Weirdness: April 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICXdQR1VVhw&mode=related&search=
Ah, nihilism! For a few cool months in the Winter of '77 & '78 it was the Pistols, the Clash, the Ramones, Patti Smith, and a horde of noisy, angry, out-of-control rejects shaking the foundations of earth, heaven, and the media corporations. Fun stuff!

Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts Without You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=977IsYejkWE

Fantastic tune. Probably the best Motown song that was never actually released on Motown.

You Are What You Eat

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/04/you_are_what_yo.html

The soundtrack and incredible notes on this obscure cult classic.

McCartney, Jet, and 30 years wasted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vQq7GjTrT4&mode=related&search=
I've probably told most of you this story before, but for those of you who came in late: Jet is my fave Paul McCartney solo song. A near-perfect power pop anthem. If my remaining brain cells remember correctly, it was a huge hit in the Spring of '74. I went out and bought the single as soon as I heard it. But I was always puzzled about the lyrics*. They're pretty obtuse. Who is Jet? What kind of name is that? What does it mean? What's the deal with the Sergeant major, and what do suffragettes have to do with anything? WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT?!?!?
These question plagued me, vexed me; always stuck in the back of my mind. Now, there are a lot of rock songs with equally obscure lyrics, but I either didn't care, or was eventually able to at least get the gist of them, or the writer would spill the beans in some interview, but Jet remained un-dissected. It haunted me.
Thirty years went by. And like some old war wound, I kept feeling an occasional twinge of pain from having not solved the mystery. And then, one night on TV, there was a McCartney interview, and the announcer stated that after the next commercial break, they'd ask him about Jet! My quest was about to end, the secrets of the Universe were about to be opened to me! I was in near religious ecstasy. My entire body entered a state of rigidity, my face bare inches from the TV screen with the volume turned to maximum - I wanted to experience this moment in all its metaphysical glory. Shakti awaited, as every fiber of my being strained to absorb every sound wave and electron from the television.
Paul came on, the interviewer asked him about Jet, and he basically said he'd just been stoned, sitting outside on a hill and written whatever came into his head at the time. It had no meaning - not even to him! It might as well have been the old moon/June rhyme scheme. It was just some stoner stringing word together! My thirty year wait was a complete waste of time! Worlds collapsed, oceans dried up, day turned to night, and I turned to Virginia Gentleman...
A little part of me died that day. And I think I've developed a nervous tick since then. Oh, it's still a great pop song, and I still love McCartney, but I'd love him dead, as well as alive...

*Found here: http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/paul_mccartney/jet.html

Eric Burdon & War perform Spill The Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9oZkyz0xco&mode=related&search =

Probably my fave song from the summer of '70. So cool! War was a great band, both with Eric and on their own. Should've been bigger than they were, with that whole R&B/jazz/funk/Latin fusion going for 'em.

Jethro Tull - Fat Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2VrpCqColI

Cool...

Bruce performs For You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxyo1bMQyEY

Beautiful. Essential. A perfect time capsule of when things mattered and oaths were sworn.

Gorey's "Doubtful Guest" coming to the big screen!

http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-waldenhensonfoxdoubtfulguest,0,3781047.story?coll=zap-movies-headlines
Cool stuff! Now, if we could only get the Gashleycrumb Tinies on film...

the friendly skies

This'll get all the D&D players' hearts pumping a little faster... ;)

Death Switch

http://www.deathswitch.com/

An interesting service...

The Fuzztones - The Witch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NAK8h-A9_4

The original by the Sonics is stronger, but I've always liked this band.

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8kZog12obo

Classic.

RIP Sir Graves Ghastly

http://www.countgore.com/Morgue.htm

A nice tribute to him on Count Gore's site. For those of you in the hinterland, Sir Graves was broadcast in the late 60's and early 70's in the DC market on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, (if I remember correctly). Very cheesy and very fun.

Ah! Promotions the good old fashioned way!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=451414&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

Hogzilla!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2007-04-28-hogzilla-movie_N.htm?csp=34
I can see it now, he'll grab a blonde and waddle to the top of the Empire State Building, only to be shot down by Smithfield's secret air squadron.

new book on Warren Zevon

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/books/article/0,2850,MCA_484_5509107,00.html

nice site for psychotronic film reviews

http://www.girlsgunsandghouls.com/

Happy Birthday Morticia!

http://www.tedstrong.com/carolynjones.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427700/

the time capsule

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1127231

The End. DC completely destroyed, no survivors, only mutant cannibal rape gangs left

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1127184
The carnage will be appalling. I'm surprised the schools aren't already shut down...

The Monster Mash - a nice tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0thH3qnHTbI
Needless to say, I think I've caught every one of these movies. Ah, mis-spent youth!

Janis & Big Brother perform Combination of the Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gJXC5xkIBg From Monterey...
I always loved Big Brother & The Holding Company, probably for the same reason a lot of sophisticates hated 'em - they always sounded like the musical equivalent of a car taking a turn too fast - two wheels off the pavement and everyone waiting for the crash. But they had a beautiful enthusiasm and love of musical experimentation and combination that made them unique. And Janis, well, there's only one Janis.

Brooke Benton performs Rainy Night In Georgia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQT69OT22kQ
One of the GREAT soul singers. I think Benton's main problem, like Jackie Wilson, was to have record companies and producers that generally couldn't deliver songs up to his talent. Really incredible song from the Spring of '70. My family was travelling over Spring break down South then, (and we really did spend a rainy night in Georgia!).

Bobbie Gentry sings Fancy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ZCrMESar8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbedazzled%2Eblogs%2Ecom%2Fbedazzled%2F

electrosensitivity?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=450995&in_page_id=1879
Hmmm, possible; but I'd like to see some double-blind test results. Meanwhile, I'll keep my aluminum foil hat ready...

a bicycle built for seven

http://conferencebike.com/

calling Dr. Freud

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/293398.html

Robot Village

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6587377.stm

Hmm, I can't help but think of The Prisoner...

Mars Attacks cards online!!!

http://www.bubblegum-cards.com/Mars-Attacks/index.html

I loved this set when I was a kid!

Russia converts to Cthulhu worship

http://www.yog-sothoth.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=98923#98923
Ia! Ia!

RIP Bobby "Boris" Pickett

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/04/26/2007-04-26_bobby_pickett_voice_of_halloween_favorit.html
I really am saddened by this. Pickett was a one-hit wonder, but what a hit. He created THE Halloween anthem, and launched dozens of imitators and covers. Like the obituary states, Guy Lombardo is probably the only other artist so closely associated with a single holiday. Here's to ya, Bobby, hope you're a Graveyard Smash...

http://themonstermash.com/

The Rascals - Lonely Too Long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VesCnlMvxK8
Cool....

X - Wild Thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VesCnlMvxK8

Another incredibly under-rated band. Should've been HUGE.

Zappa & Burt Ward - The Boy Wonder Sessions!

http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/04/burt-ward-boy-wonder-sessions-arranged.html

Stealth Ships

http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2007/04/stealth-ships.html

Hunter Thompson lecture online!

http://www.eggcityradio.com/?p=16

Ask A Ninja visits MythBusters!

http://dsc.discovery.com/beyond/index.html?playerId=203711706&categoryId=210013704&lineupId=229524134

One of the few TV shows I enjoy these days...

Ronald - the final days

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=1880

and the gerbils were appalled too

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-04-26T130302Z_01_KUA646903_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDIA-GERE-ODD.xml&src=nl_usoddlyenough

You could say they had the wool pulled over their eyes...

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=46730&in_page_id=34

life around DC

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/04/going_the_speed_limit_public_s.html#comments
Bicyclists around here have their nerve, arguing for anything hinting at courtesy or abiding the law. For years, while working in Old Town, I and the other denizens suffered from hordes of Schwinn nazis blocking or riding us down on the sidewalks, running stop signs and red lights, cutting off our cars, and general ass-holism. Arrogant, spandex wearing vermin.
As for the Beltway, I believe the citizens should have a right, (indeed, a duty), to kill anyone not going at least 5mph OVER the speed limit. They are beneath contempt and deserve no mercy - if they don't like it, they can take their Volvo's and block traffic somewhere else.

an ancient Bostonian self defense technique

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2007-04-26T100143Z_01_L26524424_RTRUKOC_0_US-GRANT-BEANS.xml&src=nl_usmorningdigest

Happy National Pretzel Day!

Happy Birthday Carol Burnett!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PTewIbT1Y4

http://www.carolburnettfan.com/

http://www.tvparty.com/vaburnett.html

Happy Birthday Stevie Nicks!

http://www.nicksfix.com/

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

beer foam physics

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/04/25/beerfoam_hum.html?category=human&guid=20070425153000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

the secret life of Mr. Spock

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/alttext/2007/04/alttext_0425

Johnny Depp just not trying hard enough

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=105&sid=1124439

keep that umbrella handy!

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770423071

We're Ready For the Martians

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKN0934498720070425?feedType=RSS&pageNumber=1

Actually, I thought the plan was to hang on until they all caught colds and died...

Spring Cleaning For Dracula!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/6590769.stm

a new CAS collection on the way!

http://www.nightshadebooks.com/book.aspx?bookid=153

Ah, school daze in Alexandria!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042401299.html?nav=rss_metro

It's always nice to see the old ways respected by the younger generation. Of course, GW being in an uproar over a BB gun is a little on the lame side. I ask you, what happened to those days of yore - the roving bands of thugs, the cherry bombs, the race riots, the fires, the bomb scares, and the assembly line-like robberies, muggings and extortion? How standards have fallen! And what has been the cost to our young? Can they last 8+ hours without having to go to the bathroom, (which in the old days would have resulted in instant death)? Do they have that street wariness to spot a bad situation at least 50 yards ahead of them; to know what hallways are death traps, and when; to slip silently through crowds without attracting the notice of predators? All lost...
And what of GW's senior high school, my proud Alma Mater, T.C. Williams? Why, in the old days, the very mention of our school was enough to send government officials into catatonic fear. The whole state quivered in abject terror of playing against T.C. in ANY sport or activity, and indeed even cancelled chess tournaments, rather than risk the appalling casualty rates that accompanied contact with us, (I am NOT making this up...). I remember our unofficial motto: "We lost the Game, BUT WON THE FIGHT!" It's also interesting to note that we were the best school in the state, both sports-wise AND academically, and the most socially and politically sophisticated. A really fascinating place. And while I would NEVER go back to those days, I am really glad I had the experience
But times and perceptions change, the mere rumor of a BB gun can lock down the school, and any weatherman predicting snow anywhere on earth can trigger a snow day. But the memories remain. Ignore that abomination, "Remember The Titans", it's just Hollywood claptrap. But find a Virginian over 45 and mention you're from T.C. and notice the haunted look in their eyes - THAT'S what people remember about the Titans...

Star Trek fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-N6Cwhoh_s&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVov6NJU2tk&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBXal1GAA4A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6atEKIgajak&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVjkTEIoJc&

(Thanks for the links, Mathew!)

Lovecraft was right: The Fungi From Yuggoth!

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-04-24T123828Z_01_KUA445435_RTRUKOC_0_US-FOSSIL-FUNGUS-ODD.xml&src=nl_usoddlyenough

Grateful Dead perform St. Stephen for Hef

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYmIu_njso4

Elton - Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb8iEHG85VE

Great song...

more info on the DVD release of WKRP

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7212
Probably the last American sitcom I ever paid attention to, it's a pity about leaving out the music.

the dark twilight years of Captain America

http://www.wftv.com/news/12926707/detail.html?treets=orlc&tid=2654358485813&tml=orlc_strange&tmi=orlc_strange_1_10000304242007&ts=H

Looming spiritual crisis

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/4516
Bourbon is made from corn...

Ha!

http://www.showbizspy.com/2007/04/23/mick-jagger-visited-by-aliens/

With all that he's taken, I'm shocked if aliens are the only thing that Mick has seen!

interesting article on space trash

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.05/st_houston.html

Alert Superman!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6584229.stm

robot news

http://physorg.com/news95434590.html

Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHMCfEhdX1E

Genesis 6:4

Looking Glass - Brandy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm61wCqtMNc

Another guilty pleasure...

Brenton Wood -Gimme A Little Sign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uXwgEu25BQ&mode=related&search=

One of my fave pop soul songs.

Beatles perform Get Back (from the Let It Be film)

The final Beatles "concert" in three parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYeHXtCOd5I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgP1ph_6zhk&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSx9PeVEII&mode=related&search=

Bad Company perform Movin' On

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z784ETkZ6k

I always liked Rodgers' vocals...

the cutting edge of teaching methods

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-04-23T122221Z_01_SP327583_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDIA-STUDENTS-URINE.xml&src=nl_usoddlyenough

(Doug - this looks very promising, let me know how it goes....) ;)

Predictions for the Year 2000

http://www.yorktownhistory.org/homepages/1900_predictions.htm

Happy Birthday Ed Walker!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Walker
http://thejoyboys.com/

Along with Willard Scott, one of the Joy Boys, legends of DC radio.

The Music Explosion Live!!!

http://www.musicexplosionband.com/music_explosion_002.htm

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Radio Radio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOuknbvu21Q

Classic performance and song. It was true then, and it's true now.

Jesus & Mary Chain - Never Understand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs-42ge-TWY

One of the most under-rated bands ever. A perfect understanding of rock'n'roll. Just take the needle out of your arm and put it on the record at full volume.

Aretha - Jumpin' Jack Flash (with Keith Richards & Ron Wood)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63m0JuO4oNI

Leslie Gore - Maybe I Know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npyKVlgYHZo&mode=related&search=

Oh yes, I can hear the snickers. Well, Leslie is VERY cool. And still rockin'!

newly discovered plot against hitler

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=618852007
I am extremely unhappy to see the article talking of a movie with the loathsome Tom Cruise playing von Stauffenberg. That means he and his fellow conspirators will be portrayed in a heroic light. Nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, one must look long and deep to find a true anti-nazi opposition within Germany, and virtually all of its members were either liberal civilians or communists, and in microscopic numbers. The German army was as pro-nazi as anyone - as long as they were winning. It was only after they looked like they might lose the war and their precious Prussian estates that the senior officer corps turned chicken and tried, with incredible cowardice and incompetence, to get rid of schicklgruber. In a way, it was fortunate that they failed, most of the opportunists were caught, literally running away from a fight, and hung up like chickens, without so much as a shot being fired. So much for Prussian efficiency, honor, and warriorhood. And it saved us the trouble of doing the very same thing to them in 1945....

Ming the Merciless Bobble Head!

http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BBP02002%20

Happy Birthday Rondo Hatton!

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

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369061/

Happy Earth Day!

Cool Cars!

http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2007/04/worlds-strangest-vehicles.html

there will never be an ad like this again...

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/285845.html

interesting article about the e-book market

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2007/03/why_the_commercial_ebook_marke.html

PyrateCon! Aaaarrrrrr!

http://www.pyratecon.com/

Snoopy Wins!

http://www.anzacs.net/who-killed-the-Red-Baron.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5d5S1NcSc&mode=related&search=

Today is the anniversary of the Red Baron getting shot down in 1918...

Happy Birthday Iggy!

http://www.geocities.com/mnennoburke/

http://www.iggypop.com/

http://www.iggy-pop.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4zQpFSYCJ0

new REH collection!

http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/#Del_Rey:_THE_BEST_OF_ROBERT_E._HOWARD

pictures of consumerism

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7

Pretty neat representations of everyday consumption.

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Humble Pie - I Don't Need No Doctor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZMmV6xXYFw&mode=related&search=

Essential. Steve Marriott, you are missed.

Flash & The Pan - Hey St. Peter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1_yJi9ihJw

I kinda liked these guys, particularly a near-hit they had called Lady Killer.

the cutting edge of dog toys

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/hotdoll-the-sex-doll-for-dogs-253334.php

And they call it, Puppy Love....

nazi ruins and architecture

http://www.thirdreichruins.com/prora.htm

Proof of what I've been saying about our own local Crystal City - this is what would have happened if Hitler had won...

High Voltage Cable Inpsection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tzga6qAaBA

Unbelievable!

werid/cool commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5-J1TnMaok&mode=related&search =

a plug - Religious Experience Salsa

http://www.thewrath.com/

If you've visited us here at The Manor, then you've probably been served this, my favorite salsa, Religious Experience, shipped direct from Grand Junction, Colorado. I particularly like their top of the line: The Wrath Of God.
We visited with them once, (toured the "factory") - very nice guys. And essential salsa...

Janis Ian performs Society's Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW_rYLoIR08
Very cool...

Lego Star Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O61Do03ZCjw

(thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Captain Picard's Journal

http://jlpicard.blogspot.com/

Kinda fun.

nice quote from Tom Lehrer

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/837.html

the cutting edge of seasoned firewood

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6568233.stm

Tee Hee!

Soon, those butt pictures the office clown does on the Xerox machine are going to get a whole lot more interesting!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=448654

the hottest music, ever, really

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070418_solar_music.html

leave it to the British to invent the space bumbershoot!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,2059502,00.html

Russian Cakes

http://englishrussia.com/?p=851

Unbelievable - you gotta see these!

(Thanks for the link, Infidel753!)

Find That Song

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/04/19/songfinder_tec.html?category=technology&guid=20070419094530&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

interesting article on Elliott Gould

http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0716,hoberman,76384,20.html/full
I'm not as scholarly as the writer, either in regards to film, Elliott Gould, or the whole Brooklyn Jewish experience as it relates to baby boomer pop culture. I just know that back in the early and mid 70's, I considered Gould the coolest actor since Bogey. MASH, SPYS, Getting Straight, and The Long Goodbye - all are major or minor classics in my little psyche. I even liked his now-forgotten comedy series - E/R. Very neat stuff!

Calls For Cthulhu!

http://callsforcthulhu.blogspot.com/

Cthulhu Pet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Wri14obg8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpowervoyeur%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ehtml

Classic!

new DVD by Bruce

http://www.therockradio.com/2007/04/bruce-springsteen-to-premiere-new-live.html

Happy Patriots' Day!

The shot heard 'round the world...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots'_Day

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/boflandc.htm

RIP Kitty Carlisle

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/other_news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003573647

Appeared with Groucho and the boys in A Night At The Opera. One of my earliest childhood memories is watching her on To Tell The Truth.

Listen my children...

Today is the anniversary of Paul Revere's Ride...

http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/

http://poetry.eserver.org/paul-revere.html

Don't forget to put cholera in the water fountains!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/18/dickens.world.ap/index.html

Perhaps I could play a resurectionist....

even the horses take drugs at a Stones concert

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-04-18T153724Z_01_EIC856238_RTRUKOC_0_US-SERBIA-STONES-ODD.xml&src=nl_usoddlyenough
Beware, lest Keith snort one...

Burdened Buddhist Business Bubble Bursts

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/apr2007/sb20070416_589621.htm?campaign_id=rss_topEmailedStories

Tank Accidents

http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2007/04/tank-accidents.html

the cutting edge of empathy

http://www.empathybelly.org/home.html

Oh My...

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/277690.html

Tiger Wine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6566507.stm

Think I'll stick with Cabernet....

Stevie and Lindsay - Landslide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX6WHvxTYHs

A great version of a great ballad.

a nice article on VPI

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601872.html
A sad and scarey deal...

The Urban Dictionary

http://www.urbandictionary.com/
Warning - you will spend hours browsing on this site.

(Thanks for the link, Linda!)

some great out-of-print "horror" music for sale!

http://forbiddencryptsmusic.com/ToeOfFrogProductionsSales.html

I'm sure these are all CD-R's. The Spike Jones & Dracula's Greatest hits are Classics! No Halloween party is complete without them.

Dogfish coming to Falls Church!

http://www.dogfish.com/news/Whats_Happening_in_Falls_Church.!/850/index.htm

Woo Hoo!

Sock Puppets From Hell

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

S'awright! Happy Birthday Senor Wences!

http://www.salon.com/people/obit/1999/04/20/wences/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%B1or_Wences

A surreal genius. Light years ahead of his time.

Caught Criminal Claims Caper Cause: Crapping Calamity.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3046904&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

George harrison covers It Don't Come Easy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slds8zy8oOU&NR=1
Neat!

FAnny Reunion!!!

http://www.berklee.edu/news/2007/01/0125.html
THE first real female rock band. Very under-rated.

Elton - Tiny Dancer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ppoX4bVTQ
One of my faves.

Dick Dale - Misirlou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8

King of the Surf Guitar! (The Del Tones may be the stiffest backing band ever - someone needs to check for a pulse!)

Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdi1_Es85fA

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2007/04/aint_no_mountai.html

article on singing sand dunes

http://www.livescience.com/forcesofnature/050111_singing_dunes.html

Unbelievable wind today

As I type this, I'm pretty sure that the Manor is being hit by almost constant 40-50 mph gusts. And about 5 minutes ago there was a blast that had to be 70+*. The walls were vibrating. Trees are swaying dangerously, and one very large red oak just crashed from one neighbor's yard into another, just missing their house. We just got power back an hour ago, having lost it about 1AM. Spooky times here.

*The one and only time I was in wind so fierce was one summer travelling across the country with my folks on vacation. It was 1969, and we were surrounded by high winds and tornadoes in Eastern Wyoming. After battling furious winds for a couple of hours, my father finally stopped us at a little gas station in the old cowboy town of Medicine Bow, (ironically enough, that was the town where "The Virginian" western was supposedly situated). We had our travel trailer with us and just parked by the side of the one gas station in town, (it still had glass tanks on top of the pump with a gravity feed!!!). That night the trailer was buffeted, I can tell you. It's a wonder we got any sleep at all. The next morning we took off during a break in the weather. My father later confessed to me that he'd stopped driving when he looked in his side mirror and had seen one set of trailer tires leave the pavement due to a particularly stong gust!
The other item of note was that after we parked, I went outside the trailer in the 75mph wind to take a photograph. Normally, I couldn't have done so, (for those who don't know - I have a condition called Essential Tremors that causes a nearly unstoppable shaking of my hands). Camera shots were always bleary as a result. But not this day! The photo I took was perfect! It was all I could do to stand up in the gale, but for whatever reason, my hands were like iron that moment!

nice review of the Secret Agent DVD's

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/arts/television/15cosg.html

The Top 50 Movie Endings Of All Time

http://filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/95a45e26914c25ff862562bb006a85f2/394a496e465c4f38882571b900114dc5

Interesting list. I'm not familiar with all of them, and am a traditionalist, at heart, (I'd of placed Citizen Kane in the Top 10 and made Casablanca #!...). I'd also at least consider the endings to Monty Python's Life Of Brian, Gone With The Wind, Miracle on 34th Street, Rock'n'Roll High School, Getting Straight, True Grit, White Heat, V for Vendetta, The Good The Bad & The Ugly, Vanishing Point, Harold & Maude, The Matrix, and Z. But it really doesn't matter, you might say I Don't Give A Damn...

Southside, the Jukes & Bruce - I Don't Want To Go Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXB_0wvLUm8

Classic!

Tiny Plaid Ninjas

http://www.spinnerdisc.com/TPN.html

Happy Birthday da Vinci!

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

The House On Haunted Hill from Count Gore!

http://www.countgore.com/Lab.htm
A classic Vincent Price horror film presented by that Ghost Host With the Most!

Happy Birthday Dave Edmunds!

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/2674/

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72zqAAcKITc

Happy Birthday Hans Conreid!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175788/

Soviet Cycles

http://www.vostokmotors.com/

The Coolest Video - My Generation by The Zimmers!

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

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

More on the Zimmers;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=448045&in_page_id=1773

Klingon Recipes....

http://www.geocities.com/ktesh_kag/recipes2.htm

(I know, I know - Get A Life...)

Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in September

http://www.midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com/

Horrorfind Weekend in August

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

Capclave sci-fi convention coming to Rockville in October

http://www.capclave.org/

another reason I hate upscale clubs

http://www.billboardbands.net/
I can think of no better way to treat what passes today for "trendsetters and influencers" than as advertising cattle. Nice trend, losers...

Lovecraft, Howard & Moorcock on audio CD!

http://www.audiorealms.com/

interesting article on the debates within Judaism about resistance during WWII

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1176152779253&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

I stand in awe of someone like Mordechai Anielewicz & his fighters.

Happy John Hanson Day!

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

http://www.constitutionfacts.com/articles_confed/Hanson.htm

Gary "U.S." Bonds - Quarter To Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMIS0Nw49FA

Classic.

Johnny Rivers performs Poor Side Of Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHPsRKo8TM

Another fave...

fake story - but it should be true

http://www.galwayfirst.ie/donkey/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/02/donkey_shocker/

http://journals.aol.com/journalseditor/magicsmoke/entries/2007/03/07/followup-the-galway-hotel-room-donkey-is-a-hoax/2031

Somewhere, I want there to be an Unlawful Accomodation of Donkeys Act of 1837.

Happy Birthday Agent 86!

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

new printings of forgotten horrors

http://sfscope.com/2007/02/university_of_tampa_press_brin.html

McGuinn & some friends perform 8 Miles High

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9McvRFfrIQ&mode=related&search=

RIP Roscoe Lee Browne

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/12/AR2007041202212.html
I loved this guy! Great presence, and what a voice! He should have gotten an Oscar for his work in The Cowboys*. Stole the show from John Wayne in his own movie - how many people have done that?
Unfortunately, he mostly played bit parts - mores the pity. Browne gave off an air of authority, education, calm, style, and most of all, wisdom. In other words, he played a grown up in a media too often dominated by clowns and frat boys. It's too bad he didn't go into public service, he was practically an archetype for what one would want in a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of State, or President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

*The scene between his character and a madame is one of my all-time favorite movie moments.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001975/

neat solar cell news

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/04/13/solarcells_tec.html?category=technology&guid=20070413090000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

obscure George Martin recording

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/04/ray_cathode_aka.html

Happy Friday the 13th!

Joy Division sneakers!

http://www.hypebeast.com/2007/04/new-balance-joy-division/

Finally, a modern sneaker almost as cool as my sacred Converse All-Stars!

The La's perform There She Goes

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2007/04/there_she_goes_.html
Good power pop.

Happy Birthday Mighty Max!

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/maxweinberg/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weinberg

Happy Birthday Al Green!

http://www.algreenmusic.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjBChRG-nok

Happy Birthday Harold Stassen!

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

Not a Quitter!

Only 200 Days Until Halloween!

Pretty Flamingo!

Costello, Lowe, Difford & Tillbrook!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oDsSRZT77k

Jane Wiedlin - Blue Kiss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7maUtUoMc20
Very under-rated popster.

The Iceman - Only The Strong Survive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0NhcohGNDQ

Great voice and song.

Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epev3esCykM
Neat, more soulful version from Shindig.

Buddy Holly - Oh Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PYXZEkAC4E

Great performer.

CTHULHU!

http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2007/04/cthulhu-live-and-prosper.html

the cutting edge of steak tartar

http://www.fugly.com/pictures/13700/meat_monster.html

Rock Around The Clock!

Was recorded on this date in 1954 by Bill Haley & His Comets. The World changed forever...

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ByIgBIVD4

The Kite Runner

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2007-04-11T125405Z_01_SP197232_RTRUKOC_0_US-AFGHAN-KITES.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3

Free Jim Morrison!

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-04-11T125101Z_01_N10418057_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-MORRISON.xml&src=nl_usoddlyenough

I'm not alone...

http://www.wftv.com/news/11606538/detail.html?treets=orlc&tid=2654358485813&tml=orlc_strange&tmi=orlc_strange_1_10000504112007&ts=H

I can't tell you how relieved I am to find that others plan their cross-country diapered murders based upon fortune cookies. Don't leave home without it!

interesting speculations on Morgellons Disease mystery

http://alcuinbramerton.blogspot.com/2006/08/morgellons-mystery.html

Happy Birthday Ricahrd Berry!

And happy International Louie Louie Day!!!

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FhwTZPSe0c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5nppa3cEjM

http://www.tsimon.com/louie.htm

One of my fave songs. A good choice for the National Anthem... ;)

Happy 8-Track Tape Day!

http://www.8trackheaven.com/
Ah yes, the planet's most amusing sound format. Who can forget the clunking noise of the player shifting tracks, the interruptions to longer songs, and the mounds of tape glistening in the sun by the side of the road at every major traffic intersection.

Happy Alferd Packer Day!

http://www.ellensplace.net/hcg_fac5.html
http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/history/alfred_packer/index.html

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/MEATpacker.html

The Reivers

Yesterday,. my friend Erik and I were exchanging a couple of emails about our days in the record store. I suspect such work stinks now; but in the "olden days" it was VERY cool - cool people and cool sounds. Part of that was that you'd get hear to virtually everything coming in, and amidst the forgettable stuff you could always find gems - stuff that would ONLY be known to record clerks, and a few fanatic cognoscenti of the pop world. And it was like occult secrets known only to a few. And you could even go into other record stores and the clerks there knew about these artists too - we were some sort of rock'n'roll Masonic order! Sometimes the artist would go on to be discovered by the general populace (U2, Nine Inch Nails); but more likely they'd remain obscure, attracting an at-best large cult following. There were hundreds of examples of that, but one of my all-time faves was a band called Zeitgeist, (who quickly changed their name to The Reivers). Great sound, and some of the best songwriting I've ever heard. The lyrics of some of their songs have touched me in ways only rivalled by a few other artists. (There's one tune called "Star Telegram" that is as personal as anything I've EVER heard). At any rate, like so much else, The Reivers are now forgotten and/or ignored. Here's to days at the record store.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkgkueS1sIw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiyd7jGzL-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh7R90nY-QE&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM373n9Kbg4&mode=related&search=

Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1xoEU_oikM

Fun tune! It ain't no big thing...

Dave Clark 5 - Catch Us If You Can

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ryRv07uvA0

Weird little sound/visual mix on this video. But my fave DC5 song.

Lennon - Instant Karma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxV-KtFzBrE

Ah, Spring of '70....

Guilty Pleasure - I Love This Song!

A nice video interpretation of Life Is A Rock by Reunion.

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

RTE radio concerts online!

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/inconcert/1098414.html

Just heard about this. The link above inlcudes shows by Nils Lofgren, Joan Armatrading, Arlo, and my boy Al Stewart.

The Glore Psychiatric Museum

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MOSTJglor.html
Just read about this - fascinating.

the critic

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,264264,00.html

more cloaking device news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070406/sc_afp/ussciencephysicsinvisibility;_ylt=AqzJv7AbmCXR9NeichSy_KsPLBIF

more bizarre record covers

http://www.bizarrerecords.com/new.html

Awe inspiring...

The Doors - Soft Parade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3pEbDZi0_w

What rough beast slouches towards Alexandria?

Ni!

http://www.pegasuspublishing.com/xcart/product.php?productid=28562

the ultimate waistpouch

http://www.pegasuspublishing.com/xcart/product.php?productid=28762&cat=270&page=1

listing of Internet clocks

http://www.panaga.com/clocks/clocks.htm

Impressive...

Translator - Everywhere That I'm Not

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hslQ-7KuynI
Great song by an under-rated band.

Black Sabbath - Children of the Grave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x6on4lW0-E
Nice...

Joan Jett - Roadrunner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQTe7Qxxxsw

A great rocker covers a great song.

possible time travel experiment

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/310821_quantum09.html

the tank collector

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/08/BAG0SP4TD41.DTL

Happy Birthday Tom Lehrer!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer
http://www.casualhacker.net/tom.lehrer/

Special Easter Peeps Video!

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

nice article on Enigma and Britain's cryptography efforts in WWII

http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/otherdestinations/int_stories/2007/04/06/0408TRbletchley.html

Fascinating brain research

http://infidel753.blogspot.com/2007/04/repairing-brain.html

As I've done in the past, I recommend Infidel753's blog at: http://infidel753.blogspot.com/ . For all sorts of interesting news, particularly in regard to life extension and other future developments in our species. Really interesting and thought provoking commentary and links.

Easter - Run Away!!!

http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/giant-rabbit/
I can see the movie promos now: "He's been hiding eggs from you for years. Now, can you hide from him?!?". Or maybe: "He's decided to put something special in his basket this year..."; or "Nobody said the Bunny Trail led to HELL!".

Kill me now...

Sigh. I was watching a rather mediocre show about the so-called "Summer of Love" in San Francisco in '67. It was sponsored by AARP...

The Lords of Logistics

http://thrillingwonder.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-lords-of-logistics.html

the cutting edge of aquariums...

http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/deep-fry-diving-for-goldfish-in-japan/

collected letters of REH to be published!

http://www.rehfoundation.org/book-letters.php

Happy Birthday Mark Russell!

http://www.markrussell.net/
http://www.wned.org/markrussell/index.html

Happy Birthday Ravi Shankar!

http://www.ravishankar.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gWCiLexilY

April's Fools in DC

Well, well. I'm told there's actually a "snow advisory" tonight here in Byzantium, (one or two inches - they claim). It just came over the newswire emails to me. It can get cold at night around here in April, but snow is rare, and I wouldn't bet the farm on our weathermen getting this right, (nor much of anything else). But as I sit here, I can already hear the brain cells exploding in everyone's heads around DC. Fairfax County has undoubtedly suspended school for the rest of the year. I'm sure the roads are already some sort of Mad Max nightmare, and Dan Snyder has probably chopped down all the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin to use as kindling in his palace. By nightfall the panic will be in full force. I'm preparing to start shooting anyone who drives or walks by my house as examples - just to deter looters , foragers, and the mutants erupting from the carnage. This town is fucking nuts.

Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39SjyMvBbk4
One of my faves, a great soul song.

pre-Grace Jefferson Airplane - It's No Secret (with Signe Anderson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XTstc6kVU0

Stairway To Heaven on Sousaphone!

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

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Al Green - Fashion Goddess!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lDXFXXud41Q

(Pete, you and Perry are going to have to ask Al about this next time you go to his church!)

more End Times proof: Conway Twitty & The Residents!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK5qKhPBnlA

ZZ Top - La Grange

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY1lCmjldGw

Great song. Inescapable if you were in a 14th Street strip club in '74...

Sign of the End Times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNoFAOHAQ94
Debbie Gibson, the Circle Jerks, & the Soft Boys - the Harmonic Convergence...

interesting theory & mystery about John Cabot's exploration of North America

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070404162345.htm

a little nazi footnote: truly the pot calling the kettle black

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/history/story/0,,2049753,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=10

Fascinating.

for a brief moment - the return of WEAM Radio!

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/04/whos_got_the_beatles_weams_got.html
Unfortunately, it's only available on satellite. And I refuse to pay those buzzards a single penny for reasons I've gone into in the past.

Chad Vader - Episode 8

http://www.splu.net/chadvader.htm
The newest episode is to be released later today and will have a guest appearance by Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy of MST3000!

Happy Birthday Phil Austin!

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

http://www.firesigntheatre.com/albums/austin.html

http://www.firesigntheatre.com/funway.html

Alabama is for wussies

http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2007/04/ban_potent_beer.html

Enjoy your Bud Lite, wimps.

zombie sitcom/drama?

http://www.tv.com/babylon-fields/show/68676/summary.html

It's tourist season in DC!

http://nooneappreciatesme.blogspot.com/2007/04/im-putting-cherry-blossom-tourists-on.html
I am somewhat calmer than the above, when it comes to visitors to Byzantium. If you do come here, just remember this and you'll be okay:
DON'T GET IN THE WAY. It's that simple.
1. When riding an escalator, ALWAYS keep to the right side, unless you're racing up/down it as fast as all the natives do.
2. The same goes for sidewalks and hallways, leave room for the rest of us to get around you.
3. And don't stand in doorways/entrances - you're blocking the rest of us. Especially the Metro. We are allowed to kill you if you block a Metro door.
4. When driving, do the same thing, do not get in any left lane for any reason unless you are planning on going AT LEAST 20 mph over the posted speed limit. Make that 30 mph when I'm on the road.
5. We all know that the traffic circles in town suck. We know. It was a terrible idea. But if you insist on driving here you've got to have courage, face your fears, and MOVE. Endlessly circling around them at one mile an hour like some sort of wounded nun will not get you anywhere and will simply lead the rest of us to hurl insult and invective on whatever state is listed on your license plates, (I'm talking to YOU, Florida). Get off and keep moving.
Follow these simple suggestions and your stay in DC will be pleasant for you - and us...

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.asp?manu=ORI&code=72002

Actually, this looks like a nice site for all sorts of military miniatures from well known and more obscure conflicts: the Ukrainian Cossack Revolt, the Boxer Rebellion, Spanish Civil War, etc.

neat bumper sticker!

(Thanks for the picture, Rick!)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3003690&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
How many skaters must die before this terrible scourge is outlawed?!? I am forming Meddlers Against Zamboni Drunks & Alcoholics (MAZDA). Please act outraged, and send me lots of money.

Weirdness

Monday, April 30, 2007

Sunday, April 29, 2007

the friendly skies

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Friday, April 27, 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Happy National Pretzel Day!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Star Trek fun!

Monday, April 23, 2007

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Happy Earth Day!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Friday, April 20, 2007

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Monday, April 16, 2007