Thursday, May 29, 2008

I may be a teenage-girl

I just finished the second of Stephenie Meyer's vampire books ... which I bought yesterday before dinner.

I gotta run out to the store to get the third.

First I read "The Host" which was actually written for adults.

Music, again

Michele is blogging again. I know, who knew? Anyway, she's got one of those music meme's going. Ok, here's the deal:

1. choose 19 of the songs you like best, regardless of artist or genre.
2. put them all together in a CD.
3. make 5 other copies.
4. post your playlist on your blog.
5. choose 5 people and send them a copy of your CD each. send the first copy you made to the one who tagged you.


I wasn't tagged, so I don't get copies of any cool music or however this works. But I still thought it was kind of fun. So ... let open iTunes and find my 19 songs. I can't say they are my FAVORITE songs, just ones that are currently tickling my fancy.

1. Is Anybody Home - Our Lady Peace
2. Blue - A perfect Circle
3. Subterranean Homesick Alien- Radiohead
4. The Bends- Radiohead
5. Troy - Sinead O'Conner
6. Rinocerous - Smashing Pumkins
7. Small Blue Thing - Suzanne Vega
8. Pale Shelter - Tears for Fears
9. Uncertain Smile - The The
10. I Scare Myself - Thomas Dolby
11. Pushit -Tool
12. Third Eye- Tool [ I've got this Tool thing going - and NO it doesn't all sound the same as my kids think. Philistines.]
13. Slow Hands - Interpol
14. Obstacle 1 - Interpol
15 . I Never Came - QOTSA
16. Song for the Deaf- QOTSA[Michele pretty much has the QOTSA covered on her list, so I didn't want to go too crazy on that.]
17. A Wolf at the Door - Radiohead

Ok, so who wants a CD? Don't all ask at once. Form a nice, neat line.

But, on the OFF chance anyone wants a CD of my songs, you'll owe me one back.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

QOTD

What is your FAVORITE Tool song?

Right now, I'm torn between this:


and this:



Tough to choose which is better, isn't it?

Banana Republic News

In a move that would make Mugabe proud, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick vetoed the City Council's resolution to remove him from office.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Glory be!

My sister informs me that Frost warning has been cancelled. And do you know WHY? Because I got in my car and drove around a lot, increasing global warming enough to evade disaster.

You're welcome.

AlGore can kiss my ass

Just got this weather alert on my 'puter:

ALERT 1 - Non Precipitation Advisory
FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY
Issued: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 4:12 AM EDT
Expires: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 4:15 PM EDT


Now, let me go check ... yep, just what I thought. It's MAY 27th. And I have a FROST warning. The usual "safe to plant" date for Michigan is May 15th. That's the big weekend, when everyone figures its save to plant their annuals and vegetables. And, in this day and age of global warming, you'd think it would be safe to go whole hog out in the yard (which I did this past weekend) without the danger of a hard frost killing everything.

Al Gore can take his carbon credits and Man-made global warming and shove it right up his fat ass.

To add even more insult to injury, there is this story from the UK:


Every adult should be forced to use a 'carbon ration card' when they pay for petrol, airline tickets or household energy, MPs say.

The influential Environmental Audit Committee says a personal carbon trading scheme is the best and fairest way of cutting Britain's CO2 emissions without penalising the poor.

Under the scheme, everyone would be given an annual carbon allowance to use when buying oil, gas, electricity and flights.


This scheme seems really familiar ... it slips my mind ... don't worry, it will come back to me ..

Anyone who exceeds their entitlement would have to buy top-up credits from individuals who haven't used up their allowance. The amount paid would be driven by market forces and the deal done through a specialist company.


You know, these blokes don't even do Marxism RIGHT. Equal distripution of resources isn't supposed to include a scheme for the rich to get more than their fair share. But, perhaps I should admire their straightforwardness?

The idea of personal carbon trading is increasingly being promoted by environmentalists. In theory it could be used to cover all purchases - from petrol to food.


And bread? I know, we could come up with bread stores, and you have to wait in LINE to get your bread. That will insure that only those who REALLY need the bread will get it. OR something.

Not to Brag....

But, I've got a pair of Great Blue Herons on my lake. This morning, they're flying all over the place, giving me a great show. They've got a nest somewhere just across the lake from our house. I think.

Of course, my dream bird would be a Loon. I think the lake is too small to support a breeding pair. Apparently they eat a LOT of fish. I'm turning into such a bird geek, I'm thinking of returning to a Michigan park we camped at last summer JUST to hear the loons.

Quick Review

Proper Memorial to a fallen soldier.

Improper memorial to fallen soldiers. You may have to scroll at this link, but what I am referring to is the "Bush lied, they died" t-shirt that lists the names of all the fallen soldiers through the end of April '08.

The good news in this little story is that the maker of the piece of crap is being sued for ... 40 billion dollars by the families of the soldiers named.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Kudos to the Mayor

He's got a crack staff turning out some excellent material.

Or did I mean his staff is on crack. You decide.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Sunday report

Spent the day in the garden. ALL day.

Pictures will be forthcoming. Need to get (dark) mulch first.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Saturday morning comment.

Maxine Waters is crazy-delicious. I hope she is in the House for ever and ever.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Final AI post for the year

Heh:

The celebrity appearances, including Myers', fell a little flat for me, although I loved Jimmy Kimmel's clever video setting Simon's catch-phrases-of-doom to "Pop Goes the Weasel." That's an original song if I ever heard one. I'd much rather have heard David Cook sing that than the inevitably insipid winner's song, "Time of My Life," which had, like, six times as much stuff about Dreams and Believing and Moments as the songs we heard yesterday. (There were, additionally, rainbows and horizons and I don't know what. I tuned out after the first verse.)


Of course, the writer left out "flying and/or soaring."

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

David Cook

Woot woot! Eleventy!!11!!!

AI, meh edition

I think David Cook paid off the judges (Simon specifically) because he had no interest in actually recording any of the songs picked by the AI producers.

And, "Imagine" is a song Karl Marx could love and I don't think elf-boi gets that.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Radiohead dreams

Last night, I dreamed I was taking an English course from Thom Yorke. I was running late, and I was hoping he'd ask me why I was tardy, and I was going to say "Baby's got the bends ..."

But, he didn't ask me. He just hunched over his desk, scribbling on papers.

So, tonight is the finale of American Idol, right? With Radiohead on my mind as I woke up, I was thinking how cool it would be if they did a Radiohead themed AI. As David Archuleta struggled through Idiotique and Wolf on the Door (choking on the line, "Did you fuck her, did you fuck her ...), David Cook would sail through "Little Man being Erased" and "Airbag."

Thursday, May 15, 2008

David v Goliath

Or David v David. Seyesha did her best to work that dress (and chair) but it wasn't enough.

But now David Cook has a real problem. He's gonna be forced to perform - live- whatever shmaltzy tune the producers have picked as this year's "original hit" the eventual winner will be forced to rewarded with the opportunity to record. These producers are the same people, I must remind you, who picked a Dan Fogelberg song for Archuleta and Beatles tunes for TWO weeks in a row. I'm getting a vision ... yes, it's becoming clearer ... HERE ME NOW ... the song will suck.

Wow, that was powerful. I've never had the talent of knowing the future ... but here it is, clear as day.

On a final note - who the hell told the American Idol Idiots producers that we were interested in an HOUR LONG results show? I usually don't watch it anyway, but last night we watched the whole damn thing in real time (sob) and it was painful.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Sorta Live-blogged

Only sorta, because it's I'm watching it a bit behind ... TiVo rocks. Plus, I'm not really live-blogging, because I'm not gonna publish until it's over.

Man, this intro is loooong ... where's my TiVo remote?

Ryan's hair is getting too pointy. I've noticed this the last few weeks. All the hair on his head comes to a peak in the middle.

Gawd, what is Paula wearing? I can't decide if I like it or not. It's shiny. Kinda has a bit of a pleather look on the bottom.

THREE songs each? Top three? Already? You know, I like David Cook, but he bows as if he were accepting a humanitarian award or something.

David Archuletta first. Billy Joel So It Goes, picked by Paula. Bring it on. Pat says Paula is looking hawt. Actually, David is kinda dressed like Billy Joel- leather coat ... tie ... if only he'd rolled it up to his elbows.

Ok, not digging it. Kinda boring. Husband pipes in David A is going to win. Who asked him? Not me.I'm falling asleep .... I honestly don't care how well he sings it.

Paula chose a "dope" song. Thanx Randy. @@ Pure and stunning says Paula. Please, Simon, save me by saying how boring. YES, a bit predictible. I'll take that.

Seyesha - Alicia Keys ... Randy. If I Ain't Got You. Nothing earthshattering. My husband says (now) SHE is the American Idol. Again, his opinion wasn't asked. Must Kill Husband ... he says David Cook is going down tonight. Before we've heard him sing ONE song.

They're reviewing, and I just don't care. Thanks Girl. Where the heck did that come from? I guess she's just keeping it real. I wonder, have her results improved since she straightened her hair? I haven't seen it all funky in weeks.

David Cook - "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack? Is he trying to kill him? Simon hates David C. Gives him a tough song -- and the other two get cake walks. Nice.

I mean, what the heck can he do with it? I think David Cook is thinking Fuck you Simon the whole time he sang it. Middle part, he's turning it nice. SIMON IS CLAPPING at that part. The falsetto was shaky, but he made it work. The song built ... had a nice development. That, imho, is what all the other singers lack in their interpretations. The songs just don't go anywhere. Randy is wrong. He did a good job. Everyone boo Randy.

HA, take THAT husband.

David A. His choice. OH lord. "With You" by Chris Brown. Who the heck is that? My son tells me it's kind of rap. But, I don't know if he knows. Doesn't sound like rap. He doesn't have a voice at all for anything "young" sound. Adult contemporary. Or Disney. Up With People, perhaps. Funny that he can't pull off "new and young" given that he's ... 17? Paula is completely wrong. Simon ... YES. Awkward. It's not "you."

Seyesha- "Fever" by Peggy Lee. How derivative is this performance gonna be? She's wearing a dress for votes. Apparently she took my advice. How good would her performance be if she was fat and just stood in the middle of the stage? Only interesting note was the last one. What do you know - Paula told her she looked lovely. Lame caberet. Yep.

David Cook ... what is he going to pick for himself? Switchfoot - Dare You to Live. Beginning is kind of weak. A bit too much like the original. Reminds me of the self-indulgent pick of Our Lady Peace. It was just ok. Paula is right ... too much song for a minute-thirty.

Ok middle-round for all three. None of the three were able to parlay that into anything interesting.

OH MY GOD - Dan Fogelberg. Man, this song is everything bad in singer-songwriter rock genre and David A wrapped into one shit enchilada. Cheesy. BLA. Perfect for David ... and that should say just about everything. YES. Simon. The song and the lyrics were so horrible. YES YES YES. But, I do give David A some of the blame, because he sang it so well. Crap like that was made for him.

Seyesha - last chance. Producer's choice ... Ryan said it too fast; I have no idea what it is. I'm sure it's one of those songs by one of the multitudes of black singers who I really can't tell apart. Because they all sing alike. And all their songs sound the same.

Happyfeet soundtrack? Paula guesses that it's not going to be good enough to get into the final.

David Cook ... moving right along. WHAT will it be? How many spoiled Hollywood brats are in that audience?

"I'm not gonna miss a thing?" Aerosmith. So far I'm not feeling it. Who the heck are these producers? The SAME idiots who did Beatles two weeks IN A ROW. I don't know ... he's trying to do it like Steven Tyler ... and not really comparing.

Paula is standing up, which is always a good sign. Randy ... for me ... I love the song, it was OK. Very predictible. Paula is over the edge over it.

Simon ... David Cook wins the night. Perhaps I need to re-watch.

Hubby - guesses Cook goes.
So ... there you have it. What do you think? I think Archuletta should be flogged for that Fogelberg song.

LIVE BLOGGING ... TONIGHT

Ok American Idol. Because ... I don't know why. Because I know ya'll like talking AI, but when I usually post about it the next day I just don't have as much to say.

And, because my blogging has been ... limited lately. Which I blame on 1) gardening and 2) Protein Wisdom - which has been occupying my inter-tube time with debate.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Friday Poll

Worst movie you've ever seen. The gold standard, for me, is The People Under the Stairs. That was the worst movie I've ever seen and not in a good way. Everything since has been compared to that awfulness.

For the Birds

I never updated, but my bird feeder has REALLY taken off. Hey. Get it? Taken off.

Anyway, I fully intend to get some pictures up, but I think that will entail me sitting on my porch for long periods of times with my camera. Yea. I have time for that.

But, I get about 20 golden finches (I'm not joking, it's crazy),cardinals, Blue birds (of course), woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and a few pairs of rose breasted grosebeaks.

I saw the coolest pair of birds in the field yesterday, but I haven't figured out what they were. Black heads, white bodies. Pretty. LOL, anyone know what it was?

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Out and About WTF

Gas prices were $3.89. Two days ago they were $3.55 at these same stations.

WTF is up with a thirty-four cent rise in two days?

AI

The only thing worth mentioning was David Cook's take on Baba O'Riley. Yum.

Jason - I know you miss your bong. Don't worry, you'll see it again soon.Very soon.

Seyesha - I don't care how good they say you are, you are an average singer, with an average voice, and we've seen countless other's like you on the show who were much better. Melinda Doolittle ... Paris Bennett ...Lakisha ... Honestly - compare Melinda to Seyesha. Not even a contest.

David Archuleta - I know his voice is good. I'll admit that. I. Just. Can't. Stand. Him. He oversings. Or something. As I said elsewhere, he reminds me of Disney World, and not in a good way.

More - better, funnier - Idol reviews here and here.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Rosie on Wright

Can someone explain how a "genetic memory" works? Rosie is at it again. She thinks Wright made sense.

And fire can't melt steel, Rosie. GOOGLE IT.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

AI wrap-up

You know, I thought Brooke understood that she needed to cry BEFORE the vote. It did her no good last night. The kiss of death, for Brooke, was Simon's pronouncement that Seyesha was in trouble. That prolly got the fingers dialing for their girl.

So, that leaves us with David, David, Seyesha, and Jason.

Will it come down to a David v David finale? Seyesha has some sort of magic working for her - the same magic that gave us last year's winner -yawn.

I sorta hope the smiling goofball wins, because if David Cook is force to record this year's incarnation of This Is My Now:



... well, I don't think any of us want to see that happen, right?

I mean, you do remember this, right?



You don't want to see that happen to David Cook, do you ?

My son, Ian, says we certainly don't need any more songs about flying or believing ... I think that's probably about right.