End Times

Mr. Kunstler is baying at the moon again this New Year's Eve and it's worth the ride so saddle up and give him 10 minutes of your time. He may seem like he's completely whacked out of his skull but the crazy MF sure can string together a sentence.

Brother Dave went to see him lecture in Appleton this Fall and said that he was a stone cold a-hole in person which I don't doubt.

However, regardless of his recurring Chicken Little themes, I dig the way he writes and having been a closet anarchist most of my sentient life, I kind of want to watch the meltdown of this American society from a front row seat. Even if he's a just a little bit correct on a few of his prognostications, we're all in it up to our pie-holes.

And so gentle readers, enjoy yourself...it's later than you think. Now, I wouldn't encourage a full on GG Allin routine just yet, but go out tonite and have cocktail or eight and a nice dinner.

You may not pass this way again anytime soon.

A Happy New Year's greeting from two of the friendliest dogs you're ever likely to meet...

Pinter of my discontent

Man, sometimes I wish I still lived in the city. Even though my personal jury is still out on Ian McShane's acting...I'd love to go see this bad boy.

Tom Waits

Sweeney Todd

Okay, so I'll admit to being both a big Tim Burton fan as well as a ardent Sondheim devotee. I've loved Sweeney Todd since I first heard the original cast album and saw Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett on my first ever trip to NYC.

However, as much as I really wanted to dig the new film version, nothing prepared me for how marvelous it is. Depp is great, Helena Bonham Carter is brilliant as Mrs. Lovett and the overall Burtonesque feel of the film is spot on.

My Christmas morning recommendation to all you LM Soupers out there is to run, not walk, to the nearest cinema show and GO SEE THIS MOVIE. If you're not familiar with this musical event, be prepared for the fact that there is very little dialogue; that it's nearly an opera and, in the grand guignol tradition of graphic violence, it's terribly bloody.

It's the first time in a long while that both myself and the missus walked out of a film proclaiming sheer joy at the thing that we had just seen and vowed that when it's released on DVD, we're procuring a copy for ourselves...

Friday random Ten

Today is the last day on the job. Almost nine years on this gig. A strange mix of fear and elation is the prevailing mood du jour.

Regardless, let's rock, eh?...

Doesn't Remind Me--Audioslave
Don't Make Me A Target--Spoon
Balaclava--Arctic Monkeys
Mr. Jelly Roll Baker--Leon Redbone
For Your Pleasure--Roxy Music
Did Ye Get Healed?--Van Morrison
The Way You Move--Outkast
Motorcycle--Iggy Pop
Things That Scare Me--Neko Case
On The Bus Mall--The Decemberists

Well, golleeee...

Man, that DarkBlack is a wild ride.

Zappadan

Remember, tomorrow is the last day of Zappadan. Go home tonight and crank up Zombie Woof.

I mean it.

They put the "fun" in Fundie

I don't often link to David Neiwert over at Orcinus 'cause the posts over there can be reeeallll loooong. This one by the ever brilliant Sara Robinson is right on the money and can be digested quickly.

Go forth and read the truth about the dark side of the 'Murkan psyche...

And a Chimpy New Year

Steve Bell has been hanging around the White House.

Bill Hicks

If you're seeking an excellent profile on the man, look no further than here...written by the son of Bert Lahr, no less.

Like the corners of my mind...

There are memories, and then there are memories. I found this piece out on the innertubes today.

Wow. Sam and I were at this show that night and it was an amazing event. Cooper might have been there too, I forget now. Tickets were $4.50.

I, of course, remember it being a much better performance than the guy who wrote the article but that's a Melody Maker columnist for ya. Instead of the Lester Bangs model, they always seemed like a bunch of panty-waist twats to me.

Anyhow, a pretty cool walk into my increasingly distant past.

Friday Random Ten

The Government Darling--Spoon
Fear Of Sleep--The Strokes
The Good Time Are Killing Me--Modest Mouse
The Mariner's Revenge Song--The Decemberists
Sweet Hitch-Hiker--Creedence Clearwater Revival
My Back Pages--The Hollies
All On A Misty Morning--Paul Weller
Runnin' Out Of Fools--Neko Case
Bottom Of The World--Tom Waits
Tennessee Blues--Steve Earle

Bonus Track:

Slippin' And Slidin'--Little Richard (woooo!)

I don't make monkeys...I train 'em!

Here's some good news on a cold and rainy day.

Meka-leka-hi-meka-hiney-ho, y'all.

FZ Daze

Oh, and don't forget everyone, we're nearly at the apogee of Zappadan. Do it like a poodle for Frank.

How 'bout you, Fauna...you wanna?

Dear God

Ever wondered how I feel in general about religion?...

As the redneck said to his drunk friends, watch this.

Norah Jones - My Dear Country

Best Band in the Land

I just heard on WCLV this morning that today is the anniversary of the first ever concert of the Cleveland Orchestra.

What a treat it is to live here and know that these wonderful musicians are our own local treasure.

Ooooooooohhhhhmmmmmmmm

This has got me feeling pretty Zen, er, I mean ZENN.

Watch the vid with Rick Mercer of "This Hour has 22 Minutes" fame. He's pretty funny. Kind of a Canadian mashup of Conan and Bill Maher

Really cool stuff, eh? And they even have a dealership here in Ohio.

Aha!

I knew that they were smart all along . I always wondered how come we pick up their poop for them.

I mean, c'mon, that's just diabolically clever doncha think?

Yeah, but, what about the Dow Jones?...

Oh, not to worry, it's back up again this month. But under any circumstances, remember, pay no attention to the gun nutz.

And as always, "Guns don't kill people...people with guns kill people"...