The Gritty Poet

R.I.P Whitney

2012-02-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

"So when the night falls, my lonely heart calls. . ."

Thank you, and God bless.

Bilingual Bumper Philosophy

2012-02-09T03:43:00.000-08:00

Storm a-Brewin'

2012-02-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

In Venâncio Aires, Brazil.

A destination covered quite well in an American guy's travel journal , which I found on-line. Read the part where he arrives in town and is greeted with a custom made sign, designed by his hosts. Hilarious, and kind of endearing.

Pictures from these guys (thanks "these guys").

Duh, It's so Obvious Brazil - The Travessia Elevada

2012-02-07T01:08:00.000-08:00

In this DISOB - Duh, It's so Obvious Brazil - the Grittmeister touches upon elevation, of the street kind ( yes, tough street lingo from a refined poet).

I am talking about different planes between street and surroundings. This "revolutionary" concept is already in use in some parts of Southern Brazil from what I have observed. Now isn't it obvious that a simple elevation at crossing points and intersections would increase visibility, hence safety, and reduce accidents plus their incurring costs: usually the public health system has to care for uninsured pedestrians.
I don't want to get into the emotional toll accidents inflict on families since that is just too harsh.

Now look at this elevation being all gritty and useful in a Southern Brazilian city.

DUH BRAZIL.

On Why I'm Hot

2012-02-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

Holly for a Laugh

2012-02-02T02:27:00.000-08:00

Holly Walsh: brilliant, and lovely.
By the way, when she references "loo roll" that means toliet paper.
See, a comedian that is not only funny; but speaks funny as well.

If I Should Fall From Grace with God

2012-02-01T05:02:00.000-08:00

Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock upon the waves
Then no corpse can lie upon me

How can one not love them ?

I still do after all these years, and hell, I can't resist so here's another one.

"Ruby": according to Adam Carolla

2012-01-27T11:14:00.000-08:00

Norm MacDonald also weighs in as they deconstruct Kenny Roger's iconic song.

How to (or not to) Behave on a Date

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Dating recommendations from the year 1938.

The Crust of Spirituality

2012-01-11T03:03:00.000-08:00

Remember dear reader: The well is deep, and I wish you well.

And if I Don't Hold Her...

2012-01-11T00:24:00.000-08:00

will she just
f
a
l
l

d
o
w
n
'
'
'
',
?

Grittreview: "The Room"

2012-01-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

"The Room" is a movie.
Movies are stories or events recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a theater or on television; a motion picture.
-------------

"The Room" is to cinematography what the review above is to insightful commentary.

Now meet the director, producer and main actor of this gem - Tommy Wiseau.

Yes, it really is that bad. So bad that it's good. Plus, contrary to what the director says in the interview, and according to what the cast claims: Wiseau was actually trying to make a drama, not a black comedy.
Anyway, I strongly recommend this crapfest. You've probably never seen anything like it, and it will make you feel a whole lot better about your skills in whatever it is that you do. Also, viewing such an aberration will provide the courage you need to finally engage in that new activity you so want to try; yet refrain from due to a constant fear of failure. After all, you can't possibly manage to do worse than Wiseau and his crew. So bad, in fact, as to end up being so very good.

I'm giving "The Room" my top score: ***** Five Astergrits

Now before we part let us not forget: movies are stories or events recorded by a camera...

Urbanized Typeface

2012-01-07T03:09:00.000-08:00

Nice.

Urbanized Typeface : Shibuya08-09 [PV:EN] from yang02 on Vimeo.

The Expectation that Invites Bitterness (According to Dr. Love)

2012-01-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

So don't fret if your relationship fell apart as it probably ended because you expected, above all, to be happy. But happiness is not the point: it was never part of the plan.

Dr.Love is wise: it really is just so much easier being a porcupine.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T05:33:00.000-08:00

So this is where we part, goodbye Mr. 2011 (yes, in my mind time is male).

Awfully glad I met you, cheerio, and toodle-oo

And thank you so much.

Bittersweet Bobbie Gentry

2011-12-26T01:42:00.000-08:00

Singing a lovely ballad whose theme invited much speculation.

Remembering Maria Mckee

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Singing "Shelter" with Lone Justice.

When it comes to lyrics and voice though I just love this from her.

The Morning Papers

2011-12-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

They could take a walk down the oceanside
Make a wish on every wave
They could find a carousel and ride
Or kiss in every cave
They could contemplate the entire universe
Or just one star
Or just how far was the walk 4 the morning papers

Oh to sing like a Prince.

Rocking out to the Flute

2011-11-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

This photo of Dittisham is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The Diaphragm as it Pertains to Singing Aimee Mann

2011-11-25T23:25:00.000-08:00

First see how a Diaphragm functions in your body.

Then listen to a concise explanation found on Youtube on how this muscle is the key to singing correctly and with ease.

There.

Now you are prepared to cover a song from a princess and prove to an audience that voices carry, with yours doing so in spectacular fashion.

I imagine this is what heaven would sound like, yet perhaps it would go something more like this.

Life Has Come a Long Way Since Yesterday **

2011-11-24T22:57:00.000-08:00

Ziggy in excerpts (of a run-on sentence): "day in day out I've asked many questions only to find the truth it never changes I don't care if it hurts I'm tired of lies and all these games I've reached a point in life no longer can I be this way cause I can't make you happy unless I am I'm moving on yes I'm grooving on well I'm finally free I've got to be true to myself..."

Life has come a long way since yesterday

**So Happy Thanksgiving, I say, I say...

The Bouquet Bokeh

2011-11-23T23:22:00.000-08:00

The Picture above along with tutorials can be found at this nifty site.

Anyway according to Wikipedia a Bokeh, in photography, is the blur or the aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image.

A cool Bokeh tuturial below which even invites you to participate in a contest.

And since Bokeh is partially about motion why not watch something dealing with that as well.

The Challenges of City Integration

2011-11-12T04:07:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a window of opportunity opening up for some of Rio's favelas, specially now that this happened in Rocinha .

Focusing on Rocinha below is a description of the place by a writer called Paul Berger.

"Probably the most surprising aspect of our visit to Rocinha was just how many goods were on offer there. It was almost a city within a city, with hairdressers, bars, restaurants and stores as well as plenty of garages for repairing motorcycles. Rocinha even has a private cable television station, a radio station, two community newspapers and two official banks"

The article can be found here.

Legal businesses fostering economic development is always good and one activity that has included favelas into their scope is tourism. I researched the subject matter and arrived at this well balanced piece, featuring both pros and cons.

Another good source for learning about favela related issues is a blog authored by a native, bi-lingual Rocinha resident called Zézinho. His work, in English, is linked below.

http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.com/

I wish he used tags in his blog though. It would make it easier to find things like this excellent article containing info that is really hard to come by, even with Uncle Google's help.
Anyway I have babbled on for far too long here (my other posts, which are short and concise, have probably committed suicide by now). So I'll wrap it up with an interview featuring Prof Edward Glaeser whose book "The Triumph of the City" is a great way of looking at how a place like Rocinha could be, and in various aspects already is, a great asset of Rio de Janeiro.

Since were on the Subject of Captains

2011-10-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

How about a shouting match between Captain Kirk and Christopher Columbus?

It is pretty good, give it a try.

The Captain of her Heart

2011-09-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

Great song and lovely haircuts.

Since Ringo Said No

2011-09-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Beatle declined so we´ll have to do with the muppets.

Hell, let´s just introduce the whole ensemble.

Good times.

Squirrels and Freedom

2011-08-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

From Director Justin Folk.

This Years Love

2011-07-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

The original version of "This Years Love" by David Grey.

Then a cover version of said song. Lovely.

About Slutwalk

2011-06-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

and babywipes.

Great Moments in Human Accomplishments (Part 1)

2011-06-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Telê's Orchestra

2011-06-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

The 82nd Symphony.

Harper Valley P.T.A

2011-06-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

The movie.

Plus an interview.

The Non-Apology

2011-05-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

From here.

Pass the Dutchie...

2011-05-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

on the left hand side.

See the Curtains Hangin' in the Window...

2011-04-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sweet days of summer
the jasmine's in bloom
July is dressed up
and playing her tune

A Song for You

2011-04-06T02:05:00.000-07:00

On Mr. Sunshine

and here performed by Mr. Charles.

Max Headroom

2011-04-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

The Dude

The link

http://www.tvworthwatching.com/blog/2010/08/max-headroom-finally-arrives-o.shtml

When Max Headroom first hit the media landscape in 1985, it was with a two-pronged assault: a music-video series in which the "computer-generated" titular character introduced and often ridiculed the hot acts of the day, and a live-action sci-fi movie explaining the "origin" of Max Headroom.

That movie, like the subsequent 1987 live-action ABC drama series also called Max Headroom, was set "20 minutes into the future." Now, a full 25 years after he first appeared on England's Channel 4, Max Headroom finally shows up on home video...

The August 10 release, from Shout! Video in collaboration with Warner Bros. Entertainment, is a five-DVD set called Max Headroom: The Complete Series. On four discs, it presents the American version of the Max Headroom pilot, and all subsequent 13 episodes produced for ABC in 1987-88 -- including one episode, "Baby Grobags," not televised for another seven years.

The fifth disc is full of DVD extras, including a reunion with most of the show's cast, including Jeffrey Tambor, who co-starred here long before becoming a cult TV star thanks to HBO's The Larry Sanders Show and Fox's Arrested Development. (Missing from the reunion, sadly, is series star Matt Frewer, who played both Edison Carter and Max Headroom.)

For genre fans, it's a must-buy DVD purchase, and you can -- and should -- order it HERE.

The ABC series really was decades ahead of its time, and tackled lots of questions about what TV was doing to viewers, and what greedy TV executives were doing to their own medium. A subplot in the TV movie that launched the series, for example, concerned "blipverts," the devious brainchild of executives at the globally dominant Network 23. "Blipverts" were subliminal commercials, run so quickly that no viewer could fast-forward through them. Another plot had a rival pay-per-view TV operation downloading people's dreams, and selling them as prurient entertainment.

The cleverness of Max Headroom is reflected best in the origin story of the title character. Edison Carter, played by Frewer, is the star reporter at Network 23. While investigating a story, he's chased by some bad guys, and tries to escape by hopping on a motorcycle and exiting an underground parking garage.

But he ends up going airborne, and crashing headfirst into an exit-gate barrier, on which is printed the warning, "MAX. HEADROOM 2.3 METERS."

When a computer genius back at Network 23 downloads Edison's brain into a computer program, what's left of the reporter's consciousness is represented by his disembodied face -- displayed by computer in a plastic, stuttering form. But Edison's memories are intact, including the last thing he saw, which becomes his computerized alter ego's name: Max Headroom.

Utterly brilliant. Especially since, as one of the show's creators explains on the disc of extras, every car park in England at the time was emblazoned with the identical "MAX HEADROOM" warning. Free, instant advertising, all over the nation. (It's a wonder no American series has ever claimed the title STOP, or YIELD, or WATCH FOR FALLING ROCK.)

I loved Max Headroom decades ago, reviewed it positively, and have taught it in my Rowan University TV History and Appreciation II class, quite recently, to the amusement and amazement of my students. Therefore, my only complaint about this first-ever DVD release is that it's not as complete an experience, or a history, as it could have been.

Yes, it's titled Max Headroom: The Complete Series, but that refers only to the ABC series, the live-action drama starring Frewer, Tambor, Amanda Pays, Morgan Sheppard, Concetta Tomei, Chris Young, Jere Burns and others.

Missing from this set is the rest of the Max Headroom experience. Like what? Like this: His popular stint as a music-video host, which included Max interviewing such popular (and impressively game) stars as Sting. The original British Max Headroom telemovie, which was slightly re-edited, with a few supporting cast changes, into the ABC pilot. (These two showed up, eventually, on HBO and its sister network, Cinemax.) And even a few of his Coke commercials, which is where many people may have encountered him first.

The absence of these extra elements keeps this DVD Max Headroom set from being entirely complete -- but doesn't stop it from being impressive. So buy it, and enjoy it. As Max might say, it's f-f-fantastic.

(After about 5 p.m. Tuesday, you should be able to hear my review of the Max Headroom DVD set on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross by clicking HERE. Or Wednesday for sure.)

[UPDATE: Here's a bonus, if I've worked this right. I found, on YouTube, Max Headroom's 1985 interview with Sting, which is every bit as twisted and entertaining as I remembered. The clip is, I hope, embedded below. -- David B.]

The First Song I Ever Put on a Mixed Tape

2011-03-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

Side A: Love Vigilantes...I can't wait to see you tomorrow dear.

Vachon vs Joyce

2011-03-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

Let the battle begin.

Sara

2011-03-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

You're the poet in my heart.

Tracy

2011-03-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

Long overdue.

I Don't Want to Know

2011-03-13T04:50:00.000-07:00

Fleetwood, again

Oh The Techniques

2011-03-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

not to live by but to film to, and then you take life from there...

Tasmin Greig

2011-02-22T22:56:00.000-08:00

Because she is lovely.

in "Episodes".

and oh so tasteful.

and then part 3.

True Love

2011-02-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Tchau Craque

2011-02-14T13:06:00.001-08:00

Você maravilhou a todos com o seu talento.

Obrigado por tudo.

As Time Goes By

2011-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

And I'm giving you a longing look

2011-02-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book...

Chapter one started here.

Oh you once new waver.

Já Sei Algumas Palavras em Português

2011-01-25T02:05:00.001-08:00

tenho, tudo...

and then the course.

Via these guys.

Kokichi Sugihara

2011-01-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

This is done without editing. Your eyes are playing a trick on you.

Read more here.
Watch more here.

A Bailarina e o Astronauta

2011-01-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

Lispector segundo Tiê.

T.S

2011-01-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

The Eliot dude.

You Should Never Rush Life, Unless...

2011-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

Dancing fires on the beach,
Singing songs together...
Though it's just a memory,
Some memories last forever

Oh Cobie

2011-01-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011

2010-12-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

And here´s wishing you the bluest sky...

Um bom ano procê.

Feyleez Nahtaul to all

2010-12-24T04:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas.

39 Degrees North: Christmas Card 2010 from 39 Degrees North on Vimeo.

Just Lovely

2010-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Via this awesome site.

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

Mr. Gottschalk, New Orleans and Dom Pedro ll

2010-12-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

Louis Moreau Gottschalk led the most interesting of lives. He was born in New Orleans to an English Jewish father and a Dominican Creole mother. Educated in classical music, yet with an ear for the African rythyms which permeated New Orleans, Gottschalk composed pieces which were perhaps beyond the reach of those solely trained classically . His "Bamboula" was a hit and derived much from his observations of the music of slaves and timing behind their dances. He was sent to France to further his studies but was at first shunned by the Paris Conservatoire for being, well, too American. After winning the French over he returned to America.
Gottschalk´s curiosity took him to Central America and finally to South America where he established residency and ended up composing the "Marcha Solene Brasileira" which is the hymn of the Brazilian Army. He was also summoned by Dom Pedro ll to create a piece honoring the Brazilian National Anthem. The result was brilliant.
Unfortunetaly Gottschalk died on stage, in Rio de Janeiro, at the age of 40.

Below the "Bamboula".

Here is his "play" on the "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" ( the Brazilian National Anthem).

Let´s wrap it up with his "Escenas Campestres Cubanas"

Brazilian President Elect's Hidden Past Revealed

2010-11-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

In her youth she consorted with bank robbers. The rumors of carpet munching began then and persist while fashion sense remains elusive. However, all this pales in comparison to Dilma Rouseff's recently disclosed past in competitive sports.

Ahead of us four years of this. Oh the dismay.

The Great Stephen Merritt

2010-11-16T10:10:00.001-08:00

Playing a nifty little song game on NPR.

Conan O"Brien vs Google

2010-11-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

"You seem stunned and unhappy"

Charlie the Chimp Dead at 52

2010-10-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

Charlie the smoking chimp passed away in Bloemfontein, South Africa last Wednesday. Charlie is survived by long time female companion Judy the chimp.

Expert analysis from the pundits below.

The Purple One.

2010-09-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Just being hispurpleawesomeself.

Paint a perfect picture
Bring 2 life a vision in one's mind
The beautiful ones
Always smash the picture
Always everytime

Remembering Siskel and Ebert

2010-08-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Great interview of the late Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert here.

Listen to it before you watch their review below of Francis Ford Copolla's "Peggy Sue Got Married".

Peggy Sue is a story about the past yet it is bittersweet, it does not dwell for it is above all analitical. It is a beautiful movie.
A similar feeling dawned on me as I listened to S&E being interviewed, poking fun at each other and engaging their audience once again as they speak of movies in the intelligent, concise and never condescending fashion that became their trademark.

The Great Greg Gutfeld

2010-08-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

At UC Berkley, go figure.

Dana Vachon

2010-07-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

Taking some heat on Red Eye

and talking about his book.

One little, two little...

2010-07-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Having found a textual analysis thing-a-ma-jig
via Crooked Timber I decided to experiment with the tool. This is done by inserting text into a box to then get a matching author for that specific text thus suggesting that the first author´s writting is similar to the latter´s.

I started with "Ten Little Indians", a well known children´s rhyme.

One little, two little, three little Indians
Four little, five little, six little Indians
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians
Ten little Indian boys.
Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians
Seven little, six little, five little Indians
Four little, three little, two little Indians
One little Indian boy.

The match is Daniel Dafoe . I wonder if this is really due to style or if it´s minority related, you know because of Friday. Anyway I proceeded to put Twisted Sister´s "We´re not Gonna Take it" under the microscope.

"Oh We're Not Gonna Take It
no, We Ain't Gonna Take It
oh We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore

we've Got The Right To Choose And
there Ain't No Way We'll Lose It
this Is Our Life, This Is Our Song
we'll Fight The Powers That Be Just
don't Pick Our Destiny 'cause
you Don't Know Us, You Don't Belong"

and the winner is...Kurt Vonnegut.

Twisted Sister = Kurt Vonnegut.

Humn, what if we insert an excerpt of Vonnegut´s 1973 novel Breakfast of Champions

"This is a very bad book you're writing," I said to myself.
"I know," I said.
"You're afraid you'll kill yourself the way your mother did," I said.
"I know," I said.

Text inserted resulting in J.D Salinger.

Kurt Vonnegut=J.D Salinger

Yet the program asks for at least a few paragraphs for the sake of accuracy and in fairness I tested Dafoe´s Robinson Crusoe using two and it checked out. Below three paragraphs, again from Breakfast of Champions.

"Dwayne was a widower. He lived alone at night in a dream house in Fairchild Heights, which was the most desirable residential area in the city. Every house there cost at least one hundred thousand dollars to build. Every house was on at least four acres of land.

Dwayne's only companion at night was a Labrador retriever named Sparky. Sparky could not wag his tail--because of an automobile accident many years ago, so he had no way of telling other dogs how friendly he was. He had to fight all the time. His ears were in tatters. He was lumpy with scars.

Dwayne had a black servant named Lottie Davis. She cleaned his house every day. Then she cooked his supper for him and served it. Then she went home. She was descended from slaves"

The software answered David Foster Wallace, wow.

This time around Kurt Vonnegut=David Foster Wallace.

Now for my final test. This entails selecting one of the previously tested authors and considering the resulting match, then getting the first name you associate with that author and inserting his work for analysis to see if the match is the same. I chose Twisted Sister (who was matched with Kurt Vonnegut) and the first thing that popped up in my mind was Quiet Riot and their song "Cum on Feel the Noize". So by association the match of the song´s lyrics should point to Mr. Vonnegut.

Let´s see what happens.

"So you think I got an evil mind,
I'll tell you honey
I don't know why
I don't know why

So you think my singing's out of time,
it makes me money
I don't know why
I don't know why, anymore
Oh no

So come on, feel the noise
Girls rock your boys
We'll get wild, wild, wild
Wild, wild, wild"

Wierd. The match is Mark Twain.

Quiet Riot, which should equal Kurt Vonnegut, = Mark Twain.

This method would suggest that, to me, Twisted Sister is to Quiet Riot as Kurt Vonnegut is to Mark Twain. I have concluded that the method is flawed and that I´d rather listen to a song than continue doing this.

End of experiment.

Sans Instruments

2010-07-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Thank You For Your Efforts

2010-07-06T01:42:00.000-07:00

Yet it was not meant to be. Life goes on.

Thank you Dunga. You will not continue to coach the national team due to our shortsightedness.

Você é um campeão.

The World Cup Ace Ventura Play of The Day

2010-06-28T03:02:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by Gabriel Heinze.

The Rise and Fall of the Nazi Dinosaurs

2010-06-26T00:55:00.000-07:00

Lol.

and so she slept...

2010-06-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

in the back of the net.

Oh yeah

Yuichi Nishimura wins The Señor Chang Award

2010-06-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Señor Chang Award goes out to those whose achievements, for one reason or another, go against common expectation. The panel will focus on outstanding World Cup related performances.
The tournament´s first round edition of the SC Award goes to Senõr Yuichi Nishimura.

Yiuchi Nishimura is a ref, in fact the best referee so far in The Fifa World Cup presently held in South Africa.
Being Asian, Japanese to be exact, a nation with feeble tradition in both soccer and officiating World Cup matches, his impecable guidance of two matches earned Yuichi this premio of premios. Nishimura produced the first red card of the tournament sending off Uruguay midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro plus he kept both Spaniards and Hondurans on their best behavior. One could argue that discretion and efficiency set him apart and if merit is the rule of thumb then his arbitration will continue on to the knock out rounds. This seems to be a pretty simple call yet Fifa often gets it wrong. Perhaps with a SC award under his belt Mr. Nishimura avoids getting sidelined. De nada pun loving justice freaks.

On the flip side is French referee Stephane Lannoy, a Champions League veteran , he takes home a YANTCA ("You are not a Tigre Chino Award") for his disasterous performance in this game.
The YANTCA aims to recognize those who due to positive prejudice are expected to do well ( think Swedes in any meatball related event) but in the end fail miserably.

Congratulations gentlemen. Senõr Chang pays hommage to youstedes below.

About Jane, Dick, and, well...

2010-06-19T03:51:00.000-07:00

Oh the torture that is Facebook.

On A Nice Day

2010-06-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

I don´t care what they say.

R.I.P Arnold

2010-05-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

Gary Coleman dead at 42.

The opening of season 5 here.

Triumph The Insult Comic Dog

2010-05-19T02:34:00.000-07:00

The one where he insults Star Wars nerds.

As Conan O'Brien said this is the best 15 minutes of television in the past 8 years.

Lovely Jenny Lewis

2010-05-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

here with the Watson Twins

and before that in Rilo Kiley

And so the Conversation Turned...

2010-05-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Until the sun went down
And many fantasies were learned
On that day

A couple of years ago I saw a band called "Bondage", pictured above. It was a fun show. A mixture of Human League and Soft Cells go Vaudeville. Music meets theatre.

I tried to find them on-line, so to see if they are still playing. I could not find much but hopefully I will and they still exist as a band.
A video below.

Your sorry eyes; they cut through the bone...

2010-04-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

"There's too many people you used to know
They see you coming
They see you go
They know your secrets
And you know theirs
This town is crazy
Nobody cares"

Les Zazous

2010-04-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

Because I like them.

Alex Chilton and his September Girls

2010-03-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Alex Chilton dead at age 59.

R.I.P

Red Eye Tackling Issues Others Dare not Touch

2010-03-12T04:06:00.000-08:00

Change we can´t believe in

2010-02-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

Artie is a philosopher.

Time May Change Me

2010-02-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

But I will always love this, regardless of how much time goes by.

Plus this brilliant version of "Changes". A song also featured in "The Breakfast Club".

The original version below

Kookaburra vs Men at Work

2010-02-11T17:38:00.000-08:00

Because of this

I apologize for posting this without giving credit to the lovely song below.

Perhaps better to hear it in his own words.

Greats Moments in Sports Journalism

2010-02-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

"There are no better teams today than New Orleans and Indianapolis, so, naturally, the expectation is that they meet in the Super Bowl. Only I'm here to tell you they won't. One of them won't make it, and maybe neither gets that far."

"That is not an opinion. It's a history lesson...."

Pick up your pencil and start taking notes Pointdexter, lesson one...

Le Plus Beau Regard

2010-02-06T05:08:00.000-08:00

She´s back

Courtesy of the best links ever.

The very Thoughful John Stossell

2010-02-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

being interviewed by, well, Greg.

Je ne veux pas Travailler ...

2010-01-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

If Ye Love Me

2010-01-09T01:25:00.001-08:00

Originally written in C, by Thomas Tallis.

Happy 2010

2010-01-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

Peace and War, the Right and the Left

2009-12-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

according to Mort Sahl

The Man in 119 .........

2009-12-15T01:24:00.000-08:00

Natalie Merchant - Verdi Cries
Enviado por Jo_Bidjoba. - Ver os últimos vídeos de musica em destaque

" The man in 119 takes his tea alone. Mornings we all rise to wireless Verdi cries. I'm hearing opera through the door. The souls of men and women, impassioned all. Their voices climb and fall; battle trumpets call. I fill the bath and climb inside, singing.

He will not touch their pastry but every day they bring him more. Gold from the breakfast tray, I steal them all away and then go and eat them on the shore.

I draw a jackal-headed woman in the sand, sing of a lover's fate sealed by jealous hate then wash my hand in the sea. With just three days more I'd have just about learned the entire score to Aida.

Holidays must end as you know. All is memory taken home with me: the opera, the stolen tea, the sand drawing, the verging sea, all years ago."

Dr. Seuss

2009-12-11T04:05:00.000-08:00

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

- Dr. Seuss

Jackson Browne (looks like it´s me and you again tonight)

2009-12-11T01:40:00.000-08:00

She was standing at the load-in when the trucks rolled up...

She was sniffing all around like a half-grown female pup
She wasn´t hard to talk to....

Looked like she had nowhere to go

So I gave her my pass

So she could get in and see the show

Mummenschanz Strikes Again

2009-12-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

I saw them live last night for the first time. Beautiful.

By strikes again I refer to a previous entry which mentioned them.

Tanita Tikaram

2009-11-30T21:09:00.000-08:00

This song came to mind today, don´t know why. So I looked it up and remembered how much I enjoy it and how beautiful the singer is.

Turns out she even made a video for the tune. I was not aware of this back when the song became a sleeper hit. Check it out. Isn´t she lovely?

Burn Santa Burn

2009-11-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

I know it may be considered in poor taste to laugh at this but nobody got hurt (except for the taxpayer of course).
It seems that a supersized Santa was placed in the town square of Balneário Camboriú, a city located in the southern region of Brazil, specifically the state of Santa Catarina.
A steel structure supported the load of a cotton and paper Santa Claus. This article claims the cause of the incident has not yet been revealed but a source close to the Gritty Poet informs that some workers were welding part of the structure and the resulting sparks caused St. Nick to flame up.

Here is a video, quite impressive.

Quelqu'un M'a Dit

2009-11-09T00:25:00.001-08:00

On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas grand chose
Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses.
On me dit que le temps qui glisse est un salaud
Que de nos chagrins il s'en fait des manteaux
Pourtant quelqu'un m'a dit...

{Refrain:}
Que tu m'aimais encore
C'est quelqu'un qui m'a dit que tu m'aimais encore.
Serait-ce possible alors ?

On me dit que l'destin se moque bien de nous
Qu'il ne nous donne rien et qu'il nous promet tout
Paraît que le bonheur est à portée de main
Alors on tend la main et on se retrouve fou
Pourtant quelqu'un m'a dit...

{au refrain}

Mais qui est-ce qui m'a dit que toujours tu m'aimais ?
Je ne me souviens plus c'était tard dans la nuit
J'entends encore la voix, mais je n'vois plus les traits
"Il vous aime, c'est secret, lui dites pas que j'vous l'ai dit"
Tu vois quelqu'un m'a dit...

Que tu m'aimais encore - me l'a-t-on vraiment dit ?
Que tu m'aimais encore, serait-ce possible alors ?

On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas grand chose
Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses
On me dit que le temps qui glisse est un salaud
Que de nos tristesses il s'en fait des manteaux
Pourtant quelqu'un m'a dit que...

{au refrain}