Song of the Day: Oopsy Daisy

By ChipMunk. It's entertaining to listen to British folks talk. The accent and the different use of language is neat. Hearing the accent in rap is even more interesting. So give a proper listen right off. Good hook on the chorus, too.

Getting major airplay on BBC1. I've been listening to the Chris Moyles' morning show and have left the station on all day yesterday and today. Stern's on vaca and Moyles is kind of my go-to substitute if an old Stern just doesn't do it for me. Good stuff. Hearing lots of good music. Might hear the same if I tuned into Hits 1 or something, but I don't. So there it is.

I suppose we should...

I suppose we should all recognize and reflect on the darkness that now welcomes us in the morning, signaling the end of summer hours and the oncoming misery with which most will react to winter weather.

Are we done? Ok, good. Now go enjoy something.

Song of the Day: Meatplow

Actual Facebook post: What's a veggie mom to do when her son wants her to start cooking meat? Any simple, virtually hands-off meal suggestions out there?

Responder 1: Crockpot recipes?

Responder 2: just because we eat it doesn't mean we roll around on the floor with it. there are thousands of sauces or seasonings you can put on beef/chicken/fish and then simply grill, bake or broil it all. here's one: take pork chop, put a full onion slice on top, add table spoon each of ketchup and brown sugar on top. bake and baste. smells great, tastes great. serve with potatoes and veggies.


other suggestions follow

Poster: Thanks for the tips! I do make a lot of standard meals with meat substitutes. He's okay with that, but now he's starting to ask for things that I don't have substitutes for like, ham and such. I haven't prepared poultry in nearly 20 years, red meat has been longer, and I stopped eating seafood when I was 5. Maybe I'll start off slow by buying some of the prepared meals to heat up. I'll definitely need to buy a designated "meat" pan. LOL!!!! :)

Responder 3: a meat pan??? that is hysterical
End.

Veggie mom, this song's for you. Maybe it's for your son. Bet you didn't expect he'd need his own set of cookware this early in life, eh?

Song of the Day: Uprising

Heard this for the first time a few weeks ago and like it instantly. It's by a band named Muse, but we'll excuse you if you mistake them for Radiohead. Anyway, I really dig it. Might iPod it and listen to it 2,395 times in the next week.



Revolutionary-ish lyrics here.

Song of the Day: The Last DJ

Tom Petty sticks his finger in the eye of the man.

Words of wisdom

Stolen from at Quriltai on the Shore, the site of Sabutai.

Daily Quote for Freethinkers
The most ridiculous concept ever perpetrated by H. Sapiens is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of his creations, that he can be persuaded by their prayers, and becomes petulant if he does not receive this flattery.

Robert Heinlein

Happy Birthday to...

...Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen, who turns 60 today.

Streets of Philadelphia is one of my favorite Springsteen songs, but here he is apparently playing on the streets of Copenhagen.

Song of the Day: You Oughta Know

Yes, the Alanis Morrisette song is excellent in many versions. But have you seen the Dan Band's version? They even tip their cap to Micheal Jackson in there.



You'll remember the Dan Band, I presume from their excellent version of Total Eclipse of the Heart, performed in the movie Old School.

Nice rant!

Go get 'em, Greenie.

Love and marriage

Here's one that's meant to last forever.

Song of the Day: Who Do You Love?

Primary election day in Boston. I'm with Menino. I think he knows how the City Hall machine operates and he puts it to work for the the people who live, work and do business in Boston. Is he the most modern? No. Is he the most polished? No. Could the City use a new leader with new ideas and a modern vision for where it should go? Probably. But in these times, with the options on this ballot, Menino is the best choice. I'd like to see him serve one more term, let the economy rebound a bit and then turn it over to someone else. Yoon seems too green and Flaherty seems full of more ambition than anything else.

Economic primer

The Boston Globe ran a piece earlier this week on Hyman Minsky a late economist and apparently interesting character. Minsky, it seems, was a known economist, but not as renowned as others. His work, according to the pieces author, a historian from Georgia, has largely been ignored until recently, when it seems everything in the economy seemed to fall apart in ways remarkably consistent with his long ago predictions.

And so Minsky is now become sort of an economist celebre. His books are being reprinted and theories studied and applauded.

Like me, you may have little or no interest in economic models or intellectual discussions of finance. That's what makes the piece just the right one for you. It lays out in very basic terms Minsky's take on capitalism and its faults. Good stuff and well written by Stephen Mihm.

So go have a read and have a laugh at all the blowhards who insisted they knew best and yet did worse than Minsky. And if you are so qualified--hell, even if you're not--join the blowhards you encounter in a heady discussion and wonder when it was that they saw the light on Hyman Minsky's view of capitalism.

Shed a tear and relive the laughs

Today is a very sad day as we mourn the loss of an actor who played in one of the greatest movies of all time. Henry Gibson, who played Werner Klopek in The 'Burbs, is dead.

A very unofficial trailer recalling just a few of the funny moments from this stellar piece of art.


I'll be watching the Burbs tonight and mourning the loss of the Doctor. I'm sure all of Mayfield Place will be, too.

Songs of the Day: Puff the Magic Dragon, Leaving on a Jet Plane and If I Had a Hammer

Mary Travers has died.



Twice just this week I've seen people use this as part of their Facebook status. I don't think there's any meaningful connection, just goes to show what a quirky cultural influence something can be.


And, in case you don't remember, Peter, Paul and Mary were also responsible for "If I Had a Hammer."

Song of the Day: Edelweiss

Plastic or poison?

Worrisome piece in the NYTimes over the weekend about drinking water. Lots of resources to see how many violations have occurred in the facilities near you.

"In the last five years alone, chemical factories, manufacturing plants and other workplaces have violated water pollution laws more than half a million times. The violations range from failing to report emissions to dumping toxins at concentrations regulators say might contribute to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses.

"However, the vast majority of those polluters have escaped punishment. State officials have repeatedly ignored obvious illegal dumping, and the Environmental Protection Agenc

y, which can prosecute polluters when states fail to act, has often declined to intervene."

Song of the Day: Luck Be a Lady

Correction on Patriots

It's not all bad. In fact, there's something that's better than it's been in a long time: the unis. It's a shame that Pat Patriot was shelved for the flying Elvis. I understand maybe they were trying to change the losing image, but seeing the logo with the red jerseys and white pants really does make me wonder when they'll return to them for good.

Song of the Day: Don't look back in anger

I've always liked Oasis and though they haven't put out anything really good in quite some time, I was sad to hear that Noel Gallagher has left the band. There was little but he and brother Liam left from the original lineup and it was a credit to Noel that he hung in there that long. He was the talent in the family and the band, writing the music and lyrics for obnoxious bother Liam to sing.

This one's from an MTV Unplugged special highlighting the strenghts and weaknesses of the band. Just before the show, Liam pulled out with a sore throat. Noel and the rest of the band went on with the show, Noel taking over lead singer roles while Liam sat in the balcony, smoked cigarettes, drank beer and heckled his brother. Noel does more than fine, I think.

Good band, good tune, good version. Enjoy.

The Patriots, 2+ quarters in

It's 14-10, Bills with about 11 minutes left in the third quarter and I'm struggling to find anything the Patriots are doing very well right now. Offensive line looks porous, Brady isn't sharp, D looks very vulnerable at all levels.

This could be a frustrating season. No reason to expect excellence at this point. Let's hope it's just rust.

Song of the Day: Miami 2017

Reposted from last year.

I found this a few weeks ago. It's Billy Joel singing Miami 2017 (Seen the lights go down on Broadway) at the Concert for New York in 2001. After the first few seconds it's all video of 9/11. There are times when watching this that it all came back to me in a rush. All the memories of hearing about it, trying to find out what was going on, watching it all for days and days. Intense.

I wish there was a little more footage from the concert. Seeing the emotion of the police and firefighters at the show is incredibly powerful.

I think it's good that we are reminded of the events of that day, not only out of respect for the people who didn't survive it and their families, but to remind us of the dangers that are possible in this world. I don't think eliminating our own freedom is the answer, but that's a political debate for another day (November 4).


This song was written and recorded in 1976 as a "science fiction" song. It narrates the city being closed, almost as if by foreclosure. Background here.

Excellent letter to the editor

Congratulations Tony Butler, from Tewksbury. Excellent effort.

You’re Howie Carr and for the 5,687th time we’ve read about Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat for life (he was elected each time). You’re Howie Carr and for the 4,368th time we’ve read about Joe Kennedy’s salary for helping the poor. You’re Howie Carr and for the 9,368th time we’ve read about Chappaquiddick. You’re Howie Carr and for the 3,476th time we’ve read about Felon Finneran. You’re Howie Carr and for 7,345th we’ve read about Liveshot Kerry (“For Joe Kennedy, Senate race a well-oiled machine,” Sept. 6).

You’re Howie Carr and while you were recovering from hip surgery I was hoping some original material might actually pop into your brain. But then I remembered you’re Howie Carr and you haven’t come up with any new material since Jerry Angiulo promised to put one in your head 30 years ago. You’re Howie Carr and you’ve made a living off the Kennedys. Talk about a seat for life.

- Tony Butler, Tewksbury

Song of the Day: You're Crazy

Language warnings on both the acoustic and electric versions.





If you're not sure, then yes, I probably mean you.

where's noternie?

I've been busy. The kind of busy that doesn't lend itself to blogging. Most of the time, when I'm busy, it's on a thing or two that requires a break. Blogging is sometimes the perfect break to rest my brain while exercising it at the same time. But the last week or two of busyness has been from multiple angles. Not an excuse or whining, just and explination.

My apologies, faithful readers (or curious browsers). I promise you I'll have this health care debate settled soon. I think I've got McCain bringing along a few elephant friends. Just a few more days.

Song of the Day: Lola

A classic by the Kinks!!

Curt in the Senate?

Listening to Curt talk about baseball is informative and entertaining. But I haven't the slightest interest in his representation of me or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the US Senate.

Seriously, baaaaad idea, Curt. I know you won't believe me, but someone very close to you needs to tell you we don't think you're that terrific off the field. In fact, many find you a bit obnoxious. On the radio that's good. Engaged in role playing battle games online, it doesn't hurt you a bit. On the ballot? It's not good a good thing.

Song of the Day: Can't help falling in love

Ten years ago on this very day, the lovely not-then, but soon-to-be mrs. noternie and I had our first date. After a month and a half exchanging email to test the waters and wait for schedules to cooperate, we enjoyed drinks in the backroom of an Irish bar in Somerville while a lesbian played guitar and sang. Interesting mix, and I don't mean in the glass.

I'll save the really mushy sentiments for our private time together. It doesn't need to be shared here.

I will say this: the date wasn't the most significant moment. There might not have been one singular one. The emailing back and forth put us on our path. The first date just stomped the accelerator. (Va Va Va Voooom!!)