Science is FUN!

Being that I've been quite behind on postings lately (and may be for a while still), I thought I would tide you all over with a catchy little tune that is quite educational. So, gather the kiddies and click below to learn all about our favorite star. Enjoy! :)

Why Does the Sun Shine?

Stepping Out Onto The Porch

Greetings! Sorry this wasn’t posted on Thursday. Life got just a little wacky and I didn’t have a chance to finish (let's just say that I got a little tired of seeing 'This video is no longer available due to...' on YouTube). But rather than belly ache, we're just going to get into it. For those of you who don’t quite ‘get’ the post title, here it is in plain language: I'm finally going to devote a NRT of one of my all time favorite bands - Pearl Jam. My love affair with them began in 1992 and has been holding steady for the past 14 plus years. Hell, I still hold a glimmer of hope that Eddie will some day leave his wife to be with me. Until that happens, I will continue to feed my passion with late night listenings and many an hour of video viewing. However, we must all remember that before this great band could be created, the stars had to correctly align themselves. With that, I give you the first of a two part series on the MIGHTY Pearl Jam…

In the mid 1980s, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were making music with their new band Mother Love Bone. Their first band, Green River, considered a Godfather to the Grunge movement in the Pacific Northwest, received only local success before disbanding in 1987. Following Green River's breakup, Gossard and Ament took up with their guitarist Bruce Fairweather' Malfunkshun's front man Andrew Wood, and Skin Yard drummer Greg Gilmore to form Mother Love Bone. Side note: the other two members of Green River [Mark Arm and Steve Turner (who was replaced by Fairweather)] went on to form Mudhoney. Anyway, Mother Love Bone was very well received and was signed to a major label in 1989. Sadly, just a mere six months before the release of their first album, Wood died of a heroin overdose - yet another great talent to leave us before his prime. However, this tragedy lead to one of the greatest Grunge gatherings of all time. You see, Chris Cornell had shared an apartment and a close friendship with Wood for many years. After Wood’s death, Cornell dealt with his grief by writing Say Hello 2 Heaven. He then approached Gossard and Ament and spoke about recording the song as a single to honor Wood. They rounded out their group (Temple of the Dog) with Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, and guitarist Mike McCready who was kicking around things with Gossard and Ament in hopes of creating a new band.

Now, about this time, Eddie Vedder was living in San Diego and working part time at a gas station in between his gigs with funk-rock band, Bad Radio. Knowing he was looking for something a bit more stable, his buddy, and former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons, gave him a demo tape that he had received from Gossard (Gossard had high hopes of getting Irons to sign on for drummer). Irons never did sign on, but Vedder high tailed it to Seattle to audition for the vocalist slot. While in Seattle, Vedder made one hell of a splash. He nailed his audition and then sat in while Temple of the Dog worked on Say Hello 2 Heaven and a few others. During a practice session, Vedder chimed in on the vocals to Hunger Strike and history was made. With the final edition of drummer Dave Krusen, a new band was formed: Mookie Blaylock (named after the NBA great). Mookie Blaylock made their appearance in Seattle in October of 1990 and were later signed to Epic records in March of 1991 where they changed their name to Pearl Jam in order to avoid any kind of trademark issues.

TEN (Blaylock’s jersey number when he played for the NJ Nets) was released in late August of 1991 and the rest is pretty much history. With songs like Even Flow, Alive, Black, and Porch, Pearl Jam began to gain both a following and critical acclaim. But, when Jeremy was released into heavy rotation on MTV, the dam burst. Their interpretation of a newspaper article they read about a high school student shooting himself in front of his English class in Texas brought Pearl Jam to the forefront of the Grunge movement. They were showered with Grammy nominations, MTV awards, and countless requests for interviews.

Then, on October 19, 1993, I stood in the cold waiting for my local college record store to open their doors at midnight so I could be one of the first to own Pearl Jam’s sophomore release: VS. Originally titled ‘Five Against One’, and then a self titled disc, the band changed the title to Vs. shortly before its release to describe the theme of conflict the album presents. Songs such as Animal, Daughter, Rearviewmirror, and Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town are just some of the highlights of one of the strongest sophomore albums ever recorded.

And that ends the MIGHTY Pearl Jam Part I. Next time, we’ll continue by delving deeper into the evolution of this band (read: Soundgarden breaks up and Pearl Jam reaps the benefits!) as well as take a musical tour. Perhaps not so much the albums, but rather, what these guys do best – LIVE performances and B-sides. And speaking of B-sides, check out this week’s ear candy. As I don’t know when I’m going to be able to get back for part II (my work schedule is in the process of changing and this is going to mean MANY days in sequence), I’m giving you double the pleasure: The flip sides to both Even Flow and Jeremy. Finally, check out the updated Primate of the Week - this species was chosen due to its vocalizations. They 'hoo' just like Eddie. Maybe that's why I love them as much as I do????

Hooray for Procrastination!

OK, so I'm supposed to be out in my living room breaking down cardboard boxes and whatnot, but I'm having a hard time getting my ass out of my desk chair to do so. After spending the morning penning a 'not so nice' note to my sister's bridal party (they speak of periodically, but let me tell ya, a couple of these girls are in the running for BridesMAIDzilla - seesh), I opted to just sit here a while and catch up on stuff. This included finally reading the comments some of you left in my absence in full. Within those, there was one a gem from Dward and I think that it should be shared with the masses. You see, while I was gone, Dward thought it would be good to have a little music to go round, and he did a hell of a job by leaving a link in the comments section. So, given that it's a football free Sunday, Click Here, and enjoy...

Holy Crap! She's Back!

OK, so I admit it. I've been kind of lazy when it comes to ye olde blog. Things were a bit nutty there for a while, but I'm finally settled into my new job; my apartment is coming along (insider tip: invest in Ikea now! I think I alone have been raising their stock value); and I'm pleased as proverbial punch to be back in Philly. For those of you who have hung in there and checked in from time to time (kudos to those of you who tried to 'shock' me back) - you shall now be rewarded...

As 'NRT' is the conerstone of this little site, I am opting to come back into the blogosphere with a newish album as well as a trip back in time. You see, as I was unpacking my somewhat massive CD collection (seriously - it takes up a wall), I had the chance to get close with some of my discs once again. Nothing is quite like pulling things out of boxes and going 'Man, I love this record!' and popping it into the player for the first time in a while. With that I present...

Beck - The Information

Plain and simple - I LOVE Mr. Hansen and his groovy beats. Have since the beginning when he declared that he was a Loser. But I went WILD when, in 1996, the man released Odelay and brought us such genius as New Pollution and Devil's Haircut. Since, there have been others:

Midnight Vultures - the album that I refer to as the 'alter ego record' as it's just a touch hokey in parts; but it did bring us such gems as Sexx Laws.

The critically acclaimed and heartbreakingly beautiful Sea Change. Just take a listen to Golden Age and your sure to agree.

And then came Guero, which brought back the true Beck sound (with a little help from the Dust Brothers) and gave us the catchy E-Pro and one my all time Beck favs - Girl.

But lemme tell ya, The Information is a gem and half! Hell, the man provided a piece of graph paper and stickers so you could make your own album cover! How freaking cool is that?!?! But I digress... I really don't have much to say except for 'go out and get yourself a copy of this!'. Then, you can sit and play with the stickers while you get your groove on. I'll just let the tracks speak for themselves...

Nausea
Hell Yes
Think I'm In Love

OK, that does it for new. Now, we'll move on to old. And you just might want to be sitting down for this one...

Soul Coughing's Irresistible Bliss

Yup, you read that correctly. And you remember it - you know you do. If not, let's refresh, shall we?

The opener Super Bon Bon let's you know that you're in for a wild ride as Mike Doughty and the boys take you through the next 12 tracks. The stops along the way include Soft Serv, Disseminated, and The Idiot Kings. I'm sad to say that I can't find any kind of link to my favorite song on the album Soundtrack To Mary; but if you can find it, you should take a listen.

And that, ladies and gents, concludes my return to Monkeyshines. With any luck, I'll keep it up. However, just in case my road to good intentions happens to lead me into you-know-where, know that I've adjusted the 'ear candy' link to something new that is sure to entertain; and there's a new monkey for you to take a look at. This one was chosen in honor of my friend Ourika who just recently discovered the cute little buggers.

TTFN!

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.