Must go to Iowahawk now. Do NOT have anything in your mouth you don’t want all over your screen.
Via Reynolds.
It’s payday so…music music was bought.
Los Lonely Boys Live at the Fillmore, Oct 23 2004
Review in 5 words or less: Harmonizing voices, guitars and keyboards.
Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
Review in 5 words or less: The box matches my sunglasses. What are you kiddin’ me?
Maroon 5, Songs About Jane
Review in 5 words or less: They’re from Nebraska…shrug.
Thanks for putting up with all the boredom induced rants. You all are the best group of readers and fellow bloggers a grumpy ol’ MSgt could have.
The Law of Monkey. I think my old Sociology Prof would have loved this.
Via Dean.
“Hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine. This is what our soldiers must become …”
—Che Guevara—
…or wasn’t that in the charming little inspirational from “The Motorcycle Diaries?”
I’m not sure what’s weirder, really really rich people who make their living here but who live abroad applauding one of the most ruthless motherf*****s of the past century, or the juxtaposition of what was really a sweet little idealistic song attached to said mf?
What’s really scary to me? I KNOW I’m in the minority in our country simply because I know who Ernesto Guevara de la Serna is. Most Americans probably think it’s a quaint little tale of adventure with pretty ethnic music.
And it just pisses me off that Antonio Banderas and Carlos Santana made it all the more attractive. I LIKE those guys.
I know I’m late on this but it’s been a weird day.
All the news that’s fit to link. The Blogger News Network.
Via Instapundit...cuz you never check him out anymore either.(?)
…so would it suprise you that I’m less than sympathetic with the Catholic League being upset about a comedy show making fun of the Eucharist? Is it just me or do they seem much more upset that Catholics are being made fun of than they are that the Eucharist is being blasphemed?
With all due respect Mr Donahue, all things considered, we don’t get to whine about comedy picking on us okay? We just don’t. When we’ve cleaned up our act…maybe…but not yet.
Via Malkin, whom I’ll leave alone from now on…she just can’t seem to help herself.
This article (free registration required) I received from the Washington Post’s Tech News E-Mail took me back:
Downloaded and Ready to Rock
iPod Nights Turn Amateurs Into Digital DJs at D.C. Club
By Jose Antonio Vargas
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page A01
I’m not even going to excerpt it; you get the idea from the title. I’ve been navel gazing on our new toys, our iPods, as I play more with iTunes and my ability to make playlists. The simple ability to sit down at you computer and drag and drop playlists is both very cool and very sad at the same time.
Remember when you were young and single and had a LOT of free time on your hands? Yeah, me neither, but I somehow managed to spend a ridiculous amount of time making mix tapes. I still have some around the house in boxes and old AAFES bags. Every stereo in the dorm had not only a turntable but two cassette player/recorders. Mine had “fast dubbing” so I could record tape to tape twice as fast. There was the geek with the reel to reel but he listened to wayyy too much classical. And of course, the obligatory idiot who had to put Bose 901s into a 8’x8′ dorm room. He may not have been in your dorm…but you could hear him. The Base Commander could usually hear him, and you can be sure the Wing Commander knew the young idjit’s name because he somehow managed to crank out “Welcome to the Jungle” five minutes before the “no-notice” recall was supposed to start.
It used to be you borrowed a friend’s album…you cleaned it, because no one and I do mean no one took better care of other people’s albums than you did. You needed music, you had minimal cash, you needed your reputation. You made sure your needle was clean. Maybe blast the turntable area with a bit of canned air. You got your Memorex or your TDK out of the shrink wrap. You tried to remember the last time you cleaned the heads of your cassette recorder and you gave up and cleaned them again too. All that before you cued up the tape past the leader hitting play/record/pause…holding your finger on pause as you oh so lightly let the needle land into the intro groove just as you released the pause button. Minimal sizzle…no pop…a clean recording…in real time so you had to listen to what you were doing. And that was just for one master album.
Mix tapes were best done on Saturdays…maybe get started a little before noon. You’ve had breakfast at the chow hall. There’s still adequate beer left in your lil ‘fridge from last night. Time to get to work. You’re mixing. You don’t know what yet but there’s been a playlist forming in your head for about a week or so now. This nagging chord that fades into a riff that you just know will be sweet if you can put it together. Crack a beer…check your notes…you think you’ve got the first side done but what to go out with? Wait…damn…you’re 15 seconds over on side one.
You get the idea.
And as much as it gives me the tinglies to simply be able to drag and drop my playlists, juggling orders with the ease of cut and paste, deciding on the two second pause between tracks with the click of the mouse, I kind of miss all the work. I know…it’s happened. I’ve grown a bit nostalgic for the way things used to be. I know it’s better to spend 10 minutes doing what it used to take all afternoon to do…musically anyway…but I kind of miss the feeling of there being a craft to it. It’s all cerebral now. It’s easier to make the mix, but I miss the old tools.
Guess that makes me old huh?
Who am I going to pay attention to when it comes to teenagers hurting themselves? The gal who’s consistantly got a stick buried so far up her butt that the point sticks out of her mouth when she talks, or the gal who used to have a cartoon character of a little dead girl riding to hell in a shopping cart on the banner of her blog?
I’m just sayin’…
Our old CRT Monitor was on its last bit of flicker. The colors were dying. The brightness was set at nuthin’ because if you went higher it simply washed all out, and the contrast was cranked all the way up and still…you couldn’t see much.
So I went to the store and bought this. I’ll be checking it out on a couple of my favorite games and then I’m sure that Beautiful Wife and Boyo will dive into Morrowwind with it.
I know it shouldn’t make that much difference but 20″ vs 19″ is a lot of ocular real estate. Plus, I didn’t realize just how bad the old monitor sucked until this one came on. Yes…I’m trying digital mode for the first time. It seems to like digital mode just fine.
All you geeks out there, please leave comments about the pros and cons of digital vs analog display properties.
And no…I didn’t pay that price for it…I paid less…AND got a $100.00 rebate. I’m not unhappy.
Yes…that does just about wipe out the tax return for this year. Thank you Uncle Sugar for hanging onto my money for me. If it wasn’t for my IRS Savings Account, I don’t think we’d ever buy anything new.
UPDATE: The feline roommates are quite upset with me, especially Miko…who jumped up to get her butt all nice and toasty and managed to stay balanced on the 1 inch width of the new flatscreen for a full 2 seconds before having to jump off. I applauded as she did her “I meant to do that.” cleaning of her face. She’s having none of it.
I tried to write about this, but I just don’t care.
Via Michele, and Jeff. CNN’s got this obit.
Hunter S. Thompson. The man who defined gonzo journalism. The man who made stream of consciousness cool without beat rhymes. The man who taught us that drinking and peacocks don’t mix. You know, the bald guy who hangs out with the little Chinese gal in Doonesbury. He died yesterday of an appartent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
I’d like to rant and rave about his brilliance but quite honestly, I haven’t read any of his stuff in 25 years and considering my hobbies at the time…I couldn’t tell you most of what he wrote about anyway. When you were a young, actor, singer, dancer, you know, liberal arts major with almost no hope of a financially solvent future, you read Thompson because everyone read Thompson. Because now you “got” it when Doonesbury did a series of Uncle Duke strips and it was important that you “got” Doonesbury because otherwise…you were one of them…the straights…the unenlightened. The ones without the secret smile. Some of you more sober folks may have thought we were scheming secret schemes…relax, that smile mostly was our brain bubbling with thousands of little “Oh…WOWs.” building and building into a giant…cataclismic…sigh…where are the Doritos and who stole my beer? No major conspiracy…just good tequilla.
As I finish my first cup of coffee and say a little prayer for all the little freaks out there who are seriously distraught this morning, I’m just plain pissed off. HST was nothing if not defiant. For him to go out like this after a life lived flipping off the universe…
Golden Age of Cartoons has more art and articles related to the “New and Improved” version of Bugs and crew.
Via John from Michele’s comment’s.
Gil Cates, Producer for this year’s Academy Awards Show, is Blogging the process.
If you’re interested.
The folks at Spirit of America have their Help Wanted sign out.
Warner Brothers have lost their minds.
Okay. That’th it buthter! You can’t get away with thith:
Dug The Animaniacs. Loved Pinky and the Brain.
You don’t f*ck around with the rabbit you miserable twits.
I’ll moiderlize ’em, get my big brudder, sniff, HONK, that’s what I’ll do…you’ll see.
Bastards.
Update: OMG!!! The new character’s name is Buzz Bunny. Look what happens when you Google Search (NSFW) it. That’s the third choice down folks. Bwahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.
The guys from College Tree Publishing are looking for contributions for their second and third books. Their first book, What We Think: Young Voters Speak Out included essays, poems, and photos from college students all over the country expressing their views “including the war in Iraq, the morality of armed conflict, affirmative action and the draft, gender equality and the place of organized religion in the political arena.”* According to an email I received from Seth Spores, one of the three editors and co-founders of College Tree Publishing, the lads are “contacting many blogs and other forms of media not necessarily connected to Universities, in hopes of reaching a wider base of essayists.”
For, What We Think II, they’re looking for:
Essays, personal reflections, journal entries, short screen plays, poems, and brief quips on any political or social issue. These include, but are not limited to, the following: The War on Terror; The War in Iraq; Bush; The candidates for 2008; God in Government; The Electoral College; Abortion; Supreme Court Justice Appointment; Affirmative Action; The Environment; Red states vs. Blue states – what’s it all about; Young Voter Apathy (is it real); Celebrity and Politics; the Media; And any other issue political or social issue you find compelling.
For What We Think About God:
CTP is looking for essays, personal reflections, journal entries, short screen plays, poems, and brief quips on any theological issue. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Does God Exist; What is God; What gives your life meaning; What Is the Role of Religion; What Is the net Effect of Religion; Are There Absolutes – What Are They?
Criteria:
Quality of Writing – Is the writing grammatically correct? Is the writing consistent and appropriate for the theme of the subject?
Significance of Topic – Is the topic one that is significant and contemporarily relevant?
Creativity of Exploration – Does the piece offer something novel and insightful or does it do a good job of developing an idea that seems personally compelling?
Creativity of Presentation – In some way, let us know that you care what you are writing about. It does not have to be sensationalized, oftentimes truth comes through in truth and candor. Do this through whatever innovative or traditional literary medium way you find most appropriate and authentic to what you want to say.
So if you’re between the ages of 17 and 25 and would like to contribute to one of these projects, drop the lads a line or contribute through their website when it’s working.
What caught my interest? Two of the editors graduated from Gonzaga so they’re practically family.
So…go write something…make it good…send it in. The deadline is 1 June 2005 so I’ll probably prod you about it again.
*From Amazon.
Did anyone else see The Daily Show last night? A fine satirical defense of blogging and bloggers because…I guess we need it…although I just don’t take myself as seriously as I take the rest of you all. That’s a compliment…just in case. Back to The Daily Show…Ted Hitler? Please, stop, you’re killin’ me.
Are all Mac products as simple to use as the iPod and its related software? Because if so…tell me why we went the way of the PC again?
Now that I’ve ripped it I’ve owned Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” in 4 different formats.
Same with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.”
Same with Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”
Ditto Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America.”
And The Moody Blues’ “Days of Future Past”
In Three Formats:
“Joe Jackson Live” and “The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions”
I’ve done the math. To complete my U2 Collection it’s still cheaper to download the whole thing off iTunes with the rebate from the iPod than it is to just try to fill in the holes album by album. But damn…not by much. I don’t even remember buying “Pop” and I can’t tell you if I ever listened to it.
Rattle and Hum still does…and well I might add.
The Cars still put a smile on my face when I hear the opening to “Good Times Roll” and the transition between “Bye Bye Love” and “Moving in Stereo” should never ever be messed with. I’ve taken radio stations off my presets for playing one without the other and I’ll do it again. There’s no excuse for that.
I really miss The Gin Blossoms.
I’m not watching Leno until after the whole Michael Jackson thing is over. Some say it’s made him funny again, I just find it to be a bad case of piling on…which he’s done before and I guess people seem to like it.
American Idol was kind of cool last night…both the rock guys made it through which gives me some hope for the thing at large but don’t we know at this point that it’s down to being between Anthony Fedorov and Mario Vazquez? You know it’s a guy’s year. And these two seem to have the whole thing down. I’d love to be wrong, but my prediction is these two in the last episode.
I own AC/DC’s “The Razor’s Edge?” WT…oh, “Thunderstruck.”
Lost was better last night than last week, but it’s still not where it was. God I hope they don’t start to suck so soon.
Am I the only one who’s going to miss NYPD Blue?
This will make my friend at the DAZ happy.
DAZ is Chicago-ese for Dead Animal Zoo. “Da kidz are goin’ on a field trip.” “Da DAZ?” “No, da Submarine one.”
Thank you for putting up with my boredom. I’m not sure how much longer I can take this. I may need to try walking further today.
Beautiful Wife uses hers a LOT. They’re almost inseperable. I’d get jealous but I did introduce them. She just bounced through the room to “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. Seriously…bouncing.
Hear that Paul’s Old Lady? You could be bouncing to some of your favorite stuff too. I’m just saying…
Observation: I own a LOT of albums with the words “compilation/best of/definitive collection/anthology/essential” in their titles.
Loading the iPods and reading ChiRunning by Danny and Katherine Dreyer. It’s about applying Tai Chi/Yoga/Pilates principles to running. Basically, using your core muscles to move your body when you’re running vs beating your legs into the ground.
I’ve practiced Tai Chi on and off since I was about 18. These days it’s not so much about the martial art as it is about keeping my limbs and joints from hurting. For me it’s one of those things that I don’t notice I’m not doing it enough until part of me hurts that shouldn’t. At one point in my life I used it to help recover from a very serious illness. I’ve already started using it a bit with my sliced and diced legs. Nothing too athletic…just some weight shifting…a little careful stepping…getting a feel for what the surgery has done. I don’t plan on running tomorrow, the staples just came out yesterday morning, but I like the way they think in this book.
The idea of “Effortless, Injury-Free Running” is extremely appealing to me and so far the writers have my attention.
The method and benefits are the same:
Great posture
Relaxed Limbs
Loose Joints
Engaged core muscles
A focused mind
Good Breathing Techniques
If you’re not a believer in Chinese medicine and the flow of Chi, skip that part and simply pay attention to his biomechanical arguments for running smarter. It makes a LOT of sense. One of the authors is running ultramarathons and is over 50…he’s doing something right.
You can check out the general concepts at their website.
Is it just me? I don’t care about the whole Michael Jackson thing. It’s not that I don’t think he did it; It’s not that I think he did it; It’s complete apathy about the entire situation. I simply don’t think it’s breaking news that he was rushed to the hospital for the freaking flu.
Rant
Why am I supposed to care about this trial? If you’re going to shove another freakazoid reality-slash-Court TV-slash-Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong-slash-American Idol meets The Surreal Life-slash-Where’s The Nanny When You Need Her?-show down my throat would you please cram it all into an hour or two on Fox Entertainment one or two nights a week so I can miss it?
End Rant
Not Ripped:
Nervous Night – The Hooters
On Every Street – Dire Straits
Greatest Hits – Barbara Streisand
This Left Just Feels Right – Bon Jovi
Dreamland – Robert Miles
If My Ancestors Could See Me Now – Ivan Nevelle
Greatest Hits 1974-1978 – Steve Miller Band
Currently Loading:
Rev Up – The Best of – Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Albums that Shouldn’t Have Made it But Did:
Shaman – Santana
Lord of the Dance – Original Music by Ronan Hardiman
Slaves and Masters – Deep Purple
Say You Will – Fleetwood Mac
Unplugged – Rod Stewart
Albums That Are Just Wrong to Leave Off, But They Ain’t Makin’ it Anyway:
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – Beatles
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
Live from Chicago’s House of Blues – Blues Brothers and Friends
Albums I Forgot I Had:
Jesus Christ Superstar – Original Broadway Cast
Life’s Too Short – Marshall Crenshaw
An Irish Evening – The Chieftans
Fire away.
The U2 Special Edition for myself and the 20 gig 4th Generation iPod for Beautiful Wife. I have no idea if I’ll ever get around to buying the U2 Collection to make the additional cost make sense, but I do like the color…red, black and chrome. Has an oriental feel to it. Once Beautiful Wife finds out she can decorate hers with different colored stickers or sleeves…hers won’t stay the same color for more than a week anyways. Besides…since she’s got the cassette player in the minivan, she now has the better option for tunes because I bought her the adapter. Once I’m done, the van will be able to cruise with her entire library at our fingertips. That’s just cool.
Next project…get rid of all WMA files and Real Audio Files on my computer and convert re-download everything that’s not to a high quality MP3 Format that will work on all my toys. I was very ignorant of all this when I started putting music on my computer. I just sort of let Real Audio take care of this task and Windows Media take care of another and none of them ever got it all together. Since I can’t go back to work until next week at the very earliest, may as well finally get all my media files into one coherent library. That will be a first.
Oh…how do they sound? Better than I thought they would. They’re digital and clean sounding but there’s a richness…a depth to the sound that I simply wasn’t expecting.
One complaint. With the cost of these suckers they could at least print out the coherent owner’s manual for you. It comes on disk.
Carrying cases? Went with the nylon Case Logics vs the leather Belkins. I’ve never wore out a Case Logic product and I’ve had some of their stuff for over 10 years. They just keep going. Get ’em dirty? Throw ’em in the wash. Perhaps not as chique as some cases, but that’s okay, I’m not out to impress anyone but my ears.
Must go rip more music and load the hungry little rascals now. 20 gigs is a LOT of music and I know I won’t get them all filled up anytime soon but I do want my basics on there. And then Beautiful Wife will sit down and load hers up which will be different since she’s got some similar tastes, but not all.
Update: Get a carrying case of some sort ‘cuz damn…they scratch wayyyyyyyyy too easy. Doesn’t show so much on the white but on the black? It leaps right out at you. Just an aesthetic thing but…I’m nothing if not thorough.
or is this the best Grammy Show in…forever?
Update: Okay, it’s official, Bono said it’s the best ever. Who am I to argue?
Another Thing: The pretentious, “I’m way too cool for the Grammys.” stuff being lobbed around in some other blogs is just sad. If you were so cool why didn’t you go watch “Desperate Housewives” or something? The Melissa Etheridge version of “Piece of My Heart” was worth every long commercial break.