I have to giggle,
When the National Review, the conservative magazine who gave a national voice to conservatives back when it was considered a social disease, sells out its founder William F Buckley, jr. you just know it is going to be a fun day for the media. (And for those who have opinions on such things, how awesome would a Bill Buckley/Gore Vidal fighting video game be?)
But chiming throughout the news of the hour on NPR this morning was talk of Al Quada. Not the warm fluffy Al Quada who is hiding meekly in caves licking their wounds, no, but the scary let's-take-Iraq-from-these-Democracy-lovers Al Quada.
You see, the term used by everyone until recently was insurgents. Insurgents. A nice term. A neutral term upon which we can afix our own private fears and expectations. But, as the war becomes less popular than a Three's Company spin off it is necessary to wag the dog in a different sort of way, a handjob from your grandmother that is so good you have to pretend it isn't your grandmother sort of way.
So bam, suddenly the insurgents are all gone and the White House has been using the term Al Quada to replace it. Just like magic. It is such a bold faced lie, so factless that surly respected media outlets wouldn't use it, right?
No... please back away from the kool-aid
But hey, to make it up to me they ran a story about how an evangelical Christian magically turned himself from gay to straight. As if he found the philosophers stone and poosh! Went from glitter to gold.
That isn't news folks. Any more than it would be if I convinced myself I was no longer human but unicorn.
Well, if your childhood was as reclusive and dull as mine was you probably know that unicorns have the ability to sense virgins (no, really). And NPR, your doe-eyed wonder today indicates you are in a painful need to get your cherry obliterated. May I suggest Sylvia Pajolie and Nina Totenberg in a rub full of My*T*Fine pudding?
No, Vanilla would do nicely, but thank you NPR for the suggestion.
James's Journal
My Podcast Link
06/26/2007 13:36 #39813
NPR: Why must you suck?Category: npr
06/23/2007 23:19 #39789
Everything I know about the ThereminProperly titled: Everything I know about the Theremin without the use of reference material.
Already, I have told you a lie. For this post does not contain everything I know about the Theremin. For complete knowledge of this musical instrument require secrets learned in hermetic chambers of occult brotherhoods, like the free masons, or cub scouts. Furthermore, a mind is a leaky sieve. Which is to say, it forgets things, only more so. For a sieve is leaky to begin with, but a leaky sieve is practically useless. So if you were shooting to get a C on your term paper on the Theremin, allow me to suggest wikipedia. If you were hoping on getting a C on your masters thesis, allow me to suggest Little Tikes My First Encyclopedia.
First, meaningless anecdote.
I first became interested in the Theremin when, as a child, my father told me that the Theremin was like a woman. That is, it makes a lot of noise without you even touching it. I didn't know what he meant, but some years later when I thought I figured it out it turned me gay. Which is a shame as I had a promising career in cunilingus ahead of me.
Many people will say that America won the cold war. This is only partially true, and therefor mostly wrong. For yes, we won the space race and the arms race, and yes we broke them with the Berlin airlift but we lost the war on several other fronts. We lost the propaganda war. The Russian version of Leave it to Beaver, called Glorious Praise to the Technological Wonder of the Peoples Progress by Comrade Beavervitch, not only won audiences over with greater canned laughter exposures, but also indoctrinated household pets in the same room at their masters' television set.
The war was also lost on the musical front. While the west invented jazz, rock and roll, and the power ballad, the Soviets had developed the Theremin: an instrument part technological wonder, part war machine, and capable of emitting high power waves capable of disrupting karaoke machines.
The inventor, Leon Theremin had invented several other important modern instruments; including the acordiolla, the electric timpani, and the canon which would be later added into the 1812 overture by Americans conscious of the musical race.
After this, his most important invention Leon toured Europe and eventually came to New York (a colony of the United States) where he set up a lab to work on unpractical applications of the Theremin. A decade later he would mysteriously disappear. He was brought back to Russia by secret agents and sent to a laboratory gulag to work on military applications of the Theremin. It was from these labors that we know have the heat seeking missile and the swiss army knife.
Decades later, the Soviet government realized they had left Leon in the work prison. This was their official position on the mater however. While at the labor camp Leon had devised used his Theremin as a teleportation device and let his fellow prisoners escape but remained behind to operate the machine and ensure that guards could not pursue the prisoners through the devise.
None of the prisoners were ever to be seen again though. Leon had opened up a portal, not to the safety of the west, but rather to the surface of Mars in the hopes that by winning the space race for Russia Leon would be let free and exalted as a hero. The prisoners grandchildren are still on Mars, waiting for the Glorious Space Rockets of the Proletarian will come to rescue them. Mars is temperate, but dull they will report.
Leon's fate was not so pleasant. His final gulag meal would be three weeks later where he choked to death on the bit of pork fat in a plate of beans. This would not be what killed him however. Seeking to use his Theremin as a teleporter once again an explosion occurred when pork fat came into the instruments radiation field. This is why all Theremin players today are strict Jews or Muslims and refuse to play in slaughter houses.
The secrets of the instrument unlocked by Leon would die with him. The soviet government wished to destroy his lab and his many notes. The resulting bonfire would be the chief cause of the Chernobyl melt down. Many people would say that then Leon had his revenge, but they don't know this to be true so they do not say it.
As for the Theremin's future, well, like many technologies modern man has received from lost civilizations, we may never fully understand it; but we may gaze in wonder and fear.
Already, I have told you a lie. For this post does not contain everything I know about the Theremin. For complete knowledge of this musical instrument require secrets learned in hermetic chambers of occult brotherhoods, like the free masons, or cub scouts. Furthermore, a mind is a leaky sieve. Which is to say, it forgets things, only more so. For a sieve is leaky to begin with, but a leaky sieve is practically useless. So if you were shooting to get a C on your term paper on the Theremin, allow me to suggest wikipedia. If you were hoping on getting a C on your masters thesis, allow me to suggest Little Tikes My First Encyclopedia.
First, meaningless anecdote.
I first became interested in the Theremin when, as a child, my father told me that the Theremin was like a woman. That is, it makes a lot of noise without you even touching it. I didn't know what he meant, but some years later when I thought I figured it out it turned me gay. Which is a shame as I had a promising career in cunilingus ahead of me.
Many people will say that America won the cold war. This is only partially true, and therefor mostly wrong. For yes, we won the space race and the arms race, and yes we broke them with the Berlin airlift but we lost the war on several other fronts. We lost the propaganda war. The Russian version of Leave it to Beaver, called Glorious Praise to the Technological Wonder of the Peoples Progress by Comrade Beavervitch, not only won audiences over with greater canned laughter exposures, but also indoctrinated household pets in the same room at their masters' television set.
The war was also lost on the musical front. While the west invented jazz, rock and roll, and the power ballad, the Soviets had developed the Theremin: an instrument part technological wonder, part war machine, and capable of emitting high power waves capable of disrupting karaoke machines.
The inventor, Leon Theremin had invented several other important modern instruments; including the acordiolla, the electric timpani, and the canon which would be later added into the 1812 overture by Americans conscious of the musical race.
After this, his most important invention Leon toured Europe and eventually came to New York (a colony of the United States) where he set up a lab to work on unpractical applications of the Theremin. A decade later he would mysteriously disappear. He was brought back to Russia by secret agents and sent to a laboratory gulag to work on military applications of the Theremin. It was from these labors that we know have the heat seeking missile and the swiss army knife.
Decades later, the Soviet government realized they had left Leon in the work prison. This was their official position on the mater however. While at the labor camp Leon had devised used his Theremin as a teleportation device and let his fellow prisoners escape but remained behind to operate the machine and ensure that guards could not pursue the prisoners through the devise.
None of the prisoners were ever to be seen again though. Leon had opened up a portal, not to the safety of the west, but rather to the surface of Mars in the hopes that by winning the space race for Russia Leon would be let free and exalted as a hero. The prisoners grandchildren are still on Mars, waiting for the Glorious Space Rockets of the Proletarian will come to rescue them. Mars is temperate, but dull they will report.
Leon's fate was not so pleasant. His final gulag meal would be three weeks later where he choked to death on the bit of pork fat in a plate of beans. This would not be what killed him however. Seeking to use his Theremin as a teleporter once again an explosion occurred when pork fat came into the instruments radiation field. This is why all Theremin players today are strict Jews or Muslims and refuse to play in slaughter houses.
The secrets of the instrument unlocked by Leon would die with him. The soviet government wished to destroy his lab and his many notes. The resulting bonfire would be the chief cause of the Chernobyl melt down. Many people would say that then Leon had his revenge, but they don't know this to be true so they do not say it.
As for the Theremin's future, well, like many technologies modern man has received from lost civilizations, we may never fully understand it; but we may gaze in wonder and fear.
jason - 06/25/07 10:20
I'm pretty impressed James. No reference material, eh?
I'm pretty impressed James. No reference material, eh?
fellyconnelly - 06/24/07 17:30
james have i mentioned how much you rock?
seriously... i think i turned into a gay italian with the flailing arms and the laughter and whatnot...
james have i mentioned how much you rock?
seriously... i think i turned into a gay italian with the flailing arms and the laughter and whatnot...
drew - 06/24/07 07:33
Thank you. Hilarious.
Thank you. Hilarious.
06/19/2007 21:34 #39737
OMGWTF ROXOROh ya, this election season is going to fricken rock!
First off, the GOP has the worst field of candidates possible. Which makes me giggle. But then, what is this? Quinipiac has a poll that shows Guiliani beating the snot out of Hilly, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. But can't win against Al Gore. Guiliani moderate image (and let's face it, he is putting on a show for his party, he is pretty fly for a GOP guy on abortion, GLBT rights, etc) tugs at the heart strings of swing stators.
But then what happens?
Michael Bloomberg tonight filed with the board of elections to change his party from Republican to non-affiliated. The man has an approval rating of 75% in NYC, and can steel the thunder from Edwards (poverty and education) Gore (environment, holy shit his green city plan is awesome) and Hilly (New Yorkers love him).
His announced plans are to finish his term in office until 2009 and then spend the rest of his days in philanthropy.
But yesterday he was in California speaking at the Google campus. It was not officially part of the series of stumping that presidential candidates have been doing (Clinton, Edwards, McCain, and Richardson). He spoke on Presidential topics like Iraq and Immigration. And in announcing his resignation from the Republican party he sited that two distant and entrenched parties are hurting America, Michael Bloomberg is sounding like the anti-partisan answer to the most pervasive problem in contemporary American politics.
It sounds like we may have a third party candidate who can pull some major support from both parties.
Watch out Bull Moose party, I think Bloomberg is out to topple your record.
My apologies to Leon Theremin for postponing my post about him.
First off, the GOP has the worst field of candidates possible. Which makes me giggle. But then, what is this? Quinipiac has a poll that shows Guiliani beating the snot out of Hilly, Obama, Edwards, and Richardson in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. But can't win against Al Gore. Guiliani moderate image (and let's face it, he is putting on a show for his party, he is pretty fly for a GOP guy on abortion, GLBT rights, etc) tugs at the heart strings of swing stators.
But then what happens?
Michael Bloomberg tonight filed with the board of elections to change his party from Republican to non-affiliated. The man has an approval rating of 75% in NYC, and can steel the thunder from Edwards (poverty and education) Gore (environment, holy shit his green city plan is awesome) and Hilly (New Yorkers love him).
His announced plans are to finish his term in office until 2009 and then spend the rest of his days in philanthropy.
But yesterday he was in California speaking at the Google campus. It was not officially part of the series of stumping that presidential candidates have been doing (Clinton, Edwards, McCain, and Richardson). He spoke on Presidential topics like Iraq and Immigration. And in announcing his resignation from the Republican party he sited that two distant and entrenched parties are hurting America, Michael Bloomberg is sounding like the anti-partisan answer to the most pervasive problem in contemporary American politics.
It sounds like we may have a third party candidate who can pull some major support from both parties.
Watch out Bull Moose party, I think Bloomberg is out to topple your record.
My apologies to Leon Theremin for postponing my post about him.
joshua - 06/20/07 19:02
Well, Thompson is the de facto favorite amongst conservative voters - its interesting to me that at this point he is ahead of Giuliani by a percent although he hasn't declared yet... statistically meaningless but interesting.
I generally agree with you that there is some disenfranchised red staters and that without a candidate with stronger traditional GOP positions on the soft issues turnout might be a problem. For a guy like Giuliani I think the key will be whether or not he can lure more independents to make up the difference if he gets the nomination... which in my view he will not win if Thompson gets in.
As far as political hemispheres are concerned, with respect to Mike Bloomberg, he is who he is. I think he would have succeeded in NYC regardless of his party affiliation, although Bloomberg in effect switched to the Republican party because the Dem candidate pool was too saturated. His views reflect the views of a majority of his constituents, he gets shit done and his favorable rating is Clintonesque.
Ron Paul - he's an incredibly principled guy. He refuses to vote yes for war funding because of the fact that pork is attached - that takes balls when you can easily be accused of abandoning the troops. A lot of people respect what he is about but with 1% of the attention at this point he's beyond a long shot.
With respect to the GOP, I like a broad range of ideological diversity within the parties and the GOP suffers because of this. Republicans don't believe that the way to beat Democrats is to make a big left turn so I don't think this will happen anytime soon.
Honestly, I wish I could just have politicians like JFK again.
Well, Thompson is the de facto favorite amongst conservative voters - its interesting to me that at this point he is ahead of Giuliani by a percent although he hasn't declared yet... statistically meaningless but interesting.
I generally agree with you that there is some disenfranchised red staters and that without a candidate with stronger traditional GOP positions on the soft issues turnout might be a problem. For a guy like Giuliani I think the key will be whether or not he can lure more independents to make up the difference if he gets the nomination... which in my view he will not win if Thompson gets in.
As far as political hemispheres are concerned, with respect to Mike Bloomberg, he is who he is. I think he would have succeeded in NYC regardless of his party affiliation, although Bloomberg in effect switched to the Republican party because the Dem candidate pool was too saturated. His views reflect the views of a majority of his constituents, he gets shit done and his favorable rating is Clintonesque.
Ron Paul - he's an incredibly principled guy. He refuses to vote yes for war funding because of the fact that pork is attached - that takes balls when you can easily be accused of abandoning the troops. A lot of people respect what he is about but with 1% of the attention at this point he's beyond a long shot.
With respect to the GOP, I like a broad range of ideological diversity within the parties and the GOP suffers because of this. Republicans don't believe that the way to beat Democrats is to make a big left turn so I don't think this will happen anytime soon.
Honestly, I wish I could just have politicians like JFK again.
james - 06/20/07 17:49
Joshua: Unless Thompson wins I don't think the candidates currently can compell voters to turn out for them. Guliani fails the abortion and GLBT litmus for republicans (which is not to say there aren't super fly GOP folk) he is winning over folks with his New York City 9/11 air, which is mostly qualification by proximity (I was close to the attack, therefor I can run your country). I am curious if Bloomberg can mooch off some of that spirit as it wasn't too long after he took over the city and made it a much nicer political climate.
Basically, I am excited because a strong third party candidate will make this a very interesting election season. Good sport. So, I agree with much of what you say.
Mrdeadlier: See Joshuas comment about his party affiliation. I don't care for this two party deal. As if the whole spectrum of political thought can be contained in neat little hemispheres. That is why I am down with people like Bloomberg and Ron Paul who can giver their parties a little more elbow room to define themselves. Otherwise it would be a party of Santorum's and a party of Feingolds. And that would be creepy.
Drew: It is coming. Tomorrow, I promise.
Joshua: Unless Thompson wins I don't think the candidates currently can compell voters to turn out for them. Guliani fails the abortion and GLBT litmus for republicans (which is not to say there aren't super fly GOP folk) he is winning over folks with his New York City 9/11 air, which is mostly qualification by proximity (I was close to the attack, therefor I can run your country). I am curious if Bloomberg can mooch off some of that spirit as it wasn't too long after he took over the city and made it a much nicer political climate.
Basically, I am excited because a strong third party candidate will make this a very interesting election season. Good sport. So, I agree with much of what you say.
Mrdeadlier: See Joshuas comment about his party affiliation. I don't care for this two party deal. As if the whole spectrum of political thought can be contained in neat little hemispheres. That is why I am down with people like Bloomberg and Ron Paul who can giver their parties a little more elbow room to define themselves. Otherwise it would be a party of Santorum's and a party of Feingolds. And that would be creepy.
Drew: It is coming. Tomorrow, I promise.
joshua - 06/20/07 12:10
Mayor Mike wasn't really ever a Republican. He was a lifelong Democrat until he ran for mayor. To be honest though, by looking at his policies anybody would have known that he wasn't really a GOPer. Mr. Bloomberg would be a textbook definition of a "RINO" in the non-pejorative usage of the word.
There is a lot of hub-bub about him running for president but he has stated that he wants to finish his term as mayor of NYC, as you said. I simply don't believe that he'll run despite the commotion.
Teddy Roosevelt as an "independant" got roughly 19% of the popular vote, which is astonishing since in the modern political context most believe that this wouldn't be possible these days. People discuss who would be most affected by a Bloomberg candidacy, and I tend to believe that Democrats would have the most to lose precisely because of his policies that you outlined. His policies barely if at all reflect GOP philosophical focus and as far as choices for the GOP-inclined are concerned he would be the most liberal... not exactly what most GOPers look for in a candidate. If he pulled meaningful support from a guy like Fred Thompson I would be astonished, but nothings impossible.
On the other hand though, I think that because of the poisonous political atmosphere (the worst since the late 60's) many people are disenchanted with politics. There is something to be said about this, but many are keenly aware of what I like to call the "Nader effect" from 2000. Did you notice how Democrats weren't fooled the second time around in 2004? I think to affect American politics in the populist scale Teddy Roosevelt did you would need someone far more charismatic and sellable to "middle America" than Michael Bloomberg.
(e:mrdeadlier) - Ron Paul is definitely libertarian - I think he aligns himself with the GOP for similar reasons that a guy like Bernie Sanders aligns himself with the donkeys. Its close but not exact.
Mayor Mike wasn't really ever a Republican. He was a lifelong Democrat until he ran for mayor. To be honest though, by looking at his policies anybody would have known that he wasn't really a GOPer. Mr. Bloomberg would be a textbook definition of a "RINO" in the non-pejorative usage of the word.
There is a lot of hub-bub about him running for president but he has stated that he wants to finish his term as mayor of NYC, as you said. I simply don't believe that he'll run despite the commotion.
Teddy Roosevelt as an "independant" got roughly 19% of the popular vote, which is astonishing since in the modern political context most believe that this wouldn't be possible these days. People discuss who would be most affected by a Bloomberg candidacy, and I tend to believe that Democrats would have the most to lose precisely because of his policies that you outlined. His policies barely if at all reflect GOP philosophical focus and as far as choices for the GOP-inclined are concerned he would be the most liberal... not exactly what most GOPers look for in a candidate. If he pulled meaningful support from a guy like Fred Thompson I would be astonished, but nothings impossible.
On the other hand though, I think that because of the poisonous political atmosphere (the worst since the late 60's) many people are disenchanted with politics. There is something to be said about this, but many are keenly aware of what I like to call the "Nader effect" from 2000. Did you notice how Democrats weren't fooled the second time around in 2004? I think to affect American politics in the populist scale Teddy Roosevelt did you would need someone far more charismatic and sellable to "middle America" than Michael Bloomberg.
(e:mrdeadlier) - Ron Paul is definitely libertarian - I think he aligns himself with the GOP for similar reasons that a guy like Bernie Sanders aligns himself with the donkeys. Its close but not exact.
mrdeadlier - 06/20/07 11:29
Since you asked (oh wait), I have nothing but <3 for Ron Paul. He's the first candidate I've ever actually wanted to jump on board with. He's a registered Republican but come on, he's just a Libertarian who can't admit it to himself.
Since you asked (oh wait), I have nothing but <3 for Ron Paul. He's the first candidate I've ever actually wanted to jump on board with. He's a registered Republican but come on, he's just a Libertarian who can't admit it to himself.
drew - 06/19/07 22:31
I don't know Bloomberg, but a third party can only be good.
And I want the Theremin Post! C'mon!
I don't know Bloomberg, but a third party can only be good.
And I want the Theremin Post! C'mon!
06/19/2007 10:28 #39732
Pet SoundsEveryone loves the Beatles.
They are a very safe band to love. They have the ability for their fandom to encompass the burgeoning psychedelic with Sgt. Pepper, Rubber Soul, Revolver. The radio-friendly pop-rock of their early career. The avant-gaurde and fluxus with John and Yoko.
By liking the Beatles you can say that you are a man of taste. A universally likable person.
Over the last month we have been looking back and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the seminal Sgt. Pepper album. Yes, yes. A fine album. But man, we sure missed a bunch of great albums along the way.
For example, last year was the 40th anniversary of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album. And I did not hear even a bar of their cagillion part harmony on the radio. And it is an album, which I think, in the long run will be much more influential than Sgt. Pepper (next time you hear an orchestra, theramin, timpani, tuvan throat singing, anything other than a guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard you have Brian Wilson to thank).
Or this year we have the 30th anniversary of the Sex Pistols' Never mind the Bollocks album. That hits the big 3-0 this October. It is an album that defined punk which gave emo boys license to scream, metal bands license to burn churches, and something other than those fucking guitar lines in ska bands. Punk made rock, rock again. The swinging hips of Elvis were reborn as STD ridden filth children.
But, neither of these bands are nearly as likable as the Beatles. Wilson's tragedy isn't as compelling as the Beatles because he is mental ill. Where as the great tragedy of the Beatles is that the two least talented members are the only ones alive. And while punk may be coming back into fashion it is difficult for people to get hard thinking about heroin shooting Sid. Where as even Ringo has that muppety charm that could weasel a perked nipple on anyone.
so, happy birthday gents. I am sure Paul will be spending it with a Wings reunion tour.
They are a very safe band to love. They have the ability for their fandom to encompass the burgeoning psychedelic with Sgt. Pepper, Rubber Soul, Revolver. The radio-friendly pop-rock of their early career. The avant-gaurde and fluxus with John and Yoko.
By liking the Beatles you can say that you are a man of taste. A universally likable person.
Over the last month we have been looking back and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the seminal Sgt. Pepper album. Yes, yes. A fine album. But man, we sure missed a bunch of great albums along the way.
For example, last year was the 40th anniversary of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album. And I did not hear even a bar of their cagillion part harmony on the radio. And it is an album, which I think, in the long run will be much more influential than Sgt. Pepper (next time you hear an orchestra, theramin, timpani, tuvan throat singing, anything other than a guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard you have Brian Wilson to thank).
Or this year we have the 30th anniversary of the Sex Pistols' Never mind the Bollocks album. That hits the big 3-0 this October. It is an album that defined punk which gave emo boys license to scream, metal bands license to burn churches, and something other than those fucking guitar lines in ska bands. Punk made rock, rock again. The swinging hips of Elvis were reborn as STD ridden filth children.
But, neither of these bands are nearly as likable as the Beatles. Wilson's tragedy isn't as compelling as the Beatles because he is mental ill. Where as the great tragedy of the Beatles is that the two least talented members are the only ones alive. And while punk may be coming back into fashion it is difficult for people to get hard thinking about heroin shooting Sid. Where as even Ringo has that muppety charm that could weasel a perked nipple on anyone.
so, happy birthday gents. I am sure Paul will be spending it with a Wings reunion tour.
james - 06/20/07 10:24
Drew: they sell kits. It looks super easy.
Though most theramin sounds are made with keyboards and computers on recordings today.
libertad: yes, it is. The Sex Pistols ^_^
Drew: they sell kits. It looks super easy.
Though most theramin sounds are made with keyboards and computers on recordings today.
libertad: yes, it is. The Sex Pistols ^_^
libertad - 06/19/07 21:40
STD ridden filth children...is that a band?
STD ridden filth children...is that a band?
drew - 06/19/07 16:58
I also love the theramin, and hope to make one some day, although I have neither the time nor the talent.
I also love the theramin, and hope to make one some day, although I have neither the time nor the talent.
james - 06/19/07 16:21
The Theramin is one of my favorite instruments.
1) The story of its creator is cold war amazing awesome.
2) It is featured heavily on bad sci-fi soundtracks
3) it is the only instrument that is played without touching it.
a post titled "Everything I know about the Theramin" is to follow
Joshua: I am not a Beatles fan. I do however love Brian Wilson. So, I hope that explains my tone a little.
MrMike: Indeed sir
Jenks: there is a cosmic order to things.
The Theramin is one of my favorite instruments.
1) The story of its creator is cold war amazing awesome.
2) It is featured heavily on bad sci-fi soundtracks
3) it is the only instrument that is played without touching it.
a post titled "Everything I know about the Theramin" is to follow
Joshua: I am not a Beatles fan. I do however love Brian Wilson. So, I hope that explains my tone a little.
MrMike: Indeed sir
Jenks: there is a cosmic order to things.
jason - 06/19/07 16:12
Also, color me impressed that you are aware what a theramin is.
Also, color me impressed that you are aware what a theramin is.
jason - 06/19/07 15:20
You are absolutely right about Pet Sounds. No less than Sir Paul himself thinks it's a gold standard.
You are absolutely right about Pet Sounds. No less than Sir Paul himself thinks it's a gold standard.
joshua - 06/19/07 12:39
People compare Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds all the time, but in truth Pet Sounds was the first. Sgt. Pepper was the Beatles' "Pet Sounds" capped off with a psychodelic, pseudo-hippiesh influenced twist. The Beatles even admitted as much that Sgt. Pepper was a reaction to Pet Sounds. That being said it was still a fine album and innovative in many ways. The cover art is legendary, they utilized new recording technology and because they were The Beatles I think this is why many consider Sgt. Pepper to be more influential, although without Pet Sounds Sgt. Pepper probably would never have materialized.
To be honest though, Sgt. Pepper isn't my favorite Beatles album and I prefer Pet Sounds in general. Rolling Stone has them at #1 and #2 of all time but I usually feel that trying to quantify albums in such a way is a pointless venture. Gimme Rubber Soul anyday.
People compare Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds all the time, but in truth Pet Sounds was the first. Sgt. Pepper was the Beatles' "Pet Sounds" capped off with a psychodelic, pseudo-hippiesh influenced twist. The Beatles even admitted as much that Sgt. Pepper was a reaction to Pet Sounds. That being said it was still a fine album and innovative in many ways. The cover art is legendary, they utilized new recording technology and because they were The Beatles I think this is why many consider Sgt. Pepper to be more influential, although without Pet Sounds Sgt. Pepper probably would never have materialized.
To be honest though, Sgt. Pepper isn't my favorite Beatles album and I prefer Pet Sounds in general. Rolling Stone has them at #1 and #2 of all time but I usually feel that trying to quantify albums in such a way is a pointless venture. Gimme Rubber Soul anyday.
mrmike - 06/19/07 11:27
Pet Sounds is an awesome album. I liked Brian Wilson's reprise of the whole thing a few years back. Born to Run turned 30 awhile back too. I'm not holding my breath for the Wings tour ;)
Pet Sounds is an awesome album. I liked Brian Wilson's reprise of the whole thing a few years back. Born to Run turned 30 awhile back too. I'm not holding my breath for the Wings tour ;)
jenks - 06/19/07 10:45
funny... i was JUST talking about that (beach boys/pet sounds) the other day.
funny... i was JUST talking about that (beach boys/pet sounds) the other day.
06/17/2007 18:57 #39707
In inescapable grasp of the summer BBQ(e:Jim) and I had a BBQ for the Buffalo flickr group yesterday.
The rules went like this
We provide meat, buns, and condiments you folks provide side dishes and beverages. Only one person told us they would be bringing anything before the day of the BBQ, so here is what I made on the fly.
Fake Tapenada
tomatoes, black olives, green olives, garlic, and parsley whirled up in my beloved food processor toped on sourdough bread toasted with butter.
time: eight minutes
Everything but the kitchen sink salad
Romaine, carrots, cucumber, croutons, capers, parmesan cheese. Bottled caesar dressing (home made creamy dressings gross me out to make.)
time: six minutes
Not Just cow hamburgers
80% lean chop meat, worcestershire sauce, oats, garlic, cayenne pepper, more salt than you really should use, 2 eggs.
time: five minutes
let me tell you, there is nothing as disgusting as mixing six pounds of chop meat and eggs in an aluminum bowl. The bowl chills with the meat in it and cold metal and meat is just gross.
Well, folks showed up, and they brought stuff in abundance in a delightful uncoordinated way. We have four bags of tortilla chips, a gallon of salsa, and so much beer. OH so much beer. Most of the beer is gone now. Through we did get a mini-keg of Heineken which went largely untouched to to its late arrival. I am not much for light beer and Jim doesn't drink the stuff. So if you want it, it is yours.
Alternatively, we could have a nacho and light beer party.
yum,
The rules went like this
We provide meat, buns, and condiments you folks provide side dishes and beverages. Only one person told us they would be bringing anything before the day of the BBQ, so here is what I made on the fly.
Fake Tapenada
tomatoes, black olives, green olives, garlic, and parsley whirled up in my beloved food processor toped on sourdough bread toasted with butter.
time: eight minutes
Everything but the kitchen sink salad
Romaine, carrots, cucumber, croutons, capers, parmesan cheese. Bottled caesar dressing (home made creamy dressings gross me out to make.)
time: six minutes
Not Just cow hamburgers
80% lean chop meat, worcestershire sauce, oats, garlic, cayenne pepper, more salt than you really should use, 2 eggs.
time: five minutes
let me tell you, there is nothing as disgusting as mixing six pounds of chop meat and eggs in an aluminum bowl. The bowl chills with the meat in it and cold metal and meat is just gross.
Well, folks showed up, and they brought stuff in abundance in a delightful uncoordinated way. We have four bags of tortilla chips, a gallon of salsa, and so much beer. OH so much beer. Most of the beer is gone now. Through we did get a mini-keg of Heineken which went largely untouched to to its late arrival. I am not much for light beer and Jim doesn't drink the stuff. So if you want it, it is yours.
Alternatively, we could have a nacho and light beer party.
yum,
ladycroft - 06/17/07 20:07
no no no! i called first dibs! me eme me me!
no no no! i called first dibs! me eme me me!
drew - 06/17/07 20:05
I can help with that, too. And isn't the photo pool trying to curry my favor?
I can help with that, too. And isn't the photo pool trying to curry my favor?
mrmike - 06/17/07 20:04
Free Heine?? Cool, if it needs a home, just yell.
Free Heine?? Cool, if it needs a home, just yell.
ladycroft - 06/17/07 19:58
holy shit i love hieni!! me me me!!! oh pick me!
holy shit i love hieni!! me me me!!! oh pick me!
yeah, that was nasty enough for me to do a double take. How does one get to that point?
Bummer about NPR. still the best thing on the air though.
shit. hehe it feels so gooooood.
you disgusting bastard you.
Much like Dante who caused a stir in the medeival literary world for writing not in latin but in the vernacular Italian of his day, so too do you revive an elderly and dying art by using words like shit. So, rock on Felly! Give it to em Dante style.
Ya, I forget what I write sometimes, so... I am a little barfy myself now.
oh and the bit about grandmothers and hand jobs made me a bit queasy...
planet unicorn HEY! (i really wish that song would leave me forever so i could actually have intellegant meaningful conversation instead of that damn evil song)
NPR has been in decline for a long time now. It just floors me the number of people who actually beleive all this shit. (yeah i used a naughty word.. thats just how serious i am!)
Tip O The Hat goes out to Jason for his eagle like editor's eyes.
Hold on there mate, The Nation is an uber-lib rag. The National Review is Buckley's rag.