Can you Dig what I am Plantin?

http://rosecallahan.blogspot.com/



Sockittomesocks.com has launched her new blog. Read it. Love it. Buy it.

An Effort to Save a City by Shrinking It
By DAVID STREITFELD

FLINT, Mich. — Dozens of proposals have been floated over the years to slow this city’s endless decline. Now another idea is gaining support: speed it up.

Instead of waiting for houses to become abandoned and then pulling them down, local leaders are talking about demolishing entire blocks and even whole neighborhoods.

The population would be condensed into a few viable areas. So would stores and services. A city built to manufacture cars would be returned in large measure to the forest primeval.

Read the rest

I know I am prejudice against the suburbs already but I really think this is a great idea. I know there will be arguments about historical preservation and rich white people wanting to burn the poor neighborhoods down. I hate sprawl and empty buildings, the idea that downtowns are dying while box stores that people have to drive to are thriving.
Imagine if we force just half of Amherst, NY back into downtown Buffalo!!



Beware
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
On pretty constant rotation. Might be the hot track for the summer on Hot 97

The Greatest List of Rock and Roll's Greatest Lists

I recently read a great article on Slate.com: The Trouble With Indie Rock: It's not just race. It's class. by Carl Wilson. It's hits a couple of great points and I recommend it as a worthy read. Just wish people would stop beating up on the Decemberists! Sorry, deep down in places I don't talk about while drinking PBR I am still a big history nerd and they sometimes hit that prog rock historical nerd note just right.
The article is a critique of another indie rock critique... Summing it up: One writer thinks indie rock sucks because there are no black people and thus not enough sex in rock. The other writer correctly points out that class, political and economic cycles, and a host of other things contribute to what we listen to.
In the end it is all bullshit really.
I like what I like so Fuck You. The people who are really sexy are the ones who revel in their own thing no matter what the fuck you say about their music.
Ie Ever seen someone really rocking the fuck out to Rush? It is far sexier than these drones at the sxsw fest



My point is that this is the Greatest Fucking Rock Song Ever.

fridays songs

Top albums 2008- The Praire Edition or the new Soundtrack to Days in Heaven

This is not all inclusive for me but I needed a theme to whittle shit down. These are the albums that I discovered or re-discovered in the year 2008. For a lot of 08 I didn't buy much new music (read broke) and didn't download new albums (read broke and transient).
2008 was the year of the bucolic revolution for me. Already enamored by things all things old: your mom; olde-timey music; hats. Equally enamoring are new things that have an old soulful feeling to them. This is true of: women; photography; mustaches; bicycles; music. I found myself being influenced by the movie Days of Heaven. Where there is this feeling of calm beauty on the surface with chaos and fire right below the surface ready to erupt at any moment. This came out a lot in the music I found myself drawn to.
Some call my taste boring. They are right. I feel old sometimes. I want my fucking peace, quiet and the fucking hipsters off my lawn. Most of the time, I fantasize about a pastoral life by wearing vests and trying to be cool in a fedora (read FAIL). They say as you get older you return to your roots and become more conservative. Maybe that is what is happening. But fuck them and fuck you, I like what I like. I hope you might find something new and interesting here or at least, old and clingy.



Paralyzed- Witch

Stoner heavy metal from Vermont with the dude from Dinosaur Jr. on drums. Yes. I’ll take 8.


I’m Not There Soundtrack- Various Artists

My Morning Jacket covering Goin to Acapulco. Best song of the year. The rest of the album is great when people weren’t doing bad Bob Dylan impressions. Cat Power and Charlotte Gainsbourg’s tracks literally turn me on.


Devotion -Beachhouse

I read the pitchfork review. Listened to it on myspace. Bought it. Listened to it constantly it for a month. Liked its beach boys esque vibe.


Bob Dylan Live '75- The Rolling Fucking Thunder Review

This is what rock and roll means to me. Big gypsy chaotic sound. This is where I think Dylan realized that he would spend the rest of his life touring and on the road. There are lots of opinions about Dylan this is mine. Dylan in the mid 70s was at the top of his game vibing off the best decade of music ever. That's right I said the 70's were the best decade of music ever.


Only as the day is Long- Sera Cahoune

I got this album in the best way possible. Someone sent me a package and included it. Thanks Kate. It feels so good when someone knows you and with whom your tastes mesh with, so well. To the point that they know just what you will like. That is why mixtapes are so unbelievably erotic and romantic.
This wasn’t quite like that. But I played the first track and knew that she knew that I knew I would love the whole thing and would profess a strong desire to sleep with Sera Cahoone.


Vol. 1 -She and Him

Fuck. I kind of hated my self for loving this album as much as I did. I am pretty sure I heard it on the radio (imagine that!!) then went and bought the thing. But it was everything I like: a vintage yet indie vibe with a great female singer. I listened to this album all summer long. I mean I fucking love Elf. A lot. So maybe this was just destiny.


Lie Down in the Light -Bonnie Prince Billy

My man crush on Will Oldham is real and daunting at times. If I was a less lazy and distracted being I could probably be considered obsessed. This album top to bottom is true. Supplemented by the fact that I finally saw him live at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival with an acoustic bluegrass outfit and gave a lovely shout out to Hazel Dickens- he just is just the tops. The clapping, the group singing, the hippy-esque Appalachia -southern roots of the whole surreal deal. I want to drunkly hug my friends during half this album and lie naked in a field on a warm day for the other half. He is so joyful and morose. Sometimes in the same song. A return to I see a Darkness idea- I want to kill myself but I have my buddy- so I don’t. This album is I am older and the world is a fucked up horrid place but I have my family and friends and you- so it’s ok. Let’s find the light and lay in it. Anyway I’ve seen the movie and it all works out in the end. Although, someone dies.


Paper the Walls -Loch Lomond

Magic. People are sick of this story and many don’t really care for this band. I don’t know if I would love them as much as I do if it wasn’t for Magic. Music can still equal Magic for me. It is a left over of my heady hippy days. As a recovering hippy, I can lapse into stupid comparisons of music to higher levels of consciousness and all that as a trick at cocktail parties.
However, part of it is still true. I get moved emotionally by people, music, anything has potential. I don’t always show it in personal relationships. But like a father who can’t hug his kids but keeps his 56 Chevy in pristine condition and spends hours upon hours with it I can dote on music I like.
I was waiting for my girlfriend to fly into Portland from NYC. Loch Lomond was waiting for said plane to take them to NYC for a gig. The flight was delayed for hours because someone got ill on the plane and they had to make an emergency landing in Nebraska. The band found a piano, busted out their instruments, and played song after song. There was a strange lady who would ask lovely amusing odd questions in between songs. A young married couple sitting on the floor with their first child surrounded by too much luggage. The custodial staff lingered to listen and turned down the hip hop in their ipod. I sat on the stairs and felt Magic. They were good. They played lush music that was queerly quiet for the number of instruments there were. Then Richie’s voice cut through and filled the room. The lyrics were odd and old feeling “sounds of children laughing make my eyes bleed”.
It was late, I was tired and hungry and probably feeling overly romantic as I was about to see someone I loved after a long time and many miles apart.
I bought their album and they were still good. Although Magic with music is like a drug or romantic things the first time is often special and hard to recreate. Even trying can be problematic or addictive (read coke heads and Phish). I listen to the album a lot now and see them play when I can. I am still not sure if I like them for who they are (I think I really do) or if I am just playing alchemist and trying to create Magic.

McCain Twitters reason for divorce

mmmmmmm pie

I have to say I am surprised that the bailout beat the New Deal after being adjusted for inflation. The difference is when you are paying day laborers to build a damn vs white color criminals to jack the dow there is going to be a cost difference...It is all about worth vs. value I guess.

Hipsters

How many hipsters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

It is a really obscure number and you have probably never heard of it.

And now.... Bonnie Prince Billy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suffragette City

If you haven't seen Iron Jawed Angels yet, you should. However, this is the photo of Alice Paul and the suffragettes that engaged in Civil Disobedience during WWI outside the White House for a woman's right to vote. You will notice that the banners have been "brought up to speed"

Obama's balls

Why is that all the left leaning pundits get it? They got it four years ago when they told John Kerry to stop being a pussy and bring the fight and now???
We hear from Jon Stewart, who gets it.



Thomas "Fightin'" Friedman gets it


Why can't Obama get it? Seriously, he had balls two months ago. Obama Please take your balls out of DNC's purse.

Shameless plug

Managing credit freeze to avoid identity theft gets easier

BREAKDOWN OF IDENTITY THEFT

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 8.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2005. A breakdown: Type of identity theft Victims % of population New-account fraud 1.8 million 0.8% Misuse of credit card accounts or account numbers 3.2 million 1.4% Misuse of other types of accounts 3.3 million 1.5% Total 8.3 million 3.7% Source: Federal Trade Commission

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2008-09-08-credit-freeze_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Buy these socks!!!

http://www.shopflick.com/stores/Obamas-Stuff/Obama-Socks
My friend Carrie is the purveyor of these socks... and they are super hot and you should buy them for you and all your hot friends and grandparents.
Quickly before its too late... And no she does not have Palin socks, yet.

Self Portrait at 30 Silver Jews rip off

Self Portrait at 30

morning is earlier
sores are sorer
grays are more
hangovers are less freuquent but last days longer
And im pretty sure my back is getting hairier... gross

Kosher Consumer's Union

I do not work here, yet.
The Kosher Consumers Union, Inc is interested in Kashrus standards. All of inspection visits I have made to Alles facilities including Maspeth & others I did not see any labor issues that would adversly affect the kashrus standards.

Comments & issues that I had after inspections were dealt with, either it was corrected or I was explained why they disagreed with me. Did they ever attempt to restrict or limit my visits after I discovered issues of concern? not at all.

As recent as last week I had the opportunity to visit the Kiryas Joel poultry plant. Did I find some issues of concern? Yes I did. They are dealing with those issues at this time. Am I welcome to inspect at any time without any appointments? Yes most definitely. The same goes with some other slaughtering facilities.

http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/2008/09/forward-paper-union-are-after-alle-to.html

BOSS

THE BOSS, IN JERSEY... I JUST QUEEFED

People worth reading about

Recently, some folks who are much better writers started their own blogs. Check them out.
http://www.davidweinberg.blogspot.com/
and a nice right up on the Gonzo himself
http://bentevelin.blogspot.com/

I have recently found out that my creative talent is best used in 2 places.
1.In forms which no one will ever read
2. on friendster testimonies.

DY NO MITE!

So the Napoleon craze has swept me up in it's cheesy lines and uber cool t-shirts. Dang! All of this is not completely worthless. Here is the proof: http://www.furry.org.au/chakat/Visions-new3.html
All I wanted was a picture of a Liger and I got so much more than I bargained for.

I am still alive, aren't we

Like the funeral of a loved one it takes awhile to articulate the pain, to comprehend what the loss means, to bring it into scope through multiple trips to the bar and liquor store. The beautiful flowers wilt to death or get replanted. The notes full of graceful pity and sad humor are starting to fade and just become annoying. Leftovers that the neighbors brought are beginning to mold and smell bad because who can eat at a time like this.
It feels that way sometimes when the Dems talk about not relating to the values of the majority. At the end of the day we do not have the same values. That is hard to imagine for some reason. That so many people voted on anti-gay, pro-life issues, and they all can't be ignorant. Can they? There are a lot of smart people out there who voted to mandate these issues. I know, because some were my friends.
I hope this is the start of a large cultural war. Where like the Civil Right's Movement we are able to shame the bigots, the racists, and the like into a place of uncomfortable silence. Let us eradicate ourselves of this Evangelican nuisance once and for all. It holds us back as a society and a country. Let's attack their false beliefs and small superstitions with the same political incorectness as they attack. Let's have us a war.
I do not want to live with people who make it this hard for others to live. These values that they fight so hard to protect are not my values and I do not care to tolerate them anymore.
The fact is, I truly believe that most people of my generation are not afraid of gay people, don't really care if minorities are taking over the country, and haven't gone to church since their Aunt Agnes died four years ago.
Most people of our generation realize that poor people and people of color often don't get a fair shake at things.
Our generation grew up with political correctness and that is proving to be a good thing. People should be ashamed when they are not sensitive to woman, gays, minorities, whoever. They should be verbally reprimanded like an insolant child who is too ignorant to know better. When that fails; busted in the mouth. Wash out their collective mouths with the soap made by smarter, better people who are proving to be their moral superiors.
Let our self-righteousness rise up with a piety not seen since the Weslyans started this trap of a religion.
Let our generation start our own crusade against the catholics who protest abortion clinics and against a Pope who is responsible for ignoring an AIDS crisis in Africa.
They are wrong and have too long been tolerated.
I do not hate all conservatives. But the blasphemy of the social conservative who hides behind the skirts of the bible should be dealt with by a plague young locusts who destroy their way of life.
They are wrong. We are right. If they are the fundamentalists of christainity they are proving to have more sway than they should be given and more respect than any vodoo do-gooder deserves. What will be become of these lunatic fundamentalists? Will they attack with acts of war on nations of different faiths and political structures? Will their profit be both monetary and spiritual?
Now is our time not theirs. This is a start to a cultural war, I hope.

RUN RALPH RUN

I HEART RALPH NADER. I can't deny it any longer and it feels so good to say. I LOOOVVE NADER. Everything he stands for, the fact he is running, and even those stupid grey suits. I don't believe that Nader cost Gore the election just like I don't think that he will cost Kerry the election this year.
I get it that Bush is the anti-christ sent to bring the end times for those christain fuckers. I just wish that the Democrats weren't such a bunch of giant pussies about it. Run a fucking campaign and go get Ralph's voters. Do what you have to do bring them in.
I am suggesting some Kerry on Nader porno. C'mon John give Ralph the hummer of a lifetime. Your not gay if you only do it once and who knows you may even like it, nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you have to ask yourself "is the juice worth the squeeze". You and I both know it is. It feels so good to love Nader, to vote for him is so pure... ooohhhh damn. So put some chapstick on, make yourself look pretty, and get to work John less than a month away and every vote counts.

Rod is in the sod

Sadly the world has lost another fat comic. John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, and Louie Anderson all gone (if Anderson isn't dead he should be shot and fed to orphans). The irony of Rodney Dangerfield going to that big roast in the sky is that he was older than all these fuckers before they died.
Really he was the Stevie Wonder of the fat comedy stripper dating drug taking world. Does Stevie suck overall because of his latter work. No. Boogie on Reggae Woman eclipses every bullshit rainforest album he ever made in the late 80's. So Caddyshack eclipses that soccer movie with the dumbass kid in drag.
So tonight in honor of the Rod I implore the world to drink some hard liquor, smoke a joint, snort a line, whatever, but please for the love of god fuck a stripper.

VP FACE OFF

The face of death complete with make up vs JFK long lost litlle brother.
Watching Cheney v. Edwards is so much more difficult than the first debate. The first debate was like watching Bobby Bonds hitting softballs pitched by the 12 year old retarted girl who plays for the local Delmerico's Pizza team. Sure it doesn't seem fair but it is still so great to watch. This week we found out why Dick Cheney is running the country... because he is so much fucking smarter than the most powerfull person in the world. That's some scary shit.