Weirdness: April 2006

On Vacation

We're out of here for ten days - will be visiting Arizona. Happy Earth Day; Happy Arbor Day and Happy Pretzel Day! And big Happy Birthdays to Rondo Hatton, Lesley Gore, Carolyn Jones, and Stevie Nicks!

Happy Birthday Iggy!

http://www.iggypop.com/

http://home.online.no/~egon/iggy.htm

interesting WWII footnote on nazi weather station in Canada (!)

http://www.uboat.net/ops/weather_stations.htm

Eddie & The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do video

Two versions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRsILF27bGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSd2rJlfP4

Sigh, this brings back wonderful memories. For an all too brief time in Britain there was a musical movement called Pub Rock. It was soon eclipsed and virtually wiped out by Punk. But just before then, for perhaps less than a year, Pub Rock got faster and more intense. You could hear great tunes from groups that are now long-forgotten, like the Radiators From Outer Space and the Count Bishops. But, in my opinion, the best of these proto-punks were Eddie & The Hot Rods. These weren't art students slumming - they were real British working class youth, right on the edge of unemployment and the dole. Their first two albums were some of the best of '77 - Teenage Depression and Life On The Line are classics that I still play today. They then got swamped by Punk Rock, put out two forgettable Lp's and that was that. Heaven knows what happened to them, (I understand some of the members got back together and occasionally tour).

The Stranglers perform Walk On By

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-aUBdotUPc

It's a lipsynch, but still cool. I always loved this band. There were the inevitable comparisons to the Doors, but I think they were able to create their own path into the night. They were well named. This was music to be murdered by - whether from war, disease or any of the other Horsemen. And years before the X-Files, they were warning us of the Men In Black...

The Cramps perform Human Fly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BfjnBCCU5E

The Jesus of Cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nik8pzThvWU&search=nick%20lowe

Nick Lowe video with Dave Edmunds, Rockpile and Carlene Carter!

video of Tracey Ullman singing They Don't Know About Us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zaqk7eXs2Y

One of my fave videos. A brilliant comedienne, a great Kirsty MacCall song, and a charming ending.

interesting article on the Indian National Army of WWII

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7752_1676979,004100180006.htm

KISS weirdness

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-minikiss11apr11,0,597094.story

This is a great country - where you get TWO midget KISS tribute bands! Can the Chinese beat that? Or the Russians? Or the Japanese? Do the Moslems even have one regular sized KISS tribute band? Face it people, we are still the CORE!

listen to the new Bruce album now!

http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/cc-common/mfeatures/brucespringsteenSP/

clearly, I am getting older and more out of touch

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=11863324&src=eDialog/GetContent

I simply had no idea there was something called "teledildonics", (a word I will not try my utmost to work into my everyday conversation as much as possible). I'd love to be the marketing director of this stuff "Reach Out And Touch Someone", "Now Brian Wilson Isn't The Only One With Good Vibrations!", etc. This is going to be a real boon to hi-speed Internet access providers...

Beware the Spawn of Cthulhu!

http://www.wimp.com/octopus/

Happy Easter!

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/mott-the-hoople/96501.html

Happy Birthday Dave Edmunds!

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/DaveEdmunds1.html

One of rock'n'roll's finest. His work in Rockpile alone makes him essential.

Happy Birthday Uncle Tonoose!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Conreid

One of the most recognizable voices in pop culture.

some Rube Goldberg inspired contraptions

http://www.dumpalink.com/media/1144571767/Rube_Goldberg_Machines

Cute, but not quite up to the Master...

my vacation home

http://cgi.ebay.com/Titan-1-ICBM-Missile-Base-Located-in-Washington-State_W0QQitemZ4455060285QQcategoryZ1607QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Damien! It's All For You...

The new teaser for The Omen is up: http://www.theomenmovie.com/

Peeps Research!

http://peepresearch.org/

Psychotronic Film Rental

http://www.greencine.com/main

For those of you wanting more psychotronic stuff than Netflix offers, Linda and I've been having good luck with these guys.

article about the new Cthulhu film

http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=5946

Interesting footnote to British WWII history

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16939404&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=how-italian-cafe-owners-in-wales-could-have-been-shot-as-potential-nazi-collaborators-name_page.html

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16939404%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26page=2%26headline=wales%2din%2dhitler%2ds%2dfiring%2dline-name_page.html

Skulls Unlimited!

http://www.skullsunlimited.com/

(Thanks for the link, John!)

Happy Birthday Mighty Max!

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/maxweinberg/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weinberg

http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Max_Weinberg.html

Happy Birthday Rev. Al!

http://www.algreenmusic.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Green_(musician)

An amazing talent. Essential.

Would you believe it's his birthday?

http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/

Only 200 Days Till Halloween!

Robot Hazing ;)

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47207

Hanging's too good for 'em

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=754873

at the risk of sounding like an old fogey...I like this article on Rap

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=21243

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Virginia Renaissance Festival coming up

http://www.varf.org/index.html

Fly Jefferson Airplane - Get You There On Time...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aO0nN02CKHc

rubber band shooting

http://members.aol.com/morganbolt/

The Prunes That Came In From The Cold

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12271037/

(Thanks for the story, Ed!)

It Begins...

Bill Haley recorded Rock Around The Clock on this date in 1953...

I Love This T-Shirt!

http://www.cafepress.com/cynicalshop.52111817

Check out British public service films

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/

Very cool archives of British government films from '45 to the Present.

(Thanks for the link, Susan!)

Mr. Loaf

http://youtube.com/watch?v=v9x6aV5dK7U

One of the best video performances ever. I remember the first time I saw it. They used to play it before Rocky Horror at the old Key Theatre in Gtown back in '79. Amazing performance; and featuring the lovely Karla Devito, who I always thought was vastly under-rated as a singer and performer. Her solo album, Cool World, should've done better...

BRUUUUUUCE!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0PEFB06sUio

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KngiJUNdsu0

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Di-pLCBY6WE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z6jAYI4NSgw

Essential....

I know an easier way...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4897634.stm

You can drive from Baileys Crossroads to Falls Church and see more maggots than any conference can cook up...

Gone, but not forgotten..

Today is National 8-Track Tape Day.

Happy Birthday Richard Berry!

Creator of that rock'n'roll masterpiece - Louie Louie!

http://www.louielouie.net/03-richardberry.htm

The Cowsills sing with Johnny Cash!

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2006/04/the_cowsills_on.html

The Pistols perform Anarchy In The UK on TV!

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2006/04/anarchy_in_the_.html

One of my fave ballads!

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

http://www.lostinspacerobot.com/index.html

I gotta get one of these!!!

Signs that we are living in the End Times

http://www.lordsoftherhymes.com/

Hobbit rap....

HorrorFind con in Baltimore

http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/state/maryland/

Yog Radio!!!

http://www.yog-sothoth.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=60

Necronomicon?

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/08/D8GS2FNG1.html

Happy Birthday Tom Lehrer!

One of the giants of American comedy, an authentic curmudgeon. Essential.

http://www.casualhacker.net/tom.lehrer/

See Tom perform live!!! http://www.archive.org/details/lehrer

Cthulhu in Clay!

http://www.lovecraftiana.com/product_info.php?products_id=30

http://www.lovecraftiana.com/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=36

nice resource for those interested in the Pulps

http://thepulp.net/

Happy Birthday Big Sid!

http://www.who2.com/buddha.html

http://www.buddhanet.net/

The Beatles (sans Ringo) singing Can't Buy Me Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDKUDc9Mtbg&search=can%27t%20buy%20me%20love
Very cool mobbed version. I'm not sure, but it sounds like their singing live over the studio recording.
(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

Time-Travel Chiropractor!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040602079.html

Sheesh...

(Thanks for the link, Mike!)

Russian stealth technology using plasma

http://www.aeronautics.ru/plasma04.htm

Hmmmm

http://www.lasikathome.com/index.html

Strange, I keep thinking this is some sort of joke (a la The Onion, etc.), but there doesn't seem to be anything on the site that's all that funny or clever. Am I losing my capacity for satire here? Or is someone actually scamming?

Beware the Were-Rabbit!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4886272.stm

some interesting comics

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/index.php

Reminds me a little of Glenn Baxter...

The Doors on the Smothers Brothers Show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWb7PDsN1hk&search=smothers%20brothers

Phil Ochs videos!!!

There But For Fortune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTjRPugJ8CA&search=phil%20ochs

Changes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebvWM3E_Sjs&search=phil%20ochs

I Ain't Marchin' Anymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pgrKSwFJE&search=phil%20ochs

I'm Going To Say It Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_D5yTGzACc&search=phil%20ochs

Happy Birthday Ravi Shankar!

http://www.ravishankar.org/

Happy Birthday Mark Russell!

http://www.markrussell.net/

2006 Haunters Gathering!

http://www.hauntersgathering.com/

LouieFest 2006!

http://www.thefabulouswailers.com/whats_happening.htm

Swedish "neutrality"

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1910968,00.html

It's interesting that the article hints at Sweden's secret alliance without going into details - such as the fact that they not only sold iron ore to Germany, but set up convoys to fight the Russians who were trying to prevent it from reaching there. Our oh-so-moral Swedes also contributed thousands of men to the Wermacht & Waffen SS (Wiking & Nordland Divisions, if I remember correctly). Of course, as the war progressed and the allies grew stronger, Sweden, ever looking for the material high ground if not the moral, quietly switched sides and started making minor concessions to them. To hear the Swedes tell it, they were always these plucky Lapps, rescuing Jews and thwarting Hitler, the reality is a lot more wimpy. Not exactly a profile in courage.

New Math

http://www.infoverse.org/octomatics/octomatics.htm

(I believe Tom Lehrer came up with this about 45 years ago...)

nice site for links on the American Revolution

http://www.revwar.com/

Time Travel News

http://www.physorg.com/news63371210.html

Happy Birthday Sir Humphrey!

a/k/a Nigel Hawthorne, one of my fave actors in one of my fave series - Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister. He played Sir Humphrey, the penultimate political bureaucrat. I've seen each episode at least three times and still laugh out loud. Although it takes place in Britain, the show is a perfect view of how the Federal government works. Eash episode is a mini-lesson in politics and governing. Sir Humphrey's explanation on why Britain needs nuclear weapons, ((because of the French)), is one of the best geo-political lectures ever given.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001329/

http://www.yessirnigel.com/

http://www.yes-minister.com/

Happy Birthday Eric Burdon

http://www.ericburdon.com/

http://www.onlinetalent.com/EricBurdon_biography.html

One of my faves. I think only listening to the Beatles and the Stones was cooler than playing an Animals LP back in the mid Sixites. "It's My Life" and "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" are still two of my all-time favorite songs. So happy birthday to the overfed long-haired leaping gnome!

Happy Birthday Roger Corman

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000339/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Corman

Undipsuted master of the B-Movie.

RIP Buddy Blue

http://www.buddyblue.com/

The Beat Farmers were one of the best bands - ever.

Finally! A Martial Art worthy of my attention...

http://www.detonationfilms.com/Kabumei01.html

;)

egg packing

http://www.boredatwork.net/funny-video/egg-packing-prank/

Kinky Election news!

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/index.html

mp3 of Boyce and Hart demo of the Monkees Theme!

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2006/04/boyce_hart_monk.html

An under-rated songwriting team. I always liked their recording of I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight.

No WBig Deal

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301979.html

As I've said earlier, radio sucks, and caring about it is a waste of time. "Big100" had a playlist that was so short that they couldn't make it through the day without repeats. The 100 or so tunes they played may have been fine, in and of themselves, but how many times a week do you need to hear Fontella Bass sing "Rescue Me"? The DJ's were boring and knew less about rock and soul than my mother. There was no information, no background, and nothing obscure or exotic. Aural wallpaper for baby boomers.
The only interesting thing about the change will be the absurdity of having two stations that now play nothing but Freebird and Stairway To Heaven. Meanwhile, I'm gonna listen to an old MC5 record...

Rolling Stones sing for Rice Krispies!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-cZHviVId0

(Thanks for the link, Phil!)

American Scary

http://www.americanscary.com/

An upcoming film documenting TV horror hosts. I love this stuff!

Happy Birthday Washington Irving!

http://www.online-literature.com/irving/

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/wirving.htm

http://www.hyland.org/sleepyhollow/

The Beach Boys Live In Hawaii (mp3's)

(these take a while to download)
Heroes & Villains, God Only Knows, & Good Vibrations: http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2006/04/beach_boys_live.html

supercomputer news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4866258.stm

The Moon Catapult!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4870556.stm

Beatles Jr. "Reunion"

(Thanks for the article, Pete!)

Beatles siblings to launch 'Here Comes The Sons' tour
(4/1/06)
While a Beatles reunion concert is sadly out of the question, Beatle fans may just get the next best thing: Julian & Sean Lennon, James McCartney, Dhani Harrison, and Zak & Jason Starkey are getting together for a series of concerts this summer.
Calling their outing the 'Here Comes The Sons' 2006 Tour, the surprising Beatles siblings "reunion" came about when Julian Lennon visited Friar Park, the home of the late George Harrison, at the request of Dhani Harrison and his mother Olivia, Harrison's widow. Olivia had come across some George Harrison demos which George had intended to send to John Lennon in the months prior to Lennon's tragic death. Harrison had recorded the demos trying to emulate Lennon's voice, and decided that the songs were better suited for John. After Lennon's passing, Harrison shelved the tapes, which were later discovered by Olivia.
Listening to the songs, Olivia also felt the songs needed a Lennon vocal and invited Julian Lennon to Friar Park to hear the demos. Julian listened and liked the songs, but thought that there were some parts that needed a higher, younger vocal register than he could muster. He rang up his half-brother Sean, and emailed an mp3 of a couple of the demos to the youngest Lennon. Both Lennon's were excited about the songs and arranged to record them at Friar Park with Dhani and Sean doing the guitar parts.
Playbacks of the songs revealed to the young Harrison and Lennon Brothers that some distinctive bass and drum parts were needed. On a hunch, they rang Sir Paul McCartney to see if he might have interest in the project. Sir Paul politely refused, but suggested that perhaps his son, James, might be the man they needed to play bass. James McCartney arrived at the sessions with Zak & Jason Starkey, the sons of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who happened to be visiting the McCartney's in London. The six Beatles siblings then went to work on the Harrison demos, and the finished results so pleased them, they decided that not only would they release the songs, they would also record additional original material for an album release, to be followed by a brief tour of the United States.
At a press conference held at Abbey Road Studios, the Beatles siblings made an official announcement of the tour and album release. "We're all very excited by the songs", Dhani Harrison beamed, "Dad really wanted John Lennon to record these songs, and in a way, I feel that we're honoring his wishes". "I'm very humbled that Olivia and Dhani asked me to listen to George's demos", chimed in Julian Lennon, "and I'm very happy that Sean is onboard this project too. We've been talking for years about doing something together, and these songs felt just right for us. And to have Dhani, James, Zak & Jason involved makes this a very special project as well".
"Our Dads at first were a little leery about us doing this", said James McCartney , referring to McCartney and Starr, "but after they heard what we put together, they gave us their blessings".
"It's funny in a way", added Zak Starkey, "I've played with my Dad, The Who and Oasis, but playing with these guys, who are more or less as much brothers to me as Jason is, I'm really excited at the prospect of going on the road with them". When asked who came up with the idea of calling the tour 'Here Comes The Sons 2006', Dhani Harrison raised his hand. "Guilty!', he laughed, joined by the other five. "After all, I made the phone call!", which elicited another round of laughter from the group. The tour kicks off at Irving Plaza in New York City on April 1st, 2006. More dates to be announced. Stella McCartney will be designing the stage wear for the group. (Thanks to Abbey Rodent.)

The ultimate Deadhead collectible

(Thanks for the story, Pete!)

Late Grateful Dead Leader's Toilet Stolen
Sun Apr 2, 7:38 AM ET
SONOMA, California - The long, strange trip continues for Jerry Garcia's toilet. Police say the Grateful Dead leader's commode was stolen recently from a driveway along with three other toilets and a bidet, The Press Democrat newspaper reported Saturday.
Garcia's salmon-colored toilet was the subject of a legal battle before it was finally moved to Sonoma, to await shipment to a Canadian casino.
It's unclear if the toilet was swiped by a wayward Deadhead or a thief remodeling a bathroom. Police have no suspects or leads.
Henry Koltys bought Garcia's Marin County home for $1.39 million in 1997 and removed the toilet and other items he planned to sell to raise money for a charity.
After Koltys sold the house to a friend of the band's, the new owner sued to block the auction. The dispute was resolved last year, and Koltys moved the items to his home in Sonoma, about 40 miles north of San Francisco.
Last month, Koltys sold the Grateful Dead singer's toilet for $2,550 to online casino Goldenpalace.com, which planned to use it as part of a traveling marketing exhibit. The casino is offering a $250 reward for its return.
Henry Koltys said Friday that the toilet once stood in the master bathroom of Garcia, who died in 1995 at age 53. "It would have been his personal head," he said.
The casino has made other unusual purchases in the last year — it paid $25,000 for actor William Shatner's kidney stones and $28,000 for a grilled cheese sandwich that reportedly had the image of the Virgin Mary on it, Koltys said.
Jonathon Lipsin, who worked for Garcia as a gardener and now owns a Northern California record store, said the toilet might appeal to dedicated Deadheads.
"It's a little gross," Lipsin said. "But I could see it at a rock 'n' roll museum, too."

5 Guys in the news!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/02/AR2006040200723.html

I really love that place, I hope expansion doesn't ruin them.

Lovecraft/REH/Moorcock audiobooks!

http://store.yahoo.com/shocklines/audiorealms.html

Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/31/AR2006033100349.html

Fischer continues to miss the point. Radio is dead, I don't give a rat's ass if it's delivered by satellite, digital, or carrier pigeon. The same market forces that destroyed AM and FM don't change just because you find some new way to broadcast. Even he mentions (while missing the point) that the same half dozen maggot corporations who own and have destroyed all the regular stations are the ones investing in the "new" digital stations. They will do the same thing there, (and to satellite). Fischer's pathetic examples of "alternative" and "freeform" programming in the new formats are easily dwarfed and rendered obsolete by a two second glance at live365. The Internet is the only game in town for serious fans of music. Once the nation wises up to the need for coast to coast wireless connectivity, it'll be no contest at all. Like all the Posties, Mark needs to realize that we no longer need to shop for pop culture (or news analysis) at the company store...

Weirdness

Friday, April 21, 2006

On Vacation

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Eddie & The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do video

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Monday, April 17, 2006

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Friday, April 14, 2006

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Only 200 Days Till Halloween!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

It Begins...

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

BRUUUUUUCE!

Gone, but not forgotten..

Monday, April 10, 2006

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Friday, April 07, 2006

Phil Ochs videos!!!

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Monday, April 03, 2006

Beatles Jr. "Reunion"

The ultimate Deadhead collectible

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Saturday, April 01, 2006

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