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Saturday, March 21, 2009

Strawberry Fields

Twenty Five years ago today an area of Central Park in New York City was named Strawberry Fields in honor of John Lennon. It was designed by landscape architect Bruce Kelly. It comprises 2.5 acres of Central Park. For more pictures and info go here.

Fun Day

Image via Wikipedia

I look like I've been in a catfight. My hands and arms are covered with scratches. My brother came over today to help me cut down parts of a tree that is growing all over my yard. One branch is hanging so low that when I mow my yard I have to push it out of the way. Other branches were hanging dangerously over my fence and home. The bad part, it was a pine tree with lots of pine cones. There was no way to cut and move the branches without getting a lot of cuts and scratches.

You know, those branches didn't look so big up in the air, growing out of that tree. But once we cut them down and they were piled up on the ground, boy, did they look big. It took us three trips with a full pickup to get rid of all those branches.

I figured I owed my brother at least a free meal so afterwards we went to Chilis to eat.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Bloodkins

This is a new band I've been listening to and am enjoying quite a bit. Actually they're not that new, this video is from 1995, so they've been around for awhile. This video isn't the best quality, but as soon as I find a site to let me download music to my blog again I'll post some better music.

Old School Fridays: Songs with Baby in the Title

No song immediately came to mind when I saw this week's topic so I went to my Itunes and typed in "Baby" and came up with 231 choices. I'm now going through them to see which one might make it as this week's old school friday. I was going to go with a Dylan choice, he has a few songs with the word baby in their title but than I decided to go with a great song by the Beach Boys. This is from 1965 when Brian Wilson was still touring and singing with the group, as he provides the lead vocal on the song.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Alexis Grace Leaves American Idol

I really haven't picked any favorite yet on American Idol. I haven't been as faithful following it, I catch it when I remember. Still one of my favorites from what I seen was Alexis Grace from Memphis Tennessee and she was voted off this week.

Breeding Fear

Image via Wikipedia

The other day at work two older women came in the store looking for something they had seen on television. They were having trouble describing exactly what it was but the best I could get was that it was some sort of water purifying device. I brought them back to our camping aisle and showed them what we had there. Mostly what we have are tablets and filters for hikers or campers, nothing that you would use to purify a lot of water at one setting. I assumed it was some sort of 1-800 type of infomercial they had seen it on. No, I was wrong.

They had seen it on a Christian channel. They named the televangelist but I don't remember who it was. Evidently he's telling his televised flock that they need to be ready for another terrorist attack or worse. What I think he told them was that with President Obama leading our country we needed to be prepared for this country to fall apart and it was going to be every man and woman for themselves. They started to say something like that and than caught themselves and said in case of another terrorist attack. And I realized something. These two older women were scared. They truly believed what this snake saleman was pitching.

I wanted to say something so much to them. But how can you argue with such Godly logic as they've been given. People like this television preacher makes me so angry. They spew their hatred and fear and rake in their money and live in their mansions and drive their fancy cars while the people that listen to them are scared and learn to hate and fear others because they're not the same as them.

It's really just sad.

Thursday Thirteen: Sexiest Rolling Stone Covers

I was over on the Rolling Stone.com site and saw where they were highlighting a gallery of their tv covers and asking what the readers thought were their sexiest. I decided to go beyond just their tv covers. Now I'm sure I missed some, I didn't go through all their covers, I looked through the gallery of covers they featured on their site and picked from there.

1. Sarah Michelle Gellar (It's Buffy, who else did you think would be number one?)

2. Jennifer Aniston (if I was Brad I would have stuck with her.)

3. Evangeline Lilly

4. Jennifer Garner (I am just in love with this woman, I can't help it.)

5. Jennifer Love Hewitt

6. Katie Holme (Pre Tom Cruise)

7. Janet Jackson

8. Natassia Kinski

9. Nicole Kidman

10. Pat Benatar

11. Cameron Diaz

12. Michelle Pfeiffer

13. Jessica Alba

Behind The Music

VH1 is bringing back its documentary specials of Behind The Music. I'll be honest, I haven't watched VH1 in years, so I thought they were actually still making the specials. Read more here about the show coming back. When I did watch VH1 I always liked the specials. When the music station was looking for an identity that would differentiate it from its sister channel MTV I thought these specials gave it that difference.

Below is a clip from the Aerosmith special.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

LOST

Any big surprises tonight? Who didn't guess that the kid that brought Sayid his sandwich was Ben? And what will Sayid's purpose be for coming back that was foreshadowed in the coming attractions for next week, but to kill young Ben. I don't know why, but I'm starting to feel underwhelmed by Lost lately. I don't know if I feel like they're just making things too complicated with this latest bit of time travel or what. And I have to say, I'm starting to get tired of the soap opera aspect of Sawyer, Jack, Kate and Juliet. I'm in it for the long haul, but I feel like they're going off track somewhat. I want to start seeing some answers.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sometimes I Feel Really Old

The other night at work I brought up the name of Richard Pryor. You know, one of the greatest stand up comedians ever. And all I got were blank looks. I was talking to two women in their mid twenties and they had no idea who I was talking about.

Sometimes I feel really old.

Just a note for those unfamiliar with Mr. Pryor, if you're easily offended you might want to skip the clip.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Old School Fridays: Child Singers

The last two weeks have been so busy with work and other stuff that I forgot to post last Friday. But I'm not forgetting again. This week is Child Singers and my choice is Janis Ian. This video is from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and she was 16 when she performed. Janis was a singer that sang of subjects that those older than she was rarely touched.

This meme was developed by Marvalus View and Ms. Grapevine. The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version
4. Post a video of your favorite Old School song to take us back down memory lane
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out
6. Have fun & don't forget to leave comments for other participants

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I'm A Superhero

I found this over at Trav's blog. You can become your very own superhero!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Coco Robicheaux

Tipitina's is a music club that is famous beyond the city. This is a club that has seen some of the best come through its door and play on its stage. Upon entering there is a bust of piano legend Professor Longhair. It's considered good luck to rub Fess' head. This piece of art was created by Coco Robicheaux. As good a sculptor Coco is he is better known as a musician. He has created his own style of blues/cajun/swamp music that to put simply is great. He puts on an awesome live show, often the greats blues singer Irene Sage accompanys him on stage. The following song is from an upcoming album that I can't wait to have come out.

Reveleator | Upload Music

Lost Is A Repeat

Image by wcm1111 via Flickr

According to my TV Guide they're repeating the episode of Lost from last week again this week?!? Is that right? I thought when Lost went to a fewer episodes per year the plan was to run each episode every week in a row with no interruptions or reruns. What happened to that plan?

That was one of the problems with the first two years, when they took breaks from running the show. Too much happens in each episode to remember to have to wait a couple weeks inbetween each show.

Get back to weekly Lost!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Will Hoge on the Mend

A few months back Will Hoge was in an accident that was pretty serious. He was busted up pretty bad and has been undergoing surgery and re hap since. He's getting ready to go back out on the road for a small tour soon. To me Will Hoge is the promise of rock and roll. Here's a two part interview/songs from him before his accident.

New Cell Phone

Last week I was having problems with my phone. I ended up bringing it to the local Sprint Repair Store and getting it fixed, but it made me think about a new phone. I was planning to wait until the new Palm Pre comes out. At first it was scheduled for a mid March delivery, but now it looks like its going to be more towards June.

The Instinct came out right after I got my last phone, the Motorola Q9. If it had been available at the time I would have went with the Instinct. This phone is supposed to be Sprint's version of the I Phone. I've heard it called the I Phone Killer. I've read a lot of things that the Instinct does better than the I Phone and I like a lot of things it does so far.

I wish it had more applications. Most of what there is are just games. I want some of those cool apps you see on the commercials for the I Phone. So far there is a very limited amount of apps out there for the Instinct. I'm not really a game person, so all the games available don't really do much for me. Let's get going Sprint...let's get some other apps out there. If you plan on sticking with the Instinct for the long run you need to get more apps for it.

Saying that I really do like this phone. I can pull up web pages, including this blog on the phone. The touch screen is really easy to use. It's easy to get around and easy to use. So maybe I'll stick with longer than a year.

New Rolling Stone

The new issue of Rolling Stone is out with an article about U2. Very good article. Online check it out here. Since the make over Rolling Stone has gotten better.

Dead Like Me Movie

Ok, I just finished watching the movie of Dead Like Me. If I had watched this before the tv series I never would have wanted to watch any more. This was like a bad made for TV movie. There were a few glimpses of the old show, but very few. Laura Harris who played Daisy in the show was replaced by another actress that had zero chemistry with the cast and just didn't fit in. Henry Ian Cussiack, who plays Desmond on Lost, was another new character that added nothing to the movie.

I was really really disappointed in this movie. I'm glad that they were able to tie up the series with the last episode and give it some sort of closure.

More Taylor

A short interview with Taylor on the release of his new album can be read here.

Now I'm not sure if the album came out today or next Tuesday. I didn't see it today, but that doesn't mean much. So many albums get shuffled off to the side, unless they're one of the big releases they don't always make it out on the shelf on the first day of new releases.

New Dresden Out In Paperback

Cover via Amazon

The new Harry Dresden novel Small Favor by Jim Butcher just came out in paperback. He has a new hardback coming out soon called Turn Coat, but I rarely buy a new hardback when it comes out. I just picked up the paperback and finished reading it last night. I was up till about three in the morning because I couldn't stop reading. Harry Dresden is one of my favorite literary characters.

Butcher and Harry have both grown since their first book came out years ago. I feel like Butcher has become much more confident of his abilities, much the same way Harry is becoming with each new volume. I'm not that much into science fiction or fantasy anymore, once that was all I read, but this is one series I continue to pick up.

Harry is a combination of fantasy and detective genres. Harry is a Private Detective who also happens to be a Wizard operating out of present day Chicago.

If I had one complaint about the series is that I wish Butcher would dial down the troubles some. In the beginning some of Harry's cases would involve just a few people and the outcome mattered only to them. Lately every one of Harry's stories include a literally earth saving climax. I'd like to see some stories go back to Harry trying to save just one person, it doesn't always have to be such high stakes. I don't mind stories where Harry has to save the world, but does every new book have to have such high stakes? I guess when you get your hero in such high games it's hard to dial it back down.

Saying that I still enjoyed Small Favor very much. Harry saves the world again, but the fun is seeing how he manages to accomplish this without tripping over his own feet.

So if you haven't read Harry Dresden yet, do yourself a favor and go do it. You'll thank me.

Dead Like Me

Image via Wikipedia

From the mind of Bryan Fuller, who created one of my other favorite least watched shows on tv, Wonderfalls, comes Dead Like Me. Dead Like Me lasted on Showtime for two seasons until more recently they filmed a direct to DVD movie.

Watching the two seasons of this show back to back has made this one of my favorite shows. It has it all, humor, drama, joy, tears...everything you can want in a tv show. And a great cast of characters. The show stars Ellen Muth as George, a young woman who is killed at the age of 18 and recurited in the life (or unlife as it may be) of a Reaper. Reapers collect the souls of the dying. Watching George grow in her new role and actually grow up, something she never did before her death was fascinating.

While there was still unanswered questions the last show actually tied up the show pretty nicely. And it ended with a great last line. I haven't watched the movie yet, I hope it doesn't take away from the show.

If you get a chance this is really I show I can't reccomend highly enough. The first two seasons are out on DVD, as is the movie, or you can buy all three in a specially priced set. It's worth it.

A Good Year For New Music

So far this year we've seen releases from such major acts as Bruce Springsteen and U2. Next month Bob Dylan makes a surprising release of a new album and in June Wilco release their newest. That's just the big guys.

Nekko Case released her latest recently, Taylor Hicks is out next week, Kelly Clarkson was this week and there's a lot more that I'm not even thinking of.

This year started off pretty slow, but it looks like it's adding up to a good year for new music.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Stem Cell Research

Image by Renegade98 via Flickr

President Obama is supposed to lift restrictions on stem cell research on Monday. The ban has been in place since the second President Bush was in office. The potential for this research to help find cures for so much is almost limitless. It's a move that is long overdue. Read more about it here.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

U2 Review

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The new U2 album is out and I am loving it. I could give you a review of it, but I think Starrlight is doing a much better job of it than I could ever do, so go here to read about how great this new album is.

And in other news U2 has announced that they're going to have another album out for next year.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Get The New U2 But Don't Forget Neko Case

Yes, today is the day the new U2 comes out and I've been talking about it enough on this blog that everyone should know it by now. But while you should run right now and buy the new U2 don't forget today Neko Case's newest album Middle Cyclone comes out also. Neko Case has one of the greatest voices in music.

Monday, March 02, 2009

10 Years Ago...

Image via Wikipedia

Dusty Springfield died from breast cancer. Dusty was born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in England. She got got her nickname Dusty because she was such a tomboy. After school she joined the sister act The Lana Sisters. In 1960 she left the sisters and formed a pop-folk trio with her brother and another friend that called themselves the Springfields. They traveled to Nashville to record their first album. The group stayed together for three years, disbanding in 1963.

Dusty went on to sing what was called "white soul" and was the leading practitioner of the genre. Her album Dusty in Memphis is considered a classic. Unfortunately as she grew older her career began to shrink. In 1987 the Pet Shop Boys asked her to sing on one of their songs and she found herself in something of a revival for the last decade of her life.

Her influence still can be felt today. The singer Shelby Lynne just recorded an entire album of covers of songs Dusty was known for recently.

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