The Forty-Nine Percenter

Super Bowl XLV - 2/6/11

2011-02-06T22:26:00.019-05:00

Well, its that time of year again.

It’s time to watch the Super Bowl and make fun of everything about it.

Let me begin by saying that no matter what happens, I hate Dallas.

Forget the Cowboys…..I just hate the city.

While we are at it, Texas can go fuck itself, too.

Now you know where I’m at.

Awwww, shit…..Joe Buck?
He's allowed to ruin The World Series and The Super Bowl?
Really?

Pam Oliver looks a bit mannish.

Seriously, she also has a big mouth.
She looks like she could fit a “Shake Weight” in that pie-hole.

Ben Roethlisberger and that beard….holy hell, you know he didn’t wear that shit to court. If he did, he would be in a cell next to “The Unabomber”.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers represent all of the enduring qualities of the city of Pittsburgh….”

Um, what qualities would those be?

Sam Elliott looks like a geriatric Yosemite Sam with that fucking mustache.

Screw his conservative ass. His agent gets a call once a year that goes, “Yeah…we need a guy who looks like he spent his whole life mendin’ fences and shovelin’ shit. Send us Sam.”

Wait….no one who produced this broadcast thought it would be a good idea to juxtapose Sam Elliott’s introduction of the Steelers with another has-been actor with a deep voice to intro the Packers?

Why not get Dan Lauria dressed as Vince Lombardi to do that introduction?

I mean….you’re welcome.

Great….Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in another shit movie that is going to make them both wealthier.

Don’t get nervous watching Lea Michele sing….just picture her in her underwear. Oh, wait….GQ already handled that.

George W. Bush and his unhappy looking wife get a big cheer from the crowd. How quickly Americans forget.

Christian Aguilera has fallen so far from fame that when you Google her name, the Christina School District comes up first. That is no joke. I am also tired of the unnecessary vocal-runs during the performance of The National Anthem. Cut it out. The song has a straight melody line that we are all familiar with, at this point. Stop trying to sing it like it’s a contest to show off how you can sound like you are juggling a ping-pong ball with your larynx. Meanwhile, way to fuck up the words. Wow…remember when everyone thought that little skank was cute? Wow…those days are long gone.

As bad as she is…she isn’t as bad as that douche from Chicago. He is insufferable. They should just put his rendition on a loop and play it over loudspeakers wherever we go to war. Our opponents would surrender almost immediately.

Awww…the two bears in the McDonald’s commercial. If Sarah Palin and her family were in that car…those poor bears would get their fool heads blown off. Boy…that would be a depressing end to that commercial.

Cool…Kirk Douglas looks much younger than….oh, wait.
I kid...I love Michael Douglas.

Haha! Please let Shannon Sharpe be reading something that amounts to a tongue-twister! That would be awesome. No, wait…let him do it with Deion Sanders in a kind of “Row Your Boat” tandem. God…I am full of good ideas, tonight.

This event would be much cooler if it were opening night of the Phillies regular season. Just saying.

Roethlisberger’s beard actually impeded that last throw.

Is this the first Super Bowl without cheerleaders?

I can’t wait to hear what kind of trouble Roethlisberger got himself into in Dallas, over the last few days. Don’t worry…it’ll come out.

If I misspell Roethlisberger’s name at any time, or start calling him Terry Bradshaw…its intentional.

Green Bay has pretty cool uniforms.

Are the Steelers having an ugly beard contest?

Christ…they are ugly men.

“Release the hounds.” That expression isn’t used often enough, for my liking.

I would actually like a remake of "Who Let The Dogs Out" called "Release The Hounds". Get me Kanye on line 1. That son of a bitch is crazy enough to do it.

I am not for team owners who make their players conform to weird dress regulations. But, I would not allow a player to grow his hair to shoulder length. It looks ridiculous coming out of a football helmet. Ridiculous.

The Black Eyed Peas have promised something spectacular? The only thing I want to see is George and John raised from the dead to join Paul and Ringo at the 50 yard line. It would also be nice to see the Black Eyed Peas get launched off the roof of this stadium and buried head first in one of the snowbanks in the parking lot.

A-Rod and Cameron Diaz. I know he plays baseball. But, why is she still famous? More people will go to a movie theater to use the bathroom than buy a ticket for one of her movies.

Aaron Rodgers throws a great pass to Jordy Nelson….beating William Gay.

Moving on.

So, Doritos bring a dead goldfish, your plant, and your grandfather back to life? I can’t wait for the lawsuits. I’ll tell you one thing it can’t do…say it with me….Doritos cannot bring a dead hooker back to life. You just have to roll her up in the carpet.

“Cowboys and Aliens”. Hmmmmmmm….not sure. The porno that spoofs it will make more money.

God…the montage of the Packers and Steelers. Did anyone have a full set of teeth in the 60’s and 70’s?

HAHA! Roethlisberger gets picked off for seven. Let the fake injuries begin.

What are those dumb tie-dyed shirts the Packers are wearing on the sidelines?

Roethlisberger grabs at his knee. Just rub some Doritos on it, dummy. At least he is grabbing his own knee.

GoDaddy finally did it. I finally threw up watching a commercial. Watching Joan Rivers at GoDaddy would be the worst use of the internet….ever.

If Pittsburgh wants to win this game, they better put Sidney Crosby in at QB, then get some NHL refs to run up and down that field. They'll start getting some calls, in a hurry.

John Travolta sitting in a luxury box. Oh, forget it…it’s just too easy.

So, far the Volkswagon commercial with Darth Vader is the big winner.

Natalie Portman is also in Thor? Enough, already.

Aaaahhhh….Roethlisberger’s nose gets rubbed in shit during the game. Way to bring up his sexual-misconduct charge, during the game. I’m sure his mom hasn’t seen enough of that. I’m sure she isn’t watching, either. No big deal.

Roethlisberger gets picked off, again.

Troy Polamalu looks like he wants to kick Ben’s ass.

Troy Polamalu tries to take the receiver’s head off, but he still catches the ball and the Steelers are still losing. Nice try, hairy.

Captain America. Nice. Let’s just turn off the game and start the movie, at this point.

Roethlisberger finally does something right, as the first-half ends.

I can’t believe American Idol is still on television. I just cant believe it.

The Black Eyed Peas are the worst band…EVER. Fergie…is terrible. Fergie sounds like something you do in a hot-tub after you spent the night eating crab-cakes, bran-muffins, and drinking stale coffee.

Oh, Slash….no.

Yeah! Here comes Usher to make it worse.

Do the Black Eyed Peas write a song that doesn’t incorporate another more famous song?

Watching the Black Eyed Peas makes me want Bud Bowl back.

Haha. Where is the L-O-….E?

Nice work, lighting guys.

I hope Fergie gropes Ben Roethlisberger and says something like, “Me likey” in a really deep voice.

Is it me, or can you tell that Joe Buck is rooting for the Steelers by the way his voice goes up when they score?

The wheels are falling off for Green Bay. They better pull themselves together or Joe Buck is going to jizz in his Dockers.

Adrien Brody for Stella Artois. That was really weird.

Wow…look….Jerry Jones hosts war-criminals in his box.

The Packers are blowing it. Did I mention that?

The Steelers attempt a 52 year field goal….AAAAANNNNDDD……...was he aiming at the high-school goal post down the road?

Nice commercial for Detroit. But, guess what? I’ve been there. It IS hell on earth, ok? Let’s not get stupid. I have never felt more unsafe in public. Even the mall is shady and I was in Livonia. There is a reason why you can buy a house for $15K and the SuperDome for the price of a house in the Philly suburbs. Want to know why? It’s like that because George W. Bush allowed all their jobs to be sent overseas. What a piece of garbage he is.

See how I did that?

Mike Wallace buried as the ball goes through his hands. If I were him, I would tell Roethlisberger to keep the fucking ball down. I like my ribs and breathing is fun.

Does any city with a sports team benefit from stacked officiating the way Pittsburgh does? Their teams get all the calls.

Vote for the MVP? There is still a quarter left to play. Only the NFL, man,

One of my friends said the real winners of the Super Bowl are the people who manufacture yellow pants. Really? Its hard to look cool doing anything in yellow pants.

A hold on Flozell Adams. I just like saying “Flozell”.

Is Byron Leftwich listening to his iPod on the sidelines?
Is Byron Leftwich still in the NFL?

(Douchebag throws up gang-signs)

Roethlisberger points at the sky. Dude….really? God doesn’t like you.

If you had your pick, what show would you take off the air: Glee or American Idol?

Your answer is wrong. The correct answer is “both”.

Wow…Joe Buck isn’t even trying to hide the fact that he has money on Pittsburgh. You can hear it in his voice.

Aaron Rodgers is moving the ball down the field. I really do want to see them beat Pittsburgh. Enough of them, already.

Kim Kardashian found a way to be in a Super Bowl commercial? I guess it had to happen.

Roethlisberger throws an incomplete pass on 4th and 5. The Packers are going win the Super Bowl and all is right with the world.

Somewhere, Brett Favre is taking a picture of his dong.

Pam Oliver, again. Oh, the shit I went through to make fun of you tonight.

Now, go get your Shake Weight, big-mouth.

Roger Goodell is trying wrestle the microphone away from Terry Bradshaw - who isn't letting it go. God...the owners are scumbags. Even if the league goes on strike, the owners still get paid the revenue they would make as if the season were still being played.

Dear NFL Players Association - Stand strong and demand what you deserve. The owners can't do a thing without you.

Congrats, Green Bay.

An Album You Should Own - 7/2/10

2010-07-02T00:01:00.003-05:00

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedoes

As Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers set out to make their third album, their world was being turned upside down. Their record label, Shelter, was being sold to MCA Records. To free himself from his partnership with MCA, Petty sent himself into bankruptcy. His feud with MCA is the stuff of legend. Each night he had to box up the tapes of the day's recording sessions for fear that MCA would come in and seize the tapes. Petty insisted that the tapes be hidden without him knowing where they were, so that if he were ever asked to tell a courtroom where they were, he would not know.

In short, he risked everything.

In the midst of it all, he still found the time to record an album that basically revitalized FM radio in the late 70's.

Make no mistake about it, "Damn The Torpedoes" is a KILLER album. There are nine songs on the album and four of them have become classic-rock staples. Before they were classic-rock songs, they were songs that helped Petty and his band go from being rising-stars to legitimate superstars.

"Damn The Torpedoes" delivers on the promise of Petty's first two albums by streamlining Petty's vision of classic Stones and Byrds riffs. Jimmy Iovine's production makes the songs sparkle and pop. In fact, the songs have a timeless feel about them that make them sound as modern now as they did when they were released.

It didn't hurt that the Heartbreakers matured into a band that has since become one of the greatest rock bands the United States has ever produced. They were powerful, even muscular, without losing the ability to be subtle. This is no small accomplishment, either. Left in the wrong hands, songs like "Here Comes My Girl" would not find the dynamic that helps it achieve its slow-burn.

In the end, its Petty's songwriting that triumphs. Songs like "American Girl", "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Even The Losers" are triumphant rock songs that are built on a foundation of quiet melancholy. "Refugee" is a blistering rock song that still achieves lift-off because Petty weaves a sense of rebellion tightly through its pop-hooks.

Its also a perfect summer record. Throw it in your CD player and roll down your windows. It doesn't disappoint and only grows stronger with each listen. My respect for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers grows with each passing year.

If you don't own this album, explain yourself.
It is one of the best albums of the rock era.

Period.

Further listening: "Hard Promises", "Full Moon Fever", "Wildflowers"
Further viewing: Peter Bogdanovich's excellent documentary "Runnin' Down a Dream"

Trying To Get Organized (Or, Getting Some Things Done Before I Turn 40)

2010-07-01T08:34:00.007-05:00

As the summer begins to unfold, a few things are constant:

1) It will get hot.
2) I will get "back-to-school" circulars in my Sunday paper, this weekend.
3) Lots of time will go by before I really decide to do anything.

Last summer, I wrote about how quickly times goes by. In fact, I think that was posted on August 11th. Lots of people wrote to me and said they really enjoyed that particular post. I imagine its because it struck a nerve with many of you.

Time can slide by quickly even as it seems to crawl. The simple truth is...time is time. The days are no faster than they were last year, etc.

With that in mind, I have made a decision to make a list of some things I want to accomplish before summer ends. Usually, I try to make lists that are day-to-day. Let's face it, its not exactly easy to accomplish long term goals unless you organize your time. Now that summer is here, I barely wear a watch. Organize my time?

Forget it. I do that 9.5 months of the year. The other 2.5 are mine. I keep track of time for almost no one between late June and early September.

Having said that, if I am going to get some of these things done, I need to at least make a time-table. With October right around the corner, I am staring down the big 4-0. Mind you, age does not bother me. I can't stop time, so I really don't care about how old I am or will become. It's life. I try not to get too worked up about things like this. The simple fact is, its unavoidable. I worry about what I can change.

So far, I have made a list of goals that looks like this:

1) Read a few books by J.D. Salinger - Many of the students in my school were reading "The Catcher In The Rye", this past year. I have already read this book. The other day, I was struck with the urge to read "Franny and Zooey". I am going to do that this summer. In fact, I am going to try and plow through a few of the books that have been collecting dust on my nightstand.

2) Good rid of clutter - Those who know me will tell you I am a pack-rat. Now, its not to the point where I need an intervention because I cant move around my house. I just get absent-minded. I read several magazines a month. In fact, I get them delivered. Once in a while, I have to go through the process of throwing out several months of magazines that sit in piles next to my nightstand. This summer, I am going to clear the floor.

3) Paint and redesign my powder-room - If you have ever been to my home, you know my basement walls are lined with music memorabilia. Some of if it is really cool stuff. Then, there are things that just take up space. This summer, I am going to finish the basement. Partly because I know that means I will find another house. That's the way it works. I also just have some things hanging in my first floor bathroom, right behind my toilet that I no longer want to look at while I am taking a piss. Its time for the images of a few people to come down from the walls of my house. The only reason they don't go in the trash is because someone took great care to make them for me.

4) Get back into fighting shape - Nothing makes you feel older...like well, feeling older. Nothing makes you feel better than reshaping your body with sweat and hard work. I like the feeling of working out hard and really sweating, coming home, taking a good shower and falling asleep relaxed. Mind you, I am not one of these people that weighs himself as I go, either. I know that pounds fall off better if you don't watch. I just like feeling comfortable in my own skin.

5) Eat right - It feels good to eat right. Besides, accomplishing #4 goes hand-in-hand with doing #5.

Along with all of this, I am still going to do as much as I can to become a master of the fine art of doing nothing. I plan on watching movies, taking walks, listening to music...making some music? It would be nice to find one band that I never heard of to fall in love with this summer. I am listening to a band called "The Young Veins", right now. I like their stuff. I have also been listening to a great deal of jazz. You can't go wrong with the masters. If anyone has any music suggestions, I am always open to hearing them. Drop me a note.

I am going to ride my bike into Valley Green and swim in that damn waterfall near the 2.5 mile marker. I also want to climb the trail and see the Toleration Statue up close, again. It's been too long since I have seen it.

By the time October comes, I want to have a favorite drink. Every man should have one. I have been experimenting with some. So far, I like the Orange Aperol Fizz. You fill a large glass with ice, mix equal parts orange juice and Aperol (good luck finding it - Campari makes a good substitute) and top it off with prosecco.

Well, that's all for today.
As you can see, I have quite a list.

But, the most important thing - spending time with family and friends. I like doing that just about as much as I like doing anything else. I am going to start, this weekend. I hope I get to see as many of you as possible, this summer.

Let's have some fun.

What I've Learned

2010-06-28T10:29:00.007-05:00

It's been an interesting twelve months, to say the least.

I have talked a great deal about leaving one of the worst schools in the city, only to land in one of the best. None of that really matters as much as the lessons I learned walking that road.

There are times when events force us to take a good, long look at ourselves. In those moments, you have to decide what kind a person you are. All of the usual analogies come into play. The long and short of it is that you have to make some decisions.

In the midst of it all, you might be fortunate enough to meet someone who actually knows a thing or two about leading people with dignity. Learn everything you can from people like this. They are a rare treasure and you should study them closely.

Here are some of the things I learned:

It's not wrong to quit on what I like to call "The False Idol". Don't waste your time working for/with anyone who is a leader in name only. Some people have a title, but lack the ability to fill that position with any shred of credibility or sign of competence. Don't waste any time on these people. It's beneath you.

If your boss has a right to demand big things from you, it isn't wrong to hold them to a high standard.

Just because a guy owns the suit, doesn't mean he knows to wear it.

If your boss swears freely in front of his/her employees, his/her brain isn't firing on all cylinders.

Take note of how your boss appoints his/her office. It is a reflection of what is important to him/her. If it is a mess or reflects some childish theme, you are in trouble. That ship is going down. Get off quick.

It is possible to be a leader without intimidating or lying to people.

Manipulation is a tool used by people who do not have the mental capacity to navigate the fine art of diplomacy.

There will always be bad people, you cannot avoid them. All you can do is rise above them.

Sooner or later, everybody gets theirs. What goes around, comes around. There is a reason why people have been saying this for years. It's true.

If a leader is a known liar, he/she lies to everyone. At some point, its going to be your turn.

There is no favor to be found with people like this.

Don't make enemies. They have a way of multiplying.

Good or bad, "deserve" has nothing to do with it.

Never...ever....kiss anyone's ass. It is beneath you. Simply do your job. Trust me, a decent leader will like you more than the person who is constantly buzzing around them with their lips puckered. If someone likes having their ass kissed, they weren't hugged enough as a kid. They have bigger problems than you can possibly solve.

Some people say they want to make a difference, but that is all talk. Most people will put the burden on their subordinates and take the credit for themselves.

Never trust anyone who has no business being at a meeting where they are not qualified to speak. This person is too close to the boss for all the wrong reasons and they will betray you and everyone else to get ahead and stay ahead. For instance; If the head groundskeeper is sitting in on a meeting about educational policy...that person has done something unusual to win such favor with the boss and should be monitored closely. Never turn your back on that person.

Nothing replaces good hard work. People will look favorably on you for being punctual and staying until the job is done correctly.

If the people you work for don't appreciate that, you are working for some bad people.

Beware any leader who desires a workforce of people without spouses or children. This person is an evil, self-serving prick. Don't believe a word that comes out of his/her mouth...not even "hello".

Never let anyone tell you who you are. Fuck all that noise. You know yourself better than anyone. Never miss a chance to look that person in the face and tell them to quit while they are ahead. Feel free to swear.

Don't be afraid to say when you don't have an answer. Instead, admit it..and prove your worth by doing everything within your power to find an answer and help someone solve a problem.

Never let a person get away with talking down your accomplishments. They are yours. Chances are good, you worked hard for them. No one just gives you anything worth having. If someone tries to talk down what you've done, give it to them with both barrels. You are a person and you are worthy of respect.

Great leaders don't have time to socialize. They are too busy doing things to safeguard the good thing they have built. Incidentally, they are also working tirelessly to protect you, whether you know it or not.

A good leader does not interfere when things are going well. They also do not spend their days, trying to torpedo their colleagues. They always play it straight. They do not look for loopholes to get what they want.

Great leaders are not pompous. They never miss an opportunity to recognize the people who support them. In doing so, they keep the allegiance of everyone around them.

No one likes a blow-hard. Good leaders do not step on everyone around them to prove they are great. They know they do not need to put their foot on someone's throat and pound their chest just to look like a conqueror.

Great leaders are not petty and they do not take things personally. They also do not take every opportunity they are presented with to make people suffer.

Great leaders respect the institution of the people beneath them. They do not seek to belittle the institutions that make their workforce feel empowered. These are the practices of small-minded men.

Good leaders forge their own identity. However, they respect the culture they enter and honor its traditions. If you get a new boss who tries to destroy a respected, long-standing member of your office, rise up against him. A move like this is only the beginning and you are to be pitied if you stand by and do nothing. As sure as tomorrow will come, you will be next. Count on it.

A great leader builds a culture, defends it and nurtures it by carefully choosing people who will replenish it with their efforts - day in and day out.

Appreciate the people who put their faith in you. When the moment comes, thank them.

Finally...

Sometimes, you need luck to get something you want. Once you get there, it's all on you. Be ready to seize your moment when it comes. When the hype dies down and your celebration ends, you are "on". No one cares how much you suffered and struggled to reach this point. People want results. Do more than just "come through"...over-deliver.

There is a Japanese proverb that reads, "If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by."

It's true. With that in mind, keep your enemies few. You don't need them junking up your drinking water or polluting your ocean. After all, despite what they want you to believe....the world is actually yours.

At least, that's what I've learned.

(Special mention to my friend James for sending this adding, "You should create an addendum to this by posting a link to “Happy Hour is 9 to 5” by Alexander Kjerulf

It’s about being happy with the work you do and not simply equating it to money, an office, travel ,etc.")

You can check that out at the following link:

http://positivesharing.com/happyhouris9to5/bookhtml/happyhouris9to55.html

Happy Birthday....

2010-05-10T08:58:00.004-05:00

Paul David Hewson turns 50, today.

Did that just make a few of you feel a bit older?

Happy Birthday, Bono.

Your commitment to others and your art has influenced me since I turned thirteen. Staring down the barrel of 40, I can tell you that you have never disappointed me.

Long may you run...

The End of The Universe

2010-04-21T14:42:00.004-05:00

Someone dug up a film clip of Ronald Reagen acting with James Dean and it is now appearing on an internet site near you.

Watching this does something funny to the section of my brain that thinks it has a lock on what I thought was cool and uncool.

Those two things just collided in ugly fashion, thanks to this clip.

What's next?

If they find footage of Springsteen singing karaoke with Glenn Beck, I am going to burn my record collection.

Conan O'Brien Returns To Late-Night Television In November, 2010

2010-04-12T14:19:00.004-05:00

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF TEAM COCO!

We officially get the chance to kick Leno in the balls, in a few months.

Conan O'Brien will be taking the 11pm time slot on TBS in November.
George Lopez will move to the midnight slot.

“The good news: I will be doing a show on TBS starting in November! The bad news: I’ll be playing Rudy on the all new Cosby Show,” O’Brien tweeted today, hours before his Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour launches in Eugene, Oregon. “In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly,” O’Brien, who will emcee this year’s Bonnaroo Festival, said in a press release.

The move follows months of speculation that O'Brien would be hosting a show to air on Fox.

I know I speak for many people when I express how happy this makes me.

In other news...

Many of you have written me notes asking why I have not written anything in months. Well, I am able to brain-dump on Facebook. The blog takes real time.

As many of you know, I have been busy teaching in a terrific school. As the summer approaches, I will begin blogging more regularly. I have also solicited some contributions from some very cool writers.

So, stay tuned!

Richard Ashcroft - C'mon People (We're Making It Now)

2010-02-14T10:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends....

Soundgarden Reunites

2010-01-01T14:29:00.007-05:00

That's right.

You didn't exactly hear it from me first.
But, this reunion is happening.

Soundgarden fans woke up to incredible news this New Year’s morning: the band, which split in 1997, is officially reuniting. Frontman Chris Cornell confirmed the reconciliation via Twitter, writing, “The 12 year break is over & school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!” *

A new website has hit the web - SOUNDGARDENWORLD.COM
Visitors can submit their information to be notified about reunion news.

2010 is already shaping up pretty nicely for music lovers.

When Chris Cornell released the ill-advised "Scream", I said to my friends the only thing he could do to restore his credibility would be to reunite with Soundgarden.

So, I called it.

You're welcome.

Happy New Year.

Your Christmas present just came late...or, several months early.

*http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/01/01/soundgarden-reunion-is-official-school-is-back-in-session-writes-chris-cornell/

Jeff Buckley Disappeared One Night In Tennessee....

2009-12-31T11:03:00.006-05:00

As I sit here on the last day of this decade, I look back at all the talent we lost and think about Jeff Buckley.

I know he died in 1997.

Somehow, his death still sounds a low tone in the hollows of me.

Why?

I think about how much more I wanted from him every time I hear his voice. I realize that there is a big difference between what I want and what I am going to receive.

I suppose I just think about the fate of such a young man - with so much to give - dying so suddenly and carelessly.

For the uninitiated, Buckley waded, fully clothed, into the Wolf River Harbor (a channel of the Mississippi River) on the evening of May 29, 1997. He was 31 years old and enjoying the success that his brilliant singing and guitar-playing had earned him. As he sang the chorus to Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", his friend and roadie Keith Foti turned his attention away from Buckley for a moment to move a guitar and a radio out of the wake of a passing tugboat. When he turned around, Buckley was gone.

His body was spotted by a tourist on a riverboat on June 4th.

For some reason, Buckley's death really saddened me and still gives me pause to this day. A young man, in the absolute prime of his life - at the height of his powers - gone.

The other day, I saw this raw video of him performing at Sin-e and I was moved by the casual nature of it. The people standing only inches from him - the way they casually turn their backs on him, from time to time. It makes me wonder, "Would they have stared more closely if they knew what fate this man would suffer? Would they have savored this moment if they realized this man would become a legend the moment his body disappeared from view that fateful night in Tennessee?"

It's ironic that during the video, someone tries to take a picture of Buckley and he asks her to put her camera down. He asks the crowd to just "be together". Now that I think about it, I wish I had a dime for every concert I attended where I look around and see people watching the entire event through the lens of their cellphone or some mini recording device. They paid their money for a seat and then missed "the happening". Instead of being one with the performer and the people around them, they remove themselves from the moment and squeeze themselves into the narrow gaze of a viewfinder.

Splendid isolation?

Pretty sterile, if you ask me.

Because of this, I learned to fix my eyes more closely on things others find innocuous. I guess I just don't want to take those things for granted. There is always a chance I might never see those things, again.

I am sure I will never see Jeff Buckley, again.
In fact, its a certainty.

But, that doesn't mean I have to stop looking.

Have a great year, everyone.
Keep your eyes open to the possibility of the beauty that is all around you.

Hallelujah...

Flashmob - "Weeds" (Season 5, Episode 1)

2009-12-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

I think the world could use more spontaneous outbursts like this.

Alright, so they do rehearse.

Jesse Winchester - Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding

2009-12-22T12:07:00.003-05:00

I caught this performance on Elvis Costello's fantastic show "Elvis Costello - Spectacle".

Jesse is a great musician who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War. His career really suffered for it. However, he is considered a real heavyweight in the world of singer-songwriters. Prior to the show, I had no real experience with his music.

When he performed this song, I found myself hanging on every word. I think the moment that really got me was when I saw Neko Case begin to cry towards the end of the song. To see an artist of her caliber be that open and moved by another musician's work was breathtaking. I actually hit rewind just to see her reaction a second time.

The audience roars and Costello gushes.
I almost stood on my couch and cheered.

So, thanks to Elvis Costello for inviting a real artist into my living-room and giving me a great new body of work to explore.

Jesse Winchester deserves your attention. His new album is called "Love Filling Station" and it is worth a listen.

Top 20 Albums of 2009

2009-12-21T09:54:00.003-05:00

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Sonic Youth - The Eternal
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Maxwell - Blacksummers'Night
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

If you have any music fans on your Christmas list, you might want to grab one of these CDs to put in their stocking. The music business might be going to hell, but each year produces a crop of at least 20 CDs that are worth a close listen.

Wilco resurfaced with a terrific album that could easily be mistaken as tongue-in-cheek. A closer listen shows a band carefully examining its legacy as it moves forward. Its also the first time in many years the band was able to maintain the same line-up of musicians for consecutive albums. Monsters Of Folk and Grizzly Bear also lead the charge for musicians with an ear for harmonies and catchy melodies. Representing the ladies, Neko Case released one more album that should make her a genuine star, if there was any justice in the world.

Jay-Z returned with a dense, pulsing effort that earned him a spot in the top twenty. But, it was Mos Def who released the year's best rap-album. Not only is the music great, you can almost hear him smiling at the mic. While all that happened, Maxwell quietly released the best R&B album of the last year. Supposedly, it is the first in a series of three albums with a similar theme.

Bring the noise, you say?

Wolfmother sounded the call for the Aussies and Arctic Monkeys turned it up loud in the name of The Queen. Some bands might rock harder, but they don't rock much smarter than Mastodon. Don't believe me?

"When asked in multiple interviews Dailor (Brann Dailor - the group's drummer) said the record would tell a story dealing variously with the art aesthetics of Tsarist Russia, astral travel, out of body experiences and Stephen Hawking's theories on wormholes."

Your favorite metal band didn't do that...ever.

If you like records with a theme, Green Day came back with its second "rock-opera". "21st Century Breakdown" shows the band in great form as it does what few bands have managed to do since The Who - release consistently great records revolving around a central theme that begins and ends an album. Its refreshing that a great rock band can still become famous and keep their eyes on whats happening in the real world.

Sonic Youth served notice that they were still the godfathers of the alternative-rock world. "The Eternal" is one of the best albums they have released in several years. At the same time, Yeah Yeah Yeahs did the unthinkable by putting down their guitars and picking up the synths. It makes sense that they would draw on a rich tradition of New York dance rock that started with Talking Heads and continues to this day with TV On The Radio.

The Dead Weather made me wonder if everyone in the music business who believes they have real talent is just kidding themselves. Jack White has all the talent, alright? The Dead Weather is a better record than it has any right to be. It is spooky, well-imagined and played with enough Zeppelin-esque stomp to make me think Jack White could actually ditch Meg and just continue to make up other projects to occupy his time. Don't laugh. He hasn't failed yet.

Speaking of Zeppelin, 2009 saw the return of John Paul Jones in the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. Teaming with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme, Jones' thundering bass lines were the cornerstone for one of the year's most surprising releases. Check out a song like "Elephants" and witness three of the best musicians at their respective instruments attempting to cram all of Led Zeppelin II into one blazing track.

Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan released albums that solidified their places as the best songwriters of the last half-century. Both men release consistently great albums and remain relevant long after other acts go stale. Speaking of a good time, Pearl Jam recaptured the punky spark that endeared them to music fans in the early nineties.

Phoenix pumped out a joyous mix of guitar rock and electronics, releasing "Lisztomania," one of the year's best singles and the catchiest song ever about Franz Liszt.

Finally, U2 returned with an album that was full of dramatic moments as it attempted to explore the dark places. The album did not receive overwhelming support from critics or fans. However, U2 proved that a band must evolve in order to stay true to itself and its fan base. It is also living proof that a band that isn't busy being born is busy dying.

There is something on this list for every kind of music lover you know. Alright, there is no classical or country. But, that won't hurt anyone.

Trust me.

U2 - I Believe In Father Christmas

2009-12-21T09:05:00.000-05:00

Brittany Murphy - 1977-2009

2009-12-20T17:59:00.002-05:00

Actress Brittany Murphy was pronounced dead on arrival at Cedars-Sinai, this morning.

Rescue workers received a call around 8 a.m. and announced that, "(We)...have a preliminary death report of someone with the name of Brittany Murphy."

The cause of death is under investigation. However, cardiac arrest (which could be caused by a number of things) is being called the preliminary cause, at this time.

Brittany Murphy was 32.

Random Spills - 12/17/09 part 1

2009-12-17T10:45:00.005-05:00

Talk about being busy...

But, its been good. I work in a great school and I work for good people. So, I can't complain. Time really flies, though. I blinked and it was Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas...

How about that Tiger Woods, ladies and gentlemen?

I only know a few people capable of being this stupid. I know guys that have pulled bonehead moves when it comes to how they deal with women, but this one takes the cake. At this moment, no one is really sure just how many women Tiger Woods is/was fucking. Now, he wants to stay with his wife? Talk about "worst move ever". Forget the "It's Cheaper to Keep'er" argument. To get out of this one, its reported that Woods would have to surrender about $300 million of his estimated $1 billion-dollar estate.

No big deal?
Money is money.
I don't care who you are - your hands will shake signing that check.
You might even pee your pants a little.

No matter, really.
Tiger earned it.

So, Tiger....this beautiful woman just wasn't enough for your goofy-looking ass? I guess not. But, don't worry dummy. After she takes your money and rolls, wait until you see the dude she starts sleeping with....in your house.

We are going to be clownin' your ass.

He didn't just get caught cheating. At this moment, Playgirl is entertaining the idea of publishing nude pictures of him that were taken when he was...oh,who gives a fuck...? Someone got nude pictures of him and now they are threatening to publish them.

How much worse can this get?

Not only are women coming forward to talk about sleeping with him, taking money from him, doing Ambien with him, going on trips with...holy shit, when did this guy find time to play golf? Now, men are coming forward saying that they were in relationships with some of those women while Tiger was screwing them. Medical professionals are being questioned about the possibility that they supplied Woods with performance enhancing drugs.

Folks, we are officially going down the "rabbit-hole" with Tiger Woods.

"Can I stay at your house, Phil? I'm outdoors, man."

Gillette, Accenture and Gatorade have all dropped their sponsor deals with Woods. If that isn't bad enough, they are saying the game of golf itself is going to suffer because of this. When Woods took a hiatus from the tour to rehab an injury, an estimated 50% of the viewers who watched the PGA tour stopped watching. I feel sorry for the guys who routinely show up to get their asses kicked by Woods. After all, I only know Phil Mickelson's name because he is a guy who just can't beat Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson blowing it

Then, a few of them got the idea that all of the companies who bailed on Tiger would automatically start throwing some endorsements their way.

Golfers blowing their loads....

But, I have news for your guys...that is not how marketing works. Just because Accenture drops Tiger Woods, it does not mean they view you as being a viable alternative for the success of their advertising strategy. So, put it back in your pants and settle down.

So, just how bad is this getting for Tiger? CNN reports that Woods' indiscretions have upset many people in the African-American community. It seems that there is anger over the fact that he isn't...I don't know...dicking over African-American women? Don't shoot me over that. I have heard it being discussed on talk shows and it makes me scratch my head, too. I only mention it because it is just one more problem Woods did not anticipate when all of this started.

At this point, people are just piling on.
Is it the promise of a payday?
Is it for quick fame?

Call it what you want, Woods' problems are just beginning.

I mean...you can't even make this many bad moves in a game of Chess. After a certain point, the game is over.

Is it over for Tiger?

That remains to be seen. But, this approval rating is way down. Hey, if he comes back and wins, this might go away.

For now, the image he fought so hard to cultivate - a family man, a dominant athlete, squeaky clean - has been destroyed. One thing Tiger Woods can take solace in - Americans love a comeback.

I guess the question is, "Have we seen the worst of this?"
Or, will Tiger Woods fool all of us and emerge from this unscathed?

Only Oprah knows for sure...

More random spills tomorrow as South Philly High appoints an old colleague of mine to clean up their halls...

John Frusciante Leaves Red Hot Chili Peppers?

2009-12-15T08:01:00.004-05:00

As of this morning, several different websites are reporting that John Frusciante is leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is being reported that he will be replaced by Josh Klinghoffer (pictured below). Sources close to the band say that Frusciante wants to do his own thing and is tired of the "machinery" that surrounds being in a band as commercial as RHCP.

Earlier this year, Frusciante made comments that indicated he had no future plans with the band. When asked, Chad Smith said that he was told to "...avoid answering any 'John' questions."

At this moment, the band is moving forward with the man who backs up Frusciante when the band tours. Its hard to know what to make of this move. I just know that the band went into a tailspin when Frusciante left in the mid-nineties. His melodic influence is a heavy presence in some of the band's best material. So, replacing a guitarist is not the issue. Plenty of people can play Frusciante's parts. But, very few guitarists have his soul and his songwriting ability.

Can Josh Klinghoffer fill his shoes?
Time will tell.

Let's hope this one is a rumor.

Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas

2009-12-04T11:01:00.004-05:00

It's been some time since I checked in.

But, I was sitting here this morning, listening to Christmas music.
I wanted to share this song with all of you because I think it is really beautiful.
There are two versions here. The first is Ron Sexsmith performing the song he wrote.

The second version is a guy I saw perform it on Youtube.
I thought he did such a nice job with it. So, I wanted you all to see it.

The message of the song is so pure and direct.
I guess I am posting it because I believe this is what Christmas is truly about.
I love gifts and decorations. That stuff is great.
However, I do recognize the greater meaning of the season. It is not necessarily religious, either. It is about a heightened sense of humanity that we can realize and share with each other.

Recently, I have had a rash of people tell me they hate Christmas music.
Sorta sad...but, alright.
I also hear many people say they do not like Christmas because it is too commercial.

I agree...to an extent.

Perhaps, I am just able to filter out the things I do not like about Christmas and I am just able to open myself to the beauty I see in it. I have always thought that winter was a season of imagination. When you throw the holiday season in the mix, it is like a child's dream.

To me, Christmas is a season that is for everyone. It does not matter who you are. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve is a time for friends and giving. I do not think you need to give a physical gift, either.

Maybe, Christmas is about giving the gift of friendship or forgiveness to someone who needs it. What could be wrong with that?

My wish for all my friends is that they get what they want this year.
Believe me, I know many people who are struggling and suffering greatly.

I wish I could help them. But, all I can do is wish that each of them finds peace and happiness.

Enjoy the tune...

Pearl Jam - The Philadelphia Spectrum - October 30, 2009

2009-11-11T11:05:00.007-05:00

From the time these shows were announced, I said that I would not chase Pearl Jam tickets. I have seen them many times. Often, I am only impressed with their musical ability. Since the early nineties, Pearl Jam's performances have been less energetic. As guys age, they just can't hang from balconies and dive into crowds.

So, when Fuzz called with the promise of a seat, I thought hard before saying I would attend. In the end, it was the opportunity to see history that forced my hand.

It didn't take long before I realized that The Spectrum has to go because you have to fight like a Viking warrior to get through the concourse to your seat. Once inside, I encountered my friends from Main Street Music. They were hand-chosen by Pearl Jam to sell Pearl Jam merchandise in the arena (good publicity for a great group of music-lovers).

I said hello and met Dan DeLuca from the Philadelphia Inquirer. We talked for a few minutes. He asked me what I will remember about The Spectrum and what it means to me.

"I saw my first concert here when I was 11," said Joe Ippolito, 39, of Norristown. "It was Van Halen. It was the first place I got turned on to live music."

Ippolito, a teacher at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and former singer for the cover band Flip Like Wilson, acknowledged that time had run out on the Spectrum.

"Unfortunately, it's also really outdated," he said Friday, standing by the Main Street Music booth, where the Manayunk record store was selling merchandise at Pearl Jam's invitation. "I just almost got crushed walking around the concourse.

"But for a music fan, it's magic when the lights go out. It's like every kid's fantasy when you walk through those doors. I've seen everybody here. Jane's Addiction, U2, Bruce Springsteen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiss. I've seen Bobby Clarke and Mario Lemieux here, Dominique Wilkins and Eddie Vedder.

"And I'll tell why it's a shame that they're tearing it down: Can you tell me where the Target Center is? The Xcel Center?" (A Google search reveals both are in Minnesota.) "But the Spectrum? That's part of Philadelphia." *

I confess that I made a mistake when I said I saw Kiss at The Spectrum. In fact, I saw them at First Union Center, or whatever they called it that week. But, I did see every other band I mentioned at The Spectrum. I also saw Bryan Adams there. For the record, he was awesome. I also told Dan that there were so many people on that concourse, that I was sure a few of us would contract H1N1. I also said that somewhere along the way, I gained the ability to play banjo. That's when you know you are rubbing up against someone way too hard.

My seat for Pearl Jam was behind the stage. This time, I learned from the mistake I made at the Springsteen show. Apparently, nobody listens to the warning about bringing in cameras. I never bring in a camera and all I see around me are flashes popping. All the while, I attempt to take pictures with my cellphone. Mostly, because I am an idiot.

As the lights dimmed, two large screens began showing some of the greater moments in Spectrum history. Images of Darryl Dawkins, Julius Erving and The Broad Street Bullies were woven together with flashes of Bruce Springsteen and other great events the Spectrum hosted. As the crowd cheered, we all knew the show was about to start. Then, the lights went out and the theme from "Rocky" blasted the crowd from the PA system.

For the record, I never felt a building shake before. This time, I did. The roar of that crowd made the hair on my arms stand up. It was a very cool moment. As Pearl jam took the stage, I could tell that this show was going to be one of those special moments for any concert-goer lucky enough to be in attendance.

The band tore through a few songs from their new album, "Backspacer". From there, it was time for the band to start playing songs from its extensive back-catalogue. The only complaint I have is that as Pearl Jam attempted to live up to the promise of playing every song they ever recorded, I sat through many songs that I would rather not hear. That being said, all of the songs were played extremely well. There is no denying that Pearl Jam is one of the best American rock bands to emerge in the last twenty-five years. They were confident, well-rehearsed and tight.

From time to time, I would take a walk on the concourse and take pictures. In fact, I ventured up the stairs to take pictures from different angles. Early in the show, I saw a man on a stretcher being taken out of the arena by EMTs. Later, I was told that he fell out of one of the top levels into the lower section.

What's the story there? How does that happen?
Well, we all have our Spectrum memories. Now, he has one.

Settling comfortably in my seat, I watched the band and realized, "God, I remember when this band was brand new. I was in my early twenties. As I approach forty, I realize that I have become one of those people that can now say, 'I remember when...'

The first song I heard by the band was "Alive", from the classic album "Ten". I recall going to Europe in the summer of 1994 and listening to that cassette until I almost wore it out.

For me, that moment had real weight. They also played "Breath". For many years, that song was a rarity. Hearing them play it live was very special. The thing I will take away from the show is the devotion of Pearl Jam's true fans. They love this band and they know every word to every song. For most of the show, the entire crowd sang along and didn't miss a beat. They knew deep cuts and b-sides. It was impressive. It led me to the belief that Pearl Jam has become that unique band that has earned a populist following and the kind of following reserved for bands like The Grateful Dead and Phish. Their fans will travel long distances to see them and support them through every artistic turn. For real Pearl Jam fans, they are no obscure songs. Every song is as meaningful as the last.

In the end, it is the earnest approach of this band that wins me over every time. There are not many bands that perform like they mean it. There are even fewer bands that are this true to themselves. Pearl Jam is a band that plays well within its own space. They do not lend themselves to trends or compromise. Their vision is singular and focused. When they take the stage, Eddie, Jeff, Mike, Stone and Matt play like every show matters. They give it all to their fans, night after night.

As any Philadelphian will tell you, that is all that we ask for from our heroes. This town doesn't always walk away with the big prize. But, we do appreciate the competitor that keeps swinging until they turn the lights off.

As I left, I never turned around. I want to remember this moment.

Eddie turned to his bandmates and asked, "You wanna play some punk-rock?" All I could think was, "Hell, yes..." In a flash, I am that 21 year old discovering one of the best rock bands of my generation. In many ways, they are guys just like me. As the last chords of "Sonic Reducer" ring out, I remember why I love these guys - its all about going down with your hands in the air...until someone turns the lights off. Or, in this case, until someone turns the lights on.

As I leave, I can't resist.
I turn back one last time.

So many memories.

* http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20091101_History_lives_one_last_night_as_Pearl_Jam_closes_it_out.html

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - The Philadelphia Spectrum - October 13, 2009

2009-10-14T08:03:00.014-05:00

The first thing you have to remember when you settle in for a Springsteen show is that it is going to be an endurance contest.

He will outlast you.

As the Spectrum draws it's last beer-drenched breaths, Springsteen opened the night with a song he hasn't played live since 1973. From the opening chords of "Seaside Bar Song", it was clear that the evening was going to be something special.

The night was full of possibilities and Springsteen did not disappoint.

The second song, "Wrecking Ball", was meant to be an ode to the old barn with its shout-outs to Dr. J. and "cheese steaks as big as airplanes". Originally written for New Jersey's Giants Stadium, it was retrofitted with lyrics meant to bring the locals to their feet.

That's alright...the crowd loved it, anyway. We don't care if you love someone else, Bruce...just love us best.

Then, there is a promise in the dark as the man calls out, "The Spectrum will live forever!", making it very clear just how much this building means to the Springsteen mystique. After all, The Spectrum is the first arena-sized gig that he ever played, in October 1976.

"Out In The Street" is a revelation each time I hear it. Beneath the buoyancy of the song's beat and Springsteen's good-natured mugging, there is a swagger and toughness that stands out when he sings the words,

"When I'm out in the street
I walk the way I wanna walk
When I'm out in the street
I talk the way I wanna talk"

In a few short minutes, Springsteen has lifted us to the ceiling. At sixty, he conjures enough energy to shame men half his age. I am a little more than twenty years his junior and as I watch him I think, "I need to put on my sneakers and do some road-work."

"Outlaw Pete" sounded amazing, even if it was delivered with Springsteen in a cowboy hat...an image I could live without. After the sturdy "Working On A Dream", Springsteen leads the band through a rousing "Hungry Heart" and crowd-surfs from the middle of the Spectrum floor back to the stage.

Considering the guy is a 60-year-old AARP cover boy, the mere sight of this takes your breath away. The entire time, I am thinking, "Just don't drop him. Then, Philly will be the city that ended Springsteen's touring career. First Santa Claus...now...this..."

It's been more than thirty years since Springsteen became a household name by landing on the cover of Time and Newsweek. And last night, it was that defining moment that provided the dramatic centerpiece to an evening rife with emotion and supercharged by the memories that Springsteen made with many of these same audience members over the last three decades.

Before Springsteen performed "Born To Run" from start to finish, he told the audience, "This is a record that introduced a lot of us to each other. And it holds a special place in my heart."

With a slight tease, Springsteen raised a harmonica to his mouth and sounded out the opening notes of "Thunder Road", with all the conviction of a man who still who still walks around in the same destroyed Chuck Taylors of the twenty-something who wrote that song. It was epic and spine-chilling. The band ripped into the song trying to recapture the very feeling that gave birth to one of the most realized visions of sad-eyed Romanticism ever written.

It was a singular moment that Springsteen would put behind him with the release of "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", three years later. That album provided a glimpse into the soul of a man who begins to feel the pressure associated with achieving some measure of your dreams. If "Born To Run" is about a young man yearning to break free, "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" is the sound of that same man, about an hour outside of town...with no gas and no money.

Mission-sort-of-accompished?

Well, Springsteen has spent the better part of his storied career trying to reconcile all the moments before, after and in-between. But, last night was all about the grandeur of the moments that lead up to the realization that "something has to change".

"Tenth Avenue Freezeout" was given extra heft thanks to Clarence Clemons' saxophone and the guest performer Curt Ramm, whose trumpet gave "Meeting Across The River" the feel of a mini rock-opera.

As "Jungleland" called out the sweeping climax of "Born To Run", you could almost imagine the room where Springsteen first wrote about the giant Exxon sign that "brings this fair city light". My friend turned to me and said, "He must have performed that song hundreds of times and you can still feel the passion...(in his delivery)."

Springsteen lightened the mood with "Waitin' on a Sunny Day," before pounding his way through The Music Explosion's "Little Bit O'Soul". It wasn't perfection - but, it sure felt good. From there, Springsteen actually took signs from the crowd that had songs names on them and performed "The Fever" to the rapture of many fans who remember the song as an unreleased album-rock radio hit from 1974.

One of the show's more explosive moments came when Nils Lofgren hammered out a blazing guitar-solo on the Springsteen/Patti Smith collaboration "Because the Night". Because the set was front-loaded with the "Born To Run" material, "Bobby Jean" and "Rosalita" felt a bit anti-climactic.

But, you can hardly complain after spending three hours with Bruce Springsteen. The man gives you your money's worth and then some.

Next week, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will perform "Born to Run" again on Monday and "Born in the U.S.A." the following night.

Death Cab For Cutie - Meet Me On The Equinox

2009-10-08T12:33:00.002-05:00

Death Cab For Cutie |MTV Music

As "Twilight" fans wait for "New Moon" to premiere in theaters, Death Cab For Cutie weights-in with the haunting first single from the soundtrack, "Meet Me On The Equinox".

References to the sun's position in the sky and the foreboding mantra "...everything, everything ends" mark the changes in the story's arc as Robert Pattinson kisses Kristen Stewart farewell in a forest.

I am really loving this song, at the moment.

Thom Yorke and Flea Form Supergroup

2009-09-29T10:01:00.003-05:00

At long last...?

In the realm of the strange and unexpected....

Thom Yorke has recruited Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco for a new live outfit that will make its debut this Sunday and Monday, October 4th and 5th, at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre, the singer announced on Radiohead’s Dead Air Space Website this morning.

“In the past couple of weeks I’ve been getting a band together for fun to play The Eraser stuff live and the new songs etc. to see if it could work,” Yorke writes. “We don’t really have a name and the set will not be very long cuz… well… we haven’t got that much material yet! But come and check it out if you are in the area.”*

This is an odd pairing. However, it could yield some really interesting work.

Yorke also recently called his new song “The Hollow Earth” a “bass monster,” so Flea should help in bringing songs like that and Eraser’s “Harrowdown Hill” from the studio to the stage.

Yorke has reportedly long expressed a desire to bring the textural "The Eraser" to the stage, but so far his solo performances have amounted to him sitting alone onstage with an acoustic guitar. That should change with this new, nameless band.

I, for one, already like this more than Chickenfoot.

*http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/09/29/thom-yorke-will-debut-new-band-with-flea-nigel-godrich-in-l-a/

Pearl Jam - Backspacer

2009-09-21T11:13:00.013-05:00

It's hard to believe that we first met this band in 1991-92.

Back then, our heroes were just another band from Seattle, out to make great rock music and have a good time doing it. For most of the band's career, even its most loyal fans have been looking for Pearl Jam to somehow recapture that spunky, live feel of "Ten" and "Vs." The band's musical direction has meandered at times, but it has always managed to hold fast to the sense of purpose that guided it through an infamous battle with Ticketmaster in the late 90's.

Even then, the band manged to seem like it was having a good time.

Most of the criticism of the band has been focused on the lack of urgency and passion on albums like "No Code" and the forgettable "Riot Act". At times, the band seemed to lose its edge.

Well, weep no more...

Backspacer is Pearl Jam's ninth studio album and the high-powered bookend to their eponymous 2006 release. Clocking in at 37 minutes, the band comes out swinging and reclaims its boyish, punky roots. The first three songs "Gonna See My Friend", "Got Some" and "The Fixer" seek to reclaim the ground the band surrendered after their frenzied ode to vinyl "Spin The Black Circle" on 1994's "Vitalogy".

The songs are catchy and the momentum is real.

Having Brendan O'Brien back in the control booth for the first time since 1998 has clearly helped the band's focus. The brilliant guitar attack of Mike McCready and Stone Gossard is in overdrive, grinding out healthy chunks of classic-rock and punk-inspired riffs that constantly propel the band forward. As always, Eddie Vedder is a house-of-fire, and his voice remains the beating-heart in the middle of all the joyous noise.

That's right...joyous.

There is a prevailing sense of optimism that guides "Backspacer". The band feels loose and frisky for the first time in a long time. Even the "yeah, yeah, yeah" chorus in the "The Fixer" conjures the image of a smile on Vedder's face. In fact, the song seems to pick up where the innocent vulnerability of "Wishlist" left off on "Yield". "If something's old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it," sounds like it comes from the same emotional place that harbors the sentiment, "I wish I was a messenger, and all the news was good". Vedder continues, "When something's gone, I wanna fight to get it back again", and I hear, "I wish I was the verb 'to trust', and never let you down."

Vedder also reprises the rustic charm he served up for the "Into the Wild" soundtrack with rugged ballads like "Just Breathe". There is also a lovely homage to the Beach Boys in "Speed of Sound" with its gentle castanets and soft organ drifting just below the melody. Even the barroom lament of "Speed Of Sound" ends by looking forward to the fresh start a new tomorrow will bring. Incidentally, both songs are arguably the most mature ballads the band has ever produced.

For the first time in a long time, Pearl Jam sounds like they are in a genuinely good mood. "Backspacer" is the sound of a band reclaiming the bounce in its step, after years of dragging its boots. For their fans, this renewed sense of optimism is long overdue. Vedder and his bandmates have crafted an album that is full of confident, mature rock songs. "Backspacer" summons the joy and energy of Pearl Jam's early releases without retreading old glories.

Onward and upward, boys.

Ravi Shankar - Dhun (Dadra And Fast Teental)

2009-08-21T07:09:00.004-05:00

What did Ravi Shankar give to the world? Well, before him "world music" was a non-issue with the record-buying public.

He is also Norah Jones' father, if you didn't know.

But, a few words about the clip...

I chose this as one of my musical posts because I love the energy that Shankar puts into his playing. This performance is from the Monterey Pop Festival. At this point, Shankar was an unknown in America. The other artists who were participating in the festival were so enamored of him, they told the promoters they just had to put him on the bill.

When Shankar took the stage, the audience didn't know what to expect. But, his enthusiasm and mastery of the sitar quickly won them over. If you watch closely, you can see Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees leap to his feet, and wildly applaud, at the end of the clip.

Shankar has said that he went on stage ready to open his heart to the audience and give them "all of him". I think that will be evident as you watch this. I am always very inspired by this performance.

Check it out.

The Used - Buried Myself Alive

2009-08-21T07:05:00.003-05:00

I love this song.

With all your hate, you will bury yourself alive.
With all your spite, you will bury yourself alive.
With all your lust, anger, jealousy...you will bury yourself alive.

And, if you want me back...your gonna have to ask nicer than that.....

But, sometimes...you get carted off kicking and screaming in the prison you made for yourself.

Al Pacino - Peace Within Inches

2009-08-19T07:17:00.003-05:00

There are many titles for this speech. I know it as "Peace Within Inches". The music underneath it is called "Peace" by Paul Kelly.

I have listened to this speech, many times. I can't explain why I listen to it so often. It is not the sound of Pacino's voice that I find inspiring, persay. It is what he says, and how he says it, that means something to me. On the surface, this is just a simple locker-room speech. It's a coach summoning his players to give everything they have, in a unified effort, to win a crucial game.

Dig a little deeper, and its about a man who is not willing to let greatness slip away because - no matter how old he gets - he still has a fire burning inside him. More importantly, he realizes that he can't do it alone.

In the years since I first heard this speech, I have come to believe that so much of what is being said is true. Life is a game of inches. The winner is the person who is willing to reach for those inches and not overlook the little things. Never underestimate the value of hard-work and determination. And, don't forget that every person must climb out of hell, at some point. To do that means that you must be willing to do it one inch at a time. And, the inches that you need in life are all around you. It takes a determined person to recognize that to stop reaching is to stop trying...is to stop living.

Take a listen to this speech (and, keep it low at the office). You will find, as I have, that the words apply to so many things in life. When I listen, I hear a man who is not willing to give up, even when the world tells him that his best days are behind him. At the very least, I hear a man who has realized what he must do.

In many ways, that makes all the difference.

Michael Vick Signs with The Philadelphia Eages

2009-08-18T14:56:00.009-05:00

The news of this signing broke during a preseason game, last Thursday.

I admit, I rushed to judgment and announced that I was totally ashamed of the Philadelphia Eagles organization. I admonished anyone who thought the signing was a good move/sound business decision. But, I took a few steps back and thought about it...

The Philadelphia Eagles are the same team that fired a disabled game-day employee for a facebook post where he disagreed with the team's decision to allow Brian Dawkins to walk away in free-agency. Come to think of it...they are also the same team that allowed Brian Dawkins to walk away in free-agency. This is the same team that passed over Randy Moss in the draft because of character issues they deemed detrimental to the team. This is the same team who thought they could change Terrell Owens into a solid-citizen.

In short...they are fucking morons from soup to nuts. From the front-office to the kicking-tees on the practice field, they are not the "classy" organization they claim to be. They soak the fans for every dollar they can grab. Normally, I try to defend Philadelphia when it takes a bad-rap. I am ready to stop hearing about Eagles fans pelting Santa Claus with snowballs...like, now. However, the city of Philadelphia...thanks in large part to the Eagles and many of their fans, has earned the knocks it has taken from the press and the rest of the country.

And, that was before the signing of Michael Vick.

So, I am disappointed?
Hells no.
This is par for the course with this team, these days.

When it was announced, the signing of Michael Vick by the Eagles touched off shockwaves you could almost feel when you touched your keyboard. Everyone had an opinion about it. To think that the majority of people disagreed with the signing would be foolish. In fact, the city is split about 51% to 49% in favor of the signing.

For the record, whenever I was asked, I said that I believed Michael Vick had the right to return to the NFL. The guy was convicted of his crime and he did time in Leavenworth Prison. Prison isn't easy. But, time in a prison like that one is hard time. Having said that, I didn't want him representing the city I live in by becoming a member of the Eagles. Forget that I don't root for the team. I just didn't want him in my backyard. If someone else wanted him, more power to them. I thought for sure a team with a losing record would sign him to try and raise their profile. Or, I thought Vick would be a valuable chip around draft-time for a team that needed to get something substantial in a high-round.

Having said that, I don't believe that his prison time is penance. Serving time does not wipe-away the crimes Michael Vick committed. For those of you who have been living under a rock, Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for running a cruel and inhumane dogfighting ring and lying about it. The cruelty is almost unspeakable. Take a good look at the artist rendering above this post. When I googled his name, that image came up almost every time. That is what the world thinks of Michael Vick, right now.

Now, can he change that image?

Of course, he can.

But, it will never take away his crimes.

The sad part about this is that more kids than you would like to think believe that Michael Vick committed no crime. When he was convicted, many of the kids I taught told me, "They are his dogs. He can do whatever he wants with them." So, trust me when I tell you, this sends a very mixed (read fucked up) message about crime and punishment. In fact, many of these same kids will help make Michael Vick's Eagles jersey become the most purchased piece of NFL merchandise when it is released. You can bank on it.

Anyway...

Did Michael Vick get punished?
Yes.
Was it enough?
Depends on who you ask.

I had people telling me that what Michael Vick did is nothing compared to whatever other crimes are being committed as we speak. "It would be nice if people cared as much about the crimes being committed against other people as they do about the ones being committed against animals." So much for "God's creatures" and all "that shit".

So, life is only worth whatever value the observant individual places on it? If that is the case, bring me your most valued/non-human living thing and, as long as it means nothing to me, I will strike it down in front of you and tell you, "It would be nice if people cared as much about the crimes being committed against other people as they do about the ones being committed against...(fill in the object that matters to you)".

I also heard the same stock argument about how there are plenty of murderers (someone actually said murderers), rapists, gamblers, and drug-users in sports. In fact, I was told that many of these guys beat-up/cheat on their wives. My response to that is, "Tell their wives to leave. At least, they have a choice. The dogs in the Michael Vick case were helpless and defenseless against the crimes being committed against them."

What makes Michael Vick so much worse? I suppose nothing makes him that much worse than a few guys who literally got away with murder. I thought, "Wow...the NFL has a real image problem. It's a wonder anyone watches this sport with their kids." Imagine if you had to tell your kids what half of these guys were accused of while you watched the game..."Look, Timmy...that's Ray Lewis. He is an all-pro athlete and a Super Bowl MVP. He was also accused of stabbing two men to death. Boy, he hits like a truck!"

So, yeah...there is always worse. But, that doesn't excuse lawlessness on any level.

However, the NFL does not employ people who need to gain the public trust. These are athletes and they are here to entertain us. They are not here to be role models. So, they get a pass on the semantics of most arguments that include ethics.

Fair?
You tell me.

Remember, the NFL is in the business of promoting an image. The image, we are told, is that the game is supposed to be conducted fairly and clean enough for the family to consume. So, what image do the Philadelphia Eagles (a business operating under the umbrella of the NFL) promote when they sign Michael Vick? Remember one thing, Pete Rose bet on baseball and he was banned for life from the game he loved. But, no living thing was killed when Pete Rose gambled on baseball.

Are they two different things?
Of course, they are.

Although, they were different times.
But, have we slid that far as a culture?
Michael Vick's crimes constitute gambling and inhumane behavior. If he had bet on football, would this have played out differently?

We will never know.

For now, the thing that saddens me the most is that many Eagles fans would burn up a van full of puppies to see their team win the Lombardi Trophy. If Michael Vick shows up in November and guides this team to a championship, all will be forgiven and forgotten.

For my money, that is the real problem with all of this.

Honestly, my head spins at all the different ways this could work out.
But, what's done is done....Michael Vick is on our lives.

Deal with it...or, change the channel.

Them Crooked Vultures - Nobody Loves Me And Neither Do I

2009-08-14T07:01:00.004-05:00

I am pretty psyched about this collaboration between Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones.

For today...
Fourteen seconds...

That's all you get.

That's all I have to give.

For Emily, Where I May Find Her

2009-08-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

This morning, as I looked out my window, I could only see a dense fog hiding the world outside.

So, I came downstairs and shut all the lights and closed the curtains as if I could prolong the quiet peace of night a bit longer.

Then, I thought of this song...

Think this song is a bit "hokey"?

Well, I am not the only person moved by this song.
Check out John Frusciante's version below.

Mad Men

2009-08-13T06:53:00.003-05:00

At the moment, the AMC television series "Mad Men" has its dirty little hooks in me. I caught all of season two, this past week. Because of that, I can tell you that I am itching to see the first season.

At first glance, the show is a nostalgic look at the 60's and the male-dominated politics of the office. The men that work for Sterling Cooper are advertisers trying to capitalize on the growing television boom. In the meantime, they are drinking too much and cheating on their wives as they morph into self-styled "masters of the universe". All the while, they are dealing with a group of very powerful women (in the workplace and hotel bedrooms) that quietly rule their worlds. In short, they are ruthless people who probably drew the first comparisons between people and sharks.

The series revolves around Don Draper. He is Sterling Cooper's best ad man...and its best ladies man. But, he has a secret that is slowly unfolding at the conclusion of Season 2. Plainly, Don Draper has a hidden past that threatens to ruin his present life.

The acting is excellent and the writing is some of the best I have seen on television. The series expertly depicts the struggles of executives trying to stay ahead of the game in rapidly changing times. All the while, young hot-shots are nipping at their heels. The price these people pay for greatness is the total ruination of their private lives. "Mad Men" does a very good job of showing how the American office was moving away from treating workers like family as they reduced them to numbers on a ledger. The roles of men and women are also laid bare as the series examines the true nature of traditional 1960s family values.

Check out the video I posted below to get caught up on all the action in Seasons 1 & 2.

You can also follow the link at the bottom of this page to check out special "Inside Mad Men" clips. *

Season 3 of Mad Men premieres this Sunday, August 16th, on AMC at 10:00 pm.

* http://www.amctv.com/videos/mad-men/?bcpid=8803972001&bclid=1672161042&bctid=1680571320

The Descendents

2009-08-12T10:21:00.002-05:00

Long before these new "punk-bands" hit the scene with their crunching guitars and their sensitive lyrics, The Descendents had been there and done that.

Really?
Yeah....since 1979, actually.

Milo Auckerman and his bandmates were making witty, self-deprecating punk-rock that was louder and better than any of the bands that came after them. They were hardcore goofballs that became one of the most enduring and beloved punk-bands to come out of the West Coast music scene.

Despite going through personnel changes, the band celebrated 25 years together by releasing the album "Cool To Be You" in 2004. But, if you want to hear the undisputed classic, check out their 1982 release "Milo Goes To College". It's an energetic and funny collection of punk-pop that navigates issues concerning life, love, girls, losers, and, of course, food.

That's right, food.

So, grab one of their CDs. If it sounds like you have heard them before, remember this is the band that did it first and better than anyone else. Bands like Blink 182 and New Found Glory owe their careers to The Descendents.

For now, check out "I'm The One". It's from the 1996 album "Everything Sucks".
Enjoy it.

Further listening: "Milo Goes To College, "Somery"

Where Does Summer Go?

2009-08-11T07:02:00.007-05:00

The seconds that make up minutes...
The minutes that make up the hours...the days, the weeks...

None of these things are any faster today than they were last year.
So, why then do we feel as if this summer is going by faster than say, last summer?

What is the phenomenon that solidifies this perception as something that is actually happening?

Because, in point of fact, it is not.
The time that makes up a summer can tell you a great deal about yourself.
And make no mistake about it, time is no faster this summer than it was last summer.

But, for some reason, it does feel that way.
I can vividly remember what I was doing before school ended in late June.

In fact, I told my students "Treasure these final few days of school. These are the best days of the summer. The anticipation is so much better than the actual event itself, sometimes."

No sooner had I returned from a few days at the beach after July 4th...the "Back To School" circulars were in my newspaper and mailbox. What is that shit? Don't explain marketing to me. I understand "why" it happens. I get the economics of it and the reasons for it.

I guess I am asking for the reasons "why" the people who sell us things are constantly robbing us of the moments we are actually living. I cant enjoy spring without being told summer is coming. I cant enjoy summer without being told it's almost time to go "back to school". As soon as I get there, Christmas will be "coming" before Indian Summer has scorched the asphalt with one last heat-wave.

So, why this constant need to rush through everything to get to the next thing? Is "now" so bad? Is the next thing so great? It's a constant push-pull. Because of this, I think we hold onto summer so tight that we literally squeeze it right out of our lives. Each day is like a precious drop of water from a very limited supply. We are aware of its scarcity and we know, all too well, that the end will surely come. It's not like anyone ever said, "Summer is extended another month, this year. Enjoy!" If there was the slightest chance of that happening, we would have something to cling to as the hours ticked away in mid-August.

In July, I am still getting the smell of the school year off me. I am still twitchy and I get up early. Around August, I start to slip into summer. I go to bed later...I get up later. I find a new television show to watch. I shoe-horn all the episodes of a season into a week. This summer, it was Mad Men: Season 2 and Monk: Season 7, respectively. I try to find a new movie to love, a new musician to investigate. I spend whole days in my house. Or, I get out into the city and just walk around. I never actually see the things I always say that I am going to see as summer approaches. That never happens.

I never have that mythical summer experience that you see in commercials or movies. I am too old to sit on the beach until I get bronze and my hair gets to be the color of straw. I never finish the books I start reading, either. Hell, I even bought one of those small lights so I could read in bed. It sits on the pile of books that are gathering dust on my night-table. I haven't gotten back into surfing, as I promised myself I would. Instead, I subscribe to Conde Nast and stare at places I will never go. Not because I can't put the money together...because, I am afraid to fly, mostly.

I don't stare at the sunset and reach some great epiphany. I don't escape to some New England beach to write the great-American novel. I don't spend my days in an old mansion creating music with my friends. I never attend a moon-drenched, roof-top party, under the stars, that is illuminated by white-string Christmas lights. All the while, the gentle strains of bands like Air, Morcheeba and the entire Daptone artists roster plays at just the right volume to stimulate the kind of intimate conversation that makes your partners perfume a second scent on your own body.

It never happens...
That shit only happens in commercials, J. Crew catalogues and Esquire pictorials.

What actually happens?

Well, if you have any extended period of time off (as teachers do), you begin to learn things about who you really are. You find your true nature when you have too much time on your hands. I have to tell you, I am not that impressive. I don't do too much beyond the typical domestic chores and showering. As I said, I go nowhere and do almost nothing special. This week, when the heat dies down, I will go to my new classroom and get situated. I will continue to write lesson plans and prepare for the upcoming challenges of my new job. I am hoping to get up to New York City, too.

Beyond that, I am keeping my eyes off the clock. I will go to bed late, get up early...and keep the days simple and boring. That's how you make them last.

I'm in no hurry for the next thing.
It will get here when it's time.

Time...

(Many thanks to my friend Lisa for allowing me to use this picture of her son)

Diane Birch - Nothing But A Miracle

2009-08-10T08:30:00.002-05:00

Music Code Provided by MusicVideolife.com

I wrote about Diane Birch in Friday's iPod post.

Her new album is called "Bible Belt" and its a sleeper. It's obvious that she has a real appreciation for Sixties and Seventies soul music. Birch has a confident voice that blends smoothly into warm, confident arrangements. What I like most about the album is how it really captures some vintage sounds without sounding like its trying too hard. The production is top-notch.

I recommend "Bible Belt" as the perfect soundtrack to those late-night, end-of-the-summer moments when you are alone with the moon hanging high in the sky.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Warped

2009-08-07T08:15:00.006-05:00

Red Hot Chili Peppers - New Music - More Music Videos

Admittedly, this is taken from a period in the band's history that most fans would rather forget. The Dave Navarro years were a low-point professionally and personally for Anthony Kiedis and Flea. If you want to grab a good book, Kiedis' biography "Scar Tissue" offers some really great insight into just how bad things got for the band. In fact, the book is so good that Kiedis is developing an HBO series about his childhood with his father, Spider. The series is tentatively titled "Scar Tissue". Although, there is some talk that it could be called "Life With Spider".

Sounds boring, you say?

Well, consider this...

Legend has it that Spider (or, Blackie..as he was known to some), was the drug-dealer to Led Zeppelin and The Who. That is the legend. The facts are that Cher was Kiedis' baby-sitter. The way Kiedis tells is, he would crawl into bed with her while she slept nude. And, Kiedis lost his virginity to his father's girlfriend. Yeah, his dad arranged it. That is either the coolest thing I have ever heard...or, the fucking scariest. Either way, Kiedis got mixed up in drugs at a very young age and had a hard time shaking his addictions throughout his adult life.

So, stay tuned for that one...

Moving on, "Warped" is a song from "One Hot Minute". The band doesn't perform the song live. So, I just thought I would post it today to remind people that it wasn't all bad. Although, this is probably one of only a few good songs on that album.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have tentatively scheduled October ‘09 to reconvene after a two-year hiatus since their tour for 2005’s Stadium Arcadium, drummer Chad Smith told Billboard. “It’ll be two years in September, so now we’re ready,” Smith, who is currently drumming for Chickenfoot, said of the hiatus. While Flea and guitarist John Frusciante will probably bring some musical ideas, the band expects to carve out songs through jamming and improvising.*

* Taken from RollingStone.com

The iPod - 8/7/09

2009-08-07T07:01:00.005-05:00

That's right. It has been months and months since you've had your share.
So, without further delay, the iPod drops the truth.

The Script - The Man Who Can't Be Moved
I am pretty sure these guys are opening for Paul McCartney, at the moment. They remind me of One Republic. It's well-written pop-music. This tune will sink into your brain and swim around for days.

Muse - Uprising
There are many people in the states who don't really follow Muse. Most of the musicians I know are die-hard fans of this band. My guess is that if you picked up one of their CDs, you might become one of them. This is the new single from their forthcoming CD, "The Resistance".

Diane Birch - Nothing But A Miracle.
Amy Winehouse is not the only woman who can sing retro-soul confidently. Birch's voice, and the production around it, are warm and confident. This song sounds like something that you might have heard on the radio in the 70's. If promoted properly, she could be the breakout-artist of the fall. She has the goods.

Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
At first, I didn't really like this song. But, I stuck with it and it really grew on me. I also caught them performing it on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The song is a strange, rambling freakout about a guy, a girl and the mindgames she likes to play with him. For their next CD, "Humbug", the Monkeys recorded a few tracks with Josh Homme at his Joshua Tree studio. Bob Ford also lent his hand to the production in Brooklyn, NY. "Humbug" will be released on 8/24.

Kings Of Leon - Notion
Could this be the next single from "Only By The Night"? Will this band come back to Philly before the end of the year? I hope so. Because, I am not traveling to see them. Either way, this is a really catchy rock tune.

Placebo - Running Up That Hill
I heard the cover of this Kate Bush tune being used in the trailer for "Daybreakers". It's a movie about a world populated by vampires, living politely in society, who are running out of their food source. So, they must race to find a cure for their vampirism or suffer a fate worse than extinction. The movie stars Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. You can see the trailer below.*

U2 - No Line On The Horizon (2)
This alternate version is included in the iTunes deluxe edition of their latest album. If you want to hear it, you have to download the entire album. Of course, that is a total rip-off. So, I got my copy the sneaky-sneak.
Shhhhhhhhh......
But, hey...if you want a copy of it, let me know. This version is punchier and has a more immediate, "live" feel.

Radiohead - Harry Patch (In Memory Of)
This is basically Thom Yorke's voice over some really beautifully arranged strings. Harry Patch was buried on August 6th. He was the last survivor of the bloody Passchendaele assault. For 80 years, he refused to talk about his war experiences. In 1998, he agreed to talk with the BBC because he realized he was one of the last known links to the first world war. The final line comes from an interview given by a frail Patch to the Today program in 2005: "The next world war will be chemical, but they will never learn." Take note: All proceeds from the track will be donated to the Royal British Legion. So, if you don't want to participate...bypass.

The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes
"Give Up" is one of those albums I come back to, over and over. I love Ben Gibbard's (Death Cab For Cutie) voice. The songs on this album have a really playful, retro charm about them. Think an indie version of Pet Shop Boys or New Order.

Paul McCartney - Great Day
Judd Apatow slipped this into one of the opening scenes of "Funny People". This tune is the last song on the woefully-underrated, criminally-overlooked album "Flaming Pie". Released in 1997, the album features guest performers like Jeff Lynne, Ringo Starr and Steve Miller. It's a largely acoustic set of songs. And, oh yeah...it's also one of his best albums since the mid 70's.

Alright, that's ten tunes for you. I could have done more, of course.
But, what would be left for next time?

Have a great weekend!

*http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/daybreakers/

Them Crooked Vultures

2009-08-06T10:17:00.005-05:00

Just who are Them Crooked Vultures?

Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones have formed rock's next supergroup. They plan on playing their first show at Chicago's Metro on August 9th at an official Lollapalooza aftershow. The tickets say they go on at midnight.

On the band's official website* (which only opens a portal to their Facebook, Myspace and Twitter pages), there are no track samples or information about who will be handling singing duties.

So, after four years of rumors, Them Crooked Vultures will release their debut album on (which may be called "Never Deserved The Future") October 23, 2009.

*http://themcrookedvultures.com/

The Verve - Lucky Man

2009-08-06T01:37:00.008-05:00

I love The Verve.

Mostly, I love Richard Ashcroft's voice.

I was never really a fan of this song. It took me getting a little older and a good deal wiser before I really understood the beauty of its message.

In fact, Bono recognized the song as one of six he wished he had written in the last twenty years.

There is something very comforting in the notion that you have the things you need around you. Happiness is a choice for me. For many, it is a dream. Some people stare at happiness from across a field they just can't muster the strength to cross.

Then, I remember that the past is behind all of us. All the disappointments and betrayals are gone. It's best to bury those things where they fall.

Why?

Because, time stops for no man. It does us no good to get bogged down with the weight of things that will keep us from reaching the good that is around the corner.

How many corners do I have to turn?
I guess as many as it takes to get where I'm going.

So, it is time for new discovery. Besides, these are great days, people. Each day is filled with wonder and possibility. The hope that comes with change had made me believe, again.

No matter what life throws at me, I am truly lucky for the things I have and the few people I have around me. Having said that, I don't really shoot for being lucky. I strive to be happy. My hope is that everyone reading this finds happiness and works at it, each day.

Besides...

Remember: You make your own luck, sometimes.

"All the love I have is in my mind..."

That is quite beautiful, actually.

Let's make this our anthem.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Recording Percussion For "Breaking The Girl"

2009-08-05T06:49:00.001-05:00

This is called "sweating the details". It's called going that extra-inch because you really want something to be amazing. Few bands will do this. That is why few bands achieve the kind of success that this band has.

Is this the biggest hit of their career?
Not even close.

But, it hardly matters. When you commit to doing something well, there is no end to the lengths you will go (no matter how ridiculous) to make it as good as you possibly can.

I have often heard chronic underachievers claim they are doing something "the best they can do it". Often, I look at them with a cocked eyebrow because I know they are lying to themselves. Forget about me. As long as their bullshit isn't affecting me, they can lie to themselves all they want.

Which brings me back to my example. It's my guess that the guys in Red Hot Chili Peppers spent the better of a few hours making sure this was exactly the way they wanted it. I am guessing they did several takes, trying it different ways, before they came up with the few seconds you actually hear on "BloodSugarSexMagik".

Those few seconds make all the difference. They are the random "inches" that winners will push for win they are attempting to win. Guys that don't fight and claw for those inches....well, they are usually the ones who get left behind.

Years later, this band is still going strong because they believe in the music they are making. They believe in each other, too. I am posting their performance of "Dani California" from the Sundance Series "Live at Abbey Road". You can see how much they love being together and how devoted to their sound they are when you look at their faces. You can see it when they look at each other and acknowledge the magic they make when they are in the same room and the power is turned on.

Enjoy it with the knowledge that sometimes faith in the people around you and the belief in the power of the finer details can make all the difference. Never underestimate how simultaneously powerful and fragile that faith is.

It is powerful enough to move mountains, reach the moon - do the seemingly impossible - when it is focused appropriately.

Something that powerful is hard to find and it should never be taken for granted.

I also love this clip because John Frusciante's guitar work is hot as shit.

Random Spills 8/4/09

2009-08-04T10:21:00.009-05:00

So, its time again.

I am here to dump out some of the things that have been on mind recently. In a few days, I am going to try and assemble my thoughts about this idea of "Merit Based Pay" for teachers. I can tell you straight off that it is total bullshit. If you know a teacher, ask them. Anyone with half a brain knows that teachers in poor cities would be practically homeless if this becomes a reality. I'll get that post together, soon enough.

So, let's begin....

Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Barack Obama is 48 today. I hope he has a good one.

With that out of the way, let's dish it out....

Why have I been sucked into a culture that believes Lady Gaga is talented? I am not buying this idea that somehow she sucks so bad that she's sorta awesome. People are trying to pawn her off as this generation's Liza Minelli. When you think about it, that almost works. Gay people love them both...and they are both overrated and bombastic. Lady Gaga blows and she looks like some Bride of Frankenstein...crossed with...Dee Snider gone horribly wrong.

If you think she is hot, you need to get out more often. Or, you could just turn on your television. There are at least five women with cooking shows on television that are way hotter.

Recently, a man was caught on video tape robbing apartments wearing no clothing. The guy was totally naked when he was filmed stealing a laptop, girls underwear and some other clothing. It probably isn't a stretch to say that this guy is really fucking dangerous. The police in Abington Township want to catch this guy ASAP. It is obvious they are getting what one article called "the Buffalo Bill" (Silence of the Lambs) vibe because of the nature of his crimes.*

You laughed at that last story. Now, reconsider it. Seriously, catch this guy. If I see someone that basically acts like Buffalo Bill rolling around outside an apartment building, I am gonna shit my pants. Since I can't afford a new car...I'll be sending the Abington police the bill to clean my seats and dry-clean my clothes.*

I recently had a conversation about "American Idol" with someone and we agreed to disagree. I realize that there are two kinds of people in this world: People who get that show and people who don't. Besides, we have turned into a society that just wants to see pretty people doing mediocre things. Kelly Clarkson was wildly popular when she was thin.

Now, she stills moves records...just not as many. But, her appeal is limited because she is no longer considered "hot".

For me, this invalidates the standards the show claims to set for the performers. Talent should be the only thing that matters. But, we all know differently. It's all about tattoos, mohawks and ripped abs. Until true talent is recognized and nurtured, that show might be giving people what they want...but, it is perpetuating the dangers of all style and no substance. Leave that shit to politics. That is where we have come to expect it. Let's see some real musicians actually make it, for a change.

Today is "Megan Fox Media Blackout Day". Claiming she is overexposed, The Megan Fox media blackout is being undertaken by 12 websites at the moment. Included in the Megan Fox media blackout are Asylum.com, Ask Men, Just a Guy Thing, and Double Viking, which all specialize in male-oriented fare. Most of the web-sites have been quoted as saying that they still love Megan Fox, but that there is still the chance of having too much of a good thing. Apparently Megan Fox has been on the covers of way too many magazines recently as well, gracing the cover of Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, Maxim, Empire, GQ and Elle in this year alone. She was also seen all over the place promoting her new film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

It's odd...but, isn't this just keeping her in the media? I mean, all that is missing in their coverage is a picture. Why not just declare today "Megan Fox Day"? Her publicist must have jumped out of bed laughing. Even I was dumb enough to get taken in by this shit.

Damn....damn....stupid me.

But, she is overexposed. I know she is hot. But, who cares? She has no real talent that I can see. I am tired of hot girls getting attention just for being hot. Besides, the bar for hot has come way down in the last few years. Paris Hilton is not hot, even if that is the only word she knows how to say clearly. And, when everyone has seen your cooter getting in and out of cars - and watched you blow a dude through night-vision...it just goes sour. If what is hidden beneath your underwear was considered a stock, it would be trading pretty low, for some girls. Oversupply and low demand.

Now, go forth and have a nice day.

* My thanks to Lisa for sending this one from Florida.

Funny People

2009-08-04T06:46:00.000-05:00

In interviews, Judd Apatow has referred to "Funny People" as the end of a trilogy that began with "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up". It has been called "the cancer comedy". That would be inaccurate. "Funny People" is written with an attention to the truth of the human condition as told through the eyes of an embittered comedian named George Simmons. In one of his best performances, Adam Sandler portrays the cruel, lonely, terminally-ill comedian as a man who never found peace despite his success.

Enter Ira Wright.

Played by Seth Rogen, Ira ("Schmyra" to George) is a bright-eyed young comedian who spends his days working the deli-counter at Otto's. At night, he and his roommate (the hilarious Jonah Hill) work their material at open-mic nights in local comedy clubs. Fate brings George Simmons in to do a few minutes before Ira is about to take the stage. Impressed with Ira's talent, George asks the young comedian to write some jokes for him. The two begin to bond until Ira gets too close. When he does, George reminds him, "You're not my friend, you work for me." The film does seem to be a glimpse into the alternate life that Apatow and Sandler might have had without the balance of wives and children. In fact, Sandler almost seems to be skewering himself and the movies that have made him famous throughout "Funny People". Make no mistake about it, "Funny People" offers some real moments of self-loathing that seem too honest to be completely fictional.

The "one that got away" is played by Leslie Mann. As Laura, Mann plays the girl that George lost because he cheated on her. She is his "Rosebud" in many ways. But, she is mired in a bad marriage to a skirt-chasing businessman (played by Eric Bana). She finds peace in raising her two adorable daughters (played by the two children she has with director Apatow). Upon learning of George's illness and the possibility that he might be well, she suffers the kind of emotional crisis that is understandable for a woman who has been victimized by more than one man who matters to her.

Here, the story begins to get a bit bogged-down by self-indulgence. The first hour of the film has sharp dialogue and more than just a few very funny moments. The heartbreak and comedy are well-balanced, too. As the second hour begins to unfold, you get the feeling Apatow has too many stories to tell for just one film. The subplot involving Ira's roommates and the awful sitcom "Yo, Teach" could be a film in itself. And, the amount of time that is spent with George pursuing Laura is about twenty minutes too long. Give Apatow credit for making a very funny, moving film that is ambitious in its emotional pursuits. It would just be nice to feel like someone was at the wheel when it came time to tighten-up this film. Having said that, the film does succeed on the strength of the performances and the subject material. It's hilarious and moving, sometimes in the same breath.

Apatow even does a great job in choosing music for the film (scored by Jason Schwartzman). The sly touch of including music from The Beatles' solo careers subtly tips its hand to the notion of great people who have left the shelter, safety and innocence of their earlier triumphs for the splendid isolation of going it alone. There is a certain beautiful melancholy in hearing the voices of The Beatles detached from each other singing over the bittersweet moments in George Simmons' life.

But, the best moments in the film come when the actors take the stage to do some stand-up. Rogen is great throughout the film and the scene where Sandler mixes it up with his fellow comics (Dave Attell, Ray Romano, Sarah Silverman, Paul Reiser) is quite funny. There is a great guest shot with Eminem where he tells George he would be better of dead than making one more shitty comedy. "Funny People" succeeds in pushing the boundaries of what is considered the "summer comedy". There is plenty of irreverent humor to keep everyone entertained. But, the lesson is not lost and the ending is not tidy. Comedy, like life, is not always tied up in a nice bow. Apatow does a great job at crafting a film that seems to suggest, "The things you want are not always the best things for you. Sometimes, things go out of your life for a reason."

There is a lot of joy, anger, sadness and pain involved in funny business. The same is true about the funny people that inhabit Judd Apatow's new film, it seems.

Purple Rain - The 25th Anniversary

2009-08-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

25 years ago, a sexed-up guitar-wizard road his purple motorcycle out of the midwest and began his journey on a path that would take him to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

If it sounds unlikely, it probably would be...for most people.
But, Prince is not like most people.

Purple Rain will be remembered for many things.

The soundtrack to the film produced four Top 40 hits. To this day, it is considered a pop-rock masterpiece. The movie itself, released on July, 27, 1984, stands as a testament to Prince's steely determination. It was the ultimate gamble. Prince plays The Kid, a struggling musician who battles with his alcoholic father, slaps his girlfriend, and imposes his musical-will on his bandmates. However, the movie isn't just the folly of a musician who decided he needed a vanity-project. Purple Rain is a $7 million dollar spectacle that could have destroyed Prince's ascendant career.

Prince rarely talks. And, when he does...he doesn't talk to me, especially about Purple Rain. But, after many years, it might be safe to say that Purple Rain is about as close as we'll get to the truth.

The idea of doing a movie was always bubbling. Prince carried a notebook with him, and he would write down different scenarios that he felt would work in a movie. So, when it came time for Prince to re-up with his management team (Bob Cavallo & Steve Fargnoli), Prince responded that he would only resign, "...if he gets a major motion picture. It has to be with a studio - not with some drug-dealer or jeweler financing. And his name has to be above the title. Then he'd resign with us", remembers Cavallo. At that point, Prince wasn't a star. To put it bluntly, the demand was ballsy.

So, Cavallo began pitching the idea to potential investors like David Geffen and Richard Pryor. Once financing for the film was secured, the story began to take shape. The impetus for the film began on the "Triple Threat" tour. During that time, The Revolution and The Time "...had an epic food fight that went from a show to the hotel and back to the bus to the airport and never stopped for about three days", remembers Prince's drummer, Bobby Z. Although this did not make it into the movie, it is considered the event that spurred the whole Time-versus-Revolution myth.

"To me, it is one of the best albums of its time. Musically, it has some great songwriting and arrangements. One example is When Doves Cry. It is a simple, but strong melody with simple instrumentation. No bass at all. He was very different to other artists releasing songs at the time. And Purple Rain itself is a song I never get tired listening to."*****

"I can’t believe it has been 25 years." *****

Once financing was secured, writing a script became the next obstacle. How could Prince be introduced to the world in a film that captured an audience's attention without making the movie look like a vanity project?

If you can believe it, the idea for the opening of the film (directed by Albert Magnoli - a recent USC grad with only a docudrama to his credit) was taken from the last scene of The Godfather. Magnoli's idea was that, "Prince will be performing, but we'll introduce all the characters as we cut back and forth between Prince getting ready to go for the gig."

The day I saw the film, I remember my friend Randy and I purchased two tickets to "The Neverending Story" and snuck into the theater that was showing Purple Rain - because it had an "R" rating. The opening of the film was hypnotic. I remember watching Prince on that screen thinking, "Man, this is what I want to do with my life." He was amazing.

"On a humorous note, I went to the theatre to see the movie when it was released. When Prince first appears on the screen, two thirds of the audience (all girls, I am sure) stood up, screaming like at a concert, and starting taking flash photos of him on the screen! And did it a couple more times into the movie. I couldn’t stop laughing."****

"The music is what mattered. As I think back to how Prince managed to deal with personal issues and air out his own dirty laundry regarding life, love, and family, and yet put it in a pop format that is easily digestible by the masses, it reminds me of what Eminem has done with rap. The rest of the field is regurgitating the same weak rhymes about bitches and such, and Eminem comes along giving himself therapy about problems with his mom and his girlfriend, and finding a way to keep it palatable."*

Movie-goers/record-buyers agreed.

In its opening weekend, the movie grossed about $7 million dollars. At the time, this was good money. Because of this, Warner Brothers added the movie to 1,000 more screens in its second week. It went on to make $68 million dollars as it became the ninth-highest grossing film of 1984. But, the real triumph was the soundtrack album. "Purple Rain" topped the charts in September on the strength of "Let's Go Crazy" and remained at Number 1 for 24 weeks. Since its release, the album has gone on to sell 20 million copies worldwide.

"Purple Rain was the first album I ever owned, that I couldn't listen to with my parents. Even now it exudes a sexiness that doesn't seem tame by today's standards."**

Another musician (who asked me to keep his name out of this) told me, "I am one of the few people who have actually performed the album front to back with (the band he played with). We did it in the 80's when it was released and it is a brilliant piece of music to play or listen to..."***

I concur.

"Purple Rain" marked a pivotal moment in Prince's career and served notice that a major talent was no longer going to settle for being a "rising star". Prince had arrived like a comet crashing into a planet. The only thing that stood in Prince's way was the phenomenal success of Michael Jackson. Music fans who didn't need their entertainment sugary-sweet made the choice clear.

"For me, Thriller didn't have near the impact of Purple Rain, on any level. They were both great albums, with a alot of great pop singles. But, for me, Thriller begins and ends with pop. They are fun tunes with great beats, but lyrically empty. Even "Human Nature", when I sit down and read the lyrics, is a yawner. It can't hold a candle to "When Doves Cry".*

Purple Rain was everything Thriller was, from a pop standpoint, but lyrically deeper on so many levels. Plus, we're talking about a guy who wrote all his own lyrics AND all his own music AND was perfectly capable of sitting down and playing all the music on each and every instrument."*

"Purple Rain is a classic, musically and lyrically. There's still the times in my life when the album has what I need, and listening to it beginning to end gets me where I wanna go. Classic."*

So, spare yourself an hour and crank up this classic. If you are feeling really adventurous, invite some friends over and watch the movie. It is, admittedly, pretty cheesy. "The film was great, at the time, but I don't think the depths the music reached in me personally had anything to do with the film. It was a fun summer flick, filled with much coolness, from Prince's bike to everything Morris Day said to the eye-crossing hotness of Apollonia. But, beyond that, it was just a fun flick, not noteworthy or a classic in any way."*

It's true.

The movie doesn't really hold up, in many ways. But, the live-performance sequences are absolutely amazing. In those moments, Prince became a superstar and took his friends with him. The intense nature of his performances jumped from the screen and achieved a visceral quality I don't think I've seen since. The music, however, was never an issue. "Purple Rain" is a breakthrough moment in Prince's career and helped him transcend the R&B market. In a matter of months he was an amazing crossover success. Even today, "Purple Rain" can turn the speakers of my car inside-out and take me back to 1984. It is one of the few albums I can listen to from start to finish without losing my attention.

Twenty-five years on, "Purple Rain" stands the test of time and all the musical trends that have followed it. It's an absolute landmark album that helped define a generation for anyone who claims to love music.

Rediscover it.

(Many thanks to the contributors)
*Randy
**Spencer
***Name withheld
****Chris

Some info for this piece is taken from Brian Raftery's piece in Spin Magazine 246 - June 2009.

Kings Of Leon - The Today Show - 7/31/09

2009-07-31T12:58:00.005-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

A few years ago, I saw the Kings Of Leon at the TLA in Philadelphia. The place had about 100 people watching them, that night. In fact, I stole a poster off the wall.

No one was looking.

I could have gone up and touched Caleb Followill's foot. There was no one stopping me. There was hardly anyone in my way.

They were very good. You could see that they had something besides long hair and beards.

Flash forward....I saw them open for U2 on The Vertigo Tour. I literally had someone call me on the phone during their set telling me how much they hated them. My sister told me she couldn't stand them.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Today....well, my sister has their new CD and loves it. Cover bands play their music (even though most of the audience doesn't realize they had three albums before "Only By The Night"). Apparently, they are the band most people are going to Lollapalooza to see, this year.

Nothing besides a family fight (the band is comprised of three brothers and a cousin) can stop this band, at this point.

Enjoy this performance and pick up one of their first three albums.
Stop being a piker.
It's embarrassing.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Orlando Bloom Quits "Pirates of The Carribean"

2009-07-28T10:41:00.003-05:00

Ask me why he did it.
Go ahead.

See above.

This is Miranda Kerr. She is a Victoria's Secret model and Orlando Bloom's current girlfriend.

Bloom claims he quit the extremely lucrative movie series so he could spend more time with Ms. Kerr.

Apparently, this is "spin". The word is that they were going to write him out of the movie due to budget constraints.

Budget constraints?

I would think the budget for a fourth installment of the Pirates of The Caribbean would bottomless. The money attached to these movies could feed a few Third World countries.

So, there is bullshit in this story.

But, who cares?

I don't care if he is quitting movies completely.
Look at her.

If she isn't a good enough excuse for you....well....you aren't looking hard enough.

Most guys would move their mother out of the house for this girl.

"Mom...I'm sorry. I just need more room for her stuff."

Some of you are laughing because that is funny.
Some of you are laughing because that shit is true.

Either way, I am pretty sure most of the men you know would quit their jobs to hang out with her 24/7.

If I were Orlando, I would just hire a film-crew and wear my pirate costume out by the pool all summer. Besides, my guess is those movies have made him plenty of money.

Good call, kid.

Q: So, what did we learn?
A: See above.

Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi Put Baby In the Corner

2009-07-28T10:21:00.004-05:00

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&from=sp&vid=304364f2-e037-48b6-9ffe-8f67ad6539b1" target="_new" title="Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi Cinemash "Dirty Dancing"">Video: Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi Cinemash "Dirty Dancing"</a>

In the process, they also make "Baby" a lot funnier.

Thmubs up to Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi for making this hilarious send-up of Dirty Dancing. I can't believe anyone could sell that dialogue. Give credit to Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey for being able to do it, in the first place.

See how stupid this fucking movie is?

Girls...let go of Dirty Dancing, ok?
It's over.

Craig Ferguson Pays Tribute To the Moon Landing

2009-07-21T07:34:00.002-05:00

I haven't always watched Craig Ferguson. But, I started watching him because the beginning of his show would be tacked on at the end of the Letterman shows I DVR.

So, this morning, as I was watching Letterman, I caught this and almost spit out my cereal.

C'mon...lip-syncing, little people and puppets to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing?

I am beginning to like this guy.

An Album You Should Own - 7/17/09

2009-07-16T23:18:00.001-05:00

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses were the first shot fired in the British Indie-rock movement that swept the U.K. in the late 80's and early 90's. Their eponymous debut became an English sensation, inspiring bands like Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays, the Charlatans U.K. - and later, Oasis.

To this day, I can put the album on and listen to it from start to finish without it sounding dated. It never loses my attention and it makes me wish I could rock it like Ian Brown and John Squire. Their music was a curious blend of neo-psychedelia that was still heady enough to pave the way for the future of British rock.

If they could have held it together, they would have been one of the biggest bands in the world. Their second album, "Second Coming", never achieved the popularity or success of their first. But, their legend was already solidified.

The intoxicating blend of catchy guitar hooks and churning rhythms (the section of Reni and Mani) struck the perfect blend for the burgeoning rave culture that some say their music inspired. Around them, a scene exploded.

Unfortunately, so did the band.

Talk of a reunion and subsequent tours have persisted for years. If they do come back, I will be there. I am sure I won't be alone, either.

After all, the second coming of The Stone Roses is "what the world is waiting for".

Further listening: "Second Coming"

(I chose to include these two clips from The Stone Roses' legendary appearance at Blackpool. Many people consider the show one of the greatest moments in the history of British rock.)

Ted Williams

2009-07-16T08:23:00.005-05:00

When I was growing up, I followed baseball religiously. Like so many kids of my generation, I rooted for the home team. With no internet or cable/satellite television, the only teams you could really watch were the teams that played in your town.

Once a week, you could watch "This Week In Baseball" to see hitters and pitchers from around the league. If you were lucky, you had a relative that was able to recount for you stories of the greats that had gone before your time.

As a boy, I had my grandfather for that. He loved sports and watched/listened to baseball as often as he could. If a game was on, he was watching it. Often, in the evenings between spring and fall, I could hear him listening to the game on the radio, with his bedroom door closed. On many nights, we would have a catch and he would tell me stories about the baseball players of his era. As a boy, I naturally thought the players I watched were the best. He would argue that the players of his era were the ones I should study.

This became a source of contention, of course.

One thing that I always found unusual about my grandfather was his allegiance to the New York Yankees. Having grown up in West Philadelphia, I couldn't figure out why he would root for a team he almost never saw. But, I realized that the radio-generation could transport themselves better than we could. He didn't have to see Babe Ruth to hear him being described. He probably never saw Lou Gehrig play. But, his admiration for him was unmatched.

Later, I realized that he loved the Yankees because they had so many Italian-American players. I think this made him fiercely proud.

There was one player that we never argued about - Ted Williams.

HBO Sports has been running a great documentary called simply, Ted Williams that I highly recommend. Watching it gave me a real understanding of the kind of athletes that captured the imagination of a country - the kind of athletes disappearing in sports, today. These were the men who inspired a generation of boys who grew into men, dreaming of doing heroic things on a grand stage.

It was the generation who never turned their back when greatness called them. My grandfather and his brothers were the kind of men who called for the proverbial ball when "the game" was on the line. They were the greatest generation.

Ted Williams was tempermental, talented and, by many accounts, one of the great humanitarians of the game. His contributions to the Jimmy Fund* are legendary. Today, it would be almost unthinkable for a star of Williams' magnitude to serve in the military during the prime of his career (save for a few examples). But, for five years (1942-1946, 1952-53) Williams put his career on hold to serve in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War.

I remember seeing film of Ted Williams hitting and thinking that I wanted to start batting from the left side of the plate just so I could copy his swing. So, I would practice hitting a ball against the walls of the school behind my house. Eventually, I could hit just as well left-handed as I could right-handed. To this day, when I pick up a bat and just swing it, I am mindful of doing it the way Ted Williams did it.

I looked better when I was younger...and that isn't saying much.

As we creep closer to what would have been my grandfather's 95th birthday, I wanted to take a minute and share these two clips.

The clip of Ted Williams hitting a home-run in his final at bat is the stuff legends are made of. In fact, Robert Redford was so taken with Ted Williams, he wore the number 9 in "The Natural" just to honor him. He even fashioned some of the mannerisms of the character, Roy Hobbs, after Williams.

Its funny how dramatically Redford portrays the home-run in "The Natural". In real life, Williams' home-run was hit in front of a small crowd. It was inconsequential in terms of the team's fate, that season. And when it was over, Williams avoided the press, sneaking his car out of Fenway Park. There were no flashing lights or cheering fans...no curtain-call.

In the end, Ted Williams went away quietly. He was only really appreciated in the years before his death. His talent was always unquestionable. But, he was a troubled and reluctant celebrity. His personal life was full of tragedy and failure. Williams only reconciled with his children in the years before he died.

However, it is Williams' exploits on the baseball diamond that will be discussed whenever anyone wants to talk about the men who picked up a baseball bat and played the game better than anyone else. In the mind of so many men who lived through those great years, his legend looms large.

In fact, its downright cinematic.

In the spirit of that, this one's for you.
Legends don't go away quietly. They rocket away from us like comets and imprint themselves on us, forever.

Happy Birthday, Pop-Pop.
Men like you deserve storybook endings and legends like Ted Williams.

When I think of you, it goes something like this...

To find out how you can give to the Jimmy Fund, you can visit their website at:
*http://www.jimmyfund.org/

Mary Louise Parker Reads You a Bedtime Story

2009-07-14T07:13:00.002-05:00

Guys,

It is time we admitted that we need a good woman in our lives. Today, I nominate Mary Louise Parker. I do this because I am sure that she realizes the power she has over men...but, she never abuses it.

If every good actor/actress brings a little of themselves to the roles they play, is it safe to say that Mary Louise Parker is the kind of nurturing presence that understands what makes men tick? I don't need her to read me a bedtime story. But, its the thought that counts.

It's the way she looks into that camera when she talks. Her eyes seem to look through us. In the end, its the women in our lives that understand when we are full-of-shit that are doing us the most good. We shouldn't have it so easy. After all, having a good woman in your life is supposed to make you a better man. If it doesn't, you are with the wrong woman. Or, you just aren't listening to her.

So, Ms. Parker does her part to make sure you are listening. In today's clip, she gets comfy and reads you a bedtime story. Aside from that, if you aren't watching "Weeds", you are missing out on one the most unusually funny sitcoms of the last decade.

But, back to the video clip...

It's not the babying we need. We need a serious woman who knows the playful ways to get our attention and keep it. The right woman can strip down to her underwear and make you feel half-naked. If you are lucky enough to have a woman like that in your life, you are a man that really has something special.

Either way...

I'm going to watch this before I go to bed, at least three or four times a week.

Try and stop me.

Ladies...thanks for indulging me.

Yours truly,

The Fixer

If anyone wants to see more of Ms. Parker, you can follow this link...

http://www.esquire.com/women/women-we-love/mary-louise-parker-naked-0809?click=pp

The Thief?

2009-07-13T07:57:00.009-05:00

(This incident occurred on 5/13/09)

So, I walk into my neighborhood Ulta. It's the one on Chemical Road in Conshohocken.

I was talking to my sister on my cellphone. So, I was doing my best to remain relatively quiet and respectful of the people around me. After all, none of them need to hear the details of my life.

So, I wasted a few minutes spraying some colognes on test papers and smelling them. Nothing really jumped out at me.

As I wandered back to the hair products, I began to notice I was being watched. I didn't really think much of it because I was talking to my sister and didn't seem to be moving in any particular direction.

At one point, I got the obligatory, "Can I help you find anything, sir?"

I gave my usual, "No, thanks. I am just looking."

Now, go get your shinebox.

As I was paying, a police-officer walked into the store and came up to the counter. I was swiping my credit card when he said, "Who called the police?"

My sister, who was still on the phone, said "What's going on?"

As I went to walk away from the counter, the officer told me to wait. Then, he asked me to step over to a side aisle with him. I said to my sister, "I am going to have to call you back."

She asked, "Are you alright?"
I answered, "I think so."

One of the store clerks came out of the back room and said, "Someone stole a fragrance from our Montgomeryville store today and this guy matches the description. I also found a price tag that has been pulled off a piece of our merchandise in an area of the store where you were walking."

Oh, snap! You got me dead to rights, CSI. It must have been me.

So, I volunteered to empty my pockets and I pulled up my pant-leg to show them I had nothing on my person but the things I purchased. I told the officer he could pat me down (my personal fave) and I handed him my keys so he could search my car.

The officer took some of my information and I told him that I was working all day. So, it was impossible for me to have been in Montgomeryville.

At this point, the officer was pissed-off at the sales clerk. He let me go and looked squarely at the clerk and told her, "You are opening yourself up to a serious liable suit if you keep conducting business like this."

I concur.

I begged him to taser her. But, he wouldn't hear it.

Well, I did not sue them. But, every time I walk in (yeah, I still go in) they all avert their eyes. That isn't much different than the treatment I get at say...my mom's house. Only now, its way funnier.

Ease up, ladies! We didn't sleep together, you just accused me of stealing something. Usually, those things go hand-in-hand, too.

"Running to my car...keys in one hand, your grandma's flatware in the other! Try explaining that to your family!"

Anyway...

It's actually really weird, now. They go out of their way to be nice to me. It's creepy.

They should have to wear sombreros and sing a song about how they wrongfully accused me of stealing. It should be something like when the waiters have to sing Happy Birthday at T.G.I. Friday's.

Scratch that. I have a better idea.

I hope you weren't eating. 'Cause, I was drinking and I just spit all over my screen.

I think what I am saying here is let's not judge a book by its cover. Just because you have no evidence of theft and you are tired of getting whipped like a rented mule in the loss prevention column of your bottom-line, don't pick on the next white male who walks into your store, matching the description of someone who stole from your other store...earlier in the day....Christ, its starting to sound ridiculous.

Boy...you guys are stupid.

Well, I am almost out of Speed Stick.
Who can I shame today?

Daniel Tosh Makes Me Want To Hire The Burger King To Use an Air Horn and Scare The Sh*t Out Of Someone

2009-07-10T07:10:00.004-05:00

If you folks aren't watching Tosh.O on Comedy Central, you should be. Comedian Daniel Tosh is seriously funny. His show (something like Talk Soup - and just as snarky) is on Comedy Central on Thursday nights at 10pm. Check it out at: http://www.comedycentral.com/tosh.0/

I have posted some fairly serious things on this site, over the past few days.
Allow me to get stupid for 30 seconds and tell you how badly I want to do this to someone...anyone.

Now, this clip was not shown on Tosh's show. It is only a commercial. Either way, I don't need the actual Burger King to be the guy with the airhorn. But, since we are going there...why not go for broke?

Who's with me?

Of course, they got this idea from Japanese shows that did the same thing...only way more hardcore. This clip is a bit slow. Just let it load. Trust me.

In case you can't see the first few clips, that is a cannon being fired over someone sleeping. The next clip is a group of men shooting bazookas over someone's bed. The third one is a "mob-hit".

Good shit.

It's either this, or, I hide in my fridge and punch a guy who opens the door. By the way, this clip was shown on Tosh's show.

Either way, someone is going to shit their pants....and this time, it won't be me after a breakfast of stale coffee and bran muffins.

I love the show and I think you will, too. Check out the site and enjoy some funny.

http://www.comedycentral.com/tosh.0/

Michael Jackson - A Capella*

2009-07-10T07:09:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to offer a few last posts about Michael Jackson. I chose these two videos (actually sound files) to illustrate the power of his voice. These are just vocal tracks that feature Jackson (around ten years old) with no musical accompaniment.

The power and control he had over his own voice at such an early age is truly amazing. The emotion is so pure, too. It's amazing to think that a pre-teen child could have so much feeling for this material.

My friend James offered these thoughts:

"The amazing thing is that these are the original vocal tracks that he did on the first take. He has perfect pitch…perfect tonality…amazing. You can't sing like this at his age without having an off the chart I.Q."

Check out this version of "Got To Be There".
His voice literally soars.

In this version of "Never Can Say Goodbye", you can hear the raw emotion behind every note. Remember, this is a young boy somewhere in the neighborhood of ten years old.

After listening to these files, I was thoroughly convinced that we may never see/hear another entertainer like him...ever.

*Some musical dictionaries indicate the Italian a cappella is preferred over the Latin a capella (one "p") yet both are technically correct.

http://www.singers.com/a-cappella.html

Pearl Jam Announces Fall Tour and The Release of "Backspacer"

2009-07-10T07:08:00.001-05:00

Pearl Jam announced that "Backspacer" will be released on September 20th. Along with their new album, the band will embarking on a brief tour of the United States, starting with August 8 – Calgary, AB at Virgin Fest and ending with two shows at the Philadelphia Spectrum on October 28th and October 30th.

The album’s first single “The Fixer” will hit radio on July 20th. As Rock Daily previously reported, Target stores will have the exclusive mass retail rights to the album, with Pearl Jam’s own Ten Club and independent record stores also stocking their shelves with "Backspacer" on September 20th.*

For those of you who like fun facts, “Backspacer” was also the name of the sea turtle that Pearl Jam sponsored in the Great Turtle Race back in April.

*http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/09/pearl-jam-announce-tour-dates-backspacer-out-september-20th/

Madonna - Michael Jackson Tribute (London O2 Arena - Sticky & Sweet Tour - July 4, 2009)

2009-07-10T07:04:00.003-05:00

Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson on the opening night of her tour in London.

I actually think this is a pretty class move.

Jay-Z - D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)

2009-07-10T07:02:00.000-05:00

Thank you for saying what I have been thinking.

The Valley Swim Club Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion" - Part 2

2009-07-09T13:20:00.006-05:00

I arrived at the Valley Swim Club (22 Tomlinson Road - Huntingdon Vly, PA 19006 (215) 947-0700) around 11:00am. When I got there, CNN, NBC-10 and ABC-6 were already there. In fact, Channel 10 had a helicopter circling overhead. A patrol-car was parked across the street to make sure nothing got out-of-hand.

Even though 93.3 WMMR announced the protest, there were only four people protesting. I attribute this to a lack of lead-time, it was a work-day, and the fact that Tomlinson Road was closed leaving people to hopelessly scramble to find the club - their GPS systems throwing fits.

The sign in front of the club announces "Swimming since 1954". Apparently, their racial attitudes haven't changed much in the last fifty-five years, either. Now, I won't say that every member of this club shared the same attitude as the management or some of its members. But, the response they chose - and the words they used - showed poor judgment.

(Jim Flynn with Spencer Lewis & Abijah Immanuel)

A member of the club, Jim Flynn, pulled up to the padlocked gates of the club and walked over to us. He said he wanted to make a statement. So, the press readied their microphones and cameras. A five year member of the club, Flynn said he was present the day the children were asked to leave (June 29th). He said he voiced his concern to because, "...the pool was too crowded, not because the children were black." He went on to say that if anyone made comments about the children being black, "...shame on them". Flynn said that he would be asking for the resignation of the club's president.

With his voice shaking, Flynn talked about how he had to stop his daughter from making signs that said she hated the news. He talked about how he explained that this kind of hate makes us as bad as the people who would ask children to leave their club because of the color of their skin. Flynn also pointed out that the club accepted money from a number of daycares because it was experiencing financial difficulty. It would seem that all of the daycares were given their money back and asked not to return.

While he spoke, the few of us that were there concluded that this issue could have been easily settled if the statement made by the club wasn't so blatantly racist. Let's not forget, after days to think about it, the best the club could do was comment on how the children "change the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club.

To read it still makes my cheeks hot with shame.

Flynn pointed out that the only thing many members asked for was that the club change the time when the groups attended. He just felt that the pools were overcrowded and that bringing other groups in during peak-time would be better for the members and the daycares themselves. But, that was not how Valley Swim Club handled the issue - and, their statement didn't read as rationally, either.

When asked, Flynn said there was "One black member that I know of..." at Valley Swim Club. There were some people that walked by and commented that the club has a reputation for being unfriendly to Jewish and African-American families. Even Flynn admitted that after his interview went public, he might be asked to leave the club.

I felt for Jim Flynn. He was the only person willing to speak to reporters. No one from the club was available for comment and, as of this morning, no one from the club issued any additional statement to the press. Flynn continued, "I really do believe (Valley Swim Club) owes all of the daycares (who paid to attend) an apology."

As of this moment, Valley Swim Club's website is down. You can not leave any message on their voice-mail, either. But, there is a general board meeting there this Sunday.

Once again, the club's info is:

Valley Swim Club
22 Tomlinson Road - Huntingdon Vly, PA 19006
(215) 947-0700

It was not hard to understand why the club was closed. On Philly.com there were threats of violence. To those people, remember...children and families go to this club and not all of them (as Jim Flynn demonstrated) share the same point-of-view as the rotten few. Violence is not an answer.

Let's hold up our heads, be reasonable, and handle this with diplomacy.
We are better than this.

Senator Arlen Specter (D) is looking into the matter. You can reach him through his website - http://specter.senate.gov/public/

His office number in Philadelphia is (215) 597-7200

Stay tuned to the news this evening.
I think this story is gaining some steam.

As I wrote this, Grace dropped me a note saying, "Young Philly Politics has set a protest to begin at 5:30." You can see that on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/l/;Politics.com

Let's get the word out.

Pool Boots Kids Who Might "Change the Complexion"

2009-07-09T07:14:00.002-05:00

Some ugly news out of the Philadelphia area, again.

It seems that a group of African-American children were asked to leave a private swim club for fear that they "change the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club.

Change the complexion?

Who came up with that one?
And, is that the best they could do when pressed for a statement?

Talk about a bad choice of words.

"Creative Steps Day Camp paid The Valley Swim Club more than $1900 for one day of swimming a week, but after the first day, the money was quickly refunded and the campers were told not to return."*

I could go on and on about how racism is not dead, it's only sleeping. But, I won't.

Why?

Because, we all know that.

But, this is truly ugly.

I often see commercials for Philadelphia on television, in the evening (In fact, one of those commercials runs before the news story, posted above). It's a voice-over (I guess the disembodied voice of the city itself) beckoning people to come stay at one of the hotels...make a weekend of it, etc.

The first thing that crosses my mind is, "RUN! DON'T COME HERE IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU! STAY OUT IF YOU LOVE YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN! ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE!"

An overstatement, you say?

I think not. Now, I know this did not happen in the city limits. But, it doesn't matter. This could have happened anywhere. But, it happened here.

Besides, the city itself is sick with criminal behavior. Now, you can add this shameful incident to the list of "Shit I Can't Believe Still Happens in 2009".

Its gets better..

The swim club president John Duesler issued this statement: "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club."

So the good people at Girard College, a private Philadelphia boarding school for children who live in low-income and single parent homes, stepped in and offered their pool.*

"We had to help," said Girard College director of Admissions Tamara Leclair. "Every child deserves an incredible summer camp experience."

Good for you, Tamara.

If you think about it, no one was obligated to help these kids. Summer camps tend to be overcrowded and short-staffed. As it stands, Girard College serves 500 campers of its own. However, they were able to offer their pool because it is vacant on the day Creative Steps had originally planned to swim at Valley Swim Club.

A big round of applause goes to the owners of Gumdrops & Sprinkles. They were so moved by this story, they treated the kids to a free day of candy and ice cream making.

Very cool.

There are still a few logistical nuisances -- like insurance -- the organizations have to work out, but it seems the campers will not stay dry for long.*

The banning has caused so much controversy that U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) plans to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim.

"The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing," Specter said in a statement. "I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today."

Agreed.

If anyone is interested, there is a protest planned today at 10 am.
Hopefully, showing your face will embarrass the members of this club and the people who made such a shameful decision.

Protest "No Coloreds Allowed" policy, Valley Swim Club, 10am today.
Here is a link if you need directions - http://bit.ly/1a6Adt

* http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Campers-Complexion-No-Problem-for-New-Pool.html

Michael Jackson Memorial Service - July 7, 2009

2009-07-07T12:00:00.004-05:00

This story is going to be in the news, for the rest of the summer. The legal wars, the custody battles, the toxicology reports...the personal stories.

Some if will be sweet.
Much of it will be exploitative.

It's a pity.

Anyway, I think this is how I'd like to remember him.

U2 - Opening Night of the 360 Tour In Barcelona

2009-07-02T07:18:00.003-05:00

Here, the band takes part in the global tribute to Michael Jackson by dedicating "Angel Of Harlem" to his memory.

The quality isn't bad. But, the photographer's seats weren't so hot.

This next clip is a bit better.

I think "The Unforgettable Fire" is one of their better songs. Check it out....they sound amazing.

In the meantime, doesn't it seem like the whole "No cameras or recording devices" warning has just gone out the window in the age of cellphones and tiny cameras?

I can't tell you how many times I've had film taken away from me.

So, I think what I am saying is:

Dear Sting,

Please convince the usher at the Tower Theater to give my fucking film back. I was taking pictures of your show, along with every other person in attendance, and the miserable fucking usher at the end of my aisle chose me...and took my film.

Yours in Jesus,
The Fixer

Want a longer look? Here's about ten minutes of the opening night festivities for your viewing pleasure. There are some funny interviews, at the end. Some of these people are so.....wow.

If you listen closely, over the end credits, you can hear what might be a snippet of a song from their forthcoming album, "Songs Of Ascent".

That album is due before the end of 2009.

The Virgin Suicides

2009-07-01T07:11:00.007-05:00

I do my share of video posting.
But, I am not ashamed.

Sometimes, words can't describe the images you really want people to see. I say this because I finally saw The Virgin Suicides, last night.

I know...I am about ten years late. But, I've been busy.

It's far from the best movie I have ever seen. So, I won't sit here and shower the movie with unnecessary superlatives. I don't love everything I see (I am looking at you Peter Travers).

However, it is Sofia Coppola's directing debut. For a first-timer, she really announced herself as a director to watch. She would later follow with "Lost In Translation", of course.

If you have never seen this film, I urge you to check it out. There is something about the movie that really sinks into your bones. It might be Coppola's uncanny hold on the subject matter. She deftly captures the hopelessness of five girls, the Lisbon sisters, who struggle to become women while being mercilessly oppressed by a controlling mother and a hen-pecked father. All the while, she funnels her view of the girls through the eyes of the teenage boys around the sisters. In the imagination of the young men, the girls appear in meadows amidst cloudscapes. They are like creatures of legend and fantasy.

If you know young men, we really do see girls like this. Let's face it...we're putty, at that age.

With a keen eye, Coppola also demonstrates a real flair for creating vivid imagery. Everything about the film looks gauzy and soft - as if it is being remembered, not seen in real time. The girls peer out of their bedroom windows in their nightgowns like ghosts trapped in a well. All the while, the boys watch them from across the street, quietly fascinated - filled with questions. In one scene, the boys actually read the same travel magazines as the girls and imagine a time when both groups will escape together and live happily as globetrotting teenagers.

Additionally, Coppola's adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides' novel leaves just enough space in the dialogue for the despair to bleed through every breath these girls take. Watching the film, you can't help but get the sense of suffocation these girls feel, trapped in their seventies-era, suburban prison. The paneled basement might as well have bars on it. Every exchange with their parents and the world around them is strained and awkward. Eventually, the death of the Lisbon sisters is likened to the demise of the trees that line their street. They are beautiful and difficult to forget. But, it becomes clear that they are dead inside.

At times, it feels like you aren't really watching them live, you are just waiting for them to die. For this reason, their lives feel more urgent.

The Lisbon sisters are objects of desire, mystery and danger - eventually becoming the embodiment of regret. The boys begin communicating with them over the phone by playing carefully chosen songs (a great sample of seventies era soft-rock). It is one of the more tender moments, in the film. Eventually, the boys concentrate less on seducing the girls and more on trying to save them. For this reason, the suicide of the Lisbon sisters unfolds tragically. It is the steely door that slams in the face of four young men who try desperately to rescue them. This makes the climax of the film that much more shattering and inexplicable.

The greatest strength of Coppola's film is that she paints the struggle of the young men just as vividly as the tragedy of the Lisbon sisters. The real tragedy here is how painful being a teenager can be for even the most vibrant among us. Its something that the boys are powerless to see as teens, and struggle to reconcile as men. The movie demonstrates, with certainty, that men struggle to put aside their teenage longings because they are often too painful for us to remember. The truth is that we are much weaker than we care to admit in the face of the first woman we loved.

The most remarkable thing about this film is that it engages you emotionally even though you are told the ending within the first few minutes. This is a real tribute to the power of the source material. Eugenides' novel is a lazy daydream whose narrator is a collective pronoun (voiced in the film by Giovanni Ribisi) and its main characters take their own lives for reasons that are never fully explained. Because of this, Sofia Coppola creates a movie that succeeds on the strength of sustained moods, associations and images that are unforgettable.

The movie is a sleeper.

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola.

WITH: James Woods (Mr. Lisbon), Kathleen Turner (Mrs. Lisbon), Kirsten Dunst (Lux Lisbon), Hanna Hall (Cecilia Lisbon), Chelse Swain (Bonnie Lisbon), A. J. Cook (Mary Lisbon), Leslie Hayman (Therese Lisbon), Danny DeVito (Dr. Horniker), Josh Hartnett (Trip Fontaine) and Giovanni Ribisi (the Narrator).

(I chose to include this scene because I think everyone can relate to being this young and this crazy in love with someone. I look at Josh Hartnett's face after Kirsten Dunst kisses him...and, I can relate. Great use of "Crazy On You", too.)

Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

2009-06-30T09:29:00.005-05:00

There is a darkness that hovers over the songs on Wilco's seventh studio album. Beneath the earnest simplicity, the band seems ready to face the mirror. The title of the album tips its hand to the confessional nature of the proceedings.

One of the things that a band like Wilco learned is that you can't even please all of your fans all of the time. There were people who moaned about the experimental nature of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and "A Ghost Is Born". There were fans who pined for the alt-country of "Being There". Then, you have the fans who think "Sky Blue Sky" was too straight-forward. So, for "Wilco (The Album)", Jeff Tweedy and company decided to produce the album themselves, with the help of engineer Jim Scott. Borrowing heavily from their own sonic palette, the songs came together very quickly after Wilco returned from Auckland, New Zealand where they participated in the Oxfam International benefit project.

"Wilco (The Song)" opens the album with a clatter as Tweedy whispers, "Do you dabble in depression? Is someone twisting a knife in your back? Wilco will love you, baby." For the next forty-two minutes, Wilco showers their people with the love by wearing their influences on their sleeves. The album has the feel of a band channeling their new music through their own record collection. You can hear Big Star, George Harrison, Motown and Talking Heads lovingly sprinkled throughout the beautiful hum of songs like "You Never Know" and "Sunny Feeling".

But, don't be fooled. All of this clarity feels like the moments when the hangover wears off, at times. "Bull Black Nova" is littered with images of violence and blood. "It's in my hair/It's on my clothes," sings Tweedy with all the dread of a man who wakes up in a hotel room next to a body. Finally, he realizes, "This can't be undone".

Feist shows up long enough to add sexual tension to the mix as her voice tangles with Tweedy's for the lovely "You and I". On "One Wing" Tweedy moans, "One wing will never ever fly, dear. Neither yours nor mine. I feel, we can only wave goodbye." Its a sobering realization and a stark reminder of how Tweedy can make heartbreak sound so beautiful. Even the gentle 60's flourish of "Deeper Down" sounds haunted and ominous as studio noise churns and hisses under Tweedy's measured and distressed delivery.

There are those that will tell you that this Wilco album is not as good as some of their earlier efforts. That would be a shame since Tweedy and his partners (the same men as the last album - a first for this band) have crafted a nuanced and haunting album that sounds like the sun going down on a beautiful summer day.

Finally, the album rounds out with "Everlasting Everything". It's a beautiful meditation on mortality and the endurance of love. Tweedy sings, "Everything alive must die. Every building built to the sky, will fall. Don't try to tell me my everlasting love is a lie." The sentiment and the song are breathtaking. But, no matter how beautiful the noise, "Wilco (The Album)" is full of clatter and an unflappable ease. Even when the songs break your heart, Wilco gives you a shoulder to cry on.

After all...Wilco loves you, baby.

Michael Jackson - 1958-2009

2009-06-29T07:37:00.015-05:00

I can remember getting up at the crack of dawn to watch The Jackson 5 Cartoon Show, when I was very young. If I didn't see it, the day just didn't start right.

It was like missing breakfast.
You just started the day sour.

I loved their music.
I still love it, actually.

Michael Jackson seemed to embody the kind of wonder that is meant for dreams. Seeing him moonwalk across the stage on the Motown 25 Live special wasn't just a musical happening - it was an awakening. I can't imagine that it was any less important than Elvis Presley gyrating across the screen in black & white. For my generation, it had all the gusto of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan.

It was our moment.

This wasn't just a star appearing for the first time...it was a supernova.
It was like waking up in the morning and seeing a second sun in the sky.

In that moment, he claimed us.
Then, we claimed him.

So, instead of remembering the moment of his death, like so many of us do, I will instead recall one evening when I was in 7th grade.

It was a school night. I stayed up late to watch Motown's 25th Anniversary special. It was late and I was fading. Then, Michael Jackson appeared to perform "Billie Jean".

Watch the video.
I'll wait.

His performance was so breathtaking, you could almost hear the collective gasps of my classmates in the night sky. If we had cellphones, we would have been texting/calling each other. I am sure of it. Instead, we rushed into school the next morning and talked about it before classes started. Then, we broke our ankles for the next few weeks trying to moonwalk.

For the next ten years, Michael Jackson owned pop music. He was the world's biggest star. And, let's face it, he deserved it.

In a previous post on this blog, I tagged "Off The Wall" "as an album you should own"*. It's an amazing album that never disappoints me. It was Jackson's breakthrough as a solo artist and it is the purest expression of his talent. It was the moment when Jackson finally eclipsed the fame he achieved with his brothers. In fact, "She's Out Of My Life" was originally written for Frank Sinatra and he passed on it. Because Quincy Jones was working with Sinatra and Jackson, he decided to bring the song to Jackson. Jackson recorded the song and made it his own. Jones later commented that the emotional weight of Jackson's performance was what made him so special. It takes a special kind of performer to give that kind of reading to a song he didn't even write.

Then, there was "Thriller".

I don't know a single person who didn't own this album.
In fact, I have it in every format.

I bought it on vinyl and cassette.
Later, I grabbed the CD.

It seemed like MTV was created for Michael Jackson. When the network debuted, the videos were boring and one-dimensional.

Then, Michael Jackson appeared.

His videos were events. They were cinematic in their scope and Jackson was like a movie-star. On the strength of those videos, and almost every song on the album being released as a hit single, "Thriller" became the biggest selling album of all-time.

Billie Jean
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
The Girl Is Mine
Beat It
Thriller (it's amazing video)
Human Nature
P.Y.T.

Damn.

In recent years, Jackson's name has been tarnished by allegations of child molestation. Because of this, and the bizarre changes in his appearance, Jackson became the punchline of too many jokes. I have frequently said to the young people I teach, "When I was your age, this was not the Michael Jackson I knew. The stars you follow now (Chris Brown, Usher, etc.) wouldn't have been able to shine Michael Jackson's shoes. He was all of these guys rolled into one...a thousand fold."

In fact, I often say to people, "If I told you in 1982 that Michael Jackson was going to be accused of molesting children, his face was going to be marred by unsuccessful plastic surgery, and he was going to become the bizarre, reclusive punchline of late-night talk-show host's jokes", you wouldn't have believed me.

I can't even believe it and I watched it happen.

I followed his career until he fell out of favor. Then, he seemed to disappear from the public eye.

Ironically, Jackson was planning a comeback and had 50 sold-out shows booked at London's O2 Arena, this summer. This was to be his legacy. One last explosion...and then, back into the ether.

The other day, it dawned on me that Michael Jackson may not have ever been truly happy in his adult life. It seemed his entire life was consumed by his eccentricities and the drive to outdo himself and his past success. Now, his life is a cautionary tale of the dangers of excess and the trappings of stardom. He rose to fame in an age of information. It almost seemed like the paparazzi was invented to follow people like Jackson. Because of this, the public had more access to celebrities like him. As the press chased him, Jackson retreated into the prison fame built for him. This resulted in Jackson becoming the first real casualty of the digital age. Michael Jackson became the first real example of a celebrity losing his basic right to privacy.

Now, sensationalism is more important to people than an artist's achievements. If anyone cared to do it, they could trace this trend back to the paparazzi's hounding of Michael Jackson.

In the days that have passed, my friends and I have all remarked that Jackson's death is like our parents' generation losing Elvis.

Why?

Because, Jackson was the musical icon of our generation.

In the past few years, its been harder and harder to watch Jackson turn into the frail and bizarre looking man he has become. When I would see him on television, I would miss the guy I remember as a kid. In fact, when Jackson passed, I called a childhood friend of mine and we talked about the night was saw Jackson and his brothers on the Victory Tour at J.F.K. Stadium - in the prime of his life.

He was so bad-ass.

I miss that guy.

But, his contributions to the world of entertainment are going to be around for future generations to appreciate. When I am old, I will be able to tell my grandchildren I remember seeing the finest entertainer of my generation.

If Michael Jackson didn't exist, we would have had to invent him.

He was that good.

*http://fortyninepercenter.blogspot.com/2008/11/album-you-should-own-112108.html

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live At Slane Castle

2009-06-25T09:51:00.002-05:00

Well, its my last day in school.
So, I was feeling particularly generous.

For me, few things equal the musical freedom expressed by watching Red Hot Chili Peppers play live. To watch them go for it, and click, the way they do...is to watch four musicians connecting musically and spiritually. For my money, there is almost no rock-guitarist on the planet that can hold a candle to John Frusciante's spirit and flow. The guy never seems lost when he lets loose. He plays with his whole body. But, its always tasteful. I dig that. It's never more than the music calls for...and it is always soulful.

Check out this performance - which clocks in at 101 mins - give or take a few seconds.
You can just let it run and listen to it, watch the video when you hear a song you like.

No matter what you do, enjoy it.

The Beatles: Rock Band - Coming 09/09/09

2009-06-24T10:03:00.004-05:00

The Beatles Rock Band Trailer - Funny bloopers are a click away

I am pretty psyched about this.

I love the graphics and the fact that three people can sing at once, too. If you are feeling up to it, you can "have a go" at the harmonies.

Apparently, Dhani Harrison was pretty instrumental in getting this done. The story goes that he was having a beer with the Rock Band creators and they started talking about how they game would look. He liked their ideas and approached his mom. The rest is ...hopefully... Beatlemania for the next generation.

If you have a few free minutes, you can also check out the cinematic trailer. I posted the link at the bottom.

Good stuff.

http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/cinematic.php

Jeff Goldblum....reconsidered

2009-06-23T08:23:00.008-05:00

I share a birthday with Jeff Goldblum.

Maybe, this is the reason I can make sense of this guy when he appears on talk-shows and begins acting like a more jovial version of Christopher Walken.

I love Jeff Goldlbum in spite of myself. When he talks, I can barely follow his train of thought. He appeared on Jimmy Fallon to talk about his latest role on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. So, Fallon starts talking to him about the Jeff Goldblum game (which is a loose approximation of the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Game"), and Goldblum smiles at him - his lips almost always appear as if they are about to drool - and he says, "Yes, yes....I like games of all kinds", and he gets a huge laugh from the audience. Goldblum scans the crowd to make sure they are laughing with him...and everyone continues laughing. Then, it hits you...Goldblum is laughing at all of us.

Appearing on "The Colbert Report", Goldblum demands that Barack Obama apologize for the brutal murder of a fly. Goldblum went on to interview the fly's widow and paid loving homage to a life that only lasted hours. All the while, Goldlbum has a hard time keeping a straight face.*

Again, I am laughing.

I think my affection for the guy has to do with the fact that this guy gets away with this behavior and I don't. Goldblum is the guy I want to be, I think.

Oddball?

No.
Hilarious.

He's even funnier when he is trying to be serious.

A native of Pittsburgh (and eighteen years my senior...to the day), Jeff Goldblum is on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, every other Sunday.

Seriously...I want more Goldblum, not less.

I gotta fever...and that's the only prescription.

*http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/231216/june-18-2009/murder-in-the-white-house---jeff-goldblum

(video of Goldblum's appearance)

Street Sweeper Social Club - 100 Little Curses

2009-06-19T07:57:00.001-05:00

Street Sweeper Social Club |MTV Music

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) and Boots Riley (The Coup) have joined forces to form Street Sweeper Social Club. Their self-titled debut hit the shelves on June 16th. If you hurry, Amazon might still be selling the entire album in its MP3 section for $3.99.

I wasn't really into their first single, "100 Little Curses", until I saw them perform it on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. You can follow the link at the bottom of this post, and forward the video feed to about minute 36 to see that performance. It was their first on network television.

A friend of mine just saw Street Sweeper Social Club open for Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction and told me they were the best thing about the show.

When I listen to the entire album, I will let you know how it sounds.

Have a great weekend...

*http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/episodes/#vid=1127426

Dead Snow

2009-06-19T07:52:00.004-05:00

'Dead Snow' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

I am sure this is a fairly standard plot. But, it sounds like so much fun!

Norwegian medical students go on vacation in the Alps and get hunted down by Nazi zombies.

Come on!
You know you're in.

Who's with me?

Sonic Youth - The Eternal

2009-06-17T08:12:00.010-05:00

It's fitting that after almost thirty years, Sonic Youth are marking a literal return to indie-rock with their latest release "The Eternal". Their intentions are clear from the start, too. About twenty-seven seconds into "Sacred Trickster", Thurston Moore and Lee Renaldo let their dogs off the leash and Kim Gordon sneers, "Press up against the amp/Turn up the treble!" This is the kind of blistering, psychedelic-punk guitar workout that has become Sonic Youth's hallmark. Clearly, time has done nothing to mellow the trigger finger on Sonic Youth's heavy-artillery guitar attack.

"The Eternal" is a stark reminder that despite their tag as alternative/art-rockers, Sonic Youth can be louder than a construction site when the mood strikes them. With the addition of former Pavement bassist Mark Ibold, the band decided to change their songwriting approach. Instead of writing songs as an entire song cycle, the songs on "The Eternal" were written in quick bursts and recorded in a flurry of sessions.

"The Eternal" is self-referential enough that fans of every period in Sonic Youth's storied career will be more than satisfied. In fact, this is the heaviest Sonic Youth has sounded since 1987's "Sister". It's also notable that the band's debut set for indie-label Matador give a nod to the band's earlier days with SST. The most striking difference here is that the songs are tighter than usual. But, the band still hasn't lost the ability to stretch things out with muscle and confidence. In fact, "The Eternal" sounds very informed by the band's recent "Daydream Nation" shows.

Sonic Youth has always been built around the idea of fierce independence. Because of this, the band makes music that answers to no one. You can almost imagine that many A&R guys have thrown up their hands after repeating to the band, "I don't hear a single, guys". One also gets the feeling that a single was never really a big concern for Sonic Youth. For that reason, "The Eternal" reaffirms Sonic Youth's promise that their music will remain exciting, challenging and consistently satisfying.

It Might Get Loud

2009-06-16T08:57:00.003-05:00

It Might Get Loud Theatrical Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

I am pretty geeked about this one.

Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White get together in a studio to recount the inspiration behind their guitar sounds.

You know...the sounds that have shaped the last forty-plus years of rock music.

Count me in.

Sidney Crosby Cries His Way To Lord Stanley's Cup

2009-06-15T12:53:00.004-05:00

(This picture was taken of Sidney Crosby midway through game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. My thanks to the Associated Press)

Oh, Sidney.

I have been watching you cry your way through your career since you came into the league.

You're legendary.

In fact, I am pretty sure you thought your team was going to lose game 7. So, you faked some goofy injury and sat on the bench. This way, you couldn't be blamed for the loss. But, it turns out you really didn't matter that much.

Why?

Because everyone else stepped up and got it done without you.

Give thanks to the Red Wings for missing the net with just about every shot they took for the last 30-plus minutes of play.

Then, to cap it off....you seemingly forgot you had to shake Nicklas Lidstrom's hand. Remember him, Sid? He is the captain of the other team. You are supposed to make sure you shake his hand.

But, it doesn't appear that you were hurt so badly that you couldn't lift the 35 lb. Stanley Cup above your head.

So, that was good.

I think I speak for all of us when I say, "You are such a pussy, Sidney."

There....I said it.

Swine Flu In Philly Schools - Teachers Get Offered Bogus Contracts

2009-06-11T10:16:00.007-05:00

Apparently, there is a growing number of swine flu cases in the Philadelphia public schools.

According to a source, "It is reaching epidemic numbers."

Berks County, with 87 confirmed and two probable cases of swine flu, no longer leads the state. Philadelphia now has the most in Pennsylvania with 109 confirmed and 41 probable cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

You can link to the Pennsylvania Dept of Health for its latest numbers at the bottom of this post. *

Both Berks County and Philadelphia have each reported a swine flu death. Lehigh County is third in Pennsylvania, with 40 confirmed and 16 probable cases. The Allentown Health Bureau reports that 25 of Lehigh County's 40 cases are in Allentown, including 12 in the city school district. So far, no schools have been closed.

World Health Organization officials say there's been a spike in swine flu cases in Australia and an unusual rise in severe cases in Canada. The health agency says that may be enough for officials to declare the first flu pandemic in 41 years. A decision could come sometime today.

According to the district, "There is no reason to close schools because it is already too late if you have been exposed. It takes 7-10 day to show symptoms. So, if you have been exposed - there is no reason to close school...you already have it."

Wow.
Have a nice day!

So, why is the media not hammering this story?

The media sure knows how to print articles blaming teachers for every problem under the sun. Our CEO has unlimited access to the media and she is very quick to point out how accountable teachers are going to be.

Really?

How accountable will our leadership group be if/when the number of cases spirals out of control?

What makes me ask such a question?

Because no one knows will fess up about the number of swine flu cases there are in our schools. That's why.

For a district that claims to be all about the kids, they certainly do take unnecessary risks with their health where contagious disease is concerned.

Clean the building, you say?

Well, all you count on is that some of the students/custodial staff in this building will steal your umbrella (or, anything else that isn't nailed to your desk) if you are unfortunate enough to leave it overnight.

While I am at it, why is the School District mailing out one page contracts to all the teachers with no specified dollar amount on the salary line? No talk of working conditions? No specified hours? No specified school year length?

But, there was very specific language about how easily you could be terminated.

Are they kidding?

*PA DEPT OF HEALTH : http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp
*LATEST PA NUMBERS : http://www.health.state.pa.us/H1N1Map/

Making Changes

2009-06-10T11:28:00.004-05:00

As many of you know, I have been teaching in a fairly rough part of town for the past seven years. For budgetary reasons, my position was eliminated at my school. Now, this didn't mean I was laid off. But, I did mean that I was going to have to pick a new school. As happy as I was to be leaving my current placement, I wasn't happy about the thought of it being someone else's doing. Everyone wants to orchestrate their own exit, I imagine.

No matter.
It was "time to shine", as they say.

So, I gathered all the necessary materials and decided that I was not going to leave it to fate. I got proactive and went after the big prize. Much to my surprise - and to the surprise of the people who thought I was less important than an office copier- I got it.

Trust me, there is no better feeling than being able to tell someone who did not think you were important enough to keep that you are moving on to a place that is a quantum leap forward in every way.

So, starting in September, I will be teaching at one of the best high schools in the city.

I am excited and nervous.

On one hand, it is all I have ever wanted. On the other hand, I know that it is going to be extremely challenging. I have had some time to get used to it. And, I will have all summer to prepare further. But, I am intimidated every time I enter the building. It is like a cathedral to higher education.

I have had the great pleasure of meeting some of the students I will be working with next year. They are amazing young men and women. I know that I will learn just as much from them as they will from me.

As I prepare for my last few days working with the few people that remain from the day I started, I feel like I am letting go. I am in that wonderful phase of the job search where your future is decided and you no longer have the pressure of worrying about all the pettiness of your current situation. I even found myself talking to my colleagues and referring to them as "you guys" when discussing work related issues. I refer to my new building, and the staff I have not even met, as "us".

The road ahead of me is going to be particularly difficult. But, I do know that for the first time in almost a decade, I will be teaching children that come to school to actually learn. This is not a neighborhood school that just takes anyone. These kids have to be serious about school to even get considered to test into this place. Then, they actually have to test in and beat out all the other kids that want to attend this school.

98% of them go to college. So, I am thrilled.

I will, however, miss the good people I have been working with for the last seven years. They are some of the nicest people I have ever known. When I was hired, they welcomed me in like family. And, they have been right there through the good and the bad. I have spent a great deal of time with them. So, I really do feel that sense of loss. It will be odd driving up to a different building on September 1st and sitting down with a group of people I don't even know.

Having said that, I will not miss this school. Instead, I feel pity for the children of this community. Many of them have no one at home who cares about them - and it shows. If the people of this city only knew how much help these kids needed from the time they are born (and how little they get at home), they would not be so quick to blame teachers for the illiteracy rate. It's a bad time to be a teacher in a struggling school, right now. Everyone is out to blame teachers for everything.

But, I am putting all of that behind me. I will have my own professional challenges. I have no time to think about the past, anymore.

I am focused on the future.

I have a few more posts before going underground until October.
When I come back, the blog will have a new look and its author will have a new outlook.

Bank on it.

Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark

2009-06-10T11:15:00.004-05:00

Well, if you have an American Express card, you can grab pre-sale tickets for the Spiderman musical.

That's right.

Spiderman is coming to Broadway in 2010. Music and lyrics will be provided by Bono and The Edge. Personally, I think they should spend less time on this and more time developing U2 albums that everyone can agree on as being consistent from start to finish.

Wisely, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. wanted nothing to do with this.

Now, I am not saying this can't be good. I am just saying that the long odds on this being something more than just mildly interesting are a pretty safe bet.

Still, Bono and The Edge made their case for the rock music meets comic-book hero musical.

“We were open to the idea of musical theater, but Spider-Man, that’s a different thing again, because that’s comic books, and there’s a whole series of relations between punk rock and rock bands and comic books, that goes back years,” Bono says in the video interview, adding the pair were eager “to mess with all these aspects of pop culture, put them in a blender and see what comes out on the other end.” The Edge also found the story of Peter Parker resonated with the rock-star experience. “Every rock & roll star probably started out as the geek who got bullied on in school, and eventually their form of revenge was to write songs or learn to play guitar.” *

Julie Taymor (Frida, Across The Universe) will be directing. No casting news is available. But, rumor has it that Alan Cumming will be playing The Green Goblin.

I won't be attending this, I am sure. Let's just say I am in a "show me" place with this.

However, if you need less convincing, the public sale begins on September 12, 2009.

*http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/10/u2s-bono-and-the-edge-talk-spider-man-musical/

Dead Weather - Horehound

2009-06-09T08:17:00.005-05:00

Jack White suddenly realized that his voice had been pushed to the breaking point. In the last decade, he has released an album every year for the last eight years. There were six White Stripes records and two albums by The Raconteurs. He had also been in three movies and recorded a James Bond theme with Alicia Keys.

So, he invited The Kills' Alison Mosshart on stage to pull some vocal duties for The Raconteurs in his place. It turned out to be a stroke of genius. Mosshart's voice echoes White's to the point of being flat-out eerie. Assuming the drummer's chair, White isn't flashy behind the kit. But, the fury of his playing is like listening to a man who has been rendered mute trying to express himself through sound. Having said this, the music crackles and explodes with a tension on loan from some of the best film noir. Horehound is a sleazy, creeping blues ride that has White, Mosshart, Jack Lawrence and Dean Fertita riding straight out of the grave and breaking their whips on the horse's ass.

"60 Feet Tall" opens the album with minimalist bent-string blues and echoing rim shots as Mosshart intones, "You're so cold and dangerous, I can't leave you be". As the band lurches in, Mosshart invokes the spirit of PJ Harvey as she spits her lyrics at the microphone, making each syllable stick to your skin. Similarly, "Hang You From The Heavens" is a churning neo-garage wailer that has Mosshart's voice erupting as a bundle of hiss, cooing the molten promise, "I like to grab you by the hair, and drag you to the devil".

Lust?

Sure, if that is what you want to call it. But, at the end of this love scene, someone is either dead or waking up...chained to a chair...in a room with no windows.

"Treat Me Like Your Mother" is a warped Oedipal love-note that is spot-welded to a synthesizer riff dancing its way over a Zeppelin-esque shuffle. The affair gets even darker on "Bone House" when Mosshart admits "I put your heart in a vault, that's how I get what I want."

One of the more electrifying moments on Horehound is the duet between Mosshart and White on "Rocking Horse". The guitars shimmer as Mosshart and White moan and scream their way through lyrics like, "I wrote a nasty letter and I sent it to the Lord. I said, 'Don't you dare come and bother me no more." It's a sentiment that calls to mind some of the masters of the blues. Its the sound of two people who realize that no matter how far they run, the evil they have perpetrated will only catch up to them. Mosshart and White play their parts at the top of their lungs.

The album succeeds on many levels because the spirit of the proceedings is so "right-on". It's an album that sounds haunted, but never campy. The songs are dangerous, dark and achieve a certain masterful stroke of storytelling. It makes you hope that there will be a second album by Dead Weather.

Then you find yourself wondering, "What will Jack White do next?"
Is there anything he can't do?

But you will hit replay on Horehound quite a few times before an answer comes to you.

(This album is set for release on July 14, 2009)

Rage Against The Machine - The Ghost Of Tom Joad

2009-04-01T00:32:00.002-05:00

When I watch this video, I can't help but be struck by the notion that the members of Rage Against the Machine mean every word of this song. The lyrics were written by Bruce Springsteen and the musical arrangement was cooked up by the members of Rage to give an otherwise plaintive folk-song a kick-in-the-ass with a lead-tipped boot filled with nitro-glycerine.

For me, this song says so much about life - and the state of how working people, in this country, feel right now.

The lyrics borrow heavily from the images in John Steinbeck's "Grapes Of Wrath". Rage Against The Machine turn the haunting song into a full-on assault, railing against a society that displaces working men and their families - damning them to walk America's roads without a home...condemning them to live like animals in homeless communities.

"Families sleepin' in their cars out in the southwest....no job, no home, no peace...no rest. NO REST!"

Think Shanty Towns are a thing of the past?
Check out the link to this article in the New York Times.*

Zack de la Rocha's delivery is about throwing every ounce of anger into the face of a tidal wave. The message is simple; Never back down....never back up....never bow down. No matter how bad things get, stand with your head up and your fists raised in the face of a tidal wave and dare it to take you down. Challenge the very ocean itself to take you under if it dares to have you.

Watch the video.
Do they seem like they are faking it to you?

No..they don't.
Neither should you.

So....

This seems like a good place to end.

I started this blog to try and shine some light on the things I liked and hated.
My hope was that my opinions, no matter how bizarre, got people thinking.

Lately, I have been hearing more and more about how teachers are going to get paid based on merit. It's just the bureaucracy doing all they can to crush the working teachers, in this country.

Students fail because their parents don't care. It has little to do with the teachers.
It all starts at home.
Trust me.

I leave you with this thought:

When do failing principals get fired? Why, instead, do they get promoted to better schools?
When do the CEO's of failed school districts get denied the right to work - rather than move onto other school districts to try their hand with ANOTHER system, until they fail and receive the full compensation of their contract before moving on to another city...to fail, again?

When will the government get real and realize that parents have to reinforce what children are taught in school in order for it to be effective? When will the people who run schools realize that teachers can only teach if students are willing to learn? When will they realize, that while some teachers can reach difficult students, not everyone can teach in virtual battle-zones in the inner-city?

And, when will the system realize that this doesn't make them "bad teachers"?

The answer is, "never". Because tackling a societal problem actually takes vision and courage. I have seen plenty of leaders, in my day.

Almost none of them have those qualities.

If this sounds vaguely similar to what you go through, well it is the same old song that so many people are singing.

This blog is dedicated to the working people of this country who slog it everyday. This post is for the honest, hard-working people who don't kiss anyone's ass. They just put their heads down and produce results, day-in & day-out.

This is for everyone who finds themselves out-of-work and victimized by a broken system that has eaten it's own heart out because of greed. It's for everyone who has had to come home and tell their spouse that they are out of work because their company handed their job over to cheaper, unskilled-labor.

It is my sincere hope that the good people of this world...the righteous people of this world....rise up one day, band together and lose their fear of the wicked. It is time for the righteous to put aside the notion that because we are good people, we are weak. It is time for us make the evil in our society shake at the very thought of us - the good, the just.

Join together in your workplace and expose the ass-kisser....who is worth nothing if it weren't for his lips pressed firmly against the ass of your boss. Call out corruption, inequality and injustice when you see it. The people in charge want nothing more than for you to fear them. They want to keep you off-guard - divided.

Stand together and be strong.
Don't let anyone with a phony title allow you to be pushed into the margins.
Speak only the truth and never miss an opportunity to point out the lies they try to push on you.

We all deserve better than that.

In doing so, if we become what we behold - so be it.

Turning the other cheek just won't cut it, these days.
Let's get our hands dirty.

Let's see action.

The 49%er has always been about & for hard-working, decent people who carry-on despite the writing on the wall.

Someday, I'll be back.

Until then, be strong...have courage...and rise up!

- The Fixer

* http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/us/26tents.html

An Album You Should Own - 3/27/09

2009-03-27T08:16:00.003-05:00

Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

"Dark Side Of The Moon"
"The Wall"

They are legendary titles.

However, few people dip far enough back in the Floyd discography to consider the amazing work they did on their very first album. Released in 1967, "The Piper at the Gate of Dawn" is considered one of the finest psychedelic albums ever released - if not the best.

It is also the finest hour of the Floyd's work with the enigmatic Syd Barrett.

The album is full of memorable, melodic acid-tinged songs that stand as a stark contrast to the longer, more experimental freakouts. This album is the beginning of what many people began to call "space rock". It is also one of the earliest examples of rock music using space travel as a metaphor for hallucinogenic drug use.

"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is not an easy listen. The songs are a curious mix of bright sounding melodies set against dissonant soundscapes and random noises that seem to suggest chaos and disorder. When you listen, you can almost feel the highs and lows of drug experimentation. There is the soaring pleasure of trance-like states of mind - where all things are possible and beautiful. But, there is always the danger of the acid-induced meltdowns, mental disorder and lunacy.

Eventually, Barrett became a victim of his own excesses. Too many experiences with LSD left him a broken shell of a man who could barely perform or function. Sadly, Syd Barrett's career with Pink Floyd would end with the band just deciding not to pick him up on their way to a gig, one day. However, the band remained fiercely loyal to Barrett. They made sure he was well taken care of until the day he died.

Roger Waters and the rest of Pink Floyd had many differences in their storied years together. They have loved and, more often, hated each other since their break up. But, they put aside their differences to make sure that Barrett never missed a royalty check for the rest of his life.

And, when they spoke of Barrett, they always did so with reverence. In fact, the image of Barrett is carefully woven through the band's work as a mythic, lost figure. The album "Wish You Were Here" is a soaring outburst of grief and longing for him. The band was never able to shake the specter of Barrett and the influence he had on their work was immeasurable.

"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is Syd Barrett's finest work with Pink Floyd and it is an album you should own.

Further listening: "Meddle", "Wish You Were Here", "Dark Side Of The Moon", "The Wall"

Stereophonics - Dakota (Live)

2009-03-27T08:11:00.003-05:00

I didn't know much about this band, at first. Then, I heard this song and I started investigating them a little more closely. Again, this is one of those bands that is huge in England - virtually unknown in the United States. They play in stadiums, over there.

Enjoy this video. The song is killer.

Further listening: "Just Enough Education To Perform", "Language. Sex. Violence. Other?"

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-03-26T11:53:00.005-05:00

Where The Wild Things Are - Theatrical Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

I just caught the exclusive trailer for this movie and I thought it looked so cool I had to share it with you.

Spike Jonze is the perfect director for this film.
It's also a really great use of The Arcade Fire track "Wake Up".

My Top Five?

2009-03-26T08:36:00.013-05:00

Lately, people have been talking alot about their top five.

Top five what?

You name it.

I see it on facebook, quite a bit.

"Top 5 Albums"
"Top 5 Movies"
"Top 5 Books"

The other day, I heard some people talking about their top five...I guess celebrities they would like to be involved with...or, bone. I don't know. My head swims listening to people, sometimes.

As I sat there quietly chewing and trying to avoid eye-contact, someone said, "Hey, Fixer (naturally, they called me by my real name - Cletus)...who are your top five?"

So, I said my usual, "Go fuck yourself....I'm eating over here."

Then, I got to thinking about it. I decided that my top five represents a real sea-change in what would be considered the normal top five. I realized that I no longer want to be with younger women. I no longer care about models. While I might appreciate their beauty, I need to talk to someone once in a while. Now, this doesn't make me better than anyone else. I love to look at beautiful women. But, it really does come down to more than that, at the end of the day.

The top five has to include more than 'looks great in underwear'.

I'm sorry, dudes. It just has to be about more than that. Although, that doesn't hurt. These are not women that I would meet in a bar. They have too much going on for that dumb shit. They are also not women who 'smoke only when they drink'....which is at least four nights a week. I also can't see my top five being a woman who is famous just for being famous. This automatically excludes anyone with the last name Hilton or Richie. I can't see it being a woman who would wear sports jerseys on a regular basis, either. Also, any woman who allows a man to lay a hand on her and excuses it for any reason...you don't make the cut. You might have good things going for you, but there is a serious defect in the judgment/decision-making portion of your brain.

So, the next day, I said that after giving it much thought I had some names for my top five. After hearing Heidi Klum and every other Victoria's Secret model and low-level actress/Maxim cover-model's name get thrown around, I was ready to make my pitch.

So, here they are..in no order:

Julia Louis Dreyfuss is in there because she actually makes me laugh out loud. I have also heard her put a coherent thought together on her own.

Isla Fisher is in my top five because she is adorable and really funny. Any woman that can be romantically involved with Borat has to have a good sense of humor.

Paz Vega is there because....well, have you seen "Sex and Lucia"? Keeeee----rist on a bike jugglin' balls. She could read me the phone book and I would stand there on one leg.

Eliza Dushku is in the top five because she just plain hot. I mean, she was on the cover of Maxim to promote her new television series. But, I forgive her...this time.

Mila Kunis makes my list because she was hilarious on "That 70's Show" and she is one of the voices on "Family Guy". Come on..she has to have a sense of humor, right?

In the end, this is a goofy post. All of these women have one thing in common: None of them are going out with me or anyone I know, in this lifetime or the next.

But, there has to be more in the world than politics, movies and music.

But, I maintain that the most beautiful women in the world are the ones who find the time to work, raise a family...do it all.... and still find the time to connect to whatever it is that makes them happy enough to shine and be sexy. If you see a woman at the gym who looks great after working out...and she's walking over to the child-care center to grab two well-adjusted kids....man, that is a woman you need to know. Chances are good she could teach you a thing or two about getting your act together and managing a few things at once. These are the women that the paparazzi never notice in Hollywood. They are just the girls and women who live on your street or work in your office. No matter what is happening in their lives, they smile and laugh. They make guys, like me, take a few extra minutes in the morning to make sure we dont look like slobs.

I suppose that is the accomplishment of all great women regardless of how they look. They keep us from acting like the assholes we are, from time to time.

Chris Cornell - Scream

2009-03-25T09:44:00.003-05:00

I tried.

I really did, Chris.

The ill-fated collaboration between Chris Cornell and Timbaland is finally in stores. A few weeks ago, Main Street Music passed me a copy to review. As a fan of Cornell, I was eager to hear the album and give it a fair shot. I realize that it wasn't going to be a Soundgarden, Audioslave or traditional Cornell solo-effort. I knew this was going to be something totally different.

I was willing to give Cornell the benefit of the doubt. After all, I had downloaded a few of the songs from iTunes and I liked a few of them very much.

Now, when I first I heard Cornell was collaborating with Timbaland, I thought, "Well, if Timbaland can help Cornell take his traditional rock howl and give his some songs some shape, direction...we might have something." After all, Timbaland is a great producer and an honest-to-god hit-making machine. If he could have helped Cornell find the hook in his songs, he might have been able to bring out the best in Cornell - whose career was at a crossroads after a luke-warm reception to "Carry On".

See, that is what would have worked best.

For this to work, Cornell needed to convince his core audience that he didn't trade substance for style. If Timbaland came to the sessions and said to Cornell, "You have some good songs. We won't change your style or sound. Instead, I am going to make these songs 'pop'." Timbaland should have focused on surrounding Cornell's voice with the familiar and thrown the audience some curveballs to keep them on their toes.

This might have been an interesting, fresh approach.

Instead, you get Timbaland making Cornell into something he isn't. What's worse is, the listener is left asking himself, "What was Cornell thinking?" Even worse, "Was Cornell thinking at all?" I don't believe that Cornell has to do what is expected of him. But, this is more than just a radical departure. It just doesn't work, on many levels.

Hearing Cornell's herculean voice plod its way through synthesizers and sequencers takes most of the soul out of the songs. Cornell's voice begins to sound like a very insignificant part of each song. When his voice does cut through, the songs are just weak. The album begins to sound like the piped-in music that puts dance beats to rock songs at a health club.

There are certain moments where the production is stripped back enough that Cornell's voice helps to strike a more soulful balance. Songs like "Long Gone", Ground Zero", and the title track "Scream" achieve a certain emotional gravity that the rest of the album just doesn't muster. Even the appearance of Justin Timberlake on "Take Me Alive" doesn't take the song over the top. Instead, it just plods along and repeats the chorus after Cornell warbles something about...well, not being taken alive.

Interestingly enough, the cover of the album features Cornell smashing a guitar as a symbolic gesture. One would assume that he traded it for Timbaland's synthesizers. Well, you might want to patch that guitar back up again, Chris. You are going to need it to win back the legions of fans that jumped ship on you.

It's not that the musical direction you've chosen is a problem. Hell, I like anything as long as it moves me. And, there it is. That is the problem with this album in a nutshell. It's just that the songs do not sustain any momentum - and it doesn't matter who produced the album. Change is only effective if the finished product is a winner. In this case, change hurts worse because "Scream" just isn't very good.

Having said that, I am still a fan of Cornell's and I look forward to seeing where he goes from here. I wouldn't even mind if he worked with Timbaland again. But, "Scream" can't decide what it wants to be. Is it the album of a rock-singer changing his sound? Or, is it a dance/pop album that features a great rock singer? In the quest to make it a little of both, the album fails to achieve any momentum that would make it compelling to the listener.

Massive Attack - Teardrop

2009-03-23T13:18:00.001-05:00

If it seems like I have only been writing about music and posting videos, you are right. I am just taking some time to tell you about things I like. When I talk politics, its hard to find much to like.

Whenever people write/talk about Massive Attack, they fail to mention Liz Fraser's name. She is the woman who provided the vocals for most of the band's most notable material. Along the way, there was also Beth Orton and Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl).

This performance was taken from the Sundance Channel series "Live At Abbey Road".
It's mesmerizing.

It's perfect for a Monday morning.

Mat Kearney - Nothing Left To Lose

2009-03-20T11:09:00.003-05:00

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

I dedicate this one to all the people who are at some crossroads in their lives.

Kearney's song really captures that feeling of wanderlust. Who hasn't thought about hitting the open road, finding small towns to haunt, eating the local food...

Sometimes, I think we all seek to discover who we are without all the noise that life can generate.

"Push the pedal down, watch the world fly by us..."

Bruce Springsteen To Appear On The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

2009-03-18T13:05:00.003-05:00

Bruce Springsteen will be a guest on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart", this Thursday, March 19th.

This should be interesting, to say the least.
I am hoping it doesn't go the way the Jim Cramer interview went.

Sheesh...

The Stone Roses Are Reuniting?

2009-03-18T08:08:00.002-05:00

Prepare for "The Third Coming" of The Stone Roses.

Sources close to the band say the reunion-meter is hovering somewhere 90%, at this point.

The Mirror is claiming that the band will reunite for 21 UK gigs, later this year.

According to the paper a "source" claimed that: "it's taken a lot of time to get [frontman] Ian [Brown] to agree but he's finally signed on the dotted line. The rest of the band were really up for it, especially when they realised the amount of money on the table."

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the release of The Stone Roses self-titled debut. Released in May 1989, the album is considered one of the greatest UK indie albums of all-time. It also provided the template for what was considered "the Manchester" sound. Countless bands have gone on to sing the praises of the band, most notably Noel Gallagher claiming that, "...there would be no Oasis without The Stone Roses."

Don't chuckle.
Oasis is pretty great.

Rumors also have The Stone Roses coming stateside to play Coachella. However, those rumors are unconfirmed.

Hopefully, the band will release an album and work their way stateside to kick up some dust in our area.

It would be amazing to see this legendary band perform after being a fan for so many years.

Interpol Announces New Album Title

2009-03-18T08:07:00.002-05:00

Interpol will be releasing "Moderation" on June 5, 2009.

On the band's website, the band says, "We hope that, once it's done, you high-minded folks will welcome this music into your bedrooms...to swagger...and breathe....We will keep you posted."

I am pretty excited for this one. Interpol is one of my favorite 'new' bands. They play a pumped-up version of the post-punk that Joy Division made famous in the early 80's.

Check out their albums, "Turn On The Bright Lights", "Antics" and "Our Love To Admire".

It's heady stuff for people that missed Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division and many of the great Manchester bands the first time around.

Audenried High School Brawl Draws Police

2009-03-17T07:12:00.004-05:00

High School Brawls Draw Police Response
Eight Students Arrested In Two Separate Fights

PHILADELPHIA - Police showed up in force to break up a lunchtime melee at a South Philadelphia high school.

Friday the 13th lived up to its reputation, at least inside Audenreid High School. A calm morning turned into a chaotic afternoon as kids did battle with each other -- and then with police, reported Fox 29's Claudia Gomez.

"The two boys just started arguing, and that's when they just started fighting. And then while that fight was going on, two other girls just started fighting, and there was just a crowd of people everywhere," says 9th grader Ashley Johnson.

"A lot of people just like started running toward the fights, to go see what was going on, and that's like when the cops came in," says 9th grader Searra Lovett.

It happened inside the school cafeteria, where all 172 students take their lunch period at the same time. School police couldn't handle the melee so they called in Philadelphia police, who immediately pulled out the handcuffs.

"The eight students that were arrested will face disciplinary action here in the district. We have a zero-tolerance when it comes to fighting and we're just not going to tolerate that,” says Vincent Thompson of the Philadelphia School District.

This is a brand new school but with an old reputation for trouble, carried over from the previous building.

"I think it's terrible. We only send her here because it's a new school, and they promised it wasn't going to be the same thing. So as you can see it's the same thing, and she really doesn't want to be here, so she's probably going to end up transferring," says parent Deandre Johnson.

"Honestly this is a fresh start for this community, and we in the school district absolutely want this to be a fresh start for the kids who are here now and the kids who are coming in the future," says Regional Superintendent Michael Silverman.

"It shouldn't have happened inside of a school, where we're supposed to be learning at," says student Ashley Johnson.

Some students tell Fox 29 News that the officers overrecated and that they used too much force. Other students say there were students who were acting unruly, and at least in one case, a girl was swinging at police.

The School District insists this is an isolated incident in what they say has otherwise been a peaceful year.

*http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/031309_High_School_Brawl_Draws_Police_Response

You can follow this second link for ABC's coverage of the story which features some longer interviews with parents.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6708989

The link for NBC's coverage "magically" disappeared.

Rush Limbagh Is A Big Fat Pig

2009-03-16T07:31:00.004-05:00

(This post was originally published on October 26, 2006)

Michael J Fox has Parkinson's disease. That's a fact. We have all seen him on television in the recent past suffering with the symptoms of this disease and what it is doing to his body. I have a cousin who suffers from the same disease and I can tell you, it has taken his young, healthy body and reduced it to a mass of shaking limbs which he can barely control. He suffers everyday in a way I can only imagine. I have, in the past, had to go over to his home, when he is alone, and pick him up off the floor because he can't pick himself up when he falls down. This says nothing for the heartache his family endures watching him struggle to walk, sleep, eat and do every other thing we take for granted each day. In short, Parkinson's disease takes you apart slowly. Its only natural that anyone with the ability to use some political forum to ask for a cure would do it for his/her own sake and the well-being of others.

The other day, Rush Limbaugh, a fat, no-talent, drug-addicted shill for the Republican party accused Fox of exaggerating the symptoms of his illness in a campaign ad for political candidates who support stem cell research. "In late October, he (Fox) appeared in a television campaign commercial for Claire McCaskill, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri; her opponent, Republican Senator Jim Talent, is against embryonic stem cell research. Fox has been filmed in similar ads in Maryland, endorsing Ben Cardin, and in Wisconsin, supporting Jim Doyle. Fox also plans to appear at events for Robert Menendez and Tammy Duckworth."* Fox is doing this because he obviously wants to see the kind of stem cell research that could cure this disease, and others, actually get federal funding. Stem cell research has always been a hot-button issue that conservatives and Jesus-freaks love to say is immoral, wrong and will surely send us all to hell.

In the past, I was willing to tolerate such lunacy as benign rhetoric that conservatives rallied around during elections to make sure their brain-dead, bible-thumping constituents rushed to their polling places and pulled the mighty Republican lever with all the strength in their quivering, god-fearing limbs. Now, I have had all I can take and I can't take anymore.

For Rush Limbaugh to come on CNN and tell all of his pumpkin-headed listeners "...that Fox was "really shameless" and that he was "either off his medication or acting..." is disgusting. According to the Washington Post, Limbaugh also has told his listeners that Fox was "exaggerating the effects of the disease... He's moving all around and shaking, and it's purely an act."

"This is the only time I've ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has," Limbaugh said. "He can barely control himself." *

Well, I guess he can't control himself and that must be a real problem for you. I mean, it must be really hard to sit there with your health and tolerate Michael J Fox quivering like jelly on tv. I bet it makes you hungry to see anything that reminds you of jelly, right Rush? And what kind of fucking name is Rush, anyway?

Listen, you fat bozo....Fox is using whatever political clout he can muster to help elect a candidate that might fund research for a cure. I have no problem with that and neither should you. Maybe, if someone promised you a big old bag full of Oxycontin and Viagra, you would do a commercial for them, you piece-of-shit freak.

But, I digress.

So, what does Limbaugh do when pressed for an apology?

"All right then, I stand corrected…so I will bigly, hugely admit that I was wrong, and I will apologize to Michael J. Fox if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act." *

Limbaugh then went on the attack again: "Michael J. Fox is allowing his illness to be exploited and in the process, is shilling for a Democratic politician," he said. *

That's mighty big of you, Rush. A back-handed apology followed by another insult. I realize that's all the Republican party is capable of, at this point.

Then, to make matters worse....the following fucking clowns come on television to say that Fox is being exploited in a political ad. Apparently, Patricia Heaton IS the same bitch she played on Everybody Loves Raymond and playing Jesus has fooled Jim Caviezel into thinking he IS Jesus. And who gives a fuck what Jeff Suppan, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, thinks about stem cell research? Just throw the ball, dickhead. First-baseman Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals, a team with the worst record in baseball last year, had to give his two cents. Mike...your team sucks and I am sure you do, too. Then, I have to get Kurt Warner giving me his slant on this? Look, we all know you are Jesus-freak, Kurt. Spend more time remembering how to throw a football and less time shilling for Republicans. The fans of the Arizona Cardinals wish you and your grey-haired wife (who looks old enough to be your mom, Kurt) would just concentrate on helping your team win games. Because, in case you havent noticed....you fucking suck.

Or, are you just exaggerating how bad you are a throwing a football to prove that God forgives even the lamest mother-fuckers on the planet? Because, if he does, your ticket to heaven is punched. You suck and your wife is ugly. That's a mighty cross to bear, for sure.

So....how you like those apples? Hey, if Ann Coulter is allowed to be a cunt (I dont make a habit of using that word. But, it just fits her) every time she opens her mouth, I guess I can wave my finger in your faces when I tell you how it is.

Imagine the nerve of these assholes to come on television and suggest that Michael J Fox is acting when he shows symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Fuck every last one of you. I am no expert on this disease or its potential cure(s) and I know there isnt a single one of you that is, either. How dare you interfere in things you know nothing about? Just shut your fucking mouths and go back to doing what all of you best: Being "C" list in your chosen professions

If you love science and the furthering of human kind, you have to hate what the Bush administration and their legion of brain-dead followers have done to the advancement of science in this country.

Last but not least....Fuck off, Rush Limbaugh.
You are a big, fat, no-talent pig.

And, I can tell...you aren't faking

*http://www.playfuls.com/news_0002956_Limbaugh_Michael_J_Fox_is_Faking_Sickness.html

Chuck Norris - President Of Texas

2009-03-13T09:16:00.005-05:00

I love Chuck Norris.
I really do.

But, Chuck Norris is a douchebag. Worse, he is the only one who doesn't get the joke.

Now, Chuck Norris is the joke.

Actually, someone needs to wait until he is sleeping and beat some sense into him with a fungo bat. It seems that his hairpiece glue has seeped through his skull and has penetrated his brain.

Are you ready?
Chuck Norris has announced that he wants to be "The President of Texas."

On Glenn Beck's radio show Norris said, "That need may be a reality sooner than we think. If not me, someone someday may again be running for president of the Lone Star state, if the state of the union continues to turn into the enemy of the state."

Is Norris advocating secession? Actually, he is advocating outright revolution.

He added, "How much more will Americans take? When will enough be enough? And, when that time comes, will our leaders finally listen or will history need to record a second American Revolution? We the people have the authority according to America's Declaration of Independence...

Again, Sam Houston put it well when he gave the marching orders, "We view ourselves on the eve of battle. We are nerved for the contest, and must conquer or perish. It is vain to look for present aid: None is at hand. We must now act or abandon all hope! Rally to the standard, and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men, be free men, that your children may bless their father's name."

He continued to fumigate his wisdom with the following: "George Washington advised, "The great rule of conduct in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations [and] having with them as little political connection as possible." Yet the Obama administration just pledged $900 million in U.S. taxpayer-funded aid to Hamas-controlled Gaza and Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority."

Wow. So, that is where you draw the line on Washington, Chuck? After the last eight years of total power abuse, Chuck Norris is offended by the $900 million to Pakistan. That's a good one.

Go on, Professor-Black Belt...

Patrick Henry taught that, "Our Constitution is ... an instrument for its people to restrain the government." Yet our Congress and president stampede that founding document, overlook its explicitness and manipulate its words to abandon a balance of power and accommodate their own desires, partisan politics and runaway spending.

First of all, Patrick Henry opposed the passing of the Constitution. Secondly, Norris spent the last eight years of his life supporting George W. Bush and now he is concerned about the president forsaking the balance of power in the constitution?

You've got to be shitting me.

Chuck...there is a word for what you are advocating and it's treason. During the Bush administration, you would have had your wig ripped off your ability to make a living would have been severely hindered.

Just ask The Dixie Chicks. They are from Texas, too.

I wonder how they would feel about you becoming their president.

Norris also claimed, “Thousands of cell groups will be united around the country in solidarity over the concerns for our nation.” The right wing cells will meet during a live telecast, "We Surround Them," on Friday March 13 at 5 p.m.

Cell groups, huh?
Cell groups?

Dear President Obama,

About that order to close Guantanamo Bay. Yeah, it seems that there are some cell groups being led by Chuck Norris that might need to be rounded-up. I'll bring my bathing suit and waterboard. See you there."

The thing that upsets me most about Norris' statements is that they are subtle forms of racism. None of this would be happening if Obama were the "same old white dude". There is a segment of this population that hates every word the man speaks because he is African-American. Chuck Norris is just trying to put a polite face on it.

I never heard anyone talk about seceding from the country, before.

Well, Chuck...if that is the way you feel, you can have Texas. Now, you are in charge. They get no more federal money and we will no longer protect its borders.

Enjoy that.
You get no more relief in the case of a natural disaster, either.
Need money?
Fuck you.
Call "The Queen of Alaska" because we are cutting her off, too.

Seriously...what the fuck? This is how Republicans act when they lose? Go do something constructive. Reform your party platform and organize the vote. But, above all - GET OVER IT! Your party lost because of the total abuse of power it used to wage war on The Constitution for the last eight years.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am busy.
After all, I am the Duke of Frankford.

By the way, here are some comments I copied that were attached to the article I read about this...scary shit, people.

waypasthadenough: Ignore the "Liberal" freaks who comment here and don't let their twisted lies affect you. They will get what's coming in "Liberal" season. Don't understand? Go to willowtowndotcom and scroll right and read the quotes page first. Then share and prepare. It will not be a short nor an easy fight and you must learn where your enemies down the street are and be ready to give them what they deserve.

Boss Hogg: When this country was formed, the system the Founders installed allowed only white men over the age of 21 who OWNED property to vote.Having every Tom, Dick and Sally casting their vote on issues they know nothing about is CRAP!That IS NOT how this country was meant to be run.Racist negros and liberal brainwashed college kids voting? And now we'll add millions of 3rd world indians from south-of-the-border to all that?Nope, that is not what the Founders had in mind when they created this Republic.And that's why this country is going into the toilet.

Random Spills 3/13/09

2009-03-13T08:53:00.005-05:00

People have been coming to me and asking me why I am not going to write this blog, anymore.

For the record, I didn't say "never".

But, I am going to take some time away from it.

Sure, there have been some really interesting issues I could have written about. I could name several, right now.

The Philadelphia Eagles front-office is loaded-down with a bunch of fucking jerks. They can't seem to stop shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to PR. They allowed Brian Dawkins to walk pretty away unceremoniously. Then, they fired a game-day employee for expressing his opinion about that matter on a facebook page.

Really?
That's all you have to do with your time, is it?

The Eagles attitude seems to be summed up like this: Forget signing a decent free-agent player. Instead, let's fire people for expressing their opinions about our bone-headed personnel moves. As long as people keep filling our stadium, we can do anything we want.

As long as people keep going down to that stadium and watching this team, they can allow it to go to shit. Why win? We are making money hand-over-fist. We don't actually have to pay to win anything. History has shown that to be true in this town.

Accoring to Forbes, Jeffrey Lurie is now a billionaire.

Really?

Well, I guess when you have Joe Banner carving every dollar he can out of the fans and cheating every football player besides Donovan McNabb out of a dollar, your boss just gets rich.

"Jeffrey Lurie - Owner of The Eagles, Dickhead."

I don't want to pick at the Barack Obama presidency until something goes really wrong.
For now, I think Barack Obama is doing the absolute best job he can do when you consider the mess he inherited. The country needs to give him time. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like Obama shares that philosophy. He is acting and doing so quickly.

It actually makes me happy that Republicans are fighting him. That means, in my mind, that the people who were in charge when this country went into the shitter financially are not getting what they want. But, the dust needs to settle before I can judge the outcome of this. It is too early.

The financial institutions of this country cant be allowed to fail. It sucks because their greed is what got us into this mess. But, something has to be done to restore faith in our economy. If it were up to me, they would be made more responsible than some hand-ringing in front of a congressional panel.

To the people killing police in Philadelphia, you are not allowed to kill...um, anyone. You do know that right? Now, I dont have time for corrupt police-officers, either. But, it seems to me that all of the people who died in the line-of-duty in our fair city were really good people. None of them deserved this and my heart goes out to their families. These are terrible tragedies. To the folks who bemoan the fact that some of these suspects were killed and the police used too much force, go fuck yourselves. If you pull a gun on a cop, you deserve to get your ass shot. That ain't new, baby. This isn't the wild-wild west. But, if you want police to play that way, I say, "Go right ahead". I actually think the police have been models of restraint when you consider what criminals have been doing to their fellow-officers. And, that is coming from a fairly liberal guy.

Well, I am going to do a few more and sign-off for a few months.

Talk to you soon enough.

The Dead Weather

2009-03-13T08:39:00.001-05:00

Jack White strikes like lightning.

It seems he has a new band aside from The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.

This time, its a band called The Dead Weather.

And, surprise...this time White is playing...drums?

The band debuted in Nashville at the downtown offices of Third Man Records.

The new band takes White from the front of the stage back behind the drum kit, while the Kills’ Alison Mosshart mostly handles singing duties. The two are joined by White’s fellow Raconteur Jack Lawrence on bass and former touring Raconteur/Queen of the Stone Age Dean Fertita on guitar.

White's new venture into the music production business promises to be very prolific.

White added, "The point is: There’s a new institution, there’s a studio, there’s a vinyl record label, there’s a pressing plant a few blocks away… Things can happen very quickly. Music will be in your hands quickly. And that’s the whole point of it.”

The Dead Weather's first album, "Horehound", will be released in June.

You can check out their new single "Hang You From The Heavens" exclusively on iTunes.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2009-02-27T10:05:00.003-05:00

<br/><a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=f28b12d9-418f-4c30-ac38-bdd80f10b774" target="_new" title="Yeah yeah yeahs - Maps - Mtv Movie Awards 2003">Video: Yeah yeah yeahs - Maps - Mtv Movie Awards 2003</a>

This band is quickly turning into one of the my new favorite bands.
These two videos are good reasons for that.
The first is a live performance of the song "Maps" from the MTV Movie Awards, a few years back.

I love this performance. It is one of the few times a band's performance on an awards show actually made me respect the band more. The whole concept and presentation of the performance is so surreal.

It just works.

Watch more Yahoo! Music videos on AOL Video

This one is a promo video for "Gold Lions" from their second album "Show Your Bones".

Karen O is one of the few performers that has actually distinguished herself from the pack of wannabes and non-hackers. She is the real deal and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a band worth investigating.

Check them out.

Recommended listening: "Fever To Tell", "Show Your Bones", "Is Is - EP"

Their latest album, "It's Blitz!" will be released on 4/14/09.

An Album You Should Own - 2/27/09

2009-02-27T08:33:00.006-05:00

U2 - Achtung Baby

At the beginning of "The Joshua Tree", an organ slowly mounts a clarion call that woke a generation and inspired millions. With the words, "I wanna run", U2 had sounded the cry from what sounded like the great wide-open as the desert sun burned warm on their skin.

At the opening of "Achtung Baby", percussion rattles and the drums stammer and convulse. All the while, the guitar lashes out from the darkness. Larry Mullen, Jr. trades his signature military tap for a distorted industrial "thwack". Bono has never been more emotionally laid bare as he is on this album. The Edge's guitar pulses and stabs, while Adam Clayton's bass flutters and undulates underneath the music like a menacing tide. It was a clear signal to all concerned that U2 traded in their love of American music for something darker, postmodern and more European.

The band had crossed into the 90's sounding more vibrant and alive than they did when they broke through in the 80's. After the colossal success of "The Joshua Tree", U2 had positioned themselves as the most popular band in the world. They were so far out in front of everyone else, you didn't even think about second place.

There was U2...and everyone else.

"Achtung Baby" came on the heels of a period of intense reinvention. It also marked a period that almost caused its members to part company. Recorded at Hansa Studios in Germany, all accounts have the band struggling through tumultuous artistic and personal differences before agreeing to return to Dublin to finish the album.

From that period of struggle, U2 crafted an album of thundering dance beats and mammoth guitar lines that set loose the constraints of conventional song structure and allowed U2 the freedom to expose a palpable sense of emotional imbalance and tortured love. Because of this, U2 took leave of their political message and chose, instead, to deal with the personal-trials that accompany love, lust and betrayal. Unlike previous efforts, "Achtung Baby" abandoned production that made U2's songs sound as if they were recorded under endless skies of bright sun. Instead, the songs found on "Achtung Baby" capture the stale feeling of a self-imposed claustrophobia. The people that inhabit these songs walk through a neon-lit netherworld devoid of romance and idealism. These are replaced with desperate loneliness and feverish longing.

There are many highlights on this album, but the one that sticks out is "Until The End Of The World." The song could be about the most famous of betrayals - Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ. Or, it could be about the break-up of The Edge's marrige. Either way, the lyrics are simple, personal and devastating. When Bono moans, "In the garden, I was playing the tart. I kissed your lips and broke your heart", the betrayal is crushing. When the song closes, the line "You...you said you'd wait until the end of the world", is washed away by the sound of the band exploding in full-force. Other songs are overloaded with sexual imagery that is equal parts disturbing and disquieting. "Love Is Blindness" ends the album with an emotional surrender as Bono whispers, "Take the money....honey....blindness."

At the core of "Achtung Baby" is the anthemic and powerful "One". Rumor has it that the song was the first one the band nurtured to completion during the recording sessions. The simplistic nature of the song allows it to be the album's quietest moment. It is also the the most powerful and direct song on the album. "We are one, but we're not the same", declares Bono. In an album full of songs about love, this is perhaps the most ambitious as the band sets about the task of writing a song dealing with the complexities of man's inability to reconcile the things that divide us from our fellow man. Love is the the only true law and U2 contends that it is imperative to our survival that we surrender to it unconditionally.

This album succeeds because the narrative of the songs and the story arc they create mesh seamlessly. The album also marks a transition that saw the band go from young men who were sure they could solve the world's problems to men who seemed doubtful and uneasy about solving their own personal issues.

"Achtung Baby" is one of the few albums I have ever heard that reveals something new about itself with each spin.

It is arguably U2's finest hour and it is definitely an album you should own.

U2 will release "No Line On The Horizon" on March 3, 2009.
They will also make television history by appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman from Monday 3/2/09 thru Friday 3/6/09.

Further listening: "Boy", "War", "The Unforgettable Fire", "The Joshua Tree", "All That You Can't Leave Behind", "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb"