suggesting it! But the thing I said I'd never forget was seeing Roger Clemens come in as a pinch-hitter. Bi-zarre.)

[Update: Just found this NL Wild Card round-up from Thursday.

Schedule: If the Astros plan on making a statement, the current nine-game homestand with Pittsburgh, San Diego and the Cubs is as good a time as any.

Right.]

Sorry so sloppy!

2006-08-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Been gone awhile. Also found "Second Life" on BoingBoing.

Since it's free, I logged in and made my way through Orientation Island, then went exploring. Within a half-hour, I had a welcome-robot give me a free gift - a "Censored Bottom!"

Here's my Brian Eno-inspired Djehaar Josephus, wearing it:

Mark Your Calendar! (Aug 20)

2006-08-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

Comedy Central presents -
The Roast of William Shatner! On Sunday, August 20.

So much ground to cover.

The Amazing Screw-On Head

2006-08-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

In CO, Mike pointed me to BoingBoing, which links to a number of interesting 'things' each day. Today, they have this post about a new cartoon with potential.

The Pilot playlist.

Part I (of III):

From the mind of Mike Mignola - includes Paul Giamatti, Patton Oswalt, and a werewolf (and I don't mean Molly Shannon).

Red Rocks Show

2006-08-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Had a great time - I'll write up more of the trip, but it was a lot of relaxation and nature.

Missed Go! Team. No big deal to me.

Flaming Lips were entertaining, but continued to stay firmly in the present (with Queen and Sabbath covers).
Setlist, with discussion.

Race For the Prize
Cover: Bohemian Rhapsody
Free Radicals
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 2
Vein of Stars
Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
The W.A.N.D.
My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion
She Don't Use Jelly
(marriage proposal on stage)
Do You Realize??

Encore: Cover of War Pigs with images of Bush, Cheney and Powell flashing on the screen.

No big surprises - "Vein of Stars" sounded really nice - I went to the restroom during "Cosmic Autumn Rebellion." (perfect timing!) Fun stageshow - Alien Cheerleaders, Santas, space bubbles, confetti (controversy over Natl. Parks littering!)...

As always Ween had the more diversified Setlist, but I wish they'd played the following night's when I was in attendance.

The Golden Eel, Baby Bitch (incorrectly attrib.), Spinal Meningitis (got me down), Light me Up and Get me High, Happy Colored Marbles, Take me Away, The GroBe, Even if you Don't, Wavin' my Dick in the Wind, Voodoo Lady, Exactly Where I'm At, Bananas and Blow, The HIV Song, Buckingham Green, Captain Fantasy

::acoustic:: The Mollusk, Chocolate Town, Tried and True, Mutilated Lips,

I'll be your Johnny on the Spot, Dr. Rock, Puerto Rican Power, Icantputmyfingeronit, Ocean Man, Reggaejunkiejew, Someday

::encore:: The Blarney Stone

Let's see... "Blarney Stone," or "LMLYP -> Crimson & Clover" then "Ace of Spades" for an encore(s) - hmmmmm... But seriously, great show and a staggeringly awesome place to see a couple of great bands.

Opus 40

2006-07-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Levon Helm plays drums on this Mercury Rev song from 1998.

(I still like the first couple, noisier albums a bit more.)

Blahg blahg blahg...

2006-07-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

I love how self-reflexive the interweb can be. And blogs are no less, if not more, so. Here's a Slate article about a recent Pew survey of bloggers - front page title:
"Does Anyone Read Your Blog Besides Your Family?"

Plus a general Slate round-up of recent stuff I haven't been able to find a place for...

The Shamu story establishes once and for all that men are the new women. You can now use the New York Times to write the most dehumanizing and insulting shit about them and everybody will laugh in recognition.

Agreed, been saying it for years. TV commercials by far the worst. (Hit Article!)

In one of the strangest legal statements of all time, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez on Friday said, "I think it's dangerous for us to try to make an evaluation, case by case, as we look at potential terrorist plots and making a decision, well, this is a really dangerous group, this is not a really dangerous group."

Big Brother is reading your mind. (Thoughtcrime!)

Iraqi officials, he declared, are "going to have to persuade as many people as possible that it's in their interest to support the government and participate in the political process. And anyone who doesn't want to, they're going to have to go find and do something about."

Woohoo! Rumsfeld should have been fired years ago. (Reality-based reality.)

Bush and Rice supported the participation of Hamas in the Palestinian elections in January on the strength of Abbas' prediction that he would win. Whoops. In Lebanon, the State Department has hailed the "Cedar Revolution," without emphasizing that the elections it led to gave one of the world's worst terrorist organizations a significant voice in the government.

On the flipside! (Some defense of Bush.)

Yet the rule, which should have vanished long ago, is enforced today at the Economist, where I work. (Our style book notes that "the ban is pointless. Unfortunately, to see it broken would be annoying to so many people that you should observe it.")

Everyone's favorite! (Grammar Nazis, grammar nerds...)

Music and the drugs

2006-07-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

The local free weekly has a music column, which this week commemorates the passing of Syd Barrett - by noting how rare his influence still is.

Click here to read.

"Racket" - Houston Press

A Thousand Words

2006-07-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

More rock and/or roll

2006-07-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Weirdly, I got an e-mail today from a co-worker who's moved up to Seattle, encouraging people to go to this Monday's happy hour with The Dimes, et al.

Finally, a Veto.

2006-07-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Well, as expected, Bush vetoed the embryonic stem cell research funding bill. His first.

Some are for increased funding. From yesterday's ATC.

Some are against it. From today's.

Right now ~

2006-07-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Pong is probably on stage at Stubb's, in the outside, opening for The Beat! Wish I was there.

Rock Music, Weekend Last

2006-07-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday night, we went to see the show at Rudyards.

The Kimonos, The Linus Pauling Quartet, The Dimes, and something we missed (Concrete Violin).

The Kimonos headlined with a 30 minute set, and they were bad. Peoples were leaving in literal droves.

The Dimes were the big surprise. Four young guys, dressed up and having a great time, breaking out. A bit of the Sound of NOW!, mixed with some classic sounds (esp. New York noize). Will try to catch them again.

Linus was the true headliner, and they put on a show that made me think. They opened with a slapped-together cover of "Interstellar Overdrive," and they played "Waiting for the Axe to Fall." And pretty much the whole show was more recent, unreleased (developing) songs.

So, here's a band with 3 LP's, an EP, a Double-LP, a few singles, 10 years of catalogue... And almost nothing with any history in their whole set. I actually like their new material, and the show was good.

But I've seen a bunch of bands stay productive, just to constantly shunt tested material aside for the new stuff. And I've seen a lot of bands return from the brink. (And I'm seeing them both in a couple of weeks!)

Anyway, I mentioned something to Charlie about mixing in some old school with the new favorites, and he actually said that was the plan. I wasn't harrassing him - I was paying him for my new Italian "Jason Bill" split-single (#75 of 300!), apparently recently unearthed. $3.00!

I actually might have been more coherent about this late into Sunday morning, but you get the idea. I like for bands to continue mining their older materials. I also like when multiple people vocalize...

Cool Money (NL)

2006-07-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Who has the coolest money? Who else? The Dutch.

Loose lips stop shit

2006-07-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

George Bush used some strong language in discussing the Israel-Hezbollah conflict with Tony Blair, at the G8 conference.

I agree with this article. Sounds like the most sense Bush has ever made on the foreign affairs front. Who cares about the profanity? Why isn't anybody talking about Bush's table manners? The man's chewing with his mouth open, talking with his mouth full, and smacking his lips like he's ready to carve a German pig.

[Edit: Well, now I watched past the Bush portion, and the BBC host mentions the table manners! Right. On.]

Of course, Jon Stewart is all over it. I think it's interesting that The Daily Show dropped the [bleep]ing for Bush. Daring uptight moral crusaders to rally against swear words on the lips of their boy-king... Nice.

Why do I work afternoons?

2006-07-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

So, I'm off today. The A/C guy comes by a little late (quoting the "Petticoat Junction" themesong), but he leaves me some good news - immediate relief! I mess around for awhile, then go for the groceries. On the way back home, I hear a really nice little song on KRTU. The kind of thing that makes me calmly think, "Why couldn't this have been a regular hit song? (instead of all the rage-inducing manipulative dreck that clutters the...!!!)" Apparently, early afternoon is the time to hear decent rock radio around here.

So, I saw The Shins at Vegoose last year (see My Profile for me and Kristine during Ween), and they were really good. Sounded good, obviously enjoyed it a lot, didn't get boring. Not 100% my cup o' tea, but I was much less than disinterested. Can't really say the same thing for the "Garden State" movie, but I don't think I was the target moviegoer. Hopefully...

So, the point is: when I'm looking to a Shins song on the "Garden State" soundtrack for rock radio redemption - it's time to consider armed occupation of local stations.
[Hit the little speaker button to hear a clip.]

[Edit: O yeah, Nick Drake was on the "Garden State" OST, so I've hidden a video-link behind Che.]

The Internets

2006-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Most funniest thing we've seen on The Daily Show (with Jon Stewart) recently.

Go ahead and click here to laugh it up. Courtesy of Dispatches from the Culture Wars, apparently courtesy of BigDumbChimp.

This just in.

2006-07-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

Milkbone e-mailed me at home, and let me know the holy land is erupting into full-blown war. This is terrible news, but the inevitable result of escalating tit-for-tat foreign relations.

In terms of pointlessness, it reminds me of this recent story of a military operation in Afghanistan. (From NPR's All Things Considered.)

Let's all hope this gets better before it gets worse. This is how these things start...

As potential comic relief to the opening salvos of a possible Dubya-Dubya-Thr33, Paul DLF forwards this patently-offensive bio of Geo. Washington.

Robt. Wms.' Surrealist Violation

2006-07-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

While we're talking about R'n'R cover artists, here's an L.A., Calif.-specific "happening" site, with reminiscences by Robt. Williams, the hot-rod Titian. Saying he did the original (banned) cover for "Appetite for Destruction" is like saying R. Crumb was the cover artist for "Cheap Thrills."

He's so lowbrow, he has no website.

[I actually attended this show's opening in 1998, and was star-struck to meet the man in person. This piece ("The Four Seasons As Seen Through The Eyes Of Jessica's Sock Monkey") graces the program cover, sitting on my physical-collage top shelf of a bookcase.]

More.

This is Important Stuff

2006-07-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

Unlike Steely Dan, necromancer-assassination, or the Texas governor's race - here's something that could make some kind of difference.

SEARCH is having a Water Drive for Houston's homeless.
Ends Saturday, 7/16.

It's summer, it's hot, and I just thought it might be nice to help out a little.

Open the bottle (right)
for more info.

Also, the Special Olympics sent me their annual fund-raiser notice. Suggested donations are $8.15, $16.29, and $32.58 (full season for one athlete). No jokes.

Mad about Brubeck

2006-07-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

Not everyone can stomach Steely Dan. But I've heard good things about Donald Fagen's new solo album, "Morph the Cat." So, I thought I'd take us all the way back to 1982.

"New Frontier"

Including Picasso sample(s).

Kinky Grandma

2006-07-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, Texas decided that cigar-smoking Richard Friedman can run as "Kinky," but they've denied Carol Keeton Strayhorn "Grandma." Sounds reasonable to me - like this story explains (chosen for the sidebar "60 Minutes" video).

A Million Little Pieces of Oblivion

2006-07-12T20:42:00.000-07:00

by Raekwon Kenobi

Last thing I remember, I was in the Grub and Grog. Next thing I know, I wake up in jail – grubby and groggy. Too much Skooma, I assume. After a little while, some old coot with Alzheimer’s shows me a way to break out of my cell – insisting I call him "The Emperor." He does have a certain hobo wisdom, like he should be commanding a space-faring galleon, or heading an academy for orphans with strange abilities.

Somehow he loses me in the sewers while I’m vomiting off the night before, and I spend the next half-hour wandering the tunnels, fighting off sewer rats. My kind of life brings more rat meat than mutton, so I feel better after a meal. When I find him again, he starts nattering about some long-lost bastard son, the family consigliere, and how I've got to deliver this priceless heirloom. Then his ravings become incoherent. Mysteriously, he keels over dead (maybe it was ninjas).

I finally reach the exit, and my clothes are, uh... soiled. Luckily, a clothing store is right across the river, although it must be a fancy lad place. The clerks all try to give me the bum’s rush, so I end up killing a few – I need to find a manager.

Well, turns out they were bandits. The kind who hear rumors of monsters and disappearing comrades, and decide to write in their diary how the place will make a wonderful waylay station. I can’t resist a mystery. Whenever Dickwolf the Bard starts in on his Tales of Justice Constabulary, I can never leave until they're solved...

True enough, the place is lousy with zombies and skeletons, which I methodically dispose of. I sneak up some stairs and spy a hooded figure in dark robes, surrounded by corpses and reliquaries. “Who’s there?” he asks pleasantly, so I shot him through the neck with an arrow. I think it was the right thing - based on the grave-robbing and corpse-animating described in his letter to “Aluc.” But he had some pretty sweet threads.

On my way back to town, I stumble across a strange sort of weed – it’s probably worth some money to the right type of dealer.
I need to find one, and a bar.

Syd Barrett (1946-2006)

2006-07-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

I heard the news today. O boy.

"Jugband Blues"

Here's the news source.

Space Force: 1988

2006-07-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

Over at Something Awful, they've got a parodic mash-up of: UFO, Space: 1999, and daytime soaps.
It's called (click here) "Space Force: 1988."

EXT. MEAN STREETS OF NEW JERSEY - DAY

CAPTAIN SEARCHWELL, LT. TIVOK, ENSIGN RILEY and ENGINEER BUGGOCK phase into existence on a filthy street corner in New Jersey. A newspaper blows past and it reads “IT’S 1974!” as the main headline. Cars and barrels burn in the streets and several PUNKS in leather jackets are disco dancing.

CAPTAIN SEARCHWELL
That crystal! Where has it taken us?

LT. TIVOK
Based on that paperine computer wafer I believe it is 1974 and we are somewhere called ‘New Jersey.’

Also, recent ALOD's have been pretty great, including a wacky comedian (7/8/06), and cats that look like Hitler (7/9/06).

Ron Mexico

2006-07-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Or English... Just trying to get Cookie to blog it.

"Mais, pourquoi?! Mais, pourquoi?!"

2006-07-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

Zidane headbutt, and Explainer.

I've already discussed by e-mail with most everyone who would care. But I'm an American, so I think a lot of fútbol rules are goofy. Offsides too restrictive... Fouled players not doing own penalty kicks... Three tie-breaker stages?! Also, they need to decrease the field size - ties are dumb.

And no headbutting?

The Zapruder of Bigfoots

2006-07-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I decided to look up the 1967 Roger Patterson film - very interesting (to me).

James recently mailed me a copy of "The Legend of Boggy Creek." Gotta watch that soon - about the Fouke Monster, investigated by the Texas Bigfoot Research Center.

The Game

2006-07-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

The rules are simple, but you are going to lose. Badly, and often.

Visual Kei

2006-07-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

I've never heard of this Japanese musical style before.

But I was looking through the Youtube archives, searching for Houston TX. And I found some pretty interesting stuff, such as the previous post's video. Anyway, apparently this band had their first U.S. concert in Houston, coinciding with last year's Oni-Con, some big anime convention.

It's pretty "extreme" for what I'd think young Japanese girls (or American anime fans) would dig, and it's also pretty absurd and goofy. So, here's the entirity of Phantasmagoria's "Survivor's Guilt" playlist.

This year, this band will be playing this music in this country.
First ever!

And since we're on the subject - Loudness!

duneTX videO

2006-07-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Local Houston band, duneTX have a new video. It includes performance footage from two of my favorite local places Rudyard's and Cactus Records (R.I.P.).

Sorry I've been a lazy blogger - been somewhat busy recently. More soon!

I like Space

2006-07-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Live video of spacewalk right now. Really amazing stuff.

[Edit: no longer a spacewalk - now - so here's a compilation of EVA footage...]

Check out NASA too.

Satchel Paige

2006-07-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

According to
this article,
today is
Satchel Paige's
100th Birthday.

Remember.

"Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be common."

Greatest Logo Ever!

2006-07-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

Many have heard me sing the praises of paint-monolith Sherwin-Williams' corporate logo.
Only because it rocks! Check it:

I found some others who similarly dig. (Also, check background of photo in next post.)

Family History by VW

2006-07-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

Taking a cue from Tom Waits... I noticed VW's reintroducing the Rabbit, so here's a quick history of VW's over two generations in my family. (Pictures are not of actual cars described.)

My mom's first car (mid- to late-60's) - Beetle
I don't actually remember this car, owned around the time I was born probably. Legend has it as one of the first Bugs unloaded at the Port of Houston, where it was purchased.

The first car I remember (mid-70's) - Dasher
Can there be a more 70's car color than bright yellow, with brown fake leather interior? No. Reminds me of super sounds of the 60's and 70's on KRBE, and elementary school.

One of my high school cars (late-80's) - 1980 Diesel Rabbit hatchback
Inherited after totalling my '80 Olds Cutlass, in high school. The interior hatchback cover was missing, and all of the rear lights were exposed. Car was dubbed "The Jean-Michel Jarre Lightshow."
Rusty white.

My first new car (late-80's through 90's) - 1987 Fox
H.S. graduation gift, it was between this and a Suburu Justy (?). $8,100 and ran well for 13 years. An absolute warhorse... Shared all VW Fox's congenital paintjob-fading problem. (Dark red as shown.)

My next car (early 21st century) - 2000 Passat (green)
Killed by Tropical Storm Allison, which lead to one of the greatest stories ever told - me and Darren stranded in Fourth Ward for a weekend.

Soon after (early 21st century) - 2002 Passat (blue)
Replacement for the short-lived Passat I - almost paid off!

Hitch on Flag Fetishes

2006-07-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Christopher Hitchens is one of those guys who can sound so lucid when he's agreeing with you, but so unhinged when he doesn't.

But in this article, he brings up my two big flag-burning amendment complaints: it's a collosal waste of Congress' time, and it's in a category with only Prohibition as amendments that would limit individual freedom.

I don't plan on ever burning a flag any time soon, but I don't see the big threat to anyone or anything when some goofball decides that's his message to the world. Kinda reminds me of my feelings on gay marriage as well.

Also, I had some AM station on when I left home this morning, and the drive-time talk radio was in full gear. Guess what - Pat Gray is for an amendment! And one caller said she could understand allowing flag-burning if this were China ("where it would probably get you shot"), because their flag just represents the government, as opposed to here in America, where it represents... uh, something more... uh, something more symbolic... and also she does like flag-patterned underwear - even if some sticks-in-the-mud don't think it's appropriate.

My point is: talk radio drive-time callers are idiots. Basically, this woman was saying America should have flag-burning laws more like China, because America is different, and it's ok to desecrate the flag if you're right-wing/patriotic, but not to protest America.

[Edit: In comments, Digital Traveler points you to this post, where there are click-able stars.]

Ken Lay Cheats Justice by Dying

2006-07-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

Local NPR report, with Houston legal dynamos Joel Androphy and Gerald Treece.

If only it could have been this guy:

Claudia Cardinale

2006-07-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Two quick "Blonde on Blonde" facts that I'd never known.

A photo of Claudia Cardinale (smoker) had to be removed from the inside gatefold of the album. And the cover was a gatefold, with a full-length (sideways) photo of Dylan.

Watch this Claudia Cardinale movie. And this Bob Dylan documentary.

Bad Cover Version

2006-07-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Being American, I never listened to Pulp, but I find this very funny - at least the people I recognize. It's apparently a "cover version" of a normal song of theirs. Oh Britpop, up yours!

Here's the key. For you Mr. Show fans, check here.

Ouroboros

2006-07-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

In a Moebius strip of blog proportions, Jim Woodring links to a spotlight on his blog on a blog-spotlighting blog.

Just passing on the new site I found - absolutely not seeking out a plug. I don't think my self-ventilating, "E/N" blog wants or needs it. So don't get the hint that's not there. Both of you!

Hannah Arendt

2006-07-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

The Famous Smokers Gallery (linked via the Claudia photo below) reminded me of how many pictures of Hannah Arendt capture her smoking.

Even here:

The caption on the original page reads:
"One recognizes the faces of Hannah Arendt (left), Mahatma Gandhi (center), Bertha von Suttner (right) and Immanuel Kant (small). Their common striving for peace is appreciated by the modern peace symbol. The Foetus before the world ball refers to Hannah Arendt and her concept of the 'natalität'."
(Translated by Babelfish.)

One of my heroes.

Here's an English-language mirror site for the artist.

Smoking Cessation Exam

2006-07-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

I still think International Shoe is a great band name - from the important Supreme Court decision, dealing with jurisdiction.

But now, I'm starting to like Interactive Tool - from this awesome Smoking Cessation utility. (Yahoo.com front page today!) If you smoke, have considered quitting, or just like the internet, please take a few moments to take this exam.

Real or not real?

2006-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Either nature or technology is amazing...

Similar...

The World Bows Before Its Blind Youth Gods

2006-07-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Kristine pointed these books out to me, and they do look goofy.

Fascinating! Do go on...

2006-07-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

Not everyone loves the Supreme Court, but over the last few years, Slate's Dahlia Lithwick has gotten me interested. This morning's fascinating article about Justice Anthony Kennedy's taking up O'Connor's swinger mantle.

And so he's apparently getting love-bombed with strange new superpowers.

Lithwick and a Duke law professor recently wrapped up this term's wrap-up, over a 14-course Breakfast Table series. And here's Slate's Jurisprudence homepage.

Geo. W. Bush High-larity

2006-07-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

New and Old Religions

2006-07-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've seen this URL on several videos, so I decided to check it out.
Yoism - "the world's first open source religion."

Plenty of interesting parables, creation myths, and hairy-nosed wombats. Plenty o' fun for the exploring! (Unless you're an uptight, serious-minded, fundamentalist loon - then you might want to avoid.)

I love the name of this site, and what they stand for. Like classic!

The Grateful Dead

2006-07-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Chad forwarded this interview to me at work yesterday. Now, lots of people like(d) the Grateful Dead more than me, but there are tons who like them less. Anyway, I've gotta say, I don't think I've ever uttered the phrase "my fellow Deadheads." But, okay, I was-am a big fan.

This interview incensed me. The Dead remind what kind of Deadhead of lacrosse players and frat boys?! What self-respecting 'head has no idea of her first/last show, or favorite album/bootleg (Set 2, at 1:19)? How can one praise Deadheads' kindness and free-thinking, slam Als Gore and Franken as fakey Deadheads, and then be Ann Coulter?! Smells of a narc.

O well... No big deal.

Falwell gives all credit to Hucksterism

2006-06-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

On this morning's Morning Edition from NPR. Listen to this story. "Course I don't hate gay people, and damn them to hell, I jes' say that kind o' thing..."

Also, the next one was really good too - about the Texas ice house tradition (nat'l story from San Antonio). Listen to that story.

Drink up!

Everyone ♥'s YouTube

2006-06-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

I do. Sports guy's do. Science culture-jammer's do. Insufferable hipsters do too. (Thanks, MilkBone!)

Although this list stinks far too much of shoddy availability (thus '80s apologetics), might as well... No harm done.

Here's the best I think they have to offer (and there's several that reach this level), but I haven't watched them all - yet:

Hell, if you want '80s videos (thanks Goferboy!), no problem. But how do you have an effete homage to '80's pop without the lads from Hull?

Manitoba / Caribou

2006-06-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

We saw Manitoba a few years ago, before (t)he(y) were Caribou.
It's a long story.

The music live was a very cool mix of pop, electronic, and rock.
(T)he(y) had a great multi-media show, with elaborate, synched video back-up. Which was released the following year on DVD.

They've got almost all of them [playlist] from that tour on Youtube. (I editted in a couple for the two missing ones.) I'd meant to buy the new album at the time, but had forgot about it until pretty recently. So, there it is...

Here's the shortest one, and the whole collection of Caribou vids.

Recent Legislative Issues (U.S.A.)

2006-06-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

And results:

I Support The Troops Resolution - nothing really.

Video Game Violence Debate - nothing.

Flag Burning Constitutional Amendment - nothing.

Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment - nothing.

Pledge Protection Act - nothing.

What in the world is going on here? How many empty gestures can a government rack up? Will we hear meaningless rumbles about Roe v. Wade?

Probably not. But this is a fight for America's soul!!! ... against gay, flag-burning, video game-playing, troop-hating, pledge-refuseniks! Maybe something about meth-heads?

More Laffoley

2006-06-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

Some may have missed my previous post on "slightly autistic" artist Paul Laffoley. Some may not have cared.

Just found a related MySpace site with TONS of his art, and various things (like art and .gifs and stuff in the Comments).

And they've got this mini-doc on there:

Last week, Laffoley agreed to participate ("!!!") in the Paul Laffoley Online Archive Proposal - check it out if supportive.

How have I never seen this?!

2006-06-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Having watched "Superthunderstingcar" a few times now, while home sick, I went looking around for some more stuff on Supermarionation and Gerry Anderson.

I'd seen a bit of "Thunderbirds," and apparently he was the creator of "Space: 1999" - which I watched as a kid.

So, how in the world have I missed THIS?

Will be reading more about "UFO" (1970) - I can assure you.

Infinity Times Scarier Than...

2006-06-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well, almost anything, but I was thinking the Biblical-Scholars-Unlock-Bible-Code-To-Predict-U.N.-Nuclear-Attack-Window headline.

"Amendment on Flag Burning Fails by One Vote in Senate" - one vote!
It passed in the House - passed! Sometimes, though, burning the flag is the only thing to do...

What about a flag-signing amendment?

Poëm

2006-06-28T18:33:00.000-07:00

I noticed a bird in our tree,
underneath the crepe myrtle blooms.
It seemed unable to fly, so it
jumped from branch to branch
fluttering.
Two birds seemed to call to it,
one from a powerline, the other
from the opposite tree.
It might have been injured.
Or it could have just hatched
(I'd noticed a nest in the tree
recently), but it seemed too big.
Finally, after moving into the middle,
it seemed to settle down.
So I lost interest
and went inside.

True story.

[Edit: Went back out, and it looks like it was just a big baby. The two other birds were in fact trying to help it learn to fly. It hopped around in the yard and street a bit. I only saw it make about 3 feet - across our front walkway. I don't like poetry. Just seemed appropriate for the "wounded bird struggles to fly" event.]

To Scale the Heights of Madness

2006-06-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me, you have a voracious appetite for all trivia related to one Kenny Rogers. Now, we all know "The Gambler" - the song and the tv specials - and who could forget "Islands in the Stream?" Which is medically proven to cure any lack of stomachache.

But what about The First Edition? Did you know their drummer (Mickey Jones) was the guy who replaced Levon Helm as drummer on the Dylan-goes-electric tour? (He's also a tv/film character actor, playing Burly Miner in Total Recall.) Sure, Johnny Cash was "honored" to present "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town."

But before that, the Rog' handed this to the world on a 3-D, day-glo, Peter Max platter.

So, sure, you've got Kenny Rogers, Dylan's first touring rock drummer... big deal! What if I told you tv theme-impresario Mike Post produced this slab? Ok, how about Glen Campbell on black-metal guitar solo? Look, if you can't dig Jimi Hendrix's favorite song, that's cool (I guess).

You might also remember... this?

"Caswell doesn't like to be stood up."

2006-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Swingin' San Francisco - 1967!

Read about Moby Grape. [movie]

Swingin' Austin, TX - 1966!

Read about The 13th Floor Elevators.

Houston never swung - but here's a crackéd '60s gem 40-years-later.

Read about The Red Crayola/Krayola.

Philip K. Dick - yessir!

2006-06-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's weird to say that Philip K. Dick is the Sonic Youth of the 21st Century. I first heard about Dick via Sonic, back in the late 80's, Sister era.

But both PDK and SY have been getting lots of press recently. They are in vogue. I haven't been too interested in the last several Sonic years. But Phil Dick doesn't have the same issues of current output - he's 20+ years dead.

Anyway, I love articles that drag someone like Foucault (or even better would be Derrida) into the equation.

I'm really planning to see "A Scanner Darkly." It was a good book, and I have liked most of Richard Linklater's movies.

Jawohl! Deutschland!

2006-06-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm getting too tired to make up commentary.

Explore the Youtube vault, under category: Krautrock.
Here's a digestible nugget:

Blatantly ripped by the Lips.

"You're a genius, Masterbraun!"

2006-06-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

Believe it - Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were good.

Lots of hilarity, but this appeals the most:

This has John Lennon. "Drastic slashes..." hehe.

I'd never heard of this "Derek & Clive" thing. I don't know about "breathtakingly obscene," but still...

What I was looking for was the "Bedazzled" theme song. But this is all I could find.

My first sickly stab at...

2006-06-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

An idea I've kind of had for a little while. Someplace to put the upcoming, local events and everything I mention or am just interested in checking out. Or that someone else might be.

So, it's a calendar. Or a start at least... I've set up a framework, and put just a few easy-to-identify things in for July.

It's not quite right, but that's generally what I had in mind. Each day with something entered would have an event-half (top) and a location-half (bottom). I've put the summer months' links over on the sidebar, although June will probably pass before it sees much use.

I'm taking suggestions.

Only in The America!

2006-06-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

1970/80's - holy crap!

They started so much for all of u.s.
Big Boys' "Funk Off / Baby Let's Play God"

Also recommended: "I'm a Man"

Her too - lots to answer for...
Patti Smith Group's "Gloria" (from freaking SNL!)

Also recommended: "Horses"

Who can deny it?
Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" (from '72)

Also recommended: VU docs

Guh?

2006-06-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Nice headline, this:
"Bible Scholars Widen the Window to 5 days for a Nuclear Terrorist Attack on the United Nations between June 29 and July 4"

To the point, but retains it's snappiness, eh? Found here. Five days is still a pretty tight window... and I'm going out on a limb here and betting - against.

Party at Ground Zero?

"Hello, It's from Merry Olde England."

2006-06-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

1970/80's - glam, bam, slam!

The only band with two well-named bongo-ists:
Steve Peregine-Took and Mickey Finn!
T. Rex's "Cadilac"

Also recommended: "Life's a Gas"

Now with added Brian Eno!
Roxy Music's "Virginia Plain"

Also recommended: "In Every Dream Home a Heartache"

Absolutely fiery performance!
The Jam's "Funeral Pyre"

Also recommended: "Full Rockpalast concert 1980!!!"