Blagojevitch #2

January 29, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

OH MY GOD!!

Did you watch this guy talk?? My bullshit meter was PINGING!! I have never heard such a melodramatic load of crap in my life.

I think he’s my hero now….

Blagojevitch

January 27, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 5 Comments

Soooo this guy – the one with the assinine hair-do – he decides not to deny the charges against him in Illnois, but to plead his case to the View, Larry King, Diane Sawyer and probably Ryan Seacrest. AND he compares himself and his “situation” to Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Jesus?!?!

creepy…. this guy is just creepy. And icky. And really, really guilty.

(Would Jesus talk to Diane Sawyer??)

Added to iPod

January 23, 2009 | Filed Under Music | No Comments

It’s been a while…
Know that I not only received new music as Christmas presents, but I was also given $65 in iTunes credit. Let’s Go Wild!

As you may have noticed, I love compilations. It may be because I’m a “singles” man myself. We loved the 45. Singles were – and still are – far more resilient than albums. But compilations are also a great way to get a taste of all the flavors of music out there in the world. So, we start with Volumes 1 & 2 of “The Coolest Songs In The World” from Little Steven’s Underground Garage. Here the New York Dolls rub shoulders with The Boss Martians and The Buzzcocks and The Donnas hang out. I added the soundtrack to Long Way Down, the Ewan McGregor motorcycling journey through Africa. Great music from Thomas Mapfumo to the AfroCelt Soundsystem. Then I tossed on a magazine CD: Mojo’s tribute to the Sub-Pop label with early Afghan Whigs and Iron & Wine. Finally, I picked up my new Songlines magazine with music from Mali (Amadou & Mariam), rap from Morocco (U-Cef), Chinese dub (Jah Wobble & the Chinese Dub Orchestra) and Eastern European folk (Warsaw Village Band). See – many, many flavors.

The Fifth Dimension – Cherry-picked a bunch of my favorite singles from this band (I still think I have a few 45s). Does anyone remember when they were on “It Takes A Thief”?
The Raveonettes – “Lust Lust Lust” Very cool stuff.
The Exit – “Home For An Island” A young NYC band that sounds very much like the Police… without Sting’s ego.
Uncle Tupelo – “March 16-20, 1992”
Juana Molina – Again, cherry-picking from her four albums, including the latest “Un Dia”. A popular comic actress in Argentina who made an about face and now does beautiful, atmospheric songs that defy description.
The Motors – A Greatest Hits collection.
Deerhunter – “Microcastle”
Dennis Wilson – “Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu” I am not a Beach Boys fan. I’ll give them Pet Sounds and the song Surf’s Up and that’s about it. But the accolades for this 1976 re-release forced me to give it a try. It is a wonderful record (though I haven’t made it to the second album yet). Some of the reviews mentioned Wilson’s vocals being “Springsteen-like” but that’s not it at all. Both the tenor of his voice and the sadness of some of the songs more accurately recall a contemporary of his – Harry Nilsson. If you listen to “Pacific Ocean” – even in the upbeat numbers- you’ll hear a melancholy similar to that of Nilsson’s record “Pussycats” – which he recorded right just as he was being overtaken by the bottle. It is that feeling, rather than a Beach Boys vibe, which really gives this record its texture.

More soon!

Wonderland

January 21, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 5 Comments

In the spring of 2000, I taped this amazing TV show. I have always been rather proud of myself for taping the first and second episode of the show because it was never aired again. Wonderland was a powerful ensemble drama about doctors and patients at a hospital based on Bellevue in New York. Created and directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, Hancock), the show was an unflinching look at people coming to grips with the onset or being overcome by a mental illness and the doctors attempts to live their rather fragile lives in the process. The acting was flawless – from lead actors like Ted Levine and Michelle Forbes to guest performances by Jay O. Sanders and Leland Orser. Their work is unbearably moving. Since it couldn’t hold the audience ABC had garnered from “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” (duh), the show was yanked – never to be seen again.

Recently, I discovered that the only eight episodes ever filmed were being aired in Germany and managed to download three additional episodes from the Web. But – as if my renewed interested had stirred something – those eight episodes are being re-broadcast on DirectTV’s 101 Network. I know nothing about DirectTV or how it works, but if any of you out there have it – please check out this show. Wonderland took risks for its day and they have not lost their power. The “pilot” is one of the best pieces of television I have ever seen (though it turns out the two episodes that were aired were actually the 3rd and 4th episodes) and the other shows have been just as strong. Yes – I am a sucker for stray TV shows. But I couldn’t believe they would take this off and so quickly. Now here is your chance to check it out.

Inauguration

January 20, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

yeah – that worked for me.

It may just be words, but confidence and hope can’t be instilled without them. Maybe this country can finally move forward.

And for all the haters that still spew their trash out there – get bent! You and your kind sucked. Go away now.

The Speech: The Speech

Do The Evacuation

January 19, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

Back at the meeting I went to a couple of months ago, the folks at OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council) mentioned the embassy would be staging an “event” in January the week before the inauguration. One event would be a mock attack on the embassy and the other would be an evacuation drill. I signed up for both. I wanted to see what our agencies in action would be like over here (plus it sounded like an adventure). Then I heard nothing about these events…..until two weeks ago. Then I received a short email saying we would meet about the evacuation on the 15th.

The meeting was at the embassy, in one of the conference rooms. Very utilitarian. No one was on time except me and four other people. Eventually –after an hour – roughly 30 volunteers showed. Americans who had lived in the country for a number of years. In fact, I learned that one had been part of the evacuation in the 90s during the first Iraq war. Once everyone was settled, we were given a presentation on what we were supposed to be part of. It started with the Marines. A captain (nice guy) gave us a 45 minute rundown on almost every military acronym he could think of. He was in charge of the 26th MEU (Military Expeditionary Unit), which is a part of the MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force) that functions out in different parts of the world. There is also a MEF (Military Expeditionary Force) and a MEB (Military Expeditionary Brigade) and he diagramed the functions of each and how they broke apart and came together as was necessary. Each MEU has to perform certain tasks as part of their operations in the part of the world they are stationed and one of those tasks is a NEO (Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation). Eighteen of these have happened in the last 10 years or so, the largest lately being Lebanon in 2006. What was happening in Kuwait was the largest exercise ever in a friendly country. And it will happen today – January 19th.

The drill was that we were supposed to pack one carryon bag with everything you would need for maybe five days. Essentials, papers, pets and children. People would be evacuated from two areas – the base near the Saudi border (known as Chevron) and the embassy. The embassy people were supposed to show up around 7:15am and get processed. [Again – this was mainly an exercise for the Marines. They get the experience and were trying out some new computer systems.] We have our papers checked, our bags checked and our identities checked. Then we would be taken to a shuttle that would take us out to a helicopter. The helicopter would take us to the beach where we would board an LCAC (Landing Craft, Air Cushion) that would swoosh us across the water into the belly of an aircraft carrier. We saw many pictures of the LCAC in action and we given a rundown on all the rules of the ship – right down to where to dispose of our trash. The Chevron people (supposedly 180) would be transported to the ship the Carter Hall and the embassy people (roughly 80) would travel to the Iwo Jima. In a real emergency, we would go to a safe harbor and from there fly home.

HOWEVER – An Arab economic summit is happening on the same day about 1,000 yards from the embassy, so the Kuwaiti government asked that no helicopters be flying in and out of the area. So – no helicopter. No LCAC. No Iwo Jima. The whole experience was filling out a form, getting a bar code and being sent home an hour and a half later. IT TOOK ME LONGER TO PACK! And they didn’t get above 30 people to process at the embassy. All in all – bored in Kuwait again.

One last thing to remember – if the government re-patriates you, they charge you. Costs between $10-20K and it must be paid before you travel outside the States again. What a world…

What A Way To Go!

January 16, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 4 Comments

I was in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on my way home to Kuwait. I had a four hour layover and it was six in the morning, so drinking more seemed a bit… egregious. Instead, I strolled through the shops. There was an electronics store that was selling DVDs(there were several) and I wandered over to the “2 for 14EUR” table. There was junk, there were British shows I didn’t know and there were some interesting items. I picked up another quickly cancelled US series called “Kingdom Hospital” – based on the Lars von Trier’s series “The Kingdom” from Denmark and produced for the States by Steven King (very cool).

Then I saw a box. It was obviously an older movie, listed as a “Studio Classic”. And I’m looking at a movie called “What A Way To Go!”. It stars Shirley MacLaine, Robert Mitchum, Paul Newman, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly and Dick Van Dyke! It even has Bob Cummings and Margaret Dumont in her final movie. The screenplay is by Comden and Green!

Ever heard of this movie?

Me neither.

Turns out “What A Way To Go!” is one of the best pieces of Hollywood fun I have ever seen. From 1964, this totally Technicolor bit of fluff is the story of a poor young woman (MacLaine) who watches her mother (Dumont) brow-beat her father into becoming successful, so all she wants to do is marry someone nice and lead a simple life. She turns down her first suitor (Martin) and proceeds to marry a lowly shop owner (Van Dyke)… who promptly becomes ambitious, rich and then dies. This goes on throughout the rest of the movie, from the bohemian French painter (Newman) to the tycoon (Mitchum) to the vaudevillian (Kelly). As MacLaine says, this is a Hollywood film about love and what will she wear next? And what WILL she wear next? MacLaine is NEVER is the same outfit twice and the clothes are fabulous! The movie received an Oscar nomination for the costumes – all done by Edith Head (of course). It was also nominated for Set Decoration and there are some great set pieces. Heck, this movie even has one of the first appearances by Pamelyn Ferdin! (old Star Trek fans?)

It’s not a masterpiece nor is it brain surgery. But it is the kind of glee Hollywood used to be able to make effortlessly and now has been relegated to a distant memory. And there is nothing wrong with a decent bit of fluff.

The Christmas CDs

January 13, 2009 | Filed Under Music | 1 Comment

I bet you thought I forgot…

No Way! I have six CDs (actually nine) of pretty cool music. Let’s share! Just a reminder of the premise: Three songs from each of the last five decades, all of which follow a theme of some sort. Now, with such a wide open mark these won’t all be new songs to Ye Old iPod. For example, my CD was filled with songs about or mentioning listening to the radio. Though I tried to stay away from the obvious, I imagine there were few surprises in that batch. Terry followed through on her threat to do an entire CD of Christmas songs, which included Dean Martin’s rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, ELP’s “I Believe In Father Christmas” and Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from the Family”. Mike gave us songs of Rebellion through the decades, from Country Joe & the Fish “Fixin’ To Die Rag”, Pere Ubu’s brilliant “Final Solution” and Anti-Flag’s “Sold As Freedom”. Mark had a similar approach but focused on songs of Peace, adding Tom Paxton’s “Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation”, Cake’s version of “War Pigs” and Lizzie West’s “19 Miles to Baghdad” to my collection. Tom headed for Power Pop with the classic “Open My Eyes” by the Nazz, Tom Robinson Band with “2-4-6-8 Motorway” and the underrated Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away”. Tommy the younger decided undertake a premise that always comes up and never gets chosen: songs over ten minutes! This endeavor – 15 songs at over 10 mins each – required an unheard of FOUR CDs. A long ride, to be sure – but introduced me to the Dirty Three (“Deep Waters”), James Blackshaw (“Stained Glass Window”) and Don Caballero (“No One Gives A Hoot”).

But I think the best of the bunch was Sean’s CD entirely of songs about Baseball! Sure – the classics were there: Meatloaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” and John Fogerty’s “Centerfield”. But there was also Bob Dylan’s “Catfish (7/28/1975)”, Dave Frishberg’s “Van Lingle Mungo”, and “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” by Les Brown and His Band Renown. Top the whole set off with “Tessie” by the Dropkick Murphys and you have a set that can’t be beat!

Good work to all (and Pat, I still need yours). The bar is raised for next year.

Qatar

January 8, 2009 | Filed Under Main | 5 Comments

I just spent a couple of days in Qatar for the first time. The other time I was there was for 24 hours tops. Just an airport-hotel-office-airport trip. And with the office is right across the street from the airport – needless to say I didn’t see much. This time, I gave myself some space and a guy from work drove me around to see the city of Doha. And you know what’s interesting about this city?

Nothing.

When you see all the beautiful ads for Qatar Airways, you get a different impression. Actually Qatar Airways is a great airline. Very comfortable and accommodating (especially in Business) and the terminal is gorgeous (for Business and First Class). But I was sitting on the plane and they showed a Qatar Airways promo – with this plane landing a taking off from a beautiful runway, lined with trees and greenery and flying over verdant pastures.

Yeah – right. Qatar is a dust bowl. There is less green here then even Kuwait! And there is construction everywhere that is less coordinated than Dubai. In fact what I saw – apart from the water’s edge – was construction, tall buildings and dirt. Next to nothing they advertise is finished. Oh, well I M Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art is complete and it is very beautiful – inside and out. Nicely done. And it houses the largest collection of Islamic artifacts in the world (many from Spain and other Mediterranean countries).

And Robert DeNiro and Yo-Yo Ma showed up at the recent opening. Know why? Because they were paid. And Federer and Nadal were playing tennis in a tournament nearby. Know why? They were paid. And Tiger Woods and his friends enter Doha golf matches. Know why? They were paid. The only cool thing I learned about this is all these events are free… because otherwise no one would show up. The locals really don’t care so much about tennis (and who can blame them).

So when hear or read things about these countries – take it with a grain of salt. Money buys a lot of PR.

One Year Ago Today…

January 4, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

….I was flying out to the Middle East.

The second year out begins and only Time will be able to judge whether my choices were right or wrong. (Though it is much colder here than last year…)

Burma

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Music | 2 Comments

I had New Year’s day off – which was a surprise. I didn’t know that until I came back. The company didn’t have Christmas off and we had the previous Monday off for Muslim New Year. So I started off the day in bed until 1pm. Then I got up and did some work (I am behind). Then I had to bottle my new vintages of homemade vino (the white is a bit more insouciant then I would have liked, but it beats Thunderbird…).

While I was performing this delicate work, I took out my favorite Christmas present from the family – the newly remastered CDs by Mission Of Burma. Matador and Rick Harte have done a great job. These discs sound INCREDIBLE. The murk is out of the mix. Everything is clean and balanced better. You can hear it the difference from the first cut – “Academy Fight Song” – right to the end of the live record. Now I’m going to have to delete the Rykodisc versions from the iPod because these are definitive. PLUS each CD comes with a DVD of live performances. Signals, Calls and Marches has clips from shows at The Space in Cambridge (1979) and The Underground (1980). (And true to the Boston scene, it looks like they are playing in someone’s basement.) The quality is very good but they are very different videos. The songs from the Space were done with a single camera and is in color. The Underground is black and white and has a few different cameras and a lot of editing. The VS DVD is from Burma’s final show at the Bradford Hotel in 1983. This is the early set, while the live album Horrible Truth About Burma has the late and last set (the one that was a VHS tape for a while). And with a few exceptions, these are two totally different sets (and the later crowd is better behaved…) In the pantheon of live performances that flood the DVD market of your local Virgin record store – none of them can touch this. This is perfection of sound and images, totally timeless and fresh. Most bands lose something in the translation between live performance and disc – either one way or the other. Burma is Burma. Whether it is Roger’s seemingly effortless psychotic guitar runs or Clint’s machine-gun bass and good looks or Peter’s screams from behind the drum kit – the sound you get on vinyl is what you get on stage and visa-versa.

Toss in the booklets of pictures, interviews and ephemera and these are not so much CDs as documents of one of the best bands of their time. If you care about Boston rock or just the music scene in general, you must own these.

New Year

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Main | No Comments

Here is to hoping for the best for 2009.

– Let’s hope that Obama can deliver despite slimy politicians
– Let’s hope that Wall Street goes from a spoiled adolescent to a responsible adult
– Let’s hope OTHER adolescents become adults! (then other adults can relax at bit…)
– Let’s hope more artists follow the model of NIN and Radiohead and earn a living directly from fans. BMG, SONY and Warners can choke on it.
– Let’s hope everyone can hold out until the jobs return.
– Let’s hope the fear goes away.
– Let’s hope the world can just CHILL OUT! It is too small for all this hatred bullshit. Trust me – I know.

My best to everyone for 2009!