The coolest damn toy in the whole wide world...EVER!

I was quite blessed growing up to have to loving parents that provided for me and my sister in many tangible and intangible ways. I never had to worry about my food or shelter or anything, and Santa Claus was always overly generous. One thing that we received from him one year was the MAC (Mobile Action Command) series of action figures by the Matchbox Car company. These were intrepid adventurers and rescuers that followed me through a wide variety of adventures in at least two states. Their secret mountain headquarters had everything that intrepid rescuers and adventurers might require to aid them (except women and beer, but that is a different action adventurer). I miss playing with them and thank my parents for their largess. I have GOT to find those guys...

Joining the world of the Macs...

I have recently purchased a MacBook, mainly because I am supposed to be a liberal academic and liberal academics use Apples exclusively. I have been slowly getting used to using a Mac, made more difficult by the lack of a right mouse button. But, I like what it can do and feel that much more academic-y merely by my purchase of it. Now, if only it came with a PhD dissertation built in that I could use to get the Dr. in front of my name...

Teaching about the Indus Valley and ukuleles

This week, my world civilization class will be studying the Harappan culture, located along the Indus River Valley in modern day Pakistan. I am thinking about just having them watch Ravi Shankar videos, despite the fact that Shankar is from Bangladesh. Do you think that would bother the students? Decisions.

For those that didn't know, I purchased a ukulele over the summer, which is a so-so teaching aid, I am finding. But it is hard to deny how cool ukuleles can be:

Enjoy!

Where has the time gone...was it all but a fever dream?

Many things have transpired since last we at the Variegated Brainstem puked forth our wisdom, wit, and frippery. Tom Waits came to Knoxville, playing the hits we all love so well. The Olympics occurred in China, with the US of A winning a number of different coloured medals. Obama and McCain became the front runners in the presidential race. Hardee's thick burger is more popular than ever.

Hopefully, as the days of future past come back again, the Veeb will be able to provide more insight into all that we are witnesses to in this glorious age. Until then, keep watching the stars!

End of school shindig - learning who can do stripper dance moves at a company party....

The advising office end of the year party was last night. There was all sorts of food, all sorts of booze, and all sorts of people there. I was lucky enough to win an award as the "spam princess" for having promoted new weird holidays and the glory of processed foods. As is often the case, the booze made for some drama (none involving me, of course), mostly through weird dancing by unlikely people and bare emotions coming to the fore. But, a good time was had by most. Until next May...

Revisitng an old favorite of mine...maybe it will become one of your's, too!

Anyone that has not experienced the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis should. Here is their magnum opus from that era, "Supper's Ready," in three parts IT is worth the time investment...
Part one:

Part two:

Part three:

Enjoy - supper's waiting for you!

Why can't they make movies like this anymore?

Seriously, will someone tell me why they don't make movies like this anymore? I realize that the 1970s amped up the excess in rock music to the point that punk HAD to happen, but this movie celebrates the theme of excess to such an excessive level that it seems almost comfortingly, orgiastically cathartic. Maybe the GSHA band could perform inside a building that's being imploded!

By the way, I HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE! THE TRAILER ALONE MADE ME CRAZY! WHAT A NAME FOR A MOVIE! Enjoy!

The Russians - don't count them out just yet!

I just read on CNN that a Russian bomber plane buzzed a US aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Now, as a historian, I believe that we should never have counted those commie bastards out just yet. Consider the words of Dave Foley from the Kids in the Hall on this subject:

Let sleeping dogs lie. I say, NO! And you know what sleeping dogs I'm referring to, don't you? No? Well, let me refresh your memory. Russains! That's right, Russians, ruskies, communists, COMM-U-NISTS! Oh now you remember? Well, do you also remember how a few years ago all we ever talked about was how the Russians were gonna take over the world, and how every household would be run by communisis and their filthy communism.

Oh yeah, we feared the Russians back in them days, and for good reason too, but now all I ever hear is, "Poor little Russia, they've got no money!", "Poor little Russia, they've gone broke!" Poor little Russia THIS, and poor little Russia THAT! Don't you get it? Am I the only one who gets it? It's a trick. Communism never dies, communism is a cancer, a cancer sleeping, awaiting the moment to devour our freedom, to devour democracy.

There's one more thing I'd like to say. Killer bees! Forgot about them, didn't ya? Well that's just what they want us to do! That's right, the Russian communists, the killer bees, they're like this! (fingers crossed) So when people say to me let sleeping dogs lie, I say to them, friend, sleeping dogs...they eventually wake up...and chew out the throat of democracy! Don't you think I don't know what you're up to, Russia...

I'm sick! But, what a picture to make me happy!

Who could be mad, sad, or sick when Don Dare is hamming it up for the Cub Scouts? Thanks to my bro-in-law Brian for the shot!

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Why didn't the GSHA ever celebrate this?

"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy!" Enjoy!

Dily Lama - an arresting update

After further investigation, I have discovered, and I am sad to report, that Dillard Clark has passed on to his final reward. I was unaware of this, having not visited with him for years. I was reminded that he used to tell me to keep my aftershave in the fridge to keep it potent. And, as my sister pointed out, he was a member of our church and contributed an original recipe to the church cookbook for cantaloupe pie. We have decided to make it, despite our hatred of cantaloupe, in honor of the man. I've included a video of the Beatles, Dillard's favorite band, here for all of us to remember him by as we get ready to make his unique pie. So, here's to you, Dillard, and hope you have found peace as much as you gave to others!


I also include "Legend of a Mind" by the Moody Blues - you'll understand why if you don't already.

Enjoy!

it'sstephanie'sbirthdayandthereisallsorts of sugar products here at work that Ichosetoeatanditmademe verynervousandspedup

MY EYE IS STILL TWITCHING REGULARLY AND IT IS DRIVING ME FURTHER INSANE THAN I ALREADY AM WITH THE SUGAR! What's a fellow to do? What if it spreads to my third eye?

This was going on in my brain when I was on drugs back when I used to do drugs...

Now you know, and knowing's half the battle. Enjoy!

Some observations about vampires after an evening of gin and tonics

We went to the World Grotto on Market Square last night and were sitting there enjoying our drinks and the rain storm on the square as the staff were decorating the establishment for Halloween. They were putting up several black and white prints of several scantily-clad and buxom lasses with fangs. Most of the women were affiliated with the World Grotto in some capacity or another, but were most probably concubines of the soooooo egoistic tatooed and goateed bartender, who was in several of the photos with the women. Don't get me wrong - I like buxom and scantily clad women. And, we like that particular bartender because the women all want to jump his bones, he wants to jump their bones, and we want alcohol, which makes him impatient to keep us occupied with REALLY strong drinks so that he isn't interrupted in his true quest by annoying customers wanting more alcohol.

However, all the vampire stuff was soooooo overwrought that it got me to thinking: what the freak is up with everybody loving vampires? They seem so 1980s / 1990s to me. I mean, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was okay, I guess, but everyone makes such a big damn deal about it - I just don't see it! Anne Rice novels - boring! It has all been so overdone to me and it also seems like people that like vampires REALLY like vampires (not that that is a bad thing - it's just not my thing). I suppose, I'm just trapped in my own uncreative and limited Weltanshaung of non-vampirism. But, Mike, you don't understand the hunger...always the hunger! Gimme a freaking break and fix me another gin and tonic, Lestat...

A weird dream...

Last night, I dreamed, among other things, that someone had spelled the word "SPORK" using my white tube socks on my bed spread. That was tame; the rest of the dream was Jacob's Ladder-esque...

Pere as in pear, Ubu as in ubu...Pere Ubu!

I have long enjoyed Pere Ubu but have rarely seen anything of them live. Here is a version of their song "Final Solution" by Peter Murphy, better known for his role in Bauhaus.

Here's a Swedish band, Bob Hund, with a Swedish language cover version:

Finally, here are some of the Ubus in their later band The Dead Boys singing another Pere Ubu compositiion, Sonic Reducer:

Enjoy!

Best Concert I EVER SEEN!

They freakin' ROCKED! For an encore, they played "Elenore" by the Turtles, followed by a blistering version of "Search and Destroy" by Iggy and the Stooges! The best bit was when they killed 1500 guinea pigs with liquid Drano in a giant cocktail glass that said "See Rock City" on the side! I think the new Kiss is upon us! I kept the ticket stub for my future great grandkids, to prove to them that great-grand pappy Taylor was at THAT concert!
_________________________

For those of you unfamiliar, I first heard them back in my younger days, on an old cassette tape I found on the floor of the men's room at a rest stop near Greeneville. Since then, they have been an important part of my musical diet. You should make them part of yours ASAP!

The new me...shorn of my greasy, golden locks, as well as the source of my superpowers?

Here is a shot of me with my new respectable hairdo! Our mild-mannered graduate student is finally looking dashing and debonair...








However, he may no longer be a match for the forces of psionic malevolence posed against him, eager to ambush him and take him back to the Crypt of the Eel Monkeys of Licktrathallia, where they will apply the Hot Needles of Inquisition to his optic nerves! Here is a shot of our hero transformed into an angry kewpie doll, his only remaining ability, with a voyeuristic purple sentient broccoli hive mind waiting outside his apartment to destroy his now barely adequate psychic defenses! Will he prevail?

Stay tuned!

The first day of the rest of my non-pony-tailed life!

I could never pick just one favorite band, but the band that would come the closest would probably be The Who. Never mind that their music is used for the overly maudlin CSI franchise - The Who was the greatest rock band to perform on stage, hands down! All the angsty whiners on eMpTV should take note, although it would do no good because The Who would eat them for breakfast. So, in honor of my impending haircut today, I felt it necessary to provide myself and my readers some life-affirming, majestic rock to wash over us with this video!



By the way, I am thinking about getting my haircut in a similar fashion to Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I mean, c'mon, look at him and look at me. I have that rugged intensity and just-under-the-surface rage that he portrayed in his movies. I am very historical and gladiatorial, having to pit my wits and skills 'gainst the onslaught of written assignments, reading loads, and paper cuts. I can scream really loud. And I have, actually, a better beard that Crowe does. So, this is what I am thinking about. Although, if it is too much work, as my girlfriend contends, I may just opt for the bowl cut pageboy Prince Valiant look. Who can tell?

When rock & roll was real...part 2

Here is a video of Black Flag. Henry Rollins is so young and cute. It's hard to believe that he is kinda respectable now...