Somehow I missed the fun of National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week this year. I blame the rush to start Christmas early.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Lovin' the Elevator
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
2007 Book Project, R.I.P.
The 2007 Book Project is dead, long live the Book Project!
It was a noble pursuit, but my 2007 Book Project is going to fall short of its stated goal to each month read a book recommended by someone whose literary tastes I admire, and then sit down and discuss the book over his/her beverage of choice. Not a bad goal, and a nice way to get to know someone through their reading.
The 2007 Book Project began as an outgrowth of my 2006 goal of reading a book a month, which may not sound too difficult until you consider that me am Bizarro Speed Reader. The 13 books in 12 months I finished last year easily eclipsed the number of books read by a quarter of the American population.
Then I got cocky or inspired, depending on your point of view. Not content to rest on my laurels and repeat the same feat, I sought to enrich the goal by soliciting book recommendations from friends and colleagues. No one has time for a book club (and deciding on which book to read can be a disaster), so I decided to make it a book club of one (me) talking with the person about a book he/she loves. But if reading a book a month is a risky endeavor for me, the already shaky scenario was further complicated by the fact that a number of the participants on my list are ex-girlfriends. The chances for failure increased exponentially.
As it stands, I’m throwing in the towel 2 months early. The project will continue, but without the time constraint. I’m still soliciting recommendations, so if you have one, bury me with it!
In other book news, a recommender on my list clued me into GoodReads. The White Stripes (mass e-mail) invited me to compare my reading list with theirs at Shelfari. And at least 3 titles from my library are joining Book Crossing this month.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Sesame Street Runs Through Funkytown
Conclusive proof that the 70s were the funkiest decade ever.
Even our education had soul.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Phone Call for Mr. Morello
I was present at Bonnaroo for Tom Morello's guest spot with Tool, but somehow I missed the mid-song phone call at 2:09 of this video. At 3:30 Tom eats his guitar.
Tool banned photographers from shooting their set. Hooray You Tube! More shaky, blurry crowd video of Tool's stellar performance at Bonnaroo. "I smell patchouli!"
Love the Mohawk.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Maybe They Can Hire Perry Mason
The "Rock 'N' Roll Rebel" is very upset with a North Dakota sheriff's department. It seems the sheriff stole the Madman's mojo and harnessed the dark power of his name to nab scofflaws. The sheriff sent 500 people with outstanding warrants an invitation to attend a party with Ozzy Osbourne..only there was no party, just the slammer.
It's not hard to see why the sheriff would resort to such deviousness; just say 'Ozzy' and people flock. What amazes me is that anyone fell for this ploy; for one, the "party" invitation came by mail (not e-mail). The majority of the invitees probably read the return address or realized they hadn't signed up to win any kind of Ozzy party. The more than 30 people who fell for the scam are now trying to hire Perry Mason to represent them.
Not a scam: Ozzy hits the Spectrum January 10th with Rob Zombie.
See you there.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Old Dirt Dog
iTunes has (finally) released some of the recordings from Bonnaroo 2007 including Dr. Dog's phenomenal performance on June 16. Oddly, the recording is listed as "clean." I don't recall any cursing during the set (they're such nice boys), so a "dirty" or uncensored recording may not actually exist. So why the "clean" label?
Pictures from a hot day and a truly outstanding show.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Hockey Season's Here!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Bob Probert.
First, the legend (set to metal).
Then, the disgrace.
To be fair, it is thrilling to hear, "Here Comes Probert! Here Comes Bob Probert!" And the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks really should to be pile driven for what he's done to that franchise and its fans. Except he's dead. Well, he fell into the "cock" category.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Fuck You Yankee Blue Jeans
Veronica?
If you've seen Clerks, you know what this ad is referencing.
37!
*For the record, text in the ad is Ukrainian, not Russian.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Yes, I'm Ready for Some Football, and I Hope They Burn in Hell!
Football makes a comeback this week.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Go Get 'Em, Rick
Rick Ankiel is back with the Cardinals. The one-time pitcher is expected to make the starting line-up tonight in the outfield.
Here's wishing him all the luck. This guy was lights out on the mound before his problems.
This video is the best I could find of Ankiel's heartbreaking meltdown.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Are You There God? It's Me, Head.
Ever wonder what former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has been up to since quitting the band in 2005? Me, neither.
Korn's may have lost a Head, but they still have the ears of the fans (that corny pun is just lame), and they're doing just fine as a cover band. Pink Floyd songs have always been popular with disaffected youth, and they can probably fool a few listeners into believing "Word Up!" is theirs by counting it amongst their "Greatest Hits."
Stagnation's a bitch (or a dingo or a coyote or Jonathan Davis's mug on some canine-like animal).
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Welcome to the Bone Yard!
YES! Someone finally made a quilt that's comfy and proclaims my love of heavy metal!
"He refers to our lovemaking as the Headbangers ball." 
Quiltsryche passes the faux metal test because they work an umlaut into their name.
Hope they don't mind that I'm posting this image.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Rat Drink
Rats getting drunk in India.
Just another reason to keep beer cold: without opposable thumbs, rats can't open the fridge door.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Great Muppet Debate
I remain skeptical about ranking Muppets (General Gonzo, it's corporal Kermit reporting for duty), but I like this observation...
Oh, don't get me wrong, Elmo is Scrappy-Doo covered in shaggy red felt, and I want to hunt him down and strangle him to death too.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Everyone Beats the Cubs, Even Other Cubs!
I love seeing the Cubs self destruct. Especially Zambrano.
Technically the Cubs are hitting in this video, but it looks more like a slap fight.
Sadly, YouTube won't allow this video to be embedded.
Friday, June 01, 2007
BKJ Scoops Philebrity
Most of the time I'm playing catch-up, but I was all over this Alyssa Milano baseball shit months before Philebrity. Word.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Arctic Monkeys 5/17/2007
Arctic Monkeys
Electric Factory
May 17, 2007
My view from the afternoon of seeing the Arctic Monkeys tonight was nonplussed particularly because no one was interested in going to the show with me. Nuts to them. They missed an outstanding performance.
My diminished expectations coming into the Electric Factory stemmed from having seen the Arctic Monkeys about a year ago at the Starlight Ballroom. At the time, the Monkeys were riding the crest of a hype wave that I was certain would go to their young heads. Days after the AM show, I saw Clap Your Hands Say Yeah suck out loud at the TLA after rocking the First Unitarian Church a few months earlier. The flat and uninspired TLA performance was a disappointment given CYHSY’s DIY success and blog appeal. Overachievers please try harder.
But back to the Arctic Monkeys’ Thursday night show at the Electric Factory. The band completely dispelled my cynicism with a very tight, 80-minute set punctuated with a rousing “Fake Tales of San Francisco” that had the whole auditorium dancing.
Yet for a sold out show, the floor seemed sparsely populated. The front was packed with adolescents (as expected for an all-ages show), but on the fringes there was space for the chaperones and parents to dance, stretch, and check text messages. It was kind of cute seeing families bond to a Brit rock soundtrack.
The audience was enthusiastically polite and no one seemed to mind the lack of an encore as they filed out when the house lights and exit music came on.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Evening Bulletin Was Dead Before...
Searching online for downloads of the WXPN simulcast of the Modest Mouse show I was at last night, I came across a review for We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank from the Evening Bulletin. Man, does this guy love WXPN...
I came across Modest Mouse because in Philadelphia we have what is perhaps the finest terrestrial radio station in the country - FM 88.5 WXPN.Were this 1990 when the internet was still new and 88.5 was the Philadelphia source for "college rock," I'd understand that sentiment, but c'mon. This is 2007 and there are much better stations than 88.5. WPRB is local and better. KEXP is out-of-town and better.
WXPN has improved, but it's still far from the best. Eat it, Evening Bulletin.
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