This weekend, on a whim, I picked up my old hardcover of "The Book of Three" and re-read it after 23 or so years. The next day I read "The Black Cauldron", the next book in the Prydain Chronicles. It was strange to revisit these books after so long, especially when they made such an impression on me back in 5th grade.

I was saddened to learn that the author of the Prydain books, Lloyd Alexander, passed away back in May. I somehow missed the news. In a 1970 article on humor, written for The Horn Book Magazine, Alexander wrote: “Humor can help us accept our transiency, our mortality — in which all men are truly equal — and give us the courage, and the grace, to live reasonably and compassionately.”

I'll continue re-reading the rest of the Chronicles, and pass them along to my daughters.

Here's video from the show posted below. I'm the blurry chap at around 28-30 seconds in.

20 July 2007

I finally got a chance to see Morrissey live. Here is what I posted about it on morrissey-solo.com:

"A few thoughts about the Chastain show:

This would be my first chance to catch Morrissey live after sixteen+ years as a fan. My wife and I made the drive over from Athens against some pretty brutal traffic - made it with time to spare. Wondered about the "muckety-mucks" (as my wife put it) wheeling in their coolers and carrying their deli trays. But, no matter. Found our seats...pleasantly surprised with our location. Aisle seats at Row 3 of the box seats directly to the right of the stage. We were about six feet from the edge of the stage all night long. Kristeen came out and played a dutiful set. I think it was still too light out when she played, which she referenced.

And then, here comes Moz, live and in person. He seems bemused by his surroundings..."Where are we? ...How did we end up here?...I'm a serious artist!...I've made two friends and four thousand enemies." But he perseveres and puts on a fine show, even if under duress.

The highlight of the evening...toward the end of the encore (Int'l Playboys) he wanders over towards our direction and I see open space between myself and the stage. I rush over, extend my hand...and suddenly there he is, the Master Himself, directly over me. He takes my hand and squeezes, I bow my head to him, he returns with a courteous nod. And then he's gone, show's over literally within a minute.

We drive home, me with a tingling hand and a stupid grin on my face. It's not every day that I get to shake the hand of the man who's meant so much to me. A very unexpected pleasure for my first show.

So, the venue may have been all wrong, and Moz might have been less than enthused by his circumstances, but this was an event that I'll always remember."

REQUIEM

Well now, time does fly when you're having fun.

Actually, we no longer have DSL since we moved in March. Thus, I'm relegated to the dial-up dustbin of history. Anyway, I'll finish my best of '06 list right now, as if I can still remember anything of that rareified year.

8. Sex Dwarf by Soft Cell
7. The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky
6. Sesame Street - Old School Vol 1 DVD set
5. Funeral - Arcade Fire
4. Dimanche à Bamako - Amadou & Mariam
3. Bring it Back - Mates of State
2. My Video iPod
1. The very best of '06.....my girls. Jenny, Holly, and Meredith. Because they make life worth living.

9. Radio Nigel

I began listening to this online station at work last year; Besides having a large amount of music that one could find on my iPod, it plays deeper cuts from the late 70s through the early 90s...I've discovered quite a few obscure tracks I would otherwise have missed.

10. The "About Time" book series

We finished a complete chronological viewing of Doctor Who in 2006; the girls seemed to enjoy it, even the wife, surprisingly. This book series was a useful viewing companion. The authors placed each story in the context of its time, and provided some new perspectives on the series as a whole; no easy task considering the volumes already written about it.

11. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - By The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth

I liked this song for a couple of weeks in '06 after hearing it on 90.5.

12. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

This guy became an internet phenomenon last year. I bet he would be fun at parties.

13. Night of the Iguana

This film was finally released on DVD in '06; Great story, atmosphere, characterisation, and of course the sublime Sue Lyon.

14. Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out

Stewart Copeland's old home movies from the early Police years finally saw the light of day, and the result is enlightening, if a tad uneven. I loved the backing music he used, "re-imagined" mixes of classic Police.

15. The Apache video

Did you really need proof that the 70s were cooler than the 00s? Hereyago.

16. The Field Mice - Emma's House

The perfect twee-pop single.

17. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (CD)

Not a bad album. Similar to Gang of Four? This song (Banquet) is probably the best on the album.

18. Morrissey - The Ringleader of the Tormentors

Minor Morrissey, perhaps. I haven't invested enough time in it to rate it any higher.

19. Matisyahu - Live at Stubbs (CD)

In 2006, Matisyahu cornered the market on Hasidic Reggae. This is a solid live album.

20. Spandeau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short

Wait, this is a 2006 list, right? Well, yes. The chugging synth line makes me want to don a kilt and re-watch "The Krays".

21. The Human League - The Lebanon

Hmmm, remember back when Lebanon was big news, even popping up in Human League singles. I wonder what became of it?

22. Old Time Relijun - Cold Water

This song illustrates that you don't have to play your instrument particularly well to, y'know, rock. Their album "Lost Light", which this song is from, is a good one.

23. Trans-X - Living On Video

80s Euro-synth pop. This song reminded me to stop living on video, which is probably a good idea.

24. New Order - Touched By The Hand Of God

I was never really into New Order, but after getting the Joy Division box set a couple of years ago, it was a natural progression. This is one of the songs I've liked lately. The video is rather amusing. ACE