Don't have much time today, so I'm just going to present you with a selection from a series of Czechoslovakian cartoons by artist Zdenek Miler involving a Mole and a Mouse.

They may be aimed at children, but with the style they are done in, I'm thinking of them more as art films then anything.

Krtek a Muzika (The Mole and the Music)

The mix track lives. That's one cool looking record at the end.

Krtek Malirem (The Mole as a Painter)

This one is great just for the surreal landscapes that get set up, even if they went a little far in their revenge on the fox.

Krtek Fotografem (The Mole as a Photographer)

And here is how he fares as a photographer.

Today, I thought I'd just post a few international songs I've come across...

Muzika Dlya Filma - Persephone's Bees

This is a great Russian song I stumbled across. No idea what it means, though I believe the title is "Music for a Film". And the music may be in Russian, but the band is based out of Oakland. :)

Ne gane me - Werner 

Time for some more Slovenian music. Werner is apparently a well known singer over there...

Hubba Bubba - Cuki

And this just rated enough on the bizarre meter that I had to play it. Hubba Bubba Balloons? Really? This might be a bubble gum commercial. I honestly can't tell.

That was a pretty cool video, and I honestly wasn't sure where to go next with todays post. So somehow, I decided on Africa:

Africa - Toto

This is another of these songs that I absolutely love. Enough that I filked it at one point. A lot of it, once again, is the lyrics.

I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, hurry boy, it's waiting there for you

From here, I decided to actually go to music being played in Africa. Zimbabwe, to be specific:

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - Paul Simon
with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, 
Ray Phiri, & Miriam Makeba

This is from Paul Simon's Graceland tour, with the awesome band Ladysmith Black Mambazo on backup, as well as several other great musicians. I recommend watching the whole concert, actually. Great Stuff.

I found myself recalling all the lyrics as I was listening to this song. And I don;t think I've played my copy of Graceland for a few years. I'll have to put it back in rotation. And check out Ladysmith Black Mambazo on their own sometime. They're pretty good.

I was thinking of playing the Tokens "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" next, but ended up here instead:

The Guitar (the Lion Sleeps Tonight) - They Might Be Giants

This is a great track from Apollo 18. Typical for TMBG, I couldn't help but be amused by some of the lyrics.

In the spaceship,
the silver spaceship,
the lion takes control.

Beautifully surreal.

Das Bild ist vom Mittelalterlich Spectaculum in Bückeburg dieses Jahr. Zunächst hat mich der Schriftzug sehr überrascht. Hätte ich hingehen und genauer nachfragen sollen? Vielleicht war es ja auch gar kein Missverständnis. Vielleicht ist es wie in "Biedermann und die Brandstifter": Alle glauben, es ist in Wirklichkeit ja eh Met und nicht Meth gemeint, daher prüft keiner nach und der Stand verkauft in aller Öffentlichkeit Methamphetamin.

Your country is George W Bush and Dick Cheney, and they don't believe one whit in you. I'm with Grace Slick on this one, when she says in the song Rejoyce, "I'd rather have my country die for me".

I could go on about this, but I talked myself into playing more Loreena McKennitt today, after yesterdays post. Her songs tend to leave me just totally spellbound while they are playing.

She just has such an incredible voice, and music to accompany it. So much so, in fact, that I easily could have done several posts, and it would tend to degrade into posting all her songs.

But I contained myself. She is a Canadian singer, incidentally, who at one point toured with Mike Oldfield. She often pulls songs from sources like Tennysons poetry, if you happen to recognize anything, incidentally.

This first song is without doubt my favorite song of hers, though:

Dicken's Dublin

This intertwining of her singing with the voiceover really works well in this song. You almost feel like you've been picked up and deposited in a Charles Dickens novel. You can even overlook the song name being written wrong on the video.

I'll huddle in this doorway here
Till someone comes along
If the lamp lighter comes real soon
Maybe I'll go home with him
Maybe I can find a place I can call my home
Maybe I can find a home I can call my own

All Souls Night

And here is an important pagan holiday. And she gives us some important pagan music to go with it. And what can be more pagan then dancing?

I can see the lights in the distance
trembling in the dark cloak of night.
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
a waltz on all souls night.

Mummers Dance

I don't know about you, but like many of these other songs, I was drawn in from the very start of the song.

When owls call the breathless moon
In the blue veil of the night
The shadows of the trees appear
Amidst the lantern light

The Lady of Shalott

This poem is one of Tennysons, as I mentioned earlier. It's also another favorite of mine.

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay,
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

However, my theme for tonight is Shadows. I wanted to play Jefferson Starship's Shadowlands, but while it is on archive.org, it doesn't appear to be on Youtube.

Pity. With the quip at the beginning about it being about "a female serial killer of Republicans", it would have been a perfect match to recent themes.

Still, I think I've got some good songs lined up:

"Shadow" - Maria Mena

I feel like a shadow
Walking behind who you think I am
Just like my shadow
Wanting to see the sun again
I'm your shadow
And I'm lost
Just like my shadow

This song is by Maria Mena, a Norwegian singer. She got her start by recording songs from her diary, and from the content, it certainly feels like something from someones diary...

Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield (singing by Maggie Reilly)

Sean featured Mike Oldfield a while ago, so it isn't really too surprising I found another of his songs to play.[1] Moonlight Shadow was recorded in 1983.

With my liking murder ballads, my finding this song was probably predestined. He said in an interview, incidentally, that he didn't consciously write this to be about John Lennon, and that it was originally inspired by the film "Houdini".

Shadow of the Moon - Blackmore's Night

This is a pretty example of Renaissance festival style folk rock, by Blackmore's Night. The song and music are good, if the lyrics aren't particularly deep. I haven't listened to much of their music, so I don't know if that's typical.

Given the choice to see either them of Loreena McKennitt, the artist with the nearest look and feel to this band that I can think of, I'd choose Loreena, but then, she's stellar enough that I'd choose her over a lot of artists.

All and all, I'll have to listen to more of their music, and see what I think...

And now that I've already posted this, I belatedly realised I should really add this song:

Loreena McKennitt - Between the Shadows (Persian Shadows)

As I said, Loreena is awesome, even when just instrumental, like here.

[1]Once I got past my fingers inclination to type "Mike Oldfiend" instead.

Chris Cox at ButterTV (site here) has laughter and a clean, honest anger, and both are on display in his own response to John McCain's "Celebrity Ad" - you know, the one with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

I wanted to put this video in with the Paris Hilton one. But, really, it deserves its own place and its own consideration (that, plus I'm pretty sure that Cox will kick my ass if I put him anywhere near Paris Hilton). And he brings up a good point that I think has been lost in all the handwaving and thumpings-of-chest over McCain's ad.

Oh, and I've got to take a break from the political shit for a bit. I've taken a look at myself the past couple of days, and I do not like what all this political blogging is turning me into. I don't know how hardcore bloggers can do it without permanently warping their perception and turning into twitchy, foaming, paranoid-schizophrenic troglodytes. (Some would argue that they already have, but that's another post)

Anyway, more music and weirdness tomorrow.

And I haven't posted anything anime related in a while, so enjoy:

Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot (video by Doki Doki panic)

From the comments on the video, by underthepale:

This was originally made by Doki Doki panic[1], an AMV director who set himself apart from most other AMV directors by being both highly creative and completely mad.

As seen here.

He also did a "Right Now" video that's also worth watching... But I don't have that one, sadly, or I'd upload it."

Music by a Sweedish group called Caramba, incidentally. It's from their self-titled album, which is rather interesting in that all the words are entirely made up in the whole album...

I believe these shots would all be from the 7 part El Hazard: The Mysterious World OAV. Can't recall the complete plot off the top of my head anymore, but it goes something like this:

A teacher and a few students get transported to another dimension when investigating some mysterious ancient ruins. Jinnai, student president and general SOB, also gets transported to a different area of that world and becomes the leader of the evil Bugrom.

Good series, but sadly, it's mainly memorable to me for one scene at this point. One of the students turns out to look just like the missing princess in the kingdom, and gets forced to impersonate her. Given that he is a guy, he has problems with this.

The first night he is impersonating her, though, a attractive young lady climbs in bed with him when he is half asleep, and cuddles up with him. Then she reaches between his legs and then shrieks. Seems she was the princesses lesbian lover. ^_^

Oh, and if you think Jinnai from this video looks familiar, you may have seen him laughing in El Hazard:

Jinnai's Infectious Laugh (SaintKazuki)

And, yes, he really laughs that much in the series.

[1] Which, you may note, is the name of the Japanese game that was turned into what we call "Super Mario 2", by editing some sprites. I may post more about this at some point...

Why? Have I gone insane? No more than usual. The reasons begin with this attack ad that John McCain put out (as if he's put out any other kind lately) that includes blink-and-you'll-miss-them footage of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Courtesy of gangshabi.

It is such an innocuous commercial and, as James Wolcott points out, actually paints McCain in a bad light. Obama is young and energetic in this ad, speaking to and supported by millions, a new day Martin Luther King, Jr. McCain, on the other hand, looks like he's an inmate at the Happy Haze Retirement Home, blissfully looking forward the stewed prunes that they serve at dinner every Thursday.

But pundits are simple creatures. They feel they have, not only the right to express their opinions, but the burning necessity to, as well. And so there has been the usual handwringing over this ad and the usual handwringing over the handwringing over this ad. It's an election ad and an election year, and you have to expect that.

However, no one's considered the silent victims: Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. No one's considered them because a) they're not victims and probably deserve whatever they get, b) we could only hope that they were silent, or at least that people would ignore them, c) the less you consider them, the better and d) they don't seem to mind when photographers from People all but shove their telephoto lenses up their vulvas, so who cares?

Apparently Mama Hilton did. She posted this on Huffington Post two days ago:

I've been asked again and again for my response to the now infamous McCain celebrity ad. I actually have three responses. It is a complete waste of the money John McCain's contributors have donated to his campaign. It is a complete waste of the country's time and attention at the very moment when millions of people are losing their homes and their jobs. And it is a completely frivolous way to choose the next President of the United States.

Now, I think Kathy Hilton should be more concerned about her daughter's vagina being loose enough to smuggle Mexicans or about that expression on Paris' face - a horrifying combination of predatory and vegetative - than whether her daughter's likeness is used, and briefly, in an advertising campaign. But, hey, better late than never with the parental concern thing. She's trying, at least, to protect her dimwitted daughter.

Except, damn, maybe Paris (or her handler) isn't as dimwitted as I thought she was, because she teamed up with director producer Chris Henchy and utterly pwned down McCain.

Her response is the first ad in (blurgh) The Paris Hilton Presidential Campaign, posted at the site Funny Or Die. Unfortunately Funny Or Die embedding isn't compatitible with WordPress and someone's taking the copies down from YouTube as fast as they can be put up. So all I can do is post a link to it here:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

Now, someone claimed on the Funny Or Die boards that this wasn't Hilton, and I got to admit that he (or she) has a point. I mean, this Paris Hilton has synaptic activity, can string together her thoughts into a coherent whole and has a glimmer of intelligence, or at least self-awareness, behind those squinty eyes.

But whether it's Hilton or a brain double, I don't care. Hilton's done what Obama should have been doing from the beginning: making McCain look like an idiot... and not just that, but an out-of-touch, clueless and above all old ("that wrinkly white-haired guy" who comes from "olden times" and is "like super old... old enough to remember when dancing was a sin and beer was served in a bucket") idiot.

McCain and his cohorts are playing dirty. It started with the e-mails about Barack Hussein Osama I mean Obama not saluting the flag and it's morphed into Obama's "arrogance" (meaning: he's an uppity nigger) and his supposed God complex. (Don't believe me? Listen to Glenn Greenwald; he's smart. Hell, even the New York Times has noticed it!) You have to hit back against that.

But you have to hit back right. You don't go low. If you go low, then no one can tell the difference between you and your enemy, something that few Gitmo supporters have failed to grasp. But laughter is healing and revealing, and it has a wonderful way of deflating the high and mighty.

What you do is give the audience a two-fer. You give them a joke that reveals the attack ads for what they are: not substantive debate, but a dishonest dodge. (Sugar the medicine. It goes down easier) You tear those attack ads down, and you reveal your opponent for what he is: nothing but attack ads, nothing but vitriol and foaming hatred, nothing but a bitter old man, possibly qualified to be a senator but in no way qualified to hold the highest office in the most powerful country in the world during one of the most dangerous times in human history... worthy of laughter and maybe pity, but not respect.

(And if Obama even considers using this self-important armchair general bullshit, he's in even deeper trouble than I thought)

In short, you make him look like an idiot. And making McCain look like an idiot is not hard. In fact, it's so easy that even Paris Hilton can do it.

And you know what the best part is? People love this video. There's a good chance that this thing can go viral, and if it does, McCain might as well pack it in. I mean, how do you respond... to Paris Hilton?

Not like he hasn't tried. McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds popped up, appropriately enough, on the entertainment site TMZ under the headline "McCain: Paris Is My Energizer Bunny" (thank you HuffPo):

In the unkindest cut of all, McCain's spokesperson Tucker Bounds tells TMZ that on the subject of energy, Paris is deeper than Barack. He says, "Sounds like Paris is taking the 'All of the Above' energy approach that John McCain has advocated -- both alternatives and drilling. Perhaps the reality is that Paris has a more substantive energy plan than Barack Obama."

Before I continue... "Paris Is My Energizer Bunny"? Oh my Lady, that goes down paths and into places I just do not want to go.

Okay, down to business. First of all, McCain, responding to Party Hardy Hilton is like debating Bozo the Clown on the Mideast. Even if you win, you lose.

Second, this was a parody. A joke. A goof. A prank. Paris Hilton isn't running for president and she doesn't have an energy policy, but you're debating her like she does. Not only are you clueless, but you lack a sense of humor, too. And if there's one thing presidents need to stay sane, it's a sense of humor.

And third, even though she doesn't have an energy policy, she actually has good ideas, in broad strokes. And her ideas do sound better than Obama's. But... and here's the damning bit... they also sound better than yours.

This is not a fight you can win, brave warrior. Paris has painted you in a corner as effectively as you've painted Obama in a corner. The only difference is that Paris is supposed to be brain-dead, which makes you...?

This is why, Obama, I say that Paris Hilton not only pwned McCain. She pwned you, too. It turns out that the brainless party girl, the STD-ridden slut that everyone likes to hate on, has more savvy and self-respect than you. The question, of course, is whether you learn from this. I suggest hiring Dennis Leary and the writers for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, but pronto. Bush's cronies started swiftboating John Kerry f'reals about this time in 2004, and look what happened to Kerry.

[1] Gott dammerung, I actually let that, what, woman? girl? "before" photo in an ad for a syphilis cure? into my blog. Excuse me. I have to go flagellate myself and tie on a hairshirt to atone.

As a warning, today seems to be a bit of a beat up on McCain day. And we'll start with this clip.

It got him some flack, and deservedly so:

Bomb Iran

His response when questioned on it was, incidentally, "Get a life.". That hasn't prevented others from expanding on it, naturally:

Bomb Iran (Alex Arrowsmith)

His website has "I may be the lunatic you're looking for" on it. I knew there was something I liked about him...

And, yes, I must admit, I generally support not bombing people. Except when necessary, anyways. (Going after Iraq because of terrorist attacks from people in a different country doesn't qualify, incidentally.)

Now, Frankenstein has come up before in this blog, and that makes featuring this verbal slip of McCains all the more appropriate:

McCain is "Older then Frankenstein"

McCain is older then Frankenstein. (or is that older then his monster?) So, does that peg him as one of the elder gods?

Contrary to this thought, it's been suggested that he actually in a new breed of monster, McCainenstein:

McCainenstein!

Got a few laughs out of that one. And don't worry. If I find a few good clips that Obama deserves to be beat about the shoulders about, I'll be glad to post them.

But McCain just makes it so easy...

I have them ready, (Including that well-known song "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran"), enough for more then one post, in fact, but I decided to take a break for a post, to prevent an overdose of politics.

Too much politics can be lethal.

And my reaction to cheerleaders has always been something along these lines:

--

"How loose; how loose; how loose is my goose..."

The anthropologist studies the natives carefully from afar as they do what appears to be a primitive fertility ritual. There is much room for study in the quaint customs of -

"My goose; My goose is totally loose..."

*sigh*

--

In any case, today I have two themes going on; Sisters and Christians. Not to mention the usual theme of "songs I really like".

But with all the politics going on, it's rather appropriate that the first song is by America:

Sister Golden Hair - America

Honestly, I think everyone knows this song. It's heartfelt, with lovely lyrics. Oh, and did you know the line "Will you meet me in the middle; Will you meet me in the air?" was originally "Will you meet me in VA?"?

Early on, Jackson Browne misheard it, and Gerry Beckley decided he preferred the misheard version.

And now, lets segue from Sister Golden Hair to Sister Christian:

Sister Christian - Night Ranger

This song, OTOH, is about how fast Night Rangers drummer, Kelly Keegy's sister Christy was growing up. She, apparently, was mortified by it.

So, no, no fancy metaphors or anything. Of course the hook in the song for me has to be:

You're motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

And now, from one Christian to a whole island of them:

Christian Island - Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot shows his usual skill at writing songs here. Incidentally, Christian Island is an island in Ontario, populated mainly by American Indians. Who, naturally, are not particularly known for being Christians. Funny how things work out.

This is the type of song that just takes you away from where you are, and puts you right in the middle of the scene he's describing. Some songs help you get more riled up; this is the type that you just can't help but relax.

Tall and strong she slips along
I sing for her a song
And she leans into the wind
Shes a good old boat and she'll stay afloat
Through the toughest gales and keep smilin'
When the summer ends we will rest again
In the lee of Christian Island

Of course Gordon Lightfoot has an incredible voice. He could probably sing verses involving gunning down small children, and I'd still enjoy listening to it, until the lyrics kicked in.[1]

That's it for today, though. I'll probably be back to politics tomorrow, and possibly even people shooting laser beams out of their eyes.

[1] The sad thing is that I originally wrote such a verse for this post, but deleted it.[2]

[2] Not because of delicate sensibilities. Because I didn't like the scansion.[3]

[3] I can be very picky about these things. That's why a lot of filks and parodies I start never make it.[4]

[4]Whee! Footnotes![5]

[5] And I actually picked up the multiple footnote thing during a period where I posted to alt.fan.douglas-adams a lot, Sean. Besides whimsical use of footnotes, there were also things like entire threads of conversation without the letter 'e'.[6]

[6] Which is difficult to do. How long can you go without "the", "he", "she", "very", "ever", lots of basic words you don't think about?

[7] There is no footnote 7. [7]

Robert A. Wilson & Malaclypse, o Jovem

ISBN:  1559500409

"'Principia Discordia' is the official bible of the most relevant religion ever conceived. A legendary underground classic, it truly contains 'Absolutely Everything Worth Knowing About Absolutely Anything'. Herein is revealed The Law of Fives, The Gospel According to Fred, The Epistle to the Paranoids, The Five Apostles of Eris - Who They Be, The Sacred Chao, The Book of Uterus, and more... All the secret knowledge of Discordianism is revealed at last for your enlightenment, confusion and entertainment."

Um livro para quem acha que o Caos Nunca Morreu!

------------------------------->CLIQUE AQUI<------------------------------------

AVE ERIS! AVE DISCORDIA!

Well, I thought I'd provide a bit of both. Like Sean, I'm probably far left. It is worth noting that if you are outside of the US this is considered "slightly left of center". There are no main real left-wing parties in the US.

And, unfortunately, I'm likely to vote for Obama, despite being very upset at him for voting yes on telecom immunity.

Anyways, politics brings out song parodies, and pro and con songs for both candidates, and I thought I'd play a few.

Today, I'm going with pro.

So here's a pro Obama song. Sort of. On acid:

Barack OBollywood

Silly pictures of Obama aside, this song is "Chori Chori Gori Se", being sung by Jimi Mistry.

Now an interlude, to remind us of our present leadership:

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Bush sings (sort of) U2. This is a brilliant piece of editing.

I suppose I should have something pro McCain here, for fairness:

Who'll Stop McCain?

You know, now that I've played this, I'll have to play something more firmly pro-Obama then O'Bollywood. Wish I could have found something as out there for McCain. But then, he's decidedly boring.

Ever notice that anything for McCain *has* to badmouth other candidates, though?

And don't worry, I'll do a post of anti songs at some point...

[1] That would be Scott Pelley. When arrogance and ineptness merge as completely as potato and tomato in kufteh berenji. There was so much hot air in his head, I was waiting for him to fly away (and be shot down by the Iranian airforce, preferrably) for 60 excruciating minutes. I quote from the transcript:
PELLEY: I asked President Bush what he would say to you if he were sitting in this chair. And he told me, quote, speaking to you, that you've made terrible choices for your people. You've isolated your nation. You've taken a nation of proud and honorable people and made your country the pariah of the world. These are President Bush's words to you. What's your reply to the president?

According to rumors, he also passed on a letter by Bush to Angela Merkel reading:
Do you want to be my grilfriend? Tick off!
[_] Yes
[_] No
[_] Maybe

First, I thought I'd play an odd song by the name of "Bat Chain Puller":

Bat Chain Puller - Captain Beefheart

You may recognize Captain Beefheart as being a long time collaborator and friend of Frank Zappa. With songs like this, you can see why.

Next, I rather liked this slideshow:

Bats, Bats, & More Bats!!! (Music & slide show by thepiratescott)

The pictures of bats on this are great, and the music is apparently an original composition, which I thought was cool.

Next, a touch of anime:

Lady Bat's theme song - Ankoku no Tsubasa

This is from an anime that, to be honest, I've never watched; Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure. It is the second season of a show, that, from what I can tell, is sort of what you'd get if you decided to turn the story of "The Little Mermaid" into a magical girl anime.

Still, with a character named "Lady Bat", I had to add it in. Though I wouldn't peg someone named "Lady Bat" as a guy, somehow.

Last, we have footage of a musical:

Hold Me, Bat Boy - University of Miami

Haven't seen this musical. I might have to, after watching this.

WAIT! Wrong saying! What I meant to say was: "If you're gonna do freaky, you might as well go all the way." And few men did going all the way, and then some, quite like William S. Burroughs.

I heard this one on Tony Coulter's show today on WFMU... sort of. This is Recalling All Active Agents and, according to these guys here (if I'm reading this right), this is off Burroughs' Break Through in Grey Room. Recalling All Active Agents is basically an audio version of Burroughs' cut-up technique. It's a two-track recording, engineered by Brion Gysin in BBC Studios in 1960, that takes a sampled phrase, then cuts it up, speeds it up, slows it down and just generally does things that your mama told you never to do to an audio sample or the nice policeman would throw you in jail.

Burrough's cut-up technique, if I remember correctly, sought to turn coherent information into incoherent information, so that your logical mind would be supressed in favor of the more intuitive parts. Hints and portents were supposed to come through with this technique; I've even heard that people using it can get glimpses of the future.

To which I say: Whatever. I've never tried it (though I may have to now). But to my ears, Recalling All Active Agents sounds exciting. The "Agents" bit suggests a spy or action movie to me, but this is what a spy movie should sound like. It's like an old radio broadcast: your imagination takes over and paints a picture far better than what Hollywood could churn out (or at least  better than what it's currently churning out...).

Like I said, I sort of heard your neat thing today on Tony Coulter's show. (What I did hear on Tony Coulter's show, along with a treasure trove of other Burrough's recordings, is available at Ubuweb here)

Your neat thing today Recalling All Active Agents after it's been, ahem, processed through the AV digestive tract of KheMyKhal and become all gross and noisy and beautiful. There's the obligatory Bush-morphing-into-a-devil sequence, of course (we artistic types just can't stop with the Bush-morphing-into-a-devil bits), but there's all sorts of other strange and horrible and wonderful things as well. Check it out.

Methinks you're gonna be seeing more of KheMyKhal's oeuvre in the future.

It's amazing how many Monty Python skits seem to be on Youtube, really.

The Royal Society For Putting Things On Top Of Other Things

One of those societies that gives a man a purpose in life. Even if that purpose is to put one thing on top of another.

Undressing In Public

It's difficult getting undressed at the beach, isn't it?

Hunting Film

And doesn't everyone enjoy going among happy, frolicking animals, and killing them?

The Death of Mary Queen of Scots & the Exploding Penguin

And this skit has it all: Mary Queen of Scots death, and an exploding penguin. What more could you ask for?

I suspect hardcore death polka is possible, but it would be upbeat, happy, and would have trouble taking itself seriously.

The main reason why I didn't go with the "Angry White Boy" polka on my last post was simply that I liked the title "Polka Your Eyes Out" so much, btw. I remember thinking about switching it in.

I also thought about following up the "Too Fat" Polka with Queens "Fat Bottomed Girls", but I'll wait a bit on that.

As for this posts theme, well, good things come in P's, and now that we've had a Polka Party, it's time for Monty Python...

Secret Service Dentists

Be glad your dentist appointment a while back didn't go like this, Sean.

I Wish To Report A Burglary

More Python silliness. I was deliberately trying to pick Monty Python skits that not everyone has seen. Hence the lack of Spam, dead parrots, and Hungarian phrasebooks...

Confuse-A-Cat

You know, I didn't honestly think it was that difficult to confuse a cat...

Mr. Hilter

And, of course, we have the popular passtime of making fun of Mr. Hilter. Lord knows he needed it.

And just remember, it isn't your fault that she is gone. And I know how hectic your life has been the last few years. It's not your fault that you've been lacking the time and money to go out there.

And I would let your parents know how you feel. They are your parents. They should understand, and if they know how you are feeling, if things do blow up, they can take that into consideration.

And remember, things will gradually fade. Right now things are still rather in your face, but given some time, they'll distance.

It may help if you write a bit about her, either here or offline. If you have a story you're working on, you might work her in as a character. And writing may help you take your mind off things, anyways.

And talk to your dad, and ask him to tell you more about her. It'll probably help him to remember good times he's had with her, anyways.

In the meantime, I thought a polka party might help you forget about things for a while, or at least give you something else to concentrate on.

It'll also give you something a little less emotional to listen to. Breathe is good, but is more likely to make you further depressed then bring you you of it.

That's actually why one of my drafts had been sitting around for a long time untouched. It was a string of videos that I listened to while I was in a similar mood.

Anyways, scroll down the page, and lets polka for a while!

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Kdo Trka? - Atomik Harmonik

Atomik Harmonik is a pretty cool band from Slovenia. Of course, not only can't I speak Slovene, I would have trouble locating Slovenia on a map.

This song has a great kick to it, though. Wish I'd been able to find a lyric translation.

Beer Barrel Polka - Frankie Yankovic

And here we have the king of polka in America, Frankie Yankovic. Who is also of Slovanian decent, incidentally. This one revolves around one of the natural topics of Polka, beer.

Polka Your Eyes Out - Weird Al Yankovic

And, of course, who can forget Weird Al Yankovic? He may be no relation to Frankie, but he has had a polka on every one of his albums.

Too Fat Polka - Frankie Yankovic

And back to Frankie, with the politically incorrect, but lots of fun, "Too Fat Polka". He once performed this polka with Drew Carey.

Turbo Polka - Atomik Harmonik

And here we have Atomik Harmonik again, with a song that I considered using for a WTF posting at one point. They're back, occassionally speaking english, dressing up as nurses in short skirts, and urging people to shake their bon-bons.

And I'm really not sure what medical procedure involves drawing hearts on a patients bare chest with frosting. For all the bizarreness, this is a very catchy song, though.

Die letzte Volkszählung datiert aus dem Jahr 1987. Damals gab es große Widerstände in der Bevölkerung. Daher habe man für die anstehende Volkszählung die Methodik geändert, erklärte Hohmann. „Je mehr wir den Leuten unmittelbar einen Fragebogen unter die Nase halten und sie in ihrer Wohnung aufsuchen, umso mehr Ärger gibt's. Wenn wir das aber so machen, dass wir erst mal die Register abgleichen, dann wird sich ein bestimmter Kreis von Intellektuellen oder bürgerrechtlich orientieren Menschen immer noch aufregen, aber das wird die Masse nicht mehr ergreifen.“

Tja, eigentlich sollte ersteres zweiteres nach sich ziehen... aber dass das nicht der Fall ist, ist ja nichts Neues mehr. Man hält sich gegenseitig seine neuesten Bücher unter der Nase, man lädt sich gegenseitig in die ortsansässigen Universitäten ein, man verlinkt sich gegenseitig, aber vor allem bleibt man unter sich, steht am Rande des Schwimmbeckens, in dem das Kind am Ertrinken ist und diskutiert darüber, dass Menschen unter Wasser nicht atmen können und wie sich ein hypothetischer Bademeister am besten verhalten sollte. Mobilisierung sieht anders aus. War das früher eigentlich anders? Ich würds echt gerne wissen.

London (dpa) - Grundsätze des islamischen Scharia-Rechtssystems sollten nach Ansicht des Obersten Richters von England und Wales auch in Großbritannien zur Beilegung von Streitigkeiten akzeptiert werden.

Die Nordwestflanke ist gefallen! Zu viel Curry, Tony Blair, der Nahostbotschafter aller Nahostbotschafter und George Galloways reißerische Reden haben das Land ganz und gar den Islamisten übergeben!

Na ja, nicht ganz. Ein Bild von demonstrierenden Muslimen, einen Kasten mit Links zum Thema ("Im heiligen Krieg gegen den Westen") und 3 Absätze später geht man doch noch ins Detail:

Ähnlich wie Williams sagte jetzt auch [oberster Richter] Lord Phillips, dass es unter Muslimen im Vereinigten Königreich längst Praxis sei, die Scharia zur Lösung von Familien- oder Vertragsstreitigkeiten heranzuziehen. Es sei selbstverständlich, dass niemals Strafen wie das Auspeitschen, Steinigen oder Abhacken von Händen akzeptiert werden könnten, betonte der Oberste Richter. Klar sei auch, dass die Rechtsprechung von Gerichten allein auf der Basis britischer Gesetze erfolge.

Klingt schon etwas anders, was? Eher nach so was.

Aber zu spät. Es wird schon gedruckt: Scharia in Großbritannien? Oder sogar: Oberster englischer Richter fordert die Scharia

Nothing wrong with that, of course.

Today was one of these days where I really wasn't sure what to post. I thought about posting a song called "She Thinks She's Edith Head", but while it may be a cool song, it isn't anywhere on Youtube.

So, I'm going with Smash Mouth. Now you may be thinking, All right, he's going to post 'Why Can't We Be Friends', 'Walking On The Sun', 'All Star', 'I'm A Believer', or something along that line.

Not quite. Actually, all the songs I'm posting today are from the album Fush Yu Mang. Admittedly, "Why Can't We Be Friends", and "Walking On the Sun" were on that album, but I thought I'd focus in a bit on some of the songs that didn't get as much play.

When I got this album, it was totally different from what I had been listening to. So it took me a bit to adjust to their style. Then I started paying attention to the lyrics, and started enjoying them.

Nervous In the Alley

You know, there are an awful lot of songs about drug abuse out there. Nevertheless, I like this one. It's realistic, for one. The lyrics were well done, too. Or maybe I just like songs with the word 'Gonzo' in them. I'm not discounting that possibility.

Heave-Ho

This song feels like they took the writers adage "Write What You Know" to heart. With this song, they've written a rather fun song about their collective whiny neighbor. And you could probably get the same results described if you blast this song loud enough, too.

Flo

Again, I like songs with a story behind them. And this is about someone who's concerned enough about their girlfriend to try to get them back together with their ex. Which I think is cool.

But today is the Fourth of July. As an American, this is an important holiday. Not because of patriotism, but because it's a celebration of freedom: the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.

All the things that used to make America great. People used to come here looking for freedom:

Coming To America - Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond somehow seemed appropriate today. Here's what John Adams had to say about Independence Day, though:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."

But while it's really about the Declaration of Independence, I tend to think more about the Bill of Rights. It's a great document. A lot of the rights listed have been eroded, especially in the last 8 years, but it's an important indication of what rights we ought to have.

All written by these guys who ran around, did things like illegally boarding ships and tossing all their cargo of tea overboard, and eventually kicked the British out of the country.

Of course, these days, anyone who did stuff like that would be called a terrorist. That is part of the trouble with labels.

I thought I'd play something on the topic of freedom, and this next song came to mind:

Daylight Again / Find the Cost of Freedom - Crosby, Stills, & Nash

I really have to play more of Crosby, Stills and Nash here, but a lot of the songs I'd like to play of theirs aren't on youtube. Partially because I'd want to play songs from a more obscure album called "Live It Up" with hot dogs on the cover.

Which actually is what July 4th seems to be about these days. Fireworks, hot dogs, and patriotism. Sad, really.

In any case, here's another song that seemed appropriate:

The Remedy - Jason Mraz

I'll admit, I really like the flowers in the gun bit in this video. Not to mention the bunny slippers. Used to hear this song on the radio occassionally, and I always kind of enjoyed it.

But, after spending all this time talking about America, I feel like I'm somewhat obligated to give some time to opposing views. Hence this last song:

The War of 1812 - Three Dead Trolls In A Baggie

Ok, I couldn't resist. You don't get much about the war of 1812 in history in America, and this is why; they kicked our asses, and burned down the White House.

And, yes, this is from when the Canadian Band "Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie" were in Seattle. And evidentally feeling rather brave.

Anyways, hope everyone's Fourth of July is a good one...

]]> http://oneneatthingaday.wordpress.com/?p=500 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:27:28 +0000 shanoah http://oneneatthingaday.wordpress.com/?p=500 Well, I believe I said that I was rather tempted to post a Grateful Dead song last post when I was talking about Ring-A-Ring-A-Rosies.

It strikes me that this post would be a good one to share that song in, and a few other Grateful Dead songs while I'm at it:

Throwing Stones (with Gnomes)

This is the song I was thinking about. It has very memorable lyrics:

"So the kids they dance, they shake their bones
While the politicians are throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes all fall down
Ashes, ashes all fall down."

And I'll admit to rather enjoying the animation it's been set to, but then, I do like gnomes...

Touch of Grey

The animated skeletons are a nice touch on this one. This is classic Grateful Dead right here. This song has somehow been deep down in my consciousness for quite a while...

The Wheel (Animation by Eric Bigas)

And another classic. I do seem to like songs involving wheels for some reason. This song, Journey's "Wheel In the Sky", John Lennon with "Watching the Wheels Go Round"... Wonder if there's anything to that.

"The wheel is turning
and you can't slow down
You can't let go
and you can't hold on
You can't go back
and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you
then the lightning will"

This song's lyrics have even been annotated.Now, you too can learn how they are linked to Buddhism, Aleister Crowley, and mythology. [1]

[1] But then, everything is linked to Buddhism, Aleister Crowley, and mythology, so this shouldn't come as any surprise.