chricton

from GRISTMILL

Expert testimony
Posted by Dave Roberts at 4:43
PM on 26 Sep 2005

This Wednesday, the Senate Environment Committee is holding a hearing on global warming. The lead witness? Michael Crichton. You really can't make this stuff up.

Sorry Hunter, but things can get weird enough.

paul mccartney's new album - review

Here is my review of Paul McCartney's new album, "CHAOS AND CREATION IN THE BACKYARD":

Paul McCartney's new album, "CHAOS AND CREATION IN THE BACKYARD", sucks.

well this is rather quite lovely now isn't it

The Importance Of Being Idle
Written by Noel Gallagher (Oasis)

I sold my soul for the second time
Cos the man dont pay me
I begged my landlord for some more time
He said son the bills are waiting
My best friend called me the other night
He say Man - you crazy
My girlfriend told me to get a life
She said boy - you lazy
But I dont mind
As long as theres a bed beneath the stars that shine
Ill be fine, if you give me a minute A mans got a limit
I cant get a life if my hearts not in it

I lost my faith in the summer time
Cos it dont stop raining
The sky all day is as black as night
But Im not complaining
I begged my doctor for one more line
He say Son - words fail me
It aint your place to be killing time
I guess Im just lazy

planners and calendars

Happy Sunday! Sunday mornings are truly awesome.

I have a friend who has about four different calendars. She usually can't remember which one is supposed to be used for what kind of appointments and often forgets to look at the right one at the right time. Sometimes, one of them is lost, and this totally does not bother her at all. What is really going on here is "planning avoidance" - a very desireable tactic that for her is still at the subconscious level. Basically, this person just loves calendars and planners and can't turn one down. This approach is MUCH better than others I have observed.

Someone else I know has a planner that is constantly and very publicly being written in and referred to. It is her badge of "busyness". Every square millimeter of her calendar dates are filled in with times and appointments. I never knew anyone could write so small. I swear to God she even plans her bathroom visits weeks in advance. (I still capitalize the "G" -recovering GUILTY Cathaholic.) With her, people need to make an appointment. She might pencil you in or she may pen you in. I swear to God I know what she OUGHT to do with that pen!

A colleague of mine keeps one bound planner that is totally stuffed with miscellaneous papers. When he loses his all important life-planner, which for some reason happens a lot, it is a major event. He becomes an emotional wreck. Life stops until he finds it. Also, he often "switches" planners. This requires hours of re-organizing and writing in the new planner but leads to much enthusiasm and re-energizing.

I have just begun to meet people who whip out their electronic planners. Now THEY are interesting, and possibly criminal. There is no stereotypical user here. I can never predict who has one.

I would prefer to have no planner at all. If I can't remember a date or appointment, it probably is not worth remembering.

-My actual choice? A small pocket ACADEMIC (obviously) monthly planner not to be kept in the pocket. With a pocket monthly, I do not have too much space to write things down. I figure that if I need a calendar bigger than that to keep track of dates and appointments, there is something seriously wrong with me.

However, I may have to switch planners. This may be the one for me and is the inspiration for this post:

Do It Later! A 2006 Planner (or Non-Planner) for the Creative Procrastinator

and here is the coolest calendar of all:

The 2006 ECOlogical Calendar

eddy out,
rich

from "the Idler"

Rushing around is shit, says Prince Charles

Prince Charles has spoken out against the frenetic pace of modern life.

And here is Tom Hodgkinson’s response in the Guardian

Live at The Gaslight

Now THIS was a concert:



Bob Dylan singing "Cocaine" in 1962?? I thought Jackson Browne wrote that song. (Actually, it is attributed to a Reverend Gary Davis.) Bob singing "Barbara Allen"? Incredible. (Barbara Allen was the first SONG that I ever learned how to play on my guitar.) Get it now, only at Starbucks. Sorry about THAT! You don't have to be seen walking into a Starbucks though. You can buy it online.

And no thanks goes to K-Wal's daughter who WORKS at Starbucks and would not buy it for me at the 30% employee discount because she was worried she would not see the money.

new orleans II

Making the email rounds today:



Also, check out:

Katrina: wish you were here

A tale of two photos: Mississippi Goddamn


Some more good reads about this preventable tragedy:

"What didn't go right?"
By Sidney Blumenthal [2005-09-08]
(You have to watch an "ad" to access this website, but it is well worth it.)

Miracle Worker
Bush longs for James Lee Witt, the Clinton man he should have kept.
By Bruce Reed Sept. 4, 2005

Kurt Vonnegut

FINALLY, Kurt Vonnegut has a new book out:

quote 1

"Never, ever, work."
-Quentin Crisp's advice to young people.

American MASTERS: Bob Dylan

DOCUMENTARY PORTRAIT WILL AIR ON PBS'S AMERICAN MASTERS SERIES SEPTEMBER 26-27

JACKSON BROWNE solo acoustic vol.1

Now THIS is going to be awesome:

Beginning Wednesday, September 7th, there will be a pre-sale for the new Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Vol. 1, release on Inside Recordings, due in U.S. stores on October 11, 2005. A full list of international release dates is listed below.

To order a copy of the new CD, please click on the following link, or cut and paste the following link into your web browser.

http://stores.musictoday.com/store/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=7685&band%5Fid=1086&sfid=2

As part of the pre-sale, you will also be able to purchase a special limited edition t-shirt.

The new CD and limited edition t-shirt will be shipped to you on Friday, October 7th.

caught in the web

kevin on earth
This is an interview with Kevin Bacon. I am definitely not a big fan of Kevin Bacon, especially after he chased Meryl Streep down a river. I mean, who would want to hurt Meryl Streep? She is the nicest person in the world. The title of the interview is really stupid but I could not stop reading it once I started. It's good.

from John Edwards: TWO AMERICAS

the dark side (a Republican blog): REDSTATE.ORG

Ode magazine

treehugger

and one more:
Why FEMA Was Missing in Action (LA Times)

How to Help Katrina's Victims

You can offer housing to refugees, especially if you live within 300 miles of the affected zone. Go to the emergency national housing site set up by MoveOn: http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

How to Help Katrina's Victims (from the editor of yes! magazine)

nob dylan and the nobsoletes

Once again, I found myself at the "Main Stage" last night. No, I did not wear a bullet proof vest. This time, it was to see Nob Dylan and the Nobsoletes. The Nobsoletes are one of the best and coolest punk bands to see. When "Nob" takes the stage with them, they do punk versions of Bob Dylan songs. Actually, I had that idea a LONG time ago. They stole the idea from me. How, I don't know. The songs they do are the same ones I have ALWAYS thought would make great punk songs. They have an album of Dylan covers called "POSITIVELY 12 STIFF DYLANS". However, now that I think about it, do we really need punk versions of these songs? The Dylan originals WERE punk! Yes, that is right. Bob Dylan invented punk.

Every true Bob Dylan fan has to have a favorite album that is NOT one of the masterpieces that most people would choose, like Hwy 61, Bringing It All Back Home, Blonde on Blonde, or Blood on the Tracks. You can mention THOSE albums to people who are not Dylan fans, but when you are talking to other Dylan worshipers, you have to have some other semi-obscure choice. My pick is always John Wesley Harding. It is an absolute classic that has been buried among all the other albums and somewhat forgotten. Justin, the bass player for the Nobsoletes, told me his favorite is Nashville Skyline. Actually, except for two songs, that album sucks. Bob Dylan is know for laying eggs as well as producing masterpieces. Nashville Skyline was an egg.

"Shooting people for peace is like fucking for virginity."
-Main Stage bathroom graffiti