Quote of the Day

It's not really shocking in a society that makes celebrities out of people who do little more than get drunk and punch each other on camera that people are becoming less and less civil to each other. When you think about it, it's hard to find examples of civility anymore.

[...]

Maybe I read too much into things, but I also wonder if our collective online obsessions aren't sucking the soul out us. I can waste a whole day online and I'm not proud of it. And I ponder, more and more frequently, the merits of getting a real life. One that doesn't consist of me sitting at my computer and setting a bad example for my kids.

-- SQT from the post Wanted: A Survival Guide to Online Narcissism and Incivility

This entire post is excellent and well worth reading.

Currently Listening

1. “Pieces of You” by Christophe (from Unpaid Fines)
2. “Bells” by Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas (from Bristle Ridge)
3. “White Trash Wedding” by Dixie Chicks (from Home)
4. “Money Talks” by Hayseed Dixie (from A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC)
5. “I’m Well, You’re Poison” by Red City Radio (from The Dangers of Standing Still)
6. “Take the Long Way” by Swingin’ Utters (from Daytrotter Studios 2/24/2011)
7. “(Memento Mori)” by Tim Barry (from 28th & Stonewall)
8. “Atomic Power” by Uncle Tupelo (from March 16-20, 1992 [Bonus Tracks])
9. “3-2-1” by The Methadones (from The Methadones)
10. “Jake Song Too” by Drag the River (from Bad at Breaking Up)

Video of the Day

"For Better, For Worse" by Old Man Markley

Currently Listening

1. “Kiss Off” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
2. “10 West” by Chuck Ragan (from Gold Country)
3. “One to Two” by Dag Nasty (from Dag with Shawn)
4. “Undecided” by The Methadones (from The Methadones)
5. “Rebound” by Sebadoh (from Bakesale)
6. “Idle Idylist” by Tim Barry (from Laurel Street Demo 2005)
7. “Outdone” by Uncle Tupelo (from No Depression [Bonus Tracks])
8. “50th & Western” by Red City Radio (from The Dangers of Standing Still)
9. “Science vs. Romance” by Rilo Kiley (from Take Offs and Landings)
10. “Alive or Dead” by The Draft (from In a Million Pieces)

Two Generation X Films

Jen at Are you There, God? It’s Me, Generation X has posted trailers for two Generation X centered films. The first is the indie film Loveless and the second is the documentary [X]ingularity. Both films look extremely good and I can’t wait to see them.

Are Catholics Christians?

That is the question posed and pondered by Man of the West. Personally I tend to think of all Christian denominations as being Christian but admittedly I have never studied the specific doctrines on any of them.

Video of the Day

"Try This at Home" by Frank Turner

My New Favorite Conservative Talk Show Host

I listen to a lot of talk radio, everything from just about anything on NPR to Glenn Beck to Rush Limbaugh to Kim Kamando to Dave Ramsey to Coast to Coast AM (though it hasn’t been the same since Art Bell left) to Clark Howard (when I can find his show on) to Neal Boortz. Many of these are what one would call conservative talk radio shows. I have no shame admitting that I like Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz, and Bill O’Reilly (though he’s no longer on the radio). I enjoy listening to their programs. Sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I think that they are crazy. Lately though the host that is doing the best job in covering and discussing of the financial situation is Jerry Doyle (Official, Wikipedia).

What I really appreciate about Doyle is the fact that he is not afraid to take on and/or piss off anyone, including Fox News. It is extremely refreshing hearing someone willing to go after whoever needs to be gone after, no matter what side of the political spectrum they are in. Sadly his show is played late at night in OKC on 1520 AM but I do catch a bit of it on my way home from work. If nothing else, it is a show worth checking out once or twice if you are a fan of talk radio.

My Thoughts on the Protests in Wisconsin

Until yesterday I really hadn’t followed or paid attention to the protests going on in Wisconsin, but then I heard the issue covered on The Diane Rehm Show and the entire thing kind of made me sick. More than anything else it was crystal clear that neither side really cared a lick about actually trying to solve the issues facing the state. Those who represented each side in the conversation were so entrenched in their ideology that they could see that the forest is burning around the one tree that they are trying to save. In other words, the GOP seems to want the unions busted at all costs and the unions wants to be able to tell employers what to do at all costs. Neither belief is logical nor helpful in this (or probably any) situation.

So what do we get when there are two parties that so vehemently disagree on even having a real discussion on the issues at hand? Chaos. Not only do we get chaos, but it is chaos for no good reason. And who is suffering because of it? The kids.

Here’s the deal. Wisconsin, like so many other states, is broke. In order to fix the problem, all parties involved must come to the table and be willing to make sacrifices because there simply isn’t enough money to do everything. There are also no simple answers. You can’t simply kill the unions or raise taxes on major corporations and expect that to fix the problems. It won’t. These problems aren’t as simplistic as the rhetoric would like them to be.

What Wisconsin needs—hell what we all need—is a serious and honest debate about these issues and the things that are truly important to us as a society. We must bring our differing ideas together and work on solutions that take the best parts of all different sides to create a legitimate resolution that takes from all and benefits all at the same time. We need real discussions, real negotiations, and real compromise if we want these fiscal issues to actually get resolved. This isn’t about saying the unions, political parties, or business interests…it’s about saving the country and that is where our focus should be.

Currently Listening

1. “Home” by Ben Lee (from Ripe)
2. “Let It Go” by The Draft (from In a Million Pieces)
3. “Lucky Joe’s” by Drag the River (from Chicken Demos)
4. “Sweet Caroline” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Have a Ball)
5. “Express Yourself” by N.W.A. (from Straight Outta Compton)
6. “Rest of My Life” by Rilo Kiley (from Take Offs and Landings)
7. “Little Mascara” by The Replacements (from Tim [Expanded Edition])
8. “Walk 500 Miles” by Tim Barry (from 28th & Stonewall)
9. “Outdone” by Uncle Tupelo (from No Depression [Bonus Tracks])
10. “Not Fine” by Armchair Martin (from The Blasting Room)

Where is the Best Place to Buy Music if You Want the Band to Get the Most Money?

According to this story, it’s directly from the band.

From the story –

While the many layers of complex contracts, discounts and placement programs can make it tough to know exactly how much of your dollar a band gets from a retail outlet, there's one reassuring certainty. When you buy your album directly from the band, it actually sees significantly more money.

That's because in this scenario – say, when you buy it from a band at a show – the musicians function as the retail store. Which means they pay the wholesale cost for the album, and you pay the retail to them. "So they're purchasing from the label and the money that goes back to the label is paid back to them in their royalty share," Barger explains. "But all of the markup that would normally go to the retail store goes to the band when you purchase it at a show."

Even if you subtract a fee from the venue, that can mean an extra five or six dollars per sale. Which can add up.

Plus, there's a bonus. The San Francisco-based musician John Vanderslice calls sales via digital or brick and mortar outlets "essential" but "unknowable transaction[s] to me." Handing over a copy of an LP to a fan at a show, though, is his favorite "It's a totally exciting and very pure thrill that will never die with me. Like half of the fun of playing a live show for me is going to the merch table and talking to people and signing stuff. ... It feels really great to hand-deliver that to a fan."

The story doesn’t mention if you purchase a CD or a download directly from the band’s website, but I suspect the same basic situation applies.

The few times that I do get to go to shows, I like to buy something from the band if I have any cash on hand. I know that merchandise sales are hugely important to bands on the road and I like to support them in any way that I can.

For me when it comes to buying music, I am definitely a brick and mortar man. In fact I think it is safe to say that at least 75% of my music purchases occur at Guestroom Records in Norman. I’m really not a fan of downloading music. Part of this is because my internet/computer at home leaves a lot to be desired, but more than that I like having the physical CD to hold and the liner notes to read. I also like have stacks of really kick ass CDs in my house! So when it comes time for me to make my purchases, I much prefer to give my money to a local business and to be honest Guestroom Records is the best record store that I have even seen. That’s not to say that I won’t pick something up at a Borders, Wal-Mart, Hastings, or Vintage Stock, because from time to time I do (it actually kind of amazing the out of print gems you can find used at Hastings) but at the end of the day, Guestroom gets the vast majority of my business.

What Does the Federal Government Do Best?

Apparently write checks.

Shame on You 105.3!!!

In the never ending battle for The Spy, the Citadel Spy has started airing shows that not only resemble the specialty shows that are found on the Ferris O’Brien Spy, but outright use the same names. That is not cool at all. The argument for the moniker of The Spy name itself is one this, but stealing the names of the specialty shows that were created by the DJs under the O’Brien Spy is wrong. Those shows were not part of the first Citadel Spy incarnation (circa 2002-2004) and thus the Citadel Spy has no claim on them at all.

Back in January I wrote a post in which I lamented that I found myself hearing more music that I actually like and know on the Citadel Spy. Needless to say I got some flack fro that admission and I totally understand why. What Ferris O’Brien is doing is a truly amazing thing and I wish him nothing but the best of luck and future success, I was just always a little disappointed that he wasn’t playing a better variety of alternative music (or specifically more stuff that I like).

On a related note, it appears that all internet pages of the Citadel Spy are no longer valid. They have an official website and a Facebook page but the URLs for both no longer work. Not sure what that means, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I had one less radio station to listen to in my car here pretty soon.

Currently Listening

1. “Divine Hammer” by The Breeders (from Last Splash)
2. “Cannonball” by The Breeders (from Last Splash)
3. “Never Go Back” by Dag Nasty (from Dag with Shawn)
4. “Average Man” by Dag Nasty (from Minority of One)
5. “Between the Lines” by Chuck Ragan (from Feast of Famine)
6. “Do You Pray” by Chuck Ragan (from Feast of Famine)
7. “Get Over It Or Get It Over With” by Drag the River (from Bad at Breaking Up)
8. “Confession” by Drag the River (from Chicken Demos)
9. “Wipe the Clock by Uncle Tupelo (from March 16-20, 1992 [Bonus Tracks])
10. “Outdone” by Uncle Tupelo (from No Depression [Bonus Tracks])

Video of the Day

"Do You Pray" by Chuck Ragan

Check It Out

The modern day mix tape.

For as Much as They Talk About Liberty…

Many conservatives only really want liberty for some. Now to be completely fair, many liberals are guilty of this sin as well. Liberty is not easy, especially when it is liberty for something or with someone with whom you disagree. It’s easy to tell those people to shut up, to call them names, and to deny their rights. I mean why not? They’re on the side that you’re against so why wouldn’t you want them stifled? That’s what this country is all about, right?

Wrong.

Those who cry about their loss of liberty by then trying to deny liberty to others do not understand the concept.

Case in point. I got the following email as part of an American Family Association Action Alert (emphasis theirs)–

Critical to AFA's efforts has always been to demand that the U.S. Department of Justice enforce federal laws against illegal adult pornography or "obscenity" as it is called. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the First Amendment does NOT protect obscene material and federal laws prohibit distribution of obscene adult pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV (including pay-per-view) and thus on hotel/motel television, through the mail, and in retail outlets.

Yet, there have been NO federal indictments for obscenity in two years by the U.S. Department of Justice. Now we have learned from a friend inside the Department of Justice that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has quietly shut down the Obscenity Prosecution Task Force. WE NEED TO ACT NOW. Pornography is causing widespread devastation in America, ruining marriages, causing addictions to children and adults, causing violence against women, and leading to prostitution and sex trafficking.

A letter from U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and U.S. Representatives Mike McIntyre (D-NC) and Randy Forbes (R-VA) addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder requests that he begin vigorously prosecuting major producers and distributors of illegal adult pornography. Senator Hatch and Representatives McIntyre and Forbes are circulating these letters now to all Members of Congress urging them to co-sign with them. They need your help as a voter to get your senators and house member to co-sign these letters to Attorney General Holder. View the congressional letter here.

Take Action

Contact your Senators and Congressman today. Send an email and ask your members of congress to sign the letter to Attorney General Eric Holder today!

I’m not going to argue the merits (or the lack their of) of pornography. That’s not the point. The point here is that the AFA wants to take away the rights of adults from wanting to take advantage of a product produced by adults and for adults. Again, they key here is the word adult. This is one group trying to tell the rest of society what they can or cannot do in the privacy of their own home. If the issue was smoking and the group calling for action was a liberal group, organizations like the AFA would be up in arms screaming and crying about their eroding liberties. This is the same thing.

Liberty is hard. It is sticky and ugly and something that we are losing in this country. We are losing it to an ever expanding government and ever expanding corporations that suck us dry while they keep us distracted with bread and circus. If we truly want liberty, then we're going to have to fight for it and I'm sorry but the AFA is NOT fighting for liberty.

And since we're on the subject, here is my all time favorite presidential movie scene and liberty happens to be the topic --

Mental Health Break

Thanks to Classically Liberal for the find.

Video of the Day

"Spinning In Circles is a Gateway Drug" by Red City Radio


Thanks to Oklahoma Rock News Blog for the find.

Does Anyone Else See the Absurdity and Irony in This Headline?

Charlie Sheen to Lindsay Lohan: 'Work On Your Impulse Control'

NBC Announces the Identity of the New Wonder Woman

And her name is Adrianne Palicki. Based solely on the picture in the story, she seems to look the part. I was a bit surprised to see this story this morning because that last I heard the Wonder Woman project had been scrapped.

Currently Listening

1. “Skull” by Sebadoh (from Bakesale)
2. “Ocean” by Sebadoh (from Harmacy)
3. “Brand New Love” by Sebadoh (from Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock)
4. “Walk 500 Miles” by Tim Barry (from 28th & Stonewall)
5. “Thing of the Past” by Tim Barry (from 28th & Stonewall)
6. “Do You Pray” by Chuck Ragan (from Feast or Famine)
7. “Between the Lines” by Chuck Ragan (from Feast or Famine)
8. “Until I Say So” by Drag the Rive (from Chicken’s Demos)
9. “Best & Worst” by Drag the River (from Bad at Breaking Up)
10. “Back to God” by Drag the River (from Hobo’s Demos)

Currently Watching: Secret Origins: The Story of DC Comics

Title: Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (IMDB, Amazon)

This is a documentary that covers the story and history of DC Comics. It takes you from the beginnings of the company to the Golden Age through the Silver, Bronze, and Modern Ages and is narrated by the new Green Lantern Ryan Reynolds.

I’m only about an hour or so into this documentary and while it started out great, I must admit that I am disappointed with how it have handled covering the Modern Age of comics. So far (and I as this because this is basically where I had to stop watching before going to work yesterday) there has been no mention at all of the series Crisis on Infinite Earths. I would argue that COIE is one of the most important series of the Modern Age and honestly if you truly want to understand The Dark Knight Returns (a series that was covered) you need to the context from which it was born. To understand anything that happened in DC Comics after 1985, one needs to know COIE.

Other than that the documentary is enjoyable and I’m looking forward to seeing the ending. If you are new to comics then this is a pretty good place to start.

Picture of the Day

I stole this from my friend’s Facebook Gallery Real Town Names. There is some hilarious stuff in here.

Quote of the Day

The worst recession in 80 years and a bloated deficit mean the federal government has to cut its spendy ways. But budget cutting is best done with a surgical knife, not a billy club.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[...]

This annoying hardy perennial proposal from Republicans is no wiser this time around than it was when it was presented and beaten back many times before.

If you get out your remote and flip through the hundreds of cable stations, you might come to a different conclusion. You might say, who needs PBS when there are hundreds of other channels? We all need PBS, NPR and numerous local public radio and TV stations. They help educate our children. They enrich us culturally and provide community connections not available anywhere else.

More than half of all Americans use public media every month, connecting through 368 public television stations and 934 public radio stations. We can all cite our favorites, from "Sesame Street" to "NOVA" to "PBS NewsHour" (with Jim Lehrer) to "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered" and "Prairie Home Companion."

[...]

Dialing back public funding for public radio and TV would be a shortsighted move. Congress should leave the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the unique programs it funds alone.

-- From the editorial Congress Should Keep Hands Off Public Broadcasting (emphasis mine)

Currently Listening

1. “The Boat” by Chuck Ragan (from Feast or Famine)
2. “Justification” by Dag Nasty (from Dag with Shawn)
3. “Until I Say So” by Drag the River (from Chicken Demos)
4. “Man the Change” by Hot Water Music (from Forever and Counting)
5. “Walk 500 Miles” by Tim Barry (from 28th & Stonewall)
6. “New Eyes Open” by The Draft (from In a Million Pieces)
7. “Saints” by The Breeders (from Last Splash)
8. “Say Goodbye to Your Generation” The Methadones (from Career Objective)
9. “Stumped” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
10. “Sheep Go to Heaven” by Cake (from Prolong the Music)

Christian Nation Debate at OCCC

This should be interesting –

The Oklahoma City Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church & State will hold a free public debate on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 7 p.m. on the Oklahoma City Community College campus.

The debate topic will be:"Resolved, the United States Constitution neither established nor advocates for a Christian nation."

Dr. Bruce Prescott, Executive Director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists and President of the Norman, Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will argue the AFFIRMATIVE and Dr. Steve Kern, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, will argue the NEGATIVE. Dr. Kern is married to Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern.

[...]

Event moderator will be Mike Fuller, OKAU chapter president. Rev. Jim Shields, board member of the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, will conduct the debate and the post debate Q & A session from the audience. The event will conclude at 8:30 pm.

Participants will have the opportunity to express with which position they tend to agree. This event is free and open to the public.

Another Attempt to Kill Public Broadcasting

Republicans in Congress are, yet again, trying to kill NPR and PBS by completely cutting their funding. This is beyond unacceptable. NPR and PBS are the only two news organizations worth a damn but even beyond that, they are the only media outlets in this country that produce the kind of important programming that you will just can’t find on commercial radio and television. Thankfully people are mobilizing to prevent this from happening (you can sign a poll in support of NPR/PBS here and send a letter to Congress here).

I completely understand that our budget and spending is out of control but this is NOT the way to take control of it. How about looking into the spending at the Pentagon that they can’t even account for? I think that would be a better place to start than trying to put an end to Big Bird.

Currently Listening

1. “Saints” by The Breeders (from Last Splash)
2. “Your Words” by Dag Nasty (from Minority of One)
3. “All We Can Count On” by The Draft (from In a Million Pieces)
4. “Down Every Day” by Filthy Thieving Bastards (from I’m a Son of a Gun)
5. “Man the Change” by Hot Water Music (from Forever and Counting)
6. “Be Your Witness” by Kevin Seconds (from Good Luck Buttons)
7. “Stuck in My Head” by The Methadones (from Career Objective)
8. “Volcano Girls” by Veruca Salt (from Eight Arms to Hold You)
9. “Average” by Armstrong (from Dick: The Lion Hearted)
10. “Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug” by Red City Radio (from Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug)

Video of the Day

"Unconsciously Screamin'" by The Flaming Lips

Morgan Freeman on Black History Month

10 questions with Christophe Murdock

Christophe Murdock has been playing in the Oklahoma City music scene for over ten years, playing everything from death rock to outlaw country. Currently he is playing outlaw country solo. I interviewed Christophe for OklahomaPunkScene.com while he was playing in the band Mockingbird Lane. You can read that interview here. This interview was conducted via Facebook in February 2011.

For more information on Christophe check him out on his Music Blog, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and ReverbNation.

Dave: How did you first become involved with making music?

Christophe: Well, as far back as I can remember my family had me musically involved. My sister took piano lessons and my Mom started me out with them as well. I played violin for a while too. My cousin was a sucessful musician and I was just always around it. I can't remember a life before music. I also remember when I was real little I wanted to be a singer for a rock band. My sister would make tapes of me screaming my lungs out. I was 6 and thought I was so punk rock.

Dave: How would you describe your music to those who have never heard your stuff before?

Christophe: I guess the majority of what I do I would say is similar to the seventies outlaw country infused with a little bit of the eighties hardcore punk edge.

Dave: You used to play in a death rock band called Mockingbird Lane. How did you transition from playing that kind of music to what you play now?

Christophe: I actually played what I play now before I did Mockingbird Lane. I was never really comfortable playing without a band though so my shows were few and far between. I still have a demo I never released that Sam Pena from Sounder had recorded for me before the Mockingird days that includes "Misery Road" which is also on my latest ep. During the time of M.L. I was still writing all kinds of music. The folk, country, electronica and just whatever came to mind.

After M.L. I had stopped doing music for a while. I would still write occasionally, but that was about it. When I started playing regularly and wanting to do shows again I didn't want to deal with a band. Too many years of incompetant people that couldn't play the music or wouldn't show up. Too much money spent. During the M.L. it was all on my dime, every instrument, every amp. It was just a bunch of b.s. I didn't want to deal with anymore. So I tried to concentrate more on my stuff that would work acoustically.

Dave: Who are your favorite bands/artists to play with? What are your favorite cities and/or venues to play?

Christophe: Well, since I've been back I guess my favorites to play with have been the ones I've always loved to see live anyway. Bands like Billy Joe Winghead and Bloody 'Ol Mule. Also, I did a show with some of my hometown kids once, The Jimmy Hats. That was a lot of fun. The club was serving my whiskey by the cup and I was up there with them running through some old punk classics.

As far as cities and venues. I had a blast the last time I was in Colorado Springs. I played a bar called Copperhead Road that was a total party and in a nearby town I played a bar called the Ancient Mariner. That was a real nice intimate time. Locally the Castle is cool. Great stage set-up and sound.

Dave: Being someone who has been involved with the music scene in Oklahoma for quite a while, what do you think is the current state of the local music scene?

Christophe: Does anyone have an adrenaline shot? Seems too many places are closed down. I've been to too many shows where there's no-one out. Seems everyone wants to go to a dance club vs. seeing a live act.

Dave: Howe many releases do you have out? How would someone get a hold of your music/releases (do you have anything available in some of the local record stores like Guestroom and Size)?

Christophe: As Christophe... currently five releases I think... 'The Life Of An Outlaw: 1-17-08 Demos' had only 100 pressed and is sold out. 'Covers' was just a burn I did around the same time. 'Ten Necromantic Classics', my split with Thomas Gun, can still be found on Reverb Nation. (http://www.reverbnation.com/tennecromanticclassics) The two I'm currently pushing are 'Fear The Dead' limited to 300 on mixed colored vinyl, and the 'Crossroads' ep on CD. Both of those are at the Norman Guestroom. Oh, and also SmacOne's album 'Bootleg This' has a re-mix of one of my songs on it.

Between now and Feb. 15th I'm taking orders for an ultra limited edition compilation CD to help pay some fines off... so it's called "Unpaid Fines". I might extend the final date because of the weather. I know mail wasn't running for a few days there. This CD will be full length and include demos and rare tracks from various projects I'm in. You can get the info and view the current track listing here: http://hardcoreokieboy.blogspot.com/2011/01/rare-cd-available-for-limited-time-only.html I'm also thinking about adding a couple live tracks including a Too Live Crew cover and possibly a Social Parasite track.

Dave: If you could collaborate with any musician, alive or dead, who would you want to work with?

Christophe: Honestly, I'd have to say my cousin.

Dave: This is a High Fidelity inspired question. What are your top 5 favorite bands/artists, albums, movies, television shows, books/authors?

Christophe: I don't feel like making a list. So I'll give you my top one of each.
Artist: Roky Erickson
Album: Cancerslug's 'Alabama Bloodbath' for sentimental reasons.
Movie: Martin by George Romero
Television Show: Night Gallery
Book: A Clockwork Orange, with the final chapter.

Dave: What’s next for you?

Christophe: Coming back home. I've got six days on the road starting Feb. 21st. Then I'll be back in Okla for a while.

Dave: Any final thoughts?

Christophe: Find me on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, ReverbNation and virtually anything else with the extension /HardcoreOkieBoy

Cover Wars: "Flight Test"

The Flaming Lips vs. Scott Reynolds





My Vote: I can't pick one. This is one of my favorite post-Clouds Taste Metallic Flaming Lips' songs but Scott also does a killer verision of it.

Video of the Day

"Mr. Shepherd's Bandage" by The Pavers

Blast from the Past: A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC

Title: A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC (Amazon, Last.fm, Wikipedia)
Artist: Hayseed Dixie (Official, MySpace, Facebook, Last.fm, Wikipedia)

Who would have thought that doing an album of bluegrass renditions of AC/DC songs would be a good idea? The guys in Hayseed Dixie, that’s who. Originally released in 2001 on Dualtone Records (Official, Wikipedia) and re-issued in 2006 on Cooking Vinyl (Official, Wikipedia) the record includes amazing bluegrass takes on the AC/DC classics “Money Talks,” “Highway to Hell,” “T.N.T.,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” (just to name a few). Here’s what I wrote about this record in my review for The Masses at Midnight –

One look at the back cover of this CD says it all... four overall clad gentlemen straight from the hills of nowhere, complete with fiddles, steel guitar, and ZZ Top beards, prepared to give you the boot scootin'-est renditions of 10 of AC/DC's best tunes. This CD is a classic from the cover art, to the songs, to the hilarious liner notes. This CD is a must!

Hayseed Dixie went on to do records covering the likes of Kiss, Queen, Spinal Tap, Motorhead, The Darkness, Sex Pistols, and many others along with original songs. Admittedly I lost track of the band after their third record (Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss, after which they have released five other albums). While the Kiss tribute and their second record A Hillbilly Tribute to Mountain Love (which included the aptly placed covers of Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” and Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom” right next to each other and closed with the hilarious original “I’m Keeping Your Poop”) were both quite good, neither lived up to the AC/DC fueled first album.

In a lot of ways I think of Hayseed Dixie as the bluegrass answer to Me First & the Gimme Gimmes. They are an extremely talented band that happens to do a great job covering songs that others in the genre probably would never touch. A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC is a record that fans of bluegrass, AC/DC, alt country, and just great music should definitely check out.

So Exactly How Much Can You Get Wrong and Still Be a Christian?

That is the question asked, pondered, and answered by Man of the West in the post Just How Much Can You Get Wrong and Still Be a Christian?. I’ve often contemplated this type of thing myself and MOTW does a very good job of offering, what I would call, a very well informed opinion from the point of view of an evangelical Christian (or maybe he’s better described as a Christian apologetic…I’ll let him decide/correct me on that one).

Since I am not a Christian, I’m not really qualified to answer this question myself, but I would like to know what other Christians think.

One Consequence of Being an “At Will” / “Right to Work” State

Workers have little to no rights. Take this story as case in point.

From the story –

Despite declared states of emergency, employers legally can penalize, or even fire, workers for absences during storms.

“It might not be the best public relations, but there's nothing illegal about it,” said Nathan Whatley, an employment law attorney with McAfee and Taft law firm in Oklahoma City.

It's fairly common, Whatley said, for companies with entry-level jobs or high turnover to have strict “no-fault” attendance policies.

“They don't want to hear about it (reasons for absences) or don't care why,” he said, “especially at call centers where everyone being there is their entire business.”

Whatley's comments came after a worker with a metro-area call center e-mailed NewsOK.com on Monday, complaining that she'd been “written up” for work days she missed last week due to the storm.

The employee, who wanted to remain nameless for fear of retribution, said she worked for an hour clearing her driveway Wednesday only to get stuck on her private road in northeast Oklahoma County.

The worker called her absence into the office Wednesday and again on Thursday. But when she made it in Sunday — her next scheduled work day — she had a message on her computer that she had two points against her record. Workers face termination after 12, she said.

Thankfully, she has numerous points to go, but still is unhappy.

“My biggest complaint is that this huge corporation started writing up employees who could not make it into work,” she told The Oklahoman via a telephone call Monday. “I think it's terrible the way they're doing people. You would think they would take the conditions into consideration.

“Several of us are so upset,” she said. “It makes us feel like they don't care about us.”

That last quote is the kicker. When companies have policies like this and penalize someone for missing work because his/her car is literally stuck in the snow, then the message that they are sending is crystal clear – we don’t care about you. They will explain it off as something else and rationalize it away but at the end of the day this is a perfect example of corporations not giving a rat’s ass about those who work for them and make them money. (Note – To be completely fair to the individual members of management at various companies, many times they do anything that they can for their employees but their hands are tied by policies written by folks higher up the food chain that have never talked to an entry-level worker, let alone a customer.)

Obviously there needs to be attendance policies in place, and often they need to be strict, because, let’s be honest, if there weren’t people would never come in to work. The work ethic in our society is pretty pathetic. People take constant advantage of any loophole or way to get around something or not take responsibility for their actions, but I do have to wonder how much of that is a reaction to the amount of disrespect shown to workers by these companies. It’s hard to want to give a company your all when you know that they only see you as a number and would soon as fire you as look at you.

So what is a worker to do? If there is something in a workplace that someone thinks should be changed or investigated, what can he/she do about it? Sadly, not much other than look for another job. For one thing, the market is clearly on the side of the employer. With high unemployment rates, employers pretty much have pick of the little. They also know that for every person in their employ, there are dozens, if not hundreds, ready, willing, and able to replace anyone at any time. So why in the world would a company sweat any employee? There’s no need, right? Well that’s the impression that they are sending to their workers, even if it is not intentional.

Currently Listening

1. “Disorder and Disarray” by Rancid (from …And Out Come the Wolves)
2. “Rise” by Public Image Limited (from Album)
3. “Torch Singer” by Buffalo Tom (from Big Red Letter Day)
4. “TV World” by The Methadones (from Career Objective)
5. “Wolves, Lower” by R.E.M. (from Dead Letter Office)
6. “Sink or Swim” by Armstrong (from Dick: The Lion Hearted)
7. “Solace of You” by Living Colour (from Everything is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour)
8. “Last Word Spoken” by One Man Army (from Last Word Spoken)
9. “Happy Rain” by 7 Seconds (from Out the Shizzy)
10. “American Television” by Ben Lee (from Ripe)

Getting Mellow in My Old Age

The other day I told Steve that even without their connection to ALL, Drag the River is becoming one of my favorite bands. He told me that I was getting mellow in my old age. I think he’s probably right. Yesterday I changed out the music on my MP3 player and deleted a lot of punk stuff and replaced it with Johnny Cash and ‘60s soul (Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, and Same Cooke stuff). Also the stuff that I have been really drawn to lately is acoustic and alt country stuff. I still love and listen to a lot of punk rock, but my musical moods lately keep sending me in this mellower direction.

Currently Listening

1. “Chattering Choir” by Drag the River (from Daytrotter Studio 10/21/2010)
2. “Modern Drunkard” by Drag the River (from Primer)
3. “Bleeder” by Hot Water Music (from Alkaline Trio/Hot Water Music [Split CD])
4. “We’ll Say Anything We Want” by Hot Water Music (from Caution)
5. “Sing a Song for Them” by Jenny Lewis (from Acid Tongue)
6. “Melt Your Heart” by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins (from Rabbit Fur Coat)
7. “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements (from Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of The Replacements)
8. “Unsatisfied” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
9. “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash (from Unchained)
10. “Daddy Sang Bass” by Johnny Cash (from The Essential Johnny Cash Disc 2)

Speaking of “Daddy Sang Bass,” I got this thought yesterday when this song came on on my MP3 player – Drag the River should cover this song and have Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry join them on it. That would sound freaking cool!

The WTF Story of the Day

Headline: Minnesota Ice Fishermen Catch Scuba Diver on Lake

Quote of the Day

The American public does not care for its presidents to be Muslims or atheists. Which is stupid. They also have little use for milquetoasts, which is more understandable. Pres. Obama should stop trying to persuade voters who have been fed a diet of falsehood about him that he is not the Other they’ve been conditioned to fear. He ought to look his accusers in the eye and remind them that it's a sin to tell a lie. His base, and their mothers, will thank him for it.

-- Daniel Schultz from the post At National Prayer B'fast Obama Defends His Faith... Again (emphasis mine)

It Doesn’t Get Much Sadder Than This

Fox News reported that President Obama misquoted the Bible at this year’s Prayer Breakfast, when in actuality he was quoting the NIV translation instead of the King James. I’m hoping that this is a case of shoty reporting and not intentional bias, but I’ll let you be the judge.

This section of the second story also stood out to me.

While we're on the subject, allow me to call your attention to this comment left on yesterday's story:

I doubt the public would accept a Wiccan, JW, Pentecostal or Mormon pres either. They might also say that a Unitarian or UCC candidate was too flaky. Might make Kumbaya the national anthem.

Take the analysis for what it's worth. I simply mean to point out the rich irony of a Tea Party nation potentially rejecting Unitarians, members of the United Church of Christ, or (though the comment doesn't mention them) non-believers, given the long tradition of presidents falling into one of those categories. You can't venerate the "traditional values" of the founding fathers without recognizing that their values were based in large part on certain religious beliefs that are no longer in fashion in conservative circles.

I think that it is safe to say that in this day and age, men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln would never be elected to any public office, let alone the presidency. And that is a sad and pathetic commentary on our society, in my humble opinion. Needless to say, I’ll never get elected to anything either.

I do find it ironic that Jefferson is often quoted by conservative Christians, yet he was in no way a conservative or a Christian. In fact the conservatives of his day hated him and swore that the devil would rule the country if he became president. At least we know that crazy talk hasn’t disappeared in the last 200 years.

‘90s Nostalgia is in Full Swing

Beavis and Butthead are back.

Looking for a Creative Way to Quit Your Job?

Here are a few ideas.

Blast from the Past: Bandwagonesque

Title: Bandwagonesque (Amazon, Last.fm, Wikipedia)
Artist: Teenage Fanclub (Official, MySpace, Facebook, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

I was a junior in high school when Teenage Fanclub released their classic album Bandwagonesque. I remember getting it shortly after seeing the video for the first single “Star Sign” and being blown away by its brilliance. Teenage Fanclub was part of the scene that gave us Sonic Youth, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies, Buffalo Tom, Gumball, and Nirvana—in other words grunge, or at least grunge as the term was originally used (before it came to mean “anything from Seattle”). This record was probably most famous for beating out Nirvana’s Nevermind as Spin magazine’s best album of 1991.

Admittedly this is the only record by Teenage Fanclub that I have ever owned or heard and it is entirely possible that I love it as much as I do because of nostalgia but I doubt it. The vast majority of the reviews for this record at the time and over the years have been glowing. They have been glowing for a reason—this record is nearly perfect. There are slow songs, fast songs, and catchy-as-a-cold-in-February songs. But what truly makes this album so good is not only its simple pop mastery but its haunting moments (like “December” and the album’s closing track, the instrumental “Is This Music?”).

If you are a fan of indie rock, power pop, any of the aforementioned bands, or just great rock ‘n’ roll music, I highly suggest that you check Bandwagonesque out for yourself (if you haven’t already that is).

Since Oklahoma is the Reddest State in the Nation…

Do we really need to pass a bunch of laws making the state that much more conservative?

From the story –

Measures include requiring teaching creationism in public schools, paving the way for vouchers for private schools, and establishing when life begins, which could interfere with medical research and a woman's choice to have an abortion, said members of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Americans for Separation of Church and State.

“We've got tons of legitimate problems in this state — economic problems and we've got big deficits,” said Mike Fuller, president of the local group. “These legislators want to focus on these ideological cases that really will not advance our state at all. They'll send it going backward in my opinion.”

[...]

Some of these ideological measures, such as prohibiting evolution being taught in public schools and embryonic stem cell research, will hurt efforts to attract business to the state, Fuller said.

[...]

Greg Stewart, a member of the group, criticized Senate Joint Resolution 23, which would allow voters to consider repealing a section of the state constitution that prohibits state money from being used for any church or religious teacher.

“Removing Article 2, Section 5 would harm religious freedom in this state,” he said.

Considering voters in November approved nine of the 11 state questions on the ballot, it's likely this measure would also win voter approval, several in the audience said.

John Krizan, director of the religious liberty department at the Tenth Street Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1407 NE 10, said he is concerned proposed bills are drawing the church into government affairs.

“The closer you get church and state together the weaker they both become,” he said.

Hutchison criticized Senate Bill 554, which would allow creationism to be taught in public school science classes. He called it a “slick bill” because it states it requires the teaching of evolution but would also consider creationism a science. It would allow religious answers to count on science tests and science assignments.

“We are not anti-religion,” Hutchison said. “We are simply saying religion is supernatural. It cannot be addressed by science.”

Fuller said he is troubled by four bills that would define when life begins in a woman's womb. Some are similar to a measure Henry vetoed two years ago which would have made it a crime for a scientist to perform any form of embryonic stem cell research. The House barely voted to override it; the Senate didn't have enough votes for an override.

House Bill 1571 defines a person as a human being at all stages of human development, including the state of fertilization or conception.

“If it ever is established that an embryo is a person the whole abortion rights case falls apart,” Fuller said. “Women would have no rights. … There would be litigation beyond belief.”

There seem to be three major issues listed here in this story: 1. repealing Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma State Constitution, 2. the teaching of creationism in science class, and 3. abortion. Let’s take a quick look at each in turn.

1. Repealing Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma State Constitution. Article 2, Section 5 states --

   No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.

   Repealing this part of the Constitution would be a terrible idea. Public money should not be used to promote or support religious organizations. End of story. And for those who think that repealing this is a good idea, just realize that once it is done that means that public money could be funneled into non-Christian religious organizations. Can you imagine the public outrage if an Islamic organization were to be given tax dollars. If this passes that could happen.
2. The teaching of Creationism/Intelligent Design in science class. Creationism/Intelligent Design are not scientific theories, they are religious ideas and thus they do not belong in science class. However, as I’ve mentioned in the past, if a student brings up the topic in class it should be discussed with respect to the student and his/her religious beliefs. There is nothing wrong with discussing / asking questions about the topic, but it is not something that belongs in the curriculum or on the test.
3. Abortion. This is a topic that I tend to shy away from discussing for a variety of reasons. My thoughts in regards to this story are as follows—it was my understanding that Oklahoma has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country and thus I don’t see the need for this type of legislation. It would have serious unintended (or maybe not so unintended) consequence that could limit many job opportunities in the state in the high tech / medical research fields. Instead of putting more laws on the books and increasing the size and scope of the government, why not work to find a away to solve the high teenage pregnancy rate in this state? And I’m not talking about using legislation to do it either, outside of campaigns to teach kids the consequences of getting pregnant. There is a gigantic irony that in the most conservative state in the nation, we have incredibly high teenage pregnancy rates. When I moved here in 1992 I remember there being at least two or three girls in my graduating class that either had kids or were pregnant. Teenage pregnancy was unheard of in my high school in Florida. And that was 20 years ago, before Bristol Palin, before Britney Spears’ little sister got knocked up (or was even born), before that teen mom reality show. The irony still amazes me. As religious and conservative as this state is, you’d think that those “no sex before marriage” values would have made a difference. I guess what really would have made more of a difference is kids smart enough to know how and why to use a condom.

With everything that our state legislature should be doing this session, discussing these issues isn’t it. We have budget problems that need to be addressed, jobs that need to be created, and an economy that needs to grow. These bills will not help in any of those areas. The state legislature needs to stop wasting our money on these inconsequential issues and focus on the things that need to be addressed.

Video of the Day

"Better Be Good To Me" by Tina Turner


My first concert was Tina Turner on the Private Dancer Tour. This performance was filmed on that same tour.

Are Fantasy Readers Dumber Than Science Fiction Readers?

That is the question posed by Aidan at A Dribble of Ink. There is quite a discussion on the topic following the post.

My Thoughts (which I posted as a response to the original post) –
Let me preface this by stating that I do read and overall prefer fantasy to science fiction and thusly my exposure to science fiction isn’t as extensive (not that I am all that well read in the fantasy genre mind you…I’m just a nerdy fan).

I think that fantasy and science fiction speak to different parts of the human spirit. Fantasy speaks to our human need for the fantastic. In other words it serves the same basic function that mythology, folklore, and religion have served humanity since the very beginning. I am in no way suggesting that people are out there worshiping the works of Tolkien and company like they would a religious or sacred text (for the most part at least); instead I believe that fantasy stories fill the human need that we have for the fantastical and magical.

On the other hand, science fiction seems to speak to our intellect and curiosity. Good science fiction, at least what I see as good science fiction, makes you think that the technology is possible because it has been explained well (I hope that makes sense). In a way, when reading good science fiction you should think “wow this could really happen” (at least for science fiction that takes place in contemporary times). So with that in mind, I think that science fiction often requires more research on the author’s part to make sure that the science in the fiction actually makes sense and is plausible. As long as the prose then does a good job of explaining the science, the reader doesn’t necessarily need to be more intelligent.

Overall I think that fantasy is a genre that touches us emotionally and science fiction is a genre that touches us intellectually. I don’t think that more intelligence is needed to enjoy science fiction, but one’s personality and temperament will most likely lead a reader to one genre over the other.

How One Brit Sees Oklahoma

And it’s not very nice either.

Currently Listening

1. “There’s a Hole” by Kevin Seconds (from Good Luck Buttons)
2. “Bound to Break Your Heart” by John Moreland (from Rob’s House Demos)
3. “Gotta Be Free” by Mojo Nixon (from Whereabouts Unknown)
4. “AAA” by Paul Westerberg (from Stereo)
5. “Gigantic” by Pixies (from Surfer Rosa [Reissue])
6. “A Brief Lesson in Repetition” by Red City Radio (from Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug)
7. “Speechless” by School of Fish (from School of Fish)
8. “Winners and Losers” by Social Distortion (from Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll)
9. “December” by Teenage Fanclub (from Bandwagonesque)
10. “Back on Me” by Urge Overkill (from Saturation)

Video of the Day

"Proud Mary" by Ike & Tina Turner

A Bank Running a Record Label?

That’s what’s happened to EMI.

From the story –

Citi has taken over EMI Group. EMI, which had been owned by a private equity firm, was formed in 1931 and boasts a catalogue which includes Radiohead, The Decemberists, 30 Seconds to Mars, Beastie Boys, Stiff Little Fingers, The Beatles, The Stooges, Jimmy Eat World and countless more. The private equity firm had borrowed extensively from Citigroup to make the purchase, but had run into problems paying back the debt which led to Citi converting that debt into equity shares in the company.

I’m sorry but there is something just not right about a bank owning a record label (even if it is one of the monstrous major labels).

Things That May Become Common in 2011

Here is a list of 10 things that are expected to go mainstream in 2011. I’m not so sure about number three but number seven sounds interesting.

Currently Listening

1. “Unchained” by Johnny Cash (from Unchained)
2. “Other Side of OK” by Drag the River (from Daytrotter Studio 10/21/2010)
3. “They Don’t Make Gravel Roads Like They Used To” by Red City Radio (from Spinning in Circles Is A Gateway Drug)
4. “Music for the Young & Fooling” by Ben Lee (from Hey You. Yes You.)
5. “White Flag” by Dag Nasty (from Minority of One)
6. “Tierra Del Fuego” by Dead To Me (from African Elephants)
7. “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls (from Indigo Girls)
8. “Big Wave” by Jenny & Johnny (from I’m Having Fun Now)
9. “I’ll Do It Anyway” by The Lemonheads (from Come on Feel the Lemonheads)
10. “Ain’t That Unusual” by The Goo Goo Dolls (from A Boy Named Goo)

Video of the Day

"Makes No Difference" by The Odd Numbers

Quote of the Day

Which just goes to show-- no matter how rich and successful you become, you're still going to have to deal with the same cliques you did in high school.

-- SQT from the post Random Thoughts...

Who Had the Coolest Hair on TV?

Luke did that’s who.

Blog Post of the Day

The Social Web, Defined from the blog Unreasonable Faith.

Bloody brilliant!!!

Currently Listening

1. “Ship My Body Home” by Ben Lee (from Breathing Tornados)
2. “In the Morning” by Ben Lee (from Hey You. Yes You.)
3. “Never Coming Home” by Armchair Martin (from Who Wants to Play Bass)
4. “Scared of My Friends” by Armchair Martin (from Hang on Ted)
5. “Bleeding Heart” by Buffalo Tom (from Birdbrain)
6. “Rachael” by Buffalo Tom (from Smitten)
7. “The ’59 Sound” by The Gaslight Anthem (from The ’59 Sound)
8. “Old Haunts” by The Gaslight Anthem (from American Slang)
9. “Sweat and Cigarettes” by John Moreland & the Black Gold Band (from Endless Oklahoma Sky)
10. “Your Place in Paradise” by John Moreland & the Black Gold Band (from Things I Can’t Control)