Christmas Goodness

James Brown gives you dancing lessons

Ow! My Knees!

Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich!

Link

Welcome to the Monkeysphere

Good food for thought. If by food you mean monkeys.

And by thought you also mean monkeys.

Actually, possibly not good food for thought. I just thought about 150 of you should be up on what I found interesting.

From the hard hitting investigative news team at cracked.com.

Julius Sumner Miller - Physics - Evaporation, etc pt. 1

I remember this show we watched in physics class back in high school.

My friends and I were fascinated by Julius Sumner Miller. He was like Mr. Wizard on different... um... chemicals.

In fact, we thought he was FANTASTIC!!

Here is a clip I have wanted to see again ever since in which he freezes water by boiling it.

The only thing missing from this clip is his oft repeated habit of yelling "Watch It! Watch It!" while pointing at an experiment.

Annie Hall

Marshall McLuhan: "The Medium is the Massage."

I could really go for a massage right now.

The L-Curve: Income Distribution of the U.S.

Who Owns America's Wealth?

Mr Show - The Civil War Re-Enactments

Iggy Pop chats with Dinah Shore, 1977

How George Carlin Made Legal History

How George Carlin Made Legal History

Robert Anton Wilson
from Quantum Psychology

Here is an interesting article by Robert Anton Wilson about the concept of why certain words are considered "dirty" and others are not. This subject has been somewhat fascinating to me ever since I started working in broadcasting. It was of particular relevance when I started supervising college student radio announcers.

WARNING: Contains dirty words.

"One cannot dismiss this mystery as trivial. When comedian George Carlin made a record ("Occupation: Foole") discussing, among other things, "The seven words you can never say on television," WBAI radio (New York) played the record, and received a fine so heavy that, although the incident occurred in 1973, WBAI, a small listener-sponsored station, recently announced (1990) that they have not yet paid all their legal costs in fighting the case, which went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Eight Wise Men (and One Wise Woman) thereon upheld the Federal Communications Commission.

The highest court in the land has actually ruled on what comedians may and may not joke about. George Carlin has become something more than a comedian. He now has the status of a Legal Precedent."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a link to information on Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation; the supreme court case referenced in all of this.

Here is a link to the text of the ruling.

Keep in mind: I studied this in college.

Flight Of The Conchords - Foux Da Fa Fa

More Conchords. A great opportunity to brush up on your french.

Mirror - Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

This brief haunting sequence is from the movie "Mirror" by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky.

All of his films I have seen (Mirror, Andrei Rublev, Solaris, The Sacrifice...) have this amazing visual style to them. The experience of watching these movies seemed to me almost like looking into someone else's dreams while they sleep.

After Stanley Kubrick, Tarkovsky may be my favorite director.

This clip is just a minute long. This isn't like when I posted the entirety of "Day of the Triffids" a few weeks back. Here is a longer clip from "Mirror" to give at least a little context to the above if you feel the need.

xkcd Bookstore

This reminds me of something I wrote on here last year.

Robert Anton Wilson's Thought for the Day

“Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt. . . . Idealists regarded everybody equally corrupt, except themselves.”

--- Robert Anton Wilson

Charles Mingus Cat Toilet Training Program

This is one of the most interesting cultural artifacts I have found for a while.

Legendary and enigmatic Jazz musician, educator, and composer Charles Mingus wrote this guide for toilet training your cat.

I will have to give this a try with my cat. I probably would have never tried such a thing (even though I have heard of this and considered it before) if I hadn't found this Mingus endorsement of the procedure.

From The Onion: Report: Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing Child Care Overseas

Report: Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing Child Care Overseas

Wired Reports Temporary Reprieve for Internet Radio

Wired online is reporting a temporary reprieve for Internet Radio. The increased royalty rates that may have effectively shut down the industry this Sunday will not yet be collected.

Link to the article.

British Legal System Dragged Kicking and Screaming Into 17th Century

That headline is misleading, but I couldn't resist. Apparently, powdered wigs will no longer be required in some British legal proceedings.

Click here to read more.

tarepanda

I don't know anything about what this is or where it comes from.

All I know is IT IS THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD.

Well, maybe not that great, but pretty darn good all the same.

WOXY.com Goes to Washington

WOXY.com's Bryan Jay Miller recently addressed the House Committee on Small Business on the subject of the Copyright Royalty Board's recent decision to raise royalty rates for webcasting.

His remarks have been posted on YouTube.

Mommy The Boofa is Gone

Wow. The connections just wired themselves together in my brain.

I just found out that Brad Bird, the guy behind The Incredibles, The Iron Giant, and the new movie Ratatouille, is the same guy who wrote and directed The Family Dog.

This may not mean much to everyone, but to me and a select number of my childhood friends this is significant cultural information.

It all fits now.

Is you good baby?!!

Adam's Diary "translated" by Mark Twain

I was digging around Borders the other day and flipped through a copy of

Extracts from Adam's Diary, translated from the original ms. by Mark Twain.

I always appreciate any book than can make me laugh out loud (or LOL
as the young chaps are saying these days)and embarrass myself in public.
It seems even more impressive when an old public domain book can have
that effect.
I have enclosed a brief excerpt from the version available on gutenberg.org.
If you haven't checked out Project Gutenberg yet, now is your chance.
Great old books are available for your enjoyment free of charge.

----------------------------------------
"We have named it Cain.  She caught it while I was up country
trapping on the North Shore of the Erie; caught it in the timber
a couple of miles from our dug-out--or it might have been four,
she isn't certain which.  It resembles us in some ways, and may
be a relation.  That is what she thinks, but this is an error,
in my judgment.  The difference in size warrants the conclusion
that it is a different and new kind of animal--a fish, perhaps,
though when I put it in the water to see, it sank, and she plunged
in and snatched it out before there was opportunity for the
experiment to determine the matter.  I still think it is a fish,
but she is indifferent about what it is, and will not let me have
it to try.  I do not understand this."
-----------------------------------------

Flight of the Conchords - Think about It (CUT)

Flight of the Conchords- Business Time

Click Here

Click Here

Windows Error Messages - A Love Story

Day of the Triffids

Day of the Triffids from 1963.

I would like to thank my father for introducing me to all kinds of cheesy sixties sci-fi goodness during my childhood.

Internet Radio Day of Silence Today

Here's a Washington Post Article about the Internet Radio Day of Silence.

Here's the BoingBoing post on the subject.

More Idiocracy

Here is some more information on the film "Idiocracy."

This is an article from Esquire magazine about some of the film's release Problems.


Here is a blog post about the graphic design elements of the film.


An MSNBC report on the film from 2006.


Here is the movie's introduction from YouTube. I should note the small distorted screen in this version makes some of the more subtle aspects of the film more difficult to see. It also qualifies as NSFW.

Welcome to the Healthmaster Inferno!

I finally found a trailer for Mike Judge's "Idiocracy."

I didn't think one even existed.

I was one of the chosen few with an opportunity to see this movie in the theater last year. One of these days I need to write about the experience.

As far as my claims to hipster legitimacy are concerned, I rank seeing this film in the theater right up there with seeing Nirvana in concert back in 1993.

This is destined to become a true cult classic.

HANDS ON A HARD BODY

I am still waiting for this movie to become available on DVD.

"Hands on a Hard Body" is a documentary about a contest in which the participants keep their hands on a pickup truck for as long as possible. The last person still touching the truck (after several days) wins.

The movie was filmed in Longview Texas which is where I lived from 2004 through 2006. It might give you a pretty fair idea what sort of folks I saw on a regular basis.

I think it was last year the BBC sent a correspondent to cover the contest in Longview. One of the recently disqualified contestants walked to the K Mart around the corner, stole a gun, and shot himself with it.

I haven't heard anything else about the contest since.

Theremin Kit

If you find the Theremin as interesting as I do, you may appreciate this Theremin Kit available from PAIA.com.



They also have kits to build your own analog synthesizer. One of these days, I'm going to totally nerd out and get one of these.

I understand the kits and plans are put together in such a way that they teach you about electronics and the physics of sound while you build your toy. Plus there is the fun of inhaling all those great fumes coming from the soldering iron.

SO CUTE

Maybe you are crazy.

How 'bout that? How can anyone pass up the opportunity to hear (and see) Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" played on the Theremin?

Actually, I think I could pass that up on further reflection.

Regina Spektor - On The Radio

"We listened to it twice 'cause the DJ was asleep" - Regina Spektor

Link

I CAN HAZ CHEEZBURGER?

EMI Records Folds?

This article reports the apparent demise of EMI: one of the oldest record labels.

Link

Soviet Video Games

Wired Magazine presents video games of the Soviet Union.

My Cyrillic is a bit rusty, but I think this machine says Vozdushny Boy. The caption says it means Dog Fight.

Take that Maverick! You Imperialist Stooge!

Be sure to check out the extensive photo gallery

Old Spice Commercial ft Bruce Campbell

I am very reluctant to refer to a television commercial as a work of art. Bruce Campbell just happens to be one of my heroes.

It should be noted, however, that Old Spice still smells like a Jr. High locker room.

Sviatoslav Richter

For comparison, here is what Richter could do when he wasn't trapped in a sack.

Monty Python - Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1

The incomparable Sviatoslav Richter makes an appearance on British Television.

And Rita.

Media Landscape Redefined By 24-Second News Cycle

ATLANTA, GA—Media critics have argued that segments lasting less than four seconds are missing out on some of the nuance and context the old 45-second pieces provided.

6 Years Ago

I was rummaging through some of my old pictures when I ran across this shot of me in the KRTU booth back in the summer of 2001.

The short version of how I reacted is I went for a two hour bike ride.

This was taken during a time where I was mountain biking at least 4 days a week and playing ultimate on the weekends.

I was also apparently the palest person in San Antonio, Texas.

I haven't been nearly that athletic for years, but it is still a fair indication of the way I view myself. My latent self image as it were.

What I can't really fathom right now is where the last 6 years got to. I got injured, I got fired, the country went kind of mental, I moved, I got pregnant.

OK that last one didn't really happen, but compared to what I used to weigh, I think I look it.

I CAN HAS LOLCATS

LINK

WKRP on DVD

Imagine my excitement when I found out recently that WKRP in Cincinnati finally, at long last has come out on DVD. I've patterned my life after this show since I started watching it at a very young age. I actually worked for a while in the building shown at the base of the tower in the WKRP opening credits. I should note, that building does not house a radio station.

Reportedly, the series was delayed on its journey to DVD by extensive problems acquiring the rights to music used on the show. How disappointing.

However, as soon as I found out the series was available, I moved it to the top of my Netflix queue.

I feel a bit ripped off. The way they got around the music rights issue was to remove almost all of the music from the original episodes. The opening and closing credits still have the original music, but virtually all of the scenes in the studio, especially those involving Dr. Johnny Fever have been changed severely. I'm most upset because this meant removing what may be my favorite radio joke of all time.

At least youtube has it for the time being.

I understand the economic reasons, but I wish they could have left the Pink Floyd in and not just the Hallelujah Tabernacle Choir singing "You're Having My Baby."

Internet Radio In Trouble Again

From SaveNetRadio.org:

"The future of Internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on May 15 (retroactive to Jan 1, 2006!). If the increased rates remain unchanged, the majority of webcasters will go bankrupt and silent on this date. Internet radio needs your help! H.R. 2060, The Internet Radio Equality Act was introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL ) to save the Internet radio industry. Please call your congressperson to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060 by clicking below."

Link

300 The Director's Cut

Cute Overload

I admit this may be a touch out of character for me, but why should everything about this blog be completely cynical?

Link

Internet Radio May Stream North to Canada

Here is another article on the future of internet radio:

"Despite their popularity, there is growing fear that a recent U.S. royalty decision could effectively shut down thousands of webcasting services. The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board recently established a new royalty scheme that dramatically increases the fees that webcasters will be required to pay to stream music online."

An Onion Classic from 2003

This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism vs. No it won't

George W. Bush may think that a war against Iraq is the solution to our problems, but the reality is, it will only serve to create far more.

XKCD.com

Austin Chronicle: Red State Blues

Kilgore, Texas is not yet a ghost town. I always got the feeling it was headed in that direction during the 2 years I worked there.

Now that I live and work in a place that is less hostile to outsiders, I hope I'm getting enough perspective to write coherently about my impressions of East Texas.

This is a recent article from the Austin Chronicle that reminded me of some of my experiences in that area.

Top 15 Unintentionally Funny Comic Book Panels

Noooo!

Bong Hits for Jesus Revisited

When I lived in San Antonio, I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Nuke An Unborn Gay Whale for Jesus."

Radio's Big Bully

This is another Salon article from 2001 about Clear Channel Communications and why everyone loves them so.

Good Mornin' (Your Town Here)

Here is an Wired article from 2002 about radio automation.

Bong Hits 4 Jesus

I aspire to be a satirist someday. Until I come up with my own original satire, I will continue to transcribe the satire disguised as reality I see all around me.

NY Magazine Article: Kids, the Internet, and the End of Privacy

I am pretty shy when it comes to sharing too much about myself online. That causes tension in every post I make here. It also probably makes this blog much more boring than it would be otherwise. I would like to think so anyway.

Maybe I just feel like I got burned when the most fame I have ever received was for getting fired from a job.

Here is an interesting article from New York Magazine about the changing face of privacy on the internet and the new generation gap.

Radio Payola News

Here's some new payola radio news from the Associated Press:

Stations Agree on Anti-Payola Settlement

WOXY.com Back in Business

This isn't exactly timely information, but WOXY.com is back in business again after a brief silence. They have set up a satellite office of some sort in San Francisco I believe so they can record more bands for their Lounge Acts series.

Those recordings are also available as a podcast by the way.

And, as always, they have one of the best live streams on the interweb.

Century of the Self Documentary

Here is a link to a Google Video post of "The Century of the Self," a BBC documentary from a few years ago which is one of the more thought provoking films I've seen in recent years.

Century of the Self

Takes me back to when I studied marketing in college.

Wanky the Safety Cat

I recently started receiving messages from the PubTech public radio mailing list.
Here is just some of the useful information I've gotten from these highly trained professionals.

WANKY THE SAFETY CAT

Kilgore Texas Revisited

Here is an update on the old station in Kilgore.

Mee Mee Me Meeeee Mee.

Update

Here is a nutshell version of what has happened since my last post.

I am now the operations manager of WSNC FM 90.5 in Winston Salem North Carolina. I'm back doing Jazz on the radio again. I must say. It feels good.

The station is located on the campus of Winston Salem State University which is a HBCU and part of the UNC system.

I moved to Winston Salem back in November. My first day of work was November 15th of 2006 which was 2 years to the day from when I started work at KTPB in Kilgore, Texas.

Switching to a new city every two years can be a pain, but I like this place more than where I used to live. Maybe that could just be because I don't have to be at work at 6am every day.

More later.

Happy New Year

Radiohead - Pyramid Song