Food for thought
"By burning coal and gas and oil in such enormous amounts, we have raised the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere far above what it has ever been during event eh very long period one can study with ice cores. As such, a brand-new experiement is taking place, one that is out of control." - Bill McKibben
Mmmm...yummy, more food for thought
"If we do not apply it to our own situation and make the myth a reality in our own lives, it will remain as incomprehensible and remote as the rules of a board game, which often seem confusing and boring until we start to play." - Karen Armstrong from her book "A short history of myth."
Friday, December 30, 2005
Rock and Roll
Ah, rock and roll. I love it. Who doesn't? Last week I spent a Sunday at the Double Door Inn basking in the rockin' glory of the Federal Bureau of Rock and Roll. Kind of a mouthful. Those in the know refer to them as the FBRNR. They even have a theme song.
Once year around Christmas time this band reforms and plays a show at the Double Door. This year was especially good. So was last year and the year before and the year before that. You get these five guys on a stage together and it's going to be good.
The following picture is of Lenny Federal during the recent show. The guitar neck in the frame belongs to Bill Walpole. He plays slide guitar.
This next picture is of Bill Walpole. That's his lovely wife, Marysia in the foreground.
Ah, rock and roll. I love it. Who doesn't? Last week I spent a Sunday at the Double Door Inn basking in the rockin' glory of the Federal Bureau of Rock and Roll. Kind of a mouthful. Those in the know refer to them as the FBRNR. They even have a theme song.
Once year around Christmas time this band reforms and plays a show at the Double Door. This year was especially good. So was last year and the year before and the year before that. You get these five guys on a stage together and it's going to be good.
The following picture is of Lenny Federal during the recent show. The guitar neck in the frame belongs to Bill Walpole. He plays slide guitar.
This next picture is of Bill Walpole. That's his lovely wife, Marysia in the foreground.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Predictions
What would a new year be without predictions? Here is a list of things that will happen in 2006. All of these predeictions are guaranteed so go ahead and bet as much money as you can on these prescient proclamations.
1) The Simpsons will continue only making me smile. Laughs and hysterics are in the past.
2) 42short will return and will use his shift key just to shake things up.
3) Munich will win an Oscar for best picture.
4) I will win my fantasy football league next year.
5) Mark Martin will not complete the 2006 season with Roush Racing.
6) I will go to Darlington again.
7) I will continue to wear boxer briefs.
8) Jesus will not return although the virgin Mary will still continue to appear in mold, fading paint and rock formations.
9) John Paul II will be sainted and then eaten.
10) Bob Dylan will continue touring.
11) Wendell will go see Lenny Federal at the Comet Grill at least 25 times.
12) I will pinch your bottom if you ask.
13) Flying saucers will continue to appear only before the stupid.
14) I will read thirty books (more of a resolution).
15) George Bush will resign in disgrace and fucking Cheney will go with him.
What would a new year be without predictions? Here is a list of things that will happen in 2006. All of these predeictions are guaranteed so go ahead and bet as much money as you can on these prescient proclamations.
1) The Simpsons will continue only making me smile. Laughs and hysterics are in the past.
2) 42short will return and will use his shift key just to shake things up.
3) Munich will win an Oscar for best picture.
4) I will win my fantasy football league next year.
5) Mark Martin will not complete the 2006 season with Roush Racing.
6) I will go to Darlington again.
7) I will continue to wear boxer briefs.
8) Jesus will not return although the virgin Mary will still continue to appear in mold, fading paint and rock formations.
9) John Paul II will be sainted and then eaten.
10) Bob Dylan will continue touring.
11) Wendell will go see Lenny Federal at the Comet Grill at least 25 times.
12) I will pinch your bottom if you ask.
13) Flying saucers will continue to appear only before the stupid.
14) I will read thirty books (more of a resolution).
15) George Bush will resign in disgrace and fucking Cheney will go with him.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Music o' the year
Is it that time yet? Why not. Here is a list of stuff I've bought and or acquired this year that stuck out.
Waco Brothers - Freedom and Weep. Typical Waco Brothers album. Great lyrics and sterling musicianship. Someone once said they were capable of songwriting on a varsity level.
White Stripes - Get Behind me Satan. I didn't know how I felt about this album at first. I guess it is a little uneven at times but like Paul McCartney said about the White Album: hey, it's the White Stripes. It's great.
Constantines - Tournament of Hearts. Like the White Stripes album, probably not what I expected. A mellow album that is still full of energy. They are masters of the slow burn.
Otis Taylor - Below the Fold. I just bought this the other day. Another masterful trance blues record by a guy who considers himself a songwriter, not a bluesman. I have got to see this guy live.
Robert Plant - The Mighty Rearranger. I love this album. I thought Dreamland was good but this album blows it away. I've probably played this one in my car more than any other album this year.
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods. A big meaty album. I like it because it rocks.
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators. A new artist from the guys at Fat Possum. Awesome bloozy rock and roll band fronted by a tough-ass yet still vulnerable chick.
Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the back yard. I played this one night while reading and caught myself humming along. Paul can still write a catchy tune. The bastard.
Rolling Stones - A bigger bang. First Stones album since Some Girls worthy of more than two listens. I played "Back of my hand" six times in a row the first time I heard it.
Honorable Mention:
Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds. Worth it just for the Ballad of Jesse Jane.
Is it that time yet? Why not. Here is a list of stuff I've bought and or acquired this year that stuck out.
Waco Brothers - Freedom and Weep. Typical Waco Brothers album. Great lyrics and sterling musicianship. Someone once said they were capable of songwriting on a varsity level.
White Stripes - Get Behind me Satan. I didn't know how I felt about this album at first. I guess it is a little uneven at times but like Paul McCartney said about the White Album: hey, it's the White Stripes. It's great.
Constantines - Tournament of Hearts. Like the White Stripes album, probably not what I expected. A mellow album that is still full of energy. They are masters of the slow burn.
Otis Taylor - Below the Fold. I just bought this the other day. Another masterful trance blues record by a guy who considers himself a songwriter, not a bluesman. I have got to see this guy live.
Robert Plant - The Mighty Rearranger. I love this album. I thought Dreamland was good but this album blows it away. I've probably played this one in my car more than any other album this year.
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods. A big meaty album. I like it because it rocks.
Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators. A new artist from the guys at Fat Possum. Awesome bloozy rock and roll band fronted by a tough-ass yet still vulnerable chick.
Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the back yard. I played this one night while reading and caught myself humming along. Paul can still write a catchy tune. The bastard.
Rolling Stones - A bigger bang. First Stones album since Some Girls worthy of more than two listens. I played "Back of my hand" six times in a row the first time I heard it.
Honorable Mention:
Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds. Worth it just for the Ballad of Jesse Jane.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
President Dunderhead
This whole domestic spying thing has got me confused. I've gotten it from two different sources that the court Bush is bypassing has OK'ed thousands of requests since it was created back in 1978. It's denied less than ten. In fact you can spy on some poor bastard and then go to the court and ask them if it was OK to do that. This allows you to do it quickly which means Bush is lying about his reason for bypassing the court which is supposedly to speed up the process.
My question is what exactly are these guys doing makes them unwilling to take their requests to a court that has been rubber stamping government requests for over 25 years? I can only assume it's something a court that has a 5000:1 ratio of approval to denial would disapprove of. Knowing how much this administration sucks it's pretty frightening to consider how illegal and foolish this behavior will turn out to be when it's eventually revealed.
As always, may god continue to bless George Bush.
This whole domestic spying thing has got me confused. I've gotten it from two different sources that the court Bush is bypassing has OK'ed thousands of requests since it was created back in 1978. It's denied less than ten. In fact you can spy on some poor bastard and then go to the court and ask them if it was OK to do that. This allows you to do it quickly which means Bush is lying about his reason for bypassing the court which is supposedly to speed up the process.
My question is what exactly are these guys doing makes them unwilling to take their requests to a court that has been rubber stamping government requests for over 25 years? I can only assume it's something a court that has a 5000:1 ratio of approval to denial would disapprove of. Knowing how much this administration sucks it's pretty frightening to consider how illegal and foolish this behavior will turn out to be when it's eventually revealed.
As always, may god continue to bless George Bush.
Suuuuuuuuuper Cable
Even though Timewarner is hosing us with bundling charges we decided we could no longer live without the Daily Show and ESPN. I called a few days ago and arranged to have a cable guy come by and hook us up. It turns out TW was having a special where you get the loaded digital cable for a big discount for six months. Along with that they dropped five bucks off the charge for the cable modem. I know I've railed against TW and their shitty practice of bundling but I couldn't take it no more. Must...have...daily...show and, of course, Chris Berman.
I was watching Sunday night football on ESPN sometime last year when the broadcast took a break and Berman did a quick promo for his halftime highlight show. He did his usual thing which is just him being full of enthusiasm and humor. When the broadcast switched back to the game announcers one of them said, "Does anybody in the world have more fun doing his job than Boomer?" Amen. I got to watch Berman do his primetime footall highlight show last night and the guy is just so much fun to watch. Truly no one has more fun than him at broadcasting sports.
Trashing the one I live with
I don't know if my roommate will read this, it doesn't really matter. I just don't understand the guy. He spends no time at all in his room. If he reads, he's in the living room. Playing guitar? He's in the living room. Sleeping on weekends? He's in the living room. Napping after work? In the living room. Napping after the trip to the mall on Saturday? In the living room. Listening to music? In the living room. Just plain vegetating? In the living room. He's the only person I've ever met that doesn't treat his bedroom like a fortress of solitude. I don't get it. Your room should be a special place you can go to be alone. He's just a different breed of cat.
Even though Timewarner is hosing us with bundling charges we decided we could no longer live without the Daily Show and ESPN. I called a few days ago and arranged to have a cable guy come by and hook us up. It turns out TW was having a special where you get the loaded digital cable for a big discount for six months. Along with that they dropped five bucks off the charge for the cable modem. I know I've railed against TW and their shitty practice of bundling but I couldn't take it no more. Must...have...daily...show and, of course, Chris Berman.
I was watching Sunday night football on ESPN sometime last year when the broadcast took a break and Berman did a quick promo for his halftime highlight show. He did his usual thing which is just him being full of enthusiasm and humor. When the broadcast switched back to the game announcers one of them said, "Does anybody in the world have more fun doing his job than Boomer?" Amen. I got to watch Berman do his primetime footall highlight show last night and the guy is just so much fun to watch. Truly no one has more fun than him at broadcasting sports.
Trashing the one I live with
I don't know if my roommate will read this, it doesn't really matter. I just don't understand the guy. He spends no time at all in his room. If he reads, he's in the living room. Playing guitar? He's in the living room. Sleeping on weekends? He's in the living room. Napping after work? In the living room. Napping after the trip to the mall on Saturday? In the living room. Listening to music? In the living room. Just plain vegetating? In the living room. He's the only person I've ever met that doesn't treat his bedroom like a fortress of solitude. I don't get it. Your room should be a special place you can go to be alone. He's just a different breed of cat.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Xmas
A holiday thing that drives me crazy. My answers to the usual questions axed me during the holidays by those clueless: Yes, my family lives far away. No, I'm not going up there over the holidays. Sure, I miss them. Yes, it's been a while since I've been up there. Yes, I probably should go see them pretty soon. Yes, I do talk to them on occasion. Yes, I miss them. Yes, they send me cards. On and on and on and on. It's weird, people find out your family lives 1000 miles away and they think they have free license to grill you into a mild depression.
A holiday thing that drives me crazy. My answers to the usual questions axed me during the holidays by those clueless: Yes, my family lives far away. No, I'm not going up there over the holidays. Sure, I miss them. Yes, it's been a while since I've been up there. Yes, I probably should go see them pretty soon. Yes, I do talk to them on occasion. Yes, I miss them. Yes, they send me cards. On and on and on and on. It's weird, people find out your family lives 1000 miles away and they think they have free license to grill you into a mild depression.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Yahoo Serious
President Bush today: "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," Mr. Bush said forcefully from behind a lectern in the Roosevelt Room, next to the Oval Office. The White House invited cameras in, guaranteeing television coverage.
He said the Senate's action "endangers the lives of our citizens," and added that "the terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks," a reference to the approaching deadline of Dec. 31, when critical provisions of the current law will end. His statement came just a day before he is scheduled to make a rare Oval Office address to the nation, at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, celebrating the Iraqi elections and describing what his press secretary on Saturday called the "path forward."
Is here kidding, or what? Does he actually think anyone still believes he is capable of doing anything worthwhile? Give it up, monkey boy, you are an incompetent lame duck. Oh, and you spy on Americans. I feel safer.
President Bush today: "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," Mr. Bush said forcefully from behind a lectern in the Roosevelt Room, next to the Oval Office. The White House invited cameras in, guaranteeing television coverage.
He said the Senate's action "endangers the lives of our citizens," and added that "the terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks," a reference to the approaching deadline of Dec. 31, when critical provisions of the current law will end. His statement came just a day before he is scheduled to make a rare Oval Office address to the nation, at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, celebrating the Iraqi elections and describing what his press secretary on Saturday called the "path forward."
Is here kidding, or what? Does he actually think anyone still believes he is capable of doing anything worthwhile? Give it up, monkey boy, you are an incompetent lame duck. Oh, and you spy on Americans. I feel safer.
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