goodies from your friendly neighborhood uber-goober

I had not heard of 'Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal' comics until today. This one is about the revolution debate. http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2703 If you watch the Star Trek movies, the series by this author are really good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoWfTq8dYos&noredirect=1 Again, if you watch Star Trek. It seems I was wrong. http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35860 Commercials sometimes are really catchy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmWWJ3OPCtI Who knew taxes could be such fun? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmynbxyfFjM

"Good Ol' Mountain Dew"

It's not what you think it is, unless it is after all, in which case you guessed well and have a good scope of knowledge. I might not have figured it out, before today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjyzHcWVqs0&feature=related

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XV7mxfIIr0 aka "Pretty Polly"
(this is a bit explicit and I think representative of unchurched original Old Time music)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnKLsXYXk44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fldAP7lPg9o

Hmm... http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm

"TRADITIONAL Appalachian music is mostly based upon anglo-celtic folk ballads and instrumental dance tunes....most of the one hundred or so variations of the three hundred classic ballads found in American tradition are to do with sexual struggles from the female standpoint...A large percentage, perhaps almost half, of the American variations tend to be about pregnant women murdered by their boyfriends. ...

... But, even as content was changed to reflect American locations, contexts, and occupations, many nineteenth century versions of the Child Ballads still refer to Lords and Ladies, castles, and ghosts, and retain as their central theme love affairs and interpersonal relations. The churches of America were also very influential and usually more puritan in nature. Many fairly explicit lyrics were softened and cleaned up. British paganism was frowned upon, and this censorship resulted in ballads where repentance and doom supplanted sinful behavior....

...The length of recording time also shortened songs to a few verses. In the earliest days of commercial recording each band had its own regional sound; later there was a great deal of experimentation with crossovers...

...In 1922 the first recording of a rural performer, Eck Robertson, was made. Many followed. To the absolute amazement of the urban record companies, recordings made by groups from the mountains sold in huge numbers and an 'industry' was born...

...The Great Depression of the 1930s put an end to the commercial viability of old-time music...The old traditional music of the mountains gave way to the beginnings of modern commercial country-western music....

...BUT the traditional old-time Appalachian music never really died off; it just reverted back to being a participatory 'folk' music...Many old songs, originally written for commercial reasons, are now considered traditional, their composers gradually forgotten."



other seemingly random YouTube videos of the moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCH7B9m4A4M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGOOpUkJ0Ko&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOor0OLIbFc&NR=1
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm
www.videosurf.com/frank-proffitt-57503
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOSir5S1AHs&feature=related

Its amazing how a innocent search for old time mountain music can lead to groping videos, isn't it?

Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain. Why is he climbing a mountain?

This is great! Oh, wow, I can't get it out of my head! It almost redeems Star Trek V. Well, almost.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2ftCitvyQ



The above appears based on an actual interview (shown below) given prior to Star Trek V.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HlplfG5Ezk&feature=related



Since I am labeling this as "moment of zen" I had to also include the Axolotl Song. And if you don't see the humor in this, forgive me, but I thought it was hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxA0QVGVEJw



Some more Axolotl fun: You get the humor in the Leopard soundtrack, right?

tutoring and Robin Hood

I have taken it upon myself to try and encourage my young 2nd grade nephew/cousin. I found a young reader of Robin Hood stories. I think it's a great beginning. We read the first chapter yesterday. The first chapter was about 8 pages long. And actually, since this was his last week of school (and he whined that "summer means fun, not schoolwork"), I talked him into me reading to him and then quizzing him on reading comprehension. Later, I'll have him read to me.

He's behind where his potential lies, and I can see it. He's smart, but unpracticed. At his age, I read books on an 8th grade level, like Swiss Family Robinson and Robison Crusoe and Lord of the Rings. Granted, I was too young to fully apprecaiate many things in those books, but still I did. And here he was complaining that this childish reader was above his level.

He knows practically nothing of medieval Europe and castles and knights. At least he knew what a bow and arrows were. He hadn't heard of England before.

Well, he hasn't seen the old Disney Robin Hood (he's sadly deprived like that) and I don't want to introduce him to it until he's finished the book.

Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx_4C1cyUZA


Intro credits "The Story of what really happened..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GouLP2GE1M8

Mountain Music

Appalachain Folk music, rather. Or, rather, the unique Appalachian blend of many worldwide folk music traditions.

I was talking to a friend about my distinction between country music (which I am not fond of) and what I call "mountain music." I'm not sure what the distinction is, if any, between mountain music and Bluegrass, but I would think there is. I suppose the instruments of the fiddle and the banjo are common to both, and perhaps the dulcimer. The Cedar Flute and the Jaw Harp are mixed in there somewhere.

I also was saying that I don't own any CDs of this mountain music, which I suppose is sloppy of me.

Well, I was curious to find some, and here it is:





see also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVMi3MH0uRU&feature=related

What do you think the difference is, if any?
Something I learned a while back is that "mountain folk music" is not really preserved in an original form. Much of mountain music popularized has been cleaned up, made very PG, whereas true mountain music is quite... well, not.

because I feel like it

for some unknown reason

Mesozoic Mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNeAINi9omo

note: not Mesazoic



a blast from the past ;-)

sexy and funny Bollywood music video

Bollywood as in Hindi
Song name is apparently "Tumse Milke Dil Ka Jo Haal"
It was apparently composed by Mr. Anu Malik. Sung by Sonu Nigam with Altab Sabri and Hasim Sab, whoevever they are. Performed by a little army, but partly by Amrita Rao (the starlet), Mr. Zayed Khan and Mr. Shahrukh Khan

I think it is important to clarify I don't see this starlet as any ideal of beauty, although I certainly find her attractive. In fact, I think the movie's creators went to huge lengths to make sure I do. It is an undeniably energetic, playful, exuberant, and sexy scene to watch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zANyRYq0KM
the actress is [umm...not sure yet...haha]



More of Amrita is apparently here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQN259xGVkQ
and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2k8_qZqW_I&feature=related

Indonesian pop song

I think this is a song I heard a few years ago on a DVD my then-girlfriend gave me.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfirYxQApDQ&playnext=1&list=PL1520B59A3A1298F2

I think...

International music - bollywood

This is fun. Some of these clips aren't all that great except for parts, but mostly they're very catchy. I really enjoy international music.
I have seen (and sometimes own) some of these movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zANyRYq0KM
Tumse Milke Dil Ka Jo Haal- Main Hoon Na

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aujt3IzI4NM
Aey Kaash Ke Hum Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_8GQ9kEjZw
Shahrukh Khan - Don ( Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDF08vSoLhc
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa - Shahruh Khan - Ana Mere pyar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsoxRDHx9RI
Pump UpThe Bhangra - Ram Jaane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm1r7iUVhuI
yeh kali kali ( Baazigar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJDyoAcQuzU
Baazigar Song: Kitaben Bahut Si Parhi Hongi Tum Ne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLnAuVc0-RU
Main Hoon Na - Chale Jaise Hawaien
Song name is apparently "Chale Jaise Hawaien"
It was apparently written by Mr. Anu Malik. Sung by Vasundhara Das. Performed in part by Amrita Rao