Battle of the Bands Update

The Animals

This week's winners in the Battle of the Bands playing out on Dr. John's Record Shelf were the Rolling Stones (seeded no. 1 in the Teddy Boy Bracket) and the Animals (3), who knocked off Manfred Mann (4) and Bachman-Turner Overdrive (10), respectively. The margins of victory were 6-1 for the Stones and 5-2 for the Animals.

Rolling Stones

The songs in competition last night were "Get Off My Cloud" by the Stones, "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann, "Baby Let Me Take You Home" by the Animals, and "Let It Ride" by BTO. Next week, in the Empire Bracket semi-finals, we'll pit "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin (1) against "Stay With Me" by the Faces (5), and "Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull (6) against "David Watts" by the Kinks (2). Feel free to indicate your preferences in the comments section.

My Visit to LACMA

On my first full day in Los Angeles, after spending the early morning at the beach, I headed up to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and really lucked out: not only were all of the main galleries open (there are about seven of them, and on past visits I was only able to get into a couple of them, not including the European and Americas collections), but it was a free admission day which onlu happens once a month. I expected to spend a couple of hours but was there for almost five, trying to make sure I got a look at all the good stuff therein.
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I'll probably be posting pictures from this visit over several posts, and these first few are meant more to set the scene than to concentrate on particular pieces I saw there. As mentioned above, there are a number of galleries, each devoted to a different geographic region (above is the really cool Latin American displys, which reside among the weirdly undulating "walls" seen above. In fact, I found the design of these galleries more compelling than the pieces on display there.

Here's a view from the balcony in the Americas Building, looking northwest towards Fairfax Avenue (one of the main commercial streets in West L.A.) with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background (I think-- I'm not sure where they end and the Hollywood Hills begin). You know, I just can't get enough of those palm trees, which are really striking in the sunlight, and add an exotic look to just about everything.

All of the galleries I visited on my trip have a very liberal policy on taking photos, so I went a little hog wild, snapping pictures of everything. I especially tried to get some good shots of the spaces and how the exhibits are set up, and how the visitors kind of fit in, as above. I believe the box in the foreground was in the near east exhibit, but I mainly liked the image of the silhouetted figure in the background.

This one is kind of similar, with the single figure kind of dwarfed by the giant modernistic paintings. The ball seen in the background is actually the cueball in a gigantic set of billiard balls.

Here's one for my brother-in-law Tom: it's a Jeff Koons sculpture comprising six Hoover shampoo polishers and a Shelton Wet/Dry Vacuum. It took him six years (according to the accompanying card) to construct this particular piece. More pics from the LACMA tomorrow...

A Movie I Saw

Way back when, the director Ted Kotcheff made a couple of really fine, somewhat low-key movies based on Mordecai Richler novels. The first, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), kind of launched Richard Dreyfus' career as a leading man, while the second, Joshua Now and Then (1985), was a showpiece for a young James Woods. Both were by turns funny and dramatic, and more or less followed the efforts of a young Jewish man trying to overcome prejudice and familial handicaps to get ahead in the world. Though it's been awhile since I last saw either film, I have strong memories of being totally charmed by both and would welcome the opportunity to see either again if the opportunity arises. In the meantime, a third film based on a Richler novel, also following the professional and personal striving of a Jewish man in Montreal, and also starring a fine actor who straddles the line between character actor and leading man (Paul Giamatti as Barney), has come out and I went to see it expecting something akin to the other two films. Alas, it didn't quite measure up to its predecessors. Giamatti, and for that matter the rest of the cast (especially Dustin Hoffman as his ex-cop dad), is fine, but the story seems just a little too big to be fully developed in just a couple of hours of screen time. The result is some really good vignettes that fall a bit short of adding up to a wholly satisfying experience. Especially tough is figuring out why the love of Barney's life is won over by his overbearing attempts at courtship, which kind of undermines the core element of the plot (at least to me). While the two other Richler-based movies mentioned had a kind of bittersweet quality to them, this one is downright tragic, but it's a tragedy that seems tacked on to the story without feeling like it has been earned (not the best word-- what I mean is that while Barney is certainly a flawed character, his downfall hardly seems the result of those flaws). So overall, there's much to like about the movie, but in the end it's a bit of a disappointment.

A Monday Quote

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is generally considered one of the best presidents ever. I like to think it's because he recognized core truths like this one:

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital.
Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never
have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor
is the superior of capital, and deserves much
the higher consideration."

Classic Song

Here's a song I really like that frankly surprised me to find on YouTube, mainly because I didn't think the duo-- Linda and Richard Thompson-- remained intact into the video era. But there it was and here it is. Enjoy:

Battle of the Bands Update

Deep Purple

The third round of the Battle of the Bands on my radio show Dr. John's Record Shelf kicked off last Sunday with two Mod Bracket contests. You'll recall that our goal is to determine the greatest British rock group of the era 1960 to 1974. Last week, The Who (seeded no. 1) easily vanquished the Moody Blues (5) by a 4-1 vote of the judges, while Deep Purple (7) scored an upset over the Guess Who (3) by a closer 3-2 margin.

The Who

The songs in competition were "Pinball Wizard" by the Who, "Question" by the Moody Blues, "These Eyes" by the Guess Who, and "Hush" by Deep Purple. The Who and Deep Purple will meet in round four to determine the Mod entry in the semi-finals. This week, we'll see the Rolling Stones facing Manfred Mann and the Animals taking on Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Sunday Funnies

I wasn't really familiar with the strip La Cucaracha by Lalo Alcaraz until I saw it this past week in the Los Angeles Times. But based on this sequence, I'm now a big fan. As the right-wing works overtime to demonize teachers as some kind of social parasites (see Wisconsin), it's great to see someone take them to task for their misinformed (to put it mildly) perspective.

Sunday's Quote

Here's a quotation from the famous Japanese philosopher Dogen Zenji (1200-1253), which is particularly poignant in light of the terrible events currently unfolding in Japan:

"Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken.
Take heed, do not squander your life."

Cool Video

Here's a video from the period a few years ago when Dolly Parton was getting back to her roots. There's some truly hot playing going on in this band-- I especially like the mandolin solo. And of course, Dolly's voice fits right in:

Four Pictures: Surfers at Santa Monica

The first photos I have to share from my recent California vacation are of some surfers riding the waves near the Santa Monica pier. I got out to the beach about 7:00 am, and there were already a bunch of folks out on the water.

These were taken with the action setting on my camera, so for each of the ones that turned out pretty good (a few more than just these four) there are about seven or eight out of focus or catching the tip of a board disappearing under the waves after a fall.

Despite that ratio, I'm pretty pleased with the results, and was kind of enjoying the show (plus the great weather) even when I failed to get a great shot.

I'll probably post some more surfing shots as I go through the whole set. I had such a good time shooting these (and hanging on the beach) on Tuesday morning, that I got up early and spent a couple hours there again on Wednesday (with some more photos taken then too). I can't think of a better way to spend a morning, and hope I get a chance to do it again sometime.

Soup Diary 110312

Recent entries under this title may have led you to conclude that I failed to find a truly satisfying bowl of soup during my recent visit to Las Vegas. Not true. In fact I had a really first rate bowl of Cuban Black Bean when we lunched at a Caribbean place called the Bahama Breeze. Our choice of that restaurant was entirely by chance, as we had actually planned to eat at the Mexican place next door. But when that establishment turned out to be closed, we decided to try its neighbor which, certainly as far as the soup was concerned, turned out to be a fine choice. The black bean soup was spicy without being hot, a nice balancing act; and, as in the picture above, included a scoop of rice in the center (which was a new twist to me). It added a little extra texture and color to the mix, both positive additions. So even though it took me a few days, I did not leave Sin City without experiencing at least one soup-fueled tingle of the taste buds. Plus, the sandwich I had was pretty good too, so I now have another restaurant to add to my regular stops for the next time I get down there.

Saturday Morning Cartoon

Since I'm just back from a trip to sunny and warm southern California, I wanted to find a cartoon that would help me convey something of the good times I enjoyed down in L.A. This goes back a few decades, so it's not exactly a reflection of my visit, but it's not too far off:

A Quote for Saturday

Following a very active week on my part, the following comment from William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) certainly rings true:

"None so little enjoy themselves, and are
such burdens to themselves, as those who
have nothing to do. Only the active
have the true relish of life."

On the Road Again

It's Spring Break time, and so I'll be heading off on a little road trip to get some sun, look at some art, and take some photos. Posting will likely be on hold until I get back at the end of the week, but feel free to review the archives, and if you're so inclined, take a shot at the last Family Quiz.

Jazz for a Sunday Afternoon

John Coltrane is absolutely my all-time favorite jazz artist. I find the recordings of his Quartet (with Mccoy Tyner, Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison) to be among the most exciting music I've ever heard. Here's a great example of what I mean-- their classic ballad "Naima."

Soup Diary 110306

The most exotic (relatively speaking) soup I've had recently was some Basmati Lentil at Sweet Tomatoes in Las Vegas. Compared to the other varieties I tried there, it was a tad more spicy but to be honest I'd be hard-pressed to identify the flavors that it included (allspice?). Add it all up though, and I wasn't impressed. It seems like I've been on a real bad streak with my soup choices lately. Well, maybe not bad exactly, as I haven't had anything that I actively disliked, but everything has been so blah. I know that the solution is to start working on becoming a good soup chef myself, but I never seem to have the time to devote to experimentation. I have a little incentive to do so, however, as I sort of half-way promised to come up with something for the next International Food Fair at the University, an annual event that I've supported as a patron but not as a contributor. I'm thinking that I might take a shot at some African Peanut soup, as that continent has been sorely underrepresented among the Fair's offerings over the years (it's mostly dominated by European, South American and Asian dishes). Before I prepare something for public consumption, I feel the need to perfect it using myself as the guinea pig. The next Fair is nearly a year away, so I think that gives me enough time to hone my skills. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Sunday Funnies

I've been re-reading some Raymond Chandler short stories recently, so this sequence from this week's Calvin and Hobbes reprints really struck a chord. I hope you like them too.





If you've ever seen Jim Steranko's early graphic novel Chandler, you might recognize a whole other level of visual homage/parody going on here.

A Sunday Quote

I kind of like this idea, as uttered by the immortal Satchel Paige (1906-1982):

"Not to be cheered by praise, not to be
grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly
one's own virtues or powers are the
characteristics of an excellent man."

A Favorite Song

Here's one of the great original songs from the British folk revival of the 1960s, written and performed by Donovan. Donovan sometimes gets a bum rap as nothing more than a Dylan wannabe, but he's a fine artist in his own right.

Pardon Me...

... while I brag a little bit. I just won my 500th consecutive game of Freecell. I think my previous long streak was 42, so I'm obviously getting better. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I have to admit that's not entirely true. The version of the game on my computer allows me to backup multiple moves when I run into a dead end (as long as I don't play a card that has no followup), which wasn't possible on earlier versions. Still, some of those victories required considerable strategizing to complete, so it's definitely a sign of my stick-to-it-iveness if nothing else. I'm also currently working on a couple hundred game streak in Mahjong, though in that case I've also employed the backup feature to get out of jams. Note that these computer games I favor are the ones that have been around for, what, twenty years? I wonder what that says about my techno-literacy?

Saturday Morning Cartoon

I haven't posted an episode of Roger Ramjet in awhile, so here's a good example of the series. This one caught my attention in part because of its setting: Montana. Hope you enjoy it...

A Saturday Quote

I think the implicit advice in this statement by the activist Dorothy Day (1897-1980) makes a lot of sense:

"I have long since come to believe that
people never mean half of what they
say, and that it is best to disregard
their talk and judge only their actions."

Cool Song

The Baseball Project just put out their second album-- and I'm really enjoying the combination of two of my favorite things. Musically it's rock and roll, and lyrically it's all about the greatest game ever. Here's a clip of the group performing the track "Past Time" off their debut album:

Friday Family Blogging Quiz

These seem to be kind of popular (and I haven't been getting all that many players of late): whose baby blues are these? Put your guesses in the comments section. And by the way, I didn't enhance the color here, though (and this is a bit of a hint) it is a scanned (as opposed to original digital) photo.

Two weeks ago I asked where (what state) a picture of Natalie was taken, and Gramma got it on the first guess-- New Hampshire. I figured someone would guess that, but I didn't think it would be the only guess-- c'mon you guys, let's have a little competition this week!

Battle of the Bands, Round Three

Buffalo Springfield

On my radio show Dr. John's Record Shelf, we are having a little competition to determine the greatest British (or Commonwealth) rock and roll band of the period 1960 to 1974. We started with a total of 64 groups, and after last week, that number has been whittled down to sixteen. Here are the matchup's on tap in Round Three, broken down by bracket with original seeding in parentheses:

Empire Bracket:
"Immigrant Song" Led Zeppelin (1) v. "Stay With Me" Faces (5)
"Locomotive Breath" Jethro Tull (6) v."David Watts" Kinks (2)

Teddy Boy Bracket:
"Get Off My Cloud" Rolling Stones (1) v. "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" Manfred Mann (4)
"Baby Let Me Take You Home" Animals (3) v."Let It Ride" Bachman-Turner Overdrive (10)

Mod Bracket:
"Pinball Wizard" The Who (1) v."Question" Moody Blues (5)
"These Eyes" Guess Who (3) v."Hush" Deep Purple (7)

Pop Bracket:
"Ticket to Ride" Beatles (1) v."Don't Throw Your Love Away" The Searchers (5)
"Rock and Roll Woman" Buffalo Springfield (3) v."With a Girl Like You" The Troggs (10)

If you have an opinion on who should win any of these pairings, please leave your votes in the comments section. I'll be updating the results as we go through these on the show over the next four weeks or so.

More Friday Family Blogging

I know this is a little fuzzy, but I thought Marenka's personality comes through loud and clear, so it was worth a posting.

Friday Family Blogging

Here's one that goes back a few years. That's my sisters Theresa and Sally at (and I hope I have this right) Lake Louise up in Alberta. If that's not the spot, maybe Theresa or Sally has a better recollection (?).

An Explanation

In case anyone has been wondering why I've been so angry about what is happening in Wisconsin, a healthy part of it is evident in this expose by Jon Stewart of the way certain people have painted teachers and other public workers in comparison to the greed-mongers who really created the financial mess in which we currently find ourselves:

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Friday Philosophy

Today's quotation comes from the German philosopher Hannah Arendt (1906-1975):

"No cause is left but the most ancient of all,
the one, in fact, that from the beginning of
our history has determined the very
existence of politics, the cause of
freedom versus tyranny."

Cool Song

I was in a bluesy kind of mood today (musically speaking only), so I thought I would post one of my favorite tunes from the British blues revival of the mid-sixties. I don't think Eric Clapton ever did anything better than this (he was the lead guitarist for the Yardbirds):

Toonerville Thursday

Time once again for our weekly visit to Toonerville, a place that may not exist in real life but wouldn't it be great if it did?

Thursday's Quote

Today's words of wisdom come from the American journalist and educator Max Lerner (1902-1992):

"The problem of freedom in America is
that of maintaining a competition of
ideas, and you do not achieve that
by silencing one brand of idea."

Video of the Day

When a lunkhead like Scott Walker says that he would use the National Guard to suppress any attempts by workers to protest his strong-arm tactics, this is the history he invokes (though its probably a safe bet he hasn't a clue that things like the Ludlow Massacre ever occurred):

Five Pictures: The Cosmopolitan

Here are a few pictures of and from the newest feature on the Las Vegas Strip, the Cosmopolitan (right next to the almost as new City Center Complex). Above is a look at the outdoor bar/lounge area.

Here's a view from the balcony looking north along the Strip, with the pool in front of the Bellagio visible on the left.

From the other side of the pool area, here's the view looking south. Aria is part of the aforementioned City Center.

Inside the Cosmopolitan is even more impressive. This is the escalator up to the second floor, and the purple sparkly things are part of a massive chandelier that hangs down over several levels above the casino.

Last is another view of the chandelier, encasing a couple of bars. There seem to be lots of places to drink in this place (as is true throughout Vegas), but on this particular afternoon, I don't think we saw anyone being served at any of them. Maybe it was still too early, or maybe the decor was mind-boggling enough.

This Is Cool

I suppose one could argue that the individual who came up with this flow chart has a little too much time on his hands, but I have to say I found it very entertaining. Now, if you aren't a baseball fan, this may not mean much to you, but the idea is that if you answer the series of questions honestly, the chart will reveal what major league team you should be a fan of. I am proud to say that my answers led me directly to the Atlanta Braves-- my favorite team for lo these past forty years. I can't say if your results will be as accurate, because I don't know how you would answer the sequence of questions. But I'd be curious to know (through comments) if it confirms your particular favorite as it did mine; or not, as the case may be. After following your own path, go back and read some of the other questions you bypassed-- they're often kind of funny. Try it out.

Today's Quotation

This is from a speech made by Teddy Roosevelt way back in 1910. It seems that it would do well for many in today's governments to give it a little consideration:

"Nothing is more true than that excess of every kind is followed by reaction; a fact which should be pondered by reformer and reactionary alike. We are face to face with new conceptions of the relations of property to human welfare, chiefly because certain advocates of the rights of property as against the rights of men have been pushing their claims too far. The man who wrongly holds that every human right is secondary to his profit must now give way to the advocate of human welfare, who rightly maintains that every man holds his property subject to the general right of the community to regulate its use to whatever degree the public welfare may require it."

Cool Song

The Raveonettes are one of the great contemporary Scandinavian rock bands, who take their name from one of Buddy Holly's best songs. Here's one of my favorite songs by the group:

Soup Diary 110301

Up until just a few years ago I would have listed Cream of Mushroom soup as one of the last things I'd ever want to eat. I can't really explain why, since I generally didn't mind mushrooms in other things, like pizza. There was just something unappealing about the concept of cream of mushroom soup-- maybe that it seemed to be all about the mushrooms, without any supporting flavors involved (unlike, say, pizza). But I finally broke down-- I think it was after I'd had some Hungarian mushroom soup that actually did involve a bunch of other vegetables. So when I was confronted with the option of Cream of Mushroom at a recent restaurant visit, I went with it. It wasn't bad, but it really did seem to rely too heavily on the one ingredient. I'm not sure that there's any way to fix that, since the whole concept seems to be to emphasize the mushroom. Maybe if it had used portobello mushrooms I'd be more impressed. But now after trying this a couple of times, I doubt I'll ever have it again.

This Week's Top Five

We take a visit to the animal world, in a manner of speaking, with this week's Top Five list from Dr. John's Record Shelf:

Thought for the Day

I wonder if anyone (who isn't the governor of Wisconsin) can find fault with this summary, offered by the prominent American historian George Bancroft (1800-1891):

"The best government rests on the people,
and not on the few, on persons and not
on property, on the free development of
public opinion and not on authority."