Above Ground and Drawing Breath

Yeah, I'm still alive. Just busy as you-know-what. The move 'went' and that's really all I can say right now. The fact that my couch was in my bedroom until about a week ago and that my internet connection wasn't hooked up until about the same time should say it all. I promise to update soon; but in the meantime feel free to amuse yourself at the following site. This comes curtsey of my buddy Ourika and just may be one of the best time killers ever!

http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml

And finally, a happy Turkey Day to you all!

Gormandizers Require Some Uplifting

We all knew it was coming. We read about it in the music magazines; we heard it in the music news; we saw it online... We followed the whole drama, play by play, believing that, in the end, it would all be OK and we could all just pretend that this whole ugly nightmare had never happened. However, that's not how it ended.

At approximately 1am EST this morning, Patti Smith shouted the last words ever to be sung or spoken on the stage at the corners of Bowery and Bleeker streets in Manhattan's Lower East Side. CBGB/OMFUG has closed their door forever thanks to the land owner's unwillingness to renew the club's lease - after 33 years. I am heartbroken for club owner Hilly Kristal, the staff, and all of we music fans that have pilgrimaged (some against our parent's will) to the Bowery for a night filled with smoke, booze, little breathing room, and hard rocking punk sounds. This is yet another sign that the apocalypse is well upon us, and that the meek will NEVER inherit the Earth. Farewell, CBGB. You will be sorely missed...

Well Hello There, Ben!

Hi there. I know, I know... long time, no post. Sorry 'bout that. However, sadly, you all may have to get used to that for a while as I'm going to be super freaking busy for the next few weeks. Why? Well, of course there is the ever present 12 hour a day job; but in addition, I'm moving! Yes sir re, I'm getting the heck out of Dodge and heading north to the City of Brotherly Love. My first professional job was in Philadelphia, and it's one of my favorite places in this great land of ours. Needless to say, I'm excited to be returning. Getting to watch the Japanese tourists strike a pose next to the Commodore Barry Statue in Independence Square is just a bonus!

So, why am I going? Next fall, I'm going to be starting a graduate program to boost my chances of acceptance to veterinary school. Seriously, nothing is like being 30 something and looking to change careers. People get all wigged out - especially admission departments. "Well, you've been out of school a long time and we just don't feel you'll be able to handle the challenging curriculum of this program. Especially given the grades you received 13 years ago". No, no, I guess I can't. Not me who graduated my masters suma cum laude and has been working as a scientific/veterinary professional for over five years. Buffy over there who was only doing keg stands last week is oh so much more capable of handling a professional medical curriculum. Sorry. My bad.

No, no, I'm not bitter...

So, in order to make all the dolts in the offices happy, I'm off to spend two years in a night program to revamp my 'skills' in biochemistry, microbiology and the always joyful, histology. And, given that the classes are cleverly scheduled for late afternoons and early evenings, I'll be able to work full time! Joy! Yet two more years with no life. However, work is necessary to keep the roof over my head and allow me and the cat to eat from time to time, so I'm delighted to have been offered the position. Not to mention that I'm going back to surgery! I'm THRILLED to say the least.

OK then, that should bring you up to date, so I will sign off with a picture of one of my favorite places in Philadelphia. It's even nicer when you're cruising down the Schuylkill in a skull, but this will do fine. Ladies and Gents, Boat House Row...

Join The Conversation!

Yeah, I know, not a whole lot of posts lately. Two reasons: (1) really busy at work and on the homefront (big news to be posted in the future); (2) I have managed to hurt myself - again. Let's just say that I can't cook and my right index finger has paid a terrible price...

Anyway, due to the fact that my typing skills are somewhat diminished right now, and because, well, it's just too damn brilliant not to share, today's post is simply a link to I Don't Remember Eating That and one of D-ward's best ever rantings on the current government administration. After a break from blogging due to some craziness in his neck of the woods, Sir Rex has come back - on fire! Bravo, friend! The rest of you? Click below and read the post from Tuesday, October 3 (should be right at the top of the page). I promise that you will be emotionally charged and will think just a little deeper about the goings on around us.

Rex channels Woodward

Goin' Platinum?

I'm thinkin' it's a damn good possibility. Weird Al (who, go figure, has his own MySpace page) has done it again! On the heals of the brilliant You're Pitiful, Al has taken on one of the biggest hits of this past summer. Unless you've been living in a box, you've heard Chamillionare's Ridin' (featuring Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony). Not only is Ridin' a brilliant rap, but it's DAMN catchy. Al took the bull by the horns and has put together yet another parody masterpiece. Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for a little somethin' I saw, posted earlier, by out blogger friend, Vermrion, on Electric Monkey Pants...

WHITE AND NERDY!

You Say You Want A Revolution?

Hello, and welcome, once again, to NRT - the place where you get the joys of reading my raves (and possible occasional rants) on the music industry. As promised, today I'm going to explore The Beatles' answer to Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys most hailed album ever. But first, a little history...

When Pet Sounds was released in 1967, it was Brian Wilson's answer to another fabulous Beatles album (and one of my favs from them): Rubber Soul, which brought us such great tunes as I'm Looking Through You and Drive My Car (both found only on the British version); as well as In My Life. But I digress... After Lennon sat down with Sounds, he decided that the Beatles needed a quintessential masterpiece of their own. Given that the entire gang was growing tired of touring, and 'Beatle Mania' was starting to decline due to Lennon's infamous 'Bigger than Jesus' comment, the boys set out to make a psychedelic album that could never be out-done. In less than six months time, they did just that. Presenting...

Often regarded as the most influential rock album of all time, and always finishing in the top two of any 'best of forever' list, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released June 1, 1967, and a day later in the US. It went on to top the music charts of both nations, snagged four grammys, (including album of the year), and has sold over 12 million copies in the last 40 years. Sgt. Pepper's was the first of its kind. It defined the optimism of psychedelia and spread all kinds of goodness from acid to Eastern spirituality throughout the globe. Very few albums since Sgt. Pepper's have had such a wide-sweeping, immediate impact on society and I will not argue that this album is a great work of genius. The 'Fab Four' hook you as soon as you hear 'It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play...' and you're more than willing to buy a ticket for the Magical Ride that will only last the brief 40 minutes (these guys perfected the 2 1/2 minute hit) the album takes to complete. As I feel that it's somewhat inappropriate for me to deeply analyze this record, I have instead (with lots of help from the YouTube community) decided to allow you to judge this one for yourself. Below, you'll find Sgt. Pepper's from top to bottom, with the exception of the Sgt. Pepper's (reprise) found on side two. Enjoy...

Side One:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better (Beware - the video is kind cheesy; but the song is there)
Fixing a Hole
She's Leaving Home
Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite (with a touch of It's Not Too Bad at the start)

Side Two:
Within You Without You (Harrison's masterpiece)
When I'm Sixty-Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning Good Morning (sorry; no video - it was just too annoying!)
A Day in the Life

OK then, now that you've had some time to digest, I would like to offer up something more. Everyone consistently talks about how Sgt. Pepper's is the Beatles' best album. Although I will never argue that it's fantastic, I will say that they out-did themselves prior to Sgt. Pepper's release. Somewhere between Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's, while the mania over Pet Sounds was screaming loudly throughout the land, the Beatles released what I consider to be their greatest work. Plain and simple, I LOVE this album:

Recorded at Abbey Road, Revolver was released on August 5, 1966. I have nothing to say other than each and every track is a pure work of genius and imagination. Here, again with the help of YouTube, is the complete album - all 13 glorious tracks. When you're through, ask yourself...

'All the lonely people; where do they all belong?'

Side One:
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby (possibly the best ever utilization of a sting quartet in a rock song)
I'm Only Sleeping
Here There and Everywhere
Yellow Submarine
She Said She Said (this video has "Butcher Cover" footage!)

Side Two:
Good Day Sunshine (Live)
And Your Bird Can Sing
For No One (Paul - solo)
Dr. Robert (With footage from the show House)
I Want to Tell You (From Concert for George)
Got to Get You Into My Life (Paul with Wings - live)
Tomorrow Never Knows

And that, ladies and gents, concludes my run on the Beatles. I hope that you have enjoyed. However, if you didn't get enough, the ear candy link this week is what I consider to be a gem. Here's your hint - it evolved from It's Not Too Bad, and was released as its own single, a double A-side, with Penny Lane.

And finally, in honor of the band, the primate of the week is one that enjoys beetles above all other insects.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Avast, me hearties!! 'Tis 'International Talk Like A Pirate Day'! Created by John Bauer and Mark Summers in 1995, it's become an international sensation!

So, join the rest of we lubbers and get your shanty on! If nothing else, it's sure to drive your mateys at work wild!

Aarrr...

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Avast! Me Pirate Name!

My pirate name is:

Black Ethel Cash

Like anyone confronted with the harshness of robbery on the high seas, you can be pessimistic at times. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this time of year. The weather is starting to cool down, the trees will soon begin to change over into their beautiful fall splendor, and in a couple of weeks, pumpkin patches will be open for business. But most importantly, I am fully in my tom boy glory surrounded by sports heaven!

Football is up and running at full speed and I couldn't be happier. Pro, college, whatever - I'll watch. My Giants are off to a 1-1 start with their OT win over the Eagles today (!), but sadly, the Packers are at an 0-2 start (Brett, dude, I'm not going to say it, but you know where I'm coming from). In other good news, my college boys are doing well thus far with Penn Sate at 2-1 and Wisconsin sitting pretty at 3-0 (Go Bucky!!).

Not only has football begun, but baseball is entering the most exciting time of their season with October just right around the corner. Hooray for weeknight prime time ball games! My Yankees (please, no griping - I've been a fan since I'm 2 1/2) are in prime position to take the AL East, but I have this feeling that the playoffs are going to be a bit tough this year. Oh well, I'll still love Jeter no matter the outcome. And with the preseaon started in the NHL, I'm gearing up to start pounding on the glass from the blue line...

Good Vibrations!

Yeah, I know. I didn't post last week. Sorry 'bout that - WAY too much going on. However, I have returned to bring to you the first in a two part series on what are considered by many to be most influential albums ever recorded. I have chosen to do this for two reasons. The first is that as I was flipping through my new Rolling Stone, I ran across a page announcing the 40th anniversary of the album I'm presenting this evening. And the second is that, growing up, I believed that the two greatest loves in my mother's life were not my sister and me, but rather The Beatles and The Beach Boys. With that, I give you...

Hailed as Brian Wilson's greatest masterpiece, and one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time, Pet Sounds was released in May of 1966 and has since sold over a gazillion copies (hell, I think my mom has two) and has been ranked in the top three of every 'greatest album ever made' list known to man. After The Beatles released Rubber Soul in 1965, Wilson challenged himself to put together an album that would have the flow and collectiveness he heard on Rubber Soul. And so, Pet Sounds was begun. When they were finished, The Beach Boys had a Pulitzer for your record player, telling the story of maturing into adulthood in the 60s from the eyes of Wilson. The album opens with the incredibly harmoniously layered Wouldn't It Be Nice and hooks you for the ride. You're taken on a tour of Wilson's heart, right brain, and melodic genius only to find the first side ending with Wilson's version of a traditional West Indies folk song: Sloop John B, which perfectly gears you up for side two. Flip that bad boy over, drop the needle on the edge and you're greeted with the lovingly sweet God Only Knows. You move through to the very telling I Just Wasn't Made For These Times and then, finally, your heart is broken, in less that three minutes, with Caroline No. And thus, ends Pet Sounds. What's so tragic about this is that soon after, Wilson began work on what was to be the greatest accomplishment of his musical career - Smile. However, sadly, due to intense 'creative differences' between band members, arguments with new Wilson collaborator and lyricist Van Dyke Parks, and Wilson's escalating drug use, Smile was shelved before its scheduled release in 1967. One good thing did come of it though, and you'll find that in this week's ear candy.

And so concludes my brief presentation of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. I hope that your ears enjoyed. Next week, I plan to cover The Beatles' answer to this album, which I have to say, I enjoy much more. Sorry, Brian! I'm just much deeper into your early, 'more childish' songs such as I Get Around, Help Me Rhonda, and Surfer Girl. I still dance and sing along when I hear them.

Finally, in honor of our beach loving friends, the primate of the week is a fine swimmer. Check it out - you'll learn something.

For my friends who ran from Lower Manhattan that day as I watched in horror on a small television screen in Wisconsin. For my friends who phoned me in panic telling me that they couldn't contact their loved ones and that the east coast phone lines were so jammed that I was one of the few people with whom they could connect. For the thousands who perished, and for the thousands more that still suffer to this day. And finally, for the countless numbers of NYC's finest who did what they were born to do only to find that it was too late, know that we will NEVER forget...

Steve Irwin: February 22, 1962 - September 4, 2006

I wasn't in my office for more than 15 minutes when I opened Internet Explorer to find that Australian naturalist and wildlife expert, Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, died yesterday from a stingray barb wound that he suffered during a dive for a documentary. I will certainly edit this post later today with more detail, but I wanted to get something up early as it's a very sad day for all those in the animal kingdom. RIP, Steve.

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Now that more news is available on this tragedy, I thought I would update the story. It seems that poor Steve's luck finally ran out. Stingrays are very gentle creatures until you piss them off (aren't we all?) and Steve just happened to come up behind one that was burrowed in the sand and was apparently quite annoyed that his nap was interrupted. Steve sadly took a barb in the chest - one of only two places on the human body that a ray bite has the ability to cause death (the other being the abdomen). According to what his poor camera man witnessed, Steve was able to remove the barb, but the poison had already reached his heart - killing him within minutes.

Australia is currently arranging for a state funeral, should the Irwin family wish for that to occur. My thoughts and sympathies go out to his entire family - his wife, children, and his family at the Australia Zoo in Queensland. He will be deeply missed by all he touched - including the many animal species he dedicated his life to protecting and saving in the Australian Outback, and beyond. I know that the conservation organization that Steve and his wife Terri created - Wildlife Warriors Worldwide - will continue to work towards one of the many goals Steve Irwin set forth to do: ensure that all creatures great and small were granted every opportunity to thrive. Thanks, Steve. You will be missed.

The End of an Era

After 21 years and 60 singles titles (including eight Grand Slam titles and one career Grand Slam - a feat only five men are able to boast), Andre Agassi retired from professional tennis today to thunderous cheers and a standing ovation of 20,000+ fans at Arthur Ash stadium in Flushing Meadows, NY. In response, I have just this to say:

Gonna miss you, man. Gonna miss you...

Rockabye... Metallica?

It's a NRT first! A children's album...

Have you ever been sitting around listening to Metallica and wondered what it would be like if Mater of Puppets were performed with a glockenspiel? Maybe a mellotron? Well, wonder no more! This past Tuesday, Baby Rock Records released their latest masterpiece - Lullaby Renditions of Metallica. You'll hear such gems as One, Enter Sandman, and Nothing Else Matters performed in a series of plinks, plunks, and vibes. To be honest, it really is quite soothing (click the song titles for musical clips). Who ever would have guessed that a glockenspiel could be useful when playing in a minor key? These folks have other lullaby albums using the works of Radiohead and Coldplay, with albums utilizing the songs of Pink Floyd and Tool (yes, Tool - you read that correctly) due out next month. There are also many more albums due in the coming months showcasing music from bands such as The Cure and The Pixies. I think that I'm going to start collecting these for when my sister has kids - that way I can start warping them while they're young!

To recognize this fabulous, yet somewhat bizarre achievement, the ear candy this week consists of a Metallica performed song that you will find on the lullaby album. I chose this particular track not only because I adore the song (see my 'tag line' under my blog title), but because Cliff Burton, the original bass player who tragically died in a 1989 bus accident, was part of its creation. I chose this particular video for a few reasons. First, this bootleg, from a 1986 concert in the USSR, contains footage of Cliff doing what he did o so very very well. Also, this was about the time I was discovering Metallica. I was in the 7th grade and the sound pissed off my father so much that he would bang on the walls telling me to turn down my ape music (and I wonder why I work with monkeys?). Finally, if you look close enough, you'll see that James is wearing a Misfits t-shirt. Why is this important? Well, in the summer of 1994, I had an assembly line job at an exact-o knife factory in Vernon, NJ. I sat on a stool for most of the day placing pieces of exact-o knives into blister packaging. Some days the handles, some days the card backs, but I digress... I was eating lunch early in my first week and I heard this hard hitting sound coming from the rafters. I started to look around and noticed that none of people around me appeared phased by this. Finally, one older woman saw the look on my face and said 'Oh, we've forgotten you're new. Sorry about the racket, dear, but the boys like to have band practice during lunch sometimes. We've just all become quite used to it and you will too.' Suddenly, the sound turned more familiar as the opening chords to Die, Die My Darling started to echo down the stairs. Then it hit me - the f@#&%$ Misfits (sans mister Danzig, of course) were upstairs! They never sang a single word during those times, but they jammed about three times a week. Never on Fridays though. Each Friday at about 11:30am, they would come stomping down the stairs (this was the only time I ever laid eyes on them as they treated that upstairs machine shop like their sanctuary) and would head out the front door only to come back about an hour later smelling like a brewery. So, in honor of of all things metal, click the link, throw your devil horns in the air, and bang your head until your neck is sore! Then, when you're finished there, move on down to the primate of the week link for facts about one hell of a tough primate.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Yesterday, while in New Orleans, NBC Nightly News anchor man Brian Williams interviewed OGL regarding the Katrina anniversary and other points of interest regarding the current administration. It was CLASSIC!!! First, bravo to Williams for not only asking the questions that needed to be asked, but for keeping his composure (albeit with a smirk and a hand over his mouth stifling a gafaw like laugh) as OGL gave 'highly intelligent' responses to questions such as...

WILLIAMS: If your administration ended today would you be satisfied with the record thus far? Again, the view out there, I think if you asked 9 out of 10 historians -- High point: bullhorn, in the rubble of the buildings that came down. Low point: We're standing on it. Is that fair?

BUSH: First of all, there's no such thing as short-term history as far as I'm concerned. I think that you can't judge a presidency based upon a moment's notice. I believe you have to take -- eventually my standing in history will be judged by people 30 or 40 years from now who will be able to take an objective look, at whether the decisions I made led to peace and prosperity. You know, this is a job where you make decisions. And you, you do what you think is right. And you let people recognize, and the people are gonna say what's on their mind at the moment. But I read three histories of George Washington last year. The first President of the United States is still being analyzed by historians, which oughtta say to this president and future president: "Do what you think is right and eventually historians will figure out whether it made sense or not."

You'll find the entire interview (transcript and video) here.

This post is to honor all of those who lost their lives, homes, friends, families, pets, and/or any thing else that was precious, to one of the greatest natural disasters to ever hit our nation. One year ago, today, at 6:10am, hurricane Katrina made landfall on the eastern shore of Louisiana as a category 4 storm. The storm brought walls of water so high and winds so damaging that over 1800 people died and hundreds of thousands of people became displaced. We should never forget what happened on this date in 2005, nor should we ever forget the following weeks of bureaucratic idiocy that, to this day, continue to leave people homeless and without the basic needs in life. FEMA, I hope your ears are ringing.

To those of you who stayed in the hospitals, nursing centers, zoos, biomedical animal facilities, public works facilities, volunteer organization shelters, and rescue squad vehicles; and went without sleep for days at a time in order to help those who could not help themselves, know that you are all heroes.

To those of you who spent days on your rooftops waiting for help to arrive, know that you are all survivors and are the strongest of people.

To those of you who endured too many days of dehydration, hunger and death in public shelters that were crammed with too many people only to finally be placed on buses to be taken far away from your home into yet another too cramped place, know that you are both strong and heroic in your own right for making it through the most horrid chapter of your life and for moving forward following that nightmare. You are true inspirations.

To those that traveled to the torn regions following the storms and lived in tents to help the survivors, both human and animal alike - thank you.

And finally, to those of who have returned to the Gulf Coast to rebuild, I want you to know that I have always found those of you in the Gulf Region to be some of the most amazing, yet stubborn folks alive. My Uncle was in the military and trained in Biloxi and I worked for a brief time for the military along the Gulf Shores of Alabama, so a little part of my family does remain in your region. The I-10 corridor is filled with people and culture that I feel our nation simply cannot do without. It's not just the Jazz and Creole, but the way of life. The slower, kinder, live today like tomorrow's never gonna come attitude. This is something I cannot imagine the area without. So thank you and keep the perserverance going - from the French Quarter, to the Blow Fly Inn, to the community of Bayou, La Batre. I know that you're all going to make it come alive again.

My thanks to the United States Geological Survey. The pictures below were obtained from their website.

In memorandum...

Biloxi, Mississippi

Waveland, Mississippi

Dauphine Island, Alabama

And finally, thanks to the National Alliance to Restore Opportunity to the Gulf Coast and Displaced Persons for this last picture. As the physical and emotional damage to the city of New Orleans was so wide spread, I thought it best to remember them in a more public manner. In honor of that great city, I give you a branch of the New Orleans Public Library; located in the Lower Ninth Ward, and named after one of the strongest men of our time...

New Orleans, Louisiana

Bruce Gary: April 7, 1951 - August 22, 2006

Bruce Gary passed away yesterday, of lymphoma, at the age of 55. I find it somewhat ironic that two weeks ago I did a homage to drummers for NRT and now here I am honoring yet another - but for a very sad reason.

Gary was best known for his role as the drummer for The Knack (for those of you who may need a refresher - click the 'ear candy' link). However, this man's credit list is over a mile long. To start with, his session work covers everything from rock to surf to Broadway. In addition, he performed, and recorded, with such greats as Bob Dylan, Jimmi Hendrix (for whom he also produced several successful posthumous albums), John Lee Hooker, George Harrison, Jack Bruce, and Robbie Kreiger (if you don't recognize these last two names - Bruce was the bass player for this classic band, and Kreiger played guitar for this amazing group). And, sadly, even with all of that, I feel that Gary's talent was always somewhat under-appreciated. Regardless, Gary was an exceptionally talented drummer and musician. His presence in the industry will surely be missed.

And please forgive my tardiness with this post. Found a GIANT freaking wood spider in my living room (yes, my DC Metro Area living room) and we had a big 'ole battle. Needless to say my arsenal of carpet cleaning spray and my vacuum pronounced me the winner at the end, but the Buddhist community would not look kindly on my actions.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I need to post a new 'primate of the week'. I'm going to go with a small, yet powerful, creature that primatologist Dr. Dorothy Fragaszy calls 'Hercules with a Tail' (also the title of the very cool presentation she gave at last week's ASP meeting). Check out the 'primate of the week' link for this incedible little creature as well as more about Dr. Fragaszy's research.

I'm Ba-ack...

Well, I was back on Sunday night, but needed to catch up on a few things before I had the time to sit down and post. That whole 'life' thing just gets in the way sometimes. So, for those of you who might have been a little cranky that I didn't return to the blogosphere faster, you can stop being cranky and instead be slightly disturbed...

That, boys and girls, is the premier attraction of the Davey Crockett Interactive Outpost in downtown San Antonio, TX - right down the street from the Alamo and nestled next to Ripley's Believe it or Not. I personally think that this should be a display for Ripley's. Instead, this frightening creature sits out front and 'dances' at the waist while it pumps the gun up and down, points out into the street and belts the song Davey Crockett. If I hadn't been so weirded out, I would have had the good sense to take a short video to post. But, alas, a still is all I have to share. I dare say it's enough.

Other than that, the ASP meeting was a blast! I had a great time catching up with old students, friends, and colleagues; 'did' the Alamo (where they have a log from Davey Crockett's childhood home on display - complete with plaque; still pissed that photos weren't allowed inside because that's a really hard sell without evidence); walked the lovely river walk through downtown San Antonio; got nice and drunk a couple of times; and just talked monkey. I had a great time and didn't miss DC one bit.

Things I did miss, however, included NRT. Sorry kids, no internet access and well, I was just a touch busy on Thursday night drinking beer and whatnot. So, to make up for that, I present something that I found on another blog - Electric Monkey Pants. You will now find a link to this blog over yonder in the 'fellow blogger' links. It's good read - check it out. Anyway, if you know Outkast's Hey Ya (if not - take a listen here - I can almost guarantee you'll start boppin' along) you're going to love this cover. It's performed by Mat Weddle of the band Obadiah Parker (who are pretty good - a little folk, a little funk; light and easy on the ears and soul). But anyway, on this cover, it's just him and his six string doing a folked up version and it's AMAZING. Click here and enjoy. If your ears like what they hear, he also does Bjork!

Better Late Than Never

As many of you may know, one of the Discovery Channel's biggest ratings draws is Shark Week. That glorious time of year when they present specials containing bizarre people, with thrill issues, in cages trying to get as close as possible to these awesome creatures. Some of it can be really cool; but sadly, they missed the boat on advertising this go round. This year, Shark Week ran from July 31 through August 4, and during that time, the Discovery Channel headquarters in downtown Silver Spring, MD opted to advertise in a BIG way by turning their building into a shark for the week. The pictures that I managed to snap (forgive the quality - I was in my car waiting at red lights for both) simply don't do the beast justice. It was amusing to say the least as it was held up to the building with cables and strings. Seriously, this thing had Mystery Science Theater 3000 written all over it (I'm secretly hoping that some wanna be film director got some overnight footage for the best 'B' movie ever). What really gets me is that this sucker was five years in the making and supposedly made of some kind of space-age material that could withstand 40mph winds and then be reinflated to original size in under four minutes should rain and/or heavier wind knock the air loose. They had that down, but couldn't find a more aesthetic way to attach it to the building? To top it all off, the 'ass' end of the shark is what faced the downtown proper. So, as you drove into town from the north, south, or west you were greeted with the back end first. Is Discovery trying to tell the people of Silver Spring something? Hmmm...

And on that, I shall bid you all ado for now. I will be absent for the next week as I am heading to San Antonio, TX to attend the annual meeting of the American Society of Primatologists. It's a glorious five day period where all we do is talk monkey by day and drink by night. How I do love my peers. If all goes well, and the FAA doesn't decide to hold me hostage for having a tube of lip balm, I shall return early the week of the 21st with delightful tales of monkey mayhem.

TTFN!

NRT: With Added Flair!

Greetings! Yeah, I know, a whole week. Sorry 'bout that. Been just a little busy. The big news (the flair, if you will) is that my colonoscopy went off without a hitch and it seems that I will live. Yippee! Now, you may be asking yourself, why is she sharing? Well, it's because the word colonoscopy gives just about 99.9% of people who hear it the heebie-jeebies. Due to this, I am opting to get the word out that really it ain't so bad. Seriously, the worst part is what they kindly refer to as 'the prep'. That's the joy of cleaning out your system the day before so they can get a good look at all your plumbing - you have to fast all day, drink the cocktail around 6pm and then you get to set up camp near the 'head' for the evening (good time to catch up on some reading). Then, once you get to the procedure in the morning, it's cake. They give you an IV, fill it with happy drugs, and viola! In less than 90 minutes you wake up in a comfortable haze with a nice person asking what you'd like to drink. No pain, no discomfort (well, my lower tummy is a tad sore today, but nothing horrid) and you get to walk away on your own accord. And ladies, there's an extra added bonus - you get to leave on your bra! Some dignity is maintained!! So, if there's anyone out there who has been told that a colonoscopy is in their future - fear not.

OK then, on with NRT (New Release Thursday for those who may be behind). First, the new monkey of the week. I was having a bit of a time deciding until big news came out of the Philadelphia Zoo this week: A new Golden Lion Tamarin was born!! Click on the Primate of the Week link to catch the news feed from the Philadelphia CBS station - pictures and video galore. This is fantastic news as it is helping the zoo's primate preserve's quest towards conservation of several primate species. Way to go!!!

And now, on to the music!! This week, I'm going to do something just a little different. This morning as I was checking to see if Dwardisimo Rex rose from his vacation slumber, I read some new comments added to last week's NRT Annex. Seems that his buddy Poppersmoke feels that drummers aren't respected near enough. As I am a drummer myself, I am here to change his mind. Sure, most of us can't sing to save ourselves (hence, why Keith Moon needed to be 'removed' when the Who did ballads live), but we can beat the hell out of a pulled skin with a stick and we'll stop the show in the process. Think about it - who's the coolest group in the marching band? The DRUM line. When's the only time marching band is ever considered to be cool? DRUM and bugle core. What's every kid's first instrument albeit a spoon and pot? A DRUM. OK, I think you get the point. A unique bunch, we talk loud, party hard, and really could give a shit about what others think. Because of this, we tend to worship the ground our heroes walk upon. I will now proceed to discuss three of my favs and with each, you will find a link that will take you to that individual's page on Drummerworld where you'll get a bio, music clips, and be able to watch videos of some of their greatest performances.

First on my list is John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. I simply don't have words to describe my love for this man. Seriously, if I could remove the vocals and guitar from some of Zeppelin's tracks, I would, just to listen to Bonham go ape. Next time you listen to Whole Lotta Love, give that some thought. However, his greatest achievement is by far Moby Dick, where the solos would rage on for up to 30 minutes. Others have tried, but none can match Bonham's ability to drive along the toms and cymbals the way he can.



Next up is Carter Beauford from the Dave Matthews Band. I would first like to thank Arsenio Hall for saying that he didn't want Carter for his show's band. This enabled Carter to return to Virginia where he hooked up with Dave and friends. As for DMB, sure, Dave is one hell of a song writer and has quite the swooning voice, but without Carter behind him, as far as I'm concerned, the band wouldn't have the depth and power it does with Carter at the helm of the percussion. I classify Mr. Beauford as a 'super genius'. He's clever, creative, and somehow manages to be smooth, yet tight while sitting behind a 20+ piece kit. Also check out his work with Victor Wooten: it'll help you get your groove on.

To round out my three (and be grateful that I'm only doing three because I could go on forever), I give you Dave Grohl. Drool, pant, howl, etc... I worship this man, plain and simple. The younger folk out there may only know him as the founder and lead guitarist of the Foo Fighters, but this man is a bonafide drummer extraordinaire. From his early days with Nirvana up until the Queens of the Stone Age were wise enough to have him sit in on an album, Dave has beat the skins with a fierceness and passion like no other. Love you, LOVE you, LOVE YOU, Dave!!

And there you have it, an NRT dedicated to drummers!! I hope that you have found this both educational and enjoyable. Look for sequels in the future. Oh, I nearly forgot - the ear candy link is a sure treat. There is just something about a drum duel and no group does it live as well as Godsmack. Flair indeed!

A 'Keen' NRT

I won't be getting into this week too deeply simply because I've been ultra busy. Between work (where I'm still at - just taking a quick break) and the mini-flood I found in my bathroom last night (nothing is quite like finding that it's raining indoors), it's been a very interesting few days. Nonetheless, I wanted to get some new tunes posted for the week. And of course, there's a new monkey as well. Check out the Primate of the Week link for a fascinating new creature (with a very unusual name) brought to you by the Oregon Zoo. I highly recommend checking out the videos to watch the kids at play. It'll lower your bp - promise.

OK then, the tunes this week are from a band from across the pond - Keane. I discovered Keane while listening to internet radio a few months back, and was enthralled by the song Somewhere Only We Know, the first track off their first full length album Hopes and Dreams. It's all very good stuff. Lyrics and melody match beautifully with singer Tom Chaplin's marvelous set of pipes. I encourage you to check them out if you're not familiar. Also, to add to the fun, they released a new album in late June (Under the Iron Sea) and the first single is the very catchy Is It Any Wonder?. You'll find that neatly tucked into the ear candy link. But before you treat your ears to that, take a listen to this performance of Bend and Break (from their first album) from the Late Show. They're just as good, if not better, live as they are on recording.

Well I'll be damned...

Go to Google and type the word 'failure'. Then, click the 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button and see what pops up in front of your eyes. I know that the current administration is pretty much one giant SNAFU, but I really don't know what to make of this. On the other hand, I don't know why part of me finds it somewhat shocking. Getting sympathetic? Hope not. Guess it's time to go back and re-read Shrub...

Introducing...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers! In order to complete the triad of one of the best shows on the road from the early 1990s, the Chili Peppers will now be honored. If you'll think back to last week, you may remember that I chatted about the Smashing Pumpkins for NRT. Well, that same day, over at the NRT Annex, Dwardisimo Rex gave homage to another one of my favorite bands - Pearl Jam. In the early 1990s, the Chili Peppers headlined a show that traveled around this great nation and introduced us to both the Pumpkins and Pearl Jam - little known bands at the time. Most of us who went to the show were there for the Chili Peppers; but came away with so much more.

Now, before I get into their first new album in four years (!) I would like to give you a little back history. I was introduced to the Chili Peppers in early 1990. My friend Meghan decided that I needed more to my musical catalog than REM and Metallica, so she gave me a mixed tape full of the newly crazed 'alternative' music. On it was a copy of Catholic School Girls Rule from the 1985 album Freaky Styley. That's when my love affair with the Chili Peppers began. For all practical purposes, this band and I grew up together. I was in high school, they wore only tube socks on stage. I went to college, they still wore only tube socks on stage. I went to grad school, and they began to don tighty whities. I went into the real world, and they all discovered pants. Now I'm a full fledged 'adult' and they dress in full. As time went by, we all gained some new friends, lost some old ones, grew up, cleaned up, and discovered that there was just a little bit more to life than sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. Their music has changed some, but still has that funky groove feeling of the older stuff - with just a little more maturity.

So now, I present, Stadium Arcadium!

Released back in early May, this double disc is 122 minutes of pure joy. Sure, they're singing about California again; but it's deeper this time, more intense. These guys are no longer just a band; they have officially become musicians. Anthony Kiedis's voice remains smooth as silk while his vocal croonings trade banter with Flea's bass. They've given John Frusciante more opportunity to strut his stuff, and if you didn't know already, you now know that this guy is DAMN good with his six string. And last, but certainly not least, drummer Chad Smith, as always, continues to perfect what he does so very very well - combine high powered rock rhythms with blistering funk grooves. Chad, my man, you ROCK.

You'll find the first single - the very catchy Dani California - under the ear candy link; but I would also like you to delight in the title track, Stadium Arcadium. It's a lovely ballad that displays the talents of all the band's members. And if you listen closely, you'll find that they have layered the track to perfection. Sit back, relax, and let the Chili Peppers take you to the moon...

Why I Always Have My Camera

I left work, as usual, really late this evening - around 7:30pm. I was there for almost 13 hours and was somewhat grumbly on the way to my car. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, this precious little creature came along and made me smile wider than I have in some time. Simply put, baby animals ROCK! If you click on the picture(s), you can get a closer look at the little darling. Enjoy!!

It took a few days, but I think that I'm finally cooled off enough to discuss the stupidity that is OGL's veto of the stem cell bill. What this man has done has not only put another speed bump into medical progress, but has possibly put many of my colleagues' research projects at risk. Yes, that's right - my colleagues. I guess it's time the cat comes out of the bag. I am, by education, a behavioral neuroscientist and my passion is the study of neurodegenerative disease. I am, by trade, a biomedical researcher and I once studied these diseases in animal models. I have seen stem cells work miracles like nothing else. I have seen mice grow new brain cells after developing symptoms of Huntington's disease and I have seen rats walk again after developing the muscle freezing from Parkinson's. I have worked (albeit briefly) with the great Dr. James Thomson (the godfather of stem cell research) and he is truly a genius. The sad part is that even back in 2001 we knew that there would be trouble in the budding paradise that was the promise of stem cell research. Behold! Time magazine - August 20, 2001:

We were PROUD dammit! And how could we not be? We were on an amazing path of discovery with Jaime Thomson at the helm. Then the dark days came when OGL announced that we could not produce any more stem cell lines and that funding would be limited for those lines we already had. At that time there were only 60 in the entire research nation; a majority of which were not usable for human research trails because they were grown on animal tissues. With this latest blow, OGL continues to put medical advancement at risk. For the last few years, biomedical research dollars have been more difficult to obtain (unless you're willing to study anthrax and/or bioterrorism) and the National Institutes of Health's budget has taken a hit year after year because it has been placed on the DEFENSE bill. That's right boys and girls - the heart and soul of the USA's medical research has to sit fourth fiddle to Georgey boy's war games. For instance, a technician in Dr. Thomson's laboratory makes a whopping $26,000 [gross] a year because that's all the FOUNDER of stem cell research can afford to shell out of his budget. And people wonder why I want to toss it all and go to veterinary school. Well, there you have it - I fear that there may come a time when what I do will no longer be valid because the 'high and mighty' will have come to save we sinners from the fire. What do I want to say to these people? I say this: If you ever have the opportunity to feel the pain of a debilitating disease such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or ALS, then I do wonder if you'll think that those 'precious' cells are better off in the trash than in the safe hands of our nation's highest minds.

The Idiot Box

So there I was, parked in my lazy boy, eating ice cream for dinner (yeah, healthy, I know), and flipping through the channels, when I came upon a Ron White special on Comedy Central. I adore Ron White - he's funny as hell, he's real, and to top it all off, he smokes and drinks on stage. Really, it's impossible not to like this guy. The best part is that Ron doesn't tell 'jokes' per se. Rather, he tells stories and makes you laugh your ass off in the process. Tonight, I was pleased as proverbial punch to hear him tell one of my all time favorite stories about him getting thrown out of a bar in NYC. If you need to have your funny bone tickled, click here for a replay of this classic.

In addition to Ron, Comedy Central is also now airing one of my favorite parts of the World Cup half times - Red Stripe commercials (I personally think the stuff tastes like ass, but these commercials are fun-nee). If you were watching the World Cup, and didn't need the whole half time to pee, you saw one of these. If you think you may have missed them, allow me to jog your memory - Hooray Beer!

In conclusion:
Hooray Beer!
Hooray Ron White!
Hooray idiot box!

Happy FREAKING Thursday!

You ever have one of those weeks when you finally just reach a point where you say 'I could really give a shit."? Well, I'm at that point now. Falling into that comfortably numb state that I like to call apathy. I have officially run out of energy to care. Highlights from the week: The world is exploding; my GI doc thinks that yes, a colonoscopy would be a SPLENDID idea; OGL proclaims that god forbid we take cells from cells; I finally have the chance to enter the road to veterinary school but have to DEFER due to time, money and said rear-end troubles; and I have a stress test at the age of 31 because my bp is WAY up. Really? No kidding. Let the good times roll!!!!

But rather than that, let's discuss the picks for NRT. The primate this week is actually a relative of the mongoose! Check out the link for this lovely creature, and click HERE to hear its call!

Now, on to this week's ear candy pick - the Smashing Pumpkins! And in particular, their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. I thought that after Tuesday I would be listening to harder rock, but what I was really seeking was angst riddled with bitterness. Seriously, who better than the Pumpkins? Corgan is one of the kings of angst. I initially had out Gish, then moved onto Rotten Apples (greatest hits comp.), but went with MCIS after I found myself listening to Zero on repeat. You'll find even more 'happiness' when you click on the 'ear candy' link.

My Head's Gonna Explode!

And that's why I'm going to take a brief hiatus until Thursday when I will no doubt present a review of some really nasty hard-ass rock album. Either that, or it will be something so nutty that even I won't understand why I chose it!

Bonus Track!

He's ba-ack....

Yes, that's 'Weird Al' Yankovic, and he's done it again.

There I was leafing through a back issue of Rolling Stone when I come upon a random picture of James Blunt - former Captain of the British Army turned pop star - sitting on a beach somewhere with a way too damn thin model. But I digress. The significance to all of this is that under the picture they say that Weird Al has parodied Blunt's mega hit, You're Beautiful, calling it You're Pitiful. This, ladies and gents, has the making of a Weird Al classic. It's up there with Like a Surgeon and Fat. Plain and simple, it's good stuff!

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't want to like James Blunt. He's kinda whiney, and his voice can be quite feminine. However, after a while, I broke down and bought his album Back to Bedlam and for some strange reason can listen to it on repeat. I find it soothing and think the songs are beautifully written.

Anyway, back to our main event - Al. His parody is a must hear. But first, if you're not familiar with the work of Mr. Blunt (and if you're not, you've been living in a cave as You're Beautiful has been in heavy radio rotation for at least 15 weeks) click here to check out the video stream and hear the tune (also, check out the nifty monkey on the page!!). Then, listen to Al here and enjoy!!

And yesterday continues into today...

It seems that when I was honoring Bill Cosby yesterday, I managed to leave out his other great piece of children's programming. I apologize. My friend Ourika (see my blog links for a further glimpse into her psyche) reminded me about Picture Pages! Originally created by Captain Kangaroo(!), Bill came on in the late 70s to host the shorts. How the hell could I forget Picture Pages? "Open up your Picture Pages..." Mortimer Marker? Come on!! Best part of this whole thing? When I went in search of footage (and sadly only found some bizarre re-done theme from the early 90s - BAH) I found this!! . Enjoy, gen x'ers, enjoy... Next up? "I'm just a bill..." But I'll save that for another day. Why? Well, because it's NEW RELEASE THURSDAY!!!!

However, first, I should probably give a glimpse into as to why I'm typing like I've been eating too much paste. Well, I've had quite the crappy week and when I got home, dinner consisted of two beers and 1/2 a pita while I watched the cartoon network (not that you really give a shit). That, combined with the fact that I've gotten minimal sleep this week, means that I'm just a tad giddy. Anywho, on with New Release Thursday. There is of course a new monkey to view, and it's in honor of this week's Get Fuzzy cartoon strips. Thank you Darby Conley!

To keep you in suspense for just one more minute, thanks are also in order for my blogging buddy, Dwardisimo Rex, for adding to the musical fun on his blog: I Don't Remember Eating That (again, see the blog links for a glimpse into his psyche). Seriously, you should go to check out the very cool band he's posted - Super Black Market. Pretty good stuff - even for 6am in my opinion. And while you're there, see what DR has to say about this crazy world as well.

OK then, enough already!!!

This week's album is Interpol's Antics. Originally, I was going to put out some much harder, angrier stuff (remember, I've had a crappy week), but then I did my weekly check of CMJ. I'm sad to report that Weezer is on hiatus - again, but delighted to report that Interpol is working on a third album. I am SOOO happy to hear this. And you'll be happy to hear and see them do their thing by clicking on the 'ear candy' link to the right. Antics is catchy and original with just a smidge of Joy Division thrown in around the edges. The key track in my opinion is Evil, but the whole damn thing is good from top to bottom. Now, be warned that the 'ear candy' link is to Yahoo! music as I'm trying to provide posts where you'll be able to hear the band if you've never heard them before. You may need a Yahoo! login ID to get access. If you ain't got one, make one; or you'll be SOL...

TTFN!

Hey Hey Hey!

Happy 69th birthday to Mr. Bill Cosby! Lots of people love Mr. Cosby for many reasons - mainly his stand up comedy and general sense of humor. However, I'm going to pay homage in a completely different way by honoring one of the all time GREAT Saturday morning cartoons.

Hey, Hey Hey! It's Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat Albert!!!


This cartoon ROCKED the house and was conveniently placed in the CBS Saturday morning lineup near reruns of Land of the Lost and good golly did I LOVE it. Fat Albert, Mushmouth, Dumb Donald, Weird Harold, and all the junkyard band gang wholesomely providing us with life's lessons at the very end of each show. The cool part was that Bill himself would pop in from time to time to talk about what the kids were doing and how it was all going in the 'wrong direction'. They would always turn in around in the end, though.

So happy birthday Mr. Cosby, and thanks for making my Saturday mornings in the late 70s and early 80s some of the best ever.

Na Na Na, gonna have a good time... :)

Syd Barrett, 1946-2006

Pink Floyd founding member, Syd Barrett, has died at the age of 60.

RIP, Syd - Wish You Were Here.

OGL strikes again!

You're intelligent people, I'm sure. However, I'm willing to bet that you may not see beyond the obvious in the above picture. Sure, the smiles on the faces are similar (not to degrade the chimpanzee in any way) but do you know what else they have in common? Come on; think hard. Give up? Aside from getting a little cranky when they don't get their afternoon nap, both are good at fooling with numbers! Chimps will hide pieces of fruit behind their backs, or in their mouths, and pretend they don't have any just to get more. Mr. Bush predicted at the beginning of the year that the national deficit would be well over $400 billion and then he so happens to have a mid-year report showing that they can slash their prediction to a little less than $300 billion. And do you know why they're all so excited? It's because 300 is LESS than 400. Well, DUH!! Bully for us! A balanced budget to $300 billion dollars in debt in less than six years. Yay us! We done good.

So as we all sit back and watch yet another myriad of funding for good causes such as schools and public libraries get cut, we can rejoice in the fact that Our Glorious Leader (henceforth to be known as OGL {pronounced "ogle" as in 'Stop ogling my boobs!'} on this blog) understands that less is good.

Riddle me this

Why exactly is it that the days I look OK, have my hair in place and all, I have zero to do; and the days that I look like hell, I have a series of household 'crises' and end up having to leave the house multiple times?!? Today, sadly, was one of those days. Now, I consider myself to be of average looks - I'm not stopping traffic or clocks any time soon - and most days, I'm at least semi put together. However, today, I had 'bed head' and was wearing a pair of scrub pants and my 'Got Monkey?' t-shirt thinking that all I was going to do was sit on my ass and watch sports finals. Oh no, that would have been too simple. The dryer crisis cleared itself up, which allowed me to watch Wimbeldon in it's entirety (congrats to Roger!!) but the overhead kitchen lamp is a different story. It burnt out (or at least I thought it did) and I hauled myself up to the ceiling to find that the damn thing takes those round fluorescent bulbs (two different sizes just to add to the fun). Since I don't naturally keep any of these in my apartment (really, who needs a frisbee made of glass?), I was forced out onto the streets of suburban Maryland - on a Sunday. This alone is a deathwish all in itself, because everyone and their mother has to hit the highways with their worst possible driving skills. Also, trying to get a parking spot in any business establishment requires great maneuvering and 'sign language' skills. The initial trip to Target wasn't too bad. I was pissed because the World Cup Final was set to kick off in moments and they only had one size bulb. I figure what the hell, grab it, pay, and make it home just in time for the opening minute of play. I then look on the back of the bulb box and there's this precautionary paragraph regarding the dangers of only replacing one bulb. Crap. So, back out I go - to the Home Depot. Help us all! Sunday afternoon in the DC Metro area and there isn't a place to park. Seriously, who the hell is going to start a home improvement project tomorrow morning? I circle, jockey, and narrowly miss taking out an older gentleman who appeared from behind a van. Finally, I nab myself a spot in the back corner of the lot - no biggie, the walk will do me good. I head in to find that they have the larger bulbs - goodie! - and I pick up one. I head to the 'self' check out and find that I have run out of hands. So, after some thought, I place the old bulb (took it along for sizing) around my neck. The lady next to me just stares. I look at her for a moment and reply with 'Well, it fits'. She looks at me again and says something to the effect of 'That's clever' with that 'Thank goodness I left the children at home, the loons have escaped the institution again' look. Whatever. Head home, put both new bulbs into the fixture and TA DA - I have light.

I figure I'm allowed to watch soccer now. I sit, watch some of the second half and then decide to get up to get a drink. I flip on the kitchen light and it just fizzles. GOODIE. I haul myself back up the ceiling to check the connections and all looks good. I check the bulbs, etc... All continues to look good. I wiggle the lights a bit - TA DA - I have light again. I repeat this ritual three times while France and Italy end up deciding their winner with PKs (Congrats to Italy - though not my pick they played a good game {at least what I saw}). Then the whole thing just decides it doesn't want to work. At this point, I'm done. Thankfully, I rent. Tomorrow, when the poor land lady gets back to me about having the dryer fixed, we can talk electrician. I see good times in my future...

OK, I'm done bitching now.