Austin Road Sign

Mmmm, Beer . . .

My big project for this year is learning how to brew my own beer. I finished reading the excellent how-to manual pictured above, and I am off to the supply store this weekend, with a view to getting started the weekend after that. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress, but the reason for this premature post is that it occurred to me one or more of you might be interested in undertaking the same project, in which case we can get going at the same time and compare notes.

Enjoying Some Presents

Speaking of Lightning . . .

This is a song I hear the other day by a chap called Jeffrey Lightning Lewis. Quite captivating, I thought.

Lightening in a Bottle

There are plenty of obvious "lightening in a bottle" type albums out there, like London Calling, Andy's Warehouse, Born to Quit, Pet Sounds and Burn Your Cardigan, but what are some less obvious choices that would make your list? Show me yours and I'll show you mine.

On Turning 40

Rock Stardom: You Either Have It Or You Don't

The Graveyard Book

Congratulations to Neil Gaiman, who was awarded the Newberry medal for 2009. Not bad for an old comic book writer.

The Graveyard Book is "a delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing" according to the Newberry people, all the things I look for in children's books.

The Ugly Suit

It's amazing what you'll find when you Google "Ugly Suit."

The band/CD that is so named is OK. It's been spinning in my truck since xmas and starting to grow on me. I was put off at first by how Wilco it sounded, to not be Wilco, but I've come around to it anyhow. There are some odd things about it, but I think it's worth a listen.

This ain't no stinkin book blog, but I'll mention 2 novels that I've read lately anyway: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which our Dave has mentioned, and Ironweed by William Kennedy, which is just a terrific little novel. Both are worth reading, should you find time for such a thing.

I Remember This!

Yep, New Sheriff In Town

From Bloomberg:

The president said that when top White House aides leave government, they are barred from lobbying “for as long as I am president, and there will be a ban on gifts by lobbyists to anyone serving in the administration.”

A lobbyist who joins the Obama administration also is forbidden from working on issues they previously were involved with, he said. Any person who leaves the administration will be barred from lobbying the government for two years.

“We are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege,” Obama said, addressing his White House staff and Cabinet on his first full day in office. “It’s not about advancing yourself or your corporate clients.”

“We need to close the revolving door that lets lobbyists come into government freely and lets them use their time in public service” to promote their own interests when they leave, the president said. Government hiring, he said, will henceforth be based on qualifications, competence and experience, “not political connections.”

So, oil lobbyists can't run the EPA anymore?! Jesus, what's next, fiscal responsibility?

Work Travel Bad

The term "unbelievably bad" can no longer be used to describe air travel, because no matter how bad it is, it's all too believable. I mean, we got planes landing in fucking Hudson Rivers, for chrissakes. So my trip to Vermont was simply bad. Canceled flight bad, 10-hour layover bad, checking in to an Indian-run motel at 2 a.m. and having to stand outside in 10 degree weather at the after-hours check-in window bad. And 10 degrees is plenty damn cold for a Tennessee wuss. Kept fucking thinking about fucking Joe's last fucking work fucking travel fucking post.

I did get to spend a few not-horrid hours in historic Philadeathia and learned some interesting facts about the Liberty Bell (it didn't have crack in it, but "A" crack, a literal crack in it, go figure).

Just got home sweet home and the old place feels like Christmas in heaven.

Whole E She It

Vintage Big Star footage!

Happy Trails, Decider

And thanks again.

Watchmen Widget

Nazi Zombies? I'm In

From the Sundance Film Festival site:

For eight medical students, Easter vacation begins innocently enough. They pack their cars full of ski equipment and enough beer to fuel their escape from everyday life to the snowy, isolated hills outside of Øksfjord, Norway. Once there, they receive a late-night visit from a shady hiker, who tells them a story about Nazi occupation of the area during World War II. After doing their fair share of raping and pillaging, the dreaded battalion faced a brutal and vengeful uprising by the citizens of the town. The soldiers who managed to survive the onslaught, including their dreaded leader Colonel Herzog, were driven into the hills by the angry mob, where they supposedly froze to death, never to be seen again. But if the horror genre has taught us anything, it’s that the raucous behavior and promiscuity of the younger generation always have a way of bringing evil spirits back to life.Director Tommy Wirkola pulls no punches in the carnage department—heads roll, blood flows, and entrails ooze as the young vacationers attempt to make it through the night. Wirkola adeptly utilizes the snow’s eerie and ominous backdrop to its fullest extent while orchestrating this wickedly gory, yet somehow delightful, tale of Nazi zombie terror.

The downside? The film is from Norway.

Watch the trailer for Dead Snow here and decipher what you can ...

A little history for your MLK Day

Most are familiar with Norman Rockwell's iconic portrait from the Civil Rights movement. But did you know the little girl depicted is Ruby Bridges, the six year old who integrated New Orleans public schools? Read a great article about her here. The Disney made-for-TV movie is very good as these things go; I use it in my class every year.

Game On!

Fox and WB reach a settlement. Watchmen is a go!

Here's the official statement from both studios:

Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox have resolved their dispute regarding the rights to the upcoming motion picture Watchmen in a confidential settlement. Warner Bros acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography. Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith in defending against those claims Warner Bros. and Fox, like all Watchmen fans, look forward with great anticipation to this film's March 6 release in theatres.

You got your Wilco in my Radiohead. No, You got your Radiohead in MY Wilco!

Hey, Dave

Looks like the surgery went well. Glad that's over.

Did Someone Say Rock?

I'm embarrassed to admit that I somehow completely missed The Dickies. (My punk leanings are primarily of the New York and British flavors, not California.) But I recently watched a documentary about a tribute concert for Johnny Ramone in which The Dickies factored heavily, and I was prompted to go on a quest. Stukas Over Disneyland (1983) is the band's third release, lighter on the cartoon punk of their previous efforts, heavier on the power pop. Great fun, and worth a listen for the "Communication Breakdown" cover.

FTPROWYCO!

Anybody Listening to Anything that Rocks?

After a ponderous spell with Okkervil River and the Silver Jews, then lots of roasting chestnuts and one horse open sleighs, I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to get into the latest Of Montreal cd. I'm suddenly dying for something that really rocks, and not finding it in anything recent. Any suggestions?

Guess Who Turned 51 on Christmas Day?

It occurs to me that it has been entirely too long since anyone posted a mug of the dashing Mr. McGowan. (Remember kids, always brush those teeth, or else..)

But Jesus, what a voice!

Flight Of The Conchords, Season Two

Entire first episode. Inspired.

Skeletal Lamping

I'm so prepared to be disappointed with Of Montreal's first album since the exceptional Hissing Fauna CD. Too early to say, but it hasn't started blowing me away yet. But what elaborate packaging! I took the above picture of the album art. See whatcha think, if you have time, amid all your work travel and dental work. I'm flying into Philly to drive through Maryland into Delaware later this month for work and have a dentist appointment on the calendar, ah, mortality..

Holy Similarities, Batman!

Sam Phillips, 2008


Cory Branan, 2002

Shit

Looks like me and my wisdom teeth are about to part ways. I am totally opposed to the removal of wisdom teeth if they are not causing problems. Seems like most new-fangled dentists are all about yanking them out rather indiscriminately. Mine grew in straight and none are impacted or causing any jaw problems. However. I do have a very deep cavity in one- deep enough that it needs to come out. In the interests of balance and so that my top wisdom teeth won't shred my gums when there is no match below, they are all going. Guess how I'll be spending MLK/Inauguration weekend?

Stuck In My Head Since Last Night

Franco

I heard this article on NPR before Christmas, which began with the following statement:

I love 21st-century music. Lil Wayne, Drive-By Truckers and TV on the Radio are all in my Top 10 albums of 2008. But I'm convinced that the very best music newly released in America in 2008 was recorded in Kinshasa, Congo (formerly known as Zaire), three and four decades ago by a man named Franco, the late king of Congolese rumba.

So of course I had to order it, and I can't say I disagree. See what you think.

As long as we're taking pokes at Apple..

Everything Is Just A Few Hundred Clicks Away

I love my iPod, but this dig at Apple's never-ending drive for intuitive simplicity and the cult of "I'll buy anything Apple" is spot-on.

fucking

I'm fucking traveling fucking for fucking work fucking again. fucking I fucking don't fucking really fucking like fucking doing fucking it. fucking Picked fucking up fucking Gary fucking Louris' fucking "Vagabonds" fucking in fucking Asheville fucking and fucking haven'fucking t fucking really fucking listened fucking to fucking it fucking much. fucking File fucking Transfer fucking Protocol.

Hey, my college football season kicked ass in the end. Hopefully the stinking Gators won't win. It would be peachy, but FSU and Texas played greatly in their bowls!

The Faint Has All Your Groovin' Needs Covered for Tonight

This is one of those songs that can just hum in the background of your life for a week, while you watch the mouths of those around you move and quietly nod agreement. It hooked me enough to get the CD (Fasciinatiion by The Faint). It's got a pretty steady sound. Not a bad distraction from the after-Christmas blahs.

It's got Forward Turbine Power, should you be needing some.

To get you fired up for the new year

Here's a mash up of inspirational movie speeches that create one inspirational message. Freeeeeedom!

What Are the 4 Best Books You Read in 2008?

I choose 4, since 4 books that I read last year really stand out, and also because that's how many books Jay read last year. Mine:

Atonement - Ian McEwen

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

The Crossing - Cormac McCarthy

Watchmen - Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons