This evening I will be featuring an entire album. Frank did many mocking, sarcastic albums and also many which could be considered 'concept' albums but this might be his first that is both.
A pointed attack on the 60's and all that he felt it stood for, We're Only In It For The Money pulls no punches. I'm presenting it in its entirety so that the listener will have Lonely Little Girl together with Mom & Dad, and Flower Punk with Concentration Moon. There are nuanced positions here but mostly there is blame. He blames everyone for the misery in the world.
In the evocatively named What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body Frank concludes that "it must be your mind." In Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance he tells us "there will come a time when you won't even be ashamed if you are fat." Now that's Revolution. Can you dig it?
December 07, 2010
Zappadan 3
I love the short-lived Flo and Eddie band from 1970-71. This song from 200 Motels is a fine example of how Frank used their great voices to create some fantastic arrangements. He always loved having a high tenor in the band and here he has two.
I wanted to show why Frank loved those high tenors but YouTube let me down so here, for a limited time is one of the doo-wop masterpieces Luigi and The Wiseguys for your listening or downloading pleasure. This song has the best lyrics EVER!
I wanted to show why Frank loved those high tenors but YouTube let me down so here, for a limited time is one of the doo-wop masterpieces Luigi and The Wiseguys for your listening or downloading pleasure. This song has the best lyrics EVER!
December 05, 2010
Zappadan: day 2
Today I'm posting one of my favorite tracks from the 1979 album Joe's Garage. This three disc concept album contains many great tracks, most notably the title track and the beautiful instrumental Watermelon In Easter Hay.
Today's featured track is called Outside Now, a somewhat disturbing mantra from Joe, who is losing his mind in prison. He hopes that he will soon be released and that the would outside will be better than the terrible experiences he has suffered inside.
He's wrong but without hope how can he go on?
Today's featured track is called Outside Now, a somewhat disturbing mantra from Joe, who is losing his mind in prison. He hopes that he will soon be released and that the would outside will be better than the terrible experiences he has suffered inside.
He's wrong but without hope how can he go on?
Zappadan!
I know that I don't post here often and when I do it's usually a political rant but tonight I'm going back to the very foundations of this blog. Frank Zappa.
Saturday marked the 17th anniversary of his passing and I was just informed that the internet has declared the next 17 days until the 70th anniversary of his birth on the 21st to be a holiday called Zappadan. It will be a time of remembrance and music and snark. This blog is named after one of his songs so the least I can do is try to post something for each day. Kinda like an advent calendar, but not.
If you're on Twitter you can add your two cents @zappadan.
A lesson for our times. "There's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."
Saturday marked the 17th anniversary of his passing and I was just informed that the internet has declared the next 17 days until the 70th anniversary of his birth on the 21st to be a holiday called Zappadan. It will be a time of remembrance and music and snark. This blog is named after one of his songs so the least I can do is try to post something for each day. Kinda like an advent calendar, but not.
If you're on Twitter you can add your two cents @zappadan.
A lesson for our times. "There's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."
March 02, 2010
Thanks Senator Bunning
Where were these fiscal conservatives when their boy George got us into all this debt? Why do they always pass the bill to the little guy. I paid for their wars and tax cuts and in return they cut my unemployment. Not that they cut my taxes mind you. That didn't happen until Obama's payroll deduction cut.
Where were these small government types when their boy George created a whole new Cabinet post and the Department of Homeland Security? I guess more bureaucracy is good for national security but bad for health care. Homeland Security didn't catch the underwear bomber even after his own father tried to turn him in. Why don't we get rid of it and use the money to insure people. If that sounds kind of crazy then try this. Dismantle Homeland Security and give their budget to the FBI, the CIA, the TSA and all the other agencies who are actually doing the work and who need the money. Maybe if we quit paying for so many supervisors we could get some analysts and start connecting some dots.
I know where the fiscally conservative, small government types were when their boy George was trashing the country. They were in the Senate. Thanks for sticking to your principles when it counts, folks.
Where were these small government types when their boy George created a whole new Cabinet post and the Department of Homeland Security? I guess more bureaucracy is good for national security but bad for health care. Homeland Security didn't catch the underwear bomber even after his own father tried to turn him in. Why don't we get rid of it and use the money to insure people. If that sounds kind of crazy then try this. Dismantle Homeland Security and give their budget to the FBI, the CIA, the TSA and all the other agencies who are actually doing the work and who need the money. Maybe if we quit paying for so many supervisors we could get some analysts and start connecting some dots.
I know where the fiscally conservative, small government types were when their boy George was trashing the country. They were in the Senate. Thanks for sticking to your principles when it counts, folks.
February 23, 2010
Hey Pawlenty!
You've got to wonder want Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels complained about during the Bush administration. Whatever it was it sure wasn't spending. Or deficit creation. I just love how they think that school budgets are wasteful but big tax breaks to big corporations are responsible fiscal policy. Talk about entitlement.
June 22, 2009
The Meek SHALL Inherit Nothing
The title of this blog is taken from a song by Frank Zappa, who also said "There's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."
Here's to you, Iran.
"dont be afraid, dont be afraid, we are all together"
"today we have hidden cameras in good locations ready to give u film"
RIP Neda Soltani 1982-2009
The world sleeps worse tonight because of your eyes.
Here's to you, Iran.
"dont be afraid, dont be afraid, we are all together"
"today we have hidden cameras in good locations ready to give u film"
RIP Neda Soltani 1982-2009
The world sleeps worse tonight because of your eyes.
April 17, 2009
Tax Day Tea Party Bloomington, IN
While many cities held their tea parties in the morning or early afternoon, Bloomington, in an obvious move to boost attendance, waited until 5 pm to start. That didn't stop over a hundred people from being on hand, many carrying large signs.
Notable signs were racist "Chains We Can Believe In" and frightening "Veterans Need Guns?" with a phone number. Far outnumbering these oddities were protests of government spending, mortgage bailouts, government in general, and Obama in particular.
This was strong Ron Paul country during the election. Many of the people here seem to be from this group. They didn't seem too uncomfortable about palling around with "fellow travelers" like racists and Limbaugh listening conspiracy nuts.
Look at this terrible button some sweet little old lady was wearing. She was proud to show it to me for a close-up.
The attendance wound up at around 250 with people arriving during the entire two hour event. At 7 pm organizers adjourned to the deck of Kilroys, reserved in advance, for a meet & greet. There were no speakers except for the organizers, local men Spencer Leiter and Doug Parker.
More photos:
That last one says "IMPEACH OBAMA The First Illegal President"
??????????????
Notable signs were racist "Chains We Can Believe In" and frightening "Veterans Need Guns?" with a phone number. Far outnumbering these oddities were protests of government spending, mortgage bailouts, government in general, and Obama in particular.
This was strong Ron Paul country during the election. Many of the people here seem to be from this group. They didn't seem too uncomfortable about palling around with "fellow travelers" like racists and Limbaugh listening conspiracy nuts.
Look at this terrible button some sweet little old lady was wearing. She was proud to show it to me for a close-up.
The attendance wound up at around 250 with people arriving during the entire two hour event. At 7 pm organizers adjourned to the deck of Kilroys, reserved in advance, for a meet & greet. There were no speakers except for the organizers, local men Spencer Leiter and Doug Parker.
More photos:
That last one says "IMPEACH OBAMA The First Illegal President"
??????????????
March 14, 2009
The whole point of having a blog is...
Today's browse of happy sites turned up some stuff that I found myself wishing to share with someone. Since there's no one handy to tell I find myself reminded that I have a blog. And what is a blog for if not to share finds like this.
The other thing was a Metafilter post about the celebration of Holi. The pictures caught my eye
but this link about other ways to celebrate Holi made me want to blog it. This is the last paragraph of a story about Kanpur India giving everyone a day of uninterrupted power so they could watch the big cricket match.
Happy Holi gangs of Kanpur!
You know you're Australian when...Canadian when...an Arab when...British when...Italian when...Japanese when...Chinese when...German when...Russian when...Dutch when...Spanish when...Brazilian when...Irish when... Kiwi when... Scottish when...South African when...Cambodian when... Greek when...Kenyan when...Libyan when...Iranian when... Japanese when...Kazakhi when... Estonian when...Papua New Guinean when...Korean when...Indian when...Israeli when... Lebanese when...Colombian when...Ecuadorian when... Kuwaiti when...Portuguese when... Hungarian when...Serbian when...Gibraltan when...Belgian when...There's a bunch more. I think the real point is seeing what people think is distinctive about themselves. The way each group defines itself. Fascinating. I've only read a few but they are funny and revealing.
French when... Bangladeshi when...Azerbaijani when...Moldovan when...Peruvian when...Chilean when...Uruguayan when...
The other thing was a Metafilter post about the celebration of Holi. The pictures caught my eye
but this link about other ways to celebrate Holi made me want to blog it. This is the last paragraph of a story about Kanpur India giving everyone a day of uninterrupted power so they could watch the big cricket match.However, there were certain localities where power failure occurred due to snags. The private gangs in these areas came to the rescue of locals and resolved their power woes.
Happy Holi gangs of Kanpur!
September 29, 2008
Wall Street Bailout cartoon roundup
all cartoons property of their owners and courtesy of Cagle's Political Cartoon Page (see sidebar link)
July 10, 2008
Thoughts on Iran
This rant on Iran has been a long time coming. More specifically, this rant on double standards as they apply to US policy on Iran.
Ok, we have here a case of Israel making threatening moves on Iran. Threatening talk, too. And Iran responds by testing long range missiles that could threaten Israel. For this the US State Department condemns Iran.
Imagine two hypothetical countries. One country is allowed to achieve nuclear weapons. The other country, nearby, now feels unsafe unless they can get nukes too. Country 1 feels threatened by country 2's attempt to get nukes. We allow country 1 to attack country 2, but we don't allow country 2 to retaliate or even defend itself. Country 2 sees its fears confirmed and works harder to get nukes. We allow country 1 to attack country 2, but we don't allow country 2 to retaliate or even defend itself. Country 2 gets really mad and starts making threats. We call them foolish and crazy. And terrorists.
Meanwhile in countries 3-85 leaders are organizing campaigns to rape ethnic minorities into extinction, starve the political opposition, steal the entire GDP and run, and scores of other atrocities.
The nuclear cat is out of the bag. It's not going back in. Get used to it. The number one state sponsor of terrorism (Pakistan) has it. Why not encourage Israel to take care of them? They're a hell of a lot more dangerous than Iran. Leave Iran alone.
I don't even support sanctions. Making the Iranian government feel victimized only makes them more paranoid. The Iranian people aren't some backwards tribesmen. They have, or want to have, everything we have. Much of it has to be hidden from the government, but only part of their government is elected. The religious guy who sits at the top (Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) is the real problem. Iran's got a lot of unemployed young men and Khameni's a good "grassroots organizer". He can whip up a riot in mere hours in response to American or Israeli actions. Normal people trying to lead normal lives have a hard time getting rid of a guy like that. Especially when the evening news is talking about Gaza and the West Bank. Everybody's upset about Israel.
In fact, there's only 3 ways they will ever get rid of him and his ilk.
1. Things get so bad the people have nothing left to lose by taking to the streets against him.
2. All the young men get jobs and get wives and kids.
or
3. Some great inspirational person or event broadly changes public opinion.
Obviously this does not address outside intervention, but if history teaches us anything, it teaches that overthrowing governments often has unintended consequences. In fact, that's how Iran got into the mess they're in now. We overthrew their government in the 50's and the guy we left in charge got overthrown by the current bunch back in '79. The regime change thing is very tricky. Best to let each country work out its own government.
Which brings us back to the nuclear issue. Israel has the bomb. That makes the Supreme Leader nervous. US support of Israel's policies against the Palestinians makes the Iranian people mad enough to support their government sometimes. Can we blame them for wanting nukes? We've shafted them for decades and given them a neighbor that can nuke them unchallenged. A neighbor widely seen in the region as a bully.
We're not the only country allowed to exploit our natural resources. We're not the only country allowed to pollute. We're not the only country allowed to exploit our workers. And we're not the only country allowed to have an arms race. Even if we beat everyone else to it by decades.
Ok, we have here a case of Israel making threatening moves on Iran. Threatening talk, too. And Iran responds by testing long range missiles that could threaten Israel. For this the US State Department condemns Iran.
Imagine two hypothetical countries. One country is allowed to achieve nuclear weapons. The other country, nearby, now feels unsafe unless they can get nukes too. Country 1 feels threatened by country 2's attempt to get nukes. We allow country 1 to attack country 2, but we don't allow country 2 to retaliate or even defend itself. Country 2 sees its fears confirmed and works harder to get nukes. We allow country 1 to attack country 2, but we don't allow country 2 to retaliate or even defend itself. Country 2 gets really mad and starts making threats. We call them foolish and crazy. And terrorists.
Meanwhile in countries 3-85 leaders are organizing campaigns to rape ethnic minorities into extinction, starve the political opposition, steal the entire GDP and run, and scores of other atrocities.
The nuclear cat is out of the bag. It's not going back in. Get used to it. The number one state sponsor of terrorism (Pakistan) has it. Why not encourage Israel to take care of them? They're a hell of a lot more dangerous than Iran. Leave Iran alone.
I don't even support sanctions. Making the Iranian government feel victimized only makes them more paranoid. The Iranian people aren't some backwards tribesmen. They have, or want to have, everything we have. Much of it has to be hidden from the government, but only part of their government is elected. The religious guy who sits at the top (Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) is the real problem. Iran's got a lot of unemployed young men and Khameni's a good "grassroots organizer". He can whip up a riot in mere hours in response to American or Israeli actions. Normal people trying to lead normal lives have a hard time getting rid of a guy like that. Especially when the evening news is talking about Gaza and the West Bank. Everybody's upset about Israel.
In fact, there's only 3 ways they will ever get rid of him and his ilk.
1. Things get so bad the people have nothing left to lose by taking to the streets against him.
2. All the young men get jobs and get wives and kids.
or
3. Some great inspirational person or event broadly changes public opinion.
Obviously this does not address outside intervention, but if history teaches us anything, it teaches that overthrowing governments often has unintended consequences. In fact, that's how Iran got into the mess they're in now. We overthrew their government in the 50's and the guy we left in charge got overthrown by the current bunch back in '79. The regime change thing is very tricky. Best to let each country work out its own government.
Which brings us back to the nuclear issue. Israel has the bomb. That makes the Supreme Leader nervous. US support of Israel's policies against the Palestinians makes the Iranian people mad enough to support their government sometimes. Can we blame them for wanting nukes? We've shafted them for decades and given them a neighbor that can nuke them unchallenged. A neighbor widely seen in the region as a bully.
We're not the only country allowed to exploit our natural resources. We're not the only country allowed to pollute. We're not the only country allowed to exploit our workers. And we're not the only country allowed to have an arms race. Even if we beat everyone else to it by decades.
June 23, 2008
George Carlin dead...
This is terrible.
At least he went quickly. He didn't suffer for years. He was active right up to the end.
Oh god. This is terrible.
At least he went quickly. He didn't suffer for years. He was active right up to the end.
Oh god. This is terrible.
May 30, 2008
Is technology the whore of capitalism?
From Huffington Post comes a movie review for War, Inc. that asks a fascinating question.
Read the rest. It's an interesting idea.
He speculates about the influence of technology in the development of capitalism (and war). Technology makes it cheaper to produce with fewer workers but that savings disappears into a capitalists pocket. Our ancestors seemed to think that technology would encourage social equality. A lot of technogeeks today would agree. So far it doesn't seem to be working. Instead technology encourages capitalism. Which encourages inequality. Which encourages war. Which encourages technology...
I never realized that my lost leisure time has been out making war.
Here's his thought provoking answer to his own question
Did technology really think we would all be socialists by now? Silly goose. Is that why it made those promises it couldn't keep?
Read the rest. It's an interesting idea.
He speculates about the influence of technology in the development of capitalism (and war). Technology makes it cheaper to produce with fewer workers but that savings disappears into a capitalists pocket. Our ancestors seemed to think that technology would encourage social equality. A lot of technogeeks today would agree. So far it doesn't seem to be working. Instead technology encourages capitalism. Which encourages inequality. Which encourages war. Which encourages technology...
I never realized that my lost leisure time has been out making war.
May 29, 2008
Doc Savage!
Talk about serendipity. I've been reading The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps recently and really enjoying all the tough guys and sharp broads and all the other fun cliches you only get in that kind of detective fiction. Normally I'm a sci-fi/fantasy reader, but detective stories are my first fallback so it makes sense that I would enjoy Doc Savage. If you haven't read any, DO. They're more fun than anything on TV. World-famous detective, also world-famous band of sidekicks, techno-toys, James Bond type villians (long before Bond), Doc Savage has everything. Think of a cross between Batman and Buckaroo Banzai. So when I found this marvelous site that reads, reviews, and rates the Doc Savage books I was like a kitten with a new toy. Now I know what to get when I finish the Black Lizard.
May 26, 2008
May 08, 2007
The World Wants To Know
Last night I went to Nashville to see the opening show of the Polyphonic Spree tour. With me were my boyfriend and a new convert. We waited almost 2 hours at Nashville's City Hall, a big brick room that promised plentiful echoes, for the show to start. The concert opened and closed with new songs, which made up about half of the material. From the moment the full band kicked in I couldn't have noticed echoes if there were any. Although I counted only 14 people on stage the sound was bigger than anything I'd ever heard. The smallish but happy crowd listened attentively to the new songs and jumped and waved for the older, familiar ones. It felt as if the band had played about 6 songs when Tim called last song and very soon the stage was empty. The encore was everything I had hoped for. The 05' tour robes were back, the band resumed the stage by parading through the crowd, and the extended set of older material left us much happier than the somewhat ambiguous ending of the show proper.
If anyone made a bootleg of the show I'd love to know about it. I'll be looking for video clips on youtube.
If the Spree are coming to your town or anywhere within 5 hours, GO!
Thank you Tim and company. Thank You.
If anyone made a bootleg of the show I'd love to know about it. I'll be looking for video clips on youtube.
If the Spree are coming to your town or anywhere within 5 hours, GO!
Thank you Tim and company. Thank You.
August 24, 2006
Into the Great Wide Open
Indiana sucks.
My front yard is a soybean field.
"these are just simple farmers, these are people of the land, the common clay of the new west. You know . . . morons."
Mel Brooks, Blazin' Saddles
One strange thing-there's a Tibetian monastery here. There was a Krishna temple back home, but I never expected to find the Dali Lama's brother running a restaurant in Indiana. I wonder if he had as much trouble settling for it as I am. I'm sure he would tell me it was all temporary anyway so why worry about it.
My front yard is a soybean field.
"these are just simple farmers, these are people of the land, the common clay of the new west. You know . . . morons."
Mel Brooks, Blazin' Saddles
One strange thing-there's a Tibetian monastery here. There was a Krishna temple back home, but I never expected to find the Dali Lama's brother running a restaurant in Indiana. I wonder if he had as much trouble settling for it as I am. I'm sure he would tell me it was all temporary anyway so why worry about it.
January 02, 2006
Zappa is still dead
Frank Zappa, the eminently sensible man, is featured in Ifilm's top 25 viral videos of 2005. The 1986 Crossfire episode is well worth watching.
I wondered if Frank were alive, would he support John McCain? Frank's small government conservative politics might line up well with McCain's .
Where did big government Republicans come from? It seems to me that conservatives, by definition, should want as few rules as possible. Social Darwinism of a sort. Then the liberal political philosophy must try to level the playing field; imposing rules to protect the weak.
I heard someone recently on Public Radio say that the founding principle of every major world religion is compassion. Perhaps that too is the liberal impulse.
I wondered if Frank were alive, would he support John McCain? Frank's small government conservative politics might line up well with McCain's .
Where did big government Republicans come from? It seems to me that conservatives, by definition, should want as few rules as possible. Social Darwinism of a sort. Then the liberal political philosophy must try to level the playing field; imposing rules to protect the weak.
I heard someone recently on Public Radio say that the founding principle of every major world religion is compassion. Perhaps that too is the liberal impulse.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)