VIDEO: "COUNTESS" LUANN'S "CHIC C'EST LA VIE"...NOW WITH SOUND EFFECTS!

Thank you (or NOT) to my friend Dena, who brought this nightmare of a "song" to my attention today. Apparently, "Chic C'est la Vie" is by one of dem Real Housewife messes from the teevee. It's a horror (which you can see unaltered here). I don't know who she is, but she sounds like a transgendered luxury real estate agent from Hell. I just felt like some audio commentary was lacking, so I added a few little FX interjections. Enjoy this before it...

Read More

GUEST POST, PHOTOS, & VIDEO: MISS EIGHT'S 1ST SUMMER SLEEPAWAY CAMP

This about the time that I first went to sleepaway camp, which was Sunday. I came back today. Which is Wednesday. My counselors' names were Dreamcatcher and Mouse. We studied about the Oregon Trails. The pioneers used to have to walk to get to different places because the Indians were attacking. Even the little kids had to walk. And the mom and dad would switch off walking with the kids.  We ate in a lodge. My favorite food was waffles, strawberries...

Read More

THIS WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR HAIR

It's true -- over the last half-century or so, I've had a whole lot of bad hairdos. Some I have chosen willingly (the asymmetrical pseudo-Sassoon butchering when I was 19, the long-as-I-can-grow-it-MY-HAIRRR! idea, which never worked with my fine flat locks) and some were forced upon me by my mother or sickly persuasive stylists (the short-bus-looking pixie/bowl cut, the ratty Janis Joplin failed perm). Whatever I think looks good now, I have realized,...

Read More

MINI-PHOTO ESSAY: MISS EIGHT GOES OFF TO SUMMER CAMP

In the small Wisconsin town where I spent my first nine years, there was a boys' military school where my dad used to work that also ran a popular summer camp. We would drive by the wooded campground and I would gawk at the little cabins, painted brown and dark green, each having an exotic Wisconsin Indian name like "Menominee" or "Oneida" or "Ho-Chunk," my favorite. In my dimming memory I seem to recall the camp as girls-only for one of the weeks...

Read More

I-PHONE PHOTO ROUNDUP: DEAD FLOWERS

OK, so maybe a touch on the philosophically trite, but they sure are purty, eh? "Dead Flowers," The Rolling Stone...

Read More

YES, THERE WERE PRO-VIETNAM-WAR SONGS

One of the defining elements to my childhood was the ever-present reports about the Vietnam War. It was, of course, inescapable, even though my family was not directly impacted by it. My dad had already done his bit in WWII -- five long years in the South Pacific -- and everyone else in my extended family was either too young or too old to be sent over. But the controversy and misery surrounding that war was everywhere, like a black cloud ready at...

Read More

VIDEO: WILLIAM CONRAD'S VERY BAD DAY (NSFW)

I don't recall how the topic came up and probably shouldn't, but the other day I opined to some friends that I would like to make a video of nothing but William Conrad running, as he appeared on the 1970s TV detective series "Cannon." Why? Well, to be blunt, Conrad was a man of girth and always looked awkward when waddling around after criminals with a teeny pistol. Yet he made it through every show. Bless him. Unfortunately, there's not much...

Read More

PEOPLE...PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUTUBE: A BARBRA STREISAND MASH-UP

First, I received this spam comment to the blog today: "Its awesome all of the time to view how folks can compose wonderful stuff about people topics! Thank you and I ve bookmarked you" Gosh, it sure is wonderful, Spambot! There is nothing I like better than people topics, and stuff! Then, a song came into my head. Then, I took a nap. Then, I did more review and photo work. Then I ate two hot dogs and three pickles. And finally,...

Read More

FIVE VERY ANNOYING SONGS WITH "SUMMER" IN THE TITLE

As I was driving around today listening to the car radio, Josiah on SIRIUS XMU was wondering what this year's big "song of summer" was going to be. The Big Songs Of Summer usually suck, so my mind wandered off from whatever Josiah was saying and I began to think of songs about summer. It's a rich topic for songwriters, almost as much as writing about winter. (When you throw all the Christmas songs in there, Winter must be declared the winner.) Fall...

Read More

IN WHICH I GET PAID TO DRINK BEER AND TAKE PHOTOS OF CUTE BREWER GUYS: WASHINGTON BREWERS FESTIVAL

Do I not just have the best life sometimes? Well, OK, maybe I am stretching the truth just a wee bit with my title here. My assignment, as I chose to accept it, was to take a few nice photos at the Washington Brewers Festival this Sunday in Kenmore, just a few miles north of where I live, for Seattle Weekly. The fest was held at St. Edward Park, a gorgeous heavily-treed oasis, formerly a Catholic seminary, known for its wonderful fairytale playground...

Read More

RYAN'S DUNN

I'll gladly admit it: I'm a fan of MTV's "Jackass" franchise and its loopy hardcore brand of pratfalls, stunts, and pranks. Sure, I'll cringe, wince, and shout, "OH NO!" when I watch one of the shows or movies, but that's the intent -- for the Johnny-Knoxville-led team of man-boys to do something so crazy and outrageous that it makes you laugh while you gawk. It definitely can veer into an uncomfortable zone -- Steve-O getting burned is not funny,...

Read More

PARTY WEEKEND MONDAY

Ah, crap! I have been SO BUSY processing photos that the time got by me today, no wait, YESTERDAY DAMMIT, and I didn't post anything! SHAME! OK, I have to get back to it, but in the meantime I will tell you that I wish SO SO SO MUCH I was in steaming hot Texas RIGHT NOW so I could see my dearest rock pal Joe "King" Carrasco as he plays a few gigs with the ORIGINAL Crowns line-up. My little vagrant heart breaks not to be there, it truly does, but...

Read More

RAY DAVIES IS "SANE"

As I sit here this morning at my desk, slowly waking up on a rainy day in June with the help of a very large mug of coffee, I cannot help but notice the achy stiffness in my shoulders and feet. Photographing two triple-bill club concerts on two nights in a row was a breeze when I was 20 -- now, inevitably, there is more of a physical cost. But I really don't get too bummed out about it. I am still doing something I love to do, augmented by the great...

Read More

EMO DUCK

I get the best art from MissEight...

Read More

MINI-PHOTO ESSAY: THE BEACH PARK

Last day of 3rd grade for MissEight, and the weather kindly kissed her on the cheek today for her little class get-together at a local beach park on the shores of Lake Washington. Temps in the low 70s, a soft breeze, and a mellow vibe made for a lovely couple of hours spent picnicking and swimming. I don't think there is anything more renewing than that. ...

Read More