The Tampa Bay (Don't call us Devil) Rays had an amazing first half of the season, shocking the Yankees and Red Sox and basically anyone who was paying attention to baseball. They lost their last seven games before the all star break (happening now) and they will never regain first place. They MIGHT end the season with a winning record and they might not. They will not make the playoffs.
This has been "Easy Predictions" with Memphis Evans. Thank you. Goodnight.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Memphis Evans: Sellout?
I thought this would be a blog post, but it was too long, so I made it an essay. Go there then come back here if you have comments.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Cuatro De Julio
Is there a more loathsome tradition in our country than fireworks on the fourth of july? I have honestly been trying to think of one and I can not. I mean, there's rape and murder but I wouldn't put those immediately in the "tradition" category, as they are frowned upon by almost everyone. Let's simulate war! Hey let's make a lot of noise all f-ing night! Let's scare dogs and babies! If you are shooting off fireworks, EVEN TODAY, you are an a-hole.
-------------------------------
Now that Obama has gone to North Dakota and begun the process of backing off of his promise to get Americans out of the dangerous mess in Iraq within 16 months of taking office, my vote is up for grabs. Honestly. I just read this and would like a president who agrees that Joe Horn acted appropriately. McCain? Obama? Please someone impress me with something. Like William Shatner said, "It Hasn't Happened Yet."
-------------------------------
These FIREWORKS are making me ANGRY!
These PRETZELS are making me THIRSTY!
-------------------------------
On a happier note, I LOVED this book. Or parts of it. It is a short story collection that, at its best, makes crystal clear the intricacies and mysteries of life, love, and relationships. What more do you want?
Library: I Am Having An Adventure
Amazon: I Am Having An Adventure for a penny! Really! Take a chance.
Wikipedia: Perri Klass
May I recommend highly the final story – if you only read one. But reading the whole book gives the final story even more power.
-------------------------------
Now that Obama has gone to North Dakota and begun the process of backing off of his promise to get Americans out of the dangerous mess in Iraq within 16 months of taking office, my vote is up for grabs. Honestly. I just read this and would like a president who agrees that Joe Horn acted appropriately. McCain? Obama? Please someone impress me with something. Like William Shatner said, "It Hasn't Happened Yet."
-------------------------------
These FIREWORKS are making me ANGRY!
These PRETZELS are making me THIRSTY!
-------------------------------
On a happier note, I LOVED this book. Or parts of it. It is a short story collection that, at its best, makes crystal clear the intricacies and mysteries of life, love, and relationships. What more do you want?
Library: I Am Having An Adventure
Amazon: I Am Having An Adventure for a penny! Really! Take a chance.
Wikipedia: Perri Klass
May I recommend highly the final story – if you only read one. But reading the whole book gives the final story even more power.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Namesecure is Terrible
The company that I registered memphisevans.com with is terrible. My e-mail address for that website no longer works for reasons I won't bore you with. Like many eCompanies, they used to be good or at least serviceable but now they are terrible. Register your domain name anywhere else.
Takeaway: namesecure.com is NOT where you should go for good service on your domain name and e-mail registration. That is all.
Well, here is the text of the e-mail I just sent them for the second time in six months:
My e-mail box here at namesecure for my memphisevans.com address is 100% full. People who try to e-mail me at it are getting messages bouncing back to them saying the box is full. The box is about 99% spam. I never use the e-mail program here at namesecure. It is supposed to be forwarded to my regular account. The e-mail address I am paying you for is essentially useless and non-functional.
I can find no way to delete the mail without deleting my entire inbox, which I assume would have negative consequences. When I try to "Select all shown" and "delete" the endless spam in the ten-message screen here at namesecure it does not work. Even if this did work, it is not a practical solution, as it would take me hours to clear it all.
I had this problem before and all the e-mail in my inbox was deleted by someone at your company. This was only a temporary solution, as the inbox quickly filled again with spam and became useless. Please find a more permanent solution or I will expect a full refund of the money I've thus far wasted setting up e-mail with your company. Thank you.
Takeaway: namesecure.com is NOT where you should go for good service on your domain name and e-mail registration. That is all.
Well, here is the text of the e-mail I just sent them for the second time in six months:
My e-mail box here at namesecure for my memphisevans.com address is 100% full. People who try to e-mail me at it are getting messages bouncing back to them saying the box is full. The box is about 99% spam. I never use the e-mail program here at namesecure. It is supposed to be forwarded to my regular account. The e-mail address I am paying you for is essentially useless and non-functional.
I can find no way to delete the mail without deleting my entire inbox, which I assume would have negative consequences. When I try to "Select all shown" and "delete" the endless spam in the ten-message screen here at namesecure it does not work. Even if this did work, it is not a practical solution, as it would take me hours to clear it all.
I had this problem before and all the e-mail in my inbox was deleted by someone at your company. This was only a temporary solution, as the inbox quickly filled again with spam and became useless. Please find a more permanent solution or I will expect a full refund of the money I've thus far wasted setting up e-mail with your company. Thank you.
Monday, June 23, 2008
PaMaCaNee!
So today when Child requested that we listen to some Paul McCartney (I am so proud of her!) I put on 1989's Flowers in the Dirt. Dear God, that is a wonderful album! Seriously! I fail to see why Flowers in The Dirt/Off The Ground does not generally receive the same "career resurgence" acclaim that Time Out Of Mind/"Love and Theft" did for Bob Dylan.
Well, no. No, I don't. Critics don't like McCartney solo - that's why. Elitist snobs.
For that matter, has anyone EVER had as much of an improvement from one album to the next as McCartney did from Press To Play, from which he seems oddly absent (a la Madonna's Hard Candy) to Flowers in the Dirt? I'm asking you. Comment.
New Morning is really good but Self Portrait is underrated. I really can't think of another pair of consecutive albums that were that much improved. Down in the Groove to Good as I Been To You? Maybe. No, it's still not Press-Flowers.
Well, no. No, I don't. Critics don't like McCartney solo - that's why. Elitist snobs.
For that matter, has anyone EVER had as much of an improvement from one album to the next as McCartney did from Press To Play, from which he seems oddly absent (a la Madonna's Hard Candy) to Flowers in the Dirt? I'm asking you. Comment.
New Morning is really good but Self Portrait is underrated. I really can't think of another pair of consecutive albums that were that much improved. Down in the Groove to Good as I Been To You? Maybe. No, it's still not Press-Flowers.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Shoutout!
On page 259 of Buffy Omnibus Vol. 3 there must be a panel missing. Before a bad guy gets stabbed by an even worse guy, someone must have asked him to pronounce the unlikely word made by the acronym of his favorite folk & variety acoustic duo.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Now At MySpace
Yes, Memphis Evans has joined the social networking revolution of the late twentieth century. Memphis Evans' new slogan: Now only five years from the cutting edge!
Check me out, listen to my four free songs and download them if you like. Then apply to be my friend. It'll be great!
Memphis at MySpace.
Check me out, listen to my four free songs and download them if you like. Then apply to be my friend. It'll be great!
Memphis at MySpace.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Grace Paley Rules!
When I'm not reading Batman comics or exercise training books, I'm reading Fidelity by Grace Paley. Wow.
I'm tempted to say something like, "If you don't like this book there's something terribly wrong with you." However, as I get older I realize such judgmental statements are generally made in ignorance and/or to get attention. But still, check it out. Really. The aged wisdom I just showed with my restraint there is totally on display in this book along with other much more important things. I am moved to tears every couple of pages. Honestly.
I'm tempted to say something like, "If you don't like this book there's something terribly wrong with you." However, as I get older I realize such judgmental statements are generally made in ignorance and/or to get attention. But still, check it out. Really. The aged wisdom I just showed with my restraint there is totally on display in this book along with other much more important things. I am moved to tears every couple of pages. Honestly.
Monday, June 02, 2008
One Of Those "Really Great Show" Blog Entries
Had a really great show at the 400 Bar last night. Blue Sky Divide, an acoustic duo featuring old friend Matt Braaten and new friend Paul Boruta, graciously asked Shotgun Johnson & The Mississippi Seven to open their triumphant return to the Twin Cities from California. Sound was really great, thanks to an excellent substitute soundman.
I played guitar and sang because Karl was performing as an emergency substitute Willy Wonka at New Richmond, WI's Old Gem Theater. Scuffy, Two-Dollar, and A Hon rounded out the band most excellently. We missed Collaborato, Kaptain, and of course Shotgun, but what we lacked in manpower we made up for in energy and an enthusiastic crowd that was really there to listen to the music.
"Total Peace" challenged me as I embarked on a beer fueled interpretive dance, stopping just short of making bunny ears behind Two-Dollar as he sang his masterpiece-to-date and played my guitar. "California" was also a lot of fun and I even threw in a little Jesus Christ Superstar quote in addition to singing all the regular lyrics in the right order. "Illusions of Banjeur" was played twice as our initial attempt was deemed too slow and the crowd actually demanded the fast version. That was sweet. "Gone To Stay" closed the set on a high note, with everyone soloing and me jumping up and down.
Blue Sky Divide was really great. I knew I liked Matt's songs, and Paul turned out to be a really great writer as well. Their show was tight with really great, strong harmonies. The rest of the crowd loved them as well.
To look at the entire setlist and any other special information, check out the decidedly text-intensive, internet 1.0 page regarding this show here.
On a sad note, I forgot to grab my remaining website-advertising flyers when I left, so these limited edition flyers featuring otherwise unreleased lyrics on one side and scintillating information on the other are now gone and I don't even have any for the archives. I'll have to run to Kinko's before the next big show to make new ones.
Thanks to BSD for setting up the show and inviting us to play. Thanks to all the music fans who gave us so much energy. And of course, thanks to my bandmates for showing up and playing like champions. Total Peace!
I played guitar and sang because Karl was performing as an emergency substitute Willy Wonka at New Richmond, WI's Old Gem Theater. Scuffy, Two-Dollar, and A Hon rounded out the band most excellently. We missed Collaborato, Kaptain, and of course Shotgun, but what we lacked in manpower we made up for in energy and an enthusiastic crowd that was really there to listen to the music.
"Total Peace" challenged me as I embarked on a beer fueled interpretive dance, stopping just short of making bunny ears behind Two-Dollar as he sang his masterpiece-to-date and played my guitar. "California" was also a lot of fun and I even threw in a little Jesus Christ Superstar quote in addition to singing all the regular lyrics in the right order. "Illusions of Banjeur" was played twice as our initial attempt was deemed too slow and the crowd actually demanded the fast version. That was sweet. "Gone To Stay" closed the set on a high note, with everyone soloing and me jumping up and down.
Blue Sky Divide was really great. I knew I liked Matt's songs, and Paul turned out to be a really great writer as well. Their show was tight with really great, strong harmonies. The rest of the crowd loved them as well.
To look at the entire setlist and any other special information, check out the decidedly text-intensive, internet 1.0 page regarding this show here.
On a sad note, I forgot to grab my remaining website-advertising flyers when I left, so these limited edition flyers featuring otherwise unreleased lyrics on one side and scintillating information on the other are now gone and I don't even have any for the archives. I'll have to run to Kinko's before the next big show to make new ones.
Thanks to BSD for setting up the show and inviting us to play. Thanks to all the music fans who gave us so much energy. And of course, thanks to my bandmates for showing up and playing like champions. Total Peace!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Do You REALLY Learn Something New Every Day?
I learned something new when our power went out yesterday afternoon. I learned what "breakers" are. When I called Xcel energy, the very patient woman I spoke with asked me if our breakers were off. I did not know. Turns out they are the main switches at the top of the fuse box. They were in the on position, so she concluded that the problem was not with my house, she put in a work order, and our power was restored after only four hours or so. Now, if you were ignorant of this, as I was, YOU have learned something new today!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
More Miss Ellaneous
Have you heard that Cameron Diaz has a new, signature line of skillets coming out designed for electric ranges? Yeah, they should work great because they have completely flat bottoms.
------------------------------
Dear Memphis,
You're a musician in a way, right? Please settle an argument between my wife and I. She claims that the opposite of "flat" is "sharp". I say the opposite of "flat" is "in tune". Who's right? A huge steak dinner is riding on your answer!
Sincerely,
Brad
Dear Brad,
The opposite of "flat" is "not flat", of which "sharp" and "in-tune" are two subsets. You're both partially right, which is another way of saying you're both wrong. So you can both go without the steak dinner and save a cow and your money. Incidentally, your question actually involves not music so much as mathematics, but luckily for you in addition to being a musician, I am also the 16th best junior high math student in the state of Tennessee circa 1985. Cheers.
Memphis
------------------------------
Inspired by the current occupant and the generally sickening contenders:
Oval Office Mug Idea: You don't have to be a psychophantic megalomaniacal toady to work here...BUT IT HELPS!
------------------------------
------------------------------
Dear Memphis,
You're a musician in a way, right? Please settle an argument between my wife and I. She claims that the opposite of "flat" is "sharp". I say the opposite of "flat" is "in tune". Who's right? A huge steak dinner is riding on your answer!
Sincerely,
Brad
Dear Brad,
The opposite of "flat" is "not flat", of which "sharp" and "in-tune" are two subsets. You're both partially right, which is another way of saying you're both wrong. So you can both go without the steak dinner and save a cow and your money. Incidentally, your question actually involves not music so much as mathematics, but luckily for you in addition to being a musician, I am also the 16th best junior high math student in the state of Tennessee circa 1985. Cheers.
Memphis
------------------------------
Inspired by the current occupant and the generally sickening contenders:
Oval Office Mug Idea: You don't have to be a psychophantic megalomaniacal toady to work here...BUT IT HELPS!
------------------------------
Monday, May 19, 2008
Miss Ellaneous
I have listened to Kaptain Karl's album The Chicago Tapes all the way through twice today. Man, that is good! It has these moments and performances that are indescribable and inimitable. I think I had to listen twice to some of it to confirm that yes, it really sounded like that. And it is Karl's strongest, most focused batch of songs yet. The sequence is good. I considered remixing it though, knowing what I know now ten years later. It's kind of quiet overall and my copy of it starts to get static-y toward the end, which I think is a function of the sticker applied to the disc.
-------------------------------------------
I have cleaned up cat poop in three locations today. (Four if you count the litter box.) I have also cleaned up a hearty dose of cat puke. I am forced to conclude that cats' reputation for fastidious cleanliness is just like Republicans' reputation for restraint in government and government spending - a ludicrous lie that those of us faced with the harsh reality of these groups' messes can only wish was truth.
-------------------------------------------
Here are some other entries from TPWK that I really liked:
Confessions of a Female College Student
Have you considered buying something?
What you've been missing
Rock TV
-------------------------------------------
I read something the other day that made me sad. It said Hillary Clinton's win in the West Virginia Democratic Primary was "meaningless". Really, Star Tribune? Tell that to the hardworking West Virginian who woke up early, kissed his cousinwife, got out of bed, took a shower in the backyard with the goat, and voted on his way to work at the coal mine!
No, just kidding, West Virginia! You're great. One of my friends in high school was from there. Really! Plus I love the Bruce Springsteen bootleg Oh, Boy! recorded in your majestic city of Charleston! Also I love the song named for you on John Linnell's brilliant State Songs album. I'm just yanking your chain. The chain you use to keep your dog tethered to the giant tractor tire in the backyard near the woods, that is. Ha ha! Just kidding!
-------------------------------------------
Man! Yahoo! news has become more and more pathetic. The main headline is usually about some lame reality tv show. I used to rely on it as my primary news source that was not the Sunday Star Trib. Now I can rely on it only for a brief mental hit of disgust with the hideous slop being forced on my imperiled country.
-------------------------------------------
I have cleaned up cat poop in three locations today. (Four if you count the litter box.) I have also cleaned up a hearty dose of cat puke. I am forced to conclude that cats' reputation for fastidious cleanliness is just like Republicans' reputation for restraint in government and government spending - a ludicrous lie that those of us faced with the harsh reality of these groups' messes can only wish was truth.
-------------------------------------------
Here are some other entries from TPWK that I really liked:
Confessions of a Female College Student
Have you considered buying something?
What you've been missing
Rock TV
-------------------------------------------
I read something the other day that made me sad. It said Hillary Clinton's win in the West Virginia Democratic Primary was "meaningless". Really, Star Tribune? Tell that to the hardworking West Virginian who woke up early, kissed his cousinwife, got out of bed, took a shower in the backyard with the goat, and voted on his way to work at the coal mine!
No, just kidding, West Virginia! You're great. One of my friends in high school was from there. Really! Plus I love the Bruce Springsteen bootleg Oh, Boy! recorded in your majestic city of Charleston! Also I love the song named for you on John Linnell's brilliant State Songs album. I'm just yanking your chain. The chain you use to keep your dog tethered to the giant tractor tire in the backyard near the woods, that is. Ha ha! Just kidding!
-------------------------------------------
Man! Yahoo! news has become more and more pathetic. The main headline is usually about some lame reality tv show. I used to rely on it as my primary news source that was not the Sunday Star Trib. Now I can rely on it only for a brief mental hit of disgust with the hideous slop being forced on my imperiled country.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I AM The Future Of News
I read somewhere that in the future all news agencies will just provide links to other news. I am not sure about how exactly that will work, but I did want to share my favorite blog with you. I will direct you straight to the post that best exemplifies the random, unexpected, juxtapositional humor I enjoy and leave you to explore the rest on your own.
http://theproblemwithkevin.blogspot.com/2008/04/interview-with-sun.html
Again, to reiterate, that is my favorite blog, so you should check it out.
http://theproblemwithkevin.blogspot.com/2008/04/interview-with-sun.html
Again, to reiterate, that is my favorite blog, so you should check it out.
Top Fourteen Neil Diamond Characteristics
14. The Essential Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan's Time Out Of Mind are the only two albums I am aware of that use the Columbia Viva-Tonal Electrical Process.
13. One of the only songwriters who writes good songs about songs and songwriting.
12. No rhyme is too tired, silly, or unhip.
11. Elvis did at least two of his songs.
10. He was voted women's favorite music to listen to during sex.
9. He writes about anything he wants: imaginary friends (Shiloh), seagulls (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), and who-knows-what (Soolaimon).
8. You can put on his music and forget about it and enjoy your day a little more or you can listen on headphones and really get in to it.
7. The twin descending portamento keyboards that lead back to the title line on "Love on the Rocks".
6. You can always understand the words.
5. He's the truest descendant of the Sinatra "Tell a story/sing a poem" school working today.
4. He takes his work seriously
3. He appeared as himself on Saturday Night Live alongside Will Ferrel as Fake Neil Diamond.
2. The Band liked him enough to invite him to The Last Waltz
1. Surrounds himself with great players of music.
No irony or, really, humor in today's post. Just really was enjoying The Essential Neil Diamond this week and wanted to figure out/talk about why that was.
13. One of the only songwriters who writes good songs about songs and songwriting.
12. No rhyme is too tired, silly, or unhip.
11. Elvis did at least two of his songs.
10. He was voted women's favorite music to listen to during sex.
9. He writes about anything he wants: imaginary friends (Shiloh), seagulls (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), and who-knows-what (Soolaimon).
8. You can put on his music and forget about it and enjoy your day a little more or you can listen on headphones and really get in to it.
7. The twin descending portamento keyboards that lead back to the title line on "Love on the Rocks".
6. You can always understand the words.
5. He's the truest descendant of the Sinatra "Tell a story/sing a poem" school working today.
4. He takes his work seriously
3. He appeared as himself on Saturday Night Live alongside Will Ferrel as Fake Neil Diamond.
2. The Band liked him enough to invite him to The Last Waltz
1. Surrounds himself with great players of music.
No irony or, really, humor in today's post. Just really was enjoying The Essential Neil Diamond this week and wanted to figure out/talk about why that was.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Why, God, Why??!!??
I bought a new microwave last year because...well, because I punched our oven so hard it broke. What can I say, it was making noise. Really annoying, constant noise that only stopped with careful, gentle punching but then the careful modulation of the punching hardness just got away from me and suddenly my blood was spattered around the kitchen and I have a scar on my right pinky now. Anyway, the point being that we decided to get a new microwave to hang above our new oven/range.
So given that our old oven was a victim of its own irritating noise habit AND given that we were using as a possible model for our new one my parents' microwave, which has a mute function, WHY GOD WHY did I not insist on having a mute function built in to our new microwave? Now we have a loud beepin' microwave that doesn't just beep when you program it and start it up. Oh, no! It beeps when it's done. Then it beeps once a minute until you give it further attention. This is especially nice when you set it to make a nice relaxing cup of tea, then go away to, say, change a diaper. (Not an activity from which you can walk away) Beep...beep...beep...come back to me!...beep...I will awaken you and your children...beep...beep...BEEEP!!
What is wrong with me that I forgot to get a mutable microwave?!? How often do you buy a new microwave? Well, if you're me it's an average of...so far...once every 36 years. So who cares? Why would I write a blog about it? Here is the takeaway. If just one person learns from my mistake, then it will have been worth it. So let me make an egregious break with netiquette for a moment and use all caps combined with obnoxious, obvious cut and paste for a summary.
BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!!
That is all I really wanted to say. You're welcome.
So given that our old oven was a victim of its own irritating noise habit AND given that we were using as a possible model for our new one my parents' microwave, which has a mute function, WHY GOD WHY did I not insist on having a mute function built in to our new microwave? Now we have a loud beepin' microwave that doesn't just beep when you program it and start it up. Oh, no! It beeps when it's done. Then it beeps once a minute until you give it further attention. This is especially nice when you set it to make a nice relaxing cup of tea, then go away to, say, change a diaper. (Not an activity from which you can walk away) Beep...beep...beep...come back to me!...beep...I will awaken you and your children...beep...beep...BEEEP!!
What is wrong with me that I forgot to get a mutable microwave?!? How often do you buy a new microwave? Well, if you're me it's an average of...so far...once every 36 years. So who cares? Why would I write a blog about it? Here is the takeaway. If just one person learns from my mistake, then it will have been worth it. So let me make an egregious break with netiquette for a moment and use all caps combined with obnoxious, obvious cut and paste for a summary.
BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!! BUY ONLY MICROWAVE OVENS WITH MUTE FUNCTIONS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!!
That is all I really wanted to say. You're welcome.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Striking While The Iron Is Ice Cold, Part One
I hear that blogs are passe now and everyone who is anyone is twittering. Well, fine. Have fun with that. In the meantime, I will be clinging to the amazing technology of the go-go 1990s and continue to write here and in my new blog, which does not replace this one, as it is about a totally different topic, whereas this one is about no particular topic at all. And I am posting right now using Mac OS 9.0.4, which really struggles to pull down much of today's hi-tech internets. I could no more twitter than I could jamaharon.
Pretty soon I intend to listen to Dark Side of the Moon while I watch The Wizard of Oz with the sound turned down. And I will do it using a vinyl record and a VHS tape. I hear it's better in analog anyway. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Pretty soon I intend to listen to Dark Side of the Moon while I watch The Wizard of Oz with the sound turned down. And I will do it using a vinyl record and a VHS tape. I hear it's better in analog anyway. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Is The Feed Thing Working?
So I tried to let people get an e-mail when there is a new blog post. Click on the icon underneath the words "Subscribe Now" in the lower right. Is that working for anyone?
Also, I think in the future all comments here will need to be attributed. To understand why, try watching the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode "The Anonymous Donor". Thank you.
Also, I think in the future all comments here will need to be attributed. To understand why, try watching the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode "The Anonymous Donor". Thank you.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Mississippi Seven Triumphant on the West Bank
Had a great Mississipi Seven show tonight at the Acadia Cafe in its new location at Cedar-Riverside. (Setlist and details) Scuffy Pucker, Two Dollar Bill Turner, Me, Collaborato Punxatawney, and A Hon made up the group tonight. I played my new acoustic guitar instead of drums because Kaptain Karl was singing with his barbershop group at the Wisconsin Governor's fishing opener, which was held indoors because of inclement weather. (The Governor drew a little plastic ducky with a "64" on it and was given a teddy bear.)
Sound was good and the band right before us was really great AND they hung around to hear our set. I will be checking out their website and the CD I traded with them for. "Inching Away" was a highlight, but it is slated for their NEXT album. Oh well.
I had some trouble hearing lyrics from the first two bands so I worked really hard to enunciate clearly, as I had lead vocals on eight of eleven songs tonight. I really felt like I was making a connection with people when I saw smiles and laughter. Duh. It's so simple, but so rare with most bands. All my bandmates played great. I had to give Scuffy an extra time through the pattern on "Gone To Stay" because I could tell he was just starting to warm up and indeed he was really rocking the banjo by the time I brought the Memphis verse back in. Scuffy and Collaborato had an epic, two-verse long accordion battle on "Boxcar" that showed me how far Collaborato has come on that instrument.
Toddler asked me this afternoon if we could play the trumpet, so we did. I realized I could play the melody from "Theme From Honigman" quite easily, so I brought my trumpet to the cafe, hid it under my parents' table, then had my dad bring it up to me after the first time through the pattern. It was really a hit and everyone was surprised, even my bandmates. I think we'll use it on any recording of that song this band makes. I even threw a little unscheduled, improvised trumpet in the background of "Total Peace" since Bill was playing my guitar.
It was so great to play for other songwriters and people who really liked our songs and heard the words and what they meant. Thanks to everyone who came to the show and enjoyed it. Thanks to the Acadia for having us and supporting live music. Thanks to Trio Tipo for inviting us. And thanks to my bandmates for hauling all that gear, finding parking, and most of all playing like champions.
Sound was good and the band right before us was really great AND they hung around to hear our set. I will be checking out their website and the CD I traded with them for. "Inching Away" was a highlight, but it is slated for their NEXT album. Oh well.
I had some trouble hearing lyrics from the first two bands so I worked really hard to enunciate clearly, as I had lead vocals on eight of eleven songs tonight. I really felt like I was making a connection with people when I saw smiles and laughter. Duh. It's so simple, but so rare with most bands. All my bandmates played great. I had to give Scuffy an extra time through the pattern on "Gone To Stay" because I could tell he was just starting to warm up and indeed he was really rocking the banjo by the time I brought the Memphis verse back in. Scuffy and Collaborato had an epic, two-verse long accordion battle on "Boxcar" that showed me how far Collaborato has come on that instrument.
Toddler asked me this afternoon if we could play the trumpet, so we did. I realized I could play the melody from "Theme From Honigman" quite easily, so I brought my trumpet to the cafe, hid it under my parents' table, then had my dad bring it up to me after the first time through the pattern. It was really a hit and everyone was surprised, even my bandmates. I think we'll use it on any recording of that song this band makes. I even threw a little unscheduled, improvised trumpet in the background of "Total Peace" since Bill was playing my guitar.
It was so great to play for other songwriters and people who really liked our songs and heard the words and what they meant. Thanks to everyone who came to the show and enjoyed it. Thanks to the Acadia for having us and supporting live music. Thanks to Trio Tipo for inviting us. And thanks to my bandmates for hauling all that gear, finding parking, and most of all playing like champions.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Time, Time, Time. See What's Become Of Superman
So this occurred to me the other day for no good reason I can discern.
In the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve, (Spoiler alert!!) Lois Lane dies. Then Superman flies around the Earth until it is spinning backwards. Time then flows backwards as well and he changes the events that led to his girlfriend's death. When I saw this movie at the age of 6 I accepted this.
However, now, at 36, I realize that even if it were within Superman's powers to reverse the rotation of the Earth, such a reversal would not have the desired effect. Here's my first main point: The flow of time is not linked in any way to the direction of the rotation of the Earth. (Warning: My second main point will not be announced as such. It will sneak up on you like a tiger and pounce.)
So the question becomes: What would happen if the rotation of the Earth were reversed? Chaos. I am not a geophysicist, but I think it is safe to say that there would be scenes of innocent bystanders screaming in terror, running through the steel and glass canyons of Gotham while airborne cars and buses bounced around them, crushing the ones that had been mean, racist, Black, or smoking earlier in the movie.
Conclusion? Superman: Selfish Uber-villian.
In the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve, (Spoiler alert!!) Lois Lane dies. Then Superman flies around the Earth until it is spinning backwards. Time then flows backwards as well and he changes the events that led to his girlfriend's death. When I saw this movie at the age of 6 I accepted this.
However, now, at 36, I realize that even if it were within Superman's powers to reverse the rotation of the Earth, such a reversal would not have the desired effect. Here's my first main point: The flow of time is not linked in any way to the direction of the rotation of the Earth. (Warning: My second main point will not be announced as such. It will sneak up on you like a tiger and pounce.)
So the question becomes: What would happen if the rotation of the Earth were reversed? Chaos. I am not a geophysicist, but I think it is safe to say that there would be scenes of innocent bystanders screaming in terror, running through the steel and glass canyons of Gotham while airborne cars and buses bounced around them, crushing the ones that had been mean, racist, Black, or smoking earlier in the movie.
Conclusion? Superman: Selfish Uber-villian.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Attention Fellow Nerds of Hennepin County: You're Welcome!
Yes, I have a system for us. I have indicated to amazon that I like Star Trek fiction and comics. Amazon makes me aware of all new releases in this area. I then recommend them to my library. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Lately it has worked spectacularly. Check this out:
Star Trek: Year Four
Star Trek: Klingons: Blood Will Tell
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Space Between
I can personally recommend each of these. And what does it cost us, fellow nerds of Hennepin County? Nothing! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Star Trek: Year Four
Star Trek: Klingons: Blood Will Tell
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Space Between
I can personally recommend each of these. And what does it cost us, fellow nerds of Hennepin County? Nothing! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!
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