The Noise of Boston, September Top 30 Chart
Reporting stations: WAAF, WFNX, WMBR, WMFO, WTCC, WZBC
1. Mission of Burma – The Obliterati
2. Frank Black – Fastman/Raiderman
3. Damone – Out Here All Night
4. Be Your Own Pet – Be Your Own Pet
5. Baby Ray – Low Rises
6. Neptune – Patterns
7. Aberdeen City – Another Seven Years EP
8. Matt & Shannon Heaton – Blue Skies Above
9. Mr. Lif – Mo Mega
10. Analog Planet – Analog Planet
11. Hanneke Cassel – Silver
12. Adja the Turkish Queen – EP
13. Black Helicopter – Invisible Jet
14. Francine – Airshow
15. Antje Duvekot – Big Dream Boulevard
16. Kudgel – Sea Monkee + 7
17. The Motion Sick – Her Brilliant Fifteen
18. Paper Thin Stages – Progress Towards Ranks EP
19. Ponies in the Surf – Ponies in the Surf
20. The Radio Knives – Cursed
21. Sister Suvi – Leaf EP
22. Magic People – Keen Whips I’d Wear as Rubies
23. Major Stars – Syntoptikon
24. Blood Money – Axis of Blood
25. The Larkin Brigade – Paddy Keys for Mayor
26. Mittens – Fools on a Holiday
27. Night Rally – Preston Family Crest
28. Alex K Redfern & The Eyesores – The Smother Party
29. Seekonk – Pinkwood
30. The Speed of Things – You Are What You Do
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Lamont Shows Majority Still Has a Voice
I'm too busy thinking right now to write so I will post this guest perspective by my old bud Ralph Lopez who has a pretty good take on things right now:
Now that the train to restore America's long-abused middle-class has resoundingly left the station, the test of how Democrats have matured politically will be how well they attack Republican hypocrisy while staying on-message with the Six for '06 Agenda, which was stolen from this website by the Democratic leadership, thank you very much.
Make no mistake, the Hillary-Billary-Rahmmanuel-Reid Axis didn't suddenly decide to do the right thing. It was FORCED on them, not least by the writing on the wall represented by the Lamont tidal wave that peaked last Tuesday.
Almost a year ago we and other Americans called for primary challengers to the "Lame Democrats," and our prayers were answered. Lamont in CT, Tasini against Billary Inc. And now we have the greatest bunch of straight-talking, ass-kicking candidates poised to take over congress that this country has seen in a long time, patriot-FBI-whistleblower Colleen Rowley, Bob Bowen, Eric Massa, Tammy Duckworth, and the rest of the blunt, war veteran, take-no-shit-from-these-NeoCon-bastards crew, the Band of Brothers (bandofbrothers2006.org).
The Loser "Centrists," and the lawyer-DLC-consultant-strategists who deep down don't care who wins as long as their millions are safe, talk as if a winning campaign isn't supposed to talk and chew gum at the same time. You don't attack because - oooo! - they call us angry and negative, no ideas! You don't get specific on issues because - oooo! - they say we are going to raise taxes! Until now, the Democratic party has been one masterly exercise in how to lose elections without looking like you are trying to. Who cares? It's not their kids bleeding in the sand. And the corporate money contributions keep rolling in to both sides just the same. The most important constituent to these fat, amoral slugs is their Beamer mechanic.
To Ned and Jon Tasini and the Band of Brothers. You guys have made me proud to be an American again. You can't even know what that means.
The Joe Lieberman-Hillary Axis isn't the "center," because WE are. That's a fiction whose lifespan is about up. Bill Clinton took over the party by jerking the wheel hard to the right while fishtailing left on social issues, making the NARAL SUV surburban soccer moms the center of gravity. With a deft move from the podium Bill kicked half the country over the ledge so he'd only have to worry about the other half. The half with money. Some more, some less. But some. And since reporters love to bandy about labels like "centrist,"
"moderate," and "left-wing" because it saves them from doing real work so they can get to the bars and start the serious drinking that much sooner, the only way to counter the spin will be to repeat the positions, exactly as Lamont has been doing.
Stop waste and fraud in healthcare so more people can be insured? That's "left-wing?" Make top colleges affordable for everyone? That's the radical fringe?
Well, I reckon you better mark me down as one, what a kick in the head.
"The Six for '06 agenda is a carbon copy of my New Contract for America, which I have been emailing to Democratic honchos for years. Ask Tom Vallely, Kerry's Dog Soldier campaign buddy over at the Kennedy School.
And a real nice guy. The high point for any activist is to get his ideas stolen. That's what you work for; that's the measure of success. And you, my small but influential audience, have done it again, whatever you are doing.
Ever since John Kerry decided to go with calling Iraq a "distraction" from the real war on terror in the first presidential debate, splitting Iraq off from the "central front" status the Republicans badly need it to have in peoples' minds, you have been shaping the debate.
It's too bad Kerry waited until two months before the election to take a position on the war. Like I said in my book, while George Bush spent a year honing his attack to a razor's edge, Kerry spent a year coming up with one.
The Six for '06 puts national security where it belongs: First. During '04 Bill Clinton advised Kerry to focus on the party's "strengths" on domestic issues. Knowing full well, as anything but a dumb politician, that nothing matters until you are out front on national security. Wiley Old Bill helped set Kerry up, I think, because he drools at the chance for all that Washington nightlife all over again, likker and wimmin, and this time Hillary too busy to care. YEEHAW!
The Republican-"Centrist" Fear Machine lost no time tarring Lamont's democratic victory as a danger to the nation, with a good old fashioned August, pre-election terror alert thrown in. Dick Cheney, (Joe Lieberman's new best buddy! Take note, ad-makers!) said Lamont's win reflects a "pre-9/11 mindset." He said Al Qaeda "clearly are betting on the proposition that ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task." In other words, the same old shit.
George Bush is right. We DO live in a dangerous world, contrary to "those" naive enough to believe there aren't people out to hurt us. I don't know anyone who says that, but they must be out there, because George keeps saying they are.
What he doesn't say is the danger is a direct result of his policies. Before the occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan was well on the way toward stabilization, with all of NATO onboard. Al Qaeda was on the run, even if Bush did let top leadership escape at Tora Bora. Then came the invasion that proved to Muslims that we were not out to avenge 9/11, but to steal oil, build permanent bases, and humiliate Muslim men.
If I read in the paper that foreigners were occupying my country, and killing and raping American women, I guarantee you I'd be planting IEDs in the middle of the night too.
The blunder of Iraq is on the magnitude, militarily, of Hitler opening the second front in the East against the Russians. We'd all be speaking German right now if Hitler had contented himself with half the world instead of all of it at once [Ed. note: In the 1700s, the United States voted English the nation language over German by just one vote].
Even if you agree with the disgusting, un-American proposition of unprovoked, "pre-emptive" war, just as Hitler's war was lost the minute he took on the Russian winter, our war on terror is lost as long as we stay in Iraq, which prevents redeploying to the Afghan-Paki border to hunt down the people who, um, actually attacked us.
Democrats give aid and comfort to the enemy? Uh, Dick? Joe? George? Betraying (not "outing", this is not about gender) Intelligence Officer Valerie Plame and her covert networks tracking WMD is what gave aid and comfort to the enemy, as did losing 300 tons of HMX explosives in Iraq (remember that one?) As did fighting against the establishment of a 9/11 Commission, as does fighting its recommendations now.
The Bushies do everything they can to keep us safe, except for one thing: the work. (SEE THE LOPEZ 12 STEPS FOR WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR.)
There will always be conventional war. It will start and it will stop. What George Bush's Amazing Invisible Enemy can do to my Constitution is my main concern.
Once you give up a right, you never get it back, except by force. I'm still hoping this country can avoid that kind of trouble. The best start is for us to agree that if there is another wave of terror attacks, it will be George Bush's fault. No one opened up that second front but him. He did it against the advice of absolutely everyone, including his own father and James Baker III. SIGN THE THE IMPEACH BUSH IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER ATTACK PETITION
And now, here is my original New Contract for America.
Compare it to the Six for '06 Agenda. The key is to get away from the endless litany of politicians promising everyone everything welfare workfare car-care affordable housing ad naseum that is the usual Democratic spiel. Folks can't remember all that.
And accomplishing even a few of the Six for '06 would put the country way ahead of where it is now.
Ralph's New Contract for America (abridged, full post from last year here)
-Distinguish Iraq from Real War on Terror - We are properly at war in Afghanistan and in the mountainous border regions of Pakistan, and Iraq is exactly the quagmire bin Laden wanted. It draws resources away from the hunt for Al Qaeda and from the critical stablization of Afghanistan. Redeploy to Afghanistan and the Paki border. Then we mop up, make peace with the Muslim world (an apology for the Shah of Iran might go over well,) and put the genie back in the bottle. Get back to the good old days when armies fought each other and left civilians mostly out of it. Hell, some guys just LIKE to fight.
-Save American Retirement Security - Time Magazine says more and more people who worked 20 or 30 years for the same company are losing their pensions. Recently-passed laws allow corporations to renege on their pension promises.
-Restore college opportunity, by enabling students to go to any college they an get into on a need-blind basis. Yes, I'll take credit for this idea, which I've been pushing since my first days as a candidate in the early 90s.
-Environment - A "Marshall Plan" within the first 100 days of a non-Republican majority to start down the path of clean, sustainable energy independence.
-Be the Pro-Constitution Party. Again, if Bush can't give us safety without shredding the Constitution, we'll find someone who can.
-Worker training and re-training to smooth job transitions after layoffs. We are the only Western industrialized nation without it. Why?
-Don't Get Bogged Down on Health Insurance. Sure, progressives are for it, and the Bush Faction is against it, but the details should be kept to, if you are working full-time, you get health insurance, and you start paying for it by recovering the $10-$20 billion wasted on Medicare and Medicaid by over-billing. Then you start rewarding doctors for preventing as well as curing. You'll see a lot of docs getting their patients into olive oil and alfalfa sprouts.
-IMPORTANT: All of the Above Means NOTHING without a paper voting trail in every American precinct. - a no brainer.
Ralph Lopez is the author of numerous books including his latest, "The Elephant in the Room." His blog is http://ralphlopezworld.com/.
I'm too busy thinking right now to write so I will post this guest perspective by my old bud Ralph Lopez who has a pretty good take on things right now:
Now that the train to restore America's long-abused middle-class has resoundingly left the station, the test of how Democrats have matured politically will be how well they attack Republican hypocrisy while staying on-message with the Six for '06 Agenda, which was stolen from this website by the Democratic leadership, thank you very much.
Make no mistake, the Hillary-Billary-Rahmmanuel-Reid Axis didn't suddenly decide to do the right thing. It was FORCED on them, not least by the writing on the wall represented by the Lamont tidal wave that peaked last Tuesday.
Almost a year ago we and other Americans called for primary challengers to the "Lame Democrats," and our prayers were answered. Lamont in CT, Tasini against Billary Inc. And now we have the greatest bunch of straight-talking, ass-kicking candidates poised to take over congress that this country has seen in a long time, patriot-FBI-whistleblower Colleen Rowley, Bob Bowen, Eric Massa, Tammy Duckworth, and the rest of the blunt, war veteran, take-no-shit-from-these-NeoCon-bastards crew, the Band of Brothers (bandofbrothers2006.org).
The Loser "Centrists," and the lawyer-DLC-consultant-strategists who deep down don't care who wins as long as their millions are safe, talk as if a winning campaign isn't supposed to talk and chew gum at the same time. You don't attack because - oooo! - they call us angry and negative, no ideas! You don't get specific on issues because - oooo! - they say we are going to raise taxes! Until now, the Democratic party has been one masterly exercise in how to lose elections without looking like you are trying to. Who cares? It's not their kids bleeding in the sand. And the corporate money contributions keep rolling in to both sides just the same. The most important constituent to these fat, amoral slugs is their Beamer mechanic.
To Ned and Jon Tasini and the Band of Brothers. You guys have made me proud to be an American again. You can't even know what that means.
The Joe Lieberman-Hillary Axis isn't the "center," because WE are. That's a fiction whose lifespan is about up. Bill Clinton took over the party by jerking the wheel hard to the right while fishtailing left on social issues, making the NARAL SUV surburban soccer moms the center of gravity. With a deft move from the podium Bill kicked half the country over the ledge so he'd only have to worry about the other half. The half with money. Some more, some less. But some. And since reporters love to bandy about labels like "centrist,"
"moderate," and "left-wing" because it saves them from doing real work so they can get to the bars and start the serious drinking that much sooner, the only way to counter the spin will be to repeat the positions, exactly as Lamont has been doing.
Stop waste and fraud in healthcare so more people can be insured? That's "left-wing?" Make top colleges affordable for everyone? That's the radical fringe?
Well, I reckon you better mark me down as one, what a kick in the head.
"The Six for '06 agenda is a carbon copy of my New Contract for America, which I have been emailing to Democratic honchos for years. Ask Tom Vallely, Kerry's Dog Soldier campaign buddy over at the Kennedy School.
And a real nice guy. The high point for any activist is to get his ideas stolen. That's what you work for; that's the measure of success. And you, my small but influential audience, have done it again, whatever you are doing.
Ever since John Kerry decided to go with calling Iraq a "distraction" from the real war on terror in the first presidential debate, splitting Iraq off from the "central front" status the Republicans badly need it to have in peoples' minds, you have been shaping the debate.
It's too bad Kerry waited until two months before the election to take a position on the war. Like I said in my book, while George Bush spent a year honing his attack to a razor's edge, Kerry spent a year coming up with one.
The Six for '06 puts national security where it belongs: First. During '04 Bill Clinton advised Kerry to focus on the party's "strengths" on domestic issues. Knowing full well, as anything but a dumb politician, that nothing matters until you are out front on national security. Wiley Old Bill helped set Kerry up, I think, because he drools at the chance for all that Washington nightlife all over again, likker and wimmin, and this time Hillary too busy to care. YEEHAW!
The Republican-"Centrist" Fear Machine lost no time tarring Lamont's democratic victory as a danger to the nation, with a good old fashioned August, pre-election terror alert thrown in. Dick Cheney, (Joe Lieberman's new best buddy! Take note, ad-makers!) said Lamont's win reflects a "pre-9/11 mindset." He said Al Qaeda "clearly are betting on the proposition that ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task." In other words, the same old shit.
George Bush is right. We DO live in a dangerous world, contrary to "those" naive enough to believe there aren't people out to hurt us. I don't know anyone who says that, but they must be out there, because George keeps saying they are.
What he doesn't say is the danger is a direct result of his policies. Before the occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan was well on the way toward stabilization, with all of NATO onboard. Al Qaeda was on the run, even if Bush did let top leadership escape at Tora Bora. Then came the invasion that proved to Muslims that we were not out to avenge 9/11, but to steal oil, build permanent bases, and humiliate Muslim men.
If I read in the paper that foreigners were occupying my country, and killing and raping American women, I guarantee you I'd be planting IEDs in the middle of the night too.
The blunder of Iraq is on the magnitude, militarily, of Hitler opening the second front in the East against the Russians. We'd all be speaking German right now if Hitler had contented himself with half the world instead of all of it at once [Ed. note: In the 1700s, the United States voted English the nation language over German by just one vote].
Even if you agree with the disgusting, un-American proposition of unprovoked, "pre-emptive" war, just as Hitler's war was lost the minute he took on the Russian winter, our war on terror is lost as long as we stay in Iraq, which prevents redeploying to the Afghan-Paki border to hunt down the people who, um, actually attacked us.
Democrats give aid and comfort to the enemy? Uh, Dick? Joe? George? Betraying (not "outing", this is not about gender) Intelligence Officer Valerie Plame and her covert networks tracking WMD is what gave aid and comfort to the enemy, as did losing 300 tons of HMX explosives in Iraq (remember that one?) As did fighting against the establishment of a 9/11 Commission, as does fighting its recommendations now.
The Bushies do everything they can to keep us safe, except for one thing: the work. (SEE THE LOPEZ 12 STEPS FOR WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR.)
There will always be conventional war. It will start and it will stop. What George Bush's Amazing Invisible Enemy can do to my Constitution is my main concern.
Once you give up a right, you never get it back, except by force. I'm still hoping this country can avoid that kind of trouble. The best start is for us to agree that if there is another wave of terror attacks, it will be George Bush's fault. No one opened up that second front but him. He did it against the advice of absolutely everyone, including his own father and James Baker III. SIGN THE THE IMPEACH BUSH IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER ATTACK PETITION
And now, here is my original New Contract for America.
Compare it to the Six for '06 Agenda. The key is to get away from the endless litany of politicians promising everyone everything welfare workfare car-care affordable housing ad naseum that is the usual Democratic spiel. Folks can't remember all that.
And accomplishing even a few of the Six for '06 would put the country way ahead of where it is now.
Ralph's New Contract for America (abridged, full post from last year here)
-Distinguish Iraq from Real War on Terror - We are properly at war in Afghanistan and in the mountainous border regions of Pakistan, and Iraq is exactly the quagmire bin Laden wanted. It draws resources away from the hunt for Al Qaeda and from the critical stablization of Afghanistan. Redeploy to Afghanistan and the Paki border. Then we mop up, make peace with the Muslim world (an apology for the Shah of Iran might go over well,) and put the genie back in the bottle. Get back to the good old days when armies fought each other and left civilians mostly out of it. Hell, some guys just LIKE to fight.
-Save American Retirement Security - Time Magazine says more and more people who worked 20 or 30 years for the same company are losing their pensions. Recently-passed laws allow corporations to renege on their pension promises.
-Restore college opportunity, by enabling students to go to any college they an get into on a need-blind basis. Yes, I'll take credit for this idea, which I've been pushing since my first days as a candidate in the early 90s.
-Environment - A "Marshall Plan" within the first 100 days of a non-Republican majority to start down the path of clean, sustainable energy independence.
-Be the Pro-Constitution Party. Again, if Bush can't give us safety without shredding the Constitution, we'll find someone who can.
-Worker training and re-training to smooth job transitions after layoffs. We are the only Western industrialized nation without it. Why?
-Don't Get Bogged Down on Health Insurance. Sure, progressives are for it, and the Bush Faction is against it, but the details should be kept to, if you are working full-time, you get health insurance, and you start paying for it by recovering the $10-$20 billion wasted on Medicare and Medicaid by over-billing. Then you start rewarding doctors for preventing as well as curing. You'll see a lot of docs getting their patients into olive oil and alfalfa sprouts.
-IMPORTANT: All of the Above Means NOTHING without a paper voting trail in every American precinct. - a no brainer.
Ralph Lopez is the author of numerous books including his latest, "The Elephant in the Room." His blog is http://ralphlopezworld.com/.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
A Sore Loserman again ...
This artwork was posted on Daily Kos tonight and I thought it would be nice to steal. :-)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman is going down to defeat tonight and is refusing to quit. Instead, he will run as an independent.
Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with an independent run by Lieberman or anyone else. I like indies, have worked for them and supported them. I'm one myself.
I watched his speech on C-Span and the guy is a Sore Loserman again, like he was in 2000, after the debacle in Florida. Like he was in 2004, when he claimed a third place finish in the New Hampshire primary even though he came in fifth.
Sore Loserman is the epitome of what is wrong with everything going on in our political process. Thankfully, there was a female heckler in the audience at least trying to taunt him on the war stuff. The stones on this man are too much. Does he have no shame?
And what about Lamont’s campaign? Didn’t they learn anything about momentum? He should have pulled a Clinton - and gotten right on TV and claimed victory and let Sore Loserman stew. Lamont needed to be on at 11:01 … not Sore Loserman. It is important to get the live shot right at 11 p.m. which is exactly what Sore Loserman got from Connecticut television.
Although, Lamont's speech was good and he had the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Rep. Maxine Waters there, which should shore up some of the urban vote for the final election.
Now is the time to see what the establishment Democrats do. It's pony up time. Now is the time for all the elected Democrats of national stature to fly to Hartford and stand all together beside Ned Lamont. Let's see if they have the stones to do what is right ... or will they drive us all back to Ralph Nader again?
Rep. Cynthia McKinney, one of the only pols in Washington to challenge the "official" 9/11 story, also lost her primary, 58-41. In her case, it is sad to see her lose.
What an exciting night.
This artwork was posted on Daily Kos tonight and I thought it would be nice to steal. :-)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman is going down to defeat tonight and is refusing to quit. Instead, he will run as an independent.
Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with an independent run by Lieberman or anyone else. I like indies, have worked for them and supported them. I'm one myself.
I watched his speech on C-Span and the guy is a Sore Loserman again, like he was in 2000, after the debacle in Florida. Like he was in 2004, when he claimed a third place finish in the New Hampshire primary even though he came in fifth.
Sore Loserman is the epitome of what is wrong with everything going on in our political process. Thankfully, there was a female heckler in the audience at least trying to taunt him on the war stuff. The stones on this man are too much. Does he have no shame?
And what about Lamont’s campaign? Didn’t they learn anything about momentum? He should have pulled a Clinton - and gotten right on TV and claimed victory and let Sore Loserman stew. Lamont needed to be on at 11:01 … not Sore Loserman. It is important to get the live shot right at 11 p.m. which is exactly what Sore Loserman got from Connecticut television.
Although, Lamont's speech was good and he had the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Rep. Maxine Waters there, which should shore up some of the urban vote for the final election.
Now is the time to see what the establishment Democrats do. It's pony up time. Now is the time for all the elected Democrats of national stature to fly to Hartford and stand all together beside Ned Lamont. Let's see if they have the stones to do what is right ... or will they drive us all back to Ralph Nader again?
Rep. Cynthia McKinney, one of the only pols in Washington to challenge the "official" 9/11 story, also lost her primary, 58-41. In her case, it is sad to see her lose.
What an exciting night.
Lieberman sinking fast ...
All eyes are on the Connecticut Democratic primary as Sen. Joe Lieberman, the party's 2000 vice presidential nominee, is going down to defeat.
Both the Drudge Report and Daily Kos are reporting challenger business Ned Lamont getting 52 percent and a difference of about 6,000 votes, with 74 percent of the votes tallied. This means, it is pretty close to over at this point. Traditionally, Democratic primaries get around 25 percent turnout. Today, as many as 50 percent of registered Democrats are expected to vote.
Lieberman has been threatening to run as an independent and has told aides and media reps that he will not accept defeat.
All eyes are on the Connecticut Democratic primary as Sen. Joe Lieberman, the party's 2000 vice presidential nominee, is going down to defeat.
Both the Drudge Report and Daily Kos are reporting challenger business Ned Lamont getting 52 percent and a difference of about 6,000 votes, with 74 percent of the votes tallied. This means, it is pretty close to over at this point. Traditionally, Democratic primaries get around 25 percent turnout. Today, as many as 50 percent of registered Democrats are expected to vote.
Lieberman has been threatening to run as an independent and has told aides and media reps that he will not accept defeat.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Old rockers ...
Old and new friends belt out a rendition of Elvis Costello's - or Midnight Oil's, depending on how you look at it - classic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding."
Old musicians never die, they just decompose, as the saying goes.
It was a meeting of old Boston rockers the other day when I had a little gathering at my house and asked George Belli, formerly of The Real and Shattered Silence, to entertain attendees.
By strange coincidence, George lives in New Hampshire now, after years of slugging it out in the Boston music scene just like yours truly. George was nice enough to bring his songwriting partner Michael [last name is slipping me at the moment] and his better half, Louise. A fun time was had by all and the old guys got to prove that they still got it. In fact, you can see that George still has it - around some of Concord's better restaurants and music establishments.
Now, I just have to find the time to play out a bit more and the circle will be complete.
Old and new friends belt out a rendition of Elvis Costello's - or Midnight Oil's, depending on how you look at it - classic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding."
Old musicians never die, they just decompose, as the saying goes.
It was a meeting of old Boston rockers the other day when I had a little gathering at my house and asked George Belli, formerly of The Real and Shattered Silence, to entertain attendees.
By strange coincidence, George lives in New Hampshire now, after years of slugging it out in the Boston music scene just like yours truly. George was nice enough to bring his songwriting partner Michael [last name is slipping me at the moment] and his better half, Louise. A fun time was had by all and the old guys got to prove that they still got it. In fact, you can see that George still has it - around some of Concord's better restaurants and music establishments.
Now, I just have to find the time to play out a bit more and the circle will be complete.
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Catching up on headlines
Here are some things you may have missed which are worth another looksie.
* Why biometrics may not be all it is cracked up to be: ["Computer hackers get lesson on cloning passport, cash card tags"]. And why some cops can't be trusted: ["Pulido's club offered sex, drugs, prosecutors say"].
* Novak on Murtha, Romney, and Guliani: ["Bolton's new backers"]. Here is Adam Reilly on Mitt's gaffes: ["Romney's greatest gaffes - 'tar baby' update"].
* Eh, why is this not surprising?: ["Book: Sept. 11 Panel Doubted Officials"]. It's interesting that they didn't say this before the 2004 election. I wonder if the results would have been slightly different had they said these things beforehand. And then there is this too: ["Pentagon's Version of 9/11 Far from Truth, Panel Found"]. And now, it looks like, after this new Vanity Fair blockbuster which will hit newstands any day, we may see those investigations.
* It was only a matter of time before we saw this headline: ["OSAMA'S EVIL SPAWN IN LEB"]. Ditto this: ["Hagel calls Iraq 'replay of Vietnam"].
Here are some things you may have missed which are worth another looksie.
* Why biometrics may not be all it is cracked up to be: ["Computer hackers get lesson on cloning passport, cash card tags"]. And why some cops can't be trusted: ["Pulido's club offered sex, drugs, prosecutors say"].
* Novak on Murtha, Romney, and Guliani: ["Bolton's new backers"]. Here is Adam Reilly on Mitt's gaffes: ["Romney's greatest gaffes - 'tar baby' update"].
* Eh, why is this not surprising?: ["Book: Sept. 11 Panel Doubted Officials"]. It's interesting that they didn't say this before the 2004 election. I wonder if the results would have been slightly different had they said these things beforehand. And then there is this too: ["Pentagon's Version of 9/11 Far from Truth, Panel Found"]. And now, it looks like, after this new Vanity Fair blockbuster which will hit newstands any day, we may see those investigations.
* It was only a matter of time before we saw this headline: ["OSAMA'S EVIL SPAWN IN LEB"]. Ditto this: ["Hagel calls Iraq 'replay of Vietnam"].
Monday, July 31, 2006
Happy Birthday MTV ...
Now - get off the air!!
"M.T.V.-Get Off The Air"
Fun Fun Fun in the fluffy chair
Flame up the herb
Woof down the beer
[click!]
Hi
I'm your video DJ
I always talk like I'm wigged out on quaaludes
I wear a satin baseball jacket everywhere I go
My job is to help destroy
What's left of your imagination
By feeding you endless doses
Of sugar-coated mindless garbage
So don't create
Be sedate
Be a vegetable at home
And thwack on that dial
If we have our way even you will believe
This is the future of rock and roll
M.T.V. Get off the air!
How far will you go
How low will you stoop
To tranquilize our minds with your sugar-coated swill
You've turned rock and roll rebellion
Into Pat Boone sedation
Making sure nothing's left to the imagination
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
Get off the air
See the latest rejects from "The Muppet Show"
Shake their tits and their dicks
As they lip-synch on screen
There's something I don't like
About a band who always smiles
Another tax write-off
For some schmuck who doesn't care
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
Get off the air
And so it was
Our beloved corporate gods
Claimed they created rock video
Allowing it to sink as low in one year
As commercial TV has in 25
"It's the new frontier," they say
It's wide open, anything can happen
But you've got a lot of nerve
To call yourself a pioneer
When you're too god-damn conservative
To take real chances.
Tin-eared
Graph-paper brained accountants
Instead of music fans
Call all the shots at giant record companies now
The lowest common denominator rules
Forget honesty
Forget creativity
The dumbest buy the mostest
That's the name of the game
But sales are slumping
And no one will say why
Could it be they put out one too many lousy records?!?
M.T.V.-Get off the air! NOW
[Written by Jello Biafra, copyright, 1985]
Now - get off the air!!
"M.T.V.-Get Off The Air"
Fun Fun Fun in the fluffy chair
Flame up the herb
Woof down the beer
[click!]
Hi
I'm your video DJ
I always talk like I'm wigged out on quaaludes
I wear a satin baseball jacket everywhere I go
My job is to help destroy
What's left of your imagination
By feeding you endless doses
Of sugar-coated mindless garbage
So don't create
Be sedate
Be a vegetable at home
And thwack on that dial
If we have our way even you will believe
This is the future of rock and roll
M.T.V. Get off the air!
How far will you go
How low will you stoop
To tranquilize our minds with your sugar-coated swill
You've turned rock and roll rebellion
Into Pat Boone sedation
Making sure nothing's left to the imagination
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
Get off the air
See the latest rejects from "The Muppet Show"
Shake their tits and their dicks
As they lip-synch on screen
There's something I don't like
About a band who always smiles
Another tax write-off
For some schmuck who doesn't care
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the
M.T.V. Get off the air
Get off the air
And so it was
Our beloved corporate gods
Claimed they created rock video
Allowing it to sink as low in one year
As commercial TV has in 25
"It's the new frontier," they say
It's wide open, anything can happen
But you've got a lot of nerve
To call yourself a pioneer
When you're too god-damn conservative
To take real chances.
Tin-eared
Graph-paper brained accountants
Instead of music fans
Call all the shots at giant record companies now
The lowest common denominator rules
Forget honesty
Forget creativity
The dumbest buy the mostest
That's the name of the game
But sales are slumping
And no one will say why
Could it be they put out one too many lousy records?!?
M.T.V.-Get off the air! NOW
[Written by Jello Biafra, copyright, 1985]
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Mexican recount
Imagine, millions of people protesting because of an election result. Seems impossible, doesn't it? Well, it happened, in Mexico today. A general strike is called for later this week.
WTO: Trade hawk Bill Greider has another piece on the WTO debacle: ["Whither the WTO"].
Terror again? OKBomb perps to assist Hezbollah? This guy thinks so: ["OKLAHOMA TERROR NETWORK TO ASSIST HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS IN US?"].
Imagine, millions of people protesting because of an election result. Seems impossible, doesn't it? Well, it happened, in Mexico today. A general strike is called for later this week.
WTO: Trade hawk Bill Greider has another piece on the WTO debacle: ["Whither the WTO"].
Terror again? OKBomb perps to assist Hezbollah? This guy thinks so: ["OKLAHOMA TERROR NETWORK TO ASSIST HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS IN US?"].
Saturday, July 29, 2006
eMusic.com and TheOrchard.com
I've been subscribed to the eMusic.com service for about a year now and I was thinking about putting some of my musical material up for sale on the service. My hope is to raise enough money to possible print up a new albums worth of material which has been sitting in the can on the shelf for about a year. The only problem is that eMusic.com doesn't work with individual people. Artists or labels have to go through TheOrchard.com and build a relationship with them. Has anyone out here used either service? Have you had any problems? Please let me know on or offline. Thanks!
I've been subscribed to the eMusic.com service for about a year now and I was thinking about putting some of my musical material up for sale on the service. My hope is to raise enough money to possible print up a new albums worth of material which has been sitting in the can on the shelf for about a year. The only problem is that eMusic.com doesn't work with individual people. Artists or labels have to go through TheOrchard.com and build a relationship with them. Has anyone out here used either service? Have you had any problems? Please let me know on or offline. Thanks!
Friday, July 28, 2006
The dead and dying ...
This Lebanese child was obviously not a terrorist.
This Lebanese child was obviously not a terrorist.
War is a racket, as the saying goes and sometimes, I can barely hold back the tears. When little kids start getting blown to bits, kids very close to the age of children we know and love immensely, someone, with some decency, has to step in and say "Stop this bullshit already!" When will common sense prevail?
Look at that picture. Look at it long and hard.
And, we really wonder why they hate us? You can't tell me that this is a justified death at any time in the history of humanity. I'm sorry. That child didn't do a thing. That child wasn't a "terrorist." Unintended casualties just doesn't cut it anymore. Be prepared for more wars, more random terrorist attacks, more rights curtailed, more lies about American soldiers dying to preserve "our" rights - while in some foreign land, and, frankly, more of the worst of everything. The end times are surely with us.
Look at that picture. Look at it long and hard.
And, we really wonder why they hate us? You can't tell me that this is a justified death at any time in the history of humanity. I'm sorry. That child didn't do a thing. That child wasn't a "terrorist." Unintended casualties just doesn't cut it anymore. Be prepared for more wars, more random terrorist attacks, more rights curtailed, more lies about American soldiers dying to preserve "our" rights - while in some foreign land, and, frankly, more of the worst of everything. The end times are surely with us.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Sprout Network responds:
After posting my complaints about the firing of Melanie Martinez, I emailed the Sprout Network to complain. Here is their response:
Congrats to me: I've been accepted into the Leadership Greater Concord 2006-2007 program. Only 15 to 20 folks get chosen for the year-long program each year. The Hippo did a story on it but didn't mention that someone from WKXL 1450 was accepted to the program. Oh well. It should be pretty interesting though. I'm looking forward to the program which starts in the middle of September.
Tina Fey's Scar: If I ever get another band together, I'm going to call it Tina Fey's Scar [or The Secret of Tina Fey's Scar]. This is probably the coolest - or silliest - band name I've every come up with over the years.
Have you seen it, Tina Fey's scar, that is? It is kinda like Harrison Ford's. It is this two or three inch nick across her chin. You can't help but be mesmerized by it ... not unlike Harrison Ford's! Sometimes, it is such a distraction from her great comedy. I've always wondered what the story is. If you do a Google on "Tina Fey's scar," you will find some sites of folks who are also intrigued by the lack of information about it. There is even one called Tina Fey Scar Detective: [Tina Fey Scar Detective]. Apparently, some suspect it came about from a car accident.
However, Tina Fey is leaving SNL: ["Fey, Dratch Leaving 'SNL' for '30 Rock'"]. Too bad. She is just about the only thing worth watching on the show these days, along with the adorable Maya Rudolph.
After posting my complaints about the firing of Melanie Martinez, I emailed the Sprout Network to complain. Here is their response:
How is that for pathetic? I'd hate to be the corporate lackey who had to script that. Terrible. I won't deny my son the right to watch the silly Sprout Network but I'm really disappointed by this crap. Save Melanie!"We understand that you are disappointed with the recent changes to The Good Night Show, and we too are saddened that we had to make this difficult decision. Our foremost priority is to do what is best for our young viewers and those who love them, and we will continue to provide the quality programming you and your children have come to expect from PBS KIDS Sprout. Thank you."
Congrats to me: I've been accepted into the Leadership Greater Concord 2006-2007 program. Only 15 to 20 folks get chosen for the year-long program each year. The Hippo did a story on it but didn't mention that someone from WKXL 1450 was accepted to the program. Oh well. It should be pretty interesting though. I'm looking forward to the program which starts in the middle of September.
Tina Fey's Scar: If I ever get another band together, I'm going to call it Tina Fey's Scar [or The Secret of Tina Fey's Scar]. This is probably the coolest - or silliest - band name I've every come up with over the years.
Have you seen it, Tina Fey's scar, that is? It is kinda like Harrison Ford's. It is this two or three inch nick across her chin. You can't help but be mesmerized by it ... not unlike Harrison Ford's! Sometimes, it is such a distraction from her great comedy. I've always wondered what the story is. If you do a Google on "Tina Fey's scar," you will find some sites of folks who are also intrigued by the lack of information about it. There is even one called Tina Fey Scar Detective: [Tina Fey Scar Detective]. Apparently, some suspect it came about from a car accident.
However, Tina Fey is leaving SNL: ["Fey, Dratch Leaving 'SNL' for '30 Rock'"]. Too bad. She is just about the only thing worth watching on the show these days, along with the adorable Maya Rudolph.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Terrence Trent D'Arby
Recently, I've been writing about my inexpensive little mp3 player and how cool it is but I haven't really talked about the songs I have loaded into it. One of the songs, which I still love to this day, is a cheesy little rock number called "She Kissed Me" by Terrence Trent D'Arby. It is a quick funky thing with some good guitar work - right out of 1994 or something - and it just rocks. It's totally different than anything else he has done.
Well, late last night while doing some work and listening to tunes, I started thinking, 'I wonder what the heck ever became of that guy?' I mean, he was considered for the position of lead singer in INXS after Michael Hutchence died but, after that, no much has been seen or heard from him.
So, I did a Google and what did I find? Terrence is no long Terrence but he is "Sananda" ... !!! : ["Sananda Maitreya"]. The mp3s aren't free, so I don't know what he sounds like. I guess I could buy a few ... but his "change" is so wigging me out - he looks like a new age Ala Baba camped out in Tuscany - that I don't know if I really want to give the guy my credit card number just to check out his new stuff. And why would anyone ever change their name like that?
In future weeks, when I get a breath, I will write some reviews of some of the stuff I have been listening to, including the brilliant Richard Butler solo record.
Supernova, Week 4 or whatever
Well, I'm still digging this show but I really have to wonder about this band.
For weeks, they have been clamoring for singers to "bring the RAWK!" which basically gives the viewer the impression that Supernova is just going to be another damn sludge rock band. But then, they show off some demos they are working on, and they prove that they are just going to be another sludge rock band, only a little more like than the Stones than Metallica. Now that we have established that, OK. No problem.
But why go for the same old thing? Why pigeonhole yourself? Why not try something different? Last night, every negative comment they made about the singers could be interpreted as an establishment of fact that they are just going to be some sucky, all-star rock band, like Velvet Revolver, with CDs in the cutout bin three months after release.
Example: Zayra, probably the coolest woman in that group, totally diverse, interesting in her approach ... but slammed for it. Last night, she was dressed in this superhot, clingy space suit thing which looked like it came off the set of "Star Wars." Dave Navarro's comments last night that she should quit and go out on her own now were exactly right: She is too good for those clowns! And then, they rave about the bag lady's acoustic version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"? What gives?
Headline of the month?
Easily this profile of Mass. Lt. Gov. Kerry Murphy Healey: ["Muffy the Democrat Slayer"]. I must say that from watching Mass. TV, Healey's political TV spots are really pretty good. Gabrieli's are too ... the difference is really results and what you want to do.
But Healey's really strike a chord - one, addressing the high cost of living in the state, and the other one I've seen, talking about her working class background. She married well ... so what. Should that be held against her? I think she should be accepted or rejected based on the things she wants to do - not her husband's wealth or her mansion in Pride's Crossing.
Recently, I've been writing about my inexpensive little mp3 player and how cool it is but I haven't really talked about the songs I have loaded into it. One of the songs, which I still love to this day, is a cheesy little rock number called "She Kissed Me" by Terrence Trent D'Arby. It is a quick funky thing with some good guitar work - right out of 1994 or something - and it just rocks. It's totally different than anything else he has done.
Well, late last night while doing some work and listening to tunes, I started thinking, 'I wonder what the heck ever became of that guy?' I mean, he was considered for the position of lead singer in INXS after Michael Hutchence died but, after that, no much has been seen or heard from him.
So, I did a Google and what did I find? Terrence is no long Terrence but he is "Sananda" ... !!! : ["Sananda Maitreya"]. The mp3s aren't free, so I don't know what he sounds like. I guess I could buy a few ... but his "change" is so wigging me out - he looks like a new age Ala Baba camped out in Tuscany - that I don't know if I really want to give the guy my credit card number just to check out his new stuff. And why would anyone ever change their name like that?
In future weeks, when I get a breath, I will write some reviews of some of the stuff I have been listening to, including the brilliant Richard Butler solo record.
Supernova, Week 4 or whatever
Well, I'm still digging this show but I really have to wonder about this band.
For weeks, they have been clamoring for singers to "bring the RAWK!" which basically gives the viewer the impression that Supernova is just going to be another damn sludge rock band. But then, they show off some demos they are working on, and they prove that they are just going to be another sludge rock band, only a little more like than the Stones than Metallica. Now that we have established that, OK. No problem.
But why go for the same old thing? Why pigeonhole yourself? Why not try something different? Last night, every negative comment they made about the singers could be interpreted as an establishment of fact that they are just going to be some sucky, all-star rock band, like Velvet Revolver, with CDs in the cutout bin three months after release.
Example: Zayra, probably the coolest woman in that group, totally diverse, interesting in her approach ... but slammed for it. Last night, she was dressed in this superhot, clingy space suit thing which looked like it came off the set of "Star Wars." Dave Navarro's comments last night that she should quit and go out on her own now were exactly right: She is too good for those clowns! And then, they rave about the bag lady's acoustic version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"? What gives?
Headline of the month?
Easily this profile of Mass. Lt. Gov. Kerry Murphy Healey: ["Muffy the Democrat Slayer"]. I must say that from watching Mass. TV, Healey's political TV spots are really pretty good. Gabrieli's are too ... the difference is really results and what you want to do.
But Healey's really strike a chord - one, addressing the high cost of living in the state, and the other one I've seen, talking about her working class background. She married well ... so what. Should that be held against her? I think she should be accepted or rejected based on the things she wants to do - not her husband's wealth or her mansion in Pride's Crossing.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
I wondered where she went ...
Melanie Martinez will no longer be putting toddlers to bed on PBS's Sprout Network.
Melanie Martinez will no longer be putting toddlers to bed on PBS's Sprout Network.
My toddler regularly tunes in to "The Good Night Show" on the Sprout Network run by PBS. Sometimes, I come home and he will be watching it and I will say, "Are you watching your show, sproutlet?" which usually leads to some giggling [Sproulet is the term they use to call young viewers].
The show was hosted by this pretty dark-haired woman, who my son would point to and call his mommy. I would say, "No, that's not your mom!" And we would giggle about it together.
Well, last week, Melanie Martinez, disappeared. My wife and I thought it was kinda strange. All of a sudden, she was gone. Vanished. Poof. We wondered why. Was she OK? Did she die or something? Did they cancel the show?
Well, thanks to a link on Drudge, we all know why now: ["PBS Kids' Show Host Fired for Video"]. After reading the story, I did a Google and found the comedy videos which, granted, were a tad racy, and found this statement by PBS:
This is disheartening on many levels, most of which is that as an actress, women are going to be held to this huge standard for the choices they make in their career and immediately not be able to apply for certain work based on past roles, no matter if they are qualified or not.
So I say, Save Melanie! Bring back the babe who my son likes to look at and let's not be making a big deal about such trivial things.
The show was hosted by this pretty dark-haired woman, who my son would point to and call his mommy. I would say, "No, that's not your mom!" And we would giggle about it together.
Well, last week, Melanie Martinez, disappeared. My wife and I thought it was kinda strange. All of a sudden, she was gone. Vanished. Poof. We wondered why. Was she OK? Did she die or something? Did they cancel the show?
Well, thanks to a link on Drudge, we all know why now: ["PBS Kids' Show Host Fired for Video"]. After reading the story, I did a Google and found the comedy videos which, granted, were a tad racy, and found this statement by PBS:
A Notice To Parents Regarding The Good Night ShowWell, as a parent, I must say that I'm extremely disappointed by this action. Should she really be fired for previous work she did seven years ago? I mean, come on. It isn't like it was full-nude porn, Playboy, or prostitution. She wasn't a corrupt Congressman or some intern earning her presidential kneepads and now TV babysitting to very small children. So, she did a questionable comedy video back when she was a struggling actress. Big deal. Shouldn't she be judged by her current work? She did a good job on "The Good Night Show." My son really enjoys watching her and the show. He doesn't know anything about her previous work and wouldn't. All he knew was that the girl who looks like mommy is on TV and now isn't.
Late last week, Melanie Martinez, host of The Good Night Show, alerted us to the internet posting of an independent short film that she appeared in seven years ago. PBS KIDS Sprout has determined that the dialogue in this video is inappropriate for her role as a preschool program host and may undermine her character’s credibility with our audience. As a result, PBS KIDS Sprout has decided that she will no longer appear as host of The Good Night Show. Melanie has been an important part of our network and we are disappointed that we had to make this difficult decision. PBS KIDS Sprout’s foremost priority is to do what is best for our young viewers and their families. We remain committed to The Good Night Show, which debuted last year, as a valuable tool for parents to help children wind down after a busy day. Regularly scheduled programs within The Good Night Show (e.g. Dragon Tales™, Bob The Builder™, Thomas & Friends™) will continue to air in their designated time slots with new short-form content replacing Melanie’s segments. We are developing plans to launch a new season of The Good Night Show with a new host in late 2006.
This is disheartening on many levels, most of which is that as an actress, women are going to be held to this huge standard for the choices they make in their career and immediately not be able to apply for certain work based on past roles, no matter if they are qualified or not.
So I say, Save Melanie! Bring back the babe who my son likes to look at and let's not be making a big deal about such trivial things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)