Weirdness: January 2008

site devoted to Black horror movies!

http://blackhorrormovies.com/

Blackenstein!!!!! Blacula!!!!!!!

The Singing Ringing Tree

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B0hGyKV9qs&eurl=

Very cool. Reminds me of the Solar Winds album...

A fasinating compendium of local history, lore, scandal and information.

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

Dueling Pianos - Fats, Jerry Lee & Brother Ray!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe5w0_ray-charles-jerry-lee-lewis

And an all-star band - I think they've got Carl Perkins, Ron Wood and Duck Dunn!

Fantastic. It doesn't get any better than this...

(Thanks for the link, Margrete!)

Food Fight!

http://www.atomfilms.com/film/food_fight.jsp

The history of warfare since WWII - using food. Amazing.

(thanks for the link, Chris!)

Wingsuits

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=4262

No way. If the gos ahd wanted me to do this, they would have made me stupid...

Happy Birthday Marty Balin!

http://www.jeffersonairplane.com/

http://www.jbppresentsmartybalin.com/index2.htm

http://www.geocities.com/balinmiracles/

http://jeffersonstarshipsf.com/

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

Smokey & The Miracles perform Tears Of A Clown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kxlZDOHeQ

Great pop/soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6CDa-z1MUY
Another classic. I still remember hearing this on the radio at the crack of dawn one morning, many decades ago, tearing home on Interstate 70 somewhere in the darkened fields of Ohio. I miss that old Omega...

Carole King performs It's Too Late

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtPdzr5omIo

Yes, I know it got too much airplay in its day, but it's still a perfect King tune. It (and the entire Tapestry album), was inescapable in the summer of '71. She is a national treasure.

Fake Fabs

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/01/fake-beatles-no.html

Beatles knock-offs. Fun stuff!

scenes from The Giant Claw!

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/2008/01/film-stills-the.html

One of the greatest bad movies of all time. I remember watching it as a child and thinking it was stupid - and it's lost none of its charm in the intervening years. A classic.

Tanks For The Memories

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/01/tank-accidents-part-2.html

Food Fight!

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2776

Film Trailer for The Yellow Sign!

http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2008/01/trailer-for-yellow-sign.html

this younger generation's got no respect....

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=86035&in_page_id=34

Whoops!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22830310/

Cthulego Rising!

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=166054

Amazing!

Happy Birthday W. C. Fields!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001211/

http://webtrec.com/wcfields/

http://louisville.edu/~kprayb01/WCQuote.html

Nevermore...

The Raven was published on this date in 1845...

http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html

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

Happy Birthday Henry "Light Horse" Lee!

http://www.stratfordhall.org/lighthorse.html

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

Happy Birthday Thomas Paine!

http://www.thomaspaine.org/

http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/Paine/Default.htm

Kindertrauma

http://www.kindertrauma.com/

The Day SAC Took A Beating

http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/tornado/tornado.htm

And, the Atomic Plane: http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/nb36h_jde.htm

(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

Cassette Culture!

http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/cassettes.html

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

The Dallas fan...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJHb9m4ccmQ

Happy National Kazoo Day!

http://www.edenny.org/kazoo.html

Making Fiends news

http://www.nick.com/shows/making_fiends/index.jhtml

I really loved the web episodes. I hope success doesn't destroy it...

video for The Doors LA Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE3bMWRbCig
Great, great driving song. Interesting lyrics, juxtaposing the town and woman imagery - all with the unmistakable background of violence and menace to each, (which I think the video captures) - just like the Doors intended. Does anyone remember the inner sleeve of the album when it was first released, (and before Elektra changed it)? A naked woman, eviscerated and crucified on a telephone pole. Lucky little Lady, indeed....

Blues Image video for Ride Captain Ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jG48_69UTA

Remember The Pueblo!!!

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers film of I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsnVSTWHz8Y&feature=related
Classic stuff! From the film Rock Rock Rock! Look for a young Valerie "Rhoda" Harper in the crowd....

Aretha and Stevie perform Until You Come Back To Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTnCHP-9Wdo

Another beautiful soul ballad from two Immortals.

Al Green performs Sha La La

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjBChRG-nok
Beautiful song by an essential singer.

Quicksilver Messenger Service performs Fresh Air

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EacQEhrbBQ

So cool!

Graham Parker video for Protection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ETAZSFWWs&feature=related

One of the greatest rockers you've never heard of...

Talking Heads perform Life During Wartime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzORu1dqEE0

Urban Guerrilla Disco...

Canterbury Rap

http://www.redyak.com/video/Canterbury/CanterburyRap.htm

The Bear That Fought Hitler

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7208505.stm

the history of monster movie magazines

http://www.moviemags.com/history2.php?genre=Monsters

Neat!

the cutting edge of vending machines

http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-marijuana-vending-machine-in-la.html
A good capitalist would make sure each machines is flanked by ones selling cookies and snacks...

Watt A ReVolting Sex Act!

http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/2008/01/york-county-pa-man-electrocutes-wife.html

the cutting edge of pork ads

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/771465.html

Happy Thomas Crapper Day!

http://www.crappersquarterly.com/features/tc.htm

The Church of Google

http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/

Eye Made A Mistake

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=85644&in_page_id=2

Alert Steve McQueen!

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/248787-3/LewistonAuburn/Mysterious_doughy_blob_clogs_sewer/

keep your umbrella handy

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8UDPGFO0&show_article=1

Horrorfind Weekend coming up in late March

http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/

Rambo Statistics

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2770

Industrial beer opener

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2765

Smoke On The Water - Japanese style...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYUjAgfhj9c
Fun stuff!

A Hard Days Hava Nagila

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

a goat?

http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/2008/01/thats-goat.html

The Invaders coming to DVD!

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Invaders-Season-1/8832

Happy National Irish Coffee Day!

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

Yum!

MST3000 News!

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=317

The Future!

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/01/retro-future-mind-boggling.html

neat poster for the tank corps

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/771654.html

New Game - Alien Invasion!

http://spookyparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/01/alien-invasion-board-game-shameless.html

The 8th Wonder of the World?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=495538&in_page_id=1811

obvious lies about DC

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1331641

There's no way the District Government has 41 computers that actually work, or 41 employees that know how to use them. Silly reporters...

first Cruise and now Snipes

http://www.ocala.com/article/20080124/BREAKING_NEWS/790471096/1053/BREAKING_NEWS

The cult of celebrity seems to be working - these parasites now believe their own film press releases...

coincidence

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/22/unbelievable-what-are-the-odds-of-this-happening.aspx

The Jedi Church

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7200531.stm

Cthulhu will smite them for worshipping false gods...

Virginia's legislature protects us from the evils of Sangria

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hEBkLXuOe97kdNZTfkJOp0ZKjlrg

I can't make up my mind - Nanny State or Ninny State....

Happy Paul Pitcher Day!

http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com/2008/01/cornish-tinners-and-seafarers-day.html

An obscure Cornish Holiday that I'm single-handedly reviving...

Happy Birthday Benjamin Lincoln!

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

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_benjaminlincoln.html

Patriot.

Happy Birthday John Belushi!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000004/

http://www.belushi.com/

Happy Birthday Neil Diamond!

http://www.neildiamondhomepage.com/
http://www.neildiamondhomepage.com/

http://www.myspace.com/neildiamond

Happy Eskimo Pie Patent Day!

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

Lou Reed and Pavarotti!

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/01/lou-reed-vs-pav.html

Weirdness was made for this...

And then there's Pavarotti and James Brown: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VCIyzNISw1Q

And with Barry White! http://youtube.com/watch?v=kL0WFcygdWY&feature=related

Happy Birthday Leadbelly!

http://www.leadbelly.org/

http://www.hlmusic.com/LeadbellyPage.htm

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

Happy Birthday Danny Federici!

http://us.v2music.com/site/actbio.asp?ID=446

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVeZFTN139Y&feature=related

Happy Birthday John Hancock!

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

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.htm

Rickie Lee Jones performs Last Chance Texaco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgj_dVVWM5c

Another great 70's ballad. A lonely afternoon sitting watching the sun create lengthening shadows.

Keith Carradine performs I'm Easy from the film, Nashville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZ8PRWChb8

One of the great singer/songwriter ballads from the 70's. The synaps start to flicker on me, but I believe this was getting all that airplay around late July and early August of '76. A very hot time, lots of sun, some good times and some bad. Wild parties. Lost weekends. Mateus.

Little Richard performs Lucille

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcxej1zJKTo

Bedrock! Fantastic! Immortal! The Queen of Rock'N'Roll!

The Who perform Behind Blue Eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_1RqyNdzbE

Beyond Classic.

God performs Layla

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

kite-powered ship

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7201887.stm

Cool!

But Children are still okay, aren't they?

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/20401/santeria-5

Us ultra-orthodox types are always being persecuted...

Classy Gift Ideas!

http://flickr.com/photos/apricot_x/sets/72157600053665067/

I want one for my garden

http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/nepenthes-tenax/
With careful nurturing and lots of love, maybe it'll take out the neighbor's brats...

Roky Erickson with Billy Gibbons!!!

http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=637

OWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (scroll down the site)

(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

Happy Birthday Robert E. Howard!

http://www.rehoward.com/

http://www.crossplains.com/howard/

RIP John Stewart, Daydream Believer...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/20/AR2008012002346.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFRCnuO4c7Q

some strange little films

http://listverse.com/bizarre/top-10-most-bizarre-videos

marble adding machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcDshWmhF4A&e

Neat!

Great Legislative Moments in Virginia

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/odd/2008/01/15/Trailer.Testicles/
Is it particularly bright for a legislator to admit that he simply can't concentrate on driving if there's a possibility of seeing a rubber replica of a man's testicles? Is it any less bright to insist he's going to buy some for himself and "bring them out here and show them to you"? Thanks, but I'm busy tomorrow....

RIP Suzanne Pleshette

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/arts/21cnd-pleshette.html?hp

RIP Richard Knerr - Co-Founder of Wham-O

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/17/AR2008011700175.html

sex and wartime propaganda

http://www.psywarrior.com/sexandprop.html
Mostly focuses on WWII. An interesting footnote to the conflict.

all sorts of REH/Conan news!

http://rehtwogunraconteur.com/Number12.html

http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/EchoesofCimmeria.pdf

http://www.monkeybrainbooks.com/Blood_and_Thunder.html

http://paizo.com/store/fiction/planetStories/v5748btpy7x8b&source=search

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978859.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

http://www.darkhorse.com/zones/conan/index.php

http://www.hermespress.com/ (search for the title "By Crom")

http://www.conan.com/

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978703.html?categoryid=19&cs=1

http://www.thecimmerian.com/?page_id=928

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

Origami In Space

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/01/origami-spaceplane-to-launch-from-space-station/

the return of the Poe Toaster

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080119/ap_on_fe_st/poe_mystery_visitor

Shelter From The Storm, circa 78-81...

One of the all-time great lines in cinema is Charles Laughton's Quasimodo capering back to Notre Dame and yelling "SANCTUARY!". It's often been satirized, but there is also something archetypal in it, especially for the young. Sometime between the ages of, oh, 15 and 25, who hasn't felt themselves to be the hunchback, the outsider, in need of a place of calm and some cheer? We look for that place to escape, to cool down; and sometimes we find it.
It was thirty years ago this month I had the pleasure of first meeting my friend Nancy. She was dating my old pal, Edmund, and I started hanging out with them on weekends when I was back from school, and long after I dropped out. Several of you reading this did likewise. Nancy's place quickly became what I like to call The Home For Wayward Adults. Our little band might fluctuate between half a dozen and ten; but there were always people there, and the atmosphere was always friendly. It was where one could go, just to hang out, nurse a hangover or shoot the breeze. All was presided over by Nancy, who was generous to a fault, with her patience and her home. There was always something to eat, and one of my fondest memories is of the pot of chili that seemed to perpetually be available. It tasted great.
An evening might begin or end there, maybe both. I associate at least one marriage with Nancy's place, and quite a bit of the drama and fun, lessons learned and brain cells lost, and just the general living that goes with those times. And I don't want to make it out like this was some dive-like crash pad. Quite the contrary, she had a very nicely furnished townhouse in Western Alexandria. We loitered in quiet style. I'd also like to mention that there was certain innocence to it, (at least in my opinion, although that may say more about me than anything else - so be it). If I'd had kids, I'd hope they'd find similar friends and locales.
Situations change and we've all moved on, and some of those people have even been lost track of; but for a couple of years, hers was the place to hang out at. I write this little missive for several reasons, because there's Al Stewart on the stereo and Cabernet in my glass; because I hope that those of you reading this who are in your teens and early twenties might look for and find a such a friend and place; and to thank Nancy for a generous spirit and putting a little meaning into Dylan's old lyric for giving me, (and others), shelter from the storm. Thanks, Kid.

Where iPods come from

http://www.jibjab.com/view/223119

(Thanks for the link, Nancy!)

getting ahead of myself:

We'll be out of town this weekend, (I'm hoping to visit Foamhenge tomorrow!!!); but didn't want to miss any important dates:

Happy Birthday Edgar Allen Poe!
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/poe/poe_ind.html

http://www.poemuseum.org/

http://www.poestories.com/

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

http://www.nps.gov/edal/

Happy Birthday Janis Joplin!
http://www.officialjanis.com/

http://www.janisjoplin.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FlUAxqQkmc

Happy National Popcorn Day!
http://www.popcorn.org/

Happy Birthday George Burns!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0122675/

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

http://www.georgeburns.com/pages/1/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW6GWEi3g3U&feature=related

Happy Birthday DeForrest Kelley!
http://imdb.com/name/nm0001420/

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/2541/dkelley.htm

http://deforestkelley.com:8080/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4298sodl3k

Anniversary of the release of Meet The Beatles!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_the_Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfsvE4j4ExA

We were soooo young!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Day

http://www.mlkday.gov/

http://www.thekingcenter.org/holiday/index.asp

cool poster ads

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/768503.html

camera phone multi-tasking

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/17/AR2008011702686.html?wpisrc=_rsstechnology/personaltech

pro-fascist, anti-Semitic Bobbie Fischer is dead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/obituaries/18cnd-fischer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

As a True Gamesman, it is always embarrassing and appalling to me how fucking stupid so many of the greats are....

a cute fan flick for an Eric Idle song

http://dingo.care2.com/cards/flash/5409/galaxy.swf

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

Happy Pooh Day!

http://hometown.aol.com/funology1/poohday.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzW3rb57Ks0&feature=related

As our days disappear all too soon...

Jackie Wilson performs Higher & Higher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Su0PoQ-dio

One of the Greats. Mr. Excitement!

see Tom Cruise make an ass of himself over scientology

http://defamer.com/344987/the-tom-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientologists-dont-want-you-to-see?autoplay=true

Lousy actor, lousy messiah...

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Dogfish 2008 Release Schedule

http://www.dogfish.com/news/2008_Beer_Release_Calendar/1052/20071205/index.htm

robot controlled by monkey brain...

http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205801020

RIP Tom Dawes of The Cyrkle

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2007/11/04/thomas_dawes_64_musician_wrote_alka_seltzer_7up_jingles/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cccpO4L76U

Just found out about his death in October.

RIP Rod Allen of the Fortunes

http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKWRI14802620080111?feedType=RSS&feedName=entertainmentNews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJQle06cWcc&feature=related

superheroes?

http://articles.citypages.com/2008-01-16/feature/superheroes-in-real-life/full/

RUN LISA, RUN!!!!

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2743

The Michael Jackson nesting doll...

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2738

a nice article on Vampira and other ghost hosts

http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/2008/01/vampira-and-other-creatures-of-late.html

a thoughtful article on the economics of the music biz

http://www.fingertipsmusic.com/comment_brandnew.htm

I am for anything that destroys the current economic paradigm of pop culture....

(Thanks for the link, Erik!)

What country do you live in?

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/06/10/131-us-states-renamed-for-countries-with-similar-gdps/

Happy Birthday Benjamin Franklin!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/

solar cell news

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news1.7d.html

this sounds sooo cool!

Happy National Nothing Day!

Cool t-shirt!

http://www.cafepress.com/skullzneyez/3782111

The Darwin Awards Winner!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/14/darwin_awards_2007/

Clearly, this dude was a Four Seasons fan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMnzRYK7RrU

Happy Birthday Chuck Berry!

http://www.chuckberry.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijV73yJ6s54

One of my faves.

Glenn Brenner - an appreciation

http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2006/01/remembering_gle.phtml

The kindest thing I can say about pro sports is that I have absolutely no interest in them. I can say virtually the same thing about what passes for TV newscasts these days. I doubt I've watched one in nearly ten years. We are now expected to take entertainment seriously and news as entertainment. I can't stomach it. But there was a time when things were a little more tolerable. News was serious business, and sports was just something fun. I still didn't think anything of it, but one guy, and one guy alone, could get me to watch - Glenn Brenner.
I confess to being somewhat surprised that in a town full of sports fans and tech wizards that there isn't much about Brenner online. Which is a pity. The man was a wisecracking genius at holding your interest - poking fun at himself, the games he covered, and his fellow newscasters. And apparently a genuinely nice guy, which came through every broadcast.
Normally, media people don't do a great deal for me. There are a few locals who've meant something over the years, but only Willard Scott comes close to Brenner, as far as I'm concerned. I am still saddened by his death, which occured on or around this date in '92, and was really personally affected by it when it happened, something that almost never happens.
You mention to an old-time DC resident the Weenie of the Week or the Football predicting Nun and you're guaranteed to get a smile. There are still Glenn Brenner stories circulating around this town, a few are in the post here: http://dc.metblogs.com/archives/2006/01/remembering_gle.phtml

And here are an all too few moments on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAt5DQ-lUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxFBvGI_iW8&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdUDL1bD7U4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4NjWGjP6O8&feature=related

I don't think I've watched a sportscast since...

Gothic Redneck Lawn Ornaments!

http://www.pushindaisies.com/candypress/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=572

Dunwich Rising!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7187239.stm

(Thanks for the link, Nick!)

Happy Mallard Day!

Mallard Day at All Souls College in Oxford celebrates the discovery of a large mallard found in a drain while digging the foundations of the college in 1437.

Griffon, Bustard, Turkey, Capon,
Let to her hungry mortals gape on;
And on the bones their stomach fall hard,
But let All Souls' men have their mallard.
Oh! by the blood of King Edward,
Oh! by the blood of King Edward,
It was a wopping, wopping mallard.

Happy Cakes & Ale Day!

http://www.web-holidays.com/calendar/january/0114.htm

Happy Ratification Day!

On this date in 1784, Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris, thus officially ending the Revolutionary War and making this country independent.

Instant Gay!

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2734

So that's how it's done...

have you seen me?

http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=2731

red wine combats ageing

http://www.wired.com/medtech/drugs/news/2008/01/resveratrol

I am immortal...

new online zie devoted to the pulps

http://www.mottimorphic.com/LostContLib/LOST_CONT_LIB_MAGZN1.pdf

Happy Birthday Clark Ashton Smith!

http://www.eldritchdark.com/
http://alangullette.com/lit/smith/

One of my all-time fave writers. The Emperor of Dreams...

The Cold Call of Cthulhu

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1m_W5Nkjub0
Another cute scenario.

The Call of Cthulhu - Blind Date

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ALkhL1DsTNs

nice article on horror film maker Val Lewton

http://unimonsterscrypt.blogspot.com/2008/01/short-amazing-career-of-val-lewton.html

Joan Jett video for French Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcG22W7JsJw

Strange little video, but a neat song.

Sly Stone on the Mike Douglas Show

http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2008/01/mike-douglas-show-with-guest-sly-stone.html

REH's Soloman Kane film on the way!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978703.html?categoryid=19&cs=1

new Conan movie?

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978859.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Happy Birthday John Hancock!

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

Happy Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day!

Making Fiends coming to TV!

http://www.makingfiends.com/

One of my fave cartoons/webcasts. I hope success doesn't ruin it.

the octopus & Mr. Potato Head

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=83550&in_page_id=2

two sides of the milk carton will be needed....

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=83559&in_page_id=2

RIP Vampira

http://daily.greencine.com/archives/005255.html

An original.

multi-tasking

http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2008/01/a-truly-stunnin.html

SAVOR beer in DC in May

http://www.realbeer.com/blog/?p=728

Happy Birthday Big Man!

http://www.clarenceclemons.com/

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=105200684

Happy Birthday Alexander Hamilton!

http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/hamilton/

Deep Purple perform Smoke On The Water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG1nv2zNBTM
Ha! Fun stuff! Kids - Once dinosaurs walked the earth, the very ground shaking from their movements...

Rachel Sweet performs BABY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNWTAmEgkZ4

Fun cover. Rachel should have been bigger.

The Jesus & Mary Chain video for Never Understand

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

Brian Wilson meets the Velvets. Perfection.

REM & Bruce perform Man On The Moon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BisS5JxeUW0&feature=related

Magic...

The John Ford movie you haven't seen.....

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/01/john-ford-box-s.html

We live in a great nation, where any kid can grow up to subscribe to.....

http://www.girlsandcorpses.com/

cool bicycle ads

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/753106.html

"It was easy", he said off-handedly...

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=83416&in_page_id=2

gee....thanks....I guess...

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/NEWS/801090389/1001

Let's see, out of a nation with millions, we get 38 combat guys, with another couple hundred support dudes; THREE years of "training"; come into the war when Germany is surrendering and Japan is reeling. What berserker fury! Truly a profile in courage, what a contribution, right up there with Andorra.

The Cutting Edge of Banking

http://timworstall.typepad.com/timworstall/2008/01/virgilio-cintro.html

(Thanks for the link, Linda!)

Happy Birthday Rod Stewart!

http://www.rodstewartfanclub.com/home.php

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xikQ0c5KdZE

Happy Birthday Jim Croce!

http://www.jimcroce.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iS8XctJKo

Happy Peculiar People Day!

Kids: Just Say No

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=83012&in_page_id=2

the cutting edge of junk mail...

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=83003&in_page_id=2

Alert Captain Hook!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7161611.stm

Russia is now officially Third World

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=82778&in_page_id=2

Happy Birthday Bob Denver!

http://www.bobdenver.com/

Happy Birthday Lee Van Cleef!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Van_Cleef

grave problems in Germany

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,527134,00.html

insert joke here:

murdering women as an advertising ploy

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/749754.html
I enjoy how his necktie is about to jam into the machine, choking him to death as his secretary turns the handle...

for all of you budding coroners...

http://www.ghostdroppings.com/comments.php?id=10261_0_1_0_C

Gene Vincent performs Be Bop A Lula

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDU9FP5_B2M&feature=related

One of the original tough guys of rock. Essential.

Jackie DeShannon performs When You Walk In The Room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O-7qdvdkso&feature=related
A great singer/songwriter, (and one of the prettiest women in rock).

Paula Cole video for Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6K7iJ0ahqU

always liked this song...

CCR perform Fortunate Son

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X90T5sY5c2o

Another great American band and song. Essential.

AC/DC perform Highway To Hell

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

Fun stuff!

yea, right....

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/124258.html

I can't even get the pack of criminals at the local Saturn dealership to replace the rear windshield wiper. And you think I'm gonna trust them to program my car to drive itself in DC traffic??? No thanks. And there is not enough computer power on earth to successfully drive on Route 7 from Bailey's Crossroads to Seven Corners when the Mosque lets out....

HellBoy II trailer

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809826056/trailer

Zombie Kid Likes Turtles

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

And don't miss the Remix: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NscTj38iaHk&feature=related

(Thanks for the link, Carol!)

Happy Birthday David Bowie!

http://www.davidbowie.com/

http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/

Happy Birthday Robbie Krieger!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_Krieger
http://www.robbykrieger.com/

Happy Birthday Graham Chapman!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001037/

http://www.lambda.net/~maximum/chapman.html

http://pythonline.com/meet/chapman

Dave Edmunds covers I Hear You Knockin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEBuPeiSLTw&feature=related

Another classic. I don't know where this video is from, but I'm pretty sure that's the legendary Miami Horns backing him...

Ronnie Lane performs Ooh La La

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYPTX12L5Uw

Brilliant. One of the great rockers that all too many people have never heard of. Criminal. Poor Ronnie, RIP.

Cheap Trick perform Surrender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8ymBR2Ufo

Great, great power pop. Another band that looked like they were going to break through into super stardom around early '79. Remember the promotional bow ties? I always thought they were quite cool!

The 13th Floor Elevators lipsynch You're Gonna Miss Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfcHgk10rbg

Psychedelic Titans. Ultra-Essential. They challenged the heavens, and paid heavily. Euripides knew: "Whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad."

(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

The Bay City rollers perform Saturday Night

http://bedazzled.onlinestoragesolution.com/saturday_night.mov

A guilty pleasure. Hell, I love this tune - a perfect last gasp of bubblegum innocence before punk blew it all out of the water.

Happy Birthday Charles Addams!

http://www.charlesaddams.com/

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

Happy Handsel Day!

http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-in-scotland.html

Happy Plough Monday!

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

Psychedelic Furs video for Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2R3FJyT1rc

One of the best bands from the early/mid 80's. Those first two albums are classics.

The James Gang perform Walk Away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2k1Vz1-rjc

Classic Joe Walsh.

Bobby Fuller Four lipsyching to Let her Dance/Another Sad & Lonely Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP9Xc9Nq4YU&NR=1

Poor Bobby - murdered, and another one who should've/could've been bigger...

The dB's perform She's Got Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAr5jNAGfA8

Great band and song. Should've been bigger.

Justin Hayward performs Driftwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8RCFZDEwYg

Beautiful song...

another year, and the search continues...

To say one is a collector isn't enough. For to be a good collector one must also be a good hunter. And over the years, if I may say so, I've been a very good hunter indeed. Especially when it comes to the music I enjoy. REM's ultra-rare original version of "Sitting Still", Lick the Tins cover of I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, the almost unheard-of soundtrack to "No Go", the Slickee Boys Christmas single, Bruce Springsteen's answering machine recording - all have succumbed to my patience, my perseverance, and my near-psychotic devotion. The same can be said of my collections of books, magazines, and pop ephemera. And over the years many of you have helped me - with my eternal gratitude.
But to date, two things have really eluded me. And I am asking your help, dear reader. The first recording I only found out about four years ago on a pop station on live365.com. It was a single released on the Sire label around 1972. It's title was "Something's Gone" by an American group called The Jam, (no - not the much more famous British group of 1977). It's a wonderful power pop song with a near-perfect mid-Sixties feel to it. A minor masterpiece. But I can't find the single anywhere, nor can I find any reference to the group. It's as if they never existed.
The second recording involves my longest search - ever. About 35 years ago, our local radio station, WHFS, used to play a version of I Am The Walrus performed by a group of children. I seem to remember the claim that it had been produced by John Lennon, (but won't swear to that). It was both haunting and amusing. And I can't find it. Can't even find a reference to the damned thing. A few years ago, I went to some ultra-Beatles website that claimed to know everything about everything and listed email addresses to all their experts on all things Beatles, even broke it down as to who knew what, etc. I wrote to the two clowns who claimed omnipotence on recordings about my quest, and the cowards never replied, obviously stumped.
And so I come to you, dear readers. Please. If you know anything about either of these recordings, please let me know. If you know someone who might know - please ask them. Whenever you find yourself in a used record store - please ask. I am not a wealthy man, but these records are so unknown that they can't be selling at collector's prices - no one knows about them!
Thanks in advance. Let's see what 2008 turns up...

Happy Birthday Gustav Dore!

http://dore.artpassions.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Dor%C3%A9

One of the greatest illustrators - ever. Really magnificent, and VERY influential.

Happy Birthday Rowan Atkinson!

http://www.rowanatkinson.com/forum.php

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000100/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4TKTRV4HM0&NR=1 (a nice history lesson)

Happy Birthday Sherlock Holmes!

http://www.sherlockian.net/world/

Jo Dee Messina video for Heads Carolina, Tails California

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

Great song! I've only been in that situation once, many many years ago, and chickened out. Of course, my toss would've included Colorado....

God performs Badge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFsYR41V0U8
;)

spirit perform I Got A Line On You (with a host of friends)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfO7hasRvis

Classic.

Tommy James & The Shondells video for She

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu4SvPN6ifw
Never considered hip, I always liked 'em. Progressive bubblegum.

The Standells lipsynch Dirty Water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apEctKwiD8&feature=related
One of the greats.

The Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band: The Intro & The Outro

It's probably an acquired taste, but I always really liked this.

wife beating as an advertising tool

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/747289.html

Dylan Museum Exhibit

http://travelvideo.tv/news/more.php?id=13297_0_1_0_M

more info on Hitler's supposed attempt to assassinate the Big 3

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080104/94760483.html
I continue to remain skeptical of these reports...

I'm running a little late...

http://www.thothweb.com/article6211.html

It begins...

Greetings From Asbury Park was released on this date in 1973. Suddenly, a lot of us had a soundtrack to our lives. Thanks Bruce!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dy7RTicVr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzGt4T5lJBQ&feature=related

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4t2erRSVJo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCY1_msUYPQ

It's a cold night in DC, very cold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZmtq5LhFo

Neil Diamond performs Cracklin' Rosie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCTF-IksHQ8&feature=related
Great song. National Anthem for winos.

True West perform Hollywood Holiday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZm3MCdBPbU

Poor film, great song. For a few months, the LA Paisley Underground was the hottest thing going. A gem of a secret - you practically had to work in a record store to know about it. One more tattered little memory...

Suzanne Vega video for When Heroes Go Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zr-f1j7H9A

My fave Vega tune. Fun lyrics.

Jay & The Americans cover Walkin' In The Rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ3iLjajdxE

Beautiful Brill-era song, one of the last good examples of Italian American-style pop.

The Pogues perfrom Thousands Are Sailing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IooPBuFoJCM&feature=related

One of the saddest songs I know. Irish Blues.

Cyndi Lauper performs Money Changes Everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDEOD5G8R-4

Great song, (the original by the Brains is also cool...)

Banaarama perform Robert De Niro's Waiting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4s_Zu2_S1w

Fun song, smooth sound.

Nick Danger - Third Eye!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5XfXECpU6w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=200erlAHzU8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEltFvygT0c&feature=related

Probably the most famous routine by the Firesign Theatre. Brilliant.

Combat!

http://www.howmanyfiveyearoldscouldyoutakeinafight.com/

live filthy, live healthy

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=115591
This means my next door neighbors are probably immortal...

Very Good, Young Jedi...

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=115589

Happy Trivia Day!

cool t-shirt for fans of Elric

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/chaos/-/pv_design_details/pg_4/id_18728647/opt_/fpt_/c_666/

Cthulhu Throw Pillow

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/chaos/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.32386364/pNo_32386364/id_8829432/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_

THE most misogynistic ad, ever?

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/743679.html

I Double-Dog Dare You!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=82219&in_page_id=2

fun with record jackets!

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/18729528.html

(Thanks for the link, Mathew!)

Karloff, Sinatra, & the 3 Stooges play baseball....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUT1cgFELw&eurl=http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/

The Spinners perfrom I'll Be Around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-2Zupp6nM8
Ah, loves lost and found...One of the greatest tunes from the 70's. Great lyrics - the type of promise only the young can make and believe...

Chuck Berry performs Reelin' & Rockin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTnoSsaeOn0
One of the gods. You just can't overestimate Berry's importance and influence on pop culture.

Kinky sings Sold American

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

One of the great songs of defeat and retreat. 'Twas back in the Spring of '78 that I was packing up to escape Williamsburg. As always, I was listening to the college station, the great WCWM, and called up to request they play this and provide a soundtrack for my exit, which the DJ immediately and graciously did. I always slink away with Class....

Mr. Loaf's video for Paradise By The Dashboard Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ns8t9iQck

One of the great rock videos. That's the lovely Karla Devito singing with him.

It's An Outrage!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/01/AR2008010100585.html

Is there no end to these biblical plagues? Can't they plow up some more Czech fields or put a few more Bavarians on the night shift? Christ, guys - DO SOMETHING! I am going to be one seriously pissed off dude if there's suddenly a shortage of Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale or Dogfish 90 Minute IPA. As for Dogfish's ridiculous substitute of some sort of ersatz Mayan chocolate beer - no thanks, if I want to throw up, I'll just go traditional and stick my finger down my throat...
At least there's Virginia Gentleman - you're always there for me....

Kinks Reunion???

http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=53547305

(Thanks for the link, Pete!)

Happy Birthday El Kabong!

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

The character debuted on this date in 1960.

Happy Science Fiction Day!

the end of corporate control over media

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122800693.html

There is nothing nicer than watching a big, fat, spoiled dinosaur, wallowing around in a tar pit, slowly sinking and thrashing around blindly. The recording industry has decided that the only way to make money is to sue the people who buy its product - beautiful! Simply poetic! The twelve or so companies that almost completely own and determine what music you see and/or hear on radio, TV, concert halls and recordings have managed to destroy American pop culture, at least above ground. And now, with parasitical fury, hope to drain the last bit of blood from the very people who've kept them in business. Good riddance to both.
Look to the independents online and in homes. They are the little cultural mammals, scurrying around beneath the dying brontosaurs of WEA, Sony, and Clear Channel.

world's largest gum wrapper

http://www.gumwrapper.com/

a few thoughts

Had a very nice time last night with some of you at my brother's place (Thanks Ed!). Made it home early to avoid the inevitable checkpoints. Many thanks to John for bringing the mortar - Explosives and champagne always make for a perfect evening!
I hope everyone else had a good celebration. This'll probably be an interesting year coming up, with a new job for me, (and for several of you reading this - Congrats!); and a few new marriages, babies, and homes for others of you, my friends. We'll see how it all goes...

Weirdness

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Monday, January 28, 2008

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Friday, January 25, 2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Monday, January 21, 2008

all sorts of REH/Conan news!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Shelter From The Storm, circa 78-81...

Friday, January 18, 2008

getting ahead of myself:

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Happy National Nothing Day!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Monday, January 14, 2008

Happy Mallard Day!

Happy Ratification Day!

Sunday, January 13, 2008