Posted by Richard on February 12, 2010
The other day, I mentioned in passing Big Journalism contributor Retracto, the Correction Alpaca. I really like that alpaca — great picture! Thanks to Gary Eaton, Shelli Eaton, and Michael Broderick, Retracto has a theme song, and it's pretty catchy. Check it out!
And for those of you who don't care for rock 'n roll, but like cartoons, there's this version with just the lyrics. Weird. Personally, I much prefer the song.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: humor, journalism, music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on January 26, 2010
This is probably the coolest economics lesson you'll ever see:
Your focus on spending is pushing on thread
In the long run, my friend, it’s your theory that’s dead
So sorry there, buddy, if that sounds like invective
Prepare to get schooled in my Austrian perspective
Brought to you by the wacky folks at Econstories.tv, where you can watch while following along with the lyrics, download a free MP3 or AAC of the song, learn more about Keynes and Hayek, and contribute to help them with future projects.
Full disclosure: I'm a long-time supporter of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, which is behind this project, and thus helped fund it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: economics, entertainment, music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on August 21, 2009
God help me, I really like Neil Diamond. I know that makes me a hopeless old geezer in the eyes the youngsters out there, but there — I’ve said it. By pure luck, I had the TV tuned to CBS (watching Craig Ferguson) when all of a sudden, on comes a Neil Diamond concert special recorded in New York in August 2008. I’m lovin’ it!
The cognoscenti and literati have always sneered at Neil Diamond. Not me. I think he’s one of the 20th century’s great writers and performers of pop music. And he and his backing band are still putting out great versions of some of the catchiest, most toe-tapping tunes ever. As the lyric of “Cherry Cherry” says, “Can’t stand still while the music’s playin’.”
“You are the sun, I am the moon, You are the words, I am the tune, play me.”
Neil goes back to the NY neighborhood in which he grew up, looking for the apartment in which he lived from 6 to 16. In front of the bodega on the corner, a black woman (late 20s or early 30s) recognizes him and tells him how much she loves his music. Then cut to him talking with several black youths. He says he’s coming back to his old neighborhood. One of them asks if he’s a photographer or something. He says he’s a singer and suggests maybe they’ve heard of some of his songs, naming “Sweet Caroline” and several others. Blank stares. He mentions “Red, Red Wine,” and several of them recognize it, one saying, “I know the reggae version.” Then he visits old apartment and tells current tenant about how he and his brother would roller skate in the living room until the woman downstairs hit her ceiling with a broom handle and they knew to stop. Very moving.
This bit of reality TV is followed by Diamond performing “I Am, I Said,” a song about being in LA and missing NY.
Now I’m New York City born and raised
And nowadays I’m lost between two shores
LA’s fine, but it ain’t home
New York’s home, but it ain’t mine no more
I am, I said to no one there
No one heard me at all
Not even the chair
Wow. I always loved that song, but it was really special after seeing those scenes of him revisiting the old neighborhood.
“Pretty Amazing Grace” — what a great song. Amazing work by the band. Compare depth and seriousness of that with “Cherry Cherry.” (Both good, though.)
Great horn section.
“Sweet Caroline” — pop songs don’t get much better than this. Melody, lyrics, rhythm, everything — just wonderful. But this live performance is transcendent because of the audience participation. If you get a chance to watch this, crank up the volume (it helps if you’ve got HD with 5.1 sound).
“Hell, Yeah” — wonderful, introspective, anthemic, motivational.
“America” — even more moving after the introductory video of Diamond talking about his immigrant parents (with Ellis Island footage in the background). The song is wonderful, but the audience is really wonderful. Listen to their response to this celebration of immigrants — it will dispel any notion that we’re a bunch of xenophobes.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on July 17, 2009
Although I’m reasonably geeky and tech-savvy, I’m still an old fuddy-duddy in some ways. To wit, I prefer to buy and own content, rather than subscribe to it, and I like having it in my possession in physical form — books, CDs, DVDs, etc. — rather than just having access to electrons under someone else’s control. Stories like this just reinforce my anachronistic attitude:
If you’re into keeping tabs on irony, check this out. Amazon apparently sent out its robotic droogs last night, deleting copies of the George Orwell novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four from Kindles without explanation, then refunding the purchase price. As you can imagine, a lot of people caught in the thick of Winston and Julia’s love story aren’t very happy — and rightfully so — the idea that we “own” the things we buy is pretty fundamental to… ownership.
It seems that the publisher changed its mind about selling the books!
I have both books in my library. They’re printed on paper pages bound together between covers. If the publisher changed its mind about selling them to me and sent someone to come into my house and remove them — well, let me point out that I’m a strong supporter of gun ownership and the right to defend one’s person and property. I suspect that, should this person survive, the local authorities would gladly charge him with burglary. I don’t think saying “But I’m refunding the purchase price!” would make it all right.
So, no, I won’t be buying a Kindle any time soon. If I’m going to buy a book, I want the physical book, not an all-too-revocable “license” to read it — until the seller changes its mind, or the technology fails, or the government determines it’s contrary to the public interest, or …
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: books, movies, music, property rights | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on June 23, 2009
I’m saddened to hear this, even though I haven’t shot any slides in years:
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Kodachrome, the film brand touted as the stuff of memories, is about to become a memory itself as Eastman Kodak stops production due to overwhelming competition from digital cameras.
Eastman Kodak Co said it will retire Kodachrome color film this year, ending its 74-year run after a dramatic decline in sales.
“The majority of today’s photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology — both film and digital,” said Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak`s Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group.
Kodachrome was once the film of choice for many baby boomers’ family slide shows and gained such iconic status that it was celebrated in the mid-1970s with a song of the same name by Paul Simon, with the catch-phrase: “Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away.”
Great stuff, the best slide film ever, IMHO, and the film of National Geographic. None of the E-6 process films — Ektachrome, Fujichrome, Agfachrome — had that wonderful Kodachrome look.
Great song, too. Enjoy.
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
— Paul Simon
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: culture, film, music, photos | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on April 30, 2009
Over 900,000 people have watched Anne McKinney's marvelous YouTube video, "Ballad of Timothy Geithner." If you haven't seen it, here's your chance. Enjoy!
"They're writing laws on income tax, but not for me…"
Here's McKinney's latest (only 12,000 views so far), "That's Pelosi!"
I think I'm in love.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: geithner, humor, libertarian, music, pelosi, politics | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on January 14, 2009
Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks will be performing in Knoxville this Saturday. They're playing two sets at Barley's Taproom, starting at 9:30 PM. If you're in the area, get yourself down there.
Wish I could be there. Nothing beats a Webb Wilder concert, and he never comes out this way anymore.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: entertainment, knoxville, music, webb wilder | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on October 22, 2008
On his show earlier today, Hugh Hewitt was touting a new website he helped launch. It's Amaze.fm, and it's:
… a community of music makers and lovers hoping to restore some of that lost quality to what we call "popular" music.
Artists upload their music to be listened to, rated, reviewed, and tagged
Fans choose the songs that make it to the radio by listening to and rating songs weekly
Each week the highest rated songs from Amaze.fm gets played on nationally-syndicated radio.
Hewitt is playing clips from the site and will feature the highest rated song each week.
Hewitt was also talking about Rep. Jack Murtha, the contemptible swine who called the Haditha Marines "cold-blooded murderers" (they've since been cleared). Last week Murtha said many of his constituents are racists, then apologized, and now has "clarified" his remarks by "explaining" that western Pennsylvania is full of rednecks.
You're probably wondering what in the world Jack Murtha has to do with Amaze.com. Well, I'll tell you.
In "honor" of Murtha, Hewitt played a song posted to Amaze.com, Redneck Date by Perry L Nunley. Folks, that's the best damn song I've heard in a long time! Go listen, and crank it up!
Then listen to the other Nunley songs. Waiting On The Mailman is a nice little country blues number with a punch line that just cracked me up. Empty Bottles is another simply terrific song. And finally, listen to his soldier's song, When Freedom Rings. Damn, this guy's good!
I’ve got thirty rounds of justice in my magazine. I back it up with a Navy F-18. The business end on an Apache, Is trouble like you ain't seen. I’m the one who answers when freedom rings.
Remember the name — Perry J Nunley. If record companies don't beat a path to his door, there's something wrong with that industry.
(Note: The site was down for a long time this evening — I suspect 90% of Hewitt's audience went there and took out the server. It's up for now, but if you can't reach it, try again later.)
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: murtha, music | 6 Comments »
Posted by Richard on September 17, 2008
Wow, what a great surprise! A blue-haired George Clinton, as freaky as ever, was the musical guest on the Tonight Show tonight. With a terrific band he's calling The Gangsters of Love All-Stars (I think it's most of the current P-Funk crew plus whoever was hanging around and looking sharp). Great guitar work by Blackbyrd.
Ain't That Peculiar!
If you missed it, maybe when they update the Tonight Show website, it'll be one of the featured videos. Or you can see the full show (when it becomes available) here. Clinton closed the show.
You youngsters who have no idea what I'm talking about don't know what you're missing. Check out some of the Clinton "diskography" here (Flash player required) or poke around at Amazon. (UPDATE: The new album was released just yesterday. Sounds great — check it out!)
The last time I saw George Clinton was also on the Tonight Show back in 2005. Go read my post about that for some history and background info. It's got some other links you might want to check out.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: clinton, culture, music, television | 2 Comments »
Posted by Richard on September 16, 2008
Unlike many of his countrymen, Paul McCartney isn't cowed by radical Islamists:
Despite several threats by extremists, Paul McCartney has refused to cancel an upcoming concert in Israel. He will go ahead with a gig in honour of the country's 60th anniversary.
"I do what I think and I have many friends who support Israel," McCartney told Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth this weekend.
His comments come in response to a Sunday Express interview with the militant Islamic activist Omar Bakri Muhammad. "If he values his life Mr McCartney must not come to Israel," said Bakri, who has been barred from returning to the UK. "He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him."
"The sacrifice operatives" — that's Islamofascist-speak for "lunatic Islamist suicide-bombing murderers." I'm betting that they can't get past Israeli security.
Good for Sir Paul. I always liked him best.
HT: Instapundit
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: courage, islamofascism, israel, mccartney, music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on August 27, 2008
So, I'm in the office on the computer, and David Letterman's on the TV in the living room. I'm not really paying attention, but suddenly I hear him introduce his musical guests, Little Anthony and the Imperials. I hit Ctrl+S, run for the living room, and crank up the volume!
They performed "Hurt So Bad." It was wonderful. Simply wonderful. All the heart and emotion and soul you could ask for. Shivers ran down my spine when "Little Anthony" Gourdine sang "like needles and pins." His voice was as great as ever — maybe better.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the group (the 50th!), and they sound (and look) amazing. There have been a number of personnel changes over the years (as detailed at the Wikipedia entry), but the group today includes three of the four members who created all those unforgettable hits in the 60s (along with Harold Jenkins, who was a member in the 70s).
Check out the Little Anthony and the Imperials website. Not only are they still touring (nowhere near Denver, dammit), but they've just released a new album that includes new recordings of four of their big hits (including a terrific reinterpretation of "Going Out of My Head"), plus eight new songs. Check out samples at Amazon. Especially you youngsters who have no idea what great r&b/soul music sounds like. I'm buying it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: culture, music | 3 Comments »
Posted by Richard on July 26, 2008
Wow. According to The Sun, Mick is now entitled to a free bus pass, free dental care and vision tests, free prescriptions, and a variety of other benefits, subsidies, and tax credits. Oh, and a state pension of £90 a week. It's nice that the British take such good care of their aging rockers in their twilight years.
Time may not be on his side, but Mick's in great shape and not ready to retire:
More than 40 years ago Mick was asked if he could picture himself at the age of 60 doing what he was doing in his 20s.
He replied: "Yeah, easily. Yeah." The question now must surely be whether he can carry the party on into his 70s.
Mick was quoted last October by the BBC explaining his determination to carry on.
He said: "I'm sure the Rolling Stones will do more things and more records and more tours. We've got no plans to stop any of that, really."
I have been lucky enough to see the Stones in action more than once.
Mick's energy, enthusiasm and agility make most of this generation of rockers – who are young enough to be his grandchildren – look lethargic in comparison.
He also has enough lead in his pencil to keep a model 20 years his junior smiling.
(Yeah, that opening poetic masterpiece bit of doggerel is my very own creation. So if you want to use it, give me credit and a link.)
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: britain, culture, jagger, music, rock, rolling stones | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on July 14, 2008
If you listen to Little Steven's Underground Garage, you not only get to hear some really cool music (including the weekly "coolest song in the world"), but you also learn some interesting trivia. For instance, you probably know that July 14 is Bastille Day, but did you know it's also Harry Dean Stanton's birthday and the anniversary of the U.S. premier of Easy Rider?
So in honor of the day, take your Harley out for a ride (or your Vespa, if that's all you've got). Listen to Steppenwolf's Born to be Wild. Have a nice Beaujolais with dinner. And then watch Paris, Texas, Escape from New York, Alien, or just about any David Lynch film. (Remember, "the owls are not what they seem.")
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: culture, history, movies, music | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on December 27, 2007
If you're in or near Knoxville and still wondering what to do for New Year's Eve, head down to the Market Square Celebration in downtown K-town. There'll be fireworks and ice skating at this outdoor event (and propane heaters, too). But most importantly, the headline act will be Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks.
If you're already a fan, you know you need to be there. If you're not, don't miss this chance to see The Last of the Full Grown Men and his band. I'll bet you become a fan.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: knoxville, music, tennessee, webb wilder | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Richard on December 7, 2007
Oh, the wonderful irony! The Motion Picture Association of America is, together with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), one of the most hawkish organizations anywhere regarding copyright protection. At one time, the MPAA fought to ban VCRs because they "encouraged" people to copy movies. More recently, the MPAA and RIAA have been the driving forces behind the odious digital rights management (DRM) schemes that encumber digital entertainment and restrict our "fair use" rights. So I found this news just hilarious:
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) recently released a software toolkit designed to help universities detect instances of potentially illegal file-sharing on school networks. The toolkit is based on the increasingly popular Ubuntu Linux distribution and includes the Apache web server as well as custom traffic monitoring software created by the MPAA. Although the toolkit was previously available from a web site set up by the MPAA, the software was removed last night after the organization received a request from Ubuntu technical board member Matthew Garrett to take it down due to GPL violations.
Many of the components in the Ubuntu Linux distribution, including the Linux kernel, are distributed under the General Public License (GPL). … Distributing software licensed under the GPL in binary format without making source code available to end users is a violation of the GPL and constitutes copyright infringement.
…The MPAA, which has consistently lobbied Congress for stricter penalties on copyright infringement, will likely take some much-deserved heat for this embarrassing gaffe.
Much-deserved indeed.
Meanwhile, there's more good news for consumers regarding digital music. Retail giants Amazon and Wal-Mart have joined the fight for DRM-free MP3s:
Earlier this year EMI and Universal Music Group started selling DRM-free music. Now, Pepsi and Amazon have teamed up to give away 1 billion DRM-free MP3s. The offer puts pressure on record companies who aren't offering music in DRM-free format to either join the party or miss out.
In the past, retail giant Wal-Mart has sold music with Microsoft's PlaysForSure DRM. iTunes, the top online music retailer in the world, sells music compatible only with Apple iPod and iPhone devices.
Now, Wal-Mart is siding with the Smash-DRM movement, claiming it wants to switch to a DRM-free catalogue in 2008 and threatening to leave behind any record label not willing to comply. Meanwhile, iTunes has already started selling DRM-free music. Change is definitely in the air.
A couple of years ago, I pointed out that Microsoft was defending consumers' rights by backing the HD DVD format and insisting that it include Managed Copy, an extension of DRM that restores consumers' fair-use rights. Now, music consumers have a friend in Wal-Mart. Microsoft and Wal-Mart, the little guy's friends — somewhere, a corporation-hating lefty's head just exploded. 🙂
Of course, those corporations are (as they should be) acting out of self-interest. It's really competition and innovation that are the little guy's friends:
Retailers and record labels wanting to sell DRM-free music are hardly feeling an alliance with the open source / free-love crowd. This is strictly business. Universal and others had no problem dealing with iTunes, DRM and all, when the iPod was the only significant MP3 player. But now that practically everybody has cell phones and other non-Apple devices that play digital music, cross-compatibility is looking a lot more interesting.
DRM will become marginalized as Apple's stranglehold on digital music playback weakens.
BTW, on Friday Wal-Mart is selling Toshiba's 3rd-generation HD-A3 HD DVD player for $298, and you get 12 (!) free HD DVDs. If you've been thinking about a high-def player, grab this deal!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: business, consumer advocacy, hollywood, movies, music, technology, video | Leave a Comment »
