'TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Baron Dave Romm
Nifty Gifts
By Baron Dave Romm
Now that Thanksgiving is in the past, it's time to turn our attention to the next great celebration of consumerism: Christmas. WWJLT: What Would Jesus Listen To? Religius songs in Hebrew, presumably. You may or may not want to share in that particular experience, so here are some other suggestions. Aside from the Shockwave CDs, I have no connection to any of these, but I think they're neat and would make unusual and nifty gifts. Some of the CDs I've talked about in previous columns, others are on MY wish list. Enjoy.
Shockwave Radio, now in its 24th year, has three CDs currently available. Food Wars, our parody of Star Wars featuring Luke Cakewalker, Lotta Oregano, Ham Salad and Chewbacklava flying the Marshmellow Falcon, etc. The CD contains the Original Food Wars and sequel The Empire Bakes Off. The 20 Year Free-Fall contains four samplers of Shockwave skits, interviews, live broadcasts and more. The Fall of the House of Usherette is our Live Stage Show from 1983, complete with a Dudley Doright parody, a Cerebus the Aardvark episode and a murder mystery that gets the audience involved. CD Bonus is another Cerebus the Aardvark. These make terrific holiday gifts (he says, in pitchman mode). You can get these from me; mention Bartcop E and I'll give you a discount on all three!
Still one of my favorite CDs to talk about: If you were a religious group in Estonia doing liturgical music of the 14th century and wanted to do a tribute album, naturally your first choice would be to honor... Black Sabbath. In Sabbatum, the group Rondellus has translated Black Sabbath songs into Latin to sing them in 14th Century style. Beautiful vocal harmonies set to the instruments of the time. Mention my name and they'll nod in vague rememberance and I'll appreciate the plug.
And as long as we're on the subject of religious music: The Electric Amish have three CDs comprising parodies of rock hits with reworked lyrics and each CD has a Christmas song.
For slightly more, and yet less, traditional Christmas songs you might try the Phil Spector Christmas album, which sounds a lot like what it is: early 60s wall of sound holiday music. The CDNow site has samplers. Speaking of that site, I never did find the steel drum Christmas CD I have, but CDNow has lists a bunch of Carribean Christmas CDs that look interesting.
I don't know what Jesus would listen to, but if he did sing it would probably be to Jewish Karaoke. If YOU want to learn to sing, try the Singing for the Stars CD set. Learn to sing in your car, claims the web site.
$79.95 may seem like a lot for a 12 issue subscription, but BBC Magazine is worth it for the classical enthusiast. You get two free CDs from the BBC archives, and each magazine comes with an interactive CD with performances from the BBC plus extra info when you access it from your computer. Ah, they didn't have the interactive part when I was a subscriber, and the live performances were a bit of a disappointment at times, but overall the selections were interesting and the magazine informative.
For a unique musical gift, why not give recordings from a century ago? Tinfoil.com has recordings of tinfoil and wax cylinders from the 1880s to the early 1900s. I faunch for the comic recordings... Make your grandparents think they're young whippersnappers again!
Middle aged whippersnappers can get Monty Python CDs, videos and DVDs here and here. Monty Python was one of Shockwave's big influences, and if you like Shockwave (and who doesn't?) you'll probably also like The Firesign Theatre which has new material out. Indeed, they have a radio show available over the XM satellite radio band. Find out more about XM Radio. For young whippersnappers who are actually young (more or less), Weird Al Yankovic has loads of stuff including a DVD of UHF with nifty Weird Al commentary.What to get the person who has everything or at least has dropped hints that they want something unusual.
And if, after all this, you still just feel like sitting in front of your computer, Riding the Wave, here are interesting links from my Tell People To Go Here bookmark collection.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia with a radio show, a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. He reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E here.
And Another Fresh One!
The Worried Shrimp
'A Moron'
by Alvin D
'God has chosen the morons of the world to dishonor the wise;
the feeble to disgrace the mighty.' -- A literal rendering of
1 Corinthians 1:27
MIDI
A MORON
{Sung to 'Tomorrow'}
{instrumental intro}
The truth will come out, a moron
Mentally deficient
He's a moron, he's a dork
A dimwit retard, a moron
He's an ignoramus and a dullard
A buffoon
He's got barely a brain, keeps mum to queries
Bush will just smirk his lips and grin, say - "huh?"
The truth will come out, a moron
He's no Rhodes scholar, he's a moron
He's a goof
A moron, a moron
George Dubya's a moron
He's brain-dead everyday!...
Alvin D
Thanks, Alvin
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Nice, clear day.
The rain washed the ink off our little 'Lost Cat' signs, so we made more & posted them.
Still no Ginger. Not looking good, either. The kid is being quite philosophical for a 10-year old. An unhealthy Ginger was 'dumped' in our yard about 10 months ago, so the kid has decided that his old owners have returned to reclaim their now healthy beast. So long as it works for him....
Seems there were some difficulties in getting the Hollywood Christmas Parade underway tonight. Some homeless guy left a backpack of dirty clothes where it was mistaken for something much worse. This is the first time the start of the parade has been delayed. It's also the first time in
local memory where the parade wasn't telecast. Now that all 4 formerly 'independent' vhf stations have been bought by larger entities & the Chamber of Commerce sold the parade's 'name', what was as close to tradition as we have in these parts is now relegated to an hour-long 'special' in off hours next week. Boo. Hiss.
Tonight, Monday, CBS offers a RERUN 'King Of Queens', then a RERUN 'Yes, Dear', then a RERUN 'Raymond', followed by a RERUN 'Still Standing', and caps the night with a RERUN 'CSI: Miami'.
On a RERUN Dave are Debra Messing and Pink.
On a RERUN Craiggers are Adam Sandler, Mila Kunis, and Shaggy.
NBC has a fresh 'Fear Factor', a fresh 'Third Watch', and a fresh 'Crossing Jordan'.
Scheduled on a fresh Jay are Peter Jennings and Christina Aguilera.
On a RERUN Conan are Jeff Daniels, Raven Goodwin, and Filter.
On a RERUN Carson Daly (from 10/29/02) are Elizabeth Berkley and Michelle Branch.
ABC has 'MNF', where the Jets visit in Oakland. Supposedly there is a fresh 'Monk' either before or after the game, depending on your time zone.
The WB has a RERUN '7th Heaven' and a RERUN 'Everwood'.
Faux offers a fresh 'Boston Pubic' followed by a RERUN 'special' - 'The World's Funniest Movie Outtakes'.
UPN has a RERUN 'The Parkers', then a RERUN 'One On One', followed by a RERUN
'Girlfriends', and wraps the night with a RERUN 'Half & Half'.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
Lincoln, NB
Bono & Ashley Judd
Bono, left, and actress Ashley Judd laugh while helping activists assemble the AIDS quilt during World Aids Day, Sunday Dec. 1, 2002, in Lincoln, Neb. Bono and Judd are also to take part in a forum in Lincoln on Sunday night.
Photo by Dave Weaver
American Observances
World AIDS Day
With songs, stars and prayers, Americans recognized World AIDS Day as a time to focus on a cure, on making treatment more available around the world and on remembering
the millions who have already died.
In New York City on Sunday, the HIV + Sinikithemba Choir, composed of HIV-positive South Africans, raised their voices in Zulu and English song on a Harlem church altar.
Former President Clinton, in an opinion column published Sunday in The New York Times, urged governments to do more to bring treatment to the developing world, where millions
of people suffer because they lack access to AIDS drugs.
Irish rocker Bono kicked off a tour on World AIDS Day, but the lead singer of U2 won't be crooning: He and actress Ashley Judd were among those speaking to about 2,300 people
in Lincoln, Neb., about the AIDS crisis in Africa. It was Bono's first stop in a seven-day, seven-city tour for an organization called Debt, Aid, Trade for Africa.
In San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, about 250 people, many wearing red ribbons and some carrying flowers, gathered at the National AIDS Memorial Grove to remember those
who have died from the disease and hear messages of hope for a cure.
About 1 million Americans are infected with HIV, which causes AIDS. Worldwide, there are 42 million HIV positive people, with sub-Saharan Africa home to 75 percent of them,
according to UNAIDS, the U.N.'s AIDS agency.
World AIDS Day
Now Available Online
George Washington's Papers
A 37-volume collection of George Washington's papers is now available online, giving unprecedented access to the Founding Father's personal documents and correspondence.
More than 17,400 papers in John C. Fitzpatrick's "The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799" were recently posted on the University
of Virginia's Electronic Text Center, a searchable Web-based database.
The papers describe everything from weighty political matters during the American Revolution to squabbles over the ranks Washington assigned to members of his army. They
were written over a period contemporary with the French and Indian War, the Continental Congress and Washington's presidency.
George Washington's Papers
John C. Fitzpatrick's "The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799"
Aids Day - Bloemfontein, South Africa
Nelson Mandela
Former South African president Nelson Mandela in front of an AIDS quilt during a World AIDS Day function in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Sunday Dec. 1, 2002. Mandela said that people should stop
blaming and criticizing the government for the research it is conducting into the safety of anti-retrovirals and urged greater acceptance of people with AIDS.
Photo by Benny Gool
Verizon Promo Deal
'Lord of the Rings'
In what marks part of its massive promotional effort for the Dec. 18 theatrical release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," New Line Cinema has inked a
two-year promotional alliance with Verizon Wireless.
Though financial details of the deal -- which also covers the third part of the "Rings" trilogy -- were not disclosed, the tie-in crosses broadcast, print, radio, online and in-store support.
New Line previously partnered with Burger King to promote last year's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" but is aiming this time for an older,
broader, higher-income, Web-savvy demographic that includes adults, female teens and families. The deal's two-year span will also cover the December 2003 theatrical
release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and the home video and DVD releases of the trilogy's final two films.
'Lord of the Rings'
Buys Napster Assets
Roxio
Software maker Roxio bought the remaining intellectual property assets of the now defunct song-swap company Napster for just over $5 million in cash Wednesday.
Santa Clara-based Roxio, which specializes in CD-burning software, snapped up Napster's patents and brand name for the cash, plus $300,000 in warrants for shares of Roxio common stock.
Roxio officials haven't announced what they'll do with the file-sharing company's leftovers, though earlier this month chief executive Chris Gorog said Napster's
intellectual property "will expand our role in the digital media landscape and enhance our offerings to consumers."
Roxio is not assuming any of Napster's liabilities. And Napster's remaining hardware — servers, routers, computers — remains part of the company's bankruptcy
proceeding and will be auctioned off Dec. 11.
Roxio
www.roxio.com
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
Munich Brawl
Oasis Band Members
Liam Gallagher and three other members of British rock group Oasis were briefly arrested early on Sunday after a punch-up with guests in a plush Munich hotel's nightclub, police said.
Police said the 30-year-old singer brawled with guests at the Bayerischer Hof, the city's top hotel. Three other band members -- but not Liam's brother Noel -- then
became involved, they said.
The four were released on Sunday afternoon but a concert in the city scheduled on Sunday night was canceled.
Oasis Band Members
Aid Day - Taipei
Julia Taffe Company
Four dancers from the Canadian Julia Taffe Company in climbing gear perform as they rappel down the side of a building, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, in Taipei.
Photo by Jerome Favre
1st Ex-Husband Speaks
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez should have thought twice about firing her ex-husband as manager of her Pasadena restaurant, Madre's. The bitter ex is now trashing the singer as a "cold, heartless modern-day
Elizabeth Taylor" who is "in love with herself." In a first-person account in next week's Star magazine, former hubby Ojani Noa - whose marriage to J.Lo in 1997 lasted just 15 months - even
has a warning for the latest future Mr. Lopez, Ben Affleck: "Wedding vows mean nothing to her . . . If she climbed into bed with you so easily, don't you think she'll do the same with someone
else? She moves on when she gets tired of sleeping with the same man. She will end up in her old age all alone with seven or eight wrecked marriages in her wake." Noa describes the early days
of his marriage as pure bliss and lust. "Men will die and go to heaven and never know the happiness I felt [with] Jennifer. She really knows how to please a man." But her affair with Sean "Puffy"
Combs turned her from "a beautiful, adoring wife to a cold, heartless human being," he writes. "I used to believe her when she telephoned late at night with excuses about script conferences in
the early hours . . . It was all a lie. . . Ben Affleck better beware - before it's too late."
Jennifer Lopez
'Sopranos' Actor an Accomplished Painter
Federico Castellucio
Actor Federico Castellucio had a successful career as a painter before landing a role in the hit TV series "The Sopranos." It shows when he talks about how he became interested in joining the show.
"I saw the pilot (in 1999) and I was blown away. It had all the elements of something great, like a well-composed painting," Castellucio told Newsweek magazine in an interview posted Friday on its Web site.
Castellucio's "modern renaissance" style paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world, but it has been playing henchman Fiorio Giunta that has made his face recognized on the streets.
Federico Castellucio
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Strasburg, ND
Lawrence Welk
Ten years after Welk's death at age 89, people still visit his family farm in Strasburg, tune into reruns of "The Lawrence Welk Show" on public television, and join
fan clubs celebrating the "wunnerful, wunnerful" orchestra leader.
Edna Schwab is one of several local people who gives tours of the Welk farmstead 2 miles outside of Strasburg, a town of about 550 people. A life-size cutout of the King
of Champagne music greets visitors as they walk into the sod house in which he, his parents and seven siblings lived.
The homestead, which includes a summer kitchen, granary, buggy house, blacksmith shop, outhouse and barn, was restored and opened for tours in 1991. The Welks never
had running water, Schwab said.
For the rest, Lawrence Welk
Cambodia
Aids Day
Cambodians perform a dance during a march to mark World AIDS Day in Phnom Penh, December 1, 2002. In a report to mark World AIDS Day on Sunday, the U.N. estimated that 7.2 million
people in Asia-Pacific are carrying HIV, an increase of 10 percent from last year, with infection rates in parts of India and China reaching 10-20 percent.
Photo by Chor Sokunthea
Tis The Season
Cable Rates Rise
Comcast-owned AT&T Broadband led the charge with a ballsy 8% increase in its Massachusetts franchises.
The move came only two weeks after the Federal Communications Commission approved the Comcast/AT&T merger, insisting that while rates probably wouldn't go down, they certainly weren't likely to go up.
Comcast proper is hiking fees in the FCC's own backyard. Subscribers in Washington, D.C., will pay an average of 3.5% more in December, following a 5% increase earlier this year.
In Boston, AT&T's cable system cited an 18% increase in its own programming costs, particularly for sports, for the rise. The decision is one of several in a renewed
wave of price hikes designed to counter slowing sub growth and rising program costs.
Consumers Union noted that in past weeks, no fewer than five U.S. cable operators have announced price hikes for the New Year. These include AT&T Broadband,
Time Warner Cable (6% nationwide), Cox (7% in Baton Rouge, La.), Cablevision (5.26% in the New York metro area) and Comcast.
CU noted that since the 1996 Telecom Act opened up the deregulatory flood gates, cable rates nationally have rocketed up 45%, while 95% of U.S. homes still
have only a single cable operator to choose from.
Cable
Tales Of A Feud
Marlon Brando
Legend Marlon Brando has been making death threats to "American History X" director Tony Kaye and calling himself "the Devil."
According to the January issue of Vanity Fair, which chronicles the feud between the two "crazy geniuses," Brando became so enraged at Kaye he fumed into the
director's answering machine: "I'm in your house and I'm going to kill you!"
Brando's hatred stems from the fallout the two had over Kaye's as-yet-unreleased documentary, "Lying for a Living," which covered an acting class Brando taught in Los Angeles last year.
From the start of the "Lying for a Living" class - attended by Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nick Nolte and Michael Jackson - Brando and Kaye were in competition,
the magazine reports. Brando came to "class" dressed in full drag. Kaye showed up dressed as Osama bin Laden.
The battle for one-upsmanship ended when Kaye attacked two of the participants, calling their skit "boring." A sympathetic Brando chided Kaye, who then walked
away from his filming duties. The two haven't spoken since.
Marlon Brando
For a little background - Bartcop Entertainment - Friday, 15 February, 2002
A Seantoon
Bluff The Nazis With Nuclear Bomb
British WWII Plan
Britain had plans to threaten Germany with a nuclear bomb during World War II to prevent Hitler launching V2 rockets at London, newly released files showed Sunday.
The threat was mooted in the summer of 1944, two years after the development of nuclear bombs had begun but a year before any had been tested.
The intention to bluff the Nazis out of using the supersonic V2 rocket failed. In the last seven months of the war, over 3,000 V2s were launched, killing some 2,700 people in Britain.
The nuclear idea was put forward by Guy Liddell, head of MI5's counter-espionage branch during the war, whose diaries have been released by the Public Records Office and carried by newspapers Sunday.
It came in an entry in which Liddell recorded a conversation with Sir Stewart Menzies, then head of MI6.
For a bit more, British WWII Plan
New Designs Coming
Paper Currency
The most noticeable features of the last redesign of U.S. currency - the oversized, off-center portraits - produced all kinds of derisive nicknames: funny money, Monopoly money, cartoon money.
Color is coming, and government money makers are hoping for a warmer reception for the changes. The new $20, with its public unveiling set for the spring, is supposed to be in
circulation as early as next fall.
Jackson is first in line for a makeover. After the new $20 makes its debut, the new $50 (Ulysses S. Grant) and the $100s (Benjamin Franklin) will follow in within 18 months.
In the works is a five-year effort, costing up to $53 million, to educate people about the changes. An important goal is to help distinguish between genuine greenbacks and bogus bills.
For a lot more, Paper Currency
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Haarlem, Netherlands
'H & W Festival'
A man inhales marijuana from a huge water pipe in the Dutch town of Haarlem, Friday night, Nov. 29, 2002, as the pioneers of Dutch marijuana culture celebrated three decades of progressive drug policy.
Photo by Peter Dejong
'The Osbournes'
Freshly updated! 'The Osbournes' ~ Page 3
'The Osbournes' ~ Page 2
'The Osbournes' ~ Page 1
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