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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Monday Open Thread

Monday Open Thread

by John Cole|  November 12, 200712:23 pm| 45 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance

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Now playing on my iTunes: Big Audio Dynamite- This Is Big Audio Dynamite.

Go ahead, make fun of me. I don’t care. Up next is TP and the HB’s- Let Me Up I Have Had Enough.

Consider this an open thread, and since I have been out of town and otherwise occupied, fill me in on what I have missed.

*** Update ***

I am working and uploading more cd’s to iTunes at the same time, and one of the things that I found truly surprising is how much Tom Petty I have. I have always liked him, but I didn’t realize I liked him as much as I did- I have put in 5 albums this morning and I know I have double that amount at home. Weird.

*** Update #2 ***

In a strange turn of events, the comment spam (which you never see, but I get to delete out of the spam filter with an annoying regularity) has now switched from merely advertising penis enlargement procedures, but instead offers instructions on how to use said enlargement techniques.

*** Update #3 ****

Average White Band.

Go ahead- make my day. Punk.

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Reader Interactions

45Comments

  1. 1.

    Cris

    November 12, 2007 at 12:29 pm

    Happy Armistice Day (observed).

    Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ Day is not.

    So I will throw Veterans’ Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don’t want to throw away any sacred things.
    –Kurt Vonnegut

  2. 2.

    canuckistani

    November 12, 2007 at 12:31 pm

    Even a pale echo of The Clash is better than anything written in the past 10 years.

  3. 3.

    Tom Shipley

    November 12, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    Ironically, this is the only BAD album I didn’t own at one point. Number 10, Upping Street and Tighten Up Volume 88 are the best, I think.

    In no way a great band like the Clash, but still has Mick Jones working at close to his peak, so some great stuff on each album.

  4. 4.

    jcricket

    November 12, 2007 at 12:41 pm

    Related to Veteran’s Day is this column from a soon to be retiring soldier.

    After serving here, I strongly disagree with the most common justification for the war.

    U.S. Sen. John McCain has often commented, to paraphrase, “If we don’t kill the enemy in Iraq, they will follow us home to America.”

    From the several hundred detainees I’ve seen here, and others I am aware of, I conclude it’s unlikely that many of these illiterate dirt farmers and thugs caught planting roadside bombs, men who can barely feed themselves, or their children, would be able to mount a successful jihad against North America.

    A closer look at the 9/11 terrorists should stiffen our resolve against radicalized, sophisticated, Westernized Muslims, from nations like Saudi Arabia, not Iraq.

    Our concern should focus on sealing the U.S. border, and finding terrorists who can navigate the airports and the complexities of the First World, not the palm groves of Iraq.

    But I’m sure he has a book to sell, or once downloaded porn, or has granite countertops, or whatever.

  5. 5.

    Jake

    November 12, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    [Shrugs] If memory serves BAD were one of the first to do that strange mix of rap-like beat, cheeky lyrics with sound bites from films. It was a lot of fun and I still enjoy listening to them.

  6. 6.

    Bubblegum Tate

    November 12, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    But I’m sure he has a book to sell, or once downloaded porn, or has granite countertops, or whatever.

    Well, at the very least, he’s got a burning hatred of America.

  7. 7.

    Alex

    November 12, 2007 at 1:03 pm

    Yeah, I gotta concur with the previous commenters, I don’t see any reason to be ashamed about listening to Big Audio Dynamite. Considering all the bad rock bands you could be listening to, anything with a Clash connection is a good thing. Plus, it gives the Redstaters even more ammunition about your clearly Communist sympathies.

  8. 8.

    Dreggas

    November 12, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    Oy what a freaking weekend. Shitty ass mexican adobe tiles piss me off, they don’t break they pulverize LOL.

    Did I miss anything earth shattering?

  9. 9.

    Bombadil

    November 12, 2007 at 1:12 pm

    Glenn Greenwald takes down Jonah Goldberg here.

  10. 10.

    Punchy

    November 12, 2007 at 1:27 pm

    Related to Veteran’s Day is this column from a soon to be retiring soldier.

    I call that solider “Ma Bell”, cuz he’s just so phony.

  11. 11.

    bago

    November 12, 2007 at 1:28 pm

    Isn’t that more dough-shattering?

  12. 12.

    jcricket

    November 12, 2007 at 1:42 pm

    Well, at the very least, he’s got a burning hatred of America.

    Is that what you get what happens after downloading porn too often?

  13. 13.

    Tsulagi

    November 12, 2007 at 1:46 pm

    switched from merely advertising penis enlargement procedures, but instead offers instructions on how to use said enlargement techniques.

    Instructions? Do these “instructions” include the use of sharp instruments? Because if so I’ll try to find the Chinese company that makes Purple Heart bandaids and try to buy stock before the big orders hit from the really smart serious adults among the 28%ers.

  14. 14.

    Punchy

    November 12, 2007 at 1:57 pm

    but instead offers instructions on how to use said enlargement techniques.

    John, just because it came from your ex-girlfriend doesn’t make it spam.

  15. 15.

    Bombadil

    November 12, 2007 at 1:57 pm

    In a strange turn of events, the comment spam (which you never see, but I get to delete out of the spam filter with an annoying regularity) has now switched from merely advertising penis enlargement procedures, but instead offers instructions on how to use said enlargement techniques.

    You might see an increase in your traffic if you didn’t delete them.

    Just saying.

  16. 16.

    Billy K

    November 12, 2007 at 2:02 pm

    BAD wore funny hats. I liked “Bottom Line” and “Rush.” you could probably take all the songs from all the BAD albums and make one decent 10-song albuim that I’d enjoy listening to.

    I have Mick’s 4-track demos of what would become This is Big Audio Dynamite. They are remarkably almost exactly the same songs, but with lower fidelity, down to the same samples at the same places. That record was meticulously planned down to each beat.

    .02 The Horses are on the Track!

    P.S. Damn the Torpedoes is one of the very most essential records in Rock n’ Roll, but I haven’t been able to stand Petty since Long After Dark.

  17. 17.

    srv

    November 12, 2007 at 2:03 pm

    but I get to delete out of the spam filter with an annoying regularity

    So you have three co-posters now, and you’re their b*tch?

  18. 18.

    Punchy

    November 12, 2007 at 2:20 pm

    You might see an increase in your traffic if you didn’t delete them

    See in increase in something…traffic or otherwise.

  19. 19.

    Bombadil

    November 12, 2007 at 2:40 pm

    *** Update #3 ****

    Average White Band.

    Go ahead- make my day. Punk.

    Could you possibly be more Caucasian?

  20. 20.

    Bubblegum Tate

    November 12, 2007 at 2:50 pm

    Which AWB, John? I think I have all their albums on vinyl, even the cheesy later ones. But the self-titled album, Cut the Cake, and Put It Where You Want It are all quite good. Hell, even Feel no Fret has some good stuff on it.

  21. 21.

    ninerdave

    November 12, 2007 at 3:17 pm

    Could you possibly be more Caucasian?

    Perry Como, Donny and Marie, etc…

  22. 22.

    Tara the anti-social social worker

    November 12, 2007 at 3:30 pm

    Next up: the Nigerian prince offers discounted penis-enlarging drugs which must be forwarded to 200 people to avoid bad luck.

  23. 23.

    Gus

    November 12, 2007 at 4:28 pm

    Bombadil, I don’t even know if I want to click on that link to Greenwald. Greenwald vs. Pantload is like Ali-Wepner, and I yes, I am old enough to remember that “fight.”

  24. 24.

    Tax Analyst

    November 12, 2007 at 4:32 pm

    Tom Shipley Says:

    Ironically, this is the only BAD album I didn’t own at one point. Number 10, Upping Street and Tighten Up Volume 88 are the best, I think.

    In no way a great band like the Clash, but still has Mick Jones working at close to his peak, so some great stuff on each album.

    I’m guessing you’re not the “Tom Shipley” of the fine duo “Brewer & Shipley”. Just asking, since they were(are) one of my favorite groups. Of course, I could be wrong.

    I know of the Clash, but none of the other bands you mentioned.

  25. 25.

    Thomas Allen

    November 12, 2007 at 4:34 pm

    John –If you like BAD, check out Carbon/Silicon. Mick teams up with Tony James for this project. It’s more along the lines of BAD than The Clash, but they’ve put out a few gems, and they’ve released most of their songs for free download. I’ll be at the December C/S show in NYC.

  26. 26.

    Andy K

    November 12, 2007 at 4:36 pm

    Zulu. Medicine Show. Great album.

    I couldn’t move copies of it back in ’86. Whatta shame. Sold a lot of Van Hagar, though. That’s a damned shame.

  27. 27.

    Tax Analyst

    November 12, 2007 at 4:42 pm

    That wasn’t true, of course I know the Average White Band – what was I thinking?

  28. 28.

    Tom Shipley

    November 12, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    “I’m guessing you’re not the “Tom Shipley” of the fine duo “Brewer & Shipley”.”

    No, not me. Though I once met someone who knew him.

    Nor am I the T. Shipley you find in airline magazines.

  29. 29.

    Tractarian

    November 12, 2007 at 5:07 pm

    you could probably take all the songs from all the BAD albums and make one decent 10-song albuim that I’d enjoy listening to.

    My sentiments exactly. BAD were the prototypical singles band — that is, until “F-Punk”, which I consider to be their best album and a sleeper classic. One of the best records of the 90s, IMO.

  30. 30.

    Tom Shipley

    November 12, 2007 at 5:34 pm

    Speaking of Tom Petty, has anyone seen that 4-hour Peter Bogdanovich TP and the Heartbreakers? I DVRed it when it was on the Sundance channel. Watched an hour of it so far. It’s pretty great.

  31. 31.

    Punchy

    November 12, 2007 at 5:44 pm

    Sold a lot of Van Hagar, though. That’s a damned shame.

    Shut yer hole. Hagar took that talent to a whole new level.

    Not to mention, Diamond Dave’s coke habit wuz just insatiable, making him a liability on stage.

  32. 32.

    jcricket

    November 12, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    Great story about the “Marlboro Marine”

    Times photographer Luis Sinco made James Blake Miller an emblem of the war. The image would change both of their lives and connect them in ways neither imagined.

    Of course since he has an article/photo to sell he’s probably dishonoring the troops by pretending the phony soldier he photographed actually has any of the injuries he claims. I’ll bet the soldier is enjoying a relaxing vacation right now, not potentially shooting his girlfriend while high on meth.

  33. 33.

    jcricket

    November 12, 2007 at 6:51 pm

    Part 2 of same story
    :

    Despite concerns of overstepping, Times photographer Luis Sinco feels compelled to help the Iraq vet he made famous.

    Don’t forget that when the embedded journos/photogs were showing the US “winning” (in the beginning) they were all great. As soon as the same journos/photogs began reporting that facts had changed, they were America hating treasonists who never left the green zone (which I suppose is way less real than typing the same words from the good ol’ US of A).

  34. 34.

    Billy K

    November 12, 2007 at 7:02 pm

    Shut yer hole. Hagar took that talent to a whole new level.

    The hardest part about reading this blog is separating the good-natured trolling from the unfortunately earnest. I admit, this one’s got me stumped, but I decided it’s better if I don’t know the truth.

  35. 35.

    jcricket

    November 12, 2007 at 7:22 pm

    Anyone who is objectively “Pro Hagar” deserves scorn. Posuers.

  36. 36.

    Dreggas

    November 12, 2007 at 8:22 pm

    Punchy Says:

    Shut yer hole. Hagar took that talent to a whole new level.

    Not to mention, Diamond Dave’s coke habit wuz just insatiable, making him a liability on stage.

    Uhhhhh…Sammy Hagar and talent in the same sentence do not seem to go together. What does he have? Oh that’s right a bar, in cabo, pimping his tequila. Having been there it’s a pretty shitty bar all things considered.

    Though I have to give them credit, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was pretty good not just as an album, but also as a clever gotcha.

  37. 37.

    Zuzu

    November 12, 2007 at 8:45 pm

    iTunes, eh? Here’s an interesting online station you might like:

    http://www.radioparadise.com

  38. 38.

    Krista

    November 12, 2007 at 8:50 pm

    Shut yer hole. Hagar took that talent to a whole new level.

    Not to mention, Diamond Dave’s coke habit wuz just insatiable, making him a liability on stage.

    Coke habit or no, when Dave left, he took all the testosterone with him.

  39. 39.

    Zuzu

    November 12, 2007 at 8:54 pm

    RP playlist, last six hours:

    Radio Paradise playlist

    In case you wanted to know.

  40. 40.

    SPIIDERWEB™

    November 12, 2007 at 9:22 pm

    Tom Petty RULZ!!!1!!

    Never feel guilty. The guy’s amazing.

  41. 41.

    Cain

    November 12, 2007 at 10:12 pm

    I was listening to this on NPR:

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16218194&ft=1&f=17

    it was pretty cool story about a solidier who was kinda like Malboro Man, but built himself back up to a shadow of his former self. But there’s always something compelling and personal when told on the radio.

    Yay for the Veterans. Hope you guys are all good..

    cain

  42. 42.

    jake

    November 12, 2007 at 10:23 pm

    Hagar took that talent to a whole new level.

    That level being 200 feet below sea level.

  43. 43.

    Phoebe

    November 12, 2007 at 11:54 pm

    Speaking of the Clash, you all need to go see the documentary, “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten” – which is just amazing and fabulous. I saw it the night before last.

  44. 44.

    John Cole

    November 13, 2007 at 11:22 am

    I was listening to NPR.

  45. 45.

    Andrew J. Lazarus

    November 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm

    Those of you interested into the decay of American conservatism into sadism might want to check out this thread at Patterico. Watch the armchair warriors make fun of liberals too wussified to waterboard.

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