26 lutego 2009
Randy Bewley
Guitarist for seminal Athens band Pylon Randy Bewley has died after a heart attack.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
I was never the hugest fan of Pylon, but they were incredibly important in American New Wave and helped start the scene in Athens, Georgia that spawned acts like R.E.M., the B-52's, Black Crowes and Matthew Sweet.
Here is a video of the band playing their song "Danger" in April of 2007.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
What Song Is That?
I was listening to Onda Suave on KXCI last night in my car. KXCI was still set on my car radio this morning, and it brought up for me an ongoing problem I have with KXCI's daytime DJ's.
Here is the secret formula for KXCI's daytime staff:
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
- Play obscure songs that few people in the audience have heard before
- Don't bother to identify the songs for your audience
Hey, I understand: you want to introduce people to all this cool music you know about, but wouldn't it be helpful to tell us great unwashed who is playing this stuff?
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
18 lutego 2009
Please, Leave that BS to the NFL
The New England Revolution is holding tryouts for "Rev Girls." In case any of you want to give them the benefit of the doubt, this is from the press release:
Other MLS teams engage in this silliness, most infamously Chivas USA (who at least have the excuse of having a Mexican parent club does the same thing), but the Revs have thankfully been free of this.
To make matters worse, it looks as though these aren't cheerleaders. At least cheerleaders are, it can be argued, part of the game. From reading the press release, it seems that the Revs are following the "Chiva Girl" model: not cheerleaders, but ornaments.
I don't go to soccer games to gawk at women. I don't even go to women's games to gawk at women (Although, I have to admit that I have my faves for reasons that have nothing to do with skill). Come to think of it, the women's game is pretty darned popular...and no one has thought to dress them up in "form-fitting clothing."
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Girls must be at least 21 years old, and must bring positive identification with them. Prospective team members must also wear form-fitting clothing to the interview, and also bring both a headshot and a full-body image.Great.
Other MLS teams engage in this silliness, most infamously Chivas USA (who at least have the excuse of having a Mexican parent club does the same thing), but the Revs have thankfully been free of this.
To make matters worse, it looks as though these aren't cheerleaders. At least cheerleaders are, it can be argued, part of the game. From reading the press release, it seems that the Revs are following the "Chiva Girl" model: not cheerleaders, but ornaments.
What irks me here most of all is that cheerleaders, dance groups and other such nonsense in other sports are a vestige from the days when young women had no chance to participate in sports except to cheer on the guys. The Revs are a relatively new team without this antiquated baggage. Even more infuriating is that the Revs are part of a sport where women are full participants. Maybe this is hyperbole on my part, but I think it is disrespectful of the contributions of women to the sport here in the US for the men's professional game to do things like this.
I don't go to soccer games to gawk at women. I don't even go to women's games to gawk at women (Although, I have to admit that I have my faves for reasons that have nothing to do with skill). Come to think of it, the women's game is pretty darned popular...and no one has thought to dress them up in "form-fitting clothing."
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
16 lutego 2009
Irony Board
The second movie about the life of Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko, a priest who was active in Solidarity and who was assassinated by the communists, is about to be released in Poland.
So, here is the big irony: during the production about this man who stood up for workers, the producers failed to pay some members of the crew. Sheesh.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
So, here is the big irony: during the production about this man who stood up for workers, the producers failed to pay some members of the crew. Sheesh.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
14 lutego 2009
The Carnage
Geek Game night went longer than I expected (and Caitlin won, again). Because we had a full house, and it went so long, here is the total of what was consumed:
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
- Cock and Bull - 2
- Cucapá - 1
- Dos Equis - 7
- Harnaś - 2
- Kopernik - 2
- RC Cola - 2
- Virgil's - 1
- Żywiec (Original) - 3
- Żywiec (Porter) - 1
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
12 lutego 2009
Quick Take
It is highly irresponsible for Bob Bradley to keep Michael Bradley on the roster. It is so obvious that Michael is only on the roster 'cause the coach is his dad.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
09 lutego 2009
New Roller Derby Season
Attended the debut bout of this Tucson Roller Derby season. There are a couple of rules changes from WFTDA, the most noticeable being that the final jam is completed, no matter how much time there is on the clock. It was kind of fun under the old system, when in a close match the audience would count down during that last jam wondering if the lead would change. On the flip side, in lopsided matches, the final jam would feature a minute or so of aimless skating that tended to be a let down. Given the format of this weekend's action (15 minute mini matches between the teams), I can't judge yet how this will affect the matches.
The first new promotion from the Derby Brats made her debut: Luc3f3r. She definitely has the speed, but has not yet figured out how to take a hit (no contact allowed in Derby Brats). She got jossled pretty badly by the Copper Queens and FTW. But, her speed gave Iron Curtain fans something to look forward to this season, with a victory (albeit in a short exhibition match) against an underpowered FTW.
FTW looked overmatched. In an attempt to make the league more "Fair and Balanced," Deadlock Doe, the lynchpin of the team for years, was transfered to Vice Squad. They also have suffered from the retirement of Sloppy Flo. They didn't win any of the "mini matches" and rarely had a lead jammer. I gotta keep reminding myself that FTW has traditionally started matches even or sometimes behind, only to pile up leads late in the match. In a fifteen minute mini-bout, there is no "late."
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
The first new promotion from the Derby Brats made her debut: Luc3f3r. She definitely has the speed, but has not yet figured out how to take a hit (no contact allowed in Derby Brats). She got jossled pretty badly by the Copper Queens and FTW. But, her speed gave Iron Curtain fans something to look forward to this season, with a victory (albeit in a short exhibition match) against an underpowered FTW.
FTW looked overmatched. In an attempt to make the league more "Fair and Balanced," Deadlock Doe, the lynchpin of the team for years, was transfered to Vice Squad. They also have suffered from the retirement of Sloppy Flo. They didn't win any of the "mini matches" and rarely had a lead jammer. I gotta keep reminding myself that FTW has traditionally started matches even or sometimes behind, only to pile up leads late in the match. In a fifteen minute mini-bout, there is no "late."
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
04 lutego 2009
Yeah, Who Needs It
We went to J C Penny's last weekend to buy some pants, apparently it was close to closing time. I can't remember where the fitting rooms are, so we ask an employee. She said, "We're closed." So, we had to leave.
On our way out, there were people being helped at the register, so we could have bought the pants.
But hey, with the economy as wonderful as it is right now, they can afford to turn customers away, right?
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
On our way out, there were people being helped at the register, so we could have bought the pants.
But hey, with the economy as wonderful as it is right now, they can afford to turn customers away, right?
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
02 lutego 2009
Clear Lake, Iowa
I never bought that Rock and Roll "died" between the death of Buddy Holly in 1959 and the day the Beatles first got American attention in 1963. That period included memorable songs from the likes of Del Shannon and Roy Orbison, so quality was not exactly an issue.
Even if Rock didn't "die" fifty years ago tomorrow, Rock lost three of its early icons. Those of us that consider ourselves rock mavens are left to wonder what more they could have contributed (imagine Holly or Ritchie Valens doing a tour or a single with the Beatles). Even the most obscure of the bunch, The Big Bopper, is underrated today and only remembered for "Chantilly Lace," which many regard as some one off novelty, but he also embodied the fun and naughtiness of early rockabilly, and has many songs that are still being covered today.
Ritchie Valens, "Ooh, My Head" from the movie Go, Johnny, Go! Looking nothing like Lou Diamond Phillips. Yes, that's Chuck Berry.
J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson doing his biggest hit, "Chantilly Lace" from American Bandstand way back in 1958. Unfortunately, I couldn't find video of his other songs, but I found two of other artists covering "White Lightning": George Jones and the Fall.
Buddy Holly and the Crickets performing "Peggy Sue" on, of all places, The Arthur Murray Dance Party in 1957.
Do zobaczenia. Hasta la proxima.
Even if Rock didn't "die" fifty years ago tomorrow, Rock lost three of its early icons. Those of us that consider ourselves rock mavens are left to wonder what more they could have contributed (imagine Holly or Ritchie Valens doing a tour or a single with the Beatles). Even the most obscure of the bunch, The Big Bopper, is underrated today and only remembered for "Chantilly Lace," which many regard as some one off novelty, but he also embodied the fun and naughtiness of early rockabilly, and has many songs that are still being covered today.
Ritchie Valens, "Ooh, My Head" from the movie Go, Johnny, Go! Looking nothing like Lou Diamond Phillips. Yes, that's Chuck Berry.
J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson doing his biggest hit, "Chantilly Lace" from American Bandstand way back in 1958. Unfortunately, I couldn't find video of his other songs, but I found two of other artists covering "White Lightning": George Jones and the Fall.
Buddy Holly and the Crickets performing "Peggy Sue" on, of all places, The Arthur Murray Dance Party in 1957.
Do zobaczenia. Hasta la proxima.
