A Little Help From My Friends

Hey kids. Today I am here for a serious reason. There's a little boy named Sam and he has leukemia. You can find a little bit about Sam here and the treatment he needs. His second birthday was two weeks ago. His transplant is next week.

Now, I know Sam's mom. I know what she's been through, I know how great a person she is, I know what a dedicated mom she is. And I want to help Sam and contribute to a benefit they are planning.

Sam's mom is a HUGE music fan and loves the Indies. Here's what I'd like to do to help Sam. Rather than just give money, which I will, I'd like to help organize an auction of some sort for Sam's mom. So I need to find out how to solicit donations from artists. I'm not talking about valuable things, just something simple. Signed discs, etc. Hell, I'll buy the discs and send them to the artists for signature. But I need to know how to get in touch with them. If I know my readers, and I think I do, I think you guys can help.

If any of you have even a mild contact with any of your favorite indie artists and think they might be interested in donating something as simple as a disc or even a little ink, drop me a line. I'll cover any shipping or costs that might need to be taken care of on the artists' end.

I don't know any details yet, as the thought just occurred to me. But I'd like to be able to ship a box of cool stuff to Sam's mom and tell her that they have been donated by the music community she loves so much to help raise money to help the little boy she loves more fight this disease.

Thanks.

Making Plans for Nigel

Finally in the US next week. And well worth it.

Stereogum tells us that the album streams here, for those of you with Windows machines. If you have a Mac, well, VH1 hates you.

Why should you like it? Joy Division, Modern English, The Clash done in a Bossa style, sung in English by French chanteuses? (Chanteusi? What's the plural?)

I'm sorry. I'm struggling here. What's not to like? This one's a no brainer. "Guns of Brixton" is all it should take.

I've loaded some of the originals, plus some cool, strange covers in a new Radio SFT playlist. Give it some time to get propagated.

Yehaw and stuff.

With the Trees all Bended Low

I know, I know. No posts in quite some time. No update on the birthday. No goofy kid stories. No groovy thoughts on music. No excuses, no depression, no quarter.

I swear I will start writing again. I do. But, I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD.

Or so says Jake.

Anyway, in the mean time, I accidentally found this great Nick Cave CD while picking up an essential item. And I accidentally bought it.

You should too. It's a great bargain for a set. Plus, the acoustic versions of "Deanna" and "Mercy Seat" are well worth the purchase. A Neil Young cover, "What a Wonderful World" . . . what more do you need? Buy it. Damn it. Now.

I'll be funny tomorrow or the next day. I swear.

Maybe.

But I do swear. Like a sailor. Son of a bitch.

See?

Dear NASA

I see that, according to this you are falling back into your same old safety habits. I suppose that hard lessons are hard to learn on the Cape and in Houston. However, when we lost the Apollo 1 crew, we learned something. Too bad the same can't be said about the shuttle launches.

I think it's high time you reread this document. It shouldn't be too hard for you to find, since it's on your own website. You may remember that accident involving the Challenger. You may also remember that a huge factor in that accident, as with the Columbia, was your very own culture. Do not fall into that trap again.

What you do is important, as if we do not push boudneries, human kind will never move beyond its own shores. If we did not push our boundaries, I would not be sitting here in the middle of North America today. In fact, I wouldn't exist because my Irish ancestors and my German ancestors never would have met. But, thanks to the adventurous natures of many souls, I exist over the transom of time.

The late Dr. Feynman speaks wisely. I suggest you listen to him. His words went largely unnoticed in 1986, perhaps 19 years later will be different:

"Let us make recommendations to ensure that NASA officials deal in a
world of reality in understanding technological weaknesses and
imperfections well enough to be actively trying to eliminate
them. They must live in reality in comparing the costs and utility of
the Shuttle to other methods of entering space. And they must be
realistic in making contracts, in estimating costs, and the difficulty
of the projects. Only realistic flight schedules should be proposed,
schedules that have a reasonable chance of being met. If in this way
the government would not support them, then so be it. NASA owes it to
the citizens from whom it asks support to be frank, honest, and
informative, so that these citizens can make the wisest decisions for
the use of their limited resources.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over
public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."

Dr. Richard P. Feynman, Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Appendix F -- February 3, 1986

Meme Tag

I've been tagged by Steve at Purple Fish Guts to respond to this Meme. In my response, I've decided to take a musical route, since when I read the options, songs popped into my head. So be warned: low quality MP3s ahead.

Immediately following there is a list of different occupations. You must select at least 5 of them (feel free to select more). You may add more if you like to your list before you pass it on (after you select 5 of the items as it was passed to you). Each one begins with "If I could be..." Of the 5 you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession. For example, if the selected occupation was "pirate" you might take the phrase "If I could be a pirate..." and add to it "I would sail the 7 Seas, dating lasses from around the worlde." See how easy that is? Here's the list:

If I could be a scientist...
If I could be a farmer...
If I could be a musician...
If I could be a doctor...
If I could be a painter...
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary...
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect...
If I could be a linguist...
If I could be a psychologist...
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete...
If I could be a lawyer...
If I could be an innkeeper...
If I could be a professor...
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a llama-rider...
If I could be a bonnie pirate...
If I could be an astronaut...

My answers:

If I could be a scientist... I would sing this song.

If I could be a psychologist...I would sing this song.

If I could be a lawyer... I would sing this song.

If I could be a llama-rider... I would sing this song.

If I could be an astronaut... I would sing this song.

Now, to respond in turn, I tag my wife. I'd tag others, but of the friends I have that would respond, none of them are available to blog at the moment, for various reasons, so it would ultimately wouldn't be very fulfilling.

Hope you enjoyed my unique way of playing. I could have done more, but there's only so much illicit sharing of music I can do on a given day.

Don't Know Much Biology

Took the kids to the zoo this weekend. Naturally, we forgot the camera, but my camera phone caught a few moments.

For example . . . The Zebras gave them quite a lesson in biology. Especially this guy:



Yes, that's what you think it is. After he tried his best to mount his neighbor (only to receive a swift hoof to the head for his efforts) all of them peed in the same spot.

The roar of laughter from hundreds of kids was deafening. But while he was trying to put the dog in the bun, the parents were turning purple.

Does it make us bad parents that we didn't shield our children from watching a zebra try and get it on with his woman?

I Have Music in My Mouth

Not really. But I did get some new music. Thanks for some recs to those who passed them along. Even you, David.

Anyway, here's what I picked up with my monthly music allowance via my subscription to an indie-friendly music service.

Beulah - Yoko

Yeah, I'm late on it. But there are so many good albums, so little time. Besides, I'm still sad they broke up. Download the opening track here.

Dealership - Action/Adventure

Thanks to Deborah for reminding me of them. My initial exposure to them came a few years ago when I heard "Toujours Ta Fille" (download here). And then I just simply forgot. But when Deborah pointed me toward this . . . well, it was worth the reminder. If you download one MP3 today, do this one. Then go buy the album.

Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire - The Swimming Hour

Some good violin rock. Seriously. Not Andrew Balanescu doing Kraftwerk, but damn good. I saw Bird last summer when he opened for the Magnetic Fields. It has taken me this long to decide that I really like him. I enjoyed his show, but wasn't quite sure if it was something I would enjoy on an on-going basis. Turns out I do. And, hopefully, I'll get his new disc for my b-day. It has my favorite song from the concert and, I'm sure, on the album.

High Hopes

I know it's probably a long shot, but I don't suppose my daughter's school will consider doing this for their next class show.

The thought of a bunch of nine-year-olds singing this with all sincerity appeals to me.

I know it's wrong. Honestly, I do. But, really, it's pretty fuckin' funny.

Hey Y'all!

National Treasure Britney Spears is pregnant! Serial sperm-dropper Kevin Federline is a father for the third time! Sweet. Won't it be great to see how he can be an absent father to a third child? I wonder if they'll name it Cheeto? Question is, how will this kid ever learn to tie shoes? Britney never wears them and, as noted Spearsologist Stereogum noted, Kevin can't tie his own shoes.

I wish the Spears-Federlines luck in their pregnancy. Today the Kevin Federline Bolts clock is officially set at zero.

I can't wait to watch this unfold. Britney alone is worth the gawking, but with child? Holy shit, it'll be better than television. Plus, after the child's 15 year latency period, the little bugger will provide us with his/her own style of crash and burn.

All hail white trash.

Wanted: One Musical Obsession

So, I've been really, really busy (and to people whom I owe CDs I offer a hearty sorry) and I've been lax on my musical discoveries. I have my outlets, but nothing seems to be giving me the feening need to consume an artist lately. I thrive on that. I'm winding down my Wilco obsession because I lack consumables, unless I move into Jeff Tweedy's house, which would be kind of creepy.

Right now Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service are getting a lot of play in my house. But I wouldn't call it an obsession. I actually think I want to sing like Ben Gibbard.

I know there are big albums coming out. Michael Penn, Aimee Mann, Stephen Malkmus, etc. But I'm not too jazzed about any of them. I would like the latest Andrew Bird, though. I didn't like him when I saw him last summer, but he's grown on me.

So, give me recommendations. Make them off the beaten path please. Go out on a limb.

Thank you and buy me this t-shirt.

FeedBurner

Ladies, Gentlemen and all those in-between. I've upgraded my RSI/XML syndication by using FeedBurner rather than the standard Blogger syndication. I think it's groovy. I doubt the old feed will work, so please update by clicking on that groovy FeedBurner chicklet on either side of your screen.

Thank you. If it doesn't work or there's something screwy, please let me know. I'll cry, but I'll be curious.

For that matter, can my RSS readers chime in and let me know if they're using it and how it's going, or if there's something else they want? Danka.

Yes I Have No Updates Today

Usual excuse. Sorry. Please forgive my being busy.

As a peace offering, I offer you these. And, please, visit the bands' websites. They are well worth it. And they usually have something that you can buy that contains more groovy tunes.

Audible - Sunday Bell

Novillero - The Hypothesist

Enon - Natural Disasters

Marbles - Out of Zone Who knew Schneider revisited this project?

AMPOP - My Delusions

Dios - Starting Five

Elefant - Misfit

Mates of State - Ha Ha

Ethan Durelle - Accidental Killers

Irving - I Can't Fall in Love

Seacrest out!