It's a long way down

I try so hard sometimes to write decent song lyrics. And then, this reminds me that you can make an incredibly memorable song out of nothing -- and I mean, absolutely nothing.

Purple America

2004 electoral map, by county, shaded red/blue/purple based on vote percentage:

2008 map:


Source.

David Byrne on election eve

I just received this note from David Byrne:

Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can't Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. FYI - I can get drafted (luckily, Daniel Berrigan burned my draft board's records) and I pay taxes, yet I cannot vote for President. On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day.

But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can't - and don't intend to - finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights. Global warming? What's that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks - we'll stick with a good 'ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.

Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain't over 'til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.

David Byrne
NYC

Standing on the verge

It's tough to say which Wikipedia entry deserves the Best Ever mantle -- Frank Chu springs to mind, among others -- but I really have to give it up for the author of P-Funk mythology, which elucidates in plain English a tale heard by many but understood by very, very few.


FMFM: Motor Booty Affair

Gentle on my mind

From Spin's interview with Glen Campbell, August 2008 issue.

What new music do you like?

It goes back to instrumental guitar playing, to Django Reinhardt -- the best in the world.

How about people making music now?

You ever heard any Django Reinhardt?

Eating crowe

There's a bit of irony to the Black Crowes suing anyone for being a ripoff, but I have to admit, I'd be jealous again if I heard this one on the radio.

Scrabulous plea

Dear Electronic Arts and Hasbro,

Your new online Scrabble game is TERRIBLE.

I know Scrabulous is a totally infringing knockoff. And I know it's slow, and buggy, and sometimes when I start a game, it starts six of them. And you managed to make something far, far worse.

I do not want jumping tiles. I do not want any of the crappy features you probably think have "Wow! factor," because the only "Wow!" I feel when I play your new game is, "Wow! This sucks." For goodness sakes, couldn't you have even gotten the colors right? YOU OWN SCRABBLE.

Please buy Scrabulous from those two guys in India, and fix its bugs, and put your newly-launched version out of its misery. No one likes it.

Thanks,
The View From Fort Miley


UPDATE: Nice work, Hasbro. Way to win over the crowd. Thanks for nothing.

This boardwalk life for me is through

Madam Marie is dead.

The Madam's all-seeing eye had a strange allure, surviving the worst of Asbury Park's misery as the boardwalk around it literally crumbled into the sea. She never told my fortune -- I think you know how I feel about superstition and sorcery in general -- but a stroll by her little cottage never went without comment. My family spent a lot of summer evenings eating salt-water taffy from Criterion Candies and playing mini-golf on that boardwalk during my youth, and our amusement at Madame Marie was part of every visit.

She may have told fortunes better than the cops do, but she also outlasted most of them. RIP -- the Fourth won't be the same without you.

FMFM: Pure romance in song. "Say you will!"

Alternate take with different lyrics here.

Born under widespread changes

Via the resuscitated JordanKlein.us, here are some Things Younger Than John McCain.

I nominated "White Christmas".

Advance cassette

The March 2006 Britt Daniel show I wrote about here is now available online here. Enjoy.