Harmany Music

Pssst....

2007-09-24T14:58:00.000Z

Dewey Camp and a Thermostat

2007-08-13T02:09:00.000Z

I'm spending my weekends this summer in Dewey Beach, Delaware.

It's the true story of 16 strangers (in their 30s) who chose to pay money to live in a 4 bedroom house, listen to loud snoring, and see Kristen and the Noise a thousand times, to find out what happens when people stop having privacy and start going to Dewey Camp.

I'm out of my element, but it's good TV and gives me freckles.

***********************

Since these are the dog days, let's check the Thermostat. Frankel's Thermostat.

MP3 >> Thermostat

Coincidence or vast circular rotor blade conspiracy?

2007-07-30T17:24:00.000Z

I'm just suggesting that if you're lucky enough not to be on the first one going down, wait at least 4 days before getting into a chopper yourself...

This morning a Dallas news chopper made a fiery "emergency landing" just 3 days after 2 Arizona news and traffic helicopters collided in mid-air resulting in a fiery and deadly crash.

Back in March, a Heli-USA tour helicopter crashed, killing 4. Three days later, another tour helicopter proved unable to stay in the air and 1 person died.

Weak and Easy, Tiger

2007-06-29T18:38:00.000Z

i am so weak.

Faced with at least a 3 hour drive from DC to Dewey this afternoon, the thought of not having Easy Tiger to accompany me really started tapping my shoulder for attention.

Despite having a $50 iTunes gift certificate at home, I just pressed "buy." Staples is wrong, that monster the real easy button.

On first listen, I'm finding it more pleasing and agreeable to my sensibilities than his last 5 releases. This is my Ryan.

I want to point out the easygoing bluegrass tune Pearls on a String. It might not get the most attention of the bunch but you can bet I'll play this one as I cross over the Bay Bridge.

Money Mysteries for $500, Alex

2007-06-25T01:45:00.000Z

Answer: Perhaps even if money doesn't grow on trees, it grows on me.

Question: How does a dime get on the shower drain?

It's a good thing money does grow on me because I went to New York this weekend. Aside from all the fun, it's not a different experience than opening your bank account and dropping it from the Top of the Rock.

More of my photos

Frans' great pics

Boston's Emergency Music

2007-06-22T15:26:00.000Z

If you've followed my fandom tendencies at all you know EM's You'll Be the Death of Us All, Honey is at the top of my list for 2007. The band is squirrelly in its reticence to release one of the finest collection of tunes I've heard, but I suppose it's worth the wait.

In the meantime, you can listen to a live preview of Emergency Music on the Band In Boston podcast.

FHS 60 - Emergency Music [44:58m]: Play in Popup

My Life on the J List

2007-06-17T15:59:00.000Z

We're all familiar with the Kathy Griffin bit about being on the D List, right?

She's a big fan of saying things like,

"This is not how Reese Witherspoon spent her day."

Well, I can assure you this is not how Kathy Griffin spent her day.

I think I can outdo her status by 6 letters. Maybe more.

I had to take my 14 year old car to the dealership because only they have the secret code to get me back my Hot 95.5.

We pulled into the lot, my car and I, feeling intimidated, rusty, dirty, and dented in the bright light of all the new cars.

We parked right in the middle of them and tried to blend in. At 2pm on a Saturday this ensured us prompt service. I don't think they wanted us to stick around too long.

We survived this forced bout of insecurity so I though we deserved a treat.

I drove straight to the car wash and picked out option #3. As I gathered my CD's and tissue box, the man knocked on my window and said,
"I'm sorry, your car is too dirty for the car wash. You pay more."

What do you do after that but head home and have a little Juice in June?

Looking forward:

Kris Delmhorst plays The Birchmere Sunday, June 24.

MP3 >> Juice in June

MP3 >> Little Wings

Segway Wheels on Fire

2007-06-14T01:17:00.000Z

I'm going to let this image speak for itself because, really, what isn't funny about a Segway?

You can try it out, too, at DC Segway Tours.

or, rent one and seg (crash) around on your own with Segs in the City.

The perfect song for being on a segway: a Last Train Home / Alice Despard tune...

pssst... Last Train Home is playing IOTA this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Be there!

MP3 >> Wheels on Fire

Live By DC Locals: June 12-18

2007-06-12T15:55:00.000Z

Here's the quick and dirty lowdown on DC bands playing in DC this week.

This is an awkward presentation, so please visit (and subscribe to - it's always changing!) the DC Music Calendar for more info, descriptions, ticket pricing, and links. Without further ado, I encourage you to get out and see the local kids!

TUESDAY, JUNE 12

DC9

The Red and The Black

The Thing With That Stuff

WEDNESDAY JUNE 13

Jammin Java

Rose

Velvet Lounge

Rock n Roll Hotel

The Red and The Black

THURSDAY, JUNE 14

Velvet Lounge

Jammin Java

The Iternals

FRIDAY, JUNE 15

SATURDAY, JUNE 16

SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 17-19

What I did on my San Franciscan vacation

2007-06-11T22:01:00.000Z

Or,

how to walk more than a marathon without really noticing.

In 15 easy steps!

1. On the first day, only walk a few miles. Get the tourist-y stuff out of the way.

2. Get on a sailboat in the bay! Even if it's freezing (that makes a more thrilling ride).

3. Definitely find sustenance while you're walking. Chinatown is a good place to do it.

4. When you're a little tired on day 1, hop aboard a cable car and blind your driver with a flash.

5. Go to The Mission for the Carnaval parade (and taquerias).

6. While you're there, check out Mission Delores and some murals.

7. Head to The Castro (always good to have a destination).

8. From the Castro, walk up to Haight St and continue until you're at Ashbury. Peace out.

9. Then decide you'll walk all the way to the ocean through Golden Gate Park.

10. Since your feet hurt now, stop in the Japanese Tea Garden to pick up much-needed zen.

11. Hardly notice those calve-wrenching hills by concentrating on the view!

12. Let Pat & Charlie breathe a bit.

13. Go to famous watering holes!

14. Hit Chinatown for dessert.

15. Take the crookedest roads, the steepest roads, and the scenic stairways on day 3. It'll be clearer weather by now so you can really enjoy the sun while you sweat and your quads scream for mercy.

Don't cry because you missed it. New Socalled tracks right here

2007-06-07T18:43:00.000Z

This space is no DC9, but you can listen to a couple of tracks from his June 12 release Ghettoblaster on JDub Records right here.

MP3 >> These Are The Good Old Days

MP3 >> You Are Never Alone

A fan of Matisyahu? You'll probably like Socalled.

For his second album, Ghettoblaster reaches back into the past and mines many varying influences rich with context. The entire album is an amalgamation of traditional and contemporary influences, evoking a sound reminiscent of the past while engaging listeners of all types. "Let's Get Wet" fuses a Klezmer feel with minimal hip-hop instrumentation, while "You Are Never Alone" relays a soulful hip-hop template enriched with SoCalled's unique creative flourishes that encompass a lifetime of Jewish and hip-hop influences.

Live by Locals

2007-06-06T03:02:00.000Z

Here's where your homegrown talent is playing locally this week (June 5 - June 12). Sometimes with each other, sometimes with musicians not from these parts.

Times are mostly arbitrary. Check the venue sites.

Please click here for the full schedules with links and a little commentary.

Better yet, grab the feed. Then go see some real live locals.

#16: Swim Across the Atlantic Ocean

2007-06-05T19:05:00.000Z

A friend wanted to buy a bed in Dumfries (VA) the other day, so we looked up how long it would take to get there, but we didn't add the VA. Turns out there's a Dumfries in the UK. Please see instruction #16.

This calls for some music to swim by. Perfect for the occasion is a track from Kurt Hagardorn's new LP, 10 Singles.

MP3 >> You Are My Girl

Due out July 24, 2007 on Bladen County Records.

Wanted: A Life Size Angel

2007-05-25T18:38:00.000Z

Pretty much my favorite sign ever - and I know a 5th!

(photo by bluishorange)

Know is the wrong word. I saw a whole lotta angel paintings last weekend in Sewanee. They have an angel thing there. They also have a reclusive artist named Floyd who makes the best ones, and I bet he could:

make the face look like the face of a woman in a photo I have

I'm headed to San Francisco tomorrow morning. I've never been there so I don't know what will happen except that I'll be listening over and over to my angel (the new Ryan Adams).

Aquarium Drunkard has a few tracks

It's Cruel What Beauty Can Do To You

2007-05-24T21:13:00.000Z

MP3 >> Act of War

Artist = Owen Duff

Debut album = Tunnels, closing in

I was immediately reminded of Boy Least Likely To with this track. Enjoyable!

SPEAKING OF CRUELTY AND BEAUTY, RELATED

I'm a champion!

This photo is going to be on this tv show

The show people said to me they said:

it is a health and wellness show that explains how the body works and how it reacts to different stimulants. We would like to use this photo for our episode about Alcohol and how it affects the body.

That Necktie's Wearing You

2007-05-23T20:48:00.000Z

First, a good, free and legal song for you to enjoy by Chapel Hill, NC band Schooner:

Schooner

MP3 >> They Always Do

Second, a life recipe:
Ever wanted a weekend that resembled the perfect mashup of Dirty Dancing and Steel Magnolia's?

Here's how you can tell:

Get invited to your 2nd cousin's wedding in Sewanee, TN
Stay in a Jim Oliver's Smokehouse cabin
Be sure to check in the day he checks out
Carry the watermelonEnjoy the bowties, seersucker suits, and southern accents with a glass of fruit tea

All the photos

*Diagram inspired by Toothpaste for Dinner's Panflute

Precocious PeTUNEias

2007-05-17T00:28:00.000Z

One week as a small girl I stayed with a babysitter. There were other kids around so the environment was ripe for organized alphabet games. We sat in a circle and started with that first-class elitist letter: A.

Apple, Beachball, Cooties.

I felt like a weed on the track at the Indy 500 so fast was my turn hurtling toward me. Anxious, I wracked my brain for a P word and could come up with nothing. NOTHING! And then it happened.

Petunia came flying from my mouth and the babysitter and other adults in the room roared with laughter and shouts of "Isn't she precocious!"

I didn't know there was anything wrong with the word petunia and all I could think was, "I could have ALSO said precocious." Because it starts with a P.

I tell you this because when I was at the Garden District a few weeks ago I saw a tiny plant labeled petunia and I bought it because by God I'm gonna grow one of those precocious bastards!

Preposterous!

And in a flowery spirit I now give you the following peTUNEias. Enjoy.

From OxBlood Records' First Blood Compilation:
The Republic Tigers >> Made Concrete

From Rock Snob Records' Vidalia:
Tenderhooks >> Kidstuff

Wheels On Fire

2007-05-10T15:20:00.000Z

Last Train Home usually stops at IOTA station in these parts, but tonight they’re on a different track and will pull into The Birchmere at 7:30 sharp!

To whet your LTH whistle, here’s an unreleased tune the band recorded with DC legend Alice Despard:

MP3 >> Wheels On Fire

Collective Curiosity

2007-05-07T22:45:00.000Z

IOTA's website lists on its schedule tonight:

The Federal Reserve Presents: Showcase every first Monday - 8:30p.m. $8

I don't have any idea what this means, and there aren't any clues on the Federal Reserve MySpace site. None of the usual bands belonging to The Federal Reserve mention playing this evening, either. Perhaps this is their chance to look for new member/competitors?

Well, if you didn't get that expected invite to the State Dinner with the Queen, you may as well hop over the bridge to find out firsthand what this showcase is all about.

UPDATE: Rose mentions it! She blew me away when I saw her a couple months ago.

Chris Bathgate

2007-05-06T22:27:00.000Z

MP3 >> A Flash of Light Followed By

I could tell I would like this song from its first Nick Drake -esque note, when I was immediately reminded of Black Eyed Dog.

...and the air got cold and the sky got dark / and I kissed your lips with the safety off...

Chris' third studio effort, A Cork Tale Wake, will be released June 26th. The growing attention as Ann Arbor's new folk hero has him casting a wider touring net than ever before and I think he just may catch the big one this year.

Conspicuously absent so far is a DC date, but there are several open days in his schedule after his June 17th show in Philly.

A resounding plea: Come on down this-a-way, man.

Map Love

2007-05-03T14:49:00.000Z

I'd like a home on the blogipeligo, far from the anthropomorphic dragons.

Map of Online Communities

Utah Carol

2007-05-02T18:47:00.000Z

I'd like to give this music a hug.

From Utah Carol's new release, Rodeo Queen:

MP3 >> Come Back Baby
MP3 >> Ruby

MySpace

Go Oldie, It's Your Birthday

2007-05-01T02:33:00.000Z

Blogs are good because...

You can look back to remember what you did on personally important days.

It's my birthday.

Here's a gander at how I celebrated the past few years:

2004: I failed to mention the big day, but I was serving as bridesmaid at cousin Meredith and husband Bryan's wedding.

2005: I looked back in time, had a party at the house, and inadvertently worked at a restaurant.

2006: Turned 30 at U Street's Saloon.

As this year turns over to 31 I'll remember the day in 1976 when Bold Forbes won victorious by having dinner at U Street's Islander Restaurant and hosting a Cinco de Mayo / Kentucky Derby party on Saturday. I'm saving the big Russian May Day party for another year.

Nats v Mets

2007-04-30T00:37:00.000Z

Hurry up and hit a homerun, I want to do some eatin'!
- seatmate sometime in the 11th inning.

Strike him out and hang him - he's a witch!
- a nearby fan exasperated at the Nats' inability to seal the deal.

If that ball were a pig, it'd be pulled pork!
- yours truly when a Jesus ball hooked foul.

It was the quickest of games, it was the longest of games.

On kickball flukes

2007-04-27T17:32:00.000Z

Of course, I won't be turning any flukes into trends this summer, but I hope to at least spot one.

The red ball was rushing toward me and all I could think was, "I wish I had on a dress!"

So I joined a kickball team. The last time I remember playing kickball was on school picture day in 3rd grade - I was decked out in my fanciest shoes and dress - and I kicked a home run!

In my first plate appearance since 1984, I didn't make it to first base, and neither did my teammates.

Painting and Ray's Vast Basement

2007-04-22T20:21:00.000Z

The rumors are widespread. I'm at it again and now I mean business.

Painting

I'm a painter. I scribble colorful kindergarten-looking pics in the comfort of my bedroom but I also paint the interior walls of many friends' homes. 7 down and counting.. I'm most proud of my brother's suede room:

I forgot to take photos of my latest, a Columbia Heights condo on the same block as last night's murder, but it turned out beautifully. The owner picked out poppin' colors, and she allowed me to listen to my music as I stared down the wall.

I love how well I sleep at night after a day of painting; how my feeble muscles ache. I feel like I earned my keep in a way that a desk job can't touch.

I've been thinking seriously about taking on some weekend jobs for people I don't already know...

Extra cash and a satisfying feeling of accomplishment couldn't be a bad thing...

Speaking of painting, check out Ray's Vast Basement's website. Go ahead and do it now. I'll wait. Pretty awesome, right? Their music is also excellent. A new album, Starvation Under Orange, will be released July 3.

Legal MP3's

California's Gone ::: mp3
How Through Sacrifice ::: mp3

Odd Advertising

2007-04-19T00:14:00.000Z

UPS? Do you really want to show up here? When keywords go wrong...

By the way, this is an unthinkable tragedy and yet I can muster nearly zero emotion about it. I have no idea why, but I do know that when Columbine happened I was profoundly affected. Is it numbness caused by 9/11? The million lies that got us into the truly unspeakable tragedy that is Iraq? Katrina? The 24 hour news cycle in general? I feel a little less human because of my lack of feeling.

Link to screencapture

While we're on the subject, and because nothing will ever be done about gun control, I enjoy Chris Rock's bullet control theory:

“Gun control? We need bullet control! I think every bullet should cost 5,000 dollars. Because if a bullet cost five thousand dollar, we wouldn't have any innocent bystander .”

Is there a multimillion dollar bullet lobby?

Why Moms Are Great

2007-04-18T23:49:00.000Z

Because they visit for Easter and when you're at work they clean the lintstuffs out of your hairdryer (you didn't even know that was possible!) and you can forevermore wake up 10 minutes later because of the increased efficiency of hot air.

photo by gadjoboy

Death by Jaywalk

2007-04-18T00:53:00.000Z

Earlier this afternoon I died of jaywalking.

Back when I was alive, I often joked about how my cavalier street crossing habits would be the death of me.

My joshing around and bad habit became a self-fulfilling prophecy at 5:45 p.m. this evening at 16th and Irving. I looked both ways and saw nothing but the flashing H4 bus light safely in the distance. What I missed was the minivan tearing through the intersection. It was all my fault. I was in the crosswalk, but talking to the hand and not the walking image.

The driver screeched her brakes, staring down the inevitable collision in horror.

It didn't really end this way tonight, but it certainly came close enough that my heart is still racing 3 hours later. I hope I learned my lesson: Never get hypnotized by the new safety lights on Metro Buses!

Yay for Flickr. And flask/flip flops?

2007-04-13T18:30:00.000Z

Innocently scrolling through my afternoon RSS, I stopped cold at a familiar photo...

DCist used my Rehoboth City Limits pic from last summer.

Excellent.

Kurt and the Lisps

2007-04-12T11:02:00.000Z

RIP Kurt Vonnegut. Your work is my favorite. Hope you have fun in Xanadu.

To cheer myself up I'll be heading to The Red and the Black to catch The Lisps tonight! You should join me.

I talked about The Lisps when they visited DC last Thanksgiving, but the turkey had me indisposed. I'm excited to meet these email pals in person. They possess my favorite quality (quirkiness!) and they wanted me to pass along the news that they'd like to play you their rowdy and irreverent songs as part of the Six Points Festival tonight.

Here's a sample:

MP3: Chaos

MP3: Documents

Thinking about the core

2007-04-10T23:13:00.000Z

Anytime the word core is used to refer to a type of music, I am turned off.

Even when the associated word is nerd.

I probably miss a bunch of good music with this philosophy, so please stop using it.

Didja miss SXSW this year?

2007-04-10T00:52:00.000Z

eMusic has 2007's breakout performances from the famed conference festival.

No need to be a subscriber of eMusic to download these free and legal tracks:

SWSX 2007 Breakout bands that tore up Texas

Some bopping tracks by Au Revoir Simone, Sharon Jones, Les Savy Fav, Rob Crow, The Big Sleep, Soweto Kinch, Thunderbirds are Now, The Hot Puppies, and Shitdisco.

I wasn't there so can't say whether these would have been my picks, but I do enjoy more than a couple of them.

Chilly Air and Chilly Space

2007-04-09T23:44:00.000Z

Mom: I'm pretty much done hearing the TV tell me how unusually cold it is.

Me: Well, what do you want to do?

Mom: Curl up in here and watch TV and be warm.

My mom and brother pulled an Easter visit to the District last weekend. The lifelong dream of seeing the Cherry Blossoms in bloom ruined yet again (by the risen Jesus? No silly, it was the wind. Knocked em right off). Luckily for them, I was able to visit the flowers early last week.

Photos through which to live vicariously:

We went to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space museum. It's all.the.way.out.by.Dulles. Once you get there, it's pretty excellent.

Great Scott! EZ Fantasy Baseball

2007-04-01T21:10:00.000Z

Armed with zero knowledge about major league baseball players (I'm a die-hard BoSox fan, but otherwise I can't tell a Corey Hart from a Kenny Rogers), I've been roped into a fantasy league.

What a dilemma! How to choose my players?

Why, think like the IRS and go the EZ surname route of course. Research smeesearch, we are all islands in the stream, wearing our sunglasses at night. To combat these tough times, let's keep the game familial and get a lot of guys named Scott to pitch.

My fantasy team:

Manny Ramirez LF BOS
Hanley Ramirez SS FLA
Aramis Ramirez 3B CHC
Horacio Ramirez SP SEA
Elizardo Ramirez SP CIN

Alex Gonzalez SS CIN
Mike Gonzalez RP ATL
Edgar Gonzalez SP ARI
Enrique Gonzalez SP ARI
Adrian Gonzalez 1B SD
Luis Gonzalez LF LA

Francisco Rogriguez RP ANA
Wandy Rodriguez SP HOU
Ivan Rodriguez C DET
Alex Rodriguez 3B NYY

Duaner Sanchez RP NYM
Jonathan Sanchez RP SF
Alex Sanchez OF FLA
Freddy Sanchez 3B PIT
Anibal Sanchez SP FLA

Feliz Hernandez SP SEA
Livan Hernandez SP ARI
Ramon Hernandez C BAL
Orlando Hernandez SP NYM

Felipe Lopez SS WAS
Jose Lopez 2B SEA
Rodrigo Lopez SP COL
Javy Lopez C COL

Victor Martinez C CLE
Pedro Martinez SP NYM

Endy Chavez RF NYM
Eric Chavez 3B OAK

PITCHERS
Scott Proctor
Scott Kazmir
Scott Olsen
Scot Shields
Scott Linebrink
Scott Baker

Happy April Fools' Day

The Dead Bodies Indeed

2007-03-31T17:23:00.000Z

Now I know how to cure the insatiable desire to be at Disney World's Electric Water Pageant.

Regretfully presenting from the forthcoming Dead Bodies album
Mr. Spookhouse's Pink House:

Pink Muff Dance Party >> mp3

On second thought, I'd rather see the lite-brite-like floats and this ain't no Baroque Hoedown. Dead Bodies are not for me.

tin cup prophette

2007-03-31T15:01:00.000Z

It's a superhero, it's a violin, it's a girl-version Andrew Bird!

tin cup prophette
*this is exciting, you just can't tell because she doesn't capitalize her name*

The Cup
When Amanda Kapousouz moved to NYC for fame and fortune, her father gave her a tin tip cup that still hangs from her fiddle case with a note that read, "Go make some money."

Why I Like It

Tin is my favorite metal and who doesn't like prophets? Cups I'm a little finicky about, but 2/3 ain't bad and I hear there's a fiddle involved.
I knew she used to play with Jump Little Children. I hated their 1998 record but still listen to it at least once a month. Running with people like that is usually a good sign.
Amanda played at Smith's Olde Bar a whole bunch and I count that gem among my homeboy venues. Any friend of Smith's...
The 2 songs I've heard are damn pleasing and interesting. They remind me of Andrew Bird, and I don't have to tell you how I feel about him.

How you can determine if you like it
...and if you do, these songs will appear on Liar and the Thief, released April 24th

Going Numb >>mp3
Speak or Spill Down >>mp3

Just for fun, compare and contrast!
Andrew Bird: Heretics >>mp3

Post #1001

2007-03-21T01:06:00.000Z

In a moment of indulgence (is there any other kind in the blogosphere?), this is a small retrospective of the blathering I've done here 1000 times.

I started this blog in November 2003, back when I was an artist manager. I thought it would be a good way to push content about the bands I was representing (thus the silly name) but it's come to mean much more to me. The only thing I've made a longer commitment to is my car (we've been hanging for 14 years).

I've now happily moved on from the biz (and enjoy just being a fan these days) but my little space on the internerds has inexplicably remained. More than that, it was instrumental in securing my latest professional endeavor. For this I am eternally grateful to Harmany Music because I'm having a blast doing my job and feel hopelessly lucky.

You, dear readers, seem to most enjoy the nonsense about:
Orphan Works
How To Catch a Lobster
Singing Lollipops
Shadrach, Meshack, and Abendigo
The EverybodyFields
Weird Architecture
Midgetville
Shooting roosters and killing hens

Thanks for reading - it's good for my self-confidence. Carry on now and watch out for the tickle stick. I'll be right here.

You might be a gaycist if...

2007-03-20T19:48:00.000Z

Church leaders are trying to ban Sir Elton John from their Caribbean island because he is gay. The star is due to play at Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago next month, but church authorities say his presence might tempt local people to become homosexual.

This seems an extreme example of the newly coined gaycism. From the always excellent Language Log:

From Cole Paulson (in my Innovations seminar winter quarter): gaycism used as a parallel to racism and a competitor to homophobia (a word that some object to as suggesting, via its -phobia portion, too narrow a meaning). It's two syllables shorter than homophobia and fits well with some of the other -ism words (sexism and antisemitism, in particular), and of course there's that rhyme with racism, which can be exploited to emphasize parallels between the two types of prejudice...

** In other news, this is my 1000th post.

The Shins @ DAR

2007-03-14T18:03:00.000Z

Monday's Shins show marked the first time I had an assigned seat for a concert in the new millenium. I didn't realize it before now, but I suppose I just prefer to blow out my hearing using smaller venues.

Despite this trend, reserved seating boasts at least a couple of checks in the pro column for old biddies like me:

1. We can easily avoid Bob Uecker syndrome (God I loved Major League and Mr. Belvedere) without arriving insanely early to compete with whippersnappers. This perk leaves plenty of time to enjoy tapas and sangria at Taberna del Alabardero (a surprisingly inexpensive MUST - yum yum yum delicioso!).
2. We can sit down for the show, saving all the usual concert bunion pain.

By the way, I give the actual show a thumbs up. Those tibia rockers really give the Japanese word for new a good name.

DCist, Candy Sandwich, Douglas Nelson, and Washington City Paper, have posted their takes as well.

Heli USA; Heli glad I didn't crash into the Grand Canyon

2007-03-12T00:32:00.000Z

UPDATE: ANOTHER tour helicopter crashed in Hawaii just this afternoon, killing 1 and injuring 3. I officially consider myself lucky to be alive.

My fears going into this new experience weren't unfounded; the same company that (safely) took me on my magnificent journey, Heli USA, had a chopper crash in Hawaii the day before my tour. Each of the 3 couples aboard lost a spouse, as if the event needed more tragedy.

Rather than sit at slot machines or try my luck at $5 blackjack and Texas Hold 'Em tables, I gambled all my chips on survival and forced myself to board the 7 passenger helicopter on Friday afternoon. With me were pilot Randy, a young UK University couple, and a UK family of three celebrating daughter Claire's 21st birthday (she held a barf bag to her mouth the whole ride but never spewed and I love her for that).

When we landed, Buckskin Dan loaded us into a horse-drawn wagon to nearby Diamond Bar ranch. Nigel Turner and his wife own both Heli USA and this 106,000 acre ranch (once owned by infamous cowboy Tap Duncan), and a nice welcome letter was waiting in my cabin from them. It was clearly written well before my arrival, as I'm sure the couple was on their way to Hawaii to do some crisis communicating. Although I asked, no one at the ranch was all that interested in talking about the crash.

I settled into my adorable cabin before the cowboys stuck me on a horse named Lilo and we were off on a trot. Although inadequate, the photos above will have to do their best to describe the views because words will definitely not suffice.

Casey Adams and Buckskin Dan serenaded me as I sipped champagne and watched the sunset, all without dismounting Lilo.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (not a cliche!), steak dinner was served, bell and all. The guests and employees sat together trading stories while the singing cattlemen kept us in music. When we finished, Casey already had a campfire going and we sat around it singing for the next 3 hours. I swear by God and Celine Dion, the stars made me feel like a tiny speck (no small feat after that steak dinner).

I was back on the strip by 9 a.m. yesterday morning. Hotel-less and 7 hours away from my flight home, the generous UK family allowed me to pass the time with them for a while before I got all Tap Duncan and snuck into the Imperial Palace pool.
What an incredibly refreshing 24 hours!
View the whole photo set

For info on the New Media Conference that brought me out to Vegas, look here:
BlogWrite for CEOs
Communication Overtones
Joho the Blog
Marketing Begins at Home
A Shel of My Former Self
Shel Israel
More on Technorati

Extreme Cheesiness Followed By Sheer Terror

2007-03-06T19:14:00.000Z

I don't even like to fly in airplanes, but following a conference in Las Vegas this coming Friday, I'll board a bus bound for the West edge of the Grand Canyon. I'll take a sunset horseback ride, eat a chuck-wagon style meal, sing campfire songs and then bunk up in a teepee for the night (extreme cheesiness included here). The next morning, I'll hop into a chopper and scream bloody murder as we - and by we I mean me and whatever other strangers have signed up for this torture - fly inside that enormous crater (sheer terror). God willing, they'll return me to the strip just in time to get on a regular ole aeroplane back home.

I'm hoping to leave with some amusing photos and my life.

Let's celebrate this victory over fears with an appropriately titled new song, shall we?

MP3 >> My Own Good

Artist: Louis
Album: Freak Show Revenge from Superphonic Records

The Everybody Fields @ IOTA tonight

2007-03-05T14:54:00.000Z

The Everybody Fields' sound is deeply rooted in americana, bluegrass, classic country, and summertime, but the musicians themselves are young people from Johnson City, TN.

Having heard the good news about them from friends in Boston, Gina B. and I made a trip to Delaplane, VA last May to see what all the fuss is about. They exceeded my expectations for pleasing-to-the-ear songs and witty banter; the down-home feeling bolstered by abundant fresh strawberries and bales of hay for seating.

Tonight, you'll not have these amenities on hand (unless Stephen @ IOTA is getting creative as I type), but the talent for tunes should be enough to make you hopeful for spring on this Monday night.

Listen to the songs here.

The who, what and when:
The EverybodyFields @ IOTA
$10
8:30 pm
opening for: Athens' Modern Skirts

*UPDATE*
The EverybodyFields were 1000% more impressive in the dim light of IOTA than at the strawberry festival. I enjoyed them more than enough initially to see a follow-up show, and now I'm what you'd call a full-fledged fan. Of course, last night they had cousin Frank on hand to boost the fiddling section and I strongly recommend they stick him in the van. The man is a virtuoso considering he'd never heard some of the tunes he chimed in on. He stomped on Sam's dry banter a bit, but his musical contribution far outweighed this minor annoyance.

I could listen to Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews harmonize for every second of the rest of my life. It is so ... pleasing. The EPK is right - they are too young to be making music this timeless. The band has a restrained rocknroll edge with an acoustified stage presence. Well, I don't know the exact ingredients, but this secret recipe is definitely finger-lickin good (Tennessee Fried Music?).

After the show, I asked Jill when the next album would be released, and she ventured a "June or July." In the meantime, they're playing out nonstop. If you don't make an effort to experience them soon, you'll be tardy and probably get a "U" on your report card.

Pardon Me, Boy

2007-03-01T22:46:00.000Z

I just got sticker shock booking a flight to a cousin's Tennessee wedding. I decided to get creative about my travel needs and you know what? There's NO TRAIN SERVICE to Chattanooga. What with the song and all, I find that strange.
MP3 >> Chattanooga Choo Choo

I have new music from the inbox, too.

Straight outta Northampton (again):
The Mitchells

MP3 >> R.I.
MP3 >> Still Might Happen

Straight outta Trekky Records:
Lost in the Trees

MP3 >> I've Always Loved the Fall

Dear Liza

2007-02-27T01:34:00.000Z

I legitimately emailed a Liza at around 10 a.m. this morning and you know what's been going through my head ever since.

MP3 >> There's a Hole in My Bucket

A quietly stunning new band

2007-02-25T18:10:00.000Z

The Winterpills

MP3 >> Broken Arm

MP3 >> Handkerchiefs

Signature Sounds will release The Winterpills' The Light Divides this Tuesday, February 27th.

I have an admitted weakness for Signature Sounds artists and a fascination with Northampton, MA, so I had to click play on The Winterpills in my inbox. I'm not disappointed. There's a distinct Elliot Smith quality to these tunes making them the perfect pill for today's wintry mix.

Buy it from CD Baby

What other bloggers say

@ IOTA on March 24

Tasty Bits

2007-02-24T18:14:00.000Z

The three little links.
It's time for them to leave home and seek their fortunes.

Sivacracy's Liz Losh posts a wonderfully practical and entertaining piece:

So here's my list of possible strategies, suitable for a memo to a Hollywood bigwig, that tries to answer my friends' basic question about what's a nice scriptwriter to do now that the world is going digital.

Last Train Home's Eric Brace is regularly blogging these days. He's insightful and funny and worth checking out:

A favorite pasttime is the junkshop. All along I-40 and I-81 in our drives from Nashville to DC and back, there's a hundred signs saying: "Antique Mall, next exit" and such. I think I've been to pretty much every one over the past few years.

Sam Mangwana. eMusic featured him in one way or another a couple weeks ago, and I can't get enough!

Sam Mangwana was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo to Angolan parents. Mangwana grew up listening to foreign musicians touring Kinshasa, especially those from Cuba, who greatly influenced the development of Congolese music. Sam belonged to many bands throughout his career, beginning with Tabu Ley Rochereau's band African Fiesta in 1962.

MP3 >> Tchimurenga Zimbabwe

Hey kids, I went to a rock n roll show

2007-02-22T20:40:00.000Z

My one headlight and I traversed to the Rock n Roll Hotel for The Vita Ruins, Malajube, and Snowden last night (thanks to a ticket giveaway by ILB).

The Vita Ruins were a great surprise, although if I had done my homework they wouldn't have been. For me, drums are usually a distraction to the melody I'm trying to hear, but their drummer had me captivated. While I know nothing of these things, I'll say he's an impressively talented guy. Tim Kratzer's voice is solid but a little grating; I found myself perking up during the bridges when I could hear all the musicality these guys offer. I don't mean for that to sound negative, The Vita Ruins is a great band.

***********

Malajube is a wall of French Canadian sound.

"Hello. I notice in DC you have bars on a lot of the windows. In Montral, we leave our doors to our house unlocked. Is ok to leave trailor outside?"

They don't speak much english(unless they were putting us on) but they do know how to make the rock n roll. The lead singer's voice reminded me very much of local Shane Hines, except in French. They were really loud, just the way my deaf ear likes it.

***********
Snowden is a much-hyped Atlanta band who unfortunately started playing too late for me to stay through their set. I heard the first three tunes and thought (1) they really like to sing that one note; and (2) they're good at it. I did a little jig and felt happy.

Help! Lots of the rock n roll around DC this week

2007-02-20T00:09:00.000Z

WEDNESDAY

Malajube, Snowden, Vita Ruins at the Rock n Roll Hotel.
I've been meaning to see Snowden for a long time, as recommended by a favorite Atlanta blogger, KissAtlanta.

THURSDAY

The Fed @ DC9
More info and mp3 here. Go have some fun with DC public schoolteachers!

Chin Up Chin Up, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ Black Cat
Why? Because Brad recommends the former while the latter is MySpace friends with Harry and the Potters, automatically making them winners.

FRIDAY

Middle Distance Runner @ 9:30 Club
7 contacts makes a sale! Congratulations to MDR on their 9:30 debut.

Last Train Home debuts "Last Good Kiss"

2007-02-16T20:13:00.000Z

MP3 >> Last Good Kiss

Personal favorite band Last Train Home is hosting a 3-night CD release party tonight, tomorrow night, and Sunday afternoon at IOTA.

From lead singer Eric Brace:

The CD will be available on this site by Thursday Feb. 15. By the following week, you'll be able to get it at: Miles of Music, CD Baby, Village Records, Amazon, with more mail-order outlets to come. "Last Good Kiss" will also be on all the main download sites very soon as well.

We're so proud of this record. We had a great time making it at 16 Ton studios in Nashville, working with Mike Esser and Patrick Miller (our engineers on this). It's the first LTH record to feature our guitarist Steve Wedemeyer and keyboardist Jen Gunderman. Playing with each of them over the past year and a half has pushed us to new heights as a band, and we hope you'll agree.

If you're in the Washington DC area on Feb 16-17-18, please come by IOTA Club & Cafe for our big CD release shows. It'll be quite a party.

Here's what The Washington Post has to say about Last Good Kiss:

'LAST TRAIN HOME is based in Nashville these days, but the band travels so much it might seem that frontman Eric Brace would be hard-pressed to keep coming up with first-rate songs between tour stops. Apparently, that's not a problem. If anything, "Last Good Kiss," the quintet's new release, suggests that as far as the quality of Brace's songwriting is concerned, the more road work the better.

Consider the album's opening and title track. A rushing, Last Train express out of Nashville, where the disc was recorded, the song swiftly reveals Brace's knack for conveying hair-trigger emotions with just a few choice words. It's also a stirring showcase for the band's new lineup, featuring guitarist Steve Wedemeyer and keyboardist Jen Gunderman, formerly of the Jayhawks.

Couple 2, 3 questions

2007-02-16T19:29:00.000Z

1. Is it just me, or do the DC bars seem way more crowded since the smoking ban went into effect? Wonder where I can find the latest revenue numbers on the matter? (this is the latest news article I found with my cursory Google search). Walking home every day I pass at least 45 bars and they're all bursting at the seems, even with the ice, even the really bad ones. I think people who don't want their clothes to smell terrible and their lungs to rot out have been rejoicing with the drink. And Hallelujah.

2. Seriously, whose responsibility is it to clear the sidewalks and bus stops, and why was my H1 30 minutes late this morning and full up o' people?

3. Why are the LOSTaways (DCeiver's term) so intent on getting back to the original island when the Others can get to them there quite easily (and have been since they crash-landed)?

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T20:46:00.000Z

CC licensed Flickr photos tagged LOVE

Shhhhhh! Scanning in process

2007-02-14T18:56:00.000Z

You can hear a pin drop around these parts lately. I spend my days searching the internet (what a great job!) and I imagine I'm feeling the way a Podiatrist does when her husband asks for a foot rub at the end of the day:

"If I see one more..."

I am still sitting in front of this machine we're teaching but I've got very little content to teach it. I know, I know, when did that ever stop me before?

While the muse takes a break, here's a little something to get frightened about:

Ed McMahon didn't knock on my door, but AC Nielson did! I now have to scan in the bar code of every retail item I purchase. My scans look like this:

Diet Coke, Diet Coke, wine. Diet Coke, Diet Coke, wine. Socks.

If the consumer products industry listens to me, I assume they'll be producing a Coke-flavored vintage port in a sock-adorned bottle by Fall.

New Music Saturday

2007-02-10T22:47:00.000Z

Music cleared for the blogosphere from my inbox:

Bluegrass

John Starling and Carolina Star
Birchmere February 23

MP3 >> Cold Hard Business
MP3 >> In My Hour of Darkness

Irish, blues-tinted indie rock

The Basement
"If you don't know who The Basement is, it's probably because you're not in Europe."

MP3 >> Do You Think You're Moving?

Get your diaper, make it a round trip

2007-02-09T17:57:00.000Z

Howard K. Stern may as well put on a diaper and a trench coat to drive from Florida to Texas. He appears to be suffering due to a long-term love affair with a very slippery $500 million.

LA Times on Anna Nicole.

The Spectacular Fall of Lisa Nowak

The Perfect Storm? A Wino commenter put it all together:
You've got a gold-digging drug addict bimbo with giant t*ts, $500 million from a 90 year old "husband", a son that dies under mysterious circumstance, a 6 month old daughter, and a lawyer husband who seems to be falsely claiming paternity to inherit said millions, and who also looks awfully suspicious now in light of all these deaths.

Email Art

2007-02-03T04:50:00.000Z

A while back BoingBoing linked to Jenny Chowdhury's work:

"My latest project is about email preservation/elevation. I basically wanted to save some wacky emails that my mom sent, so I presented them as 24" x 30" paintings."

I'm not gonna paint, but I am gonna piggyback. After all, my mama does write funny email. Here's a sampling just from the 2007:

I am going to Manny's memorial service in the morning. She is having it
in the Atrium of the condo.
Good luck with your disaster.
Mom

I picked up the dogs at Rick's house this afternoon on my way home. He
had to work today so didn't get to see him. they said they had fun there.
better get unpacked.
Love you,
Mom

Rick came over yesterday and drug my tree out for me. I made it naked
last weekend but couldn't pull it out.
Better get going - Have to be at the Lyric at 6:00.
Love you,
Mom

I went to a play at the Lyric last night. It was an original musical. It was excellent. It was the first time it had been performed. It is called the Riverhaven Book Club. It only had 6 actors all of whom could sing well which isn't always the case in local theater.
Have a fun evening.
Love yu, Mom

That's hillbilly music. I've got the blues.

2007-01-30T01:13:00.000Z

Every Tuesday from 6 pm to 8 pm I mentor three 6th grade boys through the Higher Achievement program.

Last week we read and analyzed an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem (Yes, How Do I Love Thee).

For fun, I let the kids put their grubby ears on my iPod to listen to a musical adaptation of a Robert Browning poem: Kris Delmhorst - Galuppi Baldassari >> mp3

They loved holding my iPod, but after listening to the selection they exclaimed, "This is hillbilly music."

This week we're talking about the blues, including Robert Johnson's Crossroad Blues. I'm going to play a version of it for them, but it's all I can do not to also subject them to blues cuts from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, and this too will be called hillbilly music.

So I'm looking for other goods they might like. By the way, these kids can't get enough of Thriller-era Michael Jackson. Seriously, they're obsessed, and who can blame them?

Public Domain Blues mp3's below. More here.

John Lee Hooker - John Henry >>mp3

Leadbelly - Where Did You Sleep Last Night? >>mp3

Robert Johnson - Love In Vain >> mp3

Robert Johnson - Phonograph Blues >> mp3

Let the kids hear the music

2007-01-25T12:55:00.000Z

If only we could move so fast when a kid is killed in an illegal war.

DC City Council Proposing Legislation to Ban All-Ages Clubs
Body: ***Please contact DC City Council Members TODAY -
forward to your DC friends***
(note: for DC residents and/or patrons of DC clubs)

Today, the DC City Council will hold a hearing on the proposal to
ban all DC clubs with liquor licenses from having all-ages shows. As active
members of DC's music community, we all know how important this music
community was and is to all of us - at any age - especially when we were
teens.

This is rushed and reactionary legislation in response to the killing of a
17-yr-old high school senior at Club 1919 this past weekend. While her death
is tragic and not to be overlooked, the solution is not banning youth from
clubs. Live music and venues are not the problem.

There are at least three things you can do to this effect:
1. Call/email Graham & the Council Chair Vincent Gray (who schedules votes)
to voice your opposition
2. Call/email Graham and his fellow committee members (in case the emergency
legislation gets knocked back to the committee for markup)
3. Call/email all Council members and tell them to vote against the upcoming
emergency legislation: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/contact.html

If you live in Ward 1, note that in your call/email to Graham (south of
Spring St NW, north of Florida Ave NW, east of Rock Creek Park and west of
North Capitol St).

Heather

2007-01-22T22:18:00.000Z

6 years ago today, my good friend Heather died in a car accident.

I want to honor her today, but it's hard to figure out just how to do it right.

I'm sure this isn't it, but here are some random CC Flickr photos tagged "heather" that I think she'd get a kick out of (I know I do).

This is the real Heather, circa 1998, in her dragon dress.

Countdown to Tuesday

2007-01-20T18:47:00.000Z

Tuesday, January 23rd is a big day for the music. We're really getting this 2007 started.

MP3s included where available.

I probably don't need to remind you of this one:

The Shins
Wincing the Night Away: streaming right now at MySpace.
Sounds Shinsalicious!
No DC date set yet.

The Tiny
Starring, Someone Like You! (US Release): I love what I've heard on MySpace from this Swedish trio.
The Tiny doesn't look to have a US tour lined up, but you can catch Hej Hej, DC's only DJ night dedicated to Scandinavian pop and rock, next Thursday at Saint-Ex. Maybe Seeking Irony or WeirdCurves will play a little.

Of Montreal (of Athens, GA)
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse >>mp3
Will play the State Theater on March 6 (via MySpace)

Ghost Stories
Quixoticism
I've been listening to cuts from this album since November 20, so I'm excited it's finally out to the masses. It's got lots of competition for attention, but it's a worthy effort and possibly my favorite of the bunch.
The Upper Ten, The Lower Five >>mp3

Deerhoof
Friend Opportunity
+81 >>mp3
Will be at the Black Cat February 11.

Animal Collective
People, a Fat Cat EP
People >>mp3
I just read they signed with a new label, so I assume this is a must-fulfill-contract-duties-EP. Purely an assumption.

I'm lazy but I offer dramatic music

2007-01-18T17:55:00.000Z

Ari Picker, The Never's lead, is releasing a solo effort called Lost in the Trees. Someone (read: publicist) sent me a song and I found it interesting enough to share with you.

Tall Trees - mp3

Release: March 20, 2007 on Trekky Records

Background info:
Lost in the Trees
After fronting The b-Sides and The Never for years, Ari Picker is finally ready to reveal his solo work to the masses, under the moniker Lost in the Trees. A compilation of songs written over the last 7 years, the Lost in the Trees repertoire represents some of Picker’s most haunting and personal songwriting to date, coupled with his most elaborate and engaging orchestral arrangements. Picker’s time at Berklee College of Music in Boston has allowed his flair for classical music to flourish into an integrated aspect of his songwriting. The network of enthusiastic musicians at Berklee also allowed Picker to form a 9-piece backing orchestra for his compositions, evolving Lost in the Trees from a solo project to a fully active mini-orchestra including violins, viola, cello, upright bass, trombone, melodica and banjo. Picker’s love of cinematic scores is apparent on Time Taunts Me, but many of the songs are still based in good old fashioned songwriting. The synthesis of movie music and guitar-based folk songs creates an atmosphere in which Picker can be dramatic but not histrionic and straightforward but not boring. Just listen and you’ll see.

Squish like grape; Fear does not exist in this condo

2007-01-15T19:56:00.000Z

You guessed it. My superior painting skills were called into action once again last Friday. This time for my newly departed housemate's Cathedral condo. She moved into a white-walled abode that needed some color, so she, CVDL and I slapped on our sleepy pants and had an old fashioned pajama painting party.

I promise teach painting to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions.

Here's the homeowner herself, working harder on her poses than her painting. She did not mind spilling paint everywhere. The perfectionist control freak in me disliked her style greatly, but the insecure part of me that's convinced I'll mess it up felt quite comfortable with this philosophy.

Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.

Since we were having a 6th grade style pj party, what better activity than to paint dirty stick figures onto the wall? This was all fun and games until the neighbor knocked on the door bearing housewarming brownies. Not. Easy. To. Explain.

Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later get squish just like grape.

CVDL was skeered to paint (see insecure above) but we got her going with the roller and then with the paint. Here, she perfects Mr. Miagi's paint the fence. She was a star pupil, and even told me I would be a good mom because of my patience and teaching techniques.

Fear does not exist in this condo

Homeowner JJ was determined to edge the ceiling, but her 5' self just couldn't quite reach that high.

Punch! Drive a punch! Not just arm, whole body! Hip, leg, drive a punch! Make "kiai." Kiai! Give you power. Now, drive punch.

If do right, no can defend.

Dulseda, the Hispanic-inspired sweet milk liquor

2007-01-15T18:14:00.000Z

Christmas gifts included:
--The all new Joy of Cooking 2006 Edition
-- Cool Cocktails

Armed with these 2 new items, I decided to host a New Year's Eve dinner party. I cooked up the Chicken Tetrazzini (although Joy of Cooking inexplicably calls it turkey tetrazzini) and tossed a caesar salad. My guests brought Prosciutto Bruschetta and a lovely fruit tart dessert.

The trouble? I wanted to make Rusty Nails, a scotch-whiskey based drink from my cocktail recipe gift, but didn't have any whiskey in the liquor cabinet. I felt a twinge of sadness at the passing of Comet, and headed up to Metro Liquors to the largely latino portion of Columbia Road for some whiskey. They were handing out free bottles of the new Dulseda!

I've only had a couple sips, but man is it the most delicious drink! Dulseda is a creamy liqueur inspired by the taste of the traditional Latin dulce de leche. From the company that makes it:

Hispanics already enjoy dulce de leche straight out of the jar, on bread, or as part of their favorite desserts. Now, with Dulseda, there is a totally new way to enjoy it. And given the increasing popularity of Hispanic flavors across a variety of consumer goods, Dulseda�s appeal will surely stretch beyond its Latin roots. Earlier, this year, Dulseda was awarded with a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in the liqueur category.

Where my geeks at? A celebrity sighting: UPDATE

2007-01-12T20:42:00.000Z

Reminder: Steve Irwin's final documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, including my "friend" Philippe Cousteau, will air January 21 @ 8:00 on Animal Planet! Right smack in the middle of the Pats v. Colts playoff game! Argh! Go Pats!

WaPo has a nice article about the event.

I recently called the DC blogerati geeky. I'm actually quite proud to consider myself among them, so want to show both my blogginess and geekiness simultaneously in this post. See below.

I grew up in Florida idolizing Jacques Cousteau. For my 7th grade science project, I experimented with improvements to his Magnus Effect Sail. Many of my many make-believe games were centered around being one of his scientists.

Fast forward to last Saturday night where I was attending a birthday party at Bedrock Billiards. One of the fellow invitees was, drumroll please, Philippe Cousteau, 27 year old grandson of Jacques! I nearly died and went to heaven.

We had a very nice evening of pool-playing and discussion about celebrity and ocean stuff. He was with Steve Irwin on the fatal stingray shoot, so he'll be on the Discovery Network a whole bunch in the coming week as they air the footage from the Ocean's Deadliest documentary.

After a couple of beers I had to literally bite my tongue to keep from discussing the Magnus Effect with him.

WaPo Blogger Summit

2007-01-12T19:56:00.000Z

Whew. Ben Schott pushed me down a hole for a whole crazy week.

Status of MY WaPo Blogger Summit pen: Lost.

I hope the paper is planning to pay KOB big bucks for taking his idea to WaPo.com. DCBlogs has been a trailblazingly great place to find like-minded narcissists and good local writing. I'm excited to see what placing this same idea on a major newspaper site will do for our traffic. All of a sudden I feel really lucky to be a blogger in DC with all you geeks.

Look at all of ya talking about this Summit!

The Footnote IS Interesting

2007-01-05T00:12:00.000Z

I was always the student who found the footnote much more interesting than the main block of text. - Ben Schott

Me too! This year for Christmas I both wished for and received two of Ben Schott's beauties, Ben Schott's Almanac 2007 and Ben Schott's Food and Drink Miscellany.

These books are highly enjoyable in that they're as full of facts as an Ikea is of impossibly heavy boxes*. For this reason, I was delighted to see this interview with Ben Schott himself today.

In part, he says:

Why not put all this stuff on a website with links out to government sites and other sources? Why lock these facts into the most old-fashioned medium possible? Are you being willfully antiquated?
No, it's not willful at all. First of all, I love books. When you can lend a website to a friend, when you can take it on holiday, when you can fold it up and put in your pocket, when you can scribble marginalia, when you can get suntan lotion and sand all over its pages, when you can admire it as an object, when you can hurl a website across the room in disgust, then maybe I'll be fully convinced.

I'm sure someone's working on that right now.
I'm sure they are. But this book probably wouldn't really be possible without the Internet because I use the Internet a lot. Now, when I say that, I don't mean I go surf Google or Wikipedia and just take what I get. In many ways, the Internet is just a faster cab to the library.

*Seriously, a single girl cannot carry that bookshelf. She would buy it if she could.

via BoingBoing

1 flux capacitor in pink, please

2007-01-04T03:29:00.000Z

Photos from Christmas in Stuart, FL

P.S. There's a certain Boston band's new album I feel so excited about that I can only bring myself to post random photos to keep from leaking it. Master the phenomenal thing already! You'll be the death of us all!

Lobster Surprise

2007-01-03T01:53:00.000Z

Tasty tasty murder.

7's Are Good

2007-01-01T07:45:00.000Z

1977
No idea. At 6 months old, I was probably crying and spreading my poop around my crib when the clock struck twelve. If nothing else, I'm sure I knew that night was the night.

1987
In the Florida Keys. Parents were out, it was just all of us kids and the babysitter kids. I was the oldest so they let me stay up later. I'm still and always have been a quasi adult; and I've always walked like an Egyptian.

1997
In New York City's PolyEsther's. A $30 cover got us one piece of bread and cheesy music. I had a blast with those foolish games.

2007
A chicken tetrazzini, a Rusty Nail and the big bang at Stetson's. This is a year about which I feel very hopeful. Very hopeful indeed.

Happy New Year everyone!

New Year's Eve Eve

2006-12-30T19:11:00.000Z

On Tuesday I'll be mourning Gerald Ford and James Brown away from the office. To really do some reflecting, I'd hop on a plane to someplace exotic with that extra day, but planes are delayed the country over and I'm a-feared that my reflecting would be interrupted by impatient terminal people.

Luckily, there's lots to do here in DC. For instance, IOTA will host the Federal Reserve Collective's CD Release party tonight. I've been excited about These United States for a long while, but this'll be my first collective experience and I have high expectations.

How could I not, if WaPo reports the truth?

"One of the most pleasant developments over the past year in the local music scene has been the emergence of The Federal Reserve collective. It's a loosely-affiliated group of like-minded artists that favors a sound that's sort of alt-country and sort of late-'60s Laurel Canyon (and much more Gram Parsons than the Eagles). But more than a common sound, the acts share an affinity for gimmick-free, straightforward pop songs that remind you of a time when pop songs could be built around guitars. These United States is perhaps the jangliest of the bunch, playing well-crafted, toe-tapping tunes written by frontman Jesse Elliott."

A note about the CD: DC-based record label Gypsy Eyes is putting out a FEDERAL RESERVE COMPILATION CD!
Tracks by Revival, Kittyhawk, Rose, Let's French, These United States, and Vandaveer.

Whew! I Feel Good!

Last Time in 2006 and Ever. Bluestate

2006-12-29T15:56:00.000Z

Bluestate DJs Leafblower, Seeking Irony, DCSOB, and guest DJ Ms. Gl*mrocker will be keeping us sweaty in the winter tonight.

UPDATE:

Worshippers of the Invented Sun

2006-12-28T22:17:00.000Z

I like DC artist Sean Hennessey. He's got ideas and lightbulbs. A couple of weeks ago I met him in his studio where I procured the above sculpture, a first of many if my day job holds. He and his lovely partner in crime showed me all around their Mt. Ranier studio space, which is inspiring in itself.

You too can visit him there or see his stuff here and here. You can buy it over here. AND he's having a solo exhibition called Worshippers of the Invented Sun at Touchet Gallery in Fells Point Baltimore through the month of January.

Enjoyable.

Please Don't Squeeze the Charmin

2006-12-28T00:58:00.000Z

Happy December the 28th, 2006!
This day of free and legal tunes to prove you're hip at your New Year's Eve party has arrived. And you thought Christmas was over.

One Ring Zero
Here Come the Mannequins - mp3

El Perro del Mar
Party - mp3

Final Fantasy
This Lamb Sells Condos - mp3

Calexico
Griptape Heart - mp3

The Great Luggage Caper

2006-12-27T19:11:00.000Z

If you're a reader of my unbelievably interesting tales, you'll remember that I used to carry a unique and easily recognizable green colored suitcase with me on all my voyages.

Green had itchy feet, and often hopped on airplanes that I didn't, until he was retired with candlewax last Christmas.

This year, Santa was so good to me that I had to pull Green out of mothballs to serve as a secondary present carrier back to DC. After being closeted for a year, he must've been especially anxious to check out new destinations, as he's either corrupted or taken hostage my new primary blue suitcase and US Air has NO. IDEA. where either of these globetrotters is.

All the Best

2006-12-27T18:12:00.000Z

Three days before Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of my longest established friend. Erin and I have been knowing each other since I was 6 months old, so it was great to see her say I DO to Chris, a man whose handsomeness was only enhanced by the huge beads of sweat running off his bald head during the ceremony.

Christmas Morn

2006-12-25T19:32:00.000Z

Here in Stuart, nothing says Christmas like stoop sitting in a warm, tornado watch-y breeze, listening to the dog moan while he rubs his ears in the grass, and then picking the stoop splinters out of your pajamas.

Happy Holidays

2006-12-21T02:19:00.000Z

Here's to Warren the surly, haphazardly lit, single ornamented Christmas tree. He bit and scratched and hurt me in 2006, but I'm happy he's around.

Leaping into the 90's

2006-12-20T17:57:00.000Z

I'm no Capital Weather, but if there was a temperature degree button on keyboards, I'd hit it at least once/day. I typed out 102 degrees and 18 degrees until today when I found this list (from 1999) that cracks the code for how to make all those symbols I always wanted. For example, 102°! and 18°!

Here's how:

HOLD the ALT key down and with the ALT key held down type 0176 on the number pad. DO NOT use the numbers on the top row of your keyboard, it must be on the numeric pad.

After typing 0176 release the ALT key and WHAM there's the °.

Here's the ASCII codes for the other symbols.

° ALT + 0176

™ ALT + 0153

¢ ALT + 0162

© ALT + 0169

® ALT + 0174

¼ ALT + 0188

½ ALT + 0189

¾ ALT + 0190

A Wisp of a List

2006-12-18T01:35:00.000Z

Below you'll find, in no particular alphabetical order, my 5 favorite records of 2006 that aren't on other lists (yet).

For best-of lists I enjoy, see
Largehearted Boy
Cable & Tweed
Information Leafblower

*****************************************

Jeffrey Foucault
Ghost Repeater
Stream 3 tunes here

What I said:
6/19/2006
*****************************************

Bobby Bare Jr.
The Longest Meow
The Heart Bionic - mp3

What I said:
9/25/2006
*****************************************

Justin Jones
Love versus Heroin
MySpace

What I said:
2/17/2006
8/31/2006
******************************************

Kris Delmhorst
Strange Conversation
MySpace

What I said:
6/6/2006
******************************************

The Lisps
the vain, the modest, and the dead
MySpace
Pepper Spray - mp3

What I said:
11/25/2006

Newley.com's 4th Annual Bloggers' Favorite Books

2006-12-15T14:45:00.000Z

Good friend and HeartburnFest founder Newley Purnell has rolled out the 4th annual Bloggers' Favorite Books survey. I feel lucky to be included in this esteemed list which also includes:

BoingBoing's Mark Frauenfelder recommending Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis;

#1 Hit Song's Dana recommending Visogoth, Happyland, Children's Hospital, and Under the Banner of Heaven;

Kottke.org's Jason Kottke recommending Charles Mann's 1491;

The Taipei Kid recommending What to Eat;

The World Is Not Flat's Lee LeFever recommending A Short History of Nearly Everything;

Time I'll Never Get Back recommending the Lou Gehrig biography Luckiest Man;

Newley himself went with Richard Ford's The Lay of the Land;

and I chose Benjamin Kunkel's Indecision and Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop

Weird DC Architecture?

2006-12-14T20:10:00.000Z

HGTV show "What's With That House?" contacted me the other day because they wanted to know more about the fake White House in Atlanta I posted about just after Thanksgiving.

It turns out they're looking for more suggestions for any interesting homes in the Atlanta Georgia and surrounding areas. Anything painted different, interesting architecture, a house with a theme, etc. - something that stands out.

Not knowing of any others myself, I contacted Atlanta's Cable & Tweed blog for help. His readers came up with a bunch of suggestions, including a moated castle, some purple house, a flying saucer house, and this guy!

If HGTV comes to DC next, what would you suggest? There's the always buzzed about midgetville out in Vienna, but are there any other wonders of weird architecture around here?

Update: Thanks to Mike Grass @ The Express for the extra hits today.

10 comedians are standing in a bar...

2006-12-14T17:26:00.000Z

The long arms of the world's tallest man reached in and saved two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs, state media and an aquarium official said Thursday.

Walking home last night, I was bombarded by about 10 comedians standing outside a bar. They begged me to come in to listen to their stuff, so I did! I was the ONLY audience member, so they picked on me a little and did what they call a "workshop," which as far as I can tell means they read ideas from mini notebooks and don't really tell any jokes at all. It was kind of a twilight zone experience, but I saw lots of potential in most of them and had a great time. I look forward to stopping by Rendezvous on Wednesday nights in the future to hear the polished goods.

In the meantime, I'm sure they can do something with that story up top.

Flying Cheetos and Church Bells

2006-12-12T19:19:00.000Z

1. Walking through downtown DC last Sunday morning, I was listening to the Mountain Goats' Get Lonely in my iPod. The bells of a church on 20th street behind these songs gave them a Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat kind of awesomeness.

2. If you're indecisive, choosing to fly United because they have the healthiest snacks is as good a reason as any to try the Hemisphere's crossword puzzle. - Airline's Worst/Best Snacks

3. Speaking of healthy, why not forgo the actual Cheetos for some Cheetos Lip Balm?

Right on, Lightning

2006-12-12T16:01:00.000Z

Adams Morgan is a colorful neighborhood and one of its most striking inhabitants is Lightning, the sidewalk hogging tortoise of Kalorama Road. He and Turtle Todd (Lightning's affectionately named caretaker) greeted me the very first time I entered my neighborhood in 2002, and they'll both likely long outlast me here.

If you ask Turtle Todd how long he's lived here, he replies, "Since the Carter administration." He's not old but he is steady, like his friendly counterpart.

I've watched children and adults alike squeal with delight upon seeing this dynamic duo over the years. Countless artists and rogue photographers have captured him (I will update to include evidence later).

This morning comes New York Times news that turtles are much more than just pretty faces, they're modern marvels of science! We've all heard that they live an unbelievably lot of years, but I didn't know that,

in contrast to nearly every other animal studied, a turtle’s organs do not gradually break down or become less efficient over time.

“Turtles don’t really die of old age,” Dr. Raxworthy said. In fact, if turtles didn’t get eaten, crushed by an automobile or fall prey to a disease, he said, they might just live indefinitely.

Turtles have the power to almost stop the ticking of their personal clock. “Their heart isn’t necessarily stimulated by nerves, and it doesn’t need to beat constantly,” said Dr. George Zug, curator of herpetology at the Smithsonian Institution. “They can turn it on and off essentially at will.”

And to this I say, Right on, Lightning.

Weberium Tremens

2006-12-05T22:07:00.000Z

Happy December. Despite not having personal use access to the internet for a couple of weeks now, my 12th month of 2006 has been moving swimmingly. You could even say it's doing the butterfly.

Although it's not my choice (Verizon strikes again), it's been healthy for me to take a breather from the interwebs. I can quit you if I want. The withdrawal shakes help with my breakdancing.

I'll be back in full swing sometime next week with some of those year end wrap-ups we all love snark on. Calorie free!

In the meantime, here's a little holiday trivia:
What size are the three kings of orient?

(Many thanks to F&C for use of their access to this wide world)

Snakeskin Handbag Redux. Be there Thursday.

2006-11-28T03:20:00.000Z

I'm proud to present my housemate's objects of virtu.

Don't struggle to find the perfect holiday gift for yourself or your fashion forward loved ones. Come to the debut of my housemate's entrepreneurial project, Saya Originals.

She's been working really hard to make this a reality (we're talking customs brokers and fish & wildlife licenses) and now that it's here you have the perfect opportunity to come get your grubbies on some of these beauties! They're unique, well-made, and hot.

WHAT: Saya Originals Debut Trunk Show plus snacks and booze

WHEN: This Thursday, November 30th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Z Lounge inside Sports Club/LA

WHY: They're beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces made in Indonesia. It'll be free and fun to come look and meet the woman and snakes behind the new project.

Be sure to read the founder's story, and check out where part of the profits from this show are going. If you can't make the event on Thursday, check out the website and call in an order over the phone! Remember she has many more styles and colors than are featured on the current site (her shipment came in long after the website needed to be up).

Other White Houses

2006-11-26T20:21:00.000Z

The 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue White House isn't alone.

On my way to visit my cousin's new home in Atlanta over Thanksgiving, we drove right by this scaled down version of the White House, sitting in her neighborhood. I had heard about the oddity for years, but happening upon it with my own eyes was a phenomenal experience. It was built by Iranian-American Fred Milani and his wife, Yvonne, because they wanted a home that said America.

The house is a replica of the presidential mansion on the outside only, although Fred works in an "oval office," seated at a replica of Abraham Lincoln's carved mahogany desk. And there's a carved seal of the United States mounted on the ceiling and another woven into the carpet.

Thanksgiving was Thpethal

2006-11-25T14:24:00.000Z

cheese, milk, and butter
filled up my tummy Thursday
macaroni pie

Greetings from Atlanta, where they have their own as-yet-unnamed baby butterstick.

-Panda Cam-

Exiting the zoo yesterday, I overheard a man stop a Zoo Atlanta worker and say, "This is an impressive zoo. I live in DC, and..."

If you're rolling back home like Violet Beauregarde and find yourself hankering for some quirky indie rock to fill your enlarged and growling belly, you've come to the right place!
Today's helping comes in the form of New York's The Lisps. Time Out NY says,

Local coed pop group the Lisps gives quirky indie rock a real good name. Its debut self-released EP, The Vain, the Modest, and the Dead, is smart-assed and danceable, but with an affecting core of been-around-the-block melancholy.

If you happen to be rolling back to DC, you can catch them at The Red and The Black tomorrow night, November 26. If you're putting on your elastic waistband pants in another spot, just sit back and listen here or there.

Pepper Spray - mp3
Winter That I Missed - mp3

More Thanksgiving photos

Boo!

2006-11-20T23:32:00.000Z

A musical outfit called Ghost Stories landed in my inbox this afternoon, hyping its forthcoming (Jan. 2007) debut record, Quixoticism. I've listened to the given tracks several times and they're enjoyable little numbers.

Ghost Stories is the musical brainchild of Ron Lewis, a bedroom recordist steeped in haunting lo-fi folk, found-sound ambience and epic psych-pop grandeur. Quixoticism unfolds like a passive-aggressive indie rock opera.

Ron Lewis has played various parts in the works of the Fruit Bats, the Joggers, Colin Meloy, and Dismemberment Plan.

Yeti Don't Dance pointed out the buzz earlier today. Below are a couple of different tracks than he posted.

Ghost Stories - The Motions - mp3
Ghost Stories - You Wear It Like A Stained Glass Window - mp3

How to do a good job?

2006-11-20T16:38:00.000Z

At this time next Monday, I will be about 3 and a half hours into a new job. I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity because I think it's a great fit for me both skills-wise and personality-matching-wise. Still, in the days leading up to its start, I'm feeling some anticipatory anxiety that can't be resolved until I get in there and begin the work. There are mundane worries such as,

"Do I take the 42 bus and walk .5 miles or do I wait for the unreliable L2 and walk .3 miles?"

and there are some more big-picture wonderings such as,

"Will I be as good at this as I think? Will I be able to communicate effectively so that both my goals and the organizational goals are met?"

I've had a somewhat quirky career life in that I've worked in a variety of situations and subject matter with one common denominator: my jobs have all taken place in teeny tiny operations. No benefits, no set vacation time, no 401(k), no HR, no rules at all. This has afforded me some flexibility, but mostly has caused stress in wondering about whether and when to take a vacation, eat lunch, or leave the office at night.

Next Monday I'll be walking into a HUGE organization that sent me a welcome packet. A welcome packet! I'm in heaven or at least honestly quite excited to be walking into some bureaucracy.

In these ways, this feels like my first grown up job and I want it to go just right. I picked up a couple of books to help with the process, but I'm hoping my bloggedy friends will offer some advice for how to win friends and influence people in the office environment.

Thanksgiving Haikus

2006-11-20T00:35:00.000Z

to give thanks this year
i'm thinking of some haikus
discombobulate

Less Caloric Intake Now Possible

2006-11-17T18:27:00.000Z

At lunchtime every day I would stroll across the street in Buckhead to Eatzi's. The friendly staff would make me the tastiest salads and sandwiches and premade meals I have ever had to this day. Their bread was out of this world, and just thinking of their unique spreads makes my mouth water right now. Unfortunately, there's no pavlovian treat at the end of this story.

Yesterday I received word from Cousin Mere that the Atlanta shop closed its doors. I replied immediately to express my sadness for her, but did a little dance for myself because I'd still be able to make the trek to their Rockville location to satiate my cravings. Until I read DCFUD's post that Maryland is now Eatzi's-less as well. What gives?

EatZi's Market & Bakery pulled the plug on its Houston location Thursday. EatZi's also closed two Atlanta locations and a Rockville, Md. unit this week. The Dallas-based company could not be reached for comment. EatZi's has one remaining location on Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas.

In positive news, I'm sure the employees of all locations feel some relief in not having to listen to 8 hours of blaring Italian music. I'd suggest the Rockville ones and you attend Bluestate tonight at Saint Ex and call me in the morning.

Tonedeafness

2006-11-16T17:45:00.000Z

If you're looking to prove your musical abilities quickly, check out Test your musical skills in 6 minutes!. As of today, the creator has added new features to compare yourself to others.

By way of disclosure, I suppose I'm quite happy with my 80.6% score. Despite the test's purpose, it doesn't seem to have much to do with tonedeafness, but rather with pitch memory. If you heard me sing you'd probably guess I'm a whole lot more than 20% tonedeaf.

Rose

2006-11-13T18:27:00.000Z

The Federal Reserve is a nascent musical collective of the Nation's Capitol. It consists of Kitty Hawk, Vandaveer, Revival, Rose, and the previously mentioned These United States. Unsure of how I missed their existence for so long, and even less sure of their current status, I'm eager to experience all of their component parts.

All of us in the DC area will have the chance to do just that this evening at the Galaxy Hut with Rose.

Move Me - mp3

Rainy Sunday Memes

2006-11-12T22:00:00.000Z

The inimitable J.J. Gittes of As Little As Possible grabbed my flag in the no-tackle game of internet memes. The subject has something to do with movies, about which I am no expert.

1. Popcorn or candy?
It doesn't matter, so long as it's smuggled into the theater from my home popper or the local convenience store.

2. Name a movie you've been meaning to see forever.
The Godfather Trilogy

3. You are given the power to recall one Oscar. Who loses theirs and to whom?
I don't really care, I just like to see who shows up drunk to pull a Faith Hill. That said, and I've never told anyone this, I thought Forrest Gump was totally stupid and long. Since Mr. Hollywood Hanks already won one the year before, I'd have to take his and give it to Morgan Freeman for The Shawshank Redemption. If choosing between Forrest Gump on TBS and Shawshank on TNT, I'll go Shawshank every time. Marisa Tomei definitely gets to keep hers.

4. Steal one costume from a movie for your wardrobe. Which will it be?
I hate costume movies, but love to wear costumes myself. I'll have to pick something I haven't seen. Wait. Moulin Rouge! I saw that! Those are very fun outfits.

5. Your favorite film franchise is...
Tough one. I can't decide between Short Circuit, Ghostbusters, or the Karate Kid. I've got to wax on and pick The Karate Kid.

6. Invite five movie people over for dinner. Who are they? Why'd you invite them? What do you feed them?
Bill Murray: From What About Bob to Zissou, I love the man's choices. I doubt he'd come.
The Coen Brothers: Because of Raising Arizona, Fargo, and Oh, Brother.
Jack Nicholson: Because I'd like to see the epitome of cool up close.
Tom Cruise: Because I'd like to see crazy up close.
Julie Andrews: Because she's one of my favorite things.
If I had these people over for dinner, I doubt I'd be able to cook or eat anything.

7. What is the appropriate punishment for people who answer cell phones in the movie theater?
Do people really do that? What he said.

8. Choose a female bodyguard: Ripley from Aliens. Mystique from X-Men. Sarah Connor from Terminator 2. The Bride from Kill Bill. Mace from Strange Days.
I don't know any of those bodyguards. If I could choose anyone, though, I'd say, "Forget Kevin Costner, I'm hiring Whitney Houston."

9. What's the scariest thing you've ever seen in a movie?
That stupid, stupid girl saying Candyman for the fifth time in front of the mirror.

10. Your favorite genre (excluding comedy and drama) is?
Is black comedy different from just plain comedy? Doesn't everything fit into one or both of these? The drier the humor, the better.

11. You are given the power to greenlight movies at a major studio for one year. How do you wield this power?
I wouldn't let anyone who appears in US Weekly to also appear in a film.

12. Bonnie or Clyde?
They can be separated?

13. Who are you tagging to answer this survey?
Anyone who wants to.

Cheers

2006-11-09T21:49:00.000Z

Fallen

2006-11-09T00:41:00.000Z

Like leaves through a fall tree, so is the Republican House.

Housemate Peddling Snakeskin Handbags...Hissssss

2006-11-07T16:14:00.000Z

My good friend and housemate will be celebrating the launch of Saya Originals with a trunk show at the Sports Club/L.A. next Tuesday, November 14th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend and strongly encouraged to purchase her beautiful and sassy imported snakeskin handbags and accessories. They're the awesome. Hiss.

She will be donating a portion of the proceeds to The Foundation for Mother and Child Health so you can contribute to society while stocking up on holiday gifts for yourself and your fashion forward loved ones. I hear there will also be snacks available while you look in her trunks.

The Cassettes

2006-11-06T16:53:00.000Z

(photo by edvvc)

Sunday morning I strolled outside to 18th Street, passing by Crooked Beat Records, that bastion of brick and mortar vinyl. Although the shop was hours from opening, the flyer in the window for Thursday's in-store with The Cassettes caught my eye with its promise for vaudeville-mystic country music.

The band name rang an unidentified bell in my head, so I looked them up to find its source. They're a musical explorers society and they've successfully traversed their way to an excellent mono podcast featuring their newest release, 'Neath the Pale Moon in the style of an old time radio show. I highly recommend subscribing to it (via iTunes) and to checking out the adventures of this group of instrument players.

Madder Lass - mp3
Musfaella - mp3

Gatorland Burning

2006-11-06T15:34:00.000Z

FL - Man's reaction to the gators' recent human killing spree.
Gatorland in Florida is on fire.

At the park's entrance, the signature concrete and steel gator mouth built in 1963 is burned.

Reuters reports:
Up to 10 snakes and reptiles, including some crocodiles, may have died in the fire that engulfed the gift shop at the entrance to the 110-acre (44.5 hectare) park, but firefighters had not been able to get in to confirm that, Nuckles said.

It's a good thing The Crocodile Hunter will be *there* to greet these guys.