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 Your Hey Mercedes weblog. The Cast: Robert Nanna Damon Atkinson Todd Bell Michael Shumaker Dan Keehn Chris Bickert Norman Arenas Ryan Snyder 
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February 10, 2001
Robert: 325 Our House - Madness Direct blog from Castro Valley, CA. Over and out. MARK! Hello, sir. No you cannot add a song, thank you very much. Start your own dern countdown, partner! And remember to count down! Hope Milwaukee isn't too cold.....
mark: I don't think I'm really supposed to post a song today,but I know that Robert is gone so I'll throw one at ya for the hell of it. 327 Corpse pose-Unwound Last nightCamden rocked the house .It was good to see them play after such a long time.I was suprised to see so many people from work.I had this warm feeling in my belly .I'm not sure if it was the sight of lots of great people in one place,or the drinks (thanks Justin and the CJPilots!))but it was allright.I passed another test last night.Four days ago I quit smoking.That's right,I said it.And if you are unfamiliar with the Cactus Club,well,it gets the nomination for smokiest bar.EVER.I went all night without fiending once.Boo-ya. Onto more pressing matters.Another day off with no band practice....Hmmm.Sounds fishy junior.I think it's time to get up and eat something.Then I'm off to Atomic Records.Maybe they'll have the new Cut-throats record.In case you're wondering,it's Chris Spencer from the UNSANE.woo-hoo.It's gonna be good.Untill Bob and Todd get back from their whirlwind jaunts,I'm your host Mark,good day. February 9, 2001
mark: Why hello.My apologies for posting under the guise of Todd,but deperate times and all...So,Todd is blaming me for his morning.Alas,I can say that I'm partially responsible,but this 'award' can't be just for me.I'd like to thank Todd for getting the whole ball rolling at the new (fantastic)practice space.I'd also like to thank the everfriendly staff @the Hi-Hat(Peggy- we just couldn't have done it withouy ya)and lastly thanks to Mr.Jim Beam and Mrs.Absolute Mandarin.oh yeah,oops...and of course you,the reader,because you're the reason for the season. I guess I'll keep it short tonight,I've got to get rolling to the Cactus Club.Tonight we've got the sweet sounds of Camden(milwaukee's best brawlers)and also the new and improved Klipsringer featuring the multi-faceted Dr.Nick(more about him in the future).It seems that I've got a full weekend.Tomorrow night at the Cactus it's Euphone(I'll watch Ryan tune his drums-anything)and the sublime sounds of PELE I guess I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Robert: I'm feeling rather drained today for some reason. It may have something to do with the horrendous weather, but i wouldn't know, cause this morning it was beautiful out. Grey, but with a temperature that seemed just right. Now I just saw someone come through the door looking like they had just walked through a car wash... I hope everything at O'Hare is going smoothly. Fingers crossed. At least I got my Citizen Steely Dan box set in the mail today (oh yeah) to help me stay warm. No static at all... I'll probably have a lot to talk about on Monday, but i'm sure i'll be stuck in zombieland. My flight gets in at 5 AM and i have to be at work by 8:30 AM. Red eyes, real coffee. I gotta get outta this place... C Veltman of champaign-urbana: your Braid video got sent back to me! Email. And please direct all Britney Spears related emails to Damon. I thank you.
Robert: There is a new contest for the next few weeks. However, I'm not in charge of it... The person who sends Damon Atkinson the most Britney Spears paraphenalia (posters, stickers, buttons, etc.) between now and March 13 will receive a special prize. I'm dead serious, and like i said, he's in charge. If it's something big like, say, a lifesize cutout or something, email him and maybe he'll throw you some money for postage or something. I have nothing to do with this. It's Damon's bag, baby. ...Although I may throw in a prize or two to the booty. I mean, treasure. Good luck. You'll need it. - You can send this stuff to Damon c/o Hey Mercedes, PO Box 511806, Milwaukee WI 53203.
Robert: OK, since i'm not accepting anymore birthday submissions, here are the prizes that will be awarded on Tuesday morning: First Prize: 2 complimentary admissions to a Hey Mercedes show of your choice, perferably by years end. One Hey Mercedes T-shirt of your choice. One "Almost Famous" mini-poster. One random CD of our choice. One personalized birthday gift. Second Prize: One Hey Mercedes T-shirt of your choice. One "Almost Famous" mini-poster. One personalized birthday gift. Third Prize: One personalized birthday gift. Fourth and Fifth Prizes: You're fired.
Robert: 326 Waiting on a Friend - Rolling Stones Oh, that saxophone solo at the end! Woohoo! ... So the birthday contest is over. I am no longer accepting submissions. The judging will take place tomorrow, whereupon I will extract 10 finalists. Then on Monday, I will email the 10 to the other judges, D'dant and Toad. And together we'll decide on which 3 will win the glorious prizes. Oh glory. I'll tell you who the real winner is here, though: Olivia Newton John. There was an alarmingly high number of people who were born while "Physical" topped the charts. Staggering, actually... It is now time to get animal. YEEESSS! I cannot wait for the proper release of my favoritest Hitchcock movie, Rope on DVD. I will be on that release faster than you can say "Cat and mouse... cat and mouse..." What an incredible movie. Not only will this solidify forever this movie in my video collection, but there's also a documentary called "Rope Unleashed!" Sweet mercy. I can't wait. If you recall, the movie was way way up there on this list, and for good reason, too. See this movie, if nothing else for the intense and incredible performance of one Mr. Jimmy Stewart. Whoo. I need to calm down. BOOOO!!! Apparently Dreamworks will be pulling a grand DVD pet peeve of mine with Almost Famous, to be released next month. Now, a lot of people may be shocked at this, but I really wasn't too impressed when i first saw the movie. Perhaps I had too high of expectations. Perhaps I already knew that Cameron Crowe was not pleased that he had to cut so much to please the powers that be. I felt like there was a lot missing and wanted the movie to go on longer... Hence, I was super psyched when it was announced that the DVD would contain the longer (most likely, far superior) director's cut, with Cameron's commentary. Another one i'd gladly wait in line for. However, these jokers at Dreamworks, due to time constraints or something dumb, now pull this. The DVD release in March will contain only the theatrical release, a behind the scenes featurette, and NO commentary. The special edition DVD with the full movie and goodies is being pushed back indefinitely. BOOOO! Note to Dreamworks: You shant be getting my money twice. I'm waiting on a friend. Good day, sir. YEEEESSS! There will be a grand Simpsons DVD bonanza in September of this year! Even though it would take about 50 DVDs to compile all the best episodes, I'm glad they've decided to release em in a great format. I only hope there's something extra on all of them and that they put more than 3 episodes on a DVD. Making love and breakin' hearts... It is a game for you... February 8, 2001
Todd: I'm the real Todd Bell, yes, I'm the real Todd bell all you other slim Todd Bells.. Alright enough.. Does'nt really roll off the tongue like that other guy. Yes: I've been violated by a certain person using my persona. But: I'm back! So never fear.. I'm sure the culprit will reveal himself soon enough. On another note, we moved into our new practice space last night and it's mighty fine. Tons of room.. now if we can only get those Camden guys to condense their stacks of amps, sampling-records, cases, drums, guitars, beer cans, cigarettes, pornography and hair gel down to a modest level we'll actually have some room.... Just kidding. It's a huge space, just needs a little carpet on the walls to absorb some of the echo. If I hear another person complaining about the bass being to loud, yer dead. That right, I said it. Cheers to Damon for keeping his eyes open for so long for said new space. It payed off.. Jeers to Mr. Mark Farm for what you did to me last night. Man, those people @ the Hi Hat mix em' pretty stiff. I didn't -plan- on being at a bar that late especially when I was -supposed- to work @ 7am. F.U. and the horse you rode in on!
Robert: It's been another one of those busy days, and i don't mind too much, because i haven't got too many stories to tell. Nothing from the past bubbling up. But for the future, there's plenty. Let's start here. Tonight, I will be receiving, free of charge - a big couch, a matching chair, and a slew of carpet. Why do I need it? I'm glad you asked. Since one of my roomates left last month, my apartment has been couchless. This new couch will take its place. I hear it's pretty ugly, though. Ditto for the "matching" chair. However, I've already got a nice reclining chair, so this new chair will be going to our practice space in Milwaukee. Everyone needs a somewhere to sit. The carpet is for the walls of the practice space, to soak up all of that rock n' roll without throwing it back in our precious ears... Why am I getting it for free? Well, i can't say much about that other than this: Some nuns call them "dead giveaways." And that's all I have to say about that. Saturday may just be the first day of this year when i will be unable to blog. I'll have to see if Dant or Todd can post up the two songs that i'll miss. Or perhaps the new mystery blogger... I'm going to be enjoying myself in sunny San Francisco, although I hear there's some rain on the way. Hopefully that won't dampen Sunday's plans. Sunday has been deemed 'winery day'. I have a sneaking suspicion i won't remember much of the plane ride back... Now I will eat some cake. I guess today has been unwillingly deemed 'eat the worst foods day'. I had no idea. I thought i'd have enough packed away in the fridge here for this to be 'finish up pita and hummos day'. Instead this usual 'subway day' has become 'cake day' and i'm sure it will spin off into 'cake and coffee day'. Daylight come and me wanna go home.
Robert: Why isn't it Friday? It seems like it should be. There were no lemon poppyseed muffins down in the bakery, so i settled for a vanilla donut, which goes so well with a decaf coffee. As usual, they filled up the coffee to the very top, and on my way to the 'creaming and sugaring' station, it spilled a little. It felt like molten lava as it was dribbling down my hand, tainting the bag holding the donut. I couldn't scream out in agony, because there were two excitable old ladies at the station. If I would have said 'boo,' they would have garbled and gabbled like little hens about it. Believe me. They have done it before. I do not want to attract their attention... As they finally get done powdering their drinks, they turn towards me to pass, and at that precise moment, the donut in the bag dropped to the floor right in front of them. The coffee had eaten through the bag... Imagine the garbling and gabbling! Just imagine... There's nothing like a nice vanilla donut and coffee after reading about an angioplasty in gruesome detail. Show yourself, you blog hack!
Todd: At last!I worked my way in to this confounded maddening BLOG. (under false pretenses no less!)This ain't the T Bell you're used to.I've hacked into his system Anybody care to take a stab at naming me ?The only thing I can tell you is that I'm shady,and a bit harried,also a bit tall. I'm a little upset that someone (BOB)didn't sign me up to blog.You can't tell ,but Bob is receiving a frowning the likes of which have never been seen!I apologize if the frowning has offended anyone.It is a HOMING FROWN aimed at one man,and one man only.My pockets hurt.
Robert: 327 Bob - NOFX When I got to work this morning, there was a nondescript bag on my desk. When I opened it, I found a package of salted peanuts. Very mysterious... Go find out your birthday song(s) and tell me why they're significant to your life, will ya? This is the last day to do it. By 4 PM tomorrow, I'll announce the 3 winners and their prizes. That's right, I said it. 3 winners. I got so many responses, i felt that more than one person should reap the benefits of my occasional need to give away free stuff... Lots to chat about today. Sit down. Have some coffee. Have decaf, like me.... lots of new changes here on the show list. i hope it's not getting too confusing... February 7, 2001
Robert: It's been one of those busy days. Good busy, though. The busy where the time actually does fly. In 2 short hours, I'll be en route to Union Station and then en route to Milwaukee... I just read on the imdb that there is an Exorcist prequel in the works, following a younger Father Merrin in Africa. Now, am I the only one in the world who thinks that "prequels" are just plain dumb? I mean, you already know what's going to happen, right? If the part of the novel (which I haven't read) that occurs before where the original movie picks up is so important, why wasn't it given proper weight in the 1971 movie? Or why didn't the series just start at the beginning? Or why can't we let this whole Exorcist franchise be? Even the author himself has dismissed this new development as "rubbish." This has been "my two cents" with Robert Nanna. And now it's back to the grind. Grrr. ind.
Robert: Pumpkin has left the building. I will forward that message to him... Tea vs coffee. Every morning the war is waged. In an ongoing effort to quell my morning coffee clutch, I bought a nice big box of Mint Melody tea. Yum. It complements my lemon poppyseed muffin so well. Sitting here, watching it steep is like patiently waiting to open up Christmas gifts. With every second, the overall effect gets bigger and better... However, once the tea is gone, i just feel empty. I feel like I don't have anything to say or do and work becomes tedious and tiresome... fast... With coffee on the other hand, there is instant gratification. You ever notice that, especially at work, you make it seem like a huge chore to put in the cream and sugar? When it's creaming and sugaring time, I become a robot, mentally / electronically keeping track of each shake and each second... the arm bend to get the sugar... the other arm already working on finding the proper stirring device. It's all so technical... And there's always that first sip before you even get to your desk... Once i'm done with the coffee, i feel full, as if it has become just another breakfast food. I immediately get motivated to start writing. I can be a little more hard edged to my cranky counterparts. I sit up a little straighter in my chair and type a little faster... It's a shame how much we rely on these subtle drugs to give us a proper kickstart. For shame. I'm still fighting the good fight, though. I bought a nice big tin of decaf coffee yesterday. This is step #1. Step #2 is trying to open the damn thing. That kind of determination in the morning will surely require some caffeine... I'm heading up to Milwaukee tonight where we're going to be moving practice spaces for real. In style. In comfort. At least that's what I hear. Maybe this will force us to become a strictly lounge band. It still won't help my sore back after my clumsy amtrak lounging. Who knew humans could sleep in such positions?
dan: this is not kan deehn...I wacked him over the head with a golf club ..now Listen up..mr..muffin. I am launching a full fledged investigation on the practices that you so willingly insist are "simple","pretty innocent", and "sneaky". as of now, this day, the 7th of february in the year of our lord two-thousand-one you will be under heavy surveilance and are no longer allowed to be sneaky, and or, any of the above quotes. You will be rationed one meal a day that will be given to you at 3 am. Look below to see the steps that you will take to consume said meal: Salt will be provided and you will eat that first. (just the salt damn it!) coffee will also be provided, in instant form, consume that next.(without mixing it with water dummie..!) move on to the corn beef hash..consume at will..but it will be consumed if we have to snake a tube down your neck..well, so be it..now EAT. next up we've got some peanut butter....suck it down. ( don't even think about drinking anything after ) now you need some crackers with that peanut butter don't you? go ahead and open the crackers up...eat those....hurry UP...( again no water ) that is all..now do some push-ups.. "I see colors in my head" i don't have time to spell everything correctly i gotta go....
Pumpkin: Here's how it works. It's simple, really. I compose a post as if it was an email, say to a co-worker, or to Ma Muffin. There are no flashing lights on the email system here, so the operation looks pretty innocent. Then, when the coast is clear, I'll copy and paste to Blogger, whom is patiently waiting at the bottom of the screen. Like a runner in a relay race, waiting for that weighty baton of content... I then flip back to email as if nothing happened. Sneaky.
Robert: 328 (312) - Radio Flyer Up all night, sleep all day! ... Nope. As much as you like them, Slaughter will not be making any appearances on the list... A few things before I try and go to sleep. The contest is still on and going strong and i'm loving every minute of it. Keep them coming people. I'm pretty sure you all have birthdays. At least let me know the songs! For explanation of contest rules, see yesterday's first post... Also, i haven't been replying to any of the submissions, but that doesn't mean I haven't read them! On Monday of next week, you'll get your reply. What else am i going to do at work? Work? Don't make me laugh. It will be harder for me to fall asleep if i laugh. And lastly, you may have noticed that my posts are getting lengthier. Well, it's all due to my new anti-big-brother operation at the everyday playpen. I'll let Pumpkin explain it to you later in the day, after i've had my nightmares. Blog blog blog. February 6, 2001
dan: Tonight i will salsa my ass off..one two cha cha cha three four cha cha cha..Thank god I took that imodium AD this morning otherwise the only thing that would be salsaing would be me on the ter- let...let me give you a little background on salsa..It's a kind of Latin American dance music of Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican origin, influenced by jazz and rock, and is usually played at fast tempos...Salsa is also a hot sauce made with chilies, tomatoes, etc...thought you'd be interested..
dan: I've been living off tart-n-tinys for the last 5 hours..sugar sugar ah ah ah ah ah awe honey honey..
dan: jeez..don't let your boss catch you on the blogger man..I would write something that long but I'm afraid that my six fingers that do the typing would really get a work out..No, i don't only have six fingers I've got all eleven I just use six..you know..I am REALLY hungry!!! I could really go for some tacos or something...maybe bean burritos. I gotta stop typing about it, it's just making it worse..
Robert: Things to do... things to do... Well, for one, i appreciate the email(s) about the (lack of) website design. I'm well aware of the fact that it's pretty gosh darn bare. But I'm glad that you care. I always thought that since I was no HTML wizard, I could at least make up for it with a whirlwind of content. I may not be able to design the house, but you can be sure to count on me to fill it with furniture. (voice: Way to screw up that analogy with a link, Bob) Did you hear something? ... So if you must know, I'm setting aside a few hours some time in the near future (see Sister Golden Hair Surprise explanation - the part about procrastination) to learn how to weave some dreams, so to speak. I also made the remark here about how my goal is to have the grand redesign done when i get back from tour / recording when there will be a ton of new furniture. I'm only one man, i guess, and the website is destined to remain DIY for a long while. Yee-hah!
Robert: Thoughts about my birthday song, Sister Golden Hair Surprise by America... I used to like this song until I read these lyrics. Criminy. I always assumed, especially with such a light, wispy title, that the lyrics were all psychedelic, perhaps a reference to some drug or something. Who knows? Maybe it was one of those fly-by-night 1975 super-elixirs. I wouldn't know it, today in 2001. All I can fathom is that the song is about a man who seems to constantly procrastinate and put things off. In this case, it seems like our America-n narrator doesn't seem to be ready for a full-scale commitment to a significant other. He also mentions trying to "fake it," but the truth is that he just isn't ready to dive into the relationship. He seems a bit selfish at times, doesn't he? With his "meet me in the middle... love me just a little, just enough to show you care" It's all me me me. Perhaps this is why he isn't ready to commit... As to the pet name for his lady, I wouldn't be surprised if she's having some second thoughts as well. Sister golden hair surprise? It sounds like an ice cream flavor that i wouldn't dare try. (Have you heard of the combination salon/ice cream parlor craze? of course not.) ... and lastly, by far the worst lyric in the whole song - "I've been one poor correspondent." Yuck. You're not a news anchor. You're supposed to be in love, Mr. America! So how does this apply to me me me? Procrastination issues? Yep. That's definitely me. Getting so damn depressed on Monday, and having a change of heart on Tuesday. What can I say? I'm a Gemini. I'm getting better though. Now instead of "meeting in the middle," I'm trying to see things all the way through to their obsessive ends. I suppose that's the subject of some other song. Maybe my UK #1 which I've never heard of... Commitment issues? Oh, you must be thinking of the old Bob. The old senior-trip-to-England Bob. He's been gone for a few years. The new Bob is basically committed to everything he gets his hands on. Case in point: this silly blog. Am I right? It all goes back to issue #1. I'm just procrastinating work! But what's real scary is that i possibly could have been conceived during a broadcast of Eric Clapton's "I Shot the Sheriff" - #1 in the US 9 months before! Keep em coming. I love hearing about all of this stuff.
Todd: Bob, how do you remember all of this? Probably cause you wrote it down, I guess. Still, it's nice to see some old song-verse popping up from yester-year, reminding us all of good times past and how anyone could work Ryan Effgen's name into a song.. Good times.. I was quizing someone about this the other day, but, does anyone know when the re-release of 'American Werewolf in London' is coming out on DVD? What a great OUT OF PRINT film(on DVD). The best werewolf movie ever made in my book, who new lycanthropy could be so much fun?? Released on DVD in December 1997 and only popping up on Ebay occasionally for far to much money.. But, right now there are 27 copies up.. Does someone know something I don't? Is everyone weeding out their OOP copies before the re-release? I've seen this fever before.. Clever trick.. Does anyone know any info? When is this happening? Maybe some deleted scenes to this already amazing movie? Commentary by John Landis and/or David Naughton? Behind the scenes make-up with Rick Baker? Need to know!
Robert: The sun was shining into the bus, which was odd because I was expecting England to be perpetually foggy. I was 17. I was on a senior class trip and we were heading to some cliffs. One of our chaperones tried to get me to start singing as we went over Scarborough Fair, as if, being a music maniac, i knew the Simon & Garfunkel song. At the time, I didn't, so I just pretended like i was too shy. I may have been too drunk. In England the drinking age is 18, so my friends and I decided to use the trip to buy and consume as much alcohol legally as we could. Brilliant, right? I know I was only 17, but I never got carded. At our hotel, we drank gin & tonics, not cause we knew we'd like it, just because we knew it was something that people order. My best friend at the time drank only Guinness. At the time, I would have rather drank a pint glass of mud. But times have changed. He ain't m'best friend no more and i enjoy an occasional Guinness (as a meal of course). Being that I went to a Catholic high school and our trip stretched over a Sunday, the lot of us were required to go to church. All the while I sat there in the pew, pretending i wasn't drunk, and calculating with my abacus how many Hail Marys it would take to get me out of this fiasco. It was the dead of winter, yet the sun was warm, so we may as well have been in the Carribean, compared to blustery Chicago. In London, we frequented a bar called the Tattersall, because it was the name of my best friend's band at the time. (Side note: they only played one show. It was with the band who holds today's position on this list.) We tried to go out to a dance club, but we were all turned away because of my shoes. They were gym shoes. I felt bad about it, so I treated everybody to a round of gin & tonics. There was another bar near our London hotel that served all of these crazy shots with names like "Slippery Nipple" and "Mudslinger". We tried them all. And they all seemed alcohol-free as they were going down, but when you stood up after a long night, you felt every single one. Before I left, a girl that I was seeing gave me (for Christmas) a "travelers logbook" for my trip. It was your typical journal adorned with prints of old stamps and places for the date and what you've seen. Day by day, I filled it up with useless ramblings, what i saw, what i drank, etc. When I got back she thought i was crazy for actually using it. We "broke up" about a week later. I use these terms loosely because our relationship was treated similarly... Travelling with us was the chaperone's son, who was a few years older, and had gone on this trip before. In a drunken stupor in our hotel room, he told of his sexual escapades when he was on the trip and was concerned that we were not taking advantage of the situation, "ifyouknowhatimean." It goes along with this theory of displacement. You take a person out of their element by flying them across the globe and they have the excuse to act like different people with no harm/no foul upon return. Needless to say, some of our group answered his call. I just "slept next" to a girl one night if that counts. Until new years. We were on a boat, on the Thames, i suppose. Drunk as skunks of course. As New Years rang in, i took the opportunity to pour an entire beer on the head of one of my friends. Some other chaperone yelled at me and immediately told me to "swab the deck." I don't remember much else, but I do remember NOT doing any swabbing, thank you very much. On the bus ride back to the hotel, spurred on my the moment and the sauce, a girl and I started kissing. Just kissing, and that was it. I remember thinking how cool it was, because it was a girl who i was friends with, but never thought about in "that way." Happy New Year. I would "date" her a few months later for about a week. You see, it's just not the same if you're not in the throws of the British Empire. I'd have to really dig around for that journal, the people are long since gone from my circle, and i don't plan on ordering another gin & tonic until i'm 55, but i still have The Lemonheads "It's a Shame About Ray". Without it, I probably wouldn't have remembered anything about those last ten days of 1992. And that, my friends, is why I love that album.
Todd: Glad to see some 'soar'-era Samiam popping up on Bob's list. 'Bout time. So, I'm going to have to go with my UK birthday song.. By one of the greatest songwriters of the 70's Marc Bolan(T. Rex). His only #1 in the US too: 'Get It On'. Who could forget lyrics like these: 'You're built like a car You got a hubcap diamond star halo You're built like a car Oh yeah'. I guess this does have a little meaning though I can't imagine how. I do rock with a big amp and tower over the masses like the cover of that particular album(One of my favorite covers ever 'Electric Warrior'). but that's about it. Be fair-warned people. It could always be worse. You could have Kalvin Ewings' Birthday(08/09/1998) and have to live with your song being: 'the boy is mine' by Brandy & Monica. Ugh..
Todd: Hmmmm.. Still kinda new to this.. wrote a blog yesterday and it was lost in the shuffle. Thought I sent it to this here page. Never really ended up anywhere, or did it? Someone in Baruun, Mongolia just received a foreign post to their blog.. Uh oh. Isn't that how 'WarGames' started? Gotta be more careful..
Robert: 329 Sky Flying By - Samiam In case you're just tuning in, I want to know the #1 song on the day you were born (US or UK will do) and why you think it's significant (to your life). The responses we've got so far are amazing, if not just for the songs alone! At the end of the week, we'll pick the best one and present that lucky contestant with a fabulous prize. A new car, perhaps? February 5, 2001
Robert: My #1 favorite album of all time is ultimately debatable, but i can make a very very strong case for THE LEMONHEADS "It's a Shame About Ray." I could go on for hours about the wonders of this album. I'll save it for sometime when i can promise to be coherent. Look here for HM's birthday songs.
dan: The #1 U.S. song on the 21st of May in the year of 1973 was, "You are the sunshine of my life" by none- other-than the man himself..Stevie Wonder. I think it's significant (to my life) because it represents how happy Stevie was that I was born that day..he actually came up to the hospital with his keyboards to visit me while I was resting in the nursery. What a guy!
Robert: It figures the damn birthday song link would go bonkers today. Hopefully they get their act in gear soon. I hereby extend the contest until Friday.
Robert: Cruise and Kidman, say it ain't so... As for the birthday songs, if the UK #1 serves you better, the more power to you... Good luck. I'm outta here.
Robert: As for the birthday songs, I like what I'm receiving. Of course, there really is no significance to the relationship between the song and you, but therein lies the whole fun of the thing. Speaking of which, I'm still working on my reaction to Sister Golden Hair, heretofor known by it's better name, Sister Golden Hair Surprise. Another thing: please include the actual date as well, you know to make the whole thing official and complete. Heck, maybe we'll even send you a nice card on your birthday or something. (Little voice on shoulder: Don't get in too deep, Bob) Did you hear something? I'll be accepting submissions until tomorrow night at oh, 9 PM or so. Then I'll present them to the boys so we can all judge them proper and decide on a worthy prize... and as promised, hey hey what can i do, Mr. Carlton Fisk.
Robert: Hey party people! I want to know what the #1 song in the US was on the day you were born and why you think it's significant (to your life). The best response will get posted and its writer will win something. I don't know what yet. It will probably have something to do with my band. Any affiliations with HM will not be eligible to win the grand prize, but Todd, Kan - I'm still interested in finding out what your song is and why it's important... OK go. As for my song, it is the wonderfully frivolous ditty Sister Golden Hair by America, which i always thought was called "Sister Golden Hair Surprise"... Why is it significant? I have no idea. I'll brainstorm and get back to you.
Robert: It appears to me that we may just have mass chaos on the blog today, so I best be staking my claim early. Yesterday, I did a quick update of the show list, to the best of my knowledge. Now I'd like to say that I've been gently grilled (small room, bright light in my face, cigarettes on the table, two way mirror) about my decision to post up tour dates before the exact time, place, and venue has been set in stone. So, first of all, if i went about things that way, there would be no shows listed right now at all. Everything is always tentative. I like to make a story out of the whole thing. Suspense. Are they playing Boston? When are they playing Boston? Why has it changed from Boston to Worcester? When was Clark University founded? Why does it not say Rave Bar anymore for Milwaukee? Has the Rave Bar closed? Has it gone total Rave? Who knows? These are all questions that will be answered in good time. But for now, just like this blog, I think of the show list as a stream of consciousness ramble, very sensitive to subtle changes and turnarounds, twisting and weaving until the shows finally make their way onto this list, hopefully with some pictures to prove it. I dove into my double disc version of Seven last night. Oh man, there is a wealth of information piled into those 2 beauties. I only had a chance to peruse the two alternate endings - both with and without commentary, some deleted scenes, and the mini-documentary on the creation of John Doe's notebooks. There is still a whole other disc with 4 commentaries to listen to during the movie! Holy heaven above! We're going to have to work out some kind of laptop-DVD-sharing program when riding in the van. Perhaps, we could even make a little schedule to hang up. "Buffalo to New York: Seven - disc one. Commentary by Brad Pitt and David Fincher." "Clemson to Atlanta: Spaceballs - without commentary." ... Anyway, I can't wait to watch Seven again start to finish. Sure it's disturbing, but what's even more disturbing is how much John Doe's tiny handwriting looks like mine! I compared my little notebook to his and the similarities are chilling. I was even asked last night, "You're not going to go crazy now are you?" My reply was, "Not any more than I already have." Everyone tells me they're crazy... Crazy people aren't so fucking boring... Todd was looking for information on the Meet The Parents DVD, so I found ya this link, from the always wonderful and informative DVDFILE. They also have that review of the Revenge of the Nerds double feature you've been asking about. A first this morning - There was a "medical emergency" on the EL on the way to work, that caused a delay for about 10 minutes at the Sedgewick stop. It was a very strange situation. First of all, they have this automated voice that calls out the stops and info while you ride. It's a nice fake announcer's voice that sounds straight off of an old time baseball game radio broadcast. "This is Merchandise Mart. Doors open on the right at Merchandise Mart. Next at bat: Carlton Fisk. Please familiarize yourself with Carlton Fisk." Anyway, i was surprised to realize that somewhere up in the front cab of the train, there is an actual button that makes the announcer say,"This train is experiencing a medical emergency. Authorities have been called." It's a calming, soothing voice, and it seems like the guy's mouth was forced into a smile as he recorded these. Needless to say, it caused a small wave of panic through the ranks of my car... No panic for the victim, though. Panic for the people who would be late for pointless meetings and donut discounts at the bakery. Meanwhile, I was hoping the train would stall there forever. More on m'work-internet fiasco, the weekend, Carlton Fisk... later.
dan: Good morning...the other night when i was sleeping...all-of-a-sudden my left calf muscle tighten-up like a frickin'hard ball....after grunting in pain for what seemed to be eternity It finally relaxed..but it still hurts.. on a lighter note. I also would like to welcome T-bone to the glorious world of blogging..word up homey.. I'm going to go have some fruit...
Robert: 330 Hey Hey What Can I Do - Led Zeppelin In 8th grade, I loved Led Zeppelin. In 9th grade I loved Screeching Weasel. There was a Screeching Weasel song called "I Hate Led Zeppelin" that I liked. There are no more Led Zeppelin songs on this list. There will be one Screeching Weasel song on this list. Hey hey what can I do? And welcome to my favorite bass player. Your presence on this blog has been duly noted this day. Rejoice. February 4, 2001
Todd: I guess I'm going to use this opportunity to get some answers.. Does anyone know if there is a spot on the web to get a vinyl report? Something indicating how many of a record where pressed or if its available on different formats(vinyl, cassette?) at all? Colors? How many was the vinyl pressing run? etc? I want numbers here! Specifics!! There are some records that I'm not sure there value, and being the record nerd I am, I need to know! How much is my sealed copy of the first New York Dolls album worth? How many times was it pressed? How rare is my copy of 'bee thousand' on red vinyl? What color is the 18th pressing of Black Flag's 'damaged'(sst)? How do I tell the difference between the 123rd and 124th pressing of Minor Threats 'out of step'? This info has to be cataloged somewhere.. Please help! More questions to come..
Todd: So here I am.. Finally joining the real world. I am blog-ready! I'm on and thats all that matters. Not much to report other than today was fairly relaxing given the poor Milwaukee weather. Boo! Boo! to you Mother Nature! Lets get spring started already.. warm weather and good summery things to do..
Robert: 331 Vacation - The Go-Go's If you can find some tabs on the internet, let me know. I just spent way too long trying to find some... |