West Germany

Devin Hester is a monster. Are you kidding? Two returns for touchdowns in one game? Six in one season?

I read the Eric Alterman book on Bruce Springsteen (see entry below). It lived up to my meager expectations. But I have to wonder: why was this book written? Was it necessary? Contractually obligated? Dave Marsh's books are better written, more detailed, with a more in-depth analysis both musically and politically. Am I a total nerd? Is it obvious? I'm full of questions today.

December 11th, 1941 was the day that Germany declared war on the United States. Didn't work out that well for them, did it.

Minutemen - West Germany
Buju Banton - Circumstances

The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts

Today's thrift store books:

Alice McDermott - Child of my Heart, Norman Mailer - The Naked and the Dead, Frantz Fanon - Black Skin White Masks, John Berendt - The City of Falling Angels, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc - Random Family, Eric Alterman - It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive: The Promise of Bruce Springsteen, John Irving - Trying to Save Piggy Sneed

That is a pretty good haul, I think. God bless Goodwill. I hope Eric Alterman writing about Bruce Springsteen doesn't end up being as annoying as Eric Alterman writing about politics. And I hope I can actually get through an entire Frantz Fanon book, next step will be understanding it.

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Minutemen - The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts
and two of today's thrift store CDs:
Sade - By Your Side
Sinead O'Connor - No Man's Woman

You Need The Glory; also, I take requests.

I can't believe the New Jersey Nets just scored 133 points in regulation, 157 points total, and still lost. That's, like, some ABA shit. Also for some reason it reminds me of Loyola Marymount in the 1990 NCAA Tournament, steamrolling Michigan with a team completely made up of freakish 5'4" elves with wicked three-point shooting ability who could run twice as fast as a normal person. Or at least that's how I remember it, but I was ten years old at the time, and sometimes memory fails us. At the very least, Michigan got their asses beat, by a bunch of Catholic midgets from California, and the entire state is still reeling to this day. Or not.

Pistons won, I won't care about the Nets until they actually move to Brooklyn, if they actually ever do move to Brooklyn, which I won't believe until it happens. Speaking of the Atlantic Yards project, I finally spent some time inside the Williamsburg Bank building. Well I guess that doesn't have much to do with Atlantic Yards, or the Nets, but it is three blocks from the site, and has a very nice view. I always imagined One Hanson Place to be empty and abandoned, even though I've walked by it a million times, and that's where I get off of the Q train at Atlantic Ave., but still, it has that feel about it. And maybe it is, and my oral surgeon is just squatting an office on the 23rd floor. Who knows? But the point of the story is, there's a friendly oral surgeon on the 23rd floor of the Williamsburg Bank Building, for the time being at least - I don't know that people who buy million-dollar condos want to live right next door to a place where the only business is ripping out people's teeth with pliers and hammers. Also, the view is great.

Minutemen - You Need The Glory
Wire - Feeling Called Love

Micah made a request via email, for some Saturday Looks Good to Me songs. I am, of course, happy to oblige.

Saturday Looks Good to Me -
Alcohol,
Last Hour,
and Meet Me By The Water from "All Your Summer Songs"
Mistletoe from Tour EP 2002
Spring from "Heart"
Can't Ever Sleep from "All Your Summer Songs" Vinyl only

Any other requests?

History Lesson - Part II

On the morning of December 3rd, 1984, over 40 tons of toxic gas rolled through the streets of Bhopal, India, from the Union Carbide pesticide plant located there. It's been estimated that at least 600,000 people were injured by the gas, with over 15,000 dying. Warren Anderson, CEO at that time of Union Carbide, has been considered a fugitive from justice since 1992 in India, after skipping hearings in his "culpable homicide" case.

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The squirrels (or raccoons, or whatever) in the walls and attic are really getting unbearable. There have been some epic fights, with what kind of animals involved I have no idea. Drives the cats nuts, too, but that's not really my problem.

Minutemen - History Lesson - Part II
Elizabeth Cotten - Shake Sugaree

My Heart And The Real World

I finally got my old guitar back from Dave over Thanksgiving weekend, and already I've sold most of it. Hadn't played it in maybe eight years, I thought I might get some sort of nostalgic feeling when I opened up the case, but no, nothing, and it's better that way. If you or anyone you know is on the market for the strap buttons or neck plate from a 1974 Fender Telecaster Custom, and if you're willing to pay an embarrassing price, call me.

Minutemen - My Heart And The Real World
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
Nouvelle Vague - Teenage Kicks