A collection of snapshots taken within the last couple of months.
Snapshot Collection
August 10, 2010
Inna Ruminations Stylee
August 3, 2010
Big ups to Rapidshare for the recent adjustment to their product and pricing model which ended up giving me an additional 28 months of premium service for absolutely nothing extra. Yes, 28 months! For nothing! Holy sweetness.
Seen on the back of someone’s shirt while in line at the store: “Shit Happens…at The SPA Resort”. Intrigued by how a company could not do their homework concerning the meaning of that phrase before putting it on their company shirt, I decided to investigate a bit. Turns out, it is one of the best slogans I’ve come across in a while as The SPA Resort specializes in detox programs. Therefore, shit really does happen. Well executed.
While flippin’ the channels recently I came across the following: Segment on the straight-edge movement on FOX News of all places (the “myFOX Boston logo wasn’t featured on my feed. Had it been I would have been slightly less puzzled, but still very much so). Throwback block of videos on the V channel with Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance“, Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” and Soul II Soul – “Back to Life“. I was hopin’ so much that next up would be Another Bad Creation’s “Playground“, but it wasn’t. Would’ve been choice though. That was my jam in ‘91.
TomTom x Stars Wars = Hilarious. Check the following: Darth Vader and Yoda.
Not sure how I came across this, but for some reason I ended up viewing this video from 50 Tyson. Upon doing so, I almost fell off my chair from laughing. I really don’t know what the fuck to say about this, but just had to call the dude out for being beyond lame. “Right now I’m 16 and then next year I’ll be…..what? Yep. Yeah. Yeah. and then I will be…..what? Remix.” Ha. Ha. Ha. Love the comment that says ‘the only way he’ll be dropping any album is if it falls out of his hands’. Curious as a mother to hear what some wax from this joker would sound like.
Lebron James’ Q&A forum to announce his free agency choice titled “The Decision” was whack to the nth degree. The King has been solid in my book both on the hardwood and off, but, minus the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of America, I can barely think of a positive reason for being the only person in The Association to do such a thing. Ego check BronBron, ego check.
It’s mangosteen and rambutan season in Thailand (and the tropics)! Roi maak maak!
The man called Djouls from Paris DJs and Colored-Inc. featured me in his news section and added me to his recommended blogs. ‘Preciate dat. Big ups and and keep killin’ the masses with music you don’t hear on the radio!
Speaking of Djouls…Definitely do yourself a favor and check out the latest Paris DJs podcast, 21st Century Afro Extravaganza, selected and mixed by him alongside Grant Phabao and featuring a wealth of boss tunes (nearly 4 hours worth!) dug out of their Afrojazz, Afrobeat, Ethio-Jazz, Afro-Funk and Afro-Latin crates. Ridiculously on point…as usual.
Hadn’t served up some bluegrass tunes on the hi-fi in quite some time. Satisfied my fix with some live sounds from one of my favorite groups, the Packway Handle Band from good ol’ Athens, Georgia. The boys have been penning stellar compositions complete with perfect harmonies for years. Pick up this set for a fine example.
The Packway Handle Band - Live at the Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO: Feb. 1st, 2007
Nothing extraordinary, but worth checking out is the latest remix of Mayer Hawthorne’s “Maybe So, Maybe No” done inna reggae stylee. Nice tune, shoulda let Grant Phabao get his hands on it though. Vibe on it.
Trying to hunt down The Root Source’s Fire Walker. Anyone got the goods?
Refreshing to hear new vibes from Lauryn Hill. Hope it means an album will be delivered in the coming months. Check the latest single titled “Repercussions“.
The Alchemist + Oh No = Gangrene. Upcoming Gutter Water LP is gonna be ill. Check the preview track “Chain Swinging“. Check the platter details here.
Check Oh No’s Dr. No’s Infected Gadget mix done for VTech. Listen below. Download here.
Nice little present arrived in my inbox this morning. It’s the J Dilla x Serato collaboration titled Donut Shop. Pick it up here and also be sure to sign up for the Stones Throw’s newsletter to keep yourself in the loop and to get the goodies they frequently distribute.
“Jazzcats Crossing the Hudson” is the artwork for the August edition of the Madlib Medicine Show series. Dope take on “Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze. As usual, anticipating the sounds on this mix.
Cheers to Squat for the heads up on the Les Soirees des Poche featuring Fool’s Gold. Absolutely love the refreshing sounds from this outfit hailing from the City of Angels. L.A. not Bangkok that is. Check it out.
Revisited some boss dancehall vibes that were in heavy rotation back in the day. Wicked vibes that gave me chills when I heard ‘em first and gave me chills all over again. On the hi-fi: Sizzla – “Dem A Try A Ting”, Warrior King – “It’s Been A While”, Junior Kelly – “Rasta Should Be Deeper”, and Glen Washington – “One of These Days”. Run di riddim!
Kai-Jo Brothers are one of my favorite reggae/ska bands in the Land of Smiles. Learn a little bit about them in this interview they did with Trace Magazine.
I’ve been waiting a year or more to post their video for “Mhorlum Rock”. Love the Rockers-inspired story, but it looks like the second part, featuring the song itself, will never arrive. Yo P’ Jo, serve it up! Enjoy the video, take note of the subtle sounds of Delroy Wilson’s “Dancing Mood” in the background and check the last video to hear the song being played live in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Been diggin’ the mento sounds of the Jolly Boys recently. Check their site for some great videos of their songs, but first check the short documentary below to get to know them better. Their latest album, Great Expectations, is due out later this month.
Big ups to Pressure Sounds for continuing to reissue reggae vibes while nearly all others in the business have vanished (Blood & Fire, Hot Pot, Auralux) or have remained disappointingly stagnant (Heartbeat and Trojan). In the golden days, there were too many releases to keep up with. Now, I just hope to see a half-dozen per year. Therefore, I’m looking forward to getting my hands on their release which will feature 19 dub plate mixes recorded by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry at the Black Ark from 1973-79. Check the preview track “Dub Plate Special“. Niceness guaranteed.
Dunza 2010 aka Blood Dunza
July 13, 2010
Maximum Sound drops some killer versions of Johnny Clarke’s “Blood Dunza”, the wicked rough rockers tune released by Bunny Lee in 1977. The collection of three 7″s features the following. Click the links for samples.
Sizzla b/w The Agrovators (extended sample)
Lutan Fyah b/w I-Octane (extended sample)
Yami Bolo b/w Dean Fraser (extended sample)
Inna Ruminations Stylee
June 30, 2010
Cheers to Esperanza for the heads up on Lint’s lo-fi performance at Blast Surf and Skate in Playa del Ray, CA. Check “The 11th Hour” (video/mp3) and “Olympia, WA” (video/mp3).
Madlib serves up a rare interview in the latest edition of LA Weekly. Check Jeff Weiss’ three-page article here.
Psyched about the newest installment of the Madlib Medicine Show series. High Jazz serves up more vibes from the Yesterdays Universe with the addition of a few new projects to the collective. Sick.
Aloe Blacc showcases a few tunes, off his upcoming album Good Things, at La Favela Chic in Paris. Counting the days until this record drops.
Need to catch up on the quality releases from Colored-Inc. Especially the Hard 2 Find series! Give their jukebox a listen for a superb mix of tunes from their catalog including an exclusive Grant Phabao ‘Jazz Rework’ version of “Could Be Bitter” from Carlton Livingston’s Bridge of Life LP. Couple freebies are on offer over there as well. Grab Franck Biyong & Massak’s Afro-Beat tune “U.P.C.” off the Visions of Kamerun LP and Doctor L’s Spiritual Jazz x Slam Poetry tune “Vocal Kid-Napping” off his Land-Escape LP.
Hadn’t been over to Voodoo Funk in quite some time. Frank’s photos from a trip to Ghana and Nigeria earlier this year are on another level! Check ’em out. (Pic.1, Pic.2, Pic.3) Holy shit!
Check the sounds from the collaboration between Dr. Lloyd Miller and the Heliocentrics on their self-titled Strut release. Dig the vibes here.
Detailing the events that led up to the ‘Red Shirt’ protests, that took place from March until May in the Ratchaprasong district of Bangkok, would take way too long. To reference the issue, visit the Bangkok Post’s timeline titled ‘A Decade of Thai Politics’. Glad the conflict is over and some normalcy has been restored to the capital. Interesting to follow the daily events and see how it escalated. Had to wait for it all to calm down before heading there since the U.S. Embassy is located where the heart of the conflict took place and I was not afforded the time to just go and wait it out. Probably best for me as I would have undoubtedly put myself in a dangerous position by being overly curious to check out the situation. Ended up there a few weeks after and, aside from CentralWorld including Zen and other surrounding buildings being torched beyond repair, there was little to no evidence of any two-month standoff on the very streets where it all took place. The Big Clean-Up Day definitely accomplished its task. However, the damage had already been done in ways beyond physical evidence. Now, it is just waiting to see what event will take place next, when it will be and where. Check the Big Picture for some astounding photographs of it all. Set #1 and Set #2.
Followed the NBA Playoffs via the choice selection of videos available at NBA.com. Would love to check the hardwood action via a live feed, but I ain’t got it. However, I tuned in to NBA Radio for Game 7 of the Finals recently. Nice to hear the voices of some of my favorite announcers in The Association; Jim Durham, Hubie Brown and Dr. Jack Ramsay. Legendary crew. Respect to the Lakers for grabbin’ the rings for 2010. Champions hold down home court for the last two games of a series and they did just that. Tip of the hat to the purple and gold.
Well executed shirt on someone’s behalf for this sweet Phil Jackson shirt. 11 rings for the Zen Master!
The Golden State Warriors unveiled their new logo for the upcoming 2010-11 season and it is surely the best jersey The Association has seen in years. Inspired by “The City” jersey from 1966-71 (aka the most boss hoops jersey of all time) and others from that era. Killer! That Secondary Logo B would make a boss lid for sure.
It’s World Cup time! Reason enough to finally purchase a television. First time I’ve had one of those in two and a half years and after flippin’ through the channels available on local cable, I was missing out on nothing exciting at all. Nice to have these games at the click of a button though. My selections to view the matches are either the Thai feed on Channels 3 or 7 with a clear picture and Thai commentary or the Astro Sports feed from Malaysia with a fuzzy picture and English commentary. I’ve opted for the Thai feed with a low volume and Dancehall/Dub vibes on the hi-fi (reminds of the State Street Soundsystem days back in 2002), then switching to the other feed at an eventful moment for some proper insight. Enjoyable thus far except for the horrendous sound of the vuvuzelas and the absolutely pathetic officiating.
Speaking of that Astro Sports feed. Malaysia, time to check yourself in the commercials department. At the half, they feature some of the dumbest fucking commercials I’ve ever seen. Amazing these things get funded by companies. Example #1: MYEG.com. (shown immediately after the first half of every single match). Example #2: Cap Tangan’s Ngan Yin peanuts. (shown immediately after the MYEG.com commercial every single damn time).
While flipping the channels, I’ve seen very little awesome programming and a whole heap of garbage. Among the awesomeness were these: Speargun Hunter, Bob Munden using a revolver to open a safety pin by grazing the side of it from 15 yards away (no video, but downright amazing!), Michael Yon interview on MCOT, BBC World News, Buddha Bless’ video for “Fire“, Monster Fish, Boomerang (hilarious to watch classic cartoons overdubbed in Thai).
Among the garbage were these: FOX News, Goldfrapp’s video for “Alive” (huh?), Star Channel from India (no video but some of the weirdest programming ever, like an acid trip gone wrong), Barney and so many other things that left me scratching my head.
This one is for Khun Ree. Captured among the insanity of Khao San Road in Bangkok. Remember this song (the first one in the video) from Phuket Town niteclub days.
http://www.thegoldbrick.net/video/khaosanvibes.flv
Overheard on Khao San Road: “Yo brotha, can you spare a dollar?” – Guy from the States. Took me by surprise since asking for money is not a normal practice in Thailand and hilarious in the sense that if you are going to beg in a different country at least ask for the proper currency and find a place to do it that is not flooded with low-budget backpackers. Dumbass.
I’ve passed by this shop, in Phuket Town, a million times and have been wanting to post a picture of it for years. Its name is Goo!.net. 555.
Collection of photographs taken in the last couple months.
Haad Bo Le, Koh Yao Yai
Ao Lo Pha Lai, Koh Yao Yai
Ao Pileh, Koh Phi Phi Le
Rasada Pier, Phuket Town
High Above Samut Prakan
Vespas and World Cup Fever on Khao San Road
Don Sak, Surat Thani on the way to Koh Samui
My Backyard in Lamai, Koh Samui, Surat Thani
The Legendary H. Johnson
June 20, 2010
Easily my favorite radio DJ ever and possibly my favorite person in the world, H. Johnson, host of Jazz Classics every Saturday on WABE 90.1, was featured in Access Atlanta this past week. If I lived back in the ATL, I’d definitely attend the “Tribute to H. Johnson” event at Cafe 290 on Monday the 21st. Glad PBA will be filming it, so I can possibly check it out some time in the fall when it airs. Read Bo Emerson’s article here and tune in to Jazz Classics here. Nuff respect to the coolest cat to ever walk this planet!
All Together Now
June 4, 2010
Absolutely lovin’ Kobe’s latest Nike commercial. The wicked game of the Black Mamba x Hoops heroes and related characters from old x The Beatles x Andre 3000. Damn. Just damn.
Inna Ruminations Stylee
February 15, 2010
Just picked up The Bamboos’ 4 and The Souljazz Orchestra’s Rising Sun. Didn’t know the Bamboos set was comin’ out, and comes as a very welcomed surprise, and I’ve been waitin’ for the Rising Sun LP for the better part of a year now. Can’t wait to digest them this evening.
Paris DJs serves up a delightful mixtape titled Make the Mix by Digging from DJ Tommy TNT, guitarist extraordinaire for the likes of Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Bronx River Parkway, and El Michels Affair.
Pass at your own peril on this set from Karl Hector & the Malcouns. Recorded live at ChoiceCuts in Dublin; May 2009.
Found Silhouette Brown’s sophomore effort appropriately titled Two while grabbin’ the links for this post. Didn’t know it was scheduled and there’s little doubt that the Broken Beat and Nu-Jazz vibes will be equally as nice as the debut album sounded.
Also found Shapes 10:01 from Tru Thoughts while doin’ this. Looks like it is filled with more exclusive tracks from their exceptional roster of artists. Pick it up in three parts: Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3
Johnny Cash’s American IV: Ain’t No Grave represents the Man in Black’s final recordings before his death in September 2003. This one is essential, as are all the other volumes in the series.
The Slackers return to Hellcat Records with The Great Rocksteady Swindle set to be released on 20.04. Boss vibes soon come.
If you missed Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound, released last year, then do yourself and your ears a favor and grab it now. Magnifico!
As usual, the Stones Throw camp continues to drop gem after gem. Lovin’ these recent additions to the crates.
Soundway continues to put out amazing Nigerian-music compilations. Check the latest editions to their catalog; Nigeria Special Vol. 2: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds and Nigerian Blues 1970-76 and Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria.
Stopped by Wat Komniyaket, the temple and school next to my house, a few weeks ago to check out what all the activity was about. Turns out they were having a “Field Day” for five schools in the area. Brought back good memories of me doing the same thing when I was their age. However, one noticeable difference was the lack of shoes on all the kids. Classic Thai style.
Checked out Avatar recently. Definitely awesome in regards to the visuals…even when watching a bootleg copy on my laptop. Can’t imagine how killer it’d look on the big screen…or IMAX for that matter…or in 3D…or with psilocybin in the system! Overall, it was an entertaining film, story was a bit formulaic, visuals were stunning to say the least, running time was rather long, deserving of special effects awards, but certainly not deserving of any “Best Picture” awards. As for the complaints regarding the Papyrus-font subtitles, I couldn’t comment on it as my bootleg DVD contained Verdana typeface and the translation was in German! Still have no idea what the meaning of all of the Na’vi dialogue was. Oh well, I wasn’t overly glued to the storyline anyways.
Films that left a much more satisfying impression that I watched recently were The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Informant.
My co-worker told me she had a dream that she found me in my office on the brink of death with blood coming out of my mouth and in a pool around me. After telling me about the dream, she asked me what my age was, so I answered. I asked why she wanted to know and she told me that it was a lucky dream and she was going to play my age in the underground lottery in her village. Thoroughly confused in regards to the link between visions of my death and the luck of the lottery.
Took another trip out to the Similans, a group of nine islands about 60 km offshore from where I live. Never fails to amaze me when I go out there. Stunning!
Flippin’ through my Thai crates just got way fuckin’ easier thanks to ThaiTunes. Here’s what the crates looked like before and here’s what they look like after. Should’ve hunted that script down years ago. Som boom baep!
Holy shit was the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a huge letdown this year. Weak! Totally fuckin’ weak! I’m gonna refrain from getting’ on my soapbox for this one otherwise this’ll run on for far too long. Here’s to hopin’ next year’s event will be totally opposite of this year’s. On a better note, the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown, showcasing the finalists who won throughout the states in local competitions, was awesome. Super sick jams from those cats and The Air Up There’s 360 reverse two-handed flush was beyond nasty. Plenty of other sick dunks in the mix too. Message straight to David Stern’s head: Check your league before hittin’ L.A. next year, revise the rules, and let these amateurs (read “professionals” when it comes to dunking) put on a show. You be the judge. Hella easy to see the Association blew it this year for the Slam Dunk Contest.
Cheers to Esperanza for the heads up on The Morning Benders “Excuses” video. Totally out of touch with the indie rock world and this was a nice refresher. Just picked up the full length, Big Echo, to see how the whole set sounds.
Stussy will be releasing a three-part J Dilla documentary this month to honor the legendary producer who passed away four years ago this month. Check Part One below and be on the lookout for Part Two on 17.02 and Part Three on 24.02.
A small collection of pictures from last weekend. Took a ride up to Thap Tawan, Baan Nam Khem and Koh Kho Khao which are all about twenty minutes to the north of my house.
Another stunning Khao Lak sunset, fireworks on the beach, cabaret show, drinkin’ Leo brew in the yard, buffet of Thai/Chinese dishes, 10,000 Black Cat fireworks strung to a bamboo pole, Muay Thai fights on Channel 7, lucky drawing for “Ang Pow” envelopes for nineteen kids, hilarious dance shows by the kids before getting their envelope, shooting coconuts out of trees with a rifle, hiking up into the rubber trees in Natoey and a blanket of stars above with a strikingly clear view of Mars. That’s what Chinese New Year was like here in Phang Nga. Gong Xi Fa Cai! All the best to everyone in the Year of the Tiger.
John Holt – Stick By Me
February 14, 2010
John Holt sets the mood with his classic 45 “Stick By Me” recorded for the Jackpot label, a subsidiary of Trojan, in 1971.
Jah Bless Lynn Taitt and Yabby You
February 1, 2010
This past January, Jamaican-music lovers lost two very important figures. Lynn Taitt (1934-2010), the Trinidad-born guitarist who was critical in the development of the Rocksteady sound of the late ’60s that would go on to form the basis of Reggae, and Vivian “Yabby You” Jackson (1946-2010), who laid down some of the most wicked Roots and Dub vibes ever recorded during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Both will be sorely missed, but their music will surely live on forever. Jah bless!
Madlib Medicine Show No.1: Before the Verdict
January 24, 2010
The hi-fi was on fire last nite with Madlib’s latest joint. Got outta control when that remix of “Kill ‘Em” dropped. Can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next 11! volumes.
Madlib Medicine Show No.1: Before the Verdict; Stones Throw, 2010
Life…It’s Amazing
December 31, 2009
Apparently, Santa Claus really does exist. It’s not me however, I just play one annually. Here’s the story of how my belief in Ol’ Saint Nick was reignited this past holiday season.
It was late-July when I got notice of the new fall line from Brixton. Stellar lids and threads as usual and I gravitated to the new version of the “Castor” fedora immediately. Eyed the natural-straw model (not shown on the site anymore, but can be seen here) for weeks and then decided I was gonna fork over the cash for one. Unfortunately, the shipping costs to Thailand were outrageous to say the least, so my plan was nixed.
In the weeks and months to follow, I thought of asking Santa Claus (who I had always thought was my parents) to give it to me for Christmas and have it included in the next package they would send my way. Never did though and kinda figured I could just live without it.
Well…on Christmas Eve, I was suiting up in my Santa Claus costume for the surprise arrival, via longtail boat mind you, to our gala dinner on the beach, and had to stop by the housekeeping office to get some safety pins. I opened the door and, lying atop the table, was a fuggin’ natural-straw Brixton Castor!
After simultaneous eyes buggin’ out, doin’ a triple take and my jaw droppin’ to the floor, I picked it up to see that the size was perfect. The manager told me the room that had checked out earlier that day had left it behind and it was all mine if I wanted it. She didn’t even have to finish the sentence before I was rockin’ it and makin’ my way out the door. Amazing how life works sometimes.
Inna Ruminations Stylee
December 13, 2009
Tru Thoughts camp announced some releases scheduled for 2010. The Skeletons’, a side-project of Nostalgia 77 brainchild Ben Lamdin, debut album Smile and Quantic presenta Flowering Inferno’s sophomore effort titled Borojó el Original. Counting the days…
The U.S. Dollar Bill x Freemasonry. Bet you don’t know the connection. Check Eye of the Phoenix: Secrets of the Dollar Bill for an intriguing investigation.
Bonobo’s first-single, “The Keeper“, off his forthcoming, currently-untitled album has been out for a short while, but perhaps you overlooked it. Pick it up here and view the video below. No doubts that the full-length will be just as stellar as his previous output.
Upgraded to Firefox 3.5.5. Some nice features in the new release, however they could have warned me that “Clear all private data without asking” was checked as a default. Upon closing, my quick access to searches and sites I’ve been using for months and months are all gone. Ugh.
No Brasil.org did the monumental task of compiling all of the albums from Richard Dimery’s “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” book. Not all of them are choice in my book (e.g. Scissor Sisters is included, but The Abyssinians Satta Massagana is not), but there’s way more than enough essentials laced throughout to keep you occupied for a helluva long time.
It had been a few years since I watched The Spook Who Sat by the Door, but I revisited it a few weeks ago. The story of the first black CIA operative who later drops out to train the inner city men of Chicago, then spreads the knowledge to other major cities in the US, and then launches an all-out assault against the fucking system. Brilliant cinema. I downloaded my copy, but apparently you can just stream it over at Google video.
Oliver Nelson is providing the soundtrack to my writing and compiling with his stellar The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Mellow vibes.
Oliver Nelson – The Blues and The Abstract Truth; Impulse, 1961
Flippin’ through Banksy’s “Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall” the other night. Awesome stuff.
New Thai slang I learned this week. “Nong chai rong hai” which literally translates into “My little brother needs to cry”, but actually means you’re goin’ to take a piss.
Congrats to the Yellow Jackets on being ACC Champs. Sucks about the loss to the Dawgs this year, but we’re BCS bound to Miami and, well, they’re off to Shreveport. Sting ‘em at the Orange Bowl!
A repost from a few years ago just for the hell of it. Hilarious album covers.
Dillon x Paten Locke. Studies in Hunger. Food for thought. Food for the soul. Food for the body. Food for your ears and mind. Dine on the Mega Mix before you get the main course.
Until recently, I never knew that Hepcat’s “Marcus Garvey” was originally written and performed by Bongoman Byfield and appeared on the flipside of The Skatalites “Guns of Navarone” 45 released by Island in 1965. Interesting find, to me at least. Check both versions.
The Skatalites are playing in Pattaya and the Wailers are playing on Koh Phangan this coming week. Top-class vibes in the Land of Smiles. Pissed that I won’t be attending either one, but life goes on.
Just my luck. Decided I’d try to get the time away from work to make the trip up to Koh Phangan for the Wailers x Job2Do show. Called my friend up to get the location details and whatnot. Turns out it’s canceled. Damn! Would’ve been sweet.
Looks like rainy season has finally finished up for this year. On the agenda, spending more time viewing the horizon below.
Seasons Greetings
December 12, 2009
Tough to remember it actually is the holiday season as my surroundings here in Thailand offer no reminders whatsoever. Just like in years past, I’ll do my best to create a sense of the feeling with some holiday tunes and a mandatory viewing of A Christmas Story.
Merry Christmas to all and especially to the folks back home in the ATL. Below is some nostalgia for you. It’s The Pink Pig at Rich’s! If you’re not from the ATL, or if you are and have been living under a rock, then you can read and listen to Kathy Lohr’s “Atlanta’s Pink Pig Brightens Spirits, 55 Years On” story, from All Things Considered, which documents the relationship between a giant pink-pig skytrain and Christmas in Atlanta. Good memories for sure.
Enjoy these holiday vibes that I’ll be spinnin’ this time of year. Two classic albums that have been present on the hi-fi since childhood, another record that perfectly regrooves the traditional Christmas songbook, and a final platter (…with ridiculously-boss cover art) filled with stone-cold Funk & Soul rarities in the Yuletide tradition.
Hoops Fever…or the Lack Thereof
December 4, 2009
This is the time of year when hoops fever is supposed to be in full effect. NBA on TNT doubleheaders every Thursday, featured games on Wednesdays and Fridays on ESPN, and Sunday doubleheaders on ABC. Not to mention the glory days at 1041 when NBATV was hooked up and supplied 24-hours of content. Now, the action on the hardwood only makes it to my eyes via some Web highlights every now and then. Not enough to make me feel involved. So it goes.
Well, check the two videos below which reminded me how much I miss The Association. Best facials from throughout November and, while D-Wade’s is supremely nasty, my favorite was A.I. 2.0’s monstrous jam. My goodness. Replay, then replay, then replay…
By the way, I’m lovin’ the Sixers decision to go back to the 80s logo. That red, Adidas track jacket is looking hella sweet! So does the Court Series version.
Tokay Gecko (Gekko Gecko)
November 24, 2009
Found this Tokay gecko when I went into my bathroom the other evening. The smaller House geckos are around (and inside) my house every day, but these larger, more colorful ones only come by every now and then. Amazing creatures and, after reading up on them today, vicious biters too!
Still hoping to see the 25-cm (10-inch) Tokay gecko, that I saw a few months ago, again. It crossed my path while I was taking a shower and ate one of the House geckos! After freaking out, staring at it, and then trying to quickly get my camera; it had disappeared into the night and it was too late. Incredibly vivid colors on that one!
