Ouch

Slowpoke.

Web Geek Humor

This made me laugh out loud, but I should probably explain that IE6 is the shitty, antiquated browser that wouldn't die. It follows virtually no established browser standards, therefore making something that should be relatively simple these days - building a website - extremely time-consuming and difficult. (Never mind that Microsoft is on IE8 now, for Christ's sake.) Just Google "ie6 sucks" when you're bored for one IE6 nightmare after another.

There's all kinds of hacks and work-arounds to make it render correctly, and even a grassroots campaign to destroy it once and for all. Hours upon hours upon hours have been wasted on this steaming chunk of shit.

The horror, the horror ...

Just ... Vile

From Stanford's Lane Medical Library & Knowledge Management Center comes this fascinating gallery of tobacco advertising over the years.

Early in the last century, when questions about the health effects of smoking became a topic of widespread discussion, tobacco companies undertook a multi-faceted campaign to allay the public's fears. As terms like "smoker's cough" and "coffin nails" (referring to cigarettes) began to appear in the popular vernacular, tobacco marketers recognized the need to counter this threat to their livelihood.

One strategy was to use endorsements by healthy and vigorous appearing singers, Hollywood stars, and elite athletes. Another was to raise fears over weight gain: "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet."Among the more reprehensible tactics was the utilization of the image of the noble and caring physician to sell cigarettes: Doctors were depicted both as satisfied and enthusiastic partakers of the smoking habit ("More Doctors Smoke Camels"). Images of medical men (and a few token women) appeared under soothing reassurances of the safety of smoking. Liberal use was also made of pseudo-scientific medical reports and surveys.

Our intention is to tell—principally through advertising images—the story of how, between the late 1920s and the early 1950s, tobacco companies used deceptive and often patently false claims in an effort to reassure the public of the safety of their products.

On first impression, most viewers will find these images outrageous, humorous, and so blatantly false as to trigger incredulity. But tobacco industry ad men also excelled in creative genius and had high levels of artistic skill. The best talent money could buy was recruited for this effort. Tobacco advertisers faced a daunting challenge: How do you sell a product which shortens the life of the user by an average of about 8 years? In 2003, the tobacco companies brought to this task a war chest of over $15 billion in advertising in the U.S. alone. Constrained by governmental regulation and fears of litigation, tobacco marketing strategies have evolved over time from the (now) transparent hucksterism of the 1920-1950 era. Companies invest enormous resources into crafting clever and highly sophisticated devices to get their message across (witness Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man). The take home point is that little has changed from then to now, save for the subtlety of the methods employed.

Check out a shitload of images here.

Tennis Anyone?

Ranked only 317th in the world, Romanian tennis star Simona Halep has been getting a lot of press lately. Must be her serve.

Catchy Friday: Middle Aged Man Edition

A little Weezer to remind us of the good old days:

When I look in the mirror, I can't believe what I see
Tell me, who's that funky dude, staring back at me?
Broken, beaten down can't even get around
Without an old-man cane, I fall and hit the ground
Shivering in the cold, I'm bitter and alone

Excuse the bitchin, I shouldn't complain
I should have no feeling, 'cause feeling is pain
As everything I need, is denied me
And everything i want, is taken away from me
But who do I got to blame? Nobody but me

…And I don't wanna be an old man anymore
It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor
Shakin' booty, makin' sweet love all the night
It's time I got back to the Good Life
It's time i got back, it's time i got back
And I don't even know how I got off the track
I wanna go back…Yeah!

Screw this crap, I've had it! I ain't no Mr. Cool
I'm a pig, I'm a dog, so 'scuse me if I drool
I ain't gonna hurt nobody, ain't gonna 'cause a scene
I just need to admit that I want sugar in my tea
Hear me? Hear me? I want sugar in my tea!

…And I don't wanna be an old man anymore
It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor
Shakin' booty, makin' sweet love all the night
It's time I got back to the Good Life
It's time i got back, it's time i got back
And I don't even know how I got off the track
I wanna go back…Yeah!

Cameron Frye's House For Sale

Remember Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Cameron Frye's house is on the market for $2.3 million. Ferrari not included.

THE BEN ROSE HOME-site of the famous movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings, which can never be duplicated, have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century. Estate Sale Sold -No disclosures! This is an amazing architectural treasure.

Check out the listing here.

Snatch Wars

Thanks, Matt!

Beastie

There's just something funny to me about gray-haired men rapping like guys half their age. Good song, though.

Shit

Jay Bennet, formerly of Wilco, died yesterday. As I remember it, he had a lot to do with the way 'Summerteeth' ended up sounding. In the film 'I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,' you can see the relationship between he and Tweedy unravelling. I know he's done a bit of solo work and a lot of support stuff since leaving Wilco, but I can't say I've heard any of it. The last I heard of him was that he had filed a lawsuit against Tweedy for unrealized royalties. I think it was mostly due to some health problems he was having.

Undertow has a short notice here; News wire story here.

Catchy Friday

In my continued attempts to force this band down your throats, here are the Last Shadow Puppets with a very cool retro video for 'Standing Next to Me'. 2.21 of pure harmonic bliss.

Further Complications

Francophile Takes Piss. (Rock 'N' Roll Snob Pick of the Week!)



All gather round now, I'll tell you what it's all about
You find a good woman and then you fuck her 'til your hair falls out
A round of applause, please, for the totally clapped-out
You got them Caucasian Blues again

And don't wave your cash around, it cannot buy you into this
'Cause you're a waxy-legged, tacky, meat-faced fool and your money is just cowardice
No sense of rhythm and your name's not on the list
You got them Caucasian Blues again
Oh yeah

And so you finally took the plunge and got into blues rock and you like to give to charity
Because it's easier to patronise than face the facts and now
I've heard it said that you are hung like a white man
You got them Caucasian Blues again
And again
Oh

And now you're asking me to sympathise and let you off
Because the climate is a-changin' and the times are tough
And you took all that you could but it was not enough and now
I've heard it said that you are hung like a white man
You're yesterday's news, you've got so much to lose
You got them Caucasian Blues again
Oh!

Caucasian Blues, yeah
Caucasian Blues, yeah
Caucasian Blues, yeah
Caucasian Blues, yeah
Caucasian Blues

More Conchords

It's been a little while since anyone posted any of this awesome stuff. This is probably my favorite of all their songs.

This one may be a close second:

21st Century Breakdown

Deservedly overshadowed by The Riverboat Gamblers, Green Day did release a new CD last weekend. I don't think it's as iconic as American Idiot, but it's not bad, For Testing Purposes.

Genius!

We just got back from a swing around the Pacific Northwest. The highlights of our trip are pretty much documented in Facebook uploads, so I won't bore you with them here (although I heartily recommend the train ride from Seattle to Vancouver). I did think you chaps might be interested in the technological marvel pictured above, from our hotel in Seattle, which is a bathroom mirror, part of which is a TV. I can't say I used it much, but I really like the idea.

Summer Plans Roundup

Where's everyone off to this summer? We'll be making our usual stops in Spokane and New York, with a jaunt to Vancouver, BC in between. After that, I'll just be sitting around waiting for Jay to come to North Carolina to record with me.

Riverboat Gamblers, The

These guys seem poised to be the next big thing. New Album, 'Underneath the Owl,' is blissful straight ahead punk. Jay will love 'Robots Will Break Your Heart.' I've road tested this one and am confident it will get heavy windows-down-blazing-down-the-highway rotation time. I saw them in Austin a loooong time ago, but can't say I remember much about them. Sadly. The Protocol that Transfers Files has been followed.

Finally, A Sport For Jay To Watch

The Lingerie Football League will kick off it's season on Sept. 4. Teams are seven-women sides and play in short shorts, bikini tops, shoulder pads, and helmets (they look like lacrosse helmets). Billing itself as "True Fantasy Football," the league will have teams in Tampa and next year in Charlotte, but alas Memphis is still squeezed out of the big-time Football world.

According to one player, “These aren’t dainty girls, we’re there to play football,” said Danico, who hits the gym every day and bartends part-time at Hooters. “It’s a chance to still be sexy, but play a competitive sport.”

Official site here, but be warned that a very loud player pops up to introduce the league.

The Last Shadow Puppets

I've liked Alex Turner's songwriting and playing since the first Arctic Monkeys album came out, but wasn't certain if he'd be a flash in the pan or not. The Last Shadow Puppets' album The Age of the Understatement blows away any shadow of a doubt for me. This is his 'side' project with another young English vocalist and guitarist, Miles Kane.

I love this album because it sounds like it was recorded in 1968 in all the right ways. However, rather than go for psychadelia or garage, this is an elegant, tuneful, chamber pop album with fantastic echoey vocals and lush strings all over the place. It sounds like an album that Scott Walker and David Bowie would have made together, or if the Moody Blues had ever made a decent record. There are traces of Love as well. Still, it sounds timeless instead of dated; original instead of a pastiche. Bonus points for being recorded in France and having an excellent cover.

The songs are catchy and complex. The album was performed by Turner, Kane, and producer James Ford, with strings and arrangements added later. Wrist-slitting factoid: Turner and Kane are each only 22. Best thing I've heard in ages. Fantastic Trip, People.

Comedian in Chief

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The best part is when he rips on Boehner's fake tan!

Rockers Galore

Not that anybody's going to see this, but I've acquired a really cool Clash promotional disc called Rockers Galore. Originally released in 1999, it was free with the purchase of two remastered Clash studio LPs. It contains brief interviews with all four members (Topper, not Terry) and a sprinkling of rarities, including a dub remix of "Bankrobber" and a badass live version of "White Riot" from 1978 - with "Blitzkrieg Bop" as coda! Friends Talk Positively, with a couple of other goodies ...

Iron Man 2 Geek Out

Iron Man 2 will be here in about a year, but in the meantime, we can follow the film's progress. How, you may ask? Well, Jon Favreau's on Twitter, I might answer.

Favorite tweet so far?

Scarlett's first day on set in the Black Widow outfit. You've never heard a crew get so quiet so fast.

This Used To Make Me Howl

More Larry Welk

"A modern spiritual"

Chan Chan

Nice to be home.



Buena Vista Social Club.