Smells like Old Spirit

When Nevermind was released, I was right the fuck on top of it. The buzz was hot, and it was produced by Madison boy Butch Vig, and I had a steady paycheck, so it was mine right away. A sweet sweet mix of Black Flag and Cheap Trick, I played it incessantly. My favorite memeory was riding in a friend's Porsche, top down, at 100 mph, with "Teen Spirit" blasting....

five months later, Billboard changed the way they judged album sales, and Nirvana was an arena rock band.

And within a couple of years, Kurt Cobain was tabloid fodder and killed himself. Can't say I blame him, actually.

But you know, for me, it's always about the music. The SOUNDS. The NOISE. And Cobain always held simultaneous love for the Beatles, The Meat Puppets, and the Germs. How could I not appreciate that?

But boy howdy, being the focus of media blitzkrieg changes everything. You know, I forgot how great Nevermind is, and the pure punk bliss that is Teen Spirit.

Until I downloaded this cover by Patti Smith. Look, if you don't know who Patti Smith is, you shouldn't be reading this blog.

Utube has embedding disabled because the record companies suck. But hey, fuck that, just go buy the album, cuz Patti is teh shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwpLqrh19Ws

But the cover is unbelievable, and the first or second thing I noticed is that teh song is fucking great.

Cobain was a helluva song writer, and we are always poorer with one less artist among our midst.

And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

You know, fuck. Meanwhile Newt Gingrich is still drawing air. Who did better?

Tired

AG has way too much on her plate right now. Way. Too. Much!

Between the foreign trips over the next six weeks, the writing, the work, the social life, the whatever.

I owe more Stanek smack down, kitty photos, European and South America photos, a discussion of a possible trip to Cuba in late fall, and various other sundries to follow in late July. Until then -- check out Zombie's Summerfest blog and have an amazing Canada Day (MenDee) and 4th of July (the rest of you except, AIF. Sorry AIF. AG hearts you too. Happy festival of lights or something!) Light blogging ahead...

Does anyone else feel this tired? more...

Homosexuality in America

can all be understood here. Clearly The Family Research Council(FRC) has done their research and prove themselves worthy of the songs they are a singing. It was evident to me when I clicked on the center square for the PDF Homosexuality in Your Child's School. That is some quality goodliness baked into some nutter loaf and loon chips.

While the pot is simmering, just a few fun things from the "article":

Citing a USA Today article, clearly high standards there, they begin their argument by suggesting that gay and lesbian teens are marginally more likely to commit suicide than straight teens. Are you really comparing two studies four years apart that were conducted with very different methods? Of which, the article that I support is newer! Not according to my training, but what do I know? I wasn't trained in religion or hate.

They tackle tough issues like nature vs. nuture in the gay debate. The approach is typical of what we've come to expect from the fundies; make your own research up when you cannot find academic published journal materials to support your cause. In doing so, they quote research produced in-house by someone without a doctoral or medical degree in conjunction with someone who has a doctorate in religion. The aroma of Jonah Goldberg and Ann Coulter dances in my nostrils.

They even go so far as to complain about the term, homophobia, suggesting that it stigmatizes those with "traditional" values. Oh, I'm sorry. We didn't me to call the kettle black on that. How dare us for exposing their truths. They are hard working hate mongers who deserve a bit more respect, dammit. They even go so far as to suggest that those of us who are for homosexual rights are accusing those who are not of being mentally ill, when it is their own belief that homosexuals are mentally ill. Mea culpa again.

They loath gay-straight alliances because, gasp, they spend tax payer money in Massachusetts on these organizations that use it for pro-gay political activist and social events. Right, because the bible club here doesn't offend atheists, Muslims, or Buddhists, to name a few. I might wish to point out the sanctity in such outrage is the violation of church and state found in public high schools across the United States.

Onward the nutters rant. Onward they live in the closet. Afraid of a world where we all live together and yes, Heather has two Mommies. Can you imagine how painful it must be for them to sleep at night knowing that women love women and men love men and sometimes, they want children to love and care for?

Do you think a career at the FRC prepares you for an executive job here?

more...

Sunshine Days and Nights

It was a Sunday morning like the rest that promenaded before. The air was lukewarm and light, dark shadows filled the room, and the Sunday Times was spread about the floor as though it had waltzed to the sounds of Fred and Ginger. As I rose to spy the cries of the innocent creature, I spotted something in the living room that made my lip curl. There, perched upon the hope chest that is filled with all my hopes and dreams, amongst Olive the Orchid; the beloved $40 beauty, next to the discounted terrarium filled with the splendors found at sea, artwork lurking above her head presented by friends, she was. Bathing in the sunshine as she laid like lettuce on a plate. All of the favorite things co mingled together left me with a feeling of delight and contentment. Today shall be a triumph day of more abstract writings and legal research. Good times await me for I am fortunate! more...

Odd Man Out

You have to wonder about Clarence Thomas sometimes. OK, more like a lot of the time. Even Scalia and Souter were not touching this one with a ten foot pole when the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in an 8-to-1 decision against strip searches in schools. Justice Souter, writing for the majority, said a search of Savana Redding’s backpack and outer garments did not offend the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches. But the pills in question, each no stronger than two Advils, did not justify an “embarrassing, frightening and humiliating search,”

Thomas' support of denying the rights of you people made me think a bit. I began to get the feeling that historical events like this will affect Arlen Specter (R-PA), no Republican is correct, when he seeks re-election here in PA. Largely because men and women like AG, are going to link this kind of left hand lubed up logic and the fact that the 1991 George H.W. Bush choice to replace Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court is the result of a tiny man. Despite Thomas' run being threatened by sexual harassment charges from Anita Hill, Specter took it upon himself to act as Thomas’ de facto defense attorney.

And the nutters have the chutzpah to call Letterman a perv?! more...

Divine Inspiration

Summerfestblog is active for 09, and the first day of the festival is down, ten to go. Although iWeb is acting goofy, and updates are weird on my end, although they apparently show up on the blog.

Irish punk with Flatfoot 56, The Tossers, and the Dropkick Murphys tonight. Normal visitors may feel inclined to check out what I'm doing, and post bail if necessary.

See you in a week or so. Be nice to them, AG.

OK, Wiseguys...

Here is your chance. Get on it! Make our resident DC boy, Chuckles proud! more...

Annie, Get Your Gun

Coulter appears to have become morally bankrupt and hit rock bottom. Murder is now not murder, according to her. It's termination without regard to birth. With that line of thinking, when I have an abortion next week it won't be a termination of a fetus --- it will be an omelet. more...

Another Nutter for the Bin

Go here and look at the top right corner underneath the moveable text. This site reminded me of a 50th birthday party I attended in Brooklyn a few years ago. The party was held at a Russian nightclub by my then Ukrainian neighbors. At the end of the night we were all loading into their SUV as some Hasidim approached us with some Jesus-is-Magic materials. Just as we're about to close our doors, one of the Hasidim men approach an employee of my neighbor. The Hasidim tells the man to take the leaflet because he must answer to his employer. To which the Ukrainian replies while pointing at my neighbor, "This guy is my employer and he has no more work for me tonight." The Hasidim shakes his head and as he begins to walk away, the Ukrainian says to him, "Are you going to the unemployment office?"

Good times. Now go order your free bottle of Jesus becuase you know you totally want to! more...