Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday Random Ten


Novocaine For The Soul -- Eels
Red Tide -- Foxboro Hot Tubs
Last To Die -- Bruce Springsteen
Would I Lie To You -- Eurythmics
Woe -- Tom Waits
Family Snapshot -- Peter Gabriel
Caring Is Creepy -- The Shins
King & Queen -- Wyclef Jean and Shakira
I'm A Mess -- Nick Lowe
Dirty Love -- Frank Zappa

Bonus (it's fucking freezing cold, 10 ° this morning) cuts:

Missing -- Beck
Daughter -- Pearl Jam

Thursday, January 28, 2010

J.D. Salinger


The ever reclusive Salinger has passed. Being the hermit that he was, I wonder how it was actually discovered that he had died. I mean, if J.D. Salinger dies in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does he make a sound?

Anyhoo, here's the longest obituary known to Western man.

Zelda Rubinstein


Go into the light...all are welcome.

SOTU Review


Being a pinko-leftist-socialist, I have access to only liberal screeds so both of my links today are to that scaborous rag, Salon, which, as we all know, is the modern day electronic version of the Daily Worker.

Anyway, Glenn Greenwald nails Sam Alito to the wall because the tool was acting out like a Jerry Springer audience member during the most visible moment in the speech for the Supremes.

And on a more decorous note, Joan Walsh mirrors my reaction to the SOTU.

Obama, albeit briefly, reminded my of why I voted for him in the first place. The last five minutes really were quite gripping. I'm sure that there's video of it out there somewhere...the most excellent closing stuff begins at about the 1:06 minute mark.

UPDATE: Brother Dave reminded me that The Rude Pundit has a nice slant on last night's oration as well. Tip o' the lid to the Rooster.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Tibor Sarossy


Life has weird twists and turns in it.

I met Tibor Sarossy a few years back when I started contracting with the Board of Elections. I encountered him again last year in one of the training classes I was teaching. He was a complete trip. Fairly unreasonable, stubborn and argumentative would be three adjectives I would use to describe him. A great volunteer who actually added more conflict than help to the overall mix.

Regardless, he was a devoted citizen and participant who worked hard to promote democracy and the rights of others. And no one deserves to be run down in the street.

And yes, he told everyone he met that he was on the Tonight Show way back when for having driven a motorcycle cross country in some 40 hours without stopping because it was true.

Mr. Sarrossy owns the world record for traveling from New York to Los Angeles by motorcycle! He accomplished this in 45 hours, 41 minutes in 1968. Riding a BMW model R69S, Sarossy made four fuel stops, never slept, fainted twice and averaged 58.7 miles per hour all the way across.

Like I said, he was a trip.

Fox News


Umm, yeah, I'm just speechless. We've really got to get out of this silly country...

That's Pearlstein with an "a"


The speech Obama should give.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

My Congressional Representative


Ladies and Germs, the Hon. Dennis J. Kucinich.

Assume the position


Digby says it's time to submit your mind to the truth that is the Military Industrial Complex. I've been of this worldview for some time now and as she states, this may be the best rationale yet at to why Obama is failing our best hopes and intentions on nearly every level.

In any case, go read the super duper review of Gary Wills new tome...new and improved with more Perlstein...

Wyclef


We missed the broadcast last night, but I found this clip of Wyclef closing out the show with my all time fave Jamaican Rocksteady dub songs by The Melodians.

Here's the original...

Doomier and Gloomier


After going to see the terrific Up In The Air last night and reading Bob Herbert's column from yesterday, I'm less than enthused about my personal future.

And, after closing the door on Unemployment benefits this year, I'm filing a tax return where I made less than I did in 1986.

Anybody out there got a job for me?...

Friday, January 22, 2010

Turn out the lights


Today seems as good a day to bid farewell to America as any I suppose. Here's why.

Friday Random Ten


Breathless -- Jerry Lee Lewis
Blue Spark -- X
The Gift -- Annie Lennox
Gonna Get Me Someone -- The Greenhornes
Glad All Over -- Carl Perkins
Greystone Chapel -- Johnny Cash
New -- No Doubt
Food -- Nellie McKay
Hungry For Love -- Todd Rundgren
Kinder Murder -- Elvis Costello

Bonus musica...

Lazy River -- Leon Redbone

Oh, and here's one more with a taste of Wyclef with Prodigy of Mobb Deep. Wyclef is doing his big t.v special tonight for Haiti relief. Peace.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Eels


Mr. Low-Fi himself, Mark Everett, sings us a sad, sad song about breaking up from his new release, the cheery End Times.

More Boston stuff


Since I am on a hot streak about my prognostications about the futures of flashy pols, re: Sarah Palin joing Faux News; I hereby predict that "Downtown" Scotty Brown will be heavily embroiled in a weird ass sex scandal before year's end. Trust me, this guy is a flake.

That is all.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Pudge Speaks


I always loved the manner in which Carlton Fisk played the game. He was one tough hombre. Suck on it, McGuire.

Stock news


Gosh, Jim Cramer is dumb.

New Math

The First 364 Days 23 Hours
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorHealth Care Crisis

And remember...Negros aren't magic.

Beginning of the end

While there will be tons of Weds. morning quarterbacking on yesterday's outcome in MA, Bob Scheer, as usual, comes up with two of the primary reasons this election went down in flames.

The irony of Health Care Reform being upended by some dumb glamour boy who has wrested Teddy's Senate chair is overwhelming enough, but there is one more factor that changed the field in this prescient event that Mr. Scheer has missed.



Fox News.

The chronic battering of Obama by Roger Ailes' crew has now officially got some traction. The noise machine is bearing fruit and will be greatly emboldened by this win by Scott Brown.

My prediction?...we'll be watching the inaugural of President Palin and her veep, Glenn Beck three years from now.

You probably think I'm kidding, right? I'm not.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Oh, Canada


You had me at hello, eh? The Blonde and I really need to get out of the US.

From Housing aid to Electrical Grid upgrade to Education and The Arts, Canada has radically better solutions and superior reporting of how things are preceeding than we do.

Folks, this is what your world might be like if every 48 cents of every dollar weren't spent on making perpetual war.

K.O. Punch


Olbermann sure lets 'em have it.

Pat Robertson


Help for Haiti. Give 'til it hurts...a lot.

El Rushbo edition here.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Craig Ferguson


An affable Scotsman trying to class up America. Fuck Rush Limbaugh.

Friday Random Ten


Redemption Song -- Bob Marley
Go, Hippie -- Fountains Of Wayne
Front Page -- The Redwalls
Satellite -- Elvis Costello
Zimzallabim -- Mos Def
I Don't Want To Tie You Down -- Todd Rundgren
Things Ain't Like They Used To Be -- The Black Keys
Long Way Home -- Tom Waits
Dancin' Fool -- Frank Zappa
Me And The Eagle -- Steve Earle

Bonus MLK Day cut:

Army Girls Gone Wild -- Jihad Jerry and The Evildoers

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Haiti


Arcade Fire's Haiti tells the long and sad story of this island nation. May they one day recover from the pain the world has set on them.

Haïti, mon pays,
wounded mother I'll never see.
Ma famille set me free.
Throw my ashes into the sea.

Mes cousins jamais nés
hantent les nuits de Duvalier.
Rien n'arrete nos esprits.
Guns can't kill what soldiers can't see.

In the forest we lie hiding,
unmarked graves where flowers grow.
Hear the soldiers angry yelling,
in the river we will go.

Tous les morts-nés forment une armée,
soon we will reclaim the earth.
All the tears and all the bodies
bring about our second birth.

Haïti, never free,
n'aie pas peur de sonner l'alarme.
Tes enfants sont partis,
In those days their blood was still warm

UPDATE: Terrifying pictures from the Boston Globe. Wow. Not for the feint of heart.

Vampire Weekend


Those clever lads from the Upper West Side drop their second album this week. Here's a sample...

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Friday, January 08, 2010

Why newspapers are dying


These read like they're something right out of The Onion. They're not.

Crazy Heart


This film is coming to Cleveland at the end of the month. Must go see it.

And for those of you who may be unaware, Mr. Ebert is and has been a very ill man for sometime now. He's still my favorite movie reviewer of all time and now a blogger extraordinaire. He's really a great writer and answers more reader comments that any blogger I've ever followed.

...including me.

Joe Biden


Why not, just for laughs, listen to what the actual current V.P. of the United States has to say for a change instead of chronically heeding the ghoul who previously held that office?

Gee, I dunno, maybe because he makes too much sense?...

Spoon


The album drops on the 19th. Best. American. Band. Ever.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Friday Random Ten


Many Shades Of Black -- The Raconteurs
Busted -- Johnny Cash
Has She Got A Friend? -- Nick Lowe
Luxurious -- Gwen Stefani
Rudy, A Message To You -- Dandy Livingstone
Long & Lazy River -- Nellie McKay
Missing -- Beck
Siren Song -- The Fags
So Many Ways -- Mates Of State
The Will And The Lighthouse -- Arcade Fire

Dead Elvis Week bonus cut...

Black Lagoon -- Dave Edmunds

Mann Coulter


While I usually do my level best to avoid posting anything that may further the career of Ann Coulter, it struck me as odd that she would be so adamantly opposed to these full body scan machines that are all the rage since last month's underpants conflagration.

Then, it came to me...it's got nothing to do with civil rights, she just doesn't want anyone to see that wee dick planted between her hermaphroditic crotch.

Case closed...next?

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Mr. Fish


Go War!

Terror redux


As I said earlier, the terrorists are winning. Just ask Andy.

Pistols


Here's a mid morning break with the boys from 1976's long lost telly show So It Goes which hosted many, if not all, of the influential bands of that era. While Sid "fabulous disaster" Vicious was certainly a better source of visual stimuli, Glenn Matlock was obviously the superior musician.

Steve Jones wasn't a bad guitar player either.

Pretty hilarious too that this sort of rot would NEVER get on television these days.

Here's more news


Shorter Bob Herbert...we're so deeply hosed as a Nation.

Underpants


Ummmm...the terrorists have officially won.

Monday, January 04, 2010

Tonight Show


Conan has Patton Oswalt on his television program this evening. Patton Oswalt is one funny mutherfucker, man.

Here's his now infamous, "Sky Cake" routine.

Thinking ahead


It's stuff like this that makes me want to flee the US and head for "greener" pastures. Besides short sighted stupidity and wing-nut resistance, can anybody explain to me why on earth we can't come up with a plan like this?

I mean, it's not like we need an entirely new electrical grid in these parts, right?...

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Big Pharma bonkers over Birthers


I barely made a peep about El Rushbo going to the emergency room this week just becasue it was just too soft a target. Sadly, the reports are that he's walking and talking again. Swell.

I feel compelled however to post this ditty from Think Progess that yet again, redefines "irony". Of course, when Rush was born, it wasn't so much of a "birthing" as it was a "whaling".

Gosh, I hate Rush Limbaugh.

Swell decade


Here's a big crap sandwich courtesy of the WaPo for your lunchtime repast.

Ted Rall


You are not free to move about the country.

Friday, January 01, 2010

Ian Dury


Sam and I were particularly keen on the insanity that was Ian Dury. We even saw him at the Agora one evening if I recall correctly.

Anyway, It would appear that they've made a bio-pic about the man starring Andy Serkis, who it would appear, is a bit of a headcase himself.

Change is good


Andrew Leonard frames some reasons it's okay to feel okay about the future on this first day of the New Year.

Friday Random Ten (New Year edition)


California Blue -- Roy Orbison
Can't Do A Thing -- Chris Isaak
Put Your Cat Clothes On -- Carl Perkins
Big Moon -- John Doe
Ole Black N' Blue Eyes -- The Fratellis
The Gentry Cove -- Pretty Dirty Things
Long Live Rock -- The Who
You're a Hum-Dinger -- BR5-49
Come On Let's Go -- Paul Weller
Calliope -- Tom Waits

Bonus 2010 cut:

Lipstick -- Buzzcocks