Jazz and Blues... Saturdays? (better late than never)

McCoy Tyner is best known as the piano player in John Coltrane's extraordinary quintet from the early and mid 60's. Tyner was with Coltrane and Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums) when Love Supreme set a new standard for spirituality and exploration in any kind of music.

As a solo artist, Tyner is simply thunderous. He can keep layering on more intensity through long solos and usually encourages his bandmates to do the same. This is not music for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to give it the time, the reward is remarkable. This set is from Finland in 1973 and it is a rawkus tribute to the spirit of John Coltrane and the ecstatic heights to which music can take us.

Here it now at Jazz and Blues Fridays on Mpomy.com.

Sun Destroyers Pictures

We had a nice time at the Fire - thanks to everyone for coming. Em took some great pictures. Here's two and you can link here to the Sun Destroyers page with more pics.

Buddy Guy & Junior Wells at JAZZ & BLUES FRIDAYS

We're up and running, so check it out! Hiroshima 1975. Great show, great sound, great performance. Enjoy at Jazz & Blues Friday.

JAZZ & BLUES FRIDAY

... will be up shortly. It is Friday, isn't it? I'll get the website updated and then get some quality Blues for yer listening pleasure. Stay tuned...

METRO 1, MPOMY nothing

The Metro didn't go away - ugh! I should make a claim against the Daily News for infliction of emotional distress AND generally gettin' my hopes up. I do wish the Metro would just go away!

Sun Destroyers Gig - we Destroyed

The gig was a smashing success, if by smashing success you mean that there were only four people there. But we did rock out and it felt real nice to play for a full set of music. Pictures will be up soon, and we'll be trying to get another gig, so watch this space.

THE RETURN of Jazz & Blues Fridays

Ahhh! It's good to be back! Marking the return of Jazz & Blues Fridays is a great 1972 concert from Cannonball Adderley. A fine performance from Berlin with primo sound quality. Go make your new iPod happy with some extra funki-ness.

It's been a long week, and now it's time to chill out with some cool tunes!

SUN DESTROYERS - RIGHT NOW!!!

The time has come - the time is now! We have our first Gig at The Fire on October 5, 2005 at 9PM. The cover is $5 and WE WILL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE!!!

Make sure you come out and ROCK!

Jazz & Blues Friday's Will Return Next Week

We're working over the website and the downloads (which are still available) will be changing shortly. Thanks for being patient. The format may open up a bit - I haven't decided if I want to continue to focus solely on jazz and blues. We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, this is your last chance to download that GREAT Johnny 'Guitar' Watson concert. Your iPOD will thank you.

Have You Seen This Bass?

Orange is obviously preferable, but if you are selling this bass in any color, please let me know by making a comment here as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention.

Goodbye, public trash creation project

I hate the Philadelphia Metro. It's not a newspaper, it's a neatly stacked pile of rubbish just waiting to be strewn about carelessly. In 2000, SEPTA decided it would give this junkie newspaper out for free at train stations and other transit stops throughout the city.

What kind of newspaper is this? Just a collection of wire reports, splashy color photos and advertising. No civic or social relevance at all. AND - no recycling. So it's been frustrating over these past five years while the garbage has piled up everywhere while people pick up this circular, and immediately discard it.

Thankfully, you won't see the METRO after September 30, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Of course, it's not because of the qestionable journalistic value, or the ecological disaster. In fact, SEPTA's angry that it doesnt have more METRO's to distribut on buses. Whatever. I'm just glad the thing will be gone.

Out of the shadows...

Exactly one month (to the day), I am happy to report that Blogerantz is back online.

My thought for the day concerns this gentleman to the left, Mr. Bruce Springsteen. I want to celebrate our recently acquired tickets to his upcoming acoustic show (returning to Philly this fall) by mentioning the Boss's affinity for the dark side.

A concert is a unique experience; an opportunity to participate in emotions and feelings that are not part of the everyday routine. For Bruce, many of those feelings focus on the darkest and most dangerous feelings people can have, when life is in the balance and actions are deperate. His ability to articulate in this fashion, to take us to those shadowy places where strength and violence become more than just show pieces and bravado, that is what makes these concerts so special.

And, yes, there are happy numbers interposed to give relief to the heavy-osity, but anyone who truly appreciates these performances, knows that the rubber meets the road at "Jungleland", "Lost in the Flood" and "Into The Fire". We can only celebrate with the likes of "Ramrod" and "Raise Your Hand" after we have lived through those epics of struggle and loss.

So I'm sorry we won't be seeing McCartney this time around, but I can not imagine a concert-going experience that is as rewarding where the darkest and most evil emotion comes courtesy a James Bond theme.

Thank you, Bruce, for not shying away from the sadness and the madness, even after all these years. And thank you to Cousin Steven for (a) making it all possible and (b) for understanding about McCartney.

Ain't that a BITCH! - It's (the last??) Jazz & Blues Friday

Jazz & Blues Friday is online at mpomy.com. Is this the end? No more spectacular downloads of tasty musical rarities? I'm sure it's not as bad as all that, but you can count on a little break in this department.

Best bet is to go out on top. I'm not sayin' that this is the end, but this could be the last Jazz & Blues Friday for a little while. That bein' said, it's Johnny "guitar" Watson, who you'll find in the 'blues' section of your local record shops, but at the time of this masterpiece from Bremen (2/13/77), it was all funk!

Johnny, like so many other great artists, left us too soon, but not before he created a wealth of GREAT recording and influenced and performed with Frank Zappa. Enjoy and play this one loud.

Jazzz & Blues Fridays at mpomy.com

Canned (...or jarred? or pickled?)

So, just wondering... which is freshest?

Veni, Vidi, Sadie

She came, she saw, she conquered! Big time thanks to Sadie, Dorothy and Woody for letting them come across country to play. We had the Wiggles on the iPod, we had screamin when there was no nap (but Em was unstoppable with the Ella Fitzgerald - Em one, Sadie nuthin!), we had Cheerios flying thru the air, we had Pop-Pop at Azure with hippest outfits you can get, we even mixed in some Phils!

It was all good, especially after napping reintegrated into the routine. So it goes to prove, no matter how bad you got the blues, there's nothing that the love of a good niece can't cure.

Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address

I'm reading this fantastic biography of Lincoln by David Herbet Donald, and I just got to the point where he gives the Ggettysburg Address. No matter what else may be going on in your life, you can not help but be moved by these words. For no reason other than that, I offer this short prayer for a 'new birth of freedom' in its entirety here:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Jazz & Blues Fridays - Here's Mud In Yer Ear

It's been quite a day, and I don't mean that in a good way. For this reason, I stick with the blues for a second week in a row. Even if you're not feeling the weight of the world as it comes crashing down, you should still check out Jazz & Blues Fridays at mpomy.com.

We're going all the way back to THE pioneer of the electric blues guitar. Without MUDDY WATERS, you got no Stones, you got no Hendrix, hell, you got no rock'n'roll.

This is from a club that, I believe, still exists in DC, called The Bayou. The date is 10/27/81, which is toward the end of Muddy's run, he can still burn on the slide guitar. And that voice is as soulful as ever. Enjoy!

Brought to you by Jazz & Blues Fridays.

Happy Birthday, John T. Scopes

This is John T. Scopes of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial. He was born on this date in 1900. At the age of 25, he had the courage to stand trial rather than give in to pressure. He taught high school students evolution and was fined for telling the children the truth about science. His case was later overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court, but the legal niceties represented only the beginning of this tale.

Today, science continues to come under attack. Our President has recently said that he favors the teaching of Intelligent Design so that children can be exposed to another side of the story. Forget for the moment that this "alternative narrative" has no basis in scientific method or fact. Even right wing conservative-psycho-wack-job Charles Krauthammer says that teaching faith as science is wrong.

People like John Scopes knew that science could bring us closer to finding truth, especially about who we are and where we come from. To offer "intelligent design" as part of a science curriculum basically undermines all of science. "We don't need empirical proof! We don't need objective evidence! It's all too complicated to have happened without the deity's guiding hand, despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence of such hand. So why bother with trying to cure MS or cancer or AIDS. Let's just leave it up to that all-powerful whatever, right?"

John T. Scopes knew better. Happy birthday Mr. Scopes.

She's too cool for school (... also too young)

Oh yeah, she's cool alright. So cool that she can fly clear across this great country of ours and land right at MPOMY/Beckerantz world headquaters for a little visit. I'm talkin' about the coolest niece there is - Ms. Sadie Wood.

Thanks to the recent move, she'll be able to stay with us for a few nights (now that we've got the space for her and her folks) and then it's off to the burbs to hang out with Mom-Mom. We are going to have one tasty time!!

Remember When Recess Was Fun??

Well, this guy's so happy he can't see straight. Of course, back in my youth, "recess appointment" often meant meeting upper classmen to get a good going over before classes resumed. This continued in college, except it wasn't so much the older students, as the people in my grade. I'm thinking of the so-called "get hammer" play.

The significance of all this to our brand spankin' new UN ambassador? Well, I guess it's just a whole new sort of butt-kicking. How delightful.

Stick this in yer iPod! It's Jazz & Blues Friday!!!

The new Jazz & Blues Fridays Is now available for your downloading pleasure. We're going back to the Blues this week.

It's that sound that takes the enamel off your teeth - the tone that can strip the pain right off the walls. That lil ole band from Texas - ZZTOP! When the Reverend Billy Gibbons digs into his '59 Les Paul (affectionately know as 'Pearly gates'), internal organs are rearranged and the blood comes pouring out your eyeballs.

This is from the German Rockpalast prorgram, April 19, 1980. Unless you're a real aficionado, you won't recognize a lot of these titles because it's before the super-hits like 'She's Got Legs' and 'Sharp Dressed Man". So what you have here is a double-disc of blues power, far enough into the band's development so that THE SOUND is there in full force, but early enough to have the fire, particularly in songs like 'Heard It On The X' and 'Jailhouse Rock'.

Some might think this isn't real blues, but that's pure bullsh!t. ZZTop, and particularly the Reverand bring it with all the passion, soul and grace of any of the 'classic' blues - just with an extra helping of grease and hot sauce.

Download available now at Jazz & Blues Fridays.

Battlestar Galactica - How long have we got?

At the end Blade Runner, you have an audio flashback. Harrison Ford hears the voice of Gaff, played by, of all people, Edward James Olmos:

Its too bad she won't live. But then again, who does?

To which Deckard replies, in pertinent part:

...I didn't know how long we had together, who does?

In a brief aside in the August issue, Wired Magazine just called Battlestar Galactica the best show on television. Not the best sci-fi show, or the best genre show, or the best drama, or the best prime-time show. In fact, there were no qualifiers whatsoever. "The best show on television"

An while I don't know if Wired Magazine should be anyone's cultural barometer, I can tell you that, even with my limited TV vieiwing, the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television and one of the best shows I've ever seen.

So here's the question. The few other shows I've watched in the past ten years or so all went bad, or at least got worse. And while I'm happy to sit back and enjoy the ride, it is my wont to forsee trouble. How long can a show this good keep it up? How much time do we have left.

I want that bass!!

My thought for the day - since I'm trying to be 'daily' again. Yes, that's Percy Jones of Brand X and Tunnels. He is my favorite bass player, properly british and absolutely nuts! And, yes, I want that Ibanez EDA he's playing (no longer being made). I'll have mine with or without frets - it matters not.

LOTR = racist??!!?! (I don't think so...)

Gillies thinks that Lord of the Rings suffers from a lack of racial diversity. Well, I guess it does. After all, there are no lead characters depicted as non-white or performed by non-white actors and actresses. It is also true that the Peter Jackson movies and the Tolkien books incorporate a common crutch from the dominant ideology that white=good and dark=evil. This is unfortunate.

But admitting the above does not, I think, condemn this workas racist. I think the movies succeds in spite of their lack of diversity and not becuase of it. What's more, there is a VERY strong ecological/environmental theme that is very much in-line with the progressive politics of this country and the West in general.

I think this criticism of racial myopia (though perhaps accurate) is a cheap shot. I think it's something you say if you don't want to like these movies. Does Samuel L. Jackson save the Star Wars prequels from their obvious failings in the realm of dialog and characher? Are the (wonderful) films of Curtis Hanson - LA Confidential and Wonder Boys - diminished by his failure to feature charcters of color in leading roles?

One must also be aware that another major theme of Tolkien, which is played out fairly well in the film versions, is relations and relationships between characters and racial groups that have hated one another for centuries - see dwarves v. elves. This is resolved in favor of a recognition that, while celebrating their diversity, these groups can look beyond their differences, particularly those which are merely skin deep.

When I think about all the stereotypical depictions that form a large amount of your entertainment options, it is surprising that people will pick on LOTR (believe me, it's not just Gillies), which seems to get it better than most. Why is this simple fantasy held to such a high standard? Perhaps it is becuase the detractors fear a 'genre' movie that becomes so wildly popular? Perhaps it is becuase it is so good that we want it to be perfect and feel slighted (maybe on second vieing) when we relaize it is not so.

Tolkien was just a man with an affinity for language. He went to war and did his best to raise his kids right and provide for his family while slogging away at the university. That he failed to make race relations the center of his little flight of fancy should not detract from what is good about the novels, what works and is entertaining and exciting.

As always, but particularly here, I invite your comments.

New Eno - the old master still has it

Just go get Another Day on Earth - a stunningly beatiful and delicate album of songs (that's right - songs!) by Brian Eno. You can hear so much of what he's done over the past 35 years, all coming together on one small record, and it's great. The ambience mixes with the pop sensibility; the production is detailed but not overbearing. I was a big fan of Nerve Net, and this new album is not so 'in your face'. There is, however, a strong connection to Eno's past (Before and After Science, Another Green World) that was missing from Nerve Net.

Eno has insinuated himself into our collective consciousness with all the success he's had for other artists. It's nice to hear the genuine article without Bowie or U2 or Lanois or Gabriel acting as mediator.

Finally - JAZZ & BLUES FRIDAY!!!

Thanks for your patience, everybody. I'll try not to let that happen again. Of course, you had a few extra weeks with John Lee Hooker, so that's not too bad.

Now we go back to the jazz side of things. Wayne Shorter is my favorite sax player. He was a musical director in the early sixties with Art Blakey, and he just helped bring the power of that hard bop into something anybody could listen to and love. He then got with Miles and made the transition to electric jazz, leaving as Miles was just beginning to take flight with his jazz rock bands.

I think there was a ton of pressure on Wayne to be the next Coltrane, but he never really looked back after his time with Miles. Weather Report took that spark from Bitches Brew and went on to change music forever.

Wayne's solo stuff has always been challenging. Even when he's soloing, there's still a developed sense of composition and order which is extremely unique. I listen to Wayne and feel that every note (including the entire ensemble) has to be in it's special place. It's powerful stuff.

Anyway - here's Wayne, with an electric band, promoting the album High Life, which, if you like this stuff, you should go right out and buy. This concert is from the Hollywood Bowl in June of 1986, and it's a doosy! Go check it out at Jazz & Blues Fridays on mpomy.com.

The (not so) Triumphant Return

I've been on trial for two weeks, and in this practice that is a LONG *&%#-ing time!!! Also, the result was not so good this time, so I retain a bit of anger and frustration. More on fear and loathing in the Courtroom (City Hall 682, to be exact) in a lter post.

For now, I will just say that it's good to be back in the land of the living, and I am very excited about the latest Jazz & Blues Friday - see above.

JAZZ & BLUES FRIDAYS - STRIKES AGAIN!!!

Yeah, I may be too busy moving and getting ready for trial to do more than one lousy post per week, but if there's only gonna be one post, this has got to be it!

Over on mpomy.com I've just put up the latest addition of Jazz & Blues Fridays and it's the immortal John Lee Hooker. He could sing, play guitar AND write. Basically, the man did all his own stunts, all without the benefit (or detriment?) of any formal training or education.

This concert's from Chicago in 1976 and it's splendid. Please let me know what you think, and don't forget to make a contribution to the MS Society. Go get the concert here.

Jazz & Blues Fridays - 2d Edition

Roy Buchanan left us too soon on August 14, 1988. At the time he was widely regarded as the best blues guitar player you had never heard of. His stiletto-spiked solos could take the enamel off your teeth and peel the pain off the wall. He was a master technician who NEVER sacrificed an ounce of feel or emotion. Go buy lots of his records, and check out this concert from Kansas City, August 2, 1985, over at Jazz and Blues Fridays on Mpomy.com

Sun Destroyers - update

Playing in a band can be one of the great pains in the arse is it's not going well. You can simply torture yourself and your bandmates and relationships can become strained, friendships broken.

I only mention this because, when it's going well, musically that is, everything feels so great. Sun Destroyers has become one of the singualr joys of my life. After seeing the Marillion show the night before, it was great to go out and make some noise of my own, and at last night's rehersal, we did just that!

Now Gabe's doing the writing and arranging and I just show up and play bass, so it's not like this is my band or anything. And last night Gabe was putting himself through a bit of angst (although he sounded great). Perhaps this was related to lack of proper supper (we practice right when we should be eating our evening meal). So, I don't know, maybe I've got it very easy. But, whatever the case, the music is just flowing, the parts are getting locked down more tightly, and there's this beautiful energy and emotion.

So the next step is Gabe's taking some of the bits from 6/2/05 and we'll see if that's good enough to get us a gig. I know it's just a matter of time, really.

Marillion - acoustic trio

MARILLION

This was a great show at the new World Cafe Live space just across the Schuylkill River. I was a little miffed that they had no seats for us (normally this is a seated venue), but the show did not disappoint.

H, Pete and Rothers turned in some nice renditions of old and new Marillion songs. Rothery especially lit it up on 'Sugar Mice' giving us that sugnature, not-quite-gilmour, not-quite-hackett, oomph that only he can do - powerful stuff. The show lasted about 2-1/2 hours, over 20 songs, including several bits that they hadn't planned/rehearsed, especiallu 'Genie' - my thought on this strategy is that it's OK to a point, but for the most part, I do want the polish of a planned set. Still, these guys are good enough to pretty much pull it off.

THe best part of the show was that Emily really enjoyed it. We went to a full-on Marillion concert many years ago and it was a disaster. We'd only been dating a short time and Em still wasn't sold on all this prog stuff. The show was not very good, even to a true fan, and Em just flat-out hated it. We survived that (no problem!), but it's nice, all these years later, to have the vindication of a fine show that is fully appreciated by my "better-half".

Where have I been all week?

Well, the good thing about no updates is that Jazz & Blues Fridays has stayed right at the top of the list. Not sure how many people are using this - I wanted to stay under-the-radar, but not that under-the-radar! We'll have some more music (right on schedule) tomorrow.

NEW FEATURE: Jazz and Blues Fridays

This is actually two features in one. As a public service to the world, I will share an unreleasaed concert from the Mpomy archive each Friday. The .mp3s will be available for download for one week, with a new concert going up on the following Friday.

My only request, and this is pure honor system, is that you make a contribution to Multiple Sclerosis research and help me reach my fundraising goal. Here's the link for the MS Society. I'm only asking for people to contribute once, and I'll be posting new Jazz and Blues every Friday - so it's a pretty good deal.

This week we've got a killer concert from Buddy Rich and his Big Band, live in West Berlin in 1977. The sound quality is pretty much crystal clear and the performance is stunning. So go enjoy Jazz and Blues Fridays, and thanks for helping me do my part to help cure the MS.

Next RPG .mp3 is available for your listening pleasure

Please check out the RPG hompage for our latest offering. This is one of my concotions, called Spring Training and it features a blistering 'backwards' solo by Gillies at about the midway point. Brilliant stuff!

Summer Love

Even though they are the Phils' division rivals, you have to love what's going on with the Washington Nationals. Unbelieveable homestand, 10 wins in a row, first place in the division. We actually got to see the Nationals at RFK on June 4 (they beat the Marlins), and you can see why the DC fans are in love. Here's a great article from today's Washington Post - read it and feel the love.

PINK. FLOYD. REUNION.

This is not a rumor. This is a done deal, confirmed at the 'official website'. This is a one-off at the London G8 benefit on July 2. What can I say? the Floyd is one of the major reasons why I gre to love music so much, all those years ago. I've seen the post-Waters version twice, and find it hard to imagine better performances. As a One-off, I don't expect the elaborate pyrotechnics that have accompanied Floyd and Waters' recent efforts, but you never know. It's not like they don't have the fundage.

I will say that I am glad that it is not tour (a la The Eagles/Fleetwood Mac). It seems this is just about participating for a good cause.

Judy's Cafe - That'll just about do it

Judy's opened in 1974 and has been serving Emily and I the best comfort food we've ever had for about 8 years. This is a place where everyone feels instantly comfortable and a great time is always had.

On Sunday, June 19, 2005, Judy's will serve the last brunch and then close for good. I'm not sure what I will do without my regular dose of cheddar crusted chicken and baked goat cheese appetizers. Em and I started going there during the earliest days of our relationship and even signed our marriage license there just a few days before 5/17/03.

Thank you, Judy's, for the memories, for the brilliant chow, and for eight years of fun. You will be missed.

Was Howard Dean wrong?

Controversial comments?

Not if they're true...

Free Katie - while there's still time!

You may remember my lighthearted post on the absolutely rediculous HolmesSlice/CruiseControl fiasco. More than two weeks later, I'm feeling a bit pleased with myself for the astute observation made prior to the story going out of control. So here's some more fun, since it's Friday. This is courtesy AmericaBlog (you should be reading this everyday).

FreeKatie.net

RPG .mp3 - Thanks Gillies

My recording of RPG (not Role Playing Game, but REISNEBERG POMERANTZ GILLIES) is a bit biased to the right side, sorta killing the even-ness of the mix. Not to worry, though. Just needs a little TLC on ye olde mixing board.

In the meantime, we have a good excuse for a story. Allow me to let Mr. Gillies relate the tale in his own words:

I went public back in '99. For a while there, my company, AndrewGillies.com(nasdaq: GILZ) had a bigger market cap than General Motors. My options wereworth millions. Then it all came crashing down. I had to scale way, way backjust to keep the site afloat. Nasdaq delisted me. I shaved off my goatee. Myonly friends were greyhounds.
But I survived, dudes, I survived. And that's why you need to go toAndrewGillies.com, that's right, AndrewGillies.com for a FREE download of RPG's5th try at recording that hard-to-fathom sonic creation, "Jen."
Only on AndrewGillies.com!
Lator,
AndrewGillies.com

Here's a link to the song itself, Jen - in all her glory. Listen and enjoy!!

MOST. ANNOYING. THING. EVER.

Eagles chants at Phillies games. Why do you come to a Phillies game to do an Eagles chant? The 'wave' is a distant second. It seems I'm not the only one whose cuyons are made frosty by this abhorrent practice. Once again, the inimitable Bill Conlin.

Anti-Choice Democrats

Oy yoy yoy. This is a tough one at the Blogerantz/Beck-a-rants household. Can we justify voting for an anti-choice Democrat (Bob Casey, Jr.) to replace an anti-choice Republican (Rick Santorum)?? If there's no difference between the candidates, does it matter what party-affiliation they claim?

While Emily thinks the answer may be no, I'm not so sure. After all, Harry Reid (D-NV) is an anti-choice Democrat, and he's fighting harder than anyone to keep anti-choice ideologues off the high court.

Here's a discussion from DailyKos that sets forth all point nicely in the context of the National Organization of Women's endorsement of a pro-choice republican senator who voted to confirm anti-choice judges.

Perhaps more importantly, the discussion also includes this picture:

Separated at Birth:

Phillies Rolling

There's been a slight break in the action here at Blogerantz - sorry, I've been a bit under the weather. So to get back on track, let's take a moment a celebrate those who are also back on track.

The Phillies have lost exactly one game in the month of June and are 8-1 on this homestand. They're beating quality teams (Texas and Arizona) and they even made a big trade. So let's start with Rich Hoffman's Daily News column entitles Ed & Charlie Not So Dumb. It's a good article and a good title. Am I in total agreement? I don't know yet. But this point that a wise man has been stressing (my wife's dad) is worth repeating - it's the players, not the manager and not the GM. Read the Hoffman piece for more on that.

Balls, Sticks & Stuff is a real good Phillies/Philly Sports blog. Today's bit on the trade is a great round up of the mumblings and grumblings around the net regarding the departure of Placebo Polanco. Personally, I think this was a great deal.

Monday, Monday

It's 90+ degrees in Philly and our a/c doesn't work. BOY am I glad we're moving. Have you ever seen a cat pant? Not pretty....

Phils loose, but make it close in garbage-time. If we didn't have Aaron Fultz, we may have won that game. Makes you think, doesn't it...

RPG - Not Role Playing Games, Vito (see, below) - that's Reisenberg Pomerantz and Gillies - that rockin' prog, metal, jam outfit from DC - more info can be found here. Sorry if anyone else was either (a) confused, (b) workin' the Chianti, or (c) hoping that I had a twenty-sided die they could borrow - I don't. And, of course, .mp3's will be up shortly.

Stay cool, everybody!

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

GREAT Sun Destroyers practice last night (see below), and tomorrow will be a day in the lab with RPG. More .mp3's to follow from that experimentation. So it's a great weekend of music. thanks to Joe and Gabe for a killer Thursday night. Let's see what Saturday brings.

And, of course, after the monster RPG jam, it's baseball at RFK (GO NATS!!!!).

SUN DESTROYERS - The New .mp3's Are Up

We had a NICE practice last night and got a pretty decent recording. Check out a few .mp3's at Sun Destroyers' hompage. The levels may be alittle low, but the recording is clean. Feel free to let us know what you think!

Getting it down on tape

Sun Destroyers is looking to get a few numbers down on tape tonight. We may not be endowed with any fancy recording studio, but, damnit, we've got heart. So hopefully, you'll soon hear just how tasty we've become. The music on the website is not bad, but we've been playing pretty steadily for several months now. We've gotten tighter and better at our tasks.

Personally, I'm very psyched for this. I've got a PreTrial conference after lunch where I'll probably get my head chopped off (figuratively speaking, of course), and I'll be ready to rock this evening. There's always that tape-anxiety where I freeze-up whn we're trying to get something down. Hopefully there'll be a minimum of that for all of us tonight. We know these songs and we play them well.

So keep your ears peeled and we'll have some spicy ear candy for you soon enough!

Phillies related - Good Things Happen Too

Not that this is the most optimistic column ever, but after Chase Utley's late heroics, it's worth reading today's Bill Conlin article. It was a strange game and very entertaining. As Scott Graham said at the halfway point - "It's about time to bring on the dancing bears."

Memorial Day

Actually, it's the day after Memorial Day. But I've been thinking about the war in Iraq and how disturbing this whole deal is. In honor of the recent holiday, I recommend C-Span's American Perspecitves episode from Walter Reed Hospital. This is an .rm file, so I guess you need RealPlayer to watch. Here's their blurb on the show:

A special C-SPAN program features conversations with three Army soldiers and a Marine about their personal experiences in Iraq and at Walter Reed Medical Center. Additional conversations take place with the Commander of Walter Reed and a we take a look at physical and occupational therapy for injured soldiers. Almost four thousand patients from Operation Iraqi Freedom have been treated at Walter Reed since the war began.

Some of the images in this program are a bit disturbing, but it's not nearly as disturbing as the fact that this country is in an all-out war with no end in sight and everyone just acts like nothing's happening. Now that's disturbing.

And now for something a bit more low-brow...

The Phallic Logo Awards.

Brought to me courtesy Between Thought and Expression - a GREAT music blog.

Hillary is in the air...

Can you smell it? Spring is springing into summer. It's 80 degrees here in Philadelphia. Memorial Day Weekend is beginning and the sun is shining. And less than 6 months into term 2 of Bush 2, I'm thinking about the next Presidential election. Seems I'm not the only one.

So here's my round-up. Start with The Nation's Hillary article. Greg Sargent does a nice job of putting the moderate, junior Seantor from NY into perspective. Doesn't necassarily help me decide if I want her to be the nominee in '08 - but still a good article.

Then go visit dailyKos for some poll results showing that Ms. Clinton's got somehting more than a chance to get elected if she is the nominee. I also recommend the Kossacks' discussion, which shows how the liberals and progressives are going back and forth and back and forth on Hillary.

And we end with Arianna Huffington's post which takes Clinton to task for having no ability articulate her ideas on foreign policy. Complete with sarcasm and a litmus test. That's tough!

For bonus potins you can read the New Yorker's long profile on McCain, which apparently has the media darling beating Hillary in a hypothetical head-to-head (not available online).

Trial Prep

Although I'm not the one going to Monroe County for the week (next week), I'm doing my share to pitch in. Even in the simplest trial, there are a large number of issues to keep in your head. For a complicated medical negligence case, there are literally dozens of research items, logistical considerations, missing witnesses, last minute records, directions to the Courthouse... The list goes on and on. It's exhausting (and I'm not even the trial attorney!), but somehow satisfying. Sinking my teeth into the research and getting the answers (and getting them quickly!) is what its all about right now. So back to work.

There's no doubt I'm in the right business.

So sweet, so fake

In much the same way Emily is interested in the 'American Idol', I have this bizarre fascination with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes - particularly because she is so much taller than him. So, as I come clean about this lewd interest, I invite you to delve into Tina Brown's analysis from the style section of today's Washington Post.

C'mon, I mean, I know I shouldn't be doing this but 'Saddam-style underpants' in Risky Business - now that's funny!

Richard Cohen (again)

If you look at this blog regularly, you probably know how I love Richard Cohen's pieces in the Washington Post. Today's rumination on stem cells and the so-called 'culture of life' is another good one. I don't know how long the Post keeps these things available, so check it out soon.

Sun Destroyers - ready to move up

After a few open-mic-nights at The Fire on Girard Ave., Sun Destroyers are CLEARLY ready for a full set. There's plenty of material and plenty of gumption. Gabe's songwriting continues to baffle and delight. Joe is just getting better and better. I LOVE playing bass and lust after super-expensive-exotic bottom end (not going to happen).

The Fire is a perfect place for us to play our first set. The venue just goes with Gabe's raw energy and direct expression. Plus, we know how to get there and where to park and stuff like that. Unfortunately, despite our otherwise professional demeanor, we don't have a tape. Gotta have a tape... and maybe some stickers too... Yeah, I'd like some stickers. Which, of course, means we gotta think of a logo. Oh sure, I'll get right on that...!

So, the next step is a tape (and stickers!) and we'll try to get something good on mini-disc at our next visit to RPM. We're thinkin' Barbarian Apeman and one other song - that one in 'C' that's been around awhile but it's so f#%&n' good. If we can get that sounding OK, we'll start handing it around and see if we can play late some weeknight, at The Fire or wherever.

Mpomy.com is here!!!!!!

Such an improvement compared to that lousy Comcast site! Mpomy.com will be going through some changes as I try to figure out what I'm doing. The main purpose of all this was to have a plcae to host pictures and music. I will now have room for A LOT more music - so that's good news.

The next project will be dedicated pages for RPG and Sun Destroyers. Don't expect those pages to be too fancy (or even to function properly!) at first. The earliest version of an RPG page is now up and quasi-functional, but I'll be trying to improve that today. The Sun Destroyers page will need some more time because it's a bit more serious. See above for the Sun Destroyers update.

Dorothy's Latest Forbes Article

Check out the latest on fast, cheap fashion in NYC. Read Dorothy's latest.

Mpomy.com is Coming!

With more storage, more music, more cheesy templates, and, most importantly, an easier to remember url. Thanks to our impending move, Comcast is going bye-bye. This will mean new personal email, but we'll sort that out soon. What it really means is MPOMY.COM is coming...

Bianchi Steel

2005 Bianchi Brava

Yeah, I know - bottom of the line, but (a) that doesn't make it cheap (it wasn't!), (b) this sucker is FINE! and (c) it's a Bianchi.

THE MS 150

As I approach the exciting moment of getting a new bike (whooopeeeee!!) I have to go back and comment on how and why all this money will now be spent. My Mom has been battling Multiple Sclerosis for many years. She's really an extraordinary woman. Emily got the idea to do a 2-day, 150-mile charity ride that would give her a chance to (a) raise money for MS research and (b) show off what a cycling stud she is. Now I've been roped in for the past two years and we even managed to get Joe and Tara joins us last year (as pictured above).

It's a great ride and a great cause. I'll put up more info as the funraising really gets in gear this summer. In the meantime, the ride is in September and goes from Cherry Hill to Ocean City. Check out the National MS Society website for more info.

Two Trials Later

So that's why the light posting. One short trial last week (Mon and Tues) and then another, even shorter one this week (Tues). Both against Allstate. I can say that the good guys won in the first, thanks to an eminently reasonable, Main Line jury in Delaware County - such a lovely crew. Our more recent effort awaits decision (tomorrow) directly from the bench. It's a case that will be decided by the Judge alone - so even now The Honorable G. Thomas Bowen is chewing over the various tidbits of fact and law we served to him yesterday morning. I'm certain that the old sweetheart will do the right thing.

But having dispensed with a few words of admiration for the decision-makers in these matters, I find my mind returning to my adversary. Allstate. The Good Hands People. Although this business should never be personal, I must say that Allstate is abhorrent. There are simply no two ways about it. I feel it would be in poor taste to relate all the inappropriate (not to mention knowingly false) utterances spoken by Allstate's representative outside the tribunal (she was wisely restrained from giving evidence by her learned counsel). It must be mentioned, however that the superiority and arrogance of these people is off the charts. It is only matched by their laziness - which is what invariably led to both of these matters being litigated and finally tried (twice, actually, in the second case).

Yesterday, despite having a fairly good go of it in the Courtroom, I was filled with rage. Today I am just amazed that Allstate can run it's business like that.

Phillies related - "Fog of Paranoia and Denial"

Here's what you need to do - READ BILL CONLIN. Read him today and every day you're lucky enough to see his coumn in the Philadelphia Daily News.

This team is a disgrace and it may be too late for this ownership to do anything about it. Someone needs to pull an Andy Reid on their asses - rewrite the book. Do something different. Stand up and take a chance.

I do not believe that the answer is boycott. I never have. Yes, it's true that the purchase of tickets lines the pockets of this wretched ownership and they will, therefore, never be encouraged to make a change.

Others say we should hope the team gets worse so that even this dimwitted, nearsighted, ownership will make a change. Well, I simply will not root against the Phillies. Period.

But I will yell and scream and tell everyone I know that this can not and should not go on. If we stop paying attention and stop going to the games - that breeds apathy. Apathy is as good as approval to this lot. They figure, "if no one's complaining too loudly, then everything must be going OK, right?" WRONG!

So please raise a voice in whatever way you know how. Read Conlin and help lift this fog of denial and paranoia.

Phillies - Let's Get Together, People

Will Bunch's Attytood blog is going to start live discussion during Phillies games. This is a GREAT idea. We should really seek strength and comfort in numbers. We'll be able to second guess in real time and (occasionally) celebrate the triumphant victories.

I'm not giving up on those Phils just yet!!

Other sites worth checking out (thanks, Will) are Citizen's Blog and Philliesnation - the later being home of the Steve Jeltz Award:

RAIN - Cerulean Blue

This record is TERRIFIC. I discovered it in at the 'official' Genesis discussion boards. People were asking about the music that Steve Hackett was featuring before his recent acoustic concerts. Well the artist himself (Rain, not Steve) chimed in and informed everyone of the details.

Just go to the link above, listen to the clips or even download the entire record on mp3. I'm planning to make the purchase, once I can get Pay-Pal figured out (don't ask).

Anyway, Cerulean Blue tells the story of a young man's journey across America. the music is intense and emotional. The narration between songs sets the mood perfectly, and the resolution is powerful and heartfelt. Yes, it's great prog, but it's also great music. CHECK IT OUT!

The old ball game

It is abeautiful night for baseball in the city of brotherly love. Really looking forward to ditching all the bulls&^$#t and enjoying a beautiful night at the park. Although he's not pitching tonight, Brett Myers has an 0.44 ERA. DAMN!

People of WHICH faith?

UGH! I am ill over Senators Frist and Santorum and their 'nuKular option.' As you probably know, the plan is to change the rules of the Senate to eliminate the filibuster - that is eliminate excess debate so that our Federal Courts can be packed with the 'right' kind of Judges. This plan had kinda lost momentum a few weeks ago, but now it's all but a sure thing. And to add insult to injury, the right wing noise machine is making this a battle over religion and faith. In other words, if you're against their plan, your part of the radical secularists waging a war on people of faith. But people of which faith?

Richard Cohen at the Washington Post does a much better job with this one than I ever could. Read his editorial here.

So, you know, it's not a crime to be a secular citizen (yet), it just means your rights don't matter as much as those of (the right) people of faith.

"Between a chiropracter and a tree surgeon"

On the advent of the activist/moralist pharmacist, here's Bill Maher, via DailyKos.

Philadelphia Daily News chimes in today also.

Lil Sadie - as promised

My lovely sister and her beuatiful Sadie.

Of course, the madness continues...

The RIAA may have backed off our friends at Easytree, but college students are apparently still public enemy #1.

When are these guys going to get a clue? With all the resources they've wasted trying to beat down college students, they could have banded together and been halfway to a new business model by now. Since when is creativity about imposing your will on somebody else? It's really kind of sad.

Everything I Said Below Is Still Valid...

BUT, it seems that Easytree is back as dimeadozen. They even kept old member accounts active. Now, it's worth noting here that the traders have a responsibility to keep the 'officially released' material off the boards. This is all about trading stuff that has never been (and probably will never be) released. The temporary shutdown of easytree apparently resulted when someone posted officially released Nirvanna material and no one said anything to get the torrent stopped. We've got to do better.

File Sharing - update

The biggest and best live-music BitTorrent tracker was shut down the other day because of pressure from record companies. Easytree.org was an amazing resource. Here's my rant from another message board:

Easytree was a massive bittorrent tracker that allowed sharing and trading of live musical performances. In almost every case, artist approval had been secured, and no $$ was ever exchanged. Now, thanks to a policy that is meant to stiffle creativity and subvert existing copyright laws, easytree is no more. It doesn't matter that proper enforcment of copyright law would permit the practrice of file sharing (copying is OK without commercial exploitation). The only thing that matters is that the most creative programmers are independant and are not in a position to defend against a well-funded aggressor - even if the aggressor is not on solid legal footing. As is too often the case, the party with more $$$ wins.

I mean here's the question:Is it the existence of bootleg concerts that causes record sales to be soft, or is it the fact that record industry charges at least $17.99US for new records and then produces rafts of crap? They're losing money becuase they don't know how to survive in this new environment - the digital age, whatever.

So what does the RIAA spend it's money on? Eradicating the exchange of concert bootlegs. My favorite band is Genesis and their management has explicitly sanctioned this type of sharing - THEY THINK ITS OK! The only rules are that you don't trade released material (no problem - got all that anyway) and you don't exchange any $$.

But let's look at someone who (I think) hasn't expressed an opinion on the disemination of bootlegs of his concerts - english picker John McLaughlin (showing may age a bit here). This guy appears with his band Mahavishnu in Germany 30 YEARS AGO for a concert that is aired on local TV. Decades later that concert is traded via Bittorrent. How is McLaughin being harmed?

The theories are that it dilutes the perception of the artist or kills any market for an official release of that material. This is pure bulls&^$t. A guy like McLaughlin should be thankful that easytree exists (er, existed) so that people remember why he became famous in the first place.

So the 'regulators' say that it's not the actual practice of trading (I can still make you a copy of something from my collection and send it off to you as a gift), but the technology is so dangerous to their commercial interests that ALL USES of that technology must be banned.

So, of course, the result will be that, without final clarification of the law, the RIAA and their friends (Don Henley? give me a break - not an Eagles fan), will continue to push around the little guy. Maybe one day they will realize that without innovation, people like Miles Davis would never have helped to make them so rich in the first place.

End of rant.

Uh-oh (Phillies Related)

Will Bunch of the DailyNews has a great blog called Attytood (see link at left) - it's mostly political with local emphasis, but giving good opnion coverage nationally and internationally.

Anyway, he's turned his attention to the 1-2 Phillies now and sees some possible trouble on the horizon, with only a mere 159 games left to play the season.

Getting Very Psyched for Bob

We'll be making our way up to the Beacon in NYC at the end of this month. Should be a VERY good show.

I've been helping to get myself into a frenzy with a few choice file shares from EZTree.org. This is a great BitTorrent for unreleased musical recordings. I know folks like Don Henley think file sharing will put him out of a job (like HE needs more money), but, as Brian Eno and others understand - you can't stem the tide of technology. Music must be available on a wider basis, and the internet gives the artist a great opporunity to interact with the audience. Besides, outlawing this technology will have a chilling effect on future innovations. Of course, to Don Henley, who hasn't really done anything compelling in the last 20 years, the end of innovation is not really a problem.

Bob, on the other hand, is still writing and still kickin ass.

A Political Moment - US Senate

Congress has lately shown itself to be a foolish vaudeville act that shuns its responsibility in favor of the politicking and hogging the spotlight. You would certainly be justified in the belief that it is a waste of space to devote any lines to such abject silliness.

Despite this spate of bad behavior, I do believe could can come of it, especially in the Senate, especially if the majority shifts. There's a lot of talk around here about Santorum/Casey, and that is a contest fraught with problems. But my current concern is with our sister-state New Jersey. Corzine is committed to his run for governor and I believe he can do a lot of good for NJ, should he be elected.

A Corzine successor is almost given to be a Democrat considering the political leanings of NJ, but this is a perfect opportunity to find someone who embodies fearless reform, instead of just another number to help us get the majority.

So who should that be?

Lil Sadie is coming to town. We're all about to jump out of our chairs with excitement. Look forward to LOTS more photos...

Mail Art for Dylan's 64th Birthday

So is this one of those things where everyone already knows about it and I'm the last one to know? Probably. I'm not very cutting edge.

Anyway, mailart is art that gets sent through the post. I'm just discovering this, but it seems, basically, that simple. Kind of refreshing compared to your current, digitized lifestyle. So to celebrate Dylan's 64th birthday (May 24, 2005) Ed Giecek is hosting a mailart exhibition. The results are posted HERE and they're VERY COOL. Don't forget to look in the archive, seems he's been taking submission since December.

A few of my early favorites are Invisible Now, One More Cup from Sylvia, How Does It Feel?, and Passport Brown Envelope. I really need to digest more of these. There's so much great stuff here.

IN WHAT LANGUAGE - intense

On Saturday, Em & I picked up a six-pack of avant-garde culture at the Painted Bride. 'In What Language' takes you inside the post 9/11 international airport, as experienced by several people of color. It is 17 pieces told through music, movement, poetry, and digital film. You can download an excerpt of what this stew ends up looking like here, although the best bet is to see it in person.

Musically, the show is a pure powerhouse. All the instrumentalists have gobs of ability and everybody gets at least one solo to strut their stuff. It is essentially a jazz score with shadings of Keith Jarrett and early electric Miles, all the way out to modern hip-hop, making stops at more orchestrated jazz and classical motifs along the way. I thought the drummer should have let things get a little crazier - that would have really shot the adrenalized solos with that extra helping of ecstasy, but maybe he held back so as not to give too much joy to these proceedings. Make no mistake, this show is dark.

Which brings me to the criticism made by Emily and friends we were lucky enough to meet unexpectedly at the show (actually, John and Karen really hooked us up with the VIP treatment, since they are Bride members - THANKS GUYS). The poetry that went with the music was hard to hear. Whether it was rap, spoken word or even the rare sung vocal, the instruments really overpowered the voices. Now, I tend to listen to more instrumental music, so I didn't really notice as much, and I don't think it really took away from the central themes of isolation, persecution and suspicion, that were otherwise very much in evidence.

The authors did provide a full print out off all the words that accompanied the performance, but I have to say that outside the context of the music and images, I wasn't as inclined to probe the poetry. It seemed to me much more in its place getting blasted by the musical pieces that would take off and land at times with all the violence of a 747. And maybe that's how it was supposed to work. These voices, many of them fragile and some very strong, are all being overtaken by John Ashcroft and the paranoia and discrimination that has become somehow acceptable post 9/11. I found the vocal present enough to convey the impression, but, as with all great performances, we are left wanting more.

Here is a link to the Vijay Iyer, who is the composer. And here is where to purchase the album of the performance.

Tewnty Paces - MAKE SURE YOU BUY IT on Tues 3/22

You will not be disappointed. Now, just in case anyone forgot:

That's DAREDIABLO

In What Language - at the Painted Bride

Em found us a little culture to enjoy over the weekend. We'll tell you how this was after Saturday night.

Sun Destroyers - we keep rocking

Practice Wednesday night was another nice one. Some of this stuff is getting perilously tight. Maybe an open-mic on Monday. More details when we know where. Here's a link to Barbarian Apeman over at MPomy HQ.

Get Katz - by Dorothy P.

Dorothy's done it again. A great story about patent squatting. This guy is amazing, I'd love to see a picture of him. He's all like, "they say I didn't invent this fabulously valuable telecommunications software, but they can't prove it. He he he..." Sounds like a real pillar of the community. Can't wait til the other shoe falls.

Next up - TiVo and Comcast. Will it be two great tastes creating a couch potato revolution? Or just business as usual?

Working on an update for C&M site

Do you like the Currie & McLafferty site? (just compare it Mpomy HQ - which is what C&M could ended up with - yipes!) If you do and need some high quality Web work, get in touch with Jenine Lurie. She did a great job on the initial architecture - starting from nothing. Now we're working on a few changes and updates. I'll let you know when they're done.

No Foolin' This Time - ANYONE Can Post a Comment

I didn't realize that my attempt to make this change last week just didn't take. Sorry about that.

So go ahead, post a comment - it don't cost nothin'.

Love and Noise

Here's a nice article from today's NYTimes about, among other things, amateur rocking out at a slightly advanced age - as told by the wife. I wonder if Emily can relate?

MPomy HQ - Up and Running

You get stuck with things, some good, some bad, and some indifferent. Some time, long ago, I got stuck with mpomy - this is, like, back at the dawn of email. I don't love it, I don't hate it - I'm just stuck with it. I've tried to maintain some consistency over the years and now I'm going public.

No, no, no - you WON'T be able to buy shares in my oversized collection of guitars, basses, pedals, and amps. Although, that's maybe not a bad idea....

No, I've just decided to take advantage of the measly 25MB that Comcast is offering with our email accounts. Thanks to FrontPage, I am officially a webmaster.

MPomy HQ is by no means a luxurious place, but it will do nicely to host a few recent mp3's, pictures of niece, nephew and baby cat. I'll try to do more with it as I learn more. Hey, maybe one day I'll even get more than a lousy 25MB - we'll see. Permanent link is on the side under "Homes Away From Home"

Now Featuring My Fabulously Talented Sister

Dorothy is a GREAT writer, in fact, a professional (that's so cool). I'm very lucky to be surrounded by these women who write really well. I've made a separate section for some of Dorothy's material - some old and new. I'll be updating that regularly. Check it out!!

El Fairorth - Rock & Roll Extraordinaire

Emily & I had big cousin El over last night for pizza, talkin' baseball and some singin' and strummin'. El was my guitar teacher when I was a wee lad and I owe him a debt of grattitude that simply can not be put in words (but perhaps music?)

Anyway, we managed to rock out for a good little while and I even got to sing a few. Em was in fine form; I think she even surprised herself. El was, of course, fantastic. He knows SO many songs and plays so well. It was a great time.

El - thanks for the Beatles, U2 and Bruce. We'll do it again soon.

Sun Destroyers - Nice Practice

This band consists of Gabe Horowitz on guitar, vocal, songwriting, arranging, conducting and Yuengling. Joe plays drums and he's getting tighter all the time. I swear I'm gonna put a pitcure of that bass up here.

So, you know, we don't have any fancy pitcures, records, CDs, or gigs, but we're having fun and making noise and it's all good. Gabe's pretty serious about all this and he's motivated. So I imagine something will happen - open mic night, cheesy gig, something.

Kos et al love Battlestar Galactica

It's just one big sci-fri love fest over at DailyKos. It's nice to know I'm not totally alone in my love for the new Battlestar. Yeah, I know it got renewed for a second season, but as a wise man once told me, it don't take much to get renewed for a second season on the Sci-Fi channel.

Adding a new practice area

This has been in the workd for a little while. It's not developed enough yet for the Currie & McLafferty webpage, but I thought I'd mention it here.

Thanks to Tony Brady over in Jersey, I'm going to start working on ADA cases. We'll start with some Jersey stuff a week from Friday (Motion for Fees), and hopefully start handling these cases start to finish by the Summer (?)

Here's more info about the ADA.

Now Em's Doing It!

Beck-a-Rants is supposedly up and running. I'll post the link as soon as I have it. This is too much fun.

UPDATE: Here'e the link to Beck-a-Rants. I mistakenly used my last name for the last part of the URL (Rantz instead of Rants). Totally my fault.

Finn Brothers

Emily's reminiscences of our Harrisburg experience are garnering lots of enthusiastic responses. So why am I the one with the blog??

Phillylaw - Currie & McLafferty

The new Currie & Mclafferty website is up and running. Its all about us and our practice. Still under construction in a few places, and not showing up on any search engines (arrgh!), but we're getting there.

I've been using the new website as a launchpad for tort-deform issues and articles. Obviously, there'll be more on that here as we go forward.

I'll leave the other political stuff to the experts.

Speaking of Music

Sun Destroyers are practicing tonight. Thanks to Dave Wolk for the lovely Cort bass. I think it still has the strings it had on it when he first bought the thing. As a matter of fact, I know it does. Sun Destroyers will not destroy you like Daediablo (yet), but it rocks all the same. More on that later.

TWENTY PACES Will Destroy You

Darediablo is getting ready to go out on the road. Here's what you need to do:

1. GET UNIFIED - read about the new release
2. Get the new record here when it comes out on March 22
3. Go see these boys when they come to your town. You will not be disappointed

I've got some old pictures of the last time they were in Philly - I'll post those here shortly.

Late To the Game

I have absolutely no shame whatsoever. I leave it to others to lead. I'll simply be happy to get on board and attempt to do some good - or conversely to do good at something.