First, I'd like to thank you all for the sweet birthday messages. I am pretty shameless about promoting the day, as I get excited just like a little kid as it approaches. I haven't told you every little bit about my life, but suffice to say, I'm pretty darned lucky to still be here today. Unlike so many of my friends, I love getting older - it sure beats the alternative!!!
Secondly, I need to apologize for neglecting the blog. Between feeling like I'm in a holding pattern regarding the condo (fingers crossed!) and feeling sorry for myself about my boss quitting (last Friday was his last day), I've been decidedly uninterested in thinking hard enough to even do another b.s. photo caption post. I appreciate your patience, and have noticed that no one has complained about the lack of a new post - except, perhaps, by their absence. ;-)
However, I still got nothing...what's going on with you?
In honor of...well, me! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVLrA0yCtP4
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Happy birthday, FH!
I think you have the right attitude about birthdays, Ferret! Happy birthday, and have a fun one!
http://tinyurl.com/ferretbirthday
However, I still got nothing...what's going on with you?
**
Okay, so, I had duck for lunch today. From this great Thai place. See, a lot of people don't like duck due to to the prevalance of fat. But, see, what this place does, and I have no idea how they do this, is they chop the duck pieces up, remove the skin, remove the fat, and then, get ready for it, put the skin back on!!!
I kid you not!!
Frikkin' duck Utopia!
Anyways, good luck with the condo and Happy birthday again
Happy birthday, JF. Taken on too much work to participate as regularly as I used to. Which I suspect may be a good thing for list dynamics. At any rate, on cramdown power, as I thought about the arguments against it, they made little sense to me. Yes, Obama could argue that banks will try to make up the losses elsewhere, but how could they? They still make money by making loans and have to compete with each other for the best business, so this should stand in the way of their arbitrarily raising rates to make up for losses from cramdown. Cramdown also ensured that the financial industry and its bond and shareholders would have to take some of the losses. Jeffrey Sachs has already eviscerated the Geither-Summers plan; the capitulation on cramdown also does not appear defensible. Durbin has made some noise about how powerful the financial industry lobby is. Indeed.
Maybe just some of the shareholders would have had to take losses but this would have been good. At least, President Obama is standing up to our Governor in defense of home health care workers. I wonder whether they have high injury rates as workers at retirement homes.
Happy Birthday Ferrethead!!!
THANK YOU for posting that song. Love it and almost completely forgot about it!
WT - that was awesome! I had totally forgotten about that song. Bjork truly is one of the fairy people of Iceland. Incredible, and moving. Thank you.
Taking the day off, fartin' around. Anybody doing anything fun this weekend? I'm gonna go see Frangela at the Punchline tomorrow night. I fully expect to be sore from laughing...big fun!
Happy Day after your Birthday, ferret! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed on that condo for you, too.
Party heartwise! :)
You're welcome, JMF! I think that song is moving too. Why give Ferret some weak tea when I can give her a 100-proof shot of Bjork? Enjoy yourself! :)
http://tinyurl.com/dgvxns
I hear the Kabir concert at Annenberg Auditorium at Stanford should be quite good tonight, though I won't be able to make it.
http://tinyurl.com/dhc2sh
more on grammar
hartal - Oh. My. God. That site is high-larious!!! I just checked it out...good, good stuff.
Now is the winter of our dis content. Made glorious summer by this sun/son of York. And all the clouds that loured upon our...
oh...
never mind.
But I always get turned on when Dickie III says:
In the deep bosom...buried
`
Saaaaaaucy
;)
I still like Strunk & White; it does a lot more good than harm, and it makes people think. There are plenty of more thorough grammar and style surveys out there, but Strunk & White is still my favorite jumping-off point.
Still, the article was pretty funny. And hartal, you sly dog, you appropriated my "more on" joke.
wv- fortiver: About how old FH is
You missed me, you really missed me. Sorry, Kiddies--the computer was in the shop.
Happy Birthday, Ferret...and many more. Can't send you a gift, but know that there is at least one person out there that was glad that you were born.
And dsg and no one. Piss-off about grammar.
wv: pyhla.
Overheard today at another/opposite table whilst lunching in the financial district:
"Now that was impertinent of him-to die with his loan unpaid"
;)
for dsg...on the electrical guitar
http://tinyurl.com/ppwbkf
Whilst. Why, oh, why does that anomaly of a word still exist?
Thank you, hartal, that was a fascinating article. I don't agree with most of what he says (I can think of several great American guitarists, e.g., Chuck Berry, and several who came of age after the '60s, e.g., The Edge), but he has a very interesting perspective. It reminded me of a passage from Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle:
"The people of San Lorenzo," the father told me, "are interested in only three things: fishing, fornication and Bokononism."
"Don't you think they could be interested in progress?"
"They've seen some of it. There's only one aspect of progress that really excites them."
"What's that?"
"The electric guitar."
I thought the Edge was a filthy Irishman.
There was this one guy named Ed who had a few good albums in the late 70s and early 80s who shook things up a bit and mightily influenced that Vai character.
that lead guitarist they used on When Love Comes to Town is a lot better.
The Edge was given as an example of a post-'60s guitarist, not an American guitarist. And I think they were talking about rock and roll, so B.B.'s out because, while great, he's blues. I used to like Eddie, but I've gotten tired of his stuff. And I was totally remiss for not mentioning Prince, who's one bad m.f. on guitar.
While I agree Eddie grew stale fast, there's no denying that first album was and is a mind blowing, face melting classic
Ever see the video of Neil Young playing Rockin in the Free World on SNL (circa 89-90, if I recall correctly). He play like his guitar was a machine gun and he was assaulting the audience. Very angry. Great.
Sorry, dsg... I was just looking for an excuse to say 'filthy Irishman'. ;)
Also, Slash doesn't get as much credit as he deserves.
Ted, isn't that "Whilst I agree"?
wv: centshiv
As a guideline, I generally only use "whilst" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
"Gangway
Electric
Guitar
Is coming through!
She don't care who she hurts
She just lifts up her skirts
And pours down the truth on you.
Gangway
Electric
Guitar
Is coming through!
Shooting arrows of fire
Through the house of the liar
to bring down the roof on you
When I am weak
She can be strong
Telling everybody 'bout the Church or the Statesman
When I'm afraid
She takes my hand
There we stand together
And we fight 'em with a love song
Gangway
Electric..." -Andy Partridge
Post-60's guitarists with 'technique' and passion?:
Dave Gregory
Adrian Belew
Peter Bilt
Nancy Wilson
Graham Coxon
Greg Ginn
Cody Votolato
Jim Moginie
Denny Dias
I could go on...
(First we get an article tearing down Strunk And White. Then we get an article tearing down the electric git-tar. What's next to tear down? I can't hardly wait...)
winkingtiger (or anyone else), who's Peter Bilt?
Peter Bilt was a local guitar hero from the 709's-80's, most famously in Pearl Harbor & the Explosions. Kind of a country-swing player trapped in a new wave band. Fast, funny, and surprising. ;)
That's my problem with your 'Edward' types. Lots of technique; very little in the way of humor or 'personality'. Technique is an athletic ability that can be developed, like jumping high or running fast. Can humor, ideas, passion or 'soul' be learned? Technique should be a means to an end, not an end in itself. As Wynton Marsalis said: "Eventually a musician goes beyond just the ability to play a lot of notes fast, and arrives at something called nuance." I'm with Wynton there...
And I forgot David Hidalgo on my list, may the wolves forget to devour me...
That was supposed to be '70's'. ;-)
Thanks winkingtiger. Jesus! Pearl Harbor & the Explosions!! I did lighting for them at a show in the old People's Temple a million years ago.
I think Edward Van Halen had a sense of humor and personality when he first started recording. The problem as I see it is his style became, for a period, stolen by everyone. And I mean everyone. But that included people more highly trained in classical, jazz and flamenco et.al. Thus eclipsing the phenom. But I remember cracking up when I first heard ERUPTION back in '79 when he does the violin lesson scale riff. That's flat out funny.
I also remember reading in a GUITAR WORLD interview around the early '80's where even he already acknowledged that the style was becoming de rigueur and therefore somewhat indistinguishable.
There was a really weird part in that interview I recall when Van Halen was being asked his thoughts about some other contemporary guitarists and he said something to the effect that "Randy Rhoads does me to death". This was probably just a month or two before the fatal plane crash. At least I would think/hope it was before. Not really sure. Just plain creepy, though.
Good post, Ted. I have a few live recordings of Pearl Harbor & the Explosions (their lone album isn't enough for me), but none are from People's Temple, alas. I remember shows being held there, though.
It's all opinion, but I always found Van Halen pretentious. Not just Eddie, the whole group and their persona. Marc Anthony sneering while playing the one note bassline to "Running With The Devil" (which someone actually claimed was 'one of the best basslines of all time' on another blog), Eddie's smirking...and then there's DLR. I can definitely appreciate the groundbreaking work in both guitar technique and tone, but musically? Too slick for this Tiger (although I love "Jamie's Crying") ;-)
And I liked how you tied this thread to the last one with the ref. to Randy Rhoads...
Joe Satriani
J Mascis
wv-atemet, not necessarily in that order
Thank you, winkingtiger.
Thou art the epistiple of all epistples.
And the nayeth sayers are merely dungheaps, floundering in the remnents of decayed flotsam of ill fated decorum and foul smelling jetsom.
And even the Ace Frehley would say....
"What the fuckith! As a semi- rockish, rollish, astoundingnith guitarishmahole athlete, I didith the hammer on before that asshole!!!!"
Yea, verily. But what the fuckith? With thy same amounteth of dictorum? I say nay, lad, nay. Thy structure and fortuidneth deserves remenisince, and applause, but thou dideth with swarmy confusion merely to confuse and bewitch the audience thereof, not to astound and, perchance, amaze said clientele.
Thus did the Eddie, betwixt, follow his brother Alex's pardue, and perform, inist a macho and not femalianith way, doeth only the hammer on withneth his backeth to thine audience and there, verily, astound non-followers of Jiango.
Spelt wrongith.
All hail the HAMMER - ON.
God knows...I'm guilty
He hammers, I hammer, You hammer, Ace hammers, Eddie hammers, M.C. Hammer(s), Bukka hammers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMpHHSLSlc
Fuckith. That's a funny word.
Neil Young is hot.
wv: cicalif
I have to jump in and second Ted's defense of EVH. Yes, there is a hearty helping of cheese on that slice, but there's also a ton of blues and soul in there-- way more than any of the other Yngwies had. Eddie actually swings, as much as rock can. I'm not a big fan, but when they broke, VH brought something back into the rock fold that was missing since Hendrix, and that was technique that changed the way guitarists approach the instrument. He also re-injected the blues, not as some 12-bar cliche, but in that old cosmic, psychedelic way. Toms of metalheads play in a style that demonstrates a very limited listening range, but Ed was steeped in the roots, even if his band was riding (creating) the latest trend. Vai and such players have utter control of the instrument, but what they're singing doesn't speak to me in the same musical way. Besides, it's always different looking back after the fact. The biggest drawback to Eddie's approach, I think, was not a lack of range, but limited timbre.
Well put, Too Sense [it WAS TooSense, right? ;)] Especially as far as EVH having a wider range of influences than most. And I agree about the timbre too.
Ted, I keep forgetting to say that the Thai duck dish sounded delish! :)
http://tiny.cc/edEi3
http://radio.chittlincircuit.com
The lyrics to that song were totally retarded, no one.
Has anyone gotten an update on Twinnie?
Excuse me. The LYRICS ARE TOTALLY RETARDED!
Oh shit! It's Wednesday!
WHILST!!
Phew. That's over.
winkingtiger, trust me. That duck is great. I realize our lovely hostess would rather there be no endorsements on this blog as it's...
well, anyway. I won't give a name but it's on Sacramento between Montgomery amd Kearney
wv: brozo
Your best friend has a really complicated Greek name. Like:
Zombalacouls/Zotropilis/Zopheona/
Zotarpitious/Zeus/Jefferey
Hell, endorse away. I may be looking for some good Thai duck, and be ruing the day that you declined to name the restaurant.
You should all congratulate me. I'm going back to school to get my degree in photography. Through the Academy of Art U in none other than S.F. .Online, of course...'cause I can't afford the City. Being a starving artist and all.
Hang on to those dedicated photos---they could be worth something some day.
The song is not theirs, and the ghetto-fabulous words are indeed silly and don't fit well with the banjo and fiddle music of the Carolina piedmont. But it was the instrumental play and voice that I found refreshing.
Well, my dear hostess, I'd be the last person to intentionally cause you to rue.
It's called Siam Kitchen, 668 Sacramento Street, between Montgomery and Kearney, open Mon-Fri 10:30am-09:00pm, closed weekends
(415) 391-8988
Lunch hour can be a cluster fuck due to a small staff and a large clientele but I'm used to it by now.
Dinner, on the other hand, is smooth sailing.
wv: precr. An insulting word used most often in Bill Paxton movies.
Gina - congratulations are indeed in order! Good for you! I've said before, I think you have a fantastic eye. Hopefully, you won't be a starving artist for too long!
I'll second the congrats to Gina. I think you have a good eye (I liked the 'stop sign' photo particularly), and I'm glad you're pursuing it further...
wv: scrow
Best of luck, gina, and when the going gets tough, bress on.
Had to break a vow of not reading anyone's un-registered posts for the last 2 months or so but since JM, WT and TS all had congrats to gina, I, slowly, creeped up to see what they were talking about.
Gina, I think I think that's great. But I don't understand.
You're already an artist. I've seen your work.
What are you going to get from that pompous, chain smoking, trust fund baby student school?
Unless they also instruct and assist with marketing and networking I don't see it.
You've already got the chops. What are you trying to get out of them?
And, not trying to be an asshole but, please register when you reply. If you deign me a reply.
;)
Thanks
for the many baseball fans here
http://tiny.cc/7vDbS
interesting article on Brooksley Born:
http://tinyurl.com/dljugn
That was a terrific article, Xoot. I'm passing it along to other interested parties. Thank you for the link...
I look forward to reading it too. I have been in an email dialogue with these two authors of articles at YaleGlobalonline.org. Milanovic argues that we should not see the origins of the crisis in the financial sector--unregulated derivative markets, shadow banking and insurance sectors, or even the Fed's lax strategy (on which Stanford's John Taylor is hitting--but the increasingly unequal distribution of income that has resulted from the pressures of globalization, e.g. the labor force has doubled with respect to the quantity of capital with the entry of workers from China and Eastern Europe
into the global labor market.
Two Views on the Cause of the Global Crisis – Part II
Ashok Bardhan
6 May 2009
Two Views on the Cause of the Global Crisis – Part I
Branko Milanovic
4 May 2009
This happened 715 years ago
http://tiny.cc/JMtoh
The crisis seems to originate with the implosion of our financial sector, yet....
Treasury International Capital Flows for United States: $55.8 bil
TIC flows again climbed in March. Net foreign purchases of long-term securities rose to $55.8 billion, indicating a revival of foreign appetite for U.S. financial assets. Foreign investors are motivated by the desire for safe haven, as global financial markets are still in a fragile state. They increased their holdings of U.S. long-term securities; net purchases rose to $56.4 billion from $20.8 billion the prior month.
Why, thank you all...I appreciate the kind words. You should give yourselves partial credit...it was your feedback that gave me some confidence in my skills. As for learning them, Ted, I gotta a ways to go. The Academy, I believe, can teach me a thing or two and put me around some people in the field. I really don't know much about the technical side of photography, or its history. And, a degree never hurts when trying to find gainful employment. Well see, though.
I saw Leon Russell last night. He wasn't bad for a 70 year-old dude with long white hair. What's funny is to see a room full of aging baby boomers trying to catch a bit of their past. Thirty years ago the place would have been rockin'.
wv of the day: undompla
ps. Ted. Registering would be conforming---you gotta know by now I never conform.
I don't give a flying fuck whether Ted or anyone else for that matter reads my posts here. I registered Yankee Crumpet, even uploaded a a photo, but it's a pain in the ass to login. I have to switch browsers.
What I do give a flying fuck about is Too_Sense getting banned from SF Gate. I haven't posted a dramatic resignation the way I did for Hartal because TooSense is one of the cool kids in school, he doesn't need my support. This doesn't reflect my relative level of interest though. I only read the personal or cultural observations Hartal posts, his politics, like everybody else's, bores the shit out of me, whereas TS's comments are usually brief, witty, and good natured. I can't imagine what he said that got him banned. I have for the most part, stopped posting there. This whole self-expression thing, AKA blogging, can lead to self-absorbtion if you're not careful.
How do you know TS is banned from MLS?
Maybe he's hanging out with LaSalle in Florida.
I appreciate the concern, but I'm still alive and kicking on SFGate.
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