Shade Those Eyes

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Don't you hate it when you walk outside and the sun is so bright? It hurts my eyes. The answer of course is to wear sunglasses. But have you priced a decent pair of sunglasses? They can be pretty expensive. Try Wholesale Fashion & Sports Sunglasses.

What better than to pay wholesale prices. At Wholesale Sunglasses that's just what you'll do. Don't pay those high department store prices when you can get a pair for wholesale prices. Check out all the new styles, you'll find something that will look great on you. The new 2007 collection is out at Wholesale Sunglasses.

The more sunglasses you buy the better your discount will be. Also you can buy all sorts of caps at Wholesale Fashion & Sports Sunglasses. These sunglasses compare to the best name brands, but you don't pay name brand prices. You can get sports styles, fashions styles, the latest syles...all to make you look as hot as the sun when you're out there.

I wear glasses most of the time. I have to admit that I hated the fact that I couldn't wear sunglasses. I hated wearing those little clip ons that go over your glasses. They just looked so geeky and never fit right. So now I wear contacts and I can wear whatever type of sunglasses I want to. I like to have a couple different type of sunglasses around to wear, depending on how I feel is what I wear.

So check out Wholesale Fashion & Sports Sunglasses!

LoudLaunch - Compensating bloggers for their unbiased opinions, reviews, and analysis. View the LoudLaunch campaign release this post was based on.

Just Because...

It never hurts to have a picture of Marilyn Monroe. She really doesn't fit our current definition of rail thin skinny to be beautiful but she still is thought of as one of the most beautiful women in history.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today is Groundhog Day. This is the day when the groundhog comes up and looks around and if he sees his shadow disappears back in his home and we get more winter. Here's hoping that he doesn't see his shadow.

Happy Groundhog Day!

My Own M&M

How cool is this? I got it from Bug.

It Actually Is July

Your True Birth Month Is July

Tactful Honest Friendly Secretive Homebody Sentimental Hardworking Approachable Fun to be with Has reputation Not revengeful Easily consoled Very emotional Wary and sharp Waits for friends Likes to be quiet Witty and snarky Caring and loving Loves to be alone Overly concerned Loves to be loved Treats others equally Puts in effort in work Takes pride in oneself Moody and easily hurt No difficulties in studying Strong sense of sympathy Forgiving but never forgets Quiet unless excited or tensed Not aggressive unless provoked Concerned about people's feelings Temperamental and unpredictable Judge people through observations Easily hurt but takes long to recover Guides others physically and mentally Dislikes the nonsensical and unnecessary Difficult to fathom and to be understood Sensitive and forms impressions carefully Always broods about the past and the old friends

What's Your True Birth Month?

My Religious Beliefs

You are a Self-Discoverer

You're not religious, but you've created your own kind of spirituality. Introspective and thoughtful, you tend to look inward for the divine. You are distrusting of all forms of organized religion. You especially dislike religious gurus and leaders, who you feel are charlatans.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

It's Not Really True....

Your Mind is NC-17 Rated

You're mind is so filthy... you should should be washing every part of you out with soap. If your thoughts can go dirty, they do. Almost everything is NC-17 to you!

Do You Have a Dirty Mind?

Me, Sarcastic?

You're Totally Sarcastic

You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny. Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it. And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitutde, then too bad. So sad.

How Sarcastic Are You?

Online Comics

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Anyone reading this site for any length of time knows how much I love comic books and cartoons. I have to confess to not knowing much about the state of online comics and cartoons. I've heard that it is a flourishing industry, but I haven't had the time to check much of it. After discovering Gaspirtz's online comics I think I might have to check more of them out.



If you're a fan of The Far Side or just weird, dark humor comics you'll love these. Gaspirtz has had cartoons published in such places as National Enquirer, Sun, Saturday Evening Post, Funny Times and others. He also used to contribute to King Features' syndicate comic panel The New Breed before he decided to published exclusively online comics.



Gaspirtz still does his comics the old fashion way even if they are online comics, drawing them by hand and than scanning them and afterwards coloring them with photoshop.

Check out his site and you'll find yourself laughing out loud. I like his stuff so much I've added one of his cartoons to my sidebar. Check it out.

The Meaning Behind The Title of this Blog

I first came across the term altjiranga mitjina when I was doing some research for a comic book project. The project never came to completion (actually it did, but without me...I was doing some work for Sam Kieth on The Maxx but he ended up going with another writer), but the term stuck in my mind. The term comes from the Australian Aboriginals. My first definition of it was fairly straight forward...the timeless dimension of dreams. A world where reality and dreams lived together.


When I was out knocking on editor's doors looking for work those years ago I always thought a writer had a distinct disadvantage. An artist has his portfolio and can show it to an editor on the spot and the editor can look at the artwork and at least get an idea if he likes the artist or not. With writers it's a little harder, most editors don't have the time to sit there and read a script while at a convention. So I created my own portfolio, where I highlighted published work I had done, with brief synopsis of new work. I printed this all up and bound it with the title of altjirana mitjina.

This all is to serve as background, to let everyone know that this term has been around with me for a long time now. Since than I've done a little more research on the term and the definition is a little more complex than it seemed at first.

The Australian Aboriginal cosomology is centered on The Dreaming. It has been referred to as "everywhen" to articulate its timelessness. For the aboriginals the waking world is just one type of experienced reality. To them dreaming and The Dreaming are not the same thing. The Dreaming is a state of reality.


To the aboriginals altjiranga mitjina refers to the time outside time that exists in dreams. This is also a time in which their ancestors live.


The term altjeringa is used to describe the dream times in which their mythical ancestors lived. Altjira means dream, altjirmamma is to dream, and altjirerinja is dreaming.


Altjiranaga mitjina is the eternal ones from the dream or the eternal people who come in dreams.

To the aboriginals there is no difference between the time of their ancestors and the time which they themselves dream.

From THE NATURE OF ARCHANGELS by Bruce Kirchoff:

the Aranda people of Australia use the term altjiranga mitjina to refer to the time-outside-time that exists in dreams and which, to the Aranda, is also the time in which their ancestors live.^[7] To the Aranda there is no difference between the time of their ancestors and the time during which they themselves dream. The term altjiranga mitjina, and the culture that surrounds it, implies a very different relationship to the world than we experience based on our Western objectifying consciousness. To credit the concept of altjiranga mitjina with power and reality the Aranda must approach the world from a different state of consciousness than we do. Our normal daytime consciousness allows us to form theories about dreams and dreaming, but we do not, without having developed higher awareness, experience our ancestors as present among us in a kind of time-outside-time. On the other hand, the more dream-like consciousness of altjiranga mitjina does not lend itself to the perception of enduring objects. Dream objects appear and disappear from the dream world in a way that is not possible for objects in the world of our normal daytime consciousness. The objects and the state of consciousness that engender them exist as components of a self-supporting system. Physical objects only have their characteristic externality because they take their genesis from a state of consciousness that creates externality. In this context it is significant that the aboriginal peoples of Australia created few enduring objects. This lack of artifacts is compatible with the hypothesis that these peoples cultivated a dream-like state of consciousness.

He continues:

From these considerations we see that though a state of consciousness that allows us to perceive an external world is necessary for the creation of that world, it is not sufficient for this task. Reality is a social construction, not an individual one. The creation and shaping of consciousness in communities reinforces certain parts of our experience at the expense of others. The experiences that are reinforced grow in our experience, while those that find little or no reinforcement decline. The reinforcement of certain parts of experience shapes our states of consciousness because of the intimate relationship between consciousness its contents. As we change the content of our consciousness, we also change conscious states. Turning our attention to dreams put us in one state of consciousness. Giving attention to physical objects puts us in another. As community processes draw our attention to one or the other aspect of our experience, they influence our state of consciousness. A community that accepts the reality of the time-outside-time of altjiranga mitjina engenders a state of consciousness that allows the experience of altjiranga mitjina. Altjiranga mitjina is thus both an experience held by the members of a certain community, and the state of consciousness out of which this experience is possible. In the same way, a physical object is both an element of our experience, and the state of consciousness out of which the object is constructed.

And finally Howard Rheingold describes as thus:

The dreamtime isn't confined to our sleeping hours. If you have ever been in an automobile accident, you are familiar with the kind of time distortion in which you seem to be moving in slow motion and your awareness expands to take in many details in a short period of time. People who have rushed into burning buildings or who have pulled wounded comrades out of dangers in combat also know about the altjiranga mitjina.

After reading all this you might still be asking what it really means. I'm not trying to be confusing here, but it is a confusing word. It's hard to give an exact definition to this word, the aboriginals language doesn't exactly translate to ours. Basically they seem the world of here and now and the dreamtime as the same. To them the dreamtime is a real concept where they exist and can talk to their ancestors. To them them it's a timeless dimension of dreams. Which is where I think we came in.

Oh, and how to pronounce it?

It's allt-jeer-ON-gah mit-JEE-nah.

Where was Ryan Adams in 2006?

My ipod just played a few songs by Ryan Adams and it made me realize that he did not release a new album in 2006. Now for a lot of artists that's not a big thing. It takes some artists five years or more to come out with a new release. But Ryan released three cds in 2005 and one of them was a double cd. So for him to be completely absent from 2006 is something of a shock.

He did produce Willie Nelson's newest and toured and probably did a lot more. I just miss having some new Ryan Adams. Hopefully he'll release something this year.

New Vinyl

I forgot to mention something when I went to the Jeff Tweedy concert last week. I picked up a copy of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on vinyl. I already have it on cd, but I decided I wanted it on vinyl. I don't even have a record player right now. But I have bought some frames that are designed to showcase old vinyl albums which you can then hang on your wall. I already have about a dozen hanging on my wall, so I decided I wanted to put this one there too.
The big empty space below the albums was where I had one of my Jazz Fest posters, but I'm moving things around a bit. I'm probably going to put my print of the Dillion's Deathbird here.
The album is four sides, so there's only like three songs to a side.

IPOD Shuffle Again

It's that time again, once more I present the IPOD shuffle. These are the songs that are playing on my Ipod today as I blog and clean around the house. And it's probably going to be a lot more cleaning, cause this place is a mess.

Rancid - Lady Liberty
Waifs - The River
Marty Stuart - It's Time To Go Home
John Hiatt - Perfectly Good Guitar
Dusty Springfield - Just A Little Lovin
Mindy Smith - Falling
Joe Ely - All Just To Get To You
Stevie Nicks w/Tom Petty - Stop Dragging My Heart Around
Lennon - Just One More
Marah - East
Ryan Adams - Easy Plateau
Ryan Adams - Cauterwaul
Marah - Fat Boy
White Stripes - Little Acrons
Shannon McNally - Bury My Heart on the Jersey Shore
Little Steven - Princess of Little Italy
Allison Moorer - One on the House
Dion - Life Is But A Dream
Alejandro Escovedo - Bury Me
Maria McKee - Don't Toss Us Away
Benny Grunch - The Night Before The Night Before Christmas
Buddy Miller - Looking For A Heartache
Scott Miller - Raised by the Graves
Contintental Drifters - Meet On The Ledge
Joe Ely - Big Hotel
Will Hoge - Lover Tonight
Los Lobos - Come On
Joe Ely - Letter to Laredo
Buddy Holly - It's So Easy
Ryan Adams - 1974
Scott Miller - Red Ball Express
Joan Jett - Time Has Come Today
Bruce Springsteen - Jesus Was An Only Son
Buddy Holly - Tell Me How
Scott Miller - Amtrack Crescent
Tiff Merritt - Trouble Over Me
Ryan Adams - Chelsea Nights
Neko Case - Favorite
Maria McKee - Sweet Old World
Dion - Born To Be With You
Scott Miller - I've Got A Plan
Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Ryan Adams - We Fools As Men Be
Uncle Tupelo - I Want To Be Your Dog
Ani Difranco - Water
Bob Seger - Blame It On The Moon
Neko Case - Andy
Marah - The Closer
Mary Gauthier - Drop In A Bucket
Waifs - Top of the World
Dion - Lonley Teenager
Lori McKenna - Stealing Kisses
Dusty Springfield - Windmills of Your Mind
Drive by Truckers - Tough Sell

Ok, I'll end it there, I'm still listening but this list could just grow and grow....

It's always interesting that the ipod finds a few certain artists when it does shuffle and stays around them. This time Ryan Adams, Scott Miller, Marah and Dion. I understand Ryan Adams, I have his entire library in the ipod so there's a lot of Adams to chose from. But I only have one Scott Miller cd downloaded into the ipod so far.

Oh well, that's a sampling of what I've been listening to today.

Visits to the White House?

I've been doing some reading up about Washington D.C. since I plan of going there this May. Tickets are already bought, so I'll be there. I was there about twenty years ago, but I'm sure a lot of it's changed. But than again, there is probably a lot that hasn't, since it has the memorials and museums, they can't change too much.

Last time I went I was able to take a tour of the White House. From what I gather now that might be a problem. You have to request a tour six months in advance through your Congressman or Senator and it has to be in a group situation.

Last time I didn't see the Supreme Court, Congress, Vietnam Wall or the Jefferson Memorial. This time I plan on seeing them.

Beautiful Girls On The Beach

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Feb 14 is a big day for a lot of guys. Yes, it's Valentine's Day but for a lot of guys out there it's also the day that the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated magazine comes out. This is the 43rd issue of the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. I never realized that it's been around that long.

Sports Illustrated magazine has featured some of the most beautiful women in the world in some of the most beautiful spots in the world. Such beauties as Victoria Secret's model Heidi Klum, Marisa Miller, Molly Sims and 2005's cover girl Carolyn Murphy have all graced the pages of Sports Illustrated magazine.

If the magazine isn't enough exposure to these beautiful ladies you can download their images as wallpaper on your cell phone at SI Mobile. Each download is only $1.99 and works with most major wireless carriers. Over 50 models from Sports Illustrated magazine are featured on this site. Past favorites such as Elle Macpherson and Kathy Ireland are there for you to download. You can also download video clips, video ringers (ringtones with video), animated screen savers and more.

When this issue of Sports Illustrated magazine hits the stands it always sells out quickly. So don't forget Feb 14 for more than flowers for your loved one. It's beautiful girls on a beach, how much better can it get than that?

SPOTLIGHT ON: Lori McKenna

Discography

Paper Wings and Halos
Pieces of Me
The Kitchen Tapes
Bittertown

Lori is not the typical music star. She lives in a small town about twenty miles outside of Boston. She's been married to the same man for almost twenty years now and has five children. She writes her songs at the kitchen table and never thought she would be very well known.

That changed last year when Faith Hill heard her music and decided to go back to her already completed album and put some of Lori's music on it. In the end she even ended up naming it after one of Lori's songs, Fireflies. Her first single was Stealing Kisses by Lori.

Lori's writes about the small things in life and living as a Mother and Wife. She writes about life in small towns. Her writing is more real than many other writers, making you believe in what she writes about.

She has a new cd completed, not yet titled that was produced by Faith Hill's husband Tim McGraw. Hopefully the exposure from Faith Hill will help Lori get the attention she deserves when her new cd comes out this spring.

Lori is the first Spotlight artist that I haven't seen live yet and didn't have a picture from my own collection to use. She is one artist that I would like to see live, but even without doing so she is very talented and deserves more recognition.

New Music: Lucinda Williams

On Feb 13 Lucinda Williams releases her first cd in three years. Lucinda is one of this country's best singer/songwriters. Her album Car Wheels On A Gravel Road is a classic. She is a perfectionist that sometimes keeps her in the studio for years, tinkering with the right sound. She's gotten a lot better, in the first half of her career I think she had only released 4 albums, in the second half she's released twice that many.

New Music: Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin's newest cd Children Running Through will be out Feb 6, so next Tuesday. No Depression magazine is already calling this the best album of the year, and the year has just started. Now that may be a bold statement, but I'm willing to bet it will be one of the best cds of the year.

Patty is known more for her writing probably than her singing. She has penned songs for acts such as the Dixie Chicks and others. But she has a wonderful voice. If anyone remembers the show Joan of Arcadia, in one episode Joan and her brother were outside flying a kite and her song "Kites" was playing in the background. It was a lovely song.

It is worth checking out.

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

The Cat Stevens album Teaser & The Firecat contained three hit singles; "Morning Has _____,"
"Peace ______," and "Moon _______."

Yesterday's answer: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

WORD A DAY

EDDY: 1: a current of water or air running contrary to the main current; especially: whirlpool 2: a contrary or circular current (as of thought or policy)

The earliest documented uses of "eddy" to refer to water currents date from the 15th century. Etymologists trace the word to the Scottish dialect term ydy, which had the same basic meaning as our modern term and may in turn come from the Old Norse word itha.

Peek-A-Boo

TRAVELS: The Beatles' London

This edition of Travels we visit the city of London for a Beatles special. All the places in these pictures have something to do with the Beatles. I wasn't going to go all the way to London and not check out some Beatles sights.

This is in the park across the street from Paul McCartney's London Offices. This is a shop that sells nothing but Beatles' related merchandise. It's on Baker Street. How do I remember the name of the street? Because right next to it is a Sherlock Holmes Museum and the address is 221 Baker Street.

This is the rooftop from where the Beatles played their last live concert as a group, recorded for the movie "Let It Be."

The Palladium, where they played.

Abbey Roads Studio, where the Beatles recorded most of their songs.

This is the fence the runs around the studios. We were told that they clean the graffiti off, but it doesn't matter. Visitors use this part of the fence as a sign that they've made the trek to Beatle Holy Ground.

The Famous Abbey Road crosswalk. All I needed was a VW Beetle on the side of the street and it could have come straight off the album. It's amazing that the scene looks so much like the album cover still, almost thiry years later.

Flowers For Valentine Day

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What holiday is in February that can send grown men weeping to their knees? Valentine's Day of course. Too many of you guys out there forget it till the last minute and than scramble for a gift. Or just don't know what to get that loved one. Face it, most men are not gift buyers. You don't want to bring a toaster home to your loved one on Valentine's Day. How about flowers? A beautiful gift that expresses your love. And you can buy the flowers online and even save money with web coupons. This is a site filled with lots of places to buy cool stuff from and save money with their coupons. One of these sites is Internet Florist. You can save save up to 10% on those flowers and have it delivered the same day for those of you that really forgot. So check out Internet Florist and give your loved one a gift she'll love this Valentine's Day.

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Lisa Marie Presley and Mike Campbell share birthdays today. Mike Campbell is the lead guitar player for what band?

Yesterday's answer: K.C. & The Sunshine Band

WORD A DAY

APOLOGIA: a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions.

As you might expect, "apologia" is a close relative of "apology." Both words derive from Late Latin: "apologia" came to English as a direct borrowing, while "apology" traveled through Middle French. The Latin apologia derives from a combination of the Greek prefix apo -, meaing "away from," and the word logia, from the Greek logos, meaning "speech." In their earliest English uses, "apologia" and "apology" meant basically the same thing: a formal defense of justification of one's actions or opinions. Nowdays, however, the two are more distinct. The modern "apology" generally involves an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of regret for past actions, while an "apologia" typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.

The difference between the vampire slayer and the wonder dog

This is the vampire slayer:



This is the Wonder Dog:



Just in case anyone was confused.

Thursday Thirteen #13: Comic Book Characters

Thirteen Favorite Comic Book CharactersNumber # 13 1. Daredevil 2. Spiderman 3. Jennifer Jones 4. Spirit 5. Nexus 6. Bone 7. Wolverine McAlistaire 8. Cerebus 9. Kevin Matchstick 10. Plastic Man 11. Captain America 12. Rick (from Walking Dead) 13. Luba (from Love and Rockets)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Quote of the Day

"Speaking of Miss USA, President Bush has said we're not winning in Iraq. Sounds like she's not the only one to sober up."
- David Letterman

Another Dad Update

Good news, Dad remembers who he is and where he is now. They changed some of his medicine and now he's back to his normal lovable grumpy self. My Mom said he told her that he was ready to come home tommorrow. The biggest problem right now is that his heatbeat if way up there, too high and they're not sure why, so the doctor told my Mom that he's not going anywhere tommorrow. He doesn't know that yet. But it's good news that things are looking up again.

Taylor Hicks Concert Update

I mentioned in a previous post that Taylor Hicks is coming to the House of Blues in March. Well I got tickets last night. I was waiting to make sure Nick was able to get off that night. He did, so I bought the tickets. Last year at work Nick and I would discuss the previous night of American Idol and who we thought had the best performance. Nick liked Taylor, but at first I think he was pulling more for Chris. I was a Taylor fan from the beginning, rooting for him to win, but always thinking he was going to get voted off. But he made it all the way through, and never getting voted to the bottom three once. Some of you have commented how good a live performer Taylor is so I'm excited to go see him. If any of you have any good stories to tell about Taylor live leave a comment, I'd love to hear about his shows.

Windows Vista

A question out there to all those that know so much more about computers than me. (I know, I know, that's probably most of you.) What's the story with Windows Vista? Is it that much better than Windows XP? Is it worth buying the upgrade? Are all the bugs worked out? Anyone that knows anything please leave a comment.

Washington D.C.

During the week from May 6 to May 13 I will be in Washington D.C. with Heather. We are going on vacation to the Capitol City for the week. I spent about a week in D.C. about twenty years ago and have been wanting to go back. We were trying to decide where to go, we thought of going to Alaska, to London, etc. but the prices were all a little more than we wanted to pay, but we got a good deal from airfare and hotel room to D.C. I can't wait, it's going to be a great vacation. (But like last year when I went to Disney, leaving right after Jazz Fest, we will be leaving right after Jazz Fest for D.C. Actually I'll have to miss the last day of the Fest since we'll be leaving at 7 in the morning. It's going to be another busy weekend.)

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

This band's co-founder Harry Wayne Casey, had a #1 hit in 1976 with "Get Down Tonight."

Yesterday's answer: Phil Collins

WORD A DAY

PASTICHE: 1: a musical, literary, or artistic work that imitates the style of previous work or is made up of selections from different works 2: hodgepodge

It all began with macaroni. Our word "pastiche" is from French, but the French word was borrowed from Italian, where the word is pasticcio. Pasticcio is what the Italians called a kind of "macaroni pie." English-speakers familiar with this multilayered dish had begun to apply the name to various sorts of potpourris or hodgepodges (musical, literary, or othewise) by the 18th century. For over a hundred years we were happy with "pasticcio," until we discovered the French word pastiche sometime in the latter part of the 1800s. Although we still occasionally use "pasticcio" in its extended meaning, "pastiche" is now much more common.

I Want A New Camera

I love my digital camera. I'm actually surprised because I really liked my old Cannon Rebel 35mm. The only thing I don't like on the digital is the zoom. My camera is a 3x optical zoom and 5 megapixels. I'm thinking of getting a new digital, one with more pixels and better zoom. I would love to have on before Jazz Fest and vacation. The one I'm thinking of getting is this one. It has 10x optical zoom and 7.1 megapixels. Anyone out there that knows anything about digital cameras feel free to offer me any advice. Is this a good choice? Or should I be looking for something else?

HELP!

I'm still having some problems with the blog. I've had a few people make comments that all the music starts at once. I'm sorry about that to anyone that happens to, that has to suck. It shouldn't be doing that. I have it set with the autostart off and "false" which is supposed to stop it from starting automaticaly. I don't know what else to do here.

I've tried to get help from Blogger, but I can't find anyone to email questions to. They have a help group where you can post your question and if someone wants to try and help you they will. I had someone tell me I should tell her all the extras I've added to my blog, evidently I've added something wrong. Duh! I know that. And I'm not about to try and list all the extras I've added here, it would take me all day.

Blogger is really staring to piss me off. They want everyone to switch to the new version but if there is any problems there is no one there to help you. I may start looking at some new places to switch over to if this keeps up.

I'm thinking of deleting all the music, but I don't want to do that. Putting the music up is one of the things I enjoy doing, picking it and adding it to the blog, I'd hate to have to take it all off.

So if there is anyone out there that can help me or maybe point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

How Much Do I Know About Blogging

You Know a Lot About Blogging

You got 5/8 correct! Your not a total blogging geek yet... give it time.

http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchdoyouknowaboutbloggingquiz/">How Much Do You Know About Blogging?

I got this from over at Little House on Wheels.

Firefox Questions

I want to put this question out to all those of you who are so much smarter than me when it comes to computer issues...which is a lot of people, let me tell you. When I use Firefox browser the music players that I downloaded don't come up. It says a plug in is not installed, but I can't figure out which one. Anyone can help me?

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Happy birthday to this musician who during the 1985 Live Aid concert performed his own material in London, then flew the Concorde to Philadelphia to play drums with Led Zepplin.

Yesterday's answer: INXS

WORD A DAY

GRUB STREET: the world or category of need literary hacks

The original Grub Street was an address in London (renamed Milton Street in 1830) described by Dr. Samuel Johnson in his Dictionary of the English Language as "much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems." The term was applied figuratively to the dog-eat-dog world of pens-for hire as early as 1630, and the allusion still packed a punch in 1891, when novelist, George Gissing chose New Grub Street as the title of his realistic novel about intrigues of the Victorian literary world.

Richard Thompson at House of Blues

Feb 28 Richard Thompson will be at the Parish Room at the House of Blues. Richard is a founding member of the English group Fairport Convention. He's considered a musican's musican by a lot of very talented guitar players. Mr. Thompson is one of the greats, largely unknown. The song I'm posting here is one of my favorites by him.

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Jazz Fest Posters 2007

Jazz Fest Line Up May 4-6 2007

Harry Connick Jr., Steely Dan, ZZ Top, John Legend, Allen Toussaint, Counting Crows, New Edition, George Benson, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Allman Brothers Band, Better Than Ezra, Joss Stone, Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong, Taj Mahal, Cowboy Mouth, Branford Marsalis, Dottie Peoples, Tony Joe White, Roy Hargrove, Galactic, The Holmes Brothers, The Radiators, Chuck Leavell, Irma Thomas' Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Elder Baab & the Madison Bumble Bees of Winnsboro, The Dixie Cups, Anders Osborne, Nicholas Payton, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Darrell McFadden, Snooks Eaglin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Judith Owen, John Boutte, Franz Jackson, Lil' Band o' Gold, Luther Kent & Trickbag, Bob Wilber & the Soprano Summit tribute to Kenny Davern, Martha Redbone, Papa Grows Funk, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Eric Lindell, World Saxophone Group, Danilo Perez, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Deacon John, Ivan Neville, Ellis Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Elysian Fieldz, The Iguanas, Buckwheat Zydeco, Terrance Simien, Danza feat. Evan Christopher & Tom McDermott, Jeremy Davenport, The Jazz Jam, The Woodshed feat. Roland Guerin and James Singleton, Poncho Chavis & Boozoo's Dog Hill Stompers, D.L. Menard, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Sherman Washington & the Zion Harmonizers, Clive Wilson & the Original Camelia Jazz Band feat. Butch Thompson, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots with guest Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Germaine Bazzle, Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clark, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Benjy Davis Project, Twangorama, Morning 40 Federation, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Kevin Gordon, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, The Revealers, Banu Gibson & New Orleans Hot Jazz, Higher Heights, Paulette Wright, Rumba Buena, Julio y Cesar Band, Wanda Rouzan & a Taste of New Orleans, John Lee & the Heralds of Christ, Coolie Family, Unstoppable Gospel Singers, Dynamic Smooth Family, Mount Hermon BC Choir, Gospel Inspirations of Boutte, June Gardner, Lionel Ferbos & the Palm Court Jazz Band, Mark Braud, Last Straws, Batiste Brothers Band, Herman Jackson, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Sharon Martin, Groovemasters, Smitty Dee's Brass Band, Creole Zydeco Farmers, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express, Rotary Downs, Ernie Vincent, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Ingrid Lucia, Henry Gray & the Cats, Beth Patterson & Kalafka, Johnny Angel & the Swingin' Demons, Leah Chase, the Plowboys, Percussion Inc., Michael Skinkus & Moyuba, Franklin Avenue BC Mass Choir, Melody Clouds, Providence BC Choir, Voices of Distinction, Treme Brass Band, New Orleans Jazz Vipers, Gov't Majik, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Pinstripe Brass Band, J. Monque'D Blues Band, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Benny Grunch & the Bunch, Lil Nathan & Zydeco Big Timers, Betsy McGovern & the Poor Clares, Nouveau String Band, 007, Rick Trolsen & Gringo do Choro, Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Choir, Tim Laughlin, New Orleans Spiritualettes, The Golden Wings, Chris Burke, Louis Ford with guest Barbara Shorts, Maurice Brown, Tornado Brass Band, Paulin Brothers Brass Band, Lady Sequence, New Generation and Lady Rollers SAPCs, Original CTC, Lady Buckjumpers and Undefeated Divas SAPCs, Big Seven, Westbank Steppers and Prince of Wales SAPCs, The UNO Louis Armstrong Jazz Quintet, Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, Heritage School of Music, Racines, Louis "Gearshift" Youngblood, Po' Henry & Tookie, Coco Robicheaux & Spiritland, Rufus "Rip" Wimberly & the Dreamers, Fi Yi Yi Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section, Chops Funky 7, Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Curtis Pierre Samba Man, Guyland Leday, Stax Music Academy Revue with Stephen Foster, Kayla Woodson, KidsmArt Performers, Jonno & the Cajun Experience, Guinoleros UAS of Culiacan Mexico, N'Kafu African Dance Ensemble...

Jazz Fest April 27-29 Lineup

Dr. John, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Brad Paisley, Jill Scott, Irma Thomas, Ludacris, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pharoah Sanders, Lucinda Williams, Calexico, Soulive, Rebirth Brass Band, Richie Havens, Johnny Rivers, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Banda el Recodo, Bobby Jones & the Nashville Super Choir, Gillian Welch, T-Bone Burnett, Pete Fountain, Arturo Sandoval, The New Orleans Social Club, Percy Sledge, Mose Allison, Marcia Ball, Bishop Paul Morton & the Greater St. Stephens Mass Choir, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, James Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Landreth, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Tab Benoit, Amanda Shaw, Davell Crawford, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, Subdudes, Terence Blanchard, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, Marva Wright, Zachary Richard avec Francis Cabrel, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Bobby Charles, Ba Cissoko of Guinea, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Lucky Peterson, Bobby Lounge, Linda Hopkins, Bonerama, Eddie Bo, Shannon McNally, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Henry Butler, Alexa Ray Joel, Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove, Dirty Jerdy, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Pine Leaf Boys, Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Astral Project, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, The Crescent City Allstars feat. James Andrews, Les Amazones of Guinea, Lady Tambourine, James Rivers Movement, Charmaine Neville Band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Leviticus Gospel Singers, Charles Jackson & the Jackson Travelers, Mari Watanabe, Andrew Hall's Society Brass Band, Leroy Jones & New Orleans' Finest, Some Like It Hot, Heritage Hall Band with Jewel Brown, Second Line til' you Drop featuring the music of Paul Barbarin, Michael Ward, Phillip Manuel, Rob Wagner Trio, Groove Academy, Ray Abshire, Bonsoir Catin, Burnside Exploration, Mem Shannon & the Membership, Rockie Charles, John Rankin, Imagination Movers, Kenny Bill Stinson & the Ark-LA-Mystics, Patrice Fisher & Arpa with guests Marcelo Cotarelli & members of the Ilhabela Big Band of Brazil, New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, VisionQuest Chorale of Dillard University, Second Nazarine Gospel Choir, Crown Seekers, Higher Dimensions of Praise, Zulu Gospel Male Ensemble, Local International Allstars, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Gregg Stafford & the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Dukes of Dixieland, George French, Jean Knight & Knights' of Rhythm, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, Maggie Warwick & the Louisiana Hayride Band, Jesse McBride & the Next Generation, Xavier University Jazz Band, NewBirth Brass Band, Mahogany Brass Band, Theresa Andersson Group, Bluerunners, The Bingo! Show, Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher, Lil Ray Neal Blues Band, Guitar Slim, Jr., Bruce Flett & the Bluebirds, Bamboula 2000, Henry Turner, Jr., Fredy Omar con su Banda, Vivaz!, Topsy Chapman, The Johnson Extension, St. Joseph the Worker Gospel Choir, Rocks of Harmony, Val & Love Alive with the Dimensions of Faith, One A-Chord, Jo "Cool" Davis, Chris Clifton, Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Hot Club of New Orleans, Kidd Jordan, Julliard Jazz Ensemble, Hot 8 Brass Band, Happy Talk Band, Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers, Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band, Reggie Hall & the Twilighters feat. Lady Bee, Big Al Carson, Li'l Freddie King Blues Band, Swamp-Blues Summit with Lil' Buck Sinegal and Rudy Richard, Don Rich, Judy Spellman, Panorama Jazz Band, AsheSon, Beyond Measure, McDonogh #35, Wimberly Family, Shades of Praise Choir, Lyle Henderson, Single Ladies, Nine Time Men and New Look SAPCs, Olympia Aid - YMO, Big Nine, Bon Temps Roulez and Popular Ladies SAPCs, Furious Five, Untouchables and Dumaine Gang SAPCs, Tulane Jazz Ensemble, SUBR Jazz Ensemble, NOCCA Jazz Ensemble, New Orleans Modified Drum Circle, Monsieur No of France, David & Roselyn, Mount Pilgrim & Morning Star Youth Mass Choir, Javier Juarez, Johnette Downing, The RRAAMS Drum and Dance, Basin Street Sheiks, Palmetto Puppet Theater, Black Seminoles and Carrollton Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Big Chief Peppy & the Golden Arrows, Golden Star Hunters and the Red White & Blue Mardi Gras Indians, Yellow Jackets and Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians...

MIX TAPE MONDAY

A new feature! I'm sure so many of you are so excited. I got this idea from an article in Rolling Stone. One of their writers has a book coming out entiteld "Love Is A Mix Tape." It's written by Rob Sheffield. It tells his life through the mix tapes he made to chronicle events throughout his life. It's a book I want to get. It gave me the idea for this feature. Every Monday will be a collection of songs, a mix tape as it were. Here's today's feature:

Lori McKenna:

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Will Hoge:

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Jesse Malin:

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Alejandro Escovedro:

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Johnny Cash:

Music Codes - MySpace Layouts

Taylor Hicks Is Coming

Last year's American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is coming to the New Orlean's House of Blues on March 13. I was pulling for Taylor to win from the start last year. I've remarked on this blog before that I wasn't that impressed with his cd that he recently released. I'm interested in seeing him live. His cd to me was too slick and overproduced. I think he did his best on the show when he was more raw and open. I think he could do well live, if he lets that side of him out and doesn't try for the one that he showed on his cd.

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

On this day in 1988, an Australian group's song "Need You Tonight" hits #1 on the Pop chart. The group is only the third band from Australia (and the first in five years) to top the charts.

Yesterday's answer: Billy Joel

WORD A DAY

FRUCTIFY: 1: to bear fruit 2: to make fruitful or productive

"Fructify" dervies from the Middle English fructifen and ultimately from the Latin noun fructus, meaning "fruit." When the word was first used in English in the 14th century, it literally referred to the actions of plants tha bore fruit; later it was used transitively to refer to the action of making something fruitful, such as soil. The word also expanded to encompass a figurative sense of "fruit," and it is now more frequently used to refer to the giving forth of something in profit from something else (such as dividends from an investment). Fructus also gave us the name of the sugar "fructose," as well as "usufruct," which refers to the legal right to enjoy the fruits or profits of something that belongs to someone else.

Manic Monday #1

The topic for the first Manic Monday is cruising. So here is a picture of me cruising. This was from a few years back when I went to Alaska.

(And this picture was like either my first or second post I ever made on this blog, so it's a repeat for anyone that's been here from the start....I really doubt that is anyone, that was why I felt like I could post this picture again.)

Shoulder Update

I know it's only been a day since I went to the doctor and got the medicine for my shoulder, but I have to report that it already feels better. I am actually able to raise my right hand all the way straight up in the air, something I couldn't do lately. I still feel a tringe of pain, but at least I can lift it now. I really didn't expect the pills to help that fast, and maybe it's more my mind helping but we'll see how things develop. Hopefully this will work and I can skip the process of getting part of my body cut open.

Addition to Jazz Fest

Shannon McNally will be at JazzFest this year. This will be her first Jazz Fest. I'm happy, she's one of my favorite performers, as if anyone that has been reading this blog for any length of time doesn't know.

Dad Update

I don't want to post on here everytime some little thing happens with my Dad, but I just got off the phone with my Mom and she was tired and worn out. Today was not a good day for my Dad. Yesterday he seemed to be doing a lot better, today not so good. She said he as just very confused and upset. He didn't seem to know where he was at times. She's been having problems getting the doctor to talk to her, he whizes in and than flashes out before she can get any information out of him. He's supposed to be a very good doctor, but his biggest fault others say is that he doesn't talk a lot.

This is the part that sucks. This is when I want to rush up there and see what's going on. But I can't just drop everything and run up there everytime things don't look good. He's been in and out of the hospital quite a bit in the last month alone. I want to be there when things are bad, it's just hard to tell how bad they are from down here.

I'll see what things are like tommorrow, than make any final decisions. So if I disappear from here for a few days, that's where I'll be.

New Blog To Check Out

I've got a new blog to check out in the sidebar. It's Observing Hermann. Subtitled Hermann the German. And an amnesic American living in Germany. Looks like some interesting stuff. And anyone that reccommends "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kenneth Toole has to be a good guy.

Go check it out.

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Who is the piano man?

Yesterday's answer: Pink Floyd

WORD A DAY

SPINDRIFT: 1: sea spray; especially: spray blown from waves during a gale 2: find wind-borne snow or sand

"Spindrift" first set sail in the mid-18th century under Scottish command. During its first voyage, it was known by the Sottish monkier speendrift. (Speen meant "to drive before a strong wind," so a speendrift was a drift of spray during such action.) In 1823, English-speakers recruited the word but signed it up as "spindrift."

Buffy on the attack

Rotator Cuff Injury

Today before work I went to the doctor. Now this is a big thing for me, I don't go the doctor very often. The last time I went to the doctor was when I almost died from my appendixs. But my right shoulder has been hurting for about the past two to three months. At first I just assumed it was a pulled muscle and would get better. Well, it hasn't. Whenever I lift my arm higher than my shoulder it hurts. And when I try to sleep on that side I feel pain. Sometimes it hurts and sometimes it HURTS. So I finally decided I should go. Larry told me it was my rotator cuff. Now Larry used to be the team trainer for some different hockey teams, so he knows his medicine. And he was right. The doctor said it was my rotator cuff. He gave me a perscription and said we'd see it that works first. He made an appointment for me in two weeks, if it works I can call and cancel, if not than I go in. He also took some x rays. If the pills don't work it will probably mean surgery.

ROCK N ROLL HISTORY

Rock and Roll Drummer Nick Mason was born on this day in 1945. What English band was Nick a part of?

Yesterday's answer: The Archies

WORD A DAY

CONGERIES: aggreagation, collection

The Latin congeries comes from the verb congerere, which means "to carry or bring together" and which is also the source of the word "congest."

Dad Back In The Hospital

Some bad news as I was on the way to the concert tonight. My Mom called to tell me that Dad was back in the hospital again. He had passed out and fell and hit his head. He ended up getting two or three stiches. He broke his glasses when he fell too.

Evidently his blood is too thin and he's not getting enough through his body. When he stood up no blood went to his head and he passed out. Mom said he was doing ok though. They had to call an ambulance again and he is back in the hospital. Once there he was pumped full of blood I'm guessing now. And he was breathing better. Mom said he hadn't had to use oxygen all day while he was in the hospital, while at home he's almost on it constantly lately.

After Mom finished telling me about what happened I asked how she was. I know it's got to be hard on her. She said she was tired and than before I knew it she was talking about Dad, somehow talking about how she felt she was telling me how Dad was doing still.

So that's where it stands right now, I'll post when I know more.