About to Choke

John McCain said in a recent speech ..."America will never Surrender." Obviously speaking about the fucken war; and obviously trying to appeal to the Americuh Fuck Yeah demographic, who view force as the only solution, and retreat from an ignoble war we started and could never actually win as a repudiation of their personal manhood. And obviously, the implication he so desperately is trying to make is that working to remove American Troops from Iraq is tantamount to creating an abhorrent loss for our country.

An obsequious and disingenuous statement at best. The idea that retreating from violence is a surrender is ludicrous and reprehensible; the position that limiting the destruction we have sowed is to be avoided is appalling. Because that is truly what he is promising; that the death and destruction in the Mideast that we have authored will continue and even increase.

McCain and his Party have predicated an American Exceptionalism and Imperialistic attitude that demands that an Enemy be ever-present and impossible to ever defeat. The ensuing constant fear allows a People who normally would be much more concerned with things like jobs and loved ones and personal troubles and personal successes and their own neighborhoods and haircuts and other everyday concerns that never even suggest the need to dominate and destroy brown people on the other side of the world to be manipulated and stampeded into mindless support of Stupid Ideas.

The First Rule of Holes is STOP DIGGING. And when you've taken a wrong turn, going in reverse is a step in the right direction.

Surrender implies a loss; the only thing that America would lose by retreating from Iraq would be continuing death. And there's a small chance we might lose some of our standing as the world's lightning rod for Western Hatred and terrorist-generation. Maybe.

I'm going through what some might certainly see as a surrender; but in the final analysis it's merely pulling the plug on something that's run its course. One thing ends; something else will happen after. One nightmare ends and hope keeps you moving.... It's a similar, and like withdrawing US Troops from Iraq after they've done their best, I want to be able to say that I've made a respectable effort, but maybe it's not something I can do....

Starting a business is terrifying, but there's plenty of blueprints and roadmaps and angles you can take. Not so much for ending one; it a mess and disentangling all the loose ends from the knot they've been bound into takes some doing. So it comes to pass that I find myself in a startlingly similar position to the one I was in for Summerfest 1997; Little to do, no prospects and no income, and just hoping to be able to afford beer during the fest. It's not a surrender; but it IS an ending....

It has been brought to my attention that Harvey Korman has left us. Ouch. I loved the days when he an Tim Conway would compete to see who could most disrupt a sketch. A while back, when we saw the Milwaukee Rep do The Nerd and Gerard Neugent destroyed his fellow actors onstage, while ad libbing over their inability to continue with their lines, I thought immediately of Korman and Conway. Geniuses at the top of their form, and Blazing Saddles, while perfect in so many ways, was the merest tip of Korman's iceberg. (Ouch, I think I strained something pulling that simile out) Jus another episode of What Roy Said.

So rather than making this a self-pity Musical Poopery, I've gotta send it out to what we have left of Harvey. Go watch some Carol Burnett, chunderhumps.

Bit of a disclaimer; iTunes has been playing all day, so technically the following are not the initial shoots from the Musical Poop. But since nobody cares anyway, what the hell, here we go....

1. It Must Be Summer from the album "Utopia Parkway" by Fountains Of Wayne sez you. At least it's warm out. But it's cloudy and rainy, even today which is the first day of the First Festival of the season. And I'm not going to be spending it at a table with a beer listening to a polka band because of pissy clients and whiny contractors and my favoritest asshole ex-architect-now- Inspector, KA Spruce.
2. Light Of The Moon from the album "Get Close" by The Pretenders Went on a Pretenders kick a few weeks back and picked up a few of the intermediate albums. Nothing, of course, as mind-meltingly hot as the first album, but good stuff nonetheless. This is a bit MOR for me, but hey since she sang a song called Middle of The Road, at least she warned us...
3. Midnight from the album "Alpha Rev" by Alpha Rev Saw them at Summerfest last year, Zelmo and Zorg were of course absent, and their EP was great. This is their first album, and after the EP it's a bit disappointing. Too much reliance on falsetto and quietish songs....
4. Babes in Khaki from the album "How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All" by The Firesign Theatre Man, remember when comedy groups openly embraced drug-oriented humor?
5. Clampdown from the album "Burning London The Clash Tribute" by Indigo Girls I'm not a huge Indigo Girls fan, despite having seen them at Summerfest (actually we were just hanging around after watching Matthew Sweet) they are generally a bit too earnest and hippy for me (take that UC). But this material plays really well through their focus, and goes to show yet again that punk is about the attitude and the songs, not the loud and the clothes. This is a mediaocre cover album, but has some high points like this one, and I usually pair it with an independent Clash tribute, Clash City Rockers for a pretty entertaining set.
6. Bastard Son from the album "Here Comes The Groom" by John Wesley Harding OK, Harding is long been cruelly overlooked. Over and over, he releases fine albums to resounding silence. He's got a good ear for a hook, and a nice acerbic with with a lyric that recalls Elvis Costello. well worth searching out if you haven't heard him.
7. Degenerate from the album "Munki" by The Jesus & Mary Chain these guys should sue Black Rebel Motorcycle Club for copyright infringement.
8. Not Because You Can from the album "Lolita Nation" by Game Theory Another Scott Miller.
8. Waitin' For The Man/ Heroin (Live) from the album "Sex, America, Cheap Trick" by Cheap Trick
8. The Perfect Cut (11 Minutes) from the album "Helter Stupid" by Negativland
8. Dead Man Shake from the album "Dead Man Shake" by Grandpaboy three words four chords. Needs some Stinson though.
8. Speaking Sands from the album "Drums Along the Hudson (Special Edition)" by The Bongos More instrumental punkery from another lost band. Stops after a minute, knowing when to leave is a lost art. Are you listening, Chimpy McFlightsuit?
8. Enlightened from the album "Marillion.Com" by Marillion
8. 29 Ghosts IV from the album "Ghosts I-IV" by Nine Inch Nails Boy Dirt Car is releasing a new album. This may only be of interest to someone in Belgium; they always said they had a fan base there. They were Milwaukee's noize boys before Jourgensen down Chicago way had even finished with the technopop; they released a couple of tapes, on called Gravel On Urine and I probably still have a copy somewhere. I only mention it because their shows usually featured a circle saw on a sheet of steel, not only providing noise but a light show; this little bit of Reznor includes some droning and a surprisingly familiar buzzsaw.
8. Put Me Down from the album "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" by The Cranberries They would have been ultra-hip if they weren't so popular. Still sounds surprisingly up to date and sounds like a Song Of The Day over at 3Bulls.

I like the series of 8s up there. Like the recent Cloud Cult album, The Meaning Of 8 includes the reference to infinity you get if you look at it sideways. Which comforts me today.

Oh, and Fuck This War.

Technorati Tags: cobaggery, Not Nice But Loud

Murmurs In The Background....

Late IMS FRMPS Klark Kent life has been apparently ramping up for popcorn season because the Evil Masterminds have been throwing buses at me nonstop. If that makes any sense and even if it doesn't. Anyway, life goes on, one phase ends another begins. Or doesn't. Look for me on a steam grate near you.

Back to politics soon. John McCain: Insane, Senile, or evil? Discuss.

All sympathy to the Kennedy clan, including the Gropenfuhrer. Mad props to a Democratic Legend.





1. Dominance And Submission from the album "Secret Treaties" by Blue Öyster Cult Old school satirical metal. One of my favorites from the old days. I've even picked up a few of the chords, which are of course pretty easy. Kind of my standard for picking up chords, I guess. I love how the end builds into a creaming over drive "Dominance! Submission!" and reprises the opening chords with a Buck Dharma squeeee solo built over the top of it. Still an adenoidal geek-teen at heart, liking the guitar wankery.

2. Behind The Smile from the album "Blue Sky On Mars" by Matthew Sweet Follow up to Altered Beast; it seems to be a reaction to the reviews of the previous album that didn't care for the darker material. The album is relentlessly poppy; not a bad thing coming from Sweet, but it could have used a little more variety.

3. Light Comes Down from the album "Boogaloo" by Nazareth Ouch. Another candidate for an Amnesty thread. I always like Nazareth though, especially fond of No Mean City. Manny has a great rock and roll voice, and when they had that double guitar attack they were monsters.

4. Little Fury Things from the album "Fossils" by Dinosaur Jr Squalling guitar and screaming. Little J. Mascis, little Lou Barlow, Lots of noise and volume. Not Nice But Loud indeed.

5. This Is Your Life from the album "Blackout" by Dropkick Murphys Every Dropkick song I've ever heard can be summed up thus: Rousing. or Rousinge if you're fancy. Fancee. Shouted anthemic chorus and blasting guitar chords. NNBL.

6. Good, There Are No Lions in the Street from the album "Days for Days" by The Loud Family Wonderful, wonderful title, from a wonderful alt-power-pop band. Scott Miller has been an underappreciated genius for far too long. I've seen him once with Game Theory and twice (I think) as Loud Family. Amazing every fuckin time. But even he finally hung it up, sticking with his Klark Kent job as a programmer.

7. Forward from the album "Gravity Kills" by Gravity Kills Passe industro-techno. But hey, I like the noise.

8. Lullaby from the album "Blood Money" by Tom Waits Followed up by a weeper from Tommy the Cat. But it's a Friday Tom Waits song, shout out to driftglass! Hey, drifty!!!

9. Like Suicide from the album "Superunknown" by Soundgarden Seems to be kind of a noisy Friday. NNBL. Lucky this bloggo goes to eleven.

10. Theme for Great Cities from the album "Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call" by Simple Minds Techno, before they went all New Wavey and John Hughesy and MTV. Remember when MusicTelevision played Music? Get off my lawn already. Bring tha nOIZE, muthafucka. This is cool in a Kraftwerky way, but really doesn't fit into a NNBL Friday. As Glue Birl once said, If you don't love the song playing, life isn't worth it. SKIP!!

11. Winter Light from the album "The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt" by Linda Ronstadt This is my ONLY Linda Ronstadt song. It's part of a wonderful playlist I got offa iTunes called "Melancholy Winter" which is just what it sounds like. Great music for gray, snowy January days. Not working so much on a NNBL Springtime Friday. Need songs to blast out the windows and inspire the squirrels to fuck. Did I mention this is the only Linda Ronstadt song on the list? Sorry, ex-Mrs. Jerry Brown, el SKIPPO.

12. Pot Of Gold from the album "The Brooklyn Side" by The Bottle Rockets
13. Night Boat To Cairo from the album "The Business (Disc 1)" by Madness I old, I know. First wave ska.
14. Remember Me from the album "C'est La Vie" by Marques Bovre & The Evil Twins Talented guy from Madison. Unfortunately has since disbanded to become a christian pastor (for the church I grew up in, I think) so what can youdo? That old debbil music rock and roll electric guitar gets put on the shelf for prays jeebus and a fambly. I still like his old stuff, though, and always like it when it comes up, good old fashioned midwestern alt-country.
15. Trashman In Furs from the album "Butch" by The Geraldine Fibbers Another great lost noise-alt band.
16. Breaking Point from the album "Change (Remastered)" by The Alarm Zelmo bridled at my suggestion that these guys out-anthem U2, but i'm afraid I can't see it Z. Bono et al do SOME anthems, especially in the olden days, but hey what about ZOOROPA? and POP? while the Alarm makes every one of their flippin songs into an anthem. They write anthems like Bono wears shades while providing photo ops for world leaders; i.e., EVERY TIME YOU FLIPPIN TURN AROUND!! Seriously, Bono, I understand that you take support where you can find it when you're looking to ease world hunger and disease, but seriously, Chimpy McGolfer? I mean, you wouldn't photo op with Jeffrey Dahmer to get an extra sandwich, would you? Come on, he's still a bumbling war criminal coke addict sadist.
17. Heaven Or The Highway Out Of Town from the album "The Bottle & Fresh Horses" by The Refreshments with that, I'm taking the highway out of town. With a bottle.

17a> Long Haired Guys From England from the album "Live At Least" by Too Much Joy Says it all, really. And they never actually say 'teabag'.




OK, where's my Sorrows? I listened to the sorrows in my car on my way to lunch, where I enjoyed two glasses of a fine Pinot grigio, and I WANT SOME FUCKIN SORROWS!!!! gorram iTunes.

Technorati Tags: noise, Not Nice But Loud

Not Nice But Loud

Another week. I can't even begin to tell the wonderful, wonderful events of the week. At least the California Supreme Court decisively struck down the idiotic gay marriage ban. Looks like weddings will be possible starting in June.

I would like to see someone track the economic impact of this. It's gonna be FABULOUS!!


So the Musical Poopery today will be on behalf of all our brothers and sisters out West now feverishly planning ceremonies. I trust my invites will be in the mail.

A Big Chili Dog of HANX!! to the help from my almost several readers, TWO thresholds on the iTunery: over 32,000 songs, and 1014 artists (although some of that comes from reclassifying a couple of Various Artist collections. woot11. I guess the next threshold will be the 3K mark for albums. 350 to go. Albums is such a quaint word.


Oh, and any Bad Religion that shows up is TOTALLY gonna irritate Pinko Punko. WHO THE HELL IS SALLY??!?!


1. Trampled Rose from the album "Raising Sand" by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss This is a pretty good, if subdued album. Plant and Krauss voice complement each other well. It's not as country as you expect. Kathleen mentioned it in a previous thread, and for once I'm not going to dwell on the potential hookup illustrated by the album cover. This song is completely Alison's, where she tries to do a Plant kind of wail over an Americana banjo. Wouldn't be out of place on The Executioner's Last Songs; wouldn't be out of place on a Nick Cave album either. It will, howsomever, be a fine song for confounding Zelmo's genetic disposition to pigeonholing.

I guess I did mention the Plant-Krauss connection after all. Oops. Hope they come through town on tour.

2. Redrum from the album "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards" by Tom Waits Droney. Techno-industrial. Instrumental. Short. Tom Waits, America's most respected musician who most people can't listen to.

3. Brothers In Arms from the album "Brothers In Arms (Remastered)" by Dire Straits We saw them on this tour. A classic story was experienced, to which we still refer with the catchphrase "...guys? guys?.....where'd ya go, guys?" An underrated song from an overrated album. But I still played the hell out of it when it was new, at least until they became the MTV constants that they lampooned in 'Money For Nothing' Irony was still alive back then, and still had a sense of humor to fuck with millionaire rock musicians.

4. Useless Trinkets from the album "Useless Trinkets-B Sides, Soundtracks, Rarieties and Unreleased 1996-2006" by Eels As much as I like eels' albums, this one hasn't grown on me too much. It seems kind of scattershot, which is inevitable on a beesides album. Mediocre eels is still better than most other stuff though.

5. The Symphony of Man from the album "Trinity Seas Seize Sees (disc 2)" by Sigmund Snopek III Classic, sprawling prog-space epic concept album from Milwaukee Maestro. Sigmund is probably the only musician who often makes the claim that he once played Carnegie Hall and a bowling alley in Waukesha in the same week. He started writing this concept album in the 70's, claiming that it all came to him nearly fully-formed; the first disc was released on vinyl, then a few years back he assembled a stellar cast of local musicians to complete the three disc set and release it. I once saw him perform most of it live, being joined by British sax legend Dick Parry (remember the sax breaks from Dark Side of The Moon? That guy). He's playing at Summerfest on one of the first days.

6. Do You Think You're Beautiful from the album "Purr" by Dance Hall Crashers Another one for Kathleen. I bet they're playing this in front of a HUGE Bad Religion poster. While eating citrus. 10 out of ten. but I wish they'd pick the energy UP a little, you know?

7. King of Comedy (808 State Remix) from the album "Electrolite - EP" by R.E.M. Okay, even these guys swing and miss sometimes. An electro remix of this song? Probably not necessary. But I am kind of a completist on REM, and iTunes comes through by having all their EPs, plus lots of extra stuff.

8. The Last Stop from the album "Before These Crowded Streets" by Dave Matthews Band My secret is out. I am a closet fan of DMB. Not a neo-hippy jam band aficionado though; but I appreciate the severe musicianship of his band; plus Matthews has an ear for hooks and harmony that most jammers seem ignorant of; plus, he knows when to END a damn song.

9. Army Bound from the album "Living With The Living" by Ted Leo/Pharmacists

10. Mystery Title from the album "Pictures At Eleven" by Robert Plant More Plant, without Krauss. One of his 80's discs. It holds up surprisingly well. In 1977, who'd have thought that Plant would be the only one to have a respectable post-Zep output, rather than Page? But don't count John Paul Jones out; his work behind the scenes is surprising. He's played with Robyn Hitchcock, REM, and Heart, among others.

11. Screaming Skull from the album "Experimental Jet Set, Trash And No Star" by Sonic Youth Love these noisy boys. Not Nice But Loud indeed. Once saw them opening for Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and they hit the stage with Die Kreuzen name check.

12. First Lesson from the album "The Unreel Hits" by Wooldridge Brothers More local music stalwarts. In the late 80's these boys moved their entire band to Milwaukee from Indianapolis because the Miltown scene was so active. They recorded a couple of albums as The Squares before disbanding, since recording several albums as teh Wbs. Their song 'Star Of Desire' made them some bucks off the tv show Party of Five. Also in the movie Contact. Long been a favorite of miine, their discs are strong roots-pop, and well worth checking out.

13. Who Throwed Lye on my Dog from the album "Human Fly" by The Horse Flies woah. this is some old alt-folk-bluegrassy stuff. weird. fits right into this playlist. Goes on maybe a little too long.

14. Southern Girls from the album "D.I.Y.: Come Out And Play" by Cheap Trick classic. Cheap Trick is at Summerfest yet again this year. Better than another cover band though. Cheap Trick was the Bad Religion of the 70's.

15. Paranoid from the album "Ska The Third Wave Volume 2 - Cover It UP!" by Various Artists Ruder Than You contributes a fine skankin metal cover.

16. Where It Starts from the album "Who Killed Puck?" by Cloud Cult One of my favorite bands, although Canadians of Uncanny persuasion apparently find them too earnest. "I found god in a Dr. Seuss book... I found God in the words of Steve Miller" over a trip-hop beat. Plus a reference to box wine.


At this point, I have two choices; call it, or go until Bad Religion shows up. Unfortunately, the Workwagon comoes for me, although I'm not dead yet.

Technorati Tags: noise

Too Many Puppies

my mother in law once had a memorable line, when told of a woman who'd given birth to quadruplets;  "That's not a birth, that's a litter"

The wacky Duggarites (pictured above, complete with little mutant home-skooled Army of The Righteous) are at it again; preggers with number 18.

18!  I know they don't really deserve the attention for doing something most kittehs can manage even without a Discovery Channel Special, but shit, woman, you're like a dog my wife used to have, getting knocked up by any stray just so she could always be pregnant.  The woman above has been pregnant for 11 years of her life.

The only way they can manage to keep up with the work is by outsourcing all the child care to the older Duggar kids.  No really!  It's like a cross between Little House on The Prairie and Dachau.

Yikes.  even with all the purity pledges and blackout of sex talk, no wonder the fundies are outbreeding the humans.

The Ballad Of The Sin Eater

This week sucked. Yet again.

Yesterday was particularly abrasive. The high point, of course, was reading Fear and Shorts In Las Vegas by Brando. Seriously, tears-streaming-from-my-eyes-poop-in-my-pants funny. I bow in awe.

But otherwise, In the Restaurant of Life, I seem to be seated by the kitchen door. Best to come to terms, I guess.


One of the things I always liked best about spring in Milwaukee is that the you ladies start wearing skirts downtown again. I know, I know, it's completely patriarchal and sexist and so on, but hey, I'm a hetero and I found out long ago that you can't argue with the lizard brain. But this year it seems we're skipping it; at this point in May we're probably just lucky we don't have snow anymore. Blearrgh. Maybe we'll have nice weather by Summerfest - I see by the calendar that Lucinda Williams is going to be there, as well as local Ska heroes Something To Do and Wisconsin's Drunks, The Happy Schnapps Combo, is getting the band back together. Somebody must have done a Behind the Music on them. Behind the Barrel.

Hey!! Oil hits $125 a barrel!! America rocks. If you're an oil exec. Time to bike to work. While eating ramen.

I thank all for the help with new music last week; My emusic allowance is tapped, and I have to wait before topping off; but between that and finding some un-ripped discs at home, I've cranked the number up to 986 artists. More help! More suggestions please! Maybe I'll set up some analog conversions; I could use 4 Out Of 5 doctors, Robert Ellis Orrall, and/or The Sorrows (Christabelle).

So, it's been a week already, time to Shoot The Musical Poop!!! And I feel like pooping a LOT.


1. Praise The Lord from the album "Wishing Like A Mountain And Thinking Like The Sea [Bonus Track]" by Poi Dog Pondering Old skool, back when major labels could still sign a new artist once in a while. Hippy busking psychedelia. This is the kind of stuff that makes me have some affection for the jam band fans.

2. Best Thing from the album "The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings" by Styx oooo. more old old skool, back when Styx had ideas of going prog. One for Zelmo; totally grungey bass line. AND a Hammond Organ riff. Pretty heavy.

3. That's Why God Invented The Polka from the album "Polka Comes To Your Haus!" by Polish Muslims Says it all, really. And the Devil invented the Chicken Dance.

4. Pigsville from the album "Wacoworld" by Waco Brothers

5. Sign Of The Times from the album "The Stiff Records Box Set (Disc 4)" by The Belle Stars

6. December from the album "A New Day at Midnight" by David Gray

7. The Cold Part from the album "The Moon & Antarctica" by Modest Mouse

8. Song In 3 from the album "Uncollected" by Galaxie 500

9. Shout from the album "Pack Up the Plantation (Live)" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

10. Platoon II from the album "The Whitey Album [Remastered 2006]" by Ciccone Youth

11. Cowboy In Flames from the album "Waco Express: Live and Kickin' at Schubas Tavern, Chicago" by The Waco Brothers More from Chicago's Bar Band.

12. Rain In the Summertime from the album "Acoustic Standards" by The Alarm

13. London from the album "Louder Than Bombs" by The Smiths

14. Truck Train Tractor from the album "The Bigtime Syndrome" by The Pastels Totally obscure post-punk. 'Train, train! Choo, choo! Train train train, train in my brain.'

15. Train Song from the album "Down To Promised Land: 5 Years Of Bloodshot Records [Disc 2]" by Split Lip Rayfield Keeping the train theme goin. Maybe I'm goin to be takin a trip.


Extra Poop, Piled High and Deep:

16. Apache Rose Peacock from the album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

17. No Blues from the album "Broken Hearts And Auto Parts" by Kevn Kinney local Milwaukee boy, went to HS with a good friend of mine, and went to Atlanta to toy with major label success in the band Drivin n Cryin.

18. Southern Rain from the album "Black-Eyed Man" by Cowboy Junkies

19. New Test Leper from the album "Bittersweet Me - EP" by R.E.M. I don't care what Pitchforkers said, I really liked this album. The last one with Bill Berry on drums.

20. In A Big Country from the album "Come Up Screaming (Disc 2)" by Big Country

21 blackjack. Holiday From Happiness from the album "Dance On The Volcano" by King Tommy's Velvet Runway banjo based electronica from one of the original members of The Mekons.




cool. I've found a torrent with the Sorrows disc Love Too Late. Sweet Power Pop.


holy poop. I've also found a share point for the 4 out of 5 doctors. And both of these sources have additional albums that I DIDN'T have before; the debut for teh Sorrows and the 2nd disc for 4 Out Of 5 Doctors. I'm so rocking today. maybe this week can be salvaged after all....

Technorati Tags: cobaggery, noise

Attitude Chicken

We had us a VISITOR.  Another one, yes.  No, not a visitor to the office,  just a blog visitor.  And not a good visitor; one who tracked in mud, peed on the toilet seat, and dumped ashes in the plants.  And he's UPSET with us and our violent, violent ways.  Let's go kick his ass!  I believe in Sadlyizing trollypantses, so let's get to the mockery - then to the shunning!

In a gorgeous display of Internet Bravery, Anonymous Concern Troll (I call him ACT -'why you wanna call me ACT?' - the acronym also means Asbestos Containing Tile.  Like asbestos tile, it contains a useful additive that looks benign, but conceals toxicity and should be encapsulated or removed. Heh)   chided me for being a victim.

Most people who steal stuff do so to sell the stuff so that they can get other stuff they need - like FOOD. 

It's just as likely that he would use the cash for drugs or alcohol. You're  jumping to unsupported conclusions there, bunkie.  And don't get me wrong; I have plenty of sympathy for people with drug or alcohol problems.  It still doesn't give them license to break the law.

You know what?  it doesn't matter what he was using it for.  He could have been planning to use the cameras for producing child porn too.  It's all bullshit theorizing and rationalization, and there's no evidence for any of it.  In Ruppert-speak, the fact is that the instant this man broke into the front door, he made himself a criminal, and compounded that with every door he broke into.  All we know for sure is that he was willing to break at least some laws in order to obtain somebody else's stuff.

And how do you know it was the same guy who was there the first time? You said that the office is over a bar, so how do you know that it wasn't just some confused guy who had a couple or three too many to drink?

Couple reasons, ACT.

FIRST:  The fuckin front door was locked.  You had to a) have a key or b) know how to force it.  In three years of occupancy, the door had never been forced, even with the bar downstairs; the odds of it happening over two consecutive days are not worth considering unless your innumerate.

SECOND; my door was locked.  The dude had to kneel down, reach in through the busted door, unlatch the deadbolt, and then come in.  not a series of actions you take by accident or in befuddlement.  It was obvious he knew hoew to open the busted-ass door, and it was obvious he wasn't a casual visitor because he didn't knock.  You know, knocking?  On Doors?  What you do at a door not your own to request entrance?

Geez, dude, he broke into five different doors!!  That's a lot of 'enhanced door-opening' for someone too drunk to realize he's in the wrong place.  

And I don't know that you aren't down on your luck. But you also seem to have a job, and an office, and a house and other such luxuries. Do you also have insurance? Will insurance cover the material things that the person (most likely more needy than you) took?

So the fact I have a business makes me a fair target for anyone who feels less fortunate than I?  Well, I feel less fortunate than you, so how about I come over and take your car?  You have insurance right?  Maybe you have a motorcycle, or a nice bike.  I bet you have a pretty nice computer, nicer than mine.  Just go ahead and  drop those luxuries by as soon as you can, mmmkay?

And why is it okay for you to call for others to threaten violence on your behalf when you are upset that someone took some things that you already took the pictures off of and most likely will be reimbursed by insurance over? Because, truth be told, the threat of violence is what you are invoking when call upon the police. Milwaukee's finest aren't going to make people bend to their will through negotiation. They will do that through a threat of violence, and they will take violent action if their orders aren't obeyed.

Umm, actually, Milwaukee's Finest will do exactly that; at least that always the first approach. An old roommate of mine is a Milwaukee Cop, and they're trained in negotiation and confrontation.  Violence happens as part of their job; many criminals aren't as nice and friendly as you assume this one was, but the cops don't use violence in every encounter.  In fact, several different officers dealt with me on that night and not once did one of them shoot me.   Believe it or Don't!

I read through the post, and the comments and with the exception of Pinko talking about punching air, your assertion that anybody threatened violence is baseless.  The comments (with the exception of yours, of course) mostly just expressed concern for my well being and one or two related their own burglary stories.

So you're saying the simple act of calling the police is invoking violence?  How does that work, choadlump?  Any time the police show up for any reason, they're going to assault someone?  Traffic Stops?  What if you buy Police Raffle Tickets?  My insurance, which you feel will compensate me adequately even for the camera that was a personal gift from my dead father, requires that I make a police report.

Besides, I didn't call  the police on a whim.  The criminal was standing in my office!   Nobody had any idea who the guy was or what he was capable of.  He might perfectly well have been armed.  He may have fled, just to find a weapon and come back.  He did not announce his attentions or his presence.   After leaving my office, he might have decided to lurk outside the door to assault me.  As I see it I acted quite accordingly in bringing the police into the picture.  

But I guess that you are fine with violence when it is used against those who would dare fuck with your shit.

What an astonishingly baseless thing to say.  Nobody advocated violence.  I didn't say I was 'fine with violence'.  ACT decided to simply use my actions in calling the police as evidence foraccusations of endorsing violence.  

I wonder if he exhibits the same consideration to all victims of crime?  "Hope you enjoyed it, you must have been asking for it" to a woman who was raped?  "Well, the guy probably had a good reason to do it" To the family of a murder victim?  "Other than that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"

Yes, it was all just stuff.  In fact, I think the commenters  mentioned this; it was where they also  mentioned relief that I wasn't harmed, so I can see where our Visitor would have missed this.    And with the exception of the one camera, it can be replaced.   But the assumption that the dude wouldn't have happily harmed me or somebody else is unwarranted, and the unfounded assertions of a propensity towards violence are just laughably wrong-headed.

Maybe our Visitor, ACT, knows the Dude.  I would think the MPD might have an interest in ACT if so.    Maybe that's why he's working anonymously.  Hell, maybe he  IS the emu who broke in.  

Yes I said it. EMU.

Beneath, Between and Behind

OK, our good imaginary friend Brando has, between doing yeoman's work tending to his Lovely Pregnant Becky and drinking in Vegas, posting inspiring  work in a Top 22 Life Songs.  And we (counting all my aliases)have been dutifully, joyfully, and annoyingly commenting at length. Cuz they can't stop me on the Interwebz!!  Ghost Melon!!!!

But, as hinted and expected and warned, The B posted his top numbers tonight, and his final, penultimate song was Tom Sawyer.  And I left a plenty long comment on his other fine choices, but this really takes a full post, so I'm taking advantage to use up some of my own blog space....

I figger I'm a bit older than Brando; my track record with those Canuckinoid Proggers goes back, really, to Permanent Waves.  I first saw them on that tour at the Clamshell in Madison, and bought a t-shirt (subsequently taking a punch from some dickweed in a mall who exclaimed they 'sucked donkey dick'.  Not only do I still wonder about the self-loathing of someone who punches a stranger for the shirt they wear, but I also wish I had had the presence of mind to ask him when , exactly, Rush had sucked HIS dick?)

And even after I was gone from those hometown years, the strength of that Moving Pictures album drew me back to Madison on the next tour - even taking a DATE - the woman who would become my wife - for her first ever large scale concert (she grew up in a small rural area) and she was not only completely befuddled by the noise and lights, it was more people in a smaller space than she had ever imagined possible.  Amazingly, it was confusing enough that years later she agreed to become my wife.  Rush has THAT much power, indeed.  My dorm neighbor borrowed the Moving Pictures album and played it incessantly, irritating everybody in the dorm; he had the habit of putting the album on drunk, on repeat, and passing out with his door locked.   On max volume.  When I finally got it back, it looked like badgers had chewed on both the cover and the vinyl.

I have to confess that I  was not as stalwart as Brando, alas.  During intervening years, the music scene in Milwaukee commanded greater attention, and I decided Rush was pretty much passe.  Zelmo even gave me shit for buying a Rush retrospective on CD during this interval.  Cobag.

But the world turns;  it comes around.  And after Rush themselves weathered the storms of life, they regrouped to release Vapor Trails, an aggressive revisiting of the power trio concept and a triumphant, rebellious shout against adversity.  We welcomed the opportunity to revisit a piece of our history buying tix for a couple of guys in my office too.  Then they did a thirty year anniversary tour, which was a total party.

Like Brando, Rush has often been the soundtrack to parts of my life.  Although at any given time, other music may seem more prevalent, it has always had a place in my rack of sounds and a corner of my head, and has always been able to soothe me  and invigorate me and provide a bulwark against the savage.

Like Brando, I respect these three Northern Music Geeks for their willingness to just do what they want, regardless of the fashion and trends.  It seems there's a fair number of other people who do too; they've always played against the industry.  But they don't care much; there's the underlying love of music and what they do.  And the love of their band mates helps-a band that has weathered 30+ years of music industry shit and ego override is truly a special thing.  But the love; I've always known that these guys would just go on playing the same stuff whether they were making albums or not - whether the crowds were 30 or 30,000.

My tolerant spouse and I are, once again, going to enjoy this special thing, and the special things it means to us, at Summerfest yet again this year.  It's frankly fucking amazing that our relationship has lasted all  these years; and the ability of Rush to also maintain their relationship -hell, not just maintain it, but to GROW and strengthen - is a fuckin miracle of sorts and I relish the ability and opportunity to celebrate both  miracles at once.

Thanks for your post, Brando. You, indeed, rock in all meanings of the term. 

And heartfelt thanks to  Dirk Lerxst and Pratt

Even In The Quietest Moments

Back before the Universe exploded, making a lot of people very angry, in a weird and slippery corner of the intertoobz reserved for Pork and Citrus Loving, there was a weekly event known as a Musical Poop Shoot. This was during a more innocent and carefree time, before Evil Cookie Queens and Off With His Head and Ghost Melonery. Catblogging was prevalent, but kittehs had not been LOLed let alone Cthulhu.

It seems like I'm almost the only one doing this anymore, but the life of an IMS is strnen. Plus, I I need bloggo subjects, so lay off chunderhosen!!

But there's a problem. Dilemma! Annoyance!! I see by the iTunes that I am tantalizingly close to a threshold: The list is 978 artists. 978!!!1! so close to 1K. (I remember when I hit 100 vinyl records; I was young, America was a democracy; dinosaurs ran the post office).

So I need the help of all three of you readers. I need new Artists!! I need some references to musicians and bands that are not represented in my files. Let me know who's hip and happenin in your little worlds. Help me spend the meager amounts of money I have on even more music with which to torture family and friends.

Offer not applicable to Finnish Opera-Metal bands.


I Know Where You Live from the album "I Did A Power Slide In The Taco Stand: Anthology 1982-2001" by Couch Flambeau
3 Boyz that make a loud Noiz. Punks called 'em metal; metalheads called 'em punk. Avant-stupid lyrics over avant-metal speed punk with Jay Tiller's spoken'screeched singing; part of the Great Milwaukee Music Scene in the 80's. I've seen them dozens of times, and my Long-Suffering Spouse had the amusing habit of falling asleep while sitting three feet from the amps. Thanks to the guys who released the old stuff on CDs. They were called Couch Potatoes originally, but the other couch potatoes wouldn't let them use the name. Power Slide in The Taco Stand, indeed. Available from CDBaby.

'rainbow popeye' from the album "Wacos at the Abbey" by Waco Brothers Okay, this doesn't count.
Winter (Three Imaginary Boys Studio Outtake) from the album "Three Imaginary Boys (Deluxe Edition)" by The Cure Mopey. Gothy. Analoggy.

Old Pervert - Section 1 from the album "...And How It Got There" by The Soft Boys Complete Hitchcock.

Warning Sign from the album "More Songs About Buildings And Food" by Talking Heads
Old school. Spare music, using the blank spaces Jennifer was talking about.

Take Me Down to the Hospital from the album "Hootenanny" by The Replacements Placemats. Mack from the drinking days.

Mary's Place from the album "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen OK, I loved the show. It wasn't life-changing, though, in the way I've experienced with Genesis and Mekons and some others. He's back in August for the Harley Party and I probably wouldn't go. I'd go to the BOC show, though but I think we're out of town that weekend.

Shotgun Willie from the album "Twisted Willie" by Tenderloin
Me Around from the album "Resigned" by Michael Penn iTunes will keep playing Michael Penn until all you guys make him a star. Buy the music already. Sheesh.

Rosanne from the album "Punk Rock" by Mekons It's A Mekons Friday!! Ni!!
Spelling Bee from the album "Angel Food For Thought" by Meryn Cadell One for the Meryn fans out there. I know there are some.
Dusted from the album "Lost Somewhere Between The Earth And My Home" by The Geraldine Fibbers This is also a superb set of songs, but my favorite is Dragon Lady.
World That I See from the album "Capricornia" by Midnight Oil
Shut Up! from the album "Weak" by Seaweed Northwestern punky 90's grunge gravy train music.

Give me some new bands!!!

[EDIT]  Okay, I just loaded a crap load butt level of Styx on my iPod.  That's how bad it has gotten.  Somebody Hep me!!!

Technorati Tags: noise

Good Advices

I love memes.  I'd probably hate 'em if I got tagged with more.  Anyways, ex-Cooki Queen Jennifer slapped this one on me.  BG also got it and I learn there it's supposed to be a one-word meme.  Oh well, I can never hold myself to one word.

Fuck that.

Yourself: shy and reserved
Your Partner: mostly normal before becoming involved with me.
Your Hair:   no significant MPB yet....
Your Mother: remembered
Your Father: missed
Your Favorite Item: iPod.  or Telecaster.
Your Dream Last Night: serene
Your Favorite Drink: The One I Have.
Your Dream Home: The house I'll never own
The Room You Are In: hell
Your Fear(s): heights. Spiders. socks. Republicans. 
Where Do You Want to be in 10 years: New York
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Lucifer
What You Are Not: subtle.
Muffins: Yarbles
One of Your Wish Items: Harley
Time: In a bottle.
Last Thing You Did: I pooped!
What You Are Wearing: earring. I might or might not also be naked. Your guess!!
Your Favorite Weather: Summer. At Maier festival park.
Your Favorite Book: Liberal Fascism (in the words of Beetlejuice "It just gets funnier EVERY DAMN TIME!!")
Last Thing You Ate: a light snack
Your Mood: gently weeping.
Your Best Friends: reading this....
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Mr. Inspector Q Crazypants, arch-nemesis.
Your Car: The Red Menace including gratuitous fuzzbucket.
Your Summer: Fest
What’s on your TV: Penguin
What Is Your Weather Like: not warm. not sunny. Not snowing!!
When Was the Last Time You Laughed: I laugh at life:  "Life, loathe it or ignore it, you can't like it."  
What is your relationship status: Tolerated (stolen from Snag without apology).

A word of warning:  Snag's been Tagged.  expect him to bring the Full-Moose Crazy.

It's a one word meme, so obviously, I only need to tag One person:  Zelmo.  Who doesn't have a bloggo, so he can't meme!  Ha-ha!!