Chasing Waves of Light

Dined Out for For Life Tonight!

2011-04-26T21:23:00.000-04:00

We went to Kalamatas in Brentwood and it was so good. I had the Mixed Grill platter with beef, chicken, and Persian lamb kababs, Hank had salmon. He loves fish, me not so much.

The fact that it was Dining Out for Life caught me off guard. If you don't know about it follow this link! If you don't make to one of the participating restaurants this year, do it next year. It's an easy way to help raise money for AIDS service organizations.

And now speaking of food, here is your daily video.

Bonjour from Nashville.

2011-04-25T13:07:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a great deal of Vincent Van Gogh lately. After all he is my favorite artist. To me his colors, not just his subjects, speak to me. Perhaps it's because colors evoke moods, and there's a Van Gogh for each one of my moods. And I do have moods.

I deal with bi-polar disorder on a daily basis. That does not mean I'm crazy. I might be driving on "three wheels these days, but darling, how 'bout you?" We have regular eye check ups, dental check up, pap smears, colonoscopies, oil changes - so why don't we have a regular mental heath check up? Who would do our checkups? Would insurance cover them? Why should health insurance NOT pay for a yearly one hour talk with a psychiatric profession to go over a for that can screen for psychiatric and emotional problems. We could nip many troubles in the bud with a regular screening, and also get an objective idea of how we are growing in life from someone who doesn't have a stake in it. Do you have someone to talk to, just for a quick check up? Try to find one. From a user's prospective, it really does help.

image from
Download-Free-Pictures.com

Just to prove it's me, back after all this time, here's a Queen video.

This blog will be more active, I'll be monitizing it, (I need the money), I'll be doing mostly political and activism stuff, along with music and general muckracking and whatever shiny idea catches my attention.

Go have some fun I'll see you tomorrow. Ushta.

Time's moving slow

2011-04-12T13:41:00.000-04:00

Yeah, it's lupus related, but I'm rearranging my life and will probably start posting a a daily basis in the next couple weeks.

I know I'm not around much

2010-10-30T01:13:00.000-04:00

But I really think the CellCept is working! I have a great '84 Strat that I have nammed "Freddie". Replacing all the strings tomorrow night and tuning it. I seem to have a knack for chords, but I'd like to branch out and actually do chords. My husband used to sing in a chorus and has lots of musical skills. I'd love to work on something with him. Maybe setting Emily Dickenson to music. I don't sing that well and have a very narrow rang, but it's all just for fun anyway. I'll post it on YouTube so you can tell me how wonderful I really am!!!!!

No, seriously, honest feedback is wanted. I figure it'll be up in December, and us singing some carols. If I can talk Hank into doing it, we'll do A Christmas Carol. If you've never done read it with your family, why not read it along with us?

2010-10-30T00:57:00.000-04:00

My Liberal Identity

You are a Peace Patroller, also known as an anti-war liberal or neo-hippie. You believe in putting an end to American imperial conquest, stopping wars that have already been lost, and supporting our troops by bringing them home.

Take the quiz at
About.com Political Humor

"slowly" is taking longer than I thought

2010-09-26T21:43:00.000-04:00

I haven't even been on Facebook in weeks - my poor farm! The new med should kick in soon. Is one more month soon? I guess soon is relative.

Slowly returning to life - lupus med suck, but work.

2010-08-18T01:23:00.000-04:00

Someone needs to learn how to harness the power of chocolate and classic rock (especially Queen) to cure disease. Maybe it really is that simple.

On a unrelated note - the world lost a wonderful woman: a singer, a civil rights activist, when Abbey Lincoln passed. Here's a link to a great Fresh Air interview with Abbey Kennedy interview, and a music video for you to enjoy. She was one of a kind and will be missed.

Did you know Willie Nelson cut off his braids?

2010-08-09T09:05:00.000-04:00

Seriously! I was stunned because I can't ever remember Willie without his braids. His publicist, Elaine Schock, said in an interview with Playlist (a Dallas Morning News blog) that Willie just got tired of the maintenance involved. I must admit, as a woman that makes sense. I'll still miss his braids, but he's still got it!

To find out how much he's still got it, listen to his new CD Willie Nelson Country Music. This is the country music that reminds me of the country music I listened to as a kid, when Hank Williams and Patsy Cline were hot tickets. This is a CD you can have a listening party to. (Remember those?) The music is all about the song here. Beside if T-Bone Burnett produced it, you know it's good!

Gore Vidal - interviews worth watching. Will his experience based predictions come true?

2010-08-09T08:44:00.000-04:00

There are quite a few videos of Gore Vidal interviews on this channel, and they are all worth watching. His keen observations of how American really works combined with his knowledge of history makes for interesting viewing and discussion. I suspect, if you are a Republican, you won't like the videos very much.

I chose these three videos just to whet your appetite, and make you just a wee bit angry. If you're like me you get angry and think about what made you angry and why. If you're smart, you'll fact check and at least give being objective a shot.

Gore Vidal on the future

2010-08-09T08:23:00.000-04:00

Gore Vidal on US media and society

2010-08-09T08:17:00.000-04:00

Container gardening time.

2010-08-02T11:04:00.000-04:00

I didn't realize the flood had actually flooded my tomato plants so completely that as the wet soil broke the stalks broke near the bottom of the plants. Yesterday I pulled the dead plants and replaced them with a couple of "sweet baby girl" tomato plants. I wish they would bloom in 24 hours - that would be the ideal tomato plant! Tomato and mozzarella salad every day.

The serrano and jalapeno peppers are doing well. I thing the high temperatures we're getting are doing them good. I have moved my italian herb pot into the semi-shaded area because the poor babies (basil, oregano, sage) were turning into dehydrated herbs on the vine.

The lantana looks like it is going to bloom again, and the pothos will probably be divided soon.

I still have empty pots, so there's still stuff to plant, like catnip for Leo and Loki or something colorful for the fall.

Loki on the left, Leo on the right. Despite the fresh catnip growing outside, they seem to prefer it slightly dried, and them mushed up a bit to get the oils flowing.

And on that note, the sky has gone from nice and blue to looking like early evening. Here comes the morning thunder storms!

Perfect to to listen to Eric Clapton, so I think I'll kick off my dirty shoes, get a pot of herb tea going and relax. Let's see what album we have today - Me and Mr. Johnson. I think I'll add some Robert Johnson and just have a blissed out morning.

A Prequel to Alien! Now that is exciting for us geeks!

2010-08-01T05:35:00.000-04:00

Apparently, this is the story: Ridley Scott is in charge and Damon Lindelof (of lost fame) is going to rewrite the script. Why it needed rewriting, isn't really discussed. Having grasped the basics of Lost (I was not an avid watcher) there should be some interesting plot turns. Wonder if there will be any Dharma beer popping up.

I have one problem with prequels. They normally suck. Now if he comes up with a really good script that explains how everyone was chosen and how they met the alien in the first place, that would OK. Especially if you have the urge to scream out NO DON'T GO THERE! knowing they'll go anyway.

Personally, I'd like to see Alien redone in 3D. But that's just me.

Paul McCartney - Full Broadcast - Hard Rock Calling

2010-07-24T00:06:00.000-04:00

Honestly, stuff'll pick up around here

2010-07-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

It's summer and hot and that's not just my best time of year. Plus I'm teaching myself music theory and cleaning and scanning tons of photos into the big black machine my cat sits next to. Some of them are very old, mostly all of them family photos.

But, I feel I must leave you with some music. and since Paul McCartney is coming to visit Nashville I shall leave you in Sir Paul's capable hands.

Is this reality? Seriously, I'm asking...

2010-06-29T17:37:00.005-04:00

Reading the papers, watching the news, however you get your "what's up world?" fix - do you feel like you are living in the Twilight Zone?

I wouldn't install a new faucet without the ability to shut off the water so I don't get soaked and waste water. However, oil is being drilled by companies who had no clue that maybe they might someday need to clean up after a catastrophic failure. BP had no frakkin' clue about how to handle the oil spill. And now politicians simultaneously want more drilling, but still don't want any sort of oversight for the oil companies when they do drill. They don't want the federal government to interfere with commerce, but now that there's a crisis, they are crying out for - yeah, you guessed, a strong federal response.

People want freedom of religion, unless you are Muslim, in which case, you are a terrorist and don't deserve to be in the Greatest Nation in the History of the World™. And if you are an atheist or agnostic, that goes for you too. Apparently, there are quite a few people for whom "freedom of religion" means they get to impose their religion on everyone else.

The unemployed are being told they should get a job, and that unemployment benefits are so great people actually want to be unemployed to get all that money. Kind of like a lupus patient saying "that new drug for my lupus that costs a hundred dollars month after insurance and gives me diarrhea and stomach ulcers is so great, I love having lupus and I hope I never get well!" (Note: I have lupus, I'm on that drug, and I don't like having lupus. I don't want it.)

The unemployed are unemployed because they can't find a job because THERE ARE NO JOBS! Which of explains why a certain party (which I am NOT a member of) stopped unemployment benefits: the unemployed are having too much fun!

We need new public works programs, the type that helped us survive the Depression. And politicians need to remember we are their bosses, and they should get packing because lots of them won't be rehired in the fall. We, their employers, aren't pleased with their job performance. Yup, they'll join the ranks of the unemployed. Until they are hired by a lobbying firm. Or former "corporate constituent".

It's now time for the A/V club presentation on one of America's finest justices: Thurgood Marshall.

I want to make some rock and roll and need advice.

2010-06-29T01:28:00.006-04:00

Don't know where to start. My lumbar fusions surgery seems to a big fat happy success! There's still minor things, like getting the SI joint to behave, and keeping the inflammation at bay. I am taking less pain meds, and I have much more energy and clarity of mind.

What I don't have is a job. I didn't think I'd be feeling well enough to start looking until October or so. Having been an administrative assistant for 20 years for various companies, I could go back to that. But I am wary of doing that.

You see, before The Fall in 2000 AA work was all I had ever done, aside from waitressing, clothing and jewelry sales. Since I was sidelined for (let's not beat around the bush) ten frakkin years, my life has changed, my body has changed because of the complication of The Fall. So here I am, starting over.

What do I do now? I don't know. I am at the midpoint of my life (53) and have great skills for an AA, but I want to do something else now. I have a drive to do something else different. I have a degree in Geography from Temple U (Go Owls!) but I inner self has decided it needs to get out more. So what's all that nonsence mean?

Well, I have a drive to make music. The problem is I don't play any instruments and can't sing. All that, I'm sure can be dealt with if someone wants to take on a 53 years old female student that likes blues rock, glam, bluegrass and really would like to learn bass, although I'm open to more. I'll put right out front I'm a Queen, LedZep, Pink Floyd, Joan Jett fan. But what to do with all this?

What instrument/s would be good for me to learn at my age? Has anyone out there in the tubes start playing instruments late in life, and what did they choose? I'm leaning towards bass myself, then guitar, keyboards, drums, lap harp, dulcimer and who knows what else might be appropriate.

No one in my family plays, except my husband, who really hasn't touched a guitar in years.

On the other hand there is urban planning and hazard mitigation.

And it all takes money and/or crazy planning and/or dumb luck.

What I need is someone to chat about this midlife career change. Interested?

This is the problem posting late at night when my mind in benedryl kookie mode. I'm open to any comments, and I do live in Nashville, so maybe something will come this way.

I have no desire to become a rock star, I just want to rock out and have a fun time.

Ushta, babies.

The short film BP doesn't want you to see - from YouTube

2010-06-11T04:03:00.002-04:00

This is from the point of view of fishermen affected by the BP spill.

Freemasons feat Katherine Ellis - When You Touch Me

2010-05-24T09:39:00.000-04:00

It's raining...all...day...long...again

2010-05-02T23:58:00.004-04:00

Well, we have had two months worth of rain in two days. Nashville will have lots of cleanup to do. Roads are washed out, houses have floated away, two-story houses are underwater, railroads are washed out as well. It will be interesting Monday. It should be clear and naturally I can't resist going out and snapping some pix so I'll have something to show.

That's our apartment building, with a tree through the second window utility stairs. The tree was on enough of a slope that when the ground became supersaturated it slide. Fortunately the building stopped it from sliding down to the pond, which may have made a messier cleanup. No apartments were damaged, although I think our container garden may be a casualty. We will rebuild it. I need my salsa garden.

It's raining...all...day...long...

2010-05-01T13:16:00.003-04:00

The cats are extremely displeased and are protesting the lack of sunnyness by napping on things we need to use. After all, we are their human companions and the source of all things, including nom.

Over there > Loki and Leo in an undispleased moment

The last year has been crazy

2010-04-28T18:39:00.002-04:00

I have decided this will be my primary way of sharing the random wreckage of thoughts that come into my head.

Posting will be irregular at first, but I'm working at putting some organization back into my life. Spinal Fusion (not a musical group) really slowed the old gray matter down.

It finally happened - I'm slightly mad!

2010-04-08T00:43:00.002-04:00

I'm putting all my effing blogs in one spot - and you're there right now. You see, my life is a circus of doctors appointments (my adamantium endoskeleton is coming along fine), looking for work, family hilarity, catching up on reading and cleaning, sorting and listening to music. So I'm going to do stuff here, which means there won't be too much structure to the blog, just a bunch of random brain farts and word salads, juxtaposed with things that make some sort of sense in my mind. Results may vary. To celebrate, I shall leave with this:

Meh

2009-10-27T21:06:00.001-05:00

Since Gumby Syndrome (aka Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) has been the bane of my existance lately, posting is going to be haphazard until everything settles down, which should be sometime later this week. Or next.

I'm on a Who kick again.

2009-10-12T20:51:00.002-04:00

I think Love Reigns O'er Me is one of the best songs ever written. The Who is almost taking up as much space in my CD folders as Queen. I'm not sure why, but I tend to listen to more Who in the colder months. I'm sure if I were to go back and psychoanalyze my life I'd figure out why that is.

Whatever the reason, Quadrophenia is just as good now as it was then. Yeah, I was around the first time. I drove my family nuts with all my albums, the black lights, the Easy Rider poster that took up half my bedroom wall, and the gauchely beaded closet door. I had a really groovy bedroom. I really miss the psychedelic posters; I may someday start collecting them again. I'll pass on the inflatable furniture and Yardley "Canterbury Blue" lipstick this time around. Maybe a few inflatable pillows here and there, to really bring on the nostalgia.

I had this dream last night.

2009-10-10T00:15:00.003-04:00

Innuendo is not my favorite Queen song, but it is my favorite Queen video. It was a strange dream, but if any movie about Freddie Mercury comes out and it's named Innuendo I will definitely go see it.

Did you see KISS on Letterman last night?

2009-10-07T13:15:00.003-04:00

They performed Modern Day Delilah; it's a good hook for the CD. I have been a KISS fan since they started. It's been a long time, twenty years, since they have come out with a new album. I am really thrilled the drought has ended. Sonic Boom came out yesterday, and by this weekend I (hopefully) will have added it to my collection.

I'm still waiting on the details for the Nashville gig; as far as I know it's October 28 at the Sommet Center. I want tickets soooo bad, but finances are iffy.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - New Release

2009-10-06T17:30:00.004-04:00

OK, it's great! I could use lots of words and describe the sounds, the clarity, the great mini-documentary...but it would soon just become so much yada, yada, yada... Just buy it already!

I also have Let It Be (with mini-documentary) and Revolver (with documentary), but my favorite has always been Sgt. Pepper.

Song Lyric Brain Blast #3

2009-05-19T16:16:00.003-04:00

Yeah, it's been longer than I planned to get back to the SLBB, but here's your lyric for today. Don't forget to put on your sunscreen.

I’m so sick and tired of sitting talking to you

Yeah that’s right

You never tell me anything

that I wanna know ’bout your life.

The answer for SLBB #2 is All the Young Dudes, recorded by Mott the Hoople.

Song Lyric Brain Blast #2

2009-05-11T09:31:00.004-04:00

While you're waiting for your latte, put you thinking caps on and fetch the song title to this lyric. (Do you really want that apple fritter? Really?)

And my brothers back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
We never got it off on that revolution stuff

Yesterdays answer: Smoke on the Water, recorded by Deep Purple.

Song Lyric Brain Blast #1

2009-05-08T18:54:00.004-04:00

How's your brain today? How's your "music lyric/trivia/shouldn't you be working instead of wasting time at this lame website" mojo working?

This is how this works. I put a lyric fragment, you guess the song and the band. You get extra credit if you know who wrote it.

There's no prizes - hey, I'm no radio station!

They burned down the gambling house

It died with an awful sound

Funky Claude was running in and out

If you know the lyric, show off and post the answer!

It's has been a very long time...

2008-04-08T23:46:00.002-04:00

I do have a nice newly overhauled shoulder to show for it all. I'll scribble much more tomorrow. A little each day and I should be back to "normal" soon. And I use that term very loosely."

It's an outrage! Dark Side of the Moon did not make Time Magazine's 100 Top Albums!

2006-11-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm a bit over the top on that outrage thing, but it is a huge oversight! (I'm still screaming inside though - I don't want to scare the neighbors.) But Time really made a glaring mistake here.

So why am I so outraged? Aside from the fact it's one of my favorites, I'm not going to get personal, I'm just gonna give you so hard facts. So here goes:

The album cover to the left is an icon in itself. Who doesn't know that is the cover to Dark Side of the Moon? It's on t-shirts, posters, patches and probably a lot of things I can't think of at the moment!

As a concept album it is absolutely brilliant. It deals with so much within the realm of our existance, both good and bad. The songs have become classics, especially Money, Us and Them and Time! My personal favorite is The Great Gig in the Sky. It also solidifies electronic music as a permanent fixture of much rock music.

Plus, there is that really cool sychronicity between Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz. I have tried that, and believe it or not it does work, especially at the beginning of the movie. Hint: play it three times, back to back for the full effect and pay attention to the Wicked Witch of the West and Glenda, the Good Witch are confronting each other...you'll enjoy it! You'll have some leftover Pink Floyd at the end, but that's definitely not a bad thing.

I'm no musical scholar, but I do know what I like, and I know DSOTM should have been included in Time's Top 100 Album list

If you'd like to vote on which albums should have been included, here is the link. The other excluded albums that you can vote for are:

The Band, Music From Big Pink

Jay-Z, Reasonable Doubt

The Doors, The Doors

Superfly, Curtis Mayfield

This Year's Model, Elvis Costello

Dusty in Memphis, Dust Springfield

Appetite for Destruction, Guns N'Roses

Our troops: good and bad

2006-11-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

The Bad:

I hope their commanding officers see this and discipline these miscreants appropriately...like having them run behind a truck for their water ration.

I looked for something that would our men and women in Iraq doing things that were noble, but all over the web I could find nothing. If you have a video of Americans helping the Iraqi people, please post it to YouTube and let know about. I am keeping a spot open for you!

The Good!

What parent with a sick child won't understand this?

I'm sure there are videos of our troops helping Iraqis, but where are they? It seems all that gets posted is the negative stuff.

I am definitely against the war, but I know somewhere in Iraq, we must be part of something good. Please, if you are a troop serving in Iraq and have a positive video, please post it online to YouTube or another site so I can embed it here. And be sure to let me know!

Peter Gabriel Given "Man of Peace" Award

2006-11-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

Peter Gabriel was given the Man Of Peace Award on November 17th in a ceremony in Rome. Peter has been active in promoting world peace and human rights for years. The ceremony was part of the Seventh World Summit Of Nobel Peace Laureates, which is a pretty awesome group, you have to admit. Past recipients include Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), Boomtown Rats leader, Band Aid and Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof and Italian actor Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful - one of the best movies EVER!).

The Gorbachev Foundation,lead by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. and the city of Rome sponsor the annual event.

So that's what Gorby's been up to! I have to admit, I'm surprised.

Magic and Hope

2006-11-28T11:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I come across something on YouTube that is absolutely magical. This is an ad for the Peruvian Cancer Foundation. It is a wonderous ad.

When you buy your gifts this season, please remember to send some love and money to those organizations who help find cures for illnesses that our loved ones, or even complete strangers, are affected by.

We're back to rock and roll, babies!

2006-11-14T06:21:00.000-05:00

For a long time my mojo was impaired, but it's on the way back. I personally credit The Who for that. Endless Wire helped lure out from under the safety of the little blue blankie I've been hiding under. Bipolar disorders sucks. Medication helps, but sometimes I go full-out Linus and crawl under the little blue blankie (which is soft and heated, and all so tempting).

Anyway, let's get on to the subject of Endless Wire. It is The Who's strongest album in a couple decades. When Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey get together, the earth moves, mostly because of effect of all the dials being turned up to 11. Their collaboration is always exquisitely good.

Not all the songs rate high on my scale, except for Pick up the Peace. It's like someone started to write a good sond, then got distracted by the pizza delivery. That's a shame because I think that if this song had been fleshed out it would be very, very good.

In Fragments, musical shades of Baba O'Reilly and Won't Get Fooled Again sets the stage in the beginning that brings a nostalgic touch before leading into a new classic.

There are some really brilliant songs here, though: Man in a Purple Dress is simple in its orchestration, but Daltrey's singing is sublime and the lyrics are have a restrained but rightous anger to them. His voice just gets better as he gets older.

Mike Post Theme has a grittyness to that is intriguing.

In the Ether is a "cold, rainy day walk in the park after your partner broke up with you and you don't want to let go" song.

Black Widow's Eyes Great vocals, and lyrics that get kind of scary. It was inspired by the Beslan school massacre, and does a good job of bring back the bad memories, if your remember Beslan.

Two Thousand Years has a theological theme, believe it or not. And it's very good.

God Speaks of Marty Robbins is a classic. "Wake up and hear the music. Wake up and hear the music play. Wake up and hear what the people say." Of course I'm very biased, being a huge Marty Robbins fan.

It's Not Enough Love is so problematic at times, especially when whatever you do is never enough. I think we've all been there, so I won't say any more.

You Stand By Me Sometimes love stays strong and keeps you whole. Beautiful song. Short and sweet, but not syrupy.

Sound Round Well if this isn't classic Who I don't know what is. And I like the little surprise at the end! (Well, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it? And listen hard, it really is a quick surprize.)

Unholy Trinity, a song about three neighborhood kids, leaves the listener unsatisfied. It sounds as if more needed to be said, then the damn pizza got delivered.

Trilby's Piano is one of the standout songs. It's song of unfullfilled love. Sad, but beautiful song.

On my scale to 1 to 10 (1 being "You have got to be kidding, I'm not buying that crap" to 10 being "Buy it, buy it, you gotta have it NOW!" I'd rate Endless Wire a solid 8. For a Who fan, this is a great addition to your collection, but The Kids are Alright and Quadrophenia will probably get more play.

It's Social Studies Time!

2006-10-24T12:56:00.000-04:00

OK, my babies, it's time to do some serious politicking. These are all races in which the candidates below have done a bad, bad thing: Check them out, and if one of them is in your district, and find out what their opponent stands for. And for crying out loud:

VOTE ON NOVEMBER 7TH! IT'S YOUR RIGHT!

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl

--AZ-01: Rick Renzi

--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth

--CA-04: John Doolittle

--CA-11: Richard Pombo

--CA-50: Brian Bilbray

--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave

--CO-05: Doug Lamborn

--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell

--CT-04: Christopher Shays

--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan

--FL-16: Joe Negron

--FL-22: Clay Shaw

--ID-01: Bill Sali

--IL-06: Peter Roskam

--IL-10: Mark Kirk

--IL-14: Dennis Hastert

--IN-02: Chris Chocola

--IN-08: John Hostettler

--IA-01: Mike Whalen

--KS-02: Jim Ryun

--KY-03: Anne Northup

--KY-04: Geoff Davis

--MD-Sen: Michael Steele

--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht

--MN-06: Michele Bachmann

--MO-Sen: Jim Talent

--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns

--NV-03: Jon Porter

--NH-02: Charlie Bass

--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson

--NM-01: Heather Wilson

--NY-03: Peter King

--NY-20: John Sweeney

--NY-26: Tom Reynolds

--NY-29: Randy Kuhl

--NC-08: Robin Hayes

--NC-11: Charles Taylor

--OH-01: Steve Chabot

--OH-02: Jean Schmidt

--OH-15: Deborah Pryce

--OH-18: Joy Padgett

--PA-04: Melissa Hart

--PA-07: Curt Weldon

--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick

--PA-10: Don Sherwood

--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee

--TN-Sen: Bob Corker

--VA-Sen: George Allen

--VA-10: Frank Wolf

--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick

--WA-08: Dave Reichert

And yes, I am a Democrat, and proud of it. I am particularly offended by the treatment Harold Ford, Jr is being treated by the Corker campaign. If you live in Tennessee, get the facts before you cast your vote!

Time to Use the E-word: Evil

2006-09-22T18:50:00.000-04:00

This is from the site Street Prophets, another site that I subscribe (and occasionally contribute to under the name BohemianDiamond). Regardless of your faith, or lack thereof, evil exist. It exists because humans tend to be a cruel bunch. And now, here comes our duly "elected" government wanting to quantify what evil they may use upon another human being. Torture doesn't work. Period. There's plenty of scientific evidence and broken bodies and minds to prove that. Keeping that in mind please read this.

What is happening on Capitol Hill today is plainly evil. As defined by Walt Lowe in the Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling, evil is

that which causes harm, depriving a being of some good which is proper to that being. Moral evil (in religious terms, sin) is the result of a deliberate choice.

Sen. McCain tells us "there are no losers in this deal," which is patently false. The losers are those who suffer from coercive techniques - whose definition is still left up to a cold and reckless White House - those who are charged with carrying out the policy, despite their objections, and anyone who gives a damn about life, liberty, and the rule of law. The administration has chosen its path, and the Republican Congress has wickedly chosen to follow its lead.

The new interrogation policy, if ratified, will cause harm. Obviously, it will harm prisoners lost in some black hole in the second or third world, subject to tactics that haven't quite been made public for what should again be obvious reasons. It will deprive them of goods which are proper to them, namely liberty, dignity, due process, and the fundamental right not to have to have the shit kicked out of them on the authority of an unaccountable regime.

Peace, love and torture? Sorry folks, let's get off our duffs and write to our elected officials. Torture is not an American value, man! It's not even a human one! It's time to tell the critters we elected that we want responsible behavior from them; we don't expect them to act like punks. Stand up and let your voice be heard!

Veterans Against Torture

Trib Talk Forum: Republican Veterans Agains Torture

Common Dreams article: GI's Agaist Torture

More on this later, along with some reviews of a couple new CDs of mine.

Modern Times, Bob Dylan

2006-09-19T22:58:00.000-04:00

Oh, yeah, it's good. It's real good. Blues, roots, and rockabilly get masterfully used to create one heck of a CD. It's five-stars, all the way! Thunder on the Mountain, and The Levee's Gonna Break are my favorites.

Definitely a must have!

Do not torture in our names, Mr. Bush

2006-09-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that in the 21st century, America is debating torture. Currently the administration is trying to weasel their way out of being held responsible for violating Article 3 of the Geneva Convention so our "professionals" can use "techniques" on prisoners to extract confessions.

I am disgusted with the Bush administration because of their action. I am disgusted as well with every single person that even thinks torture is OK. Kudos to Colin Powell for speaking up. I'd say the U.S.'s "moral superiorty" is dead at this point.

I'm not going to write much about this, just say that you need to check out the news yourself, especially the posturing by certain republicans "versus" the president. Posturing is what it is, because "torture lite" is still torture, and removing the writ of habeus corporus returns us our a medieval time when we can be arrested and accused, but don't have the right to know the charges and evidence against us. Specter's bill at least protects that much.

Got you curious? I will write more tomorrow, but in the meantime do some Googling and learn some stuff.

Arrrgh, mateys, I have returned

2006-09-19T12:48:00.000-04:00

It be Talk Like a Pirate Day, so don't just sit there like a sea urchin, don ye pirate garb, talk like the pirate ye be, and drink hoist yer rum in celebration!

Whilst doin' that, give an ear to some great music. These be some of my favorites:

No Quarter Given
Stumpy & Scurvy's Pirate Shop
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Captain Bogg & Salty
The Blaggards (sweet Celtic tunes as well)
123 Pirates

And don't ye forgit our anthem, found here.

Still a novice, are ye? Git your learnin' to talk like a pirate here!

Regular programming resails tomorrow -

See you on the high seas!

Ow...why I haven't been posting

2006-06-29T12:05:00.000-04:00

To sum it up: severe degenerative disk disease and osteoarthritis. But I have some neato braces, a Tens unit and decent pain meds. I just could'nt get my heart into my music.

But all that's changing.

Have I said how much I love the new Stone's album A Bigger Bang? MY SWEET NEOCON rocks. And so do the rest of the songs.

I have no new music today, but tonight I may pull out an oldie but goodie and do some commentary on that. Hmm, or maybe I do Ruben Gonzalez....

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-06-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

If you have not seen, you must. Period.

It is one of the most important films of out times, and if you are the least bit skeptical about global warning, you won't be after seeing this.

Gore says he will not run for president, that there is more he can do as a private citizen. If this is an example, than we can expect even greater things.

(Of course, he'd still make a good president.)

Hi Guys!

2006-03-10T18:47:00.000-04:00

I'll be posting again next week and the timing is going to be some sporadic. My husband is getting laid off at the end of the month. That's the bad news. We will probably move because the tech job situation here is horrid. He's already been talking to companies in Reno, Las Vegas and Phillie, so hopefully he can pick up another job right away. And I finally have doc's permission to go back to work, as long as it's a desk job. Woo-hoo! Now all I need is a job.

The good news is I've listed to some great new CD's (giftcards are so nice!) and I'll be putting up the three reviews. Two of the CDs are really great, one in so-so. Should be up by Wednesday.

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!"

2006-02-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

King Cake photo from Gumbo Pages. Now that's my idea of a King Cake!

It's here! It's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday! I can remember one song, an oldie, called Go to the Mardi Gras. Professor Longhair did it. If you've been to Mardi Gras, you've heard this song. Trust me, have it's the one with all the whistling. I though we'd take a look and see if any of our classic rock friends have done Mardi Gras songs and this is what I found.

The first that came to mind was actually a CD by Creedence Clearwater Revival, appropriately named "Mardi Gras", released in 2004. I love CCR. Some of my best teen memories have CCR doing the soundtrack. Rolling Stone called this album "Fogarties Revenge." If you remember there was a time when John Fogarty was accused of trying to hog the whole shebang himself and that the others were mere back ups. Listen to this album, and you'll hear some great stuff and some really horrid stuff. Turns out Fogarty really is the main talent. Uh, it's not really a great album, but it doesn't totally suck either. (Although I dare you not to laugh during "Hello Mary Lou". )

Actually, aside from the title, it has nothing to do with Mardi Gras. And in searching around, Jon Landau (Rolling Stone music critic) says "It's the worst album I have ever heard from a major rock band. " I hate to admit, but he's right.

Ok, let's see if I can find some real music for you...um...you know there's not a lot of classic rock bands that have ever done Mardi Gras songs. Their loss! So here's some Mardi Gras treats from different genres for you to find and check out. (And if you know of any classic rock bands who have done Mardi Gras, songs, please! Let me know!) Mardi Gras music is in a class of it's own, and it's one you can have a lot of fun getting to know.

Of course, practically any Neville Brothers CD or album is a good starting place!

Fats Domino, who's a longtime favorite of mine, is another artist to check out. Remember Walking to New Orleans?

Now here's one of my favorite female blues singers, Marva Wright, there is Marva Right, Blues Queen. Don't think you are going to sit down and listen to this. No way Jose! I guarantee you are going to get up and dance. Her voice reaches down to your gut and just pulls you out of your seat. It may be physically impossible to just sit still during this CD. I've tried, and failed. You can get her CD at the Mardi Gras Outlet. They also have so much more there, from costumes to throws, and they have some St. Patrick's Day stuff as well. And if you like throw beads, they have some really cool ones here. (And no, they didn't pay me for the ad -- I'm a frequent visitor to there site for my music needs.)

Keep an eye out for The Wild Magnolias. Their 1970 song New Suit is a Mardi Gras classic. It's also opened a whole new genre to folk music: Mardi Gras/New Orleans. If you want to hear "New Suit" go here.

The String Cheese Incident (a jam movement bands) did two day concert at Boise Idaho's Rose Tree Ballroom in 2004 with some great Mardi Gras type songs in the second half (Right Place, Wrong Time and Shakin' the Trees). Here's one link where you can download it - the Live Music Archives. (Which is site worth checking out. There are some gems there, and not just music ones.)

Also, Joan Baez recorded Manha de Carnaval on her CD Joan Baez in Concert. It is a must listen! OK, I'm terribly biased here, Baez could sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and I'd love it. But seriously, Manha de Carnaval is worth adding to your Marde Gras playlist.

Another of my musical passions is the group Beausoleil. La Chanson de Mardi , which can be found on Live from the Left Coast, is tres jolie, ma bebe! My favorite summer Sunday mornings are spent going to church at 8:00, coming home to my husband's garbage scramble (eggs, hash browns, peppers, onions, and whatever leftover vegies or meat we have all dumped in the wok and scrambled and served with copious amounts of the hot sauce du jour, and served with a tall glass of sweet Long Island ice tea) and listing to Beasoleil and Frank Sinatra. Not for everybody, but it's my idea of heaven.

Joe Turner also has song on his Tell Me Pretty Baby CD called Mardi Gras. It'll make you a Joe Turner convert!

So much for the music. It's time to talk about Mardi Gras food. There's so much, but I'm going to concentrate the one food that you can't have a Mardi Gras without: the King Cake, which is really more of a frosted brioche. You can find many recipes out on the web, but I thought I'd share my grandmother's recipe. She didn't make it very often, but when she was the chef at a south Florida hotel she made it every year. Oh, it's so yummy! It's also not quite traditional.

I've added additional instructions in because all have is the ingredient list. It worked the one time I made it, and I hope if you try it it'll work for you!

Esther's King Cake:

1/2 cup lukewarm water, 110 to 115 degrees
2 packages dry yeast
Proof the yeast in a bowl. (pour the yeast over the warm water with a pinch of sugar. Yeast who are ready to party. Actually you should check the manufactures directions since some don't use sugar.)

4 1/2 to 5 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (I like fresh grated, but she used commercial)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 teason grated lime rind
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
3 eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened, no margarine, creamed
1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
1 bean or small plastic baby doll.

Put the yeast in the warm water and let it develop.

Sift flour, sugar, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl. Stir in lemon and lime peel.

Punch a hole down in the center and then pour in the yeast mixture and milk.

All all your eggs and slowly, stirring with a large wooden spoon until the ingredients are mixed together well. Then add the butter put everything in a heavy duty KitchenAid mixer, or similar. By this point the mix is too difficult to mix by hand and you really need help. Trust me.

Once the mixture forms a ball, put it on a floured board and knead it like you are making bread. You might have to add a bit more flour, but only do it a little bit at a time.

When the ball becomes smooth and elastic, put it in a large buttered bowl. Roll the ball around so it gets entirely covered with butter. Cover bowl and set aside until it is doubled in bulk. (It takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours more or less depending on the humidity and temperature.

When it has risen, put some flour down on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter and punch it down again. Knead and roll out into a log about 14 inches long. Place it on a greased backing sheet and form a ring. Take the bean or the doll and press it into the dough from underneath so they are well hidden. I prefer the doll because there is less chance someone will swallow it.

Bake in middle of preheated oven at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer cake to wire rack to completely cool.

The icing (my favorite part)

Make sure you have the colored sugars - green, purple and yellow. If you have a cup of each you can't go wrong. It stores well if you don't use it all.

For the icing, mix the confectioners sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of water in a deep bowl and stir until all the ingredients are smooth. It may get stiff, but you can add in 1 teaspoon of water (sometimes my grandmother used mint or peach schnapps or for this) at a time, until desired you have a consistency that will spread well and just drip down the sides.

With a French spatula, spread the icing over the top of the cake. Let it run down the sides; if it doesn't your icing is still too thick. Then, sprinkle the sugars on in rows, alternating purple-yellow-green. If make each row about two inches wide you should end up with a continuous circle of colors.

Now this is where my grandmother's recipe differs. Most call for two candied cherries at either end, pressed into the dough. She hated candied cherries, so she would put chocolate covered cherries or cordials on the green sugared areas.

When you serve the cake, whoever gets the doll gets to make the King Cake next year. I think this was rigged around our house. Nany always got doll. Which considering the cooking skills of some of her friends was a good thing!

Pam's Sweet Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:
1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Tequila
1/2 oz Spiced rum
1/2 oz Gin
1 dash simple syrup
1 dash your favorite Cola
Twist of lime

Mixing instructions:
Mix all contents in a highball glass and stir gently. Add dash of cola to
color it and garnish with lemon or lime twist. Some like lemon, I like lime.

How to make simple syrup. This is easy to do, and it keeps for a very long time.
Mix two parts water to one part sugar and boil until the sugar dissolves. You don't need to do any stirring. This is great for bevvies. And you can add extracts to flavor or use juices to make a flavored simple syrup. Have fun experimenting.

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!"

You can't keep a good city down: Mardi Gras Festivities

2006-02-21T18:51:00.000-04:00

There's still time to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras on February 28th. The economy there can sure use the infusion of tourist money considering the devastion. If you go, have fun and consider taking one of the devastation tours, taking tons of pix and be a pest reminding people that the area is still decimated and thousands and thousands are homeless and jobless. Katrina charities still need your help.

Here's some links you might find useful if you are considering going:

Nola.com Mardi Gras parade schedule (lot of other info too)
Mardi Gras Links, with stuff for kids
Mardi Gras Krewe links
New Orleans Travel and Convention Bureau
Cafe Dumond, the historic place for beignets and coffee with chicory. The Decatur Street shop is open.
Cafe Beignet, from what I'm told is the best place for beignets and coffee and chicory, daquiris and fried catfish po'boys. They also have vegetarian offerings and music.

Maude Maggart - Cabaret Singer

2006-02-20T09:57:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read right...cabaret singer. I love classic rock and blues and folk, but I also love Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and God, how I love, Cole Porter! Anyway, on NPR's Morning Edition this very minute, they are doing a spot on Maude Maggart, who I have not heard of until today. She has found her voice, and it lives in the past. She looks for lyrics the original songsters had maybe not included, songs that they had never published. Click here to learn more about her, as well as listen to a duet with her sister, Fiona Apple. Maude is currently appearing at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

Listening to Maude is like stepping into the past. Her voice is just heavenly!

It's things like this that are the reason I support (and, yes, join!) my local public radio stations.

Pink Floyd

2006-02-15T13:11:00.000-04:00

I had to let you know I am listening to Pink Floyd's Echoes. Right now The Fletcher Memorial Home is playing.

Everyone needs a comfort album and this is mine. I'm not sure the earphone on full blast are a good idea but sometimes you need to be jolted to the soul by PF. Also, Robert Johnson is another good one.

Happy Valentine's Day! (a day late and a chocolate short)

The Grammys v.2.0

2006-02-09T18:28:00.000-04:00

Let's see, we left off at 31 so on with the show!

Category 32 - Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: Don't Phunk With My Heart, The Black Eyed Peas (Yes, I'm almost 50 and I like the Black Eyed Peas. So there)

Category 33 - Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; Numb/Encore, Jay-Z Featuring Linkin Park (I was torn between this and They Say, so I'm glad someone made my mind up for me.)

Category 34 - Best Rap Song; Diamonds From Sierra Leone, D. Harris & Kanye West (There's Kanye again!)

Category 35 - Best Rap Album: Late Registration, Kanye West (And again!) Now we get into country - not my favorite area, but there are some singers I love.

Category 36 - Best Female Country Vocal Performance; The Connection, Emmylou Harris (and Emmylou Harris is at the top of that list!)

Category 37 - Best Male Country Vocal Performance: You'll Think Of Me, Keith Urban (He is such a cutie, but I was rooting for George Jones)

Category 38 - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Restless, Alison Krauss And Union Station (Allison Krauss also ranks high on my list.)

Category 39 - Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: Like We Never Loved At All, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw (oh well..it should have been Dreams Come True, Willie Nelson & Norah Jones - I hope the work together again.)

Category 40 - Best Country Instrumental Performance: Unionhouse Branch, Alison Krauss And Union Station (Hooray!)

Category 41 - Best Country Song: Bless The Broken Road, Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna & Marcus Hummon, songwriters (Rascal Flatts) (Love it!)

Category 42 - Best Country Album: Lonely Runs Both Ways. Alison Krauss And Union Station(Good choice!)

Bluegrass, now. And it's another passion of mine.

Category 43 - Best Bluegrass Album: The Company We Keep, The Del McCoury Band (Yes, yes, yes!)

Yes, I listen to New Age. Because having a martini at 11 am is a little too Dorothy Parkerish.

Category 44 - Best New Age Album: Silver Solstice, Paul Winter Consort
My husband is the Jazz person in the family, I just breath in secondhand cool.

And now for something completely different - Jazz.

Category 45 - Best Contemporary Jazz Album: The Way Up. Pat Metheny Group (I was hoping Soulgrass would get it.)

Category 46 - Best Jazz Vocal Album: Good Night, And Good Luck. Dianne Reeves (And if you haven't seen the movie - go see it.)

Category 47 - Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Why Was I Born?, Sonny Rollins, soloist (This was from the 9/11 concert - I'm really happy with this one.)

Category 48 - Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Beyond The Sound BarrierWayne Shorter Quartet (I didn't hear any of these.)

Category 49 - Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Overtimem Dave Holland Big Band (Didn't hear these either)

Category 50 - Best Latin Jazz Albumz; Listen Here! Eddie Palmieri (Latin jazz is another favorite as is Palmieri)

Gospel Brunch Time!

Category 51 - Best Gospel Performance: Pray, CeCe Winans (Amen, Sister!)

Category 52 - Best Gospel Song: Be Blessed, Yolanda Adams, James Harris III, Terry Lewis & James Q. Wright, songwriters (I didn't hear any of these.)

Category 53 - Best Rock Gospel Album: Until My Heart Caves I, Audio Adrenaline (This is the only song in this category I've actually heard)

Category 54 - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Lifesong. Casting Crowns(Heard none of these)

Category 55 - Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Rock Of Ages...Hymns & Faith, Amy Grant (I really wanted Southern Meets Soul to win)

Category 56 - Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual SongsDonnie McClurkin (Didn't hear any of these either)

Category 57 - Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Purified, CeCe Winans

Category 58 - Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album: One Voice, Gladys Knight, choir director; Saints Unified Voices (It's Gladys Knight - of course she won! Nobody else even came close!)

And now we're in one of my favorite areas Latin Pop!

Category 59 - Best Latin Pop Album: Escucha, Laura Pausini (My choice!)

Category 60 - Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Fijación Oral Vol. 1, Shakira My choice again!)

Category 61 - Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album: Bebo De Cuba, Bebo Valdés (Man, I should have placed some bets in the Latin category!)

Category 62 - Best Salsa/Merengue Album: Son Del Alma, Willy Chirino (Well, I would have lost on this one, my choice was Arroz Con Mango,Tiempo Libre

Category 63 - Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album" México En La Piel, Luis Miguel (It was between this and Las 3 Divas)

Category 64 - Best Tejano Albums: Chicanisimo. Little Joe Y La Familia (I only heard a couple tracks, but yo lo mucho)

And now Blues, the second great musical love of my life next to classic rock!

Category 65 - Best Traditional Blues Album: 80. B.B. King & Friends(My choice, although About Them Shoes was a close second)

Category 66 - Best Contemporary Blues Album: Cost Of Living, Delbert McClinton (My choice)

And now Folk

Category 67 - Best Traditional Folk Album: Fiddler's Green, Tim O'Brien (I know a lot of Chieftain fans are disappointed, but this deserves it!)

Category 68 - Best Contemporary Folk Album: Fair & Square, John Prine (My choice)

Category 69 - Best Native American Music Album: Sacred Ground - A Tribute To Mother Earth, Various Artists (You should listen to this album. It's good)

I like Hawaiian Music. Really! Especially on a Saturday morning while my Kona is brewing.

Category 70 - Best Hawaiian Music Album, Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Vol. 1, Various Artists (If you aren't familiar with Hawaiianiin music, I'd recommend this as an introduction. The Go on to Sonny Lin, Raiatea Helm, Ho'okena, Eddie Kamae & Sons of Hawai'i and especially the Ka'ala Boys. Mountain Apple Company has the best selection Hawaiian music around.

And now to Reggae. Believe it or not it was my grandmother who turned me on to reggae back in the sixties. She loved the rhythm.

Category 71 - Best Reggae Album, Welcome To Jamrock. Damian Marley (No surprise there!)

There's only two more categories I'm going to cover - if you want to know about polka, children's, classical, opera and spoken word, you'll have to go to the Grammy.com site. I'm just getting bored. Enuf is enuf!

Category 72 - Best Traditional World Music Album: In The Heart Of The Moon: Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté (very good!)

Category 73 - Best Contemporary World Music Album: Eletracústico, Gilberto Gil (This one I really disagree with. I think the Grammy should have gone to No Boundaries, Ladysmith Black Mambazo & The Strings Of The English Chamber Orchestra. It's avery creative melding of cultures.)

Oh, what the hell - Let's Polka! Category 74 - Best Polka Album: Shake, Rattle And Polka!, Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra

I wasn't going to do this either, but it is my pleasure ladies, gents, and gumbys everywhere to announce the Best Musical Show Album: Monty Python's Spamalot. (Huzzah!)

The Grammys!

2006-02-09T02:07:00.000-04:00

Two things I realized when I was watching the Grammy's: one: 92 Catagories? that's a lot of music; and two, why is it award shows go on forever when all I really wanted to see was Paul McCartney. Oh well.

Here's the winners, so far and any snarky comments I may have.

Catagory 1 - Record of the Year: Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day (I thought it would be a toss up between Green Day and Kanye West, with coin slightly rolling in favor of Green Day. Kanye's Day will come.

Catagory 2 - Album of the Year: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. (Well, come on, you really didn't think the others had a chance did you?)

Catagory 3 - Song of the Year: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) I love U2....

Catagory 4 - Best New Artist: John Legend (Pretend to be surprised at least! We all new he'd win. but thanking DEVO?)

Catagory 5 - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson. (NOOOOOOO! Bonnie Raitt was robbed!)

Catagory 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: From the Bottom of My Heart, Stevie Wonder (The man still rules!)

Catagory 7 - Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: This Love, Maroon Five. (Hmmm. I'd have gone with Don't Lie, The Black Eyed Peas)

Category 8 - Best Pop Collaborations with Vocals: Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz Featuring De Le Soul. (Ah, come on...A Time to Love, Stevie Wonder Featuring India.Arie should have won.

Category 9 - Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Caravan, Les Paul (Alright! Les Paul is still a treasure)

Category 10 - Best Pop Instrumental Album: At this Time, Burt Bacharach. (The influence this man has on music is astounding, and he deserves this!)

Catagory 11 - - Best Pop Vocal Album: Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson (Gimme Sheryl Crow or Fiona Appple any day.)

Category 12 - Best Dance Recording: Galvanize, The Chemical Brothers Featuring Q-TipThe Chemical Brothers, producers; The Chemical Brothers & Steve Dub, mixers (I'm not a club person, so I'll take their word for it.)

Category 13 - Best Electronic/Dance Album Push The ButtonThe Chemical Brothers (Ditto)

Category 14 - Best Tradition Pop Vocal Album: The Art of Romance, Tony Bennett. (I love all the albums nominated but I have a fondness for Tony Bennett - and it really is a great album)

Category 14 - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Devils & Dust, Bruce Springsteen (I will grudingly grant him this one - I was hoping for Neil Young myself)

Category 16 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, U2 (Drinks all around, our lads are rockin!)

Category 17 - Best Hard Rock Performance: B.Y.O.B., System Of A Down (You've got to kidding! It should have gone to The Hand That Feeds, Nine Inch Nails)

Category 18 - Best Metal Performance: Before I Forget, Slipknot (I didn't follow this category closelly, so you tell me - good choice?)

Category 19 - Best Rock Instrumental Performance: 69 Freedom Special, Les Paul & Friends (Whoo hoo!)

Category 20 - Best Rock Song: City Of Blinding Lights. U2, songwriters (U2) (It's Happy Dance Time!)

Category 21 - Best Rock Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2 (I'm still dancing, but I really thought the Stones would pull it off.)

Category 22 - Best Alternative Music Album" Get Behind Me Satan The White Stripes (I love
the White Stripes - they are so not like everybody else!)

Category 23 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. We Belong Together, Mariah Carey(As much I like Alicia Keyes, I think Mariah deserves this!)

Category 24 - Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Ordinary People, John Legend (As far as I
was concerned there was no competition.)

Category 25 - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: So Amazing, Beyoncé &
Stevie Wonder (Can't argue with this one!)

Category 26 - Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: A House Is Not A Home, Aretha
Franklin (All is right with the world)

Category 27 - Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Welcome To Jamrock. Damian Marley

Category 28 - Best R&B Song; We Belong Together. J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri & M. Seal, songwriters; (D. Bristol, K. Edmonds, S. Johnson, P. Moten, S. Sully & B. Womack, songwriters) (Mariah Carey)Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Go, Mimi, Go!)

Category 29 - Best R&B Album: Get Lifted. John Legend (Yes, he is going to be a force.)

Category 30 - Best Contemporary R&B Album: The Emancipation Of Mimi. Mariah Carey (I
think this was really the only serious contender.

Now we get into the Rap area, and sometimes Rap appeals to me, sometimes it doesn't.

Category 31 - Best Rap Solo Performance: Gold Digger. Kanye West (and this really appeals to
me. Kanye West is going to be another big force in the business)

Category 32 - Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: Don't Phunk With My Heart, The
Black Eyed Peas (Yes, I'm almost 50 and I like the Black Eyed Peas.

Well folks, it's late and I have a ton of stuff to mail tomorrow (eBay was good this week) so I'll post the rest tomorrow, as well as clean up this entry; I haven't even spell checked it.

Sweet Dreams!

Celtic Rock

2006-01-31T23:16:00.000-04:00

Tohickon Creek, Bucks County PA © 2006 Pamela Heath
Feel free to use the image as long as you properly credit it!

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Celtic rock. A favorite is Brother; I think they may have been influenced a little by Pink Floyd but I don't know much about them. If you listen to How Do You Feel, on their Urban Cave album you'll see what I mean.
If you say "Celtic Rock" to people they'll say U2, Sinead O'Connor, Enya and maybe Black 47. Enya? Oh, well. She's Irish, she sings...but Celtic rock has got a tremendous amount of variety and influencs and it's much more than U2. Check out Celtic Grove and some of the other Celtic rock sites, and learn some more about this genre.

Some of my favorite artists are U2 (of course), Elvis Costello, Big Black Cadillac and Brother. The Mahones and the Saw Doctors are also good.

So go on, check out some rock from the Emerald Isle and expand your horizons.

In keeping with today's Celtic theme, your drink of the day is the Tipperary:

1 oz. Irish whiskey (I prefer Tullamore Dew aka Tully)
1 oz. green Chartreuse (a French liqueur)
1 oz. sweet vermouth (don't buy the cheapie stuff - get the good stuff)
Fill mixing glass with crushed ice.
Add whiskey, Chartreuse and sweet vermouth. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Slainte!

P.S. On Thursday, we visit Scandinavia.

Record Store Wanderings

2006-01-28T16:46:00.000-04:00

Aside from classic rock, I love blues, so when I noticed Dion's Bronx in Blue CD I couldn't help but take a peek at the track list. Number one was Walkin' Blues, originally done by Robert Johnson, who is my favorite all-time blues artist. He also is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I've always thought someone should do a movie about Robert Johnson; he may have been on earth just a short time, but he made an impression that will last forever.

Bronx in Blue has several Robert Johnson songs, plus Jimmie Rogers, Hattie Hart, Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, Howlin' Wolf, Hank Williams, Jimmie Reed and Blind Willie McTell. If you don't know who those people are, you owe it to yourself to check them out. Oh, and Dion. Dion DiMucci. Yes, that's the same Dion from Dion and the Belmonts who sang Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. If you aren't familiar with him, and some of you younger folk might not be, his influence of the music you and I listen to today is enormous. Click here to go to his website.

Crosby, Stills & Nash have two expanded CD's out. Crosby Stills & Nash and Daylight Again have been remastered and reissued. I don't have CSN yet, but Daylight Again is fantastic! Daylight Again has Southern Cross on it, so that tipped the scales of my wallet. It was kind of hard to choose between the two, but in the end, Southern Cross won out over Marrakesh Express. It's the song I listen to when I need to really chill out.

Los Lobos has a new DVD out that's on my list of gotta haves. It's Los Lobos - Live at the Fillmore. Plus there's a new CD, Wolf Tracks: The Best of Los Lobos that is coming out on Valentine's Day, so that's going to be my present to myself!

Also coming out on that day are three (count'em 3) Talking Head classics: Speaking in Tongues, Little Creatures and True Stories. All dual disk! I can hardly wait to hear them; I think my cassettes are about shot by now!

I have to admit I'm was a little late to hop on the technology train. Mostly because other things kept coming up, like work, and I really didn't have the time to sit back and relax and enjoy the music. One day I decided "what's up with that?" and went out and got a CD player. Now I can't live without it. If I remember right, the first CDs I bought were Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell and Midnight at the Lost and Found, Queen's Live at Wembley Stadium and Greatest Hits (1 & 2), and one by Frank Sinatra CD; I don't remember which one.

Journey's "Generations"

2006-01-23T14:16:00.000-04:00

This is much better than their last effort, Arrival, which, although I do like ballads, seemed to OD on them. The new CD is much more to my liking. More rock, less ballads.

Everybody gets a chance at lead vocals on this which is really nice - especially Steve Augeri. Probably my favorite track is "Out of Harm's Way", with Neal Schon's vocals. The song should resonate with certain Americans who (like me) who aren't too fond of the Iraqi situation. Schon is downright impressive.

If you like your rock blue tinged like me, you'll like "Gone Crazy". A bit of a caveat here: Ross Valory's voice is a bit quirky. I've always been a fan of quirky voices, so I like it, and the guitar playing by Schon is fantastic.

Definitely worth picking up!

I working on a rating system, just because people seem to like that sort of thing. I'm sure it'll be kind of quirky.

Yesh: that is my word of the day: quirky.

JOURNEY Generations is released by Frontiers/Sanctuary Records Group

Why I wish I could go to England in March

2006-01-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

Two words; no make that three: Jethro Tull's AQUALUNG LIVE TOUR! Wait, that's five. OK, I need more coffee. And maybe some bangers and mash. Yum.

My Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

2005-12-24T13:07:00.000-04:00

I've told you my least favorite Christmas songs, so here are my favorites.

10: Go Tell it on the Mountain, Mahalia Jackson
9: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra
8: Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ray Charles
7: Cherry Tree, Emmylou Harris
6: Go Tell it on the Mountain, Blind Boys of Alabama
5: Greensleves, Deborah Conant
4: Twelve Days of Christmas, the Muppets (Miss Piggy rocks!)
3: Blue Christmas, Chris Isaak
2: White Christmas, Bing Crosby

and my number one favorite of all time:

1: When was Jesus Born, Blind Boys of Alabama

Merry Christmas everybody!

Holy Vinyl Batman, It's Almost Christmas!

2005-12-20T22:33:00.000-04:00

I haven't been posting, because I'm under the weather, but I couldn't let this festive season go by without posting what I consider to be the TEN MOST ANNOYING CHRISTMAS SONGS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

10: Jingle Bell Boogie, by the Jingle Dogs. (Arrrghfbarf)

9: The entire Christmas with the Brady Bunch album. (So bad, it's hard to pick the worst song.)

8: The entire Meowy Christmas album. (See comment for number 9)

7: Oh Holy Night, by Cartman (South Park) Now if Chef would have sung it, it'd have been good.

6: Oh Holy Night, Celine Dion (Some people love this - I don't. I like Celine, believe it or not.)

5: Jingle Bells, by Barbra Streisand (I like Barbra, too, just not doing Jingle Bells)

4: The entire Star Wars Christmas Album. (What the hell were they on when they made this?)

3: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, by Kathy Lee Gifford (You need a reason?)

2: The burped version of Silent Night. I don't know who did it, maybe Dr. Demento does.

and finally, the WORST EVER CHRISTMAS SONG:

1: The Christmas Shoes, by New Song. If you've never heard a Christmas song that will make you want to toss yourself under Santa's sleigh and have all his reindeer trample you to death, you haven't heard this one. What were they thinking????? Scary, scary, scary. And from a Christian band no less.

Imagine

2005-12-09T01:17:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe it's been 25 years since John Lennon was died. (For whatever reason, on the first draft I said shot. I guess I still have to come to terms that he is indeed dead, because he still feels so alive to me.) That realization got me thinking of how little I have progressed in my own life. I won't bore you with details because the last thing you need to read are the rantings of a bipolar middle-aged woman.

However, John still gives me hope. And I still miss him.

I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing when I heard the news that he had died. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, having just got home from my night course at college. I had heard John had been shot while on was on the bus. When I got home, I turned on the radio and the DJ said John had been shot in front of the Dakota, and they the station would keep updating us as then news came on. Then they started playing "When I'm 64". Midway through the song, there was dead air for about 10 seconds and "Imagine" started playing. The DJ didn't have to say that John had died.

The next day at school someone had organized a memorial at the flag pole. At noon we all gathered. Nobody really knew what to do or who was in charge. Then someone started to sing "Imagine". Soon everyone was singing, and when "Imagine" ended, someone else started singing "I want to hold your hand". So around the flagpole were about 75 people, all crying and singing off tune.

And then life went on.

John lived his life as he wanted to, and that is what we should all so, if only we had the courage.

Bagism lives on.

I'm not posting as much as usual

2005-11-28T18:42:00.000-04:00

because the lupus has flared up. My doctors are of the belief that I'd do much better in a warm dry climate. So, my husband, the resident computer geek, project manager, etc will be starting his job search blog. We are going to concentrate on Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, Southern California (San Diego area) and Nevada. I'll post the link when it's up. If you know of anything for Hank (or me, an administrative assistant with a degree in Geography and an interest in hazards) let me know.

In the meantime I've done my share listing to music. I got online this morning to listen to the John DeBella and then and Debbi Calton(hey, Debbi - thanks for playing Lawyers, Guns & Money for me on WMGK!). As long as I'm giving them a long distance plug, the 6th Annual 102.9 WMGK Classic Rock Art Show will be held at Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut. Tom Petty is this year's Honorary Chairperson. There's no admission fee and all the works of arts by rockers and more can be purchased or bid by silent Auction. Proceeds from the Rock Art Show benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Then I played the Beatles Anthology. I've listened to it, well, I don't know how many times. Each time I hear something new, especially in the first volume. If you don't have the set, you should.

There's also a new Beatles biography entitles "The Beatles" by Bob Spitz. It's going on my December reading list and I'll let you know what you think.

Now I'm back at the Rock with Joe Elvis playing Gimme Shelter.

Life is (mostly) good. Now it's time to make up some grub.

Rock on y'all.

Jeff Seeman: OH 16th District Congressional Candidate

2005-11-22T22:39:00.000-04:00

Check this out. Jeff Seemann is a candidate for Congress in Ohio's 16th District. He is currently spending 100 hours as a homeless person. I couldn't do what he's doing. Physically, I couldn't. But I admire him for, as my grandmother would put it "walking in someone else's moccasins".

November 21, 2005
Day 2

Hello. I am writing this diary on behalf of Jeff Seemann. As many of you know, Jeff is running for Congress in Ohio's 16th District, and he's trying a different strategy. He believes that you cannot represent people until you truly understand their lives. Currently, he is spending 100 hours homeless, in an attempt to better understand what life is like for people who have lost everything. We all witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but Katrina only magnified a problem that exists in every town on every day of every week. I just spoke with Jeff, and he has asked me to relay the story of his first 20 hours to you and several other blogs. The following is Jeff's entry;
Hello everyone. After my first day out here, if I can give you any amount of wisdom, it will be this; don't take anything for granted. You can always end up worse off than you are right now. It hasn't been easy here. The experiences and lessons I've learned already range from harsh to easy, but it's certainly been an eye-opener.
Last night, I tried to find a place to sleep. It was dark by the time I got downtown, and being a Sunday, everything was closed. I went into this experience blind, so I had no idea where any homeless shelters may be located, and I therefore decided to try a few churches. No luck there, all the doors were locked at the 4 area chuches I could find. I ended up by myself for the entire night, and found a bit of warmth behind the Palace Theater sometime around 10pm. I had hoped to find somebody to help me locate a place to sleep, but again, no luck. It was an awful night of sleep, if you can call it that at all. The temperature was probably in the 30s or low 40s. By midnight, I had a splitting headache. It's amazing how many things we take for granted in our everyday lives...like aspirin. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep a couple of times, but it was never anything that one could reasonably call sleep. By about 7 or 8 am, I was chased out of my space by a police officer. I've heard the words "move along" more times than I thought I would today. This morning, I found myself a few agencies that can help the homeless, but they are few and far between. So far, they've been helpful, but the people I've spoken to who benefit from these agencies tell me that the help doesn't last very long.
At one agency, I was told that I "picked a bad time to end up homeless" (as if there's a good time). This is the end of the year, and the grant money has dried up. Agencies don't have any money left to set anybody up with accomodations, and until January 1st, you're at the mercy of the streets. Churches do step in from time to time, but that's usually for one night only. I didn't know that a "homeless hotline" existed, but was advised to call them. One of the agencies allowed me use of their phone, and the hotline referred me to Open Door, a shelter at the Turnaround Community Outreach. I'm to report there tonight between 930 and 10pm, and I have to leave by 6am tomorrow morning. It's an African-American church, and I've already been by there for a meal at 2pm today. Very nice people, very comforting. Tomorrow, they're also having a free meal at 2pm at Open Door, but in order to eat you have to attend a church service first. I'm not willing to question this policy, but I wonder if they would still offer to feed the hungry if they were Buddhist, Jewish or even Muslim? At today's meal, there were 28 people in attendance. Almost all were homeless, but a few had homes but were well below the poverty line. The ages ranged from 18 months old to 70+ years. The 18 month old was a sweetheart. Her mother lives near the church and has no money, so she does what she can to keep her baby fed. The church gave her a few extra biscuits, and she slipped them in her baby's diaper bag (which was not really clean enough to handle food).
For the benefit of those of you concerned with whether or not I may be taking food or a bed from somebody who needs it more, I will gladly report that I waited until everyone had their plates of food before I approached the line (and was told that there was plenty if anybody needed more), and the cot I will sleep on tonight is not the last one. They can fit many more than will attend tonight, so everyone who has requested a place to sleep will get it. Also, no I have no money to make my situation any more comfortable than it is. I have no ATM card, no pocket change, no photo ID, nothing. If I was going to deprive anybody of anything during my experience, I will gladly give it up and go elsewhere. It's only been a short period of time, and I'm only 25% of the way through this, but I can tell you that I've learned a lot.
For starters, there's a whole system you have to know and those who can work it best survive with the least amount of trouble. There are a few phone numbers to call and get assistance, but most places can only offer you referrals to other agencies. It's a messed up web that you have to maneuver through in order to get anywhere. And I'm told that the funds are being slashed for 2006.
That half-eaten corn dog I saw on theground last night....I was too proud to pick it up, a move I could later regret. That bag of Fritos I saw in a trash can while walking down 12th Street...it might have had food inside. Earlier today, maybe some of you stopped by Burger King or Wendy's. Did you finish your french fries? If not, I know of a few people who would love to have what you just threwaway. Man, just that small handfull of leftover fries or the pickles you took off your burger would be a wonderful gift to some people. No, I'm notasking you to take some cold leftover food to people right now....but I am asking you to never again take for granted what you have. Tomorrow, you may not have it anymore.
Jeff Seemann
I'll be posting this diary in a few locations that Jeff has directed me to. I'll try to answer any questions you have if I have the time. In the meantime, you can help out Jeff's campaign - he's promised to deliver 10% of all funds raised to homeless shelters in the area. Visit Jeff's ActBlue page or his blog.
And trust me, as his friend, I heard it in his voice that he's not having an easy time with this. He's surviving just fine, but the people he is meeting are really eating away at his soul. He's going to walk away from this a very different person, even more sympathetic than he is now.
Peace be with you all, Michelle

I have no idea how people suffering from chronic illness survive on the streets. Or what it must be like to be a child on the streets. I do know I'm grateful for what I do have, and try to what I can to help. One person at a time can make difference, some people, like Jeff, may make a bigger difference.

Will Golden Earring ever tour the US?

2005-11-22T14:27:00.000-04:00

My chances of ever getting to anywhere near Europe are slim unless my husband and I actually score real jobs again. But eventually, seeing Golden Earring in concert is on my 100 things to do before I die list. (At the rate I'm going I think I'm up to number 12.)

I'm a sucker for Radar Love, Candy's Going Bad, Lost and Found and Twilight Zone. OK, every song they do.

Lately The Continuing Story of Radar Love is on heavy rotation, along with, Sinatra: the Capitol Years, Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell, Jimmy Reed's Cry Before I Die, and Aretha Franklin's Under Her Spell.

Concert for Bangladesh 2005

2005-11-22T14:13:00.000-04:00

I was so happy to see that the Concert for Bangladesh was being released as a DVD. I had seen the film when it came out in 1971 and loved it. If you weren’t alive back then, or you were and the Sixties and Seventies are now showing the effects of (our) misspent youth, here’s a brief refresher course on why there was a concert for Bangladesh in the first place.

In 1947 there was West Pakistan and East Pakistan, which were separated by about a thousand miles of India smack dab in the middle. West Pakistan and East Pakistan were a single Muslim country, and aside from the fact they both had Pakistan in their countries names, they had basically nothing else in common. For real. The regions themselves were physically different, the cultures, languages and races were all different. Most of the wealth and power was in Bengali-speaking West Pakistan, but the majority of population was in the Urdu-speaking East Pakistan, which was much poorer. So how did this odd situation come about? Check out this link , because I’d rather get on with the review.

Anyway when the first free elections were held in 1969, despite the fact the East Pakistanis won the majority of power, the West Pakistanis refused to transfer power and began cracking down on the opposition. Three million people were killed in the conflict and East Pakistanis trying to flee to India were hit by destructive floods, starvation and disease. Foreign aid couldn’t handle the sheer magnitude of the crisis.

Then came Ravi Shankar, who approached George Harrison to help him organize the first ever benefit concert. The Concert for Bangladesh is the granddaddy of Live Aid, Farm Aid, and all the other benefit concerts musicians now do for those in need.

And now for the review (boy, aren’t you glad – you didn’t think you’d have to sit through a history lesson did you?)

An impressive array of stars came to help:

George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Klaus Voorman, Jesse Ed Davis, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Badfinger - Pet Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, Mike Gibbons, Hollywood Horn Players, led by Jim Horn, Ravi Shankar, Allan Beutler, Chuck Findley, Marlin Greene, Jeanie Greene, Jo Green, Jim Horn, Delores Hall, Kamala Chakravarty, Jackie Kelso, Usted Aliakbar Khan, Claudia Lennearm, Lou McCreary, Ollie Mitchell, Don Nix, Don Preston, Carl Radle Alla Rakah.

The film is a treasure to watch. It hasn’t been remastered, so it looks like it did in the theater, which gives it a certain authenticity to me because it really looks like I remember it looking the first time I saw it. It starts off with Indian music by Ravi Shankar (sitar), Kamala Chakravarty (tamboura; and take a look at her bracelets!), Usted Alla Rakah (tabla) and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (sarod). It’s real Indian music so be prepared. I happen to love Indian music, but I know some people just don’t…it’s OK.

Of the 18 songs, the ones that really shine are My Sweet Lord, It Don’t Come Easy, Beware of Darkness, Leon Russell’s version of Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Bangladesh and every song Bob Dylan is on. He is at his peak here, no doubt at all! Leon Redbone and Billy Preston really stand out.

And I cried when George did While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I always have. I never met him, and I miss him on this earth, but I know his spirit lives on. I don’t know, maybe I cry whenever I hear this song because I feel his spirit. Sounds crazy I know.

Best of all? The bonus CD. A documentary with interviews and footage not in the original film, plus lsound checks and rehearsals. (More Dylan! More Leon Russell!) The mini-features are treasures worth exploring, especially Recollections and Original Artwork.

This two CD set comes in a fantastic looking box, and has a full color brochure loaded with pictures. It has a forward by Ravi Shankar, and a better history than mine of the Bangladesh crisis. 100% of all artists royalties benefit UNICEF.

OK, folks, this is where you start thinking "Wow, what a gift this would make for my friends! It's a great video and and it'll help children!" Go ahead, you know you want to. You should.

After watching, please, please, please, go to http://www.georgeharrisonfundforunicef.org/. In the words of the insert:

The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S Fund for UNICEF. Fund for UNICEF that aims to support UNICEF program, providing lifesaving assistance to children caught in humanitarian emergencies.

George may have left us, but his work goes on, All Glories to Sri Krsna.

Oh happy day!

2005-11-17T02:24:00.000-04:00

Today I recieved a copy of the Concert for Bangladesh. I have watched most of the first CD (which is the original movie) and tomorrow I will watching the bonus disk. I will review it and let you know'll what I think.

I've already decided a couple of sibs are getting this for a Christmas present. It's got a beautifully illustrated book, and made for gift giving! Well, that's what I think. You'll see after the review, plus I'll post pix so you can get a really good idea of what you'll be paying for.

Man, it brings back memories. I hadn't though about my inflatable throw pillows or my blacklight cosmic star map in ages. I actually have some of my love beads left...

I'll do a little intro so that those of you who weren't born yet when this was originally released will understand why it was such an important event.

Until tomorrow, my friends, be cool, and peace be on you and all you love.

My additions to Dave White's 25 Classic Rock Solo Artists

2005-11-06T03:27:00.000-04:00

Dave White (the About Guide to Classic Rock) listed tho to 25 classic rock solo artists , and I can't disagree on his choices, but felt he left out few so I've added five of my own.

26. Warren Zevon
Essential Album: Excitable Boy

Warren Zevon had a unique, offbeat, satirical and often warped view of life that made his music addicting. Unfortunately people hear his name and think Werewolves of London is the only thing he ever did -- not true! Listen to Excitable Boy, and you'll see just how many great songs he did, like Lawyers, Guns and Money, and Roland, the Headless Thompson Gunner. Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002, in typical Zevon style, he said he said he'd be happy just to hang around long enough to see the next James Bond flick. The Rock Gods granted his wish and he died a couple months after seeing Die Another Day, which was released June 3rd, 2003.

27. Ringo Starr
Essential Album/s: Ringorama, The Anthology So Far (I couldn't make up my mind so Ringo gets a double shot)

I don't think Ringo gets the recognition he deserves. When he tours with the All-Starr Band, you can tell he is still at the top of his game and he always lets other musicians shine as well. He is definitely a gentleman! The 1999 tour of the All-Starr Band was probably the best All-Starr Band yet. Click here to see more about the show at the Sunrise Musical Theater in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Face it, you put Ringo Starr, Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) on keyboards , Jack Bruce (Cream) on bass, Simon Kirke (Free and Bad Company) on drums, Timmy Cappello (from the "Todd Rundgren School of One Man Band Musicians") and Todd Rundgren on the same stage and you know you are in heaven.

28. Edgar Winter
Essential Album: They Only Come At Night

If you didn't already know, Edgar is Johnny Winter's younger brother. His music fuses blues, rock and jazz. If you haven't listened to him, you definitely should because he is good. Real good.

29. Joan Jett
Essential Album: Bad Reputation

A Philly girl, which automatically endears her to me. Success in the US was latecoming; she was more popular overseas (Japan and Europe mostly) than she was here, which confounds me. Most people of have heard of the Blackhearts, but there's also the Runaways, her first band. She's finally getting the recognition here that she deserves, but she deserves more, I say, more!

30. Tracy Chapman
Essential Album: Tracy Chapman

A great rock/folk/blues mix and voice that could hypnotize a rampaging wildebeest into submission. God, how I love her voice. Especially on Give Me One Reason and Fast Car.

Rolling Stones "Rarities" out November 22nd

2005-11-01T10:44:00.000-04:00

It will be released at Starbucks and other tradional retail outlets. This is a must have for me! It has remixes, b-sides, and live recordings from Stones' archives. I know what else I'll be getting with my tall, double shot caramel machiatto with whip cream on top! (Seriously, do the whipped cream instead of foam, the taste difference is worth it!)

This is the track listing:

Track Listing for Rolling Stones Rarities: 1971 - 2003
1. "Fancy Man Blues" (B-side to the "Mixed Emotions" single)
2. "Tumbling Dice" (live)
3. "Wild Horses" (live)
4. "Beast of Burden" (live)
5. "Anyway You Look At It" (B-side to "Saint of Me" single)
6. "If I Was A Dancer" (Dance Pt 2.)
7. "Miss You" (dance version)
8. "Wish I'd Never Met You" (B-side to "Terrifying" single)
9. "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" (live)
10. "Mixed Emotions IV" (12" version)
11. "Through The Lonely Nights" (B-side to "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" single)
12. "Live With Me" (live)
13. "Let It Rock" (B-side to "Brown Sugar" single)
14. "Harlem Shuffle" (New York Mix)
15. "Mannish Boy" (live)
16. "Thru and Thru" (live)

November New Release Gotta Haves

2005-11-01T03:08:00.000-04:00

US releases, from Billboard. To see a complete listing, go here. This isn't a complete listing of all new releases, just ones that caught my eye. Some aren’t even classic rock, but after all there’s more than one flower in a garden! Items in bold are ones that I’ll probably review in November, as time permits.

Week of October 31 to November 6

All That I Am: Santana

Christmas with James Brown: James Brown

Dead Ahead [DVD] The Grateful Dead

Live at the Royal Albert Hall [DVD]:Dusty Springfield

Live at the Union Chapel [Special Edition DVD]: Procol Harum

Rapture of the Deep: Deep Purple

Summer Breeze: Greatest Hits Live: The Isley Brothers

The Long Road Home: Ultimate John Fogerty Creedence Collection: John Fogerty

Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It: Isaac Hayes

Week Of November 07 to 13, 2005

Dandy in the Underworld [Expanded]: T. Rex

Good to See You Again, Alice Cooper: Live 1973 Alice Cooper

Live: Blue Öyster Cult

Live Peace in Toronto, 1969 [35th Anniversary]: John Lennon

Men of the World: The Blues Years: Fleetwood Mac:

Rising in the East: Judas Priest:

The Last Great Traffic Jam: Traffic

The Ultimate Collection: Eurythmics

Tommy and Quadrophenia Live: The Who

Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow [Edsel] [Expanded]: T. Rex

Week Of November 14 to 21, 2005

Beatles: The Biography: The Beatles

Born to Run [30th Anniversary Edition: Bruce Springsteen

Cheap Trick/In Color/Heaven Tonight: Cheap Trick

Face the Music/A New World Record/Discovery: Electric Light Orchestra

Early Steppenwolf/For Ladies Only: Steppenwolf

Great American Songbook Box Set: Rod Stewart

Live at Fenway Park: Jimmy Buffett

Lovely to See You: Live from the Greek: The Moody Blues

Maximum Bruce Springsteen: Bruce Springsteen

My Lives: Billy Joel

Private Investigations: The Very Best Of [Deluxe Edition]: Dire Straits

Private Investigations: The Very Best of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler: Dire Straits

Rapture of the Deep: Deep Purple

Rhythm Kings Live: Bill Wyman

Rolling with the Blues: John Mayall

The Best of Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan

The Collection: JT/That's Why I'm Here/Never Die Young: James Taylor

Vertigo//2005. U2 Live from Chicago: U2

Vertigo//2005. U2 Live from Chicago [Deluxe Edition]: U2

Bless You, Rosa Parks

2005-10-25T01:49:00.000-04:00

Every few centuries a handful of people make a change in our lives, our ways of thinking, our world. Some are driven from birth to grab the world by the shoulders and shake it into change. Some decide to use their voice and argue the world into change. On December 1st, 1955, one tired woman simply sat down on a city bus and our world changed forever. Today, Rosa Parks left this earth, and I know that in Heaven she is gathered among the angels and the saints who left this planet a better place than they found it when they first arrived.

I was born a little over a year after Ms. Parks sat down on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, but I can remember, even as a young child (maybe three or four years old), how my grandmother told me a the story of the woman who wouldn't give up her seat to a white man and go to the back of the bus as was expected of her in that day and time. I forget exactly under what circumstances my grandmother has decided to tell me the story, but I do remember her sitting me on her lap to tell me about Ms. Parks. I remember she said that she though the woman was an angel sent to earth to teach us all a lesson about love and what was right.

Rosa Parks, we will miss you here, but we are eternally grateful for your courage that turned a simple act of defiance (even though you only wanted to get home!) into a lesson for us all.

Review of A Bigger Bang by Rolling Stones

2005-10-17T14:01:00.000-04:00

You know how you hear hype about how the new Stones CD or tour is going to be the best in ages, and then you just sort of get let down. Guess what folks – that’s not gonna happen here!

For a while people were laughing at the fact that the Stones were still touring. Some people were wondering when they would actually have a tour named the “Geriatric Tour” or some other silly mot. Well, folks, A Bigger Bang is proof that the Stones are just as talented, dynamic and as hot as they were in the 1960s. So there!

Buy this CD, and see why. The booklet has the song lyrics too, a touch I always appreciate so I don’t have those embarrassing “you thought the words were what?” moments. Speaking of that, go to Kiss this Guy for some fun!

Here’s my two-cents on A Bigger Bang.

Rough Justice This song rocks. Period. It’s one of their best ever. It is hard rocking, heart pounding rock the way it was meant to be played. Rough Justice is going down as one on the greatest Stones songs ever. It has the feel of an early Stones song yet it still is very up to date, so if you are feeling a wee bit nostalgic it's a good choice. Guys, you did real good on this one!

Let Me Down Slow Ronny Woods does some great slide guitar here, and Keith does backup vocals. Probably not the strongest song on A Bigger Bang, but is is still very good.

It Won’t Take Long Fantastic, almost bluesy song. The guitar on this just rocks.

Rain Fall Down This is one incredible song. Could almost be from the Voodoo Lounge album, but it’s better than any song on it. I especially like Charlie Watts drumming on this. It’s got a great chorus and some funk going on. I just love it!

Streets of Love It is a beautiful, bittersweet ballad. I have a feeling people will either love it or hate it. I personally love it. Streets of Love is going to get a lot of play…come to think of it will, on Days of our Lives on NBC.

Yes, the Stones will be debuting their new Streets of Love video on Tuesday, October 18th in Salem. My mother, who’s um, older than any of the Stones, but less than 120, has been a DOOL fan forever, and a Stones fan since my brother and I took her to see Rolling Stones: at the Max 2D, which was the 1990 Steel Wheels concert IMAX flick. Check your local channel and set your VCRs. You can also catch the episode on SOAPnet that evening or on the weekend, so check your local times.

Back of My Hand Stones! Blues! Heaven! Great slide guitar. Their most bluesy in a long time.

She Saw Me Coming Talk about a relationship gone wrong! Some of the lyrics are inspired:

She saw me coming
She moved in for the kill
She saw me coming
I was served up on her grill
She busted in
And she burglarized my soul
But now the bad news
She’s out on parole.

Biggest Mistake Right up there with Street of Love. It’s one of those "Mostly Mick" songs. I lived the relationship in this song once, but je ne regrette rien! Here's the English translation of Je ne regrette rien, from Man with Two Hands. Stop on by, he's got some interesting things.

This Place is Empty Keith Richards does wonderful vocals on this song. It’s also a great slow dance song. I think of all the sounds he has sung, this is my all time favorite. Wonderful piano and guitar. Soulful, sad; great to have a late nice glass of Maker’s Mark and get weepy to.

Oh No Not You Again Wake up, jump, move, dance! I dare you to sit still during this song! Reminds me a lilttle at the ending of Respectable.

Dangerous Beauty Low down modern blues. I can see playing this on a juke box in a roadhouse with a plate of pulled pork bbq and downing some shots of Maker’s Mark.

Laugh,I Nearly Died Love the guitar on this. It's an incredible song.

Sweet Neocon YEAH! Oh, and it’s not about Bush or Blair? Hah! I want it to be therefore, it is. That’s called magical thinking. I have a feeling this is going to get a lot of play at Democratic parties. Love the harmonica and guitar on this.

Look What the Cat Dragged In Another great dance song. Sing along, while you’re at it. “Look what the cat dragged in, take it right out again!” Is there a video for this? There should be.

Driving Too Fast You know when you hear Charlie Watts pounding out a hard beat that you’ve got a great driving song. By all means, if you are driving while this song is playing, watch that accelerator! It really is a good driving song. And the lyrics are great; there’s a good allegorical thing going on here, with driving = life. Oh, some primo guitar licks, as well.

to many roads lead to nowhere
but how they twist and turn
and end up in a dusty old strip mall
where you tyres are all shredded and burned
you’re going out of your brain
out of your mind
going insane you’re
going blind
you’re driving to fast

Infamy Keith Richards singing again and he sounds very good. Great guitar, a little different from Keith usually does, and Mick on harmonica. In for me – infamy. This was a good choice to end the CD. It gives you chance to catch your breath!

This is their best release since Sticky Fingers in 1971. Here is, 34 years later and they are still at the top of their game. It’s still on heavy rotation on my CD player and certain songs get repeated until I’m ready to let go and move on: Rough Justice (probably the most replayed), Rain Fall Down, Streets of Love, Back of My Hand, Driving Too Fast and My Sweet Neocon (she said with an evil laugh!).

My recommend: BUY IT! What are you waiting for? And enjoy it.

Album Release Gotta Haves

2005-10-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

Some mixed bag, huh? Info from Billboard.

October 25, 2005

Album, Artist, Label

Mastercuts Presents Sly & The Family Stone Mastercuts
Return of the Funk Soul Sisters Various Artists BGP
Live Goode Chuck Berry Universe Italy

Don't Turn Your Back on Me/This Is Jackie DeShannon Jackie DeShannon Beat Goes On
Goodbye Cruel World James Darren Collectables
(Yeah, I know these two are far from classic rock, but they are still cool. And I have a very eclectic taste in music, so you never know what you'll find here.)

Ladder to the Stars: Garcia Plays Dylan Jerry Garcia Rhino / Wea
And I Know You Wanna Dance/Whisky a Go-Go Revisite Johnny Rivers Beat Goes On
Hearts of Stone Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes Beat Goes On

Wake Up...It's Tomorrow [2005] Strawberry Alarm Clock Collectors' Choice Music
Good Morning Starshine [2005] Strawberry Alarm Clock Collectors' Choice Music
World in a Seashell [2005] Strawberry Alarm Clock Collectors' Choice Music
(Who'd have thought the Strawberry Alarm Clock would ever reappear? Do you remember the Birdman of Alkatrash?)

These Ghoulish Things: Horror Hits for Halloween Various Artists Ace

Rockabilly Showdown Various Artists Golly Gee
Rockabilly Lives Various Artists Hightone
(If you like rockabilly, check out Viva Las Vegas!)

November 1, 2005

Christmas with James Brown James Brown Legacy
Live from Austin, TX John Hiatt New West
All That I Am Santana Arista

November 8, 2005

Complete Studio Recordings ABBA Universal International
Collection Alanis Morissette Maverick
Live: Sittin' in Again at Santa Barbara Bowl Loggins and Messina Rhino / Wea

Review: Cream at Royal Albert Hall

2005-10-13T04:30:00.000-04:00

CD: Cream Royal Albert Hall, May 2-3-5-6 05 Reprise Label
DVD: Cream Royal Albert Hall, May 2-3-5-6 05 Rhino Label

This is one concert I truly would have liked to have gone to. I chatted with someone who went to the concert. She said that the people there who were mostly those who where around when Cream played Royal Albert Hall in 1968. On the audience shots, I saw plenty of younger people, so it looks as if Cream does indeed transcend generations. I myself know a few younger people who are into Cream.

If you aren't familiar Cream you should go out, get this CD and DVD and see what all the fuss was about then, and why the fuss is starting out again. Cream was the first supergroup and years after they dissolved and went onto to different things, their music still stood out on the airwaves. Who hasn’t heard White Room, Badge, Sunshine of Your Love or Crossroads? Let me assure you that Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton are still in fine form. Heck, Ginger Baker is better than ever!

I have both the CD and the DVD. Let me tell you: if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to buy a home theater system, this is it. The DVD is absolutely fantastic. I just have a small 14 inch (I’m not an extremely materialistic person) but even on that the concert was just fantastic. It’s also got me thinking about buying a big screen TV and a home theater system. That’s going to have to wait, I think!

I’m going to concentrate mainly on the DVD, mostly because it’s a complete experience. It was filmed in HD, stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound, so you can just imagine how sweet the experience is. One great thing for you vinyl fans: it was released on high performance vinyl as well.

And now for the music. I decided to do a song by song commentary. No particular reason.

I’m so glad What a great start. It really gets you hyped up and ready for the rest of the concert. Drums and vocals are just fantastic.

Spoonful Originally performed by Willie Dixon around 1960. This song has the unusual quality of being both raw and polished at the same time. The solos are just long enough, but still there is a small, intimate club feel when listening to this song. It's like you are sitting in a small smoky club late at night nursing your Maker’s Mark while you kicked off your shoes and are leaning back in your chair, eyes closed, just groovin’ with the band. Great blues.

Outside woman blues What can say, other than that I listened to it three times in a row.

Pressed Rat and Warthog Oh how I love Ginger Baker’s voice. Ginger usually adds some outrageous facial expressions but this rendition was rather straightforward. It's still great. And I do hope Pressed Rat and Warthog reopens soon.

Sleepy Time Time I love this song. The bonus cut, I think is even better. It’s slow, rockin’ blues at it’s best.

N.S.U. This just rocks. That’s all there is to say.

Badge Everything comes together in this song. This is one of those songs that gets my car radio turned up full blast and annoys all the drivers in a five block radius.

Politician What a song. It’s like Jack Bruce seduces the audience.

Sweet wine Hypnotic, and really hits home near the end when the lyrics pick up.

Rollin’ and Tumblin’ I absolutely love that harmonica and drum combo. Vocals are great. Now this is blues tune to dance to!

Stormy Monday God, this is good. It done by T-Bone Walker originally, and I think he’d be very happy to hear what Cream has done with his song.

Deserted cities of the heart This song just makes me melt.

Born under a bad sign Originally by Booker T. Jones. Fantastic. That’s all there is to say. This is one song that got my stereo cranked up to the max.

We’re going wrong Jack is wonderful here. Listening to his voice and having Eric’s guitar so hot at the same time is just magic. Throughout it, you can hear Ginger’s drumming - just heaven. I replayed this at this at least five times, the last one with a great glass of cabernet. It’s a song to just put the earphones on, sit back in your favorite chair and get lost in the music.

Crossroads Classic, classic, classic. What more can I say? First done by Robert Johnson; if you don’t know who is, you should because he is probably the greatest American Bluesman EVER and he definitely has left his mark in both blues and rock. Of course that’s my personal opinion. Someone should make a movie of his all too short life. (Hey,Chet Helm's Family Dog Productions at the Fillmore.

I do have some minor complaints. I would have liked expanded liner notes myself. And I had to get a magnifying glass to read the insert, butI guess that’s more part of aging than anything else. You know, on the CD cover (less on the DVD) they were very creative with the colors. If you take a magnifying glass, and tilt the cover slightly, under the right light it looks three dimensional. Look for the blue and yellows to pop out the most. Groovy, man.

So, will Cream attract a new group of followers and will they tour again? There is concert in New York at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 25, and 26. If you can, go! You will have a great experience. It would be great if young music lovers “discover” Cream. It would be nice if they did some new material, but reunion concerts are fine too. It will be interesting to see what they decide to do after New York.

I know some people who think Cream was just a short term experiment for the three before they went on to their "real" careers. I think they are totally wrong. Even if Cream only lasted two short years their influence on rock was undeniable, and even today Cream's music stands on its own.

Stones' VA Concerted Interrupted - Jeesh...

2005-10-07T10:20:00.000-04:00

Va. Rolling Stones Concert Interrupted

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Oct 7, 2005 — The Rolling Stones' concert at the University of Virginia was interrupted Thursday night while several police officers and three bomb-sniffing dogs searched the stage.

And you just know this about some freak who's pissed off about My Sweet Neocom!

(Ohhhh...one of my favorite songs just came on The Rock, 105.9: Don't Fear the Reaper! Now all they need to do is play Sympathy and Bohemian Rhapsody and I'll be in heaven!)

ZZ Top Tour Dates for October, November

2005-10-01T01:42:00.000-04:00

OCTOBER

TUE 4 - ALPINE, CA - Viejas Concerts in the Park

WED 5 - FRESNO, CA - Big Fresno Fair

SAT 8 - GOLDENDALE, WA - Maryhill Winery

SUN 9 - JACKPOT, NV - Cactus Pete’s Resort and Casino

TUE 11 - OREM, UT - Valley State College

WED 12 - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - World Arena

FRI 14 - KANSAS CITY, MO - Ameristar Casino and Hotel

TUE 18 - HOLLYWOOD, FL - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

THU 20 - CLEARWATER, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

FRI 21 - FT. MYERS, FL - Centennial Park

SAT 22 - DAYTONA, FL - Biketoberfest

FRI 28/29 - CHARENTON, LA - Cypress Bayou Pavilion

NOVEMBER

THU 3 - TUCSON, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre

FRI 4 - PHOENIX, AZ - Arizona State Fair

MORE NOVEMBER DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED - Click here for more info.

More New Release Gotta Haves

2005-10-01T01:04:00.000-04:00

Coming out October 25th or thereabouts:

Mastercuts Presents Sly & The Family Stone Released by Mastercuts. Sly doesn't get enough airplay if you ask me.

Know, I know you might think "Johnny Rivers"? What's that chick on?" But I like like the guy and he puts on one heck of a concert. Check out And I Know You Wanna Dance/Whisky a Go-Go Revisited Kudos for Beat Goes On for releasing more of my favorite Secret Agent Man.

For you Marshall Crenshaw fans here's some great stuff: Field Day, Downtown, Mary Jean & 9 Others, courtesy of Wounded Bird.

Strawberry Alarm Clock? Really, I'm sane. But who can forget Incense and Peppermints? (I even remember that on the B-side was The Birdman of Alkatrash!) Courtesy of Collectors' Choice Music we have Wake Up...It's Tomorrow, Good Morning Starshine and World in a Seashell.

New Release Gotta Haves

2005-09-30T00:33:00.000-04:00

OCTOBER 4th

Old School Cruzin' with Earth, Wind & Fire. Yeah, I know some people don't put them with classic rock, but I love Earth, Wind & Fire, so I'm listing it! Same with Gimme Some Lovin' and Other Hits by the Blues Brothers. (Oh, Elwoood...)

Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon has been getting mixed reviews; I'll give my two cents after I listen to it.

Classic Interviews, Kiss. Do you think Terry Grossis on it?

DVD and CD sets of Cream's Royal Albert Hall: London May 2, 3, 5 & 6, 2005are being released by Rhino. (I am counting the minutes...) Just as cool, 1968 Cream's farewell concert is also being released.

Pink Floyd's The Wall 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Double DVD and Book Set is coming out at the same time as the Cream's reunion sets. That's gonna lighten a few wallets!

OCTOBER 11th

If you like the Grateful Dead, you'll love this: Ladder To The Stars: Garcia Plays Dylan. It includes cuts from the Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, and Legion Of Mary.

Madacy is putting an series called Rock Breakout Years. It's not all classic rock obviously, but talk about nostalgia! It begins in 1960 with Connie Frances and ends in 1989 with Michael Bolton. (I cannot believe I typed Michael Bolton. Damn - I did it again!)

1960 Connie Francis
1961 Roy Orbison
1962 Rick Nelson
1963 The Beach Boys
1967 The Grass Roots
1968 Gary Puckett & Union Gap
1969 Blood Sweat and Tears
1969 Tommy James and the Shondells
1971 Tod Stewart
1973 Steve Miller
1974 Bachman-Turner Overdrive's
1976 Bob Seger
1977 Boz Scaggs
1978 Eddie Money
1979 Cheap Trick
1980 Björn Fogelberg
1981 REO Speedwagon
1982 J. Geils Band
1982 Toto
1983 Culture Club
1983 Men at Work
1984 Cyndi Lauper
1985 Glenn Frey
1985 Loverboy
1987 Whitesnake
1988 Great White
1989 Michael Bolton

OCTOBER 24th

Concert for Bangladesh (can it really have been 34 years ago?) at Madison Square Garden will be released for on DVD on the 24th. The sound has been remasters and there's new footage so it should be really great. I really miss George Harrison.

Aerosmith's Rockin' The Joint! OK, technically they already did in Las Vegas in 2002, but the CD/DVD is now being released on the 24th. To promote the release, Aerosmith is touring with Lenny Kravitz starting October 30. To get all the tour dates check the Aerosmith site here, or the Lenny Kravitz site here.

Queen & Paul Rodgers Tour Dates

2005-09-30T00:27:00.000-04:00

Oh, how I wish I could make it to the Meadowlands. I picked a bad time to move to Nashville. If you are in Japan, how I so envy you - six shows! I hope next year they tour again. I will move Heaven and Earth to get there.

If you go, please drop me line and let me know!

ARUBA
October 8 (Sat) – Aruba, 2005 Aruba Music Festival

UNITED STATES
October 16 (Sun) - East Rutherford, NJ, Continental Airlines Arena (The Meadowlands)

October 22 (Sat) - Hollywood, CA, Hollywood Bowl

JAPAN
October 26 (Wed) - Tokyo, Saitama Super Arena
October 27 (Thurs) - Tokyo, Saitama Super Arena

October 29 (Sat) - Yokohama,Yokohama Arena
October 30 (Sun) - Yokohama,Yokohama Arena

November 1 (Tues) - Nagoya, The Dome

November 3 (Thurs) - Fukuoka, The Dome

Ahoy, Mateys! It's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

2005-09-19T19:05:00.000-04:00

Arrrr...git yer parrot and put on yer pirate hat! It's the second annual TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!

Are you a pirate? I am!

You Are A Pirate!

What Type Of Swashbuckler Are You?
brought to you by Maddog Varuka & Dawg Brown

Your pirate name is Captain Aetheflaed

What is YOUR pirate name?

Arrrr - pass the rum, matey!

Classic Rock Links

2005-09-19T18:32:00.000-04:00

I'm compiling a list of links to classic rock stations. I've travelled around some and I know what it's like to try to hunt down a good station when you are on the interstate or a backroad in the middle of nowhere.

My list only includes stations in the US, but I'd like to add classic rock stations from around the world. Got a favorite? Send it to me and tell me a bit about yourself!

The list will be up probably tomorrow afternoon. I'm working out all the html bugs and checking links.

Classic Rock (and Activism!) all the time

2005-09-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

I decided that CWL should be dedicated to classic as well as some activism. I came up this great realization after reading the article about Bono in yesterday's New York Times magazine.

I didn't realize I had as many links to classic rock sites, groups, etc. until I started to organize my links. What a mess!

Check "My Other Blogs" for links to my other blogs.

Toodles!

Lair of the Blue Cat

2005-09-14T17:56:00.000-04:00

From now on I'm moving political rants to Lair of the Blue Cat. CWOL will concentrate on the unlikely mix of music and being an Episcopalian. However, the links and what entries I've made so fair will stay here.

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Dies

2005-09-11T06:25:00.000-04:00

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, died Saturday at age of 81. He had suffered from lung cancer and heart disease. His career spanned 50 years. He was a singer and guitarist who played blues, country, jazz and Cajun music

Brown died at his brother's home in Orange, Texas, where he had go to escape hurricane Katrina. Brown's home in Slidell, La., was completely destroyed by the hurricane.

His first hits were "Okie Dokie Stomp" and "Ain't That Dandy," but Brown disliked being labeled a bluesman. In his later career he played a half-dozen instruments and performed jazz, country, Texas blues, zydeco and Cajun music.

Brown had more than 30 recordings and won a Grammy award in 1982 for Alright Again. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 1986 for Long Way Home.

To learn more about Gate, click here.

Tomorrow's a busy day

2005-09-09T20:02:00.000-04:00

I have an Altar Guild meeting, my first, tomorrow. (If you haven't guessed I'm Episcopalian.) There's a long family history of us gals being members at least as far back as my 6th greatgrandmother Sally Tracy Hayden. It might go further back, maybe not.

Anyway the "Altar Fairies" as my Aunt Dorothy used to call them were the ones that came in on Saturdays, cleaned the church, set up the alter, made sure the linen were clean and pressed. That bit's a lot easier with todays materials.

I also want to lean how to do flower. I like altars with flowers, but my talents are, um, amateurish at best. Fortunately a kind soul has offered to teach me. I'm the big fluffy English cottage flower style person, not the Ikebana type. Although Ikebana has it's place. And I do like orchids as well.

I've always wondered why we can't put leis around each others neck during the Peace? Or toss rose petals at each other.

You'll have to forgive me...I watched Alice's Restaurant yesterday.

I have a new toy, and I'm taking a music break!

2005-09-09T19:50:00.000-04:00

My old player gave up the ghost long ago. I think it was RCA and free. But today I treated myself to a JVC FSG5. I think I paid a fair price for it, It's not one of huge boom box systems, but instead sits nicely on the top of my oh so chic Sterilite 2 Drawer Cart. Don't laugh - you can see what's in them and when you move you just have to tape them shut.

Anyway it's got AM/FM, sound turbo (and it makes a difference when listening to the Doors!) It also hold 5 CDs and has a USB audio connection. It'll be a week or two until I play with that.

So far tonight, this is my playlist: The Doors Greatest Hits; Alanis Morrisette: Bitter Little Pill (the original); Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits; The Very Best of the Everly Brothers and The Very Best of Len Barry. Tomorrow I'm digging out all my blues, cajun, zydeco and making some coffee with chicory.

I don't have a gluten free recipe for beignets, or I'd make them. Hmm...I should check Bette Hagman's books. Maybe she'll have a recipe.

Playing right now is: Love Me Two Times.

I'm a Pure Nerd! (I knew it!)

2005-09-06T15:30:00.000-04:00

Pure Nerd

91 % Nerd, 43% Geek, 30% Dork

For The Record:A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd. The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful. Congratulations!

Take the test here.

Today's Synthesis Study, Matthew 18:15-20

2005-09-05T01:52:00.000-04:00

We had an interesting discussion during adult bible study, after the 8am Rite I service. I like Rite I better because it's easy to get into a meditative flow without the musical interruptions.

Anyway, Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

We easily agreed that we have a problem with someone, it's best to go to them first and try to work it out. Then if that doesn't succeed, have a mediator. But we all stopped short of banishment, probably because we are ever hopeful that a compromise can eventually be reached. And sometimes time itself can be a good healer because it gives us the chance to look at things from a fresh perspective once the initial slight occurs.

What we actually talked about the most the phrase I highlighted. What exactly does it mean? "Whatever you bin on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Especially since the word bind can have two different meanings. You can be negatively bound (say an addiction) or positively bound (a loving relationship). And when something is loosed, that can be negative (letting loose evil of any form) or positive (loosing the yoke of a bad habit, anger and the like).

We all in agreement on "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Well, goodnight everybody and have a blessed week! And please pray for all those affected by Katrina. We all have a long road ahead of us.

Sweet, sweet music!

2005-09-05T01:49:00.000-04:00

I had to take a break from all the Katrina, SCOTUS and Iraq news do a mental tune up. This afternoons tune-up consisted of Moody Blues, Steven Halpern, Prairie Home Companion (J'adore Guy Noir!). And I had some catsup. I needed some of those natural mellowing agents!

Tomorrow I'm planning on a Queenfest, supplemented with some Buddy Guy, Blind Boys of Alabama, Garrison' Keillor's "Songs of the Cat" and Clifton Chenier! I'm going to take my mini-boom box over to the park with a sketchpad and just chill out. Maybe I'll take the camera too and post some pictures.

Love Will Find a Way!

2005-09-04T12:21:00.000-04:00

Joe and Trenise were supposed to get married last Sunday, but Katrina interrupted their plans. Word got around the Coliseum, and everything from wedding clothes, cakes, food and drink were donated from nearby businesses. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Kirsh!

Weekend Edition - Sunday , September 4, 2005 Â· One ray of hope amid painful days on the Gulf Coast: Two evacuees from the hurricane, Joe Kirsh and Trenise Williams, were married while waiting with 1,000 others gathered at the Mississippi Coliseum. Their planned New Orleans wedding was interrupted by Katrina.

Photo by David Schaper, NPR
Click here to go to the NPR site to read more.

Finally, Hope has Arrived in Nola!

2005-09-03T19:11:00.000-04:00

Evacuations are going full speed at last. Even Carnival Cruise Lines is pitching in, sending three of their ships to help. I think people have figured out that finger pointing wasn't helping the stranded people. Once everyone is safe, then it's time to figure out what went wrong.

President Bush has promised 17,000 more troops will be deployed over the next 72 hours.
I'm glad that he has acknowleged that the response to Hurricane Katrina's victims has been unacceptable. How we treat Katrina refugees is going to go a long way in showing people what we are really like as a nation.

Red Cross PREVENTED From Helping in New Orleans

2005-09-02T23:22:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read that right! And it is unbelievable. A big thanks to SteveRose who posted this find at Daily Kos. Are we ready for another 9/11? Not if Hurricane Katrina is a test, because our government agencies have failed miserably.

Disaster FAQs

Hurricane
Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

Acess (sic) to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request---that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

Click here to see what the Red Cross has to say. While you're at it, write the media, your elected officials, and just generally raise hell. THIS IS WRONG. The Red Cross should given top priority considering people are DYING.

Does Homeland (In)Security really believe that if people were given a few bottles of water and MRSs, that they would want to stay in an area with water contaminated with chemicals, feces, decomposing corpses, and no food? At the very least, the Red Cross should be able to go in with the rescuers to administer basic first aid, and to give out water and a meal. Even if it's bag of chips.

We need some good clear, leadership on this issue, and it sure as hell doesn't seem to be coming from Bush.

Katrina

2005-09-02T12:42:00.000-04:00

Being a weather junkie, I was glued to the television, radio, the Weather Channel, the NYT - anyplace I could get a fix.

Now it's Friday and I need to get some sleep. I cannot even begin to feel the pain of the people still trapped. This is a disaster of epic proportions, and the polititians (with except few) are twiddling their thumbs while people die. Who's the designated Rudy Guiliani for this event? It feels like no one is in charge.

In listening to Bush's televised address yesterday, it did not strike me as being his best moment. What did stick with me (maybe I was addled by lack of sleep) was that he mentioned oil and gas much more than he mentioned the human cost. If any of you out there were keeping count, let me know. I'll post them here. Or over at my weather blog.

In the mean time, I'm off to take and ativan (lots of anxiety) and a hydrocodone (f-ed up back) and sleep. I'll says some prayers first because I'm grateful I'm alive and well and warm, and so is all my family.

On an unusual note, those of you who know me know I have a brother names George who is a walking one man destruction crew. Last week he fell off a three story building, landed on a truck and

bruised his bum.

Lucky bastard, and he knows it!

City on the Edge of Crawford, Part 2

2005-08-27T17:42:00.000-04:00

Check out the graphic on Perrspectives.com. It would seem that the portal's out of adjustment because some comments almost seem to be contradictory the further one travels forward in time. The war seems to be occuring backwards! Or perhaps we are seeing a bizarre parallel universe infringing on our own.

Hmm. Something's not quite right here.

City on the Edge of Crawford

2005-08-26T18:26:00.000-04:00

Eureka! I've figured out why BushCo hates what Cindy Sheehan is trying to do and they are actually trying to save the future!

Somehow, the Republicans have stumbled upon a time portal and discovered that if Cindy Sheehan is not stopped, the peace movement she began will continue to grow until the Afghan and Iraqi wars end, Democrats are elected in droves and control The Whole Enchilada, the deficit is once more vanquished, and Americans are happy with full health care, the world's best public education system, clean air and water, great jobs and nobody cares about sexual orientation, skin color, gender, religious affiliation or what political party one belongs to. The nation's motto becomes "We're all in this together" and nobody has to figure out if a politician is telling the truth, because, of course, they really want to tell the truth and are there to work in the best interest of everybody (even illegal immigrants) in the US.

Realizing the horrendous consequences of this reality, double super secret agents descend to make sure the future is safe for corporations, five week presidential vacations and conservatives everywhere.

Base Closings

2005-08-25T13:21:00.000-04:00

I found this on the Christian Science Monitor today. It's an interesting read, and naturally I have my own opinion.

Base closings could signal disconnect from society for the military

But New England's experience is in many ways a barometer for the nation, as the military contracts into fewer and larger installations, analysts suggest. The concern is not so much one of security, but of society.

Some wonder whether the military, by leaving so many places where it has long been a part of the community, is becoming too remote from the very people it is charged to protect, This changes the calculus on everything from defense budgets to recruiting and retention.

"As the military goes for fewer bases, there is an increasing disconnect between the military and the community," says Jeremiah Gertler of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

I agree there is a disconnect between the military and the community. The Draft went a long way in fostering a very personal connection. As we no longer have a draft and rely on volunteers that connection has faded. For a young person, going into the military is a way to get their education paid for and health benefits he or she might not have if they are in a low income category or a minority. (More likely both.) It certainly isn't for the salary, which is incredibly low.

However, base closings seem (at least to me) that there is a serious disconnect between the government and the military. This whole base closing scheme strikes me as a corporate-style strategy to save a few buck at the expense of the workers (military and civilian) and national security. I could even make an entirely specious argument that aggressively recruiting minorities is the equivalent of foreign outsourcing because they will work for the lower wages. Think about it: how many recruiting offices do you see in upscale areas? Yes, they are out there, but the majority may be in less affluent areas. No, I don't have proof. Like I said, it's a specious argument. (Although if anyone does have the figures, I'd like to take a look at them. It's the geographer in me.)

What I'd like to see is how the government is planning on utilizing the military given the proposed base closings. I'd like to see if they've even thought about it! I should hope that our security isn't in the hands of bean counters.

Frantaglais blah-blah...

2005-08-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

Frantaglais blah-blah...

I love to read. I love to read about people who love to read. And there are some great photos here, too.

I should really review my French language skills. I had two years in high school, and have forgot most of it. That shall be my next project, after I finish reviewing my Spanish. I had two years in college and have forgot most of it.

Hmm...seems to be a recurring theme here.

Can't Get No Satisfaction This Year Either

2005-08-24T16:59:00.000-04:00

Damn. Absolutely none of the dates for the A Bigger Bang tour match up with my schedule. I haven't seen the Rolling Stones since 1981. Tatoo You. Yup, it's been awhile. What makes it more depressing is one of my friends has a son who is now married and a new father. And he was born 1982. When you look at it that way, you just feel old.

But heck, if the Stones can still keep on rockin and touring who am to complain? As my grandmother used to say about birthdays "you are only one day older than you were yesterday". I still feel like I'm in my twenties, but I wouldn't return to that age again for any reason. OK, well maybe to remember life without regular Clairol usage to cover the evidence, but still.

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I'm currently listening to Mother's Little Helper by the Rolling Stones (Aftermath, 1966)

Pat Robertson Fatwa - Say What?

2005-08-24T10:51:00.000-04:00

Pat Robertson occasionally takes the odd turn down Lunatic Lane and on his most recent visit he advocated assassinating Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuala. If that doesn't say wingnut, I don't know what does. Crooks and Liars does a good job pointing out that one group that has been silent are right-wingers who normally squawk fiercely whenever anyone says anything they disagree with.

Why the Silence on the right-wing sphere over Robertson?
It's so quiet you can hear a pin drop.
Power Line, Michelle Malkin, (she's on vacation so her
subs) Hugh Hewitt, Roger L. Simon, and many more are all
silent on Pat Robertson's assassination statements so far. Anytime someone from
the left criticizes the war or the President we're deemed traitors, supporting
the terrorists while lowering the moral of our troops or just plain
anti-military, but having one of the biggest Christian leaders (who has the
President's ear) gleefully asking for a contract killing of President Hugo
Chavez that could send out a message to the Middle East that we are a nation of
religious zealot hit-men, dispatching our enemies with secret covert operations
(ala Alias) for our own political gain is ignored.

To read the full post click here.

So, Pat, I'm curious: if it's OK by your god to take out Chavez, is it OK for their god to take out ours?

Time Flies

2005-08-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

Between feeling like I'm living in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (that's the twirling teacups at Disney) and packing, only to unpack in the same space, it's been a while since I've had time to update this. Life is just downstrange at times. But now, I'm back.

b r a i n n o t f u n c t i o n i n g

2005-08-04T18:10:00.000-04:00

My latest bout of Meniere's shows only the eencie-weenciest signs of abating. The humidity is picking up and that means things will pretty much come to a standstill again. It's incredibly boring. Reading is darn well impossible because the words jump all over the place; knitting has become a challenge; television is boring.

Well, it's not all boring. There are some things I do watch: General Hospital, Ellen, CSI (any city), and occasionally I'll turn to C-Span when I need a good laugh. Weekends are my favorite PBS viewing. Doctor Who reruns pop up, Mystery, the Red Green Show. You know what I really miss on PBS? Reruns of the Ernie Kovacs Show. Now he was a genius!

I'm desparately trying to stay upright enough to work on my little blog here, but it's a challenge, and I'm so desperately behind on the news.

And I'm trying to pack for a move back to Utah. I can hardly wait to get back there - I love dry heat and desert. And pie. Love that pie, especially from Village Inn. I've never understood my fascination with the desert. Maybe all those John Wayne movies when I was kid, but if there is one place on earth that I had to choose to to live in, it's Utah. It has everything. Not a lot of Episcopalians, though, at least not in the southeast corner.

Once Hank and I get out there, I'll actually put some order into chaos here and have a coherent blog. Maybe some pictures. More recipes. Music. News.

We'll see.

I'm upright!

2005-08-01T17:57:00.000-04:00

I hate Meniere's disease. I don't have attacks very often but this one sent me to the ER. It was nasty. I still have tinnitus, especially in my right ear. Grrrrr.

I have made no soup lately. Actually, I'm grateful for instant mashed potatoes and canned peas at this point! Tonight I will actually be making some grilled chicken, the first real cooking, other than scrambled eggs, that I've done since the floor jumped up and hit me in the face.

I've fallen behind in news junkie reading. I know there's been things happening, but Antivert makes you not care. I did read that there's a new planet, or at least something going on out there in our solar system. I'm all for making whatever it is a planet: ten is a nice round number. I also heard on NPR that Doonesbury was pulled from a few papers for referring to Karl Rove by his nickname, Turd Blossom. John Roberts is only number five in terms of judicial hunkiness, but I want to find the site and find out who numbers one through four are. And finally, John Bolton is being sent to the UN via recess appointment. Jeesh. Makes me wish I had something stronger than Antivert.

Right now I am listening to: The Grand Illusion by Styx (The Grand Illusion, 1977)

Back Soon!

2005-07-29T16:19:00.000-04:00

I have been sidelines by an acute attack of Meniere's disease. That is a nasty inner ear problem that makes you feels like you've been chugging beer and slugging down shots of whiskey while you are being twirled around in NASA's vomit comet and there's a balloon in your ear that's going to explode any minute. It ain't fun folks. But it's almost over. See you next week.

Benny's Journey Moved

2005-07-17T12:41:00.000-04:00

I have moved my grandfather's stories to http://bennysjourney.blogspot.com/. I thought it would be better that way - if you are reading it you don't have to sort through all the soup!