Curiouser and Curiouser

As if I hadn’t had enough surreality this week after yesterday’s fearsome link discovery, I found another link delving deeply into the murk of yet another weird world I never knew existed. It started, as these things always do, with an innocent search. Like Alice, I followed a peculiar creature down a very dark hole into another plane of existence. It all began with a Google image search on “remoras.” Fascinated by the apparent irrelevance of the #1 return, I had to click on it. It led me here.

Visiting that site I feel like the speaker in Colerdige’s “Kubla Khan.” Beware.

Confluence

Next Tuesday brings new releases by two of my most favorite musicians: Tori Amos and Steve Vai. So much for trying to save money. But I should be able to increase my budget, as I will be getting a roommate soon: Matt Ellinger. Most of y’all know Matt as ex-roommate Holly’s ex-boyfriend, and my occasional partner in duo restuarant gigs. So another musician roommate. This will help save much bank, and expedite the remodeling of the garage into a rehearsal space. And most importantly this will allow me to spend my tax refund on…DRUMS.

Karl Rove is Satan’s Concubine

This is from a Sidney Blumenthal article at Salon.com a couple months back:

According to two eyewitnesses, Rove had shown keen interest in everything he saw, and asked questions, including about costs, obviously thinking about a future Bush library and legacy. “You’re not such a scary guy,” joked his tour guide. “Yes, I am,” Rove replied. Walking away, he muttered deliberately and loudly, “I change Constitutions, I put churches in schools …” Thus he identified himself as more than the ruthless campaign tactician — as the invisible hand of power, pervasive and expansive, designing to alter the fundamental American compact.

This sounds way too…perfect…to be true. It’s the kind of thing I always figured about Rove, yet I can’t imagine he would be so brazen to say these things in public. Must not the Dark Side always remain hidden? It must be getting easier for the Dark Side to walk in the light of day. Certainly Jeff Gannon made it into the White House press corps without much dispute. Fortunately he’s crawled back under his particular rock.

My Radio Was Gone

FM 101.1 The River is no more. KDRE is now some anonymous bland modern rock station. The saddest part about radio is the impersonal departures. You never know when you’re going to wake up one morning and find your favorite station has switched formats. FM 101 was oldies/easy listening, but at least the songs were varied and interesting.

Colter the former shred guitarist now stands with all the old fogies in perplexed disgust at the loss of a great old station taken over by dumb rock, which is more a comment on my disdain for the whiney glossy crap that passes for rock and roll today, than about my age or fondness for oldies.

I Bought a House

I had been keeping this hush-hush for a couple weeks, lest I jinx the thing. But now it’s officially mine. Here are the stats:

Hillcrest, just north of War Memorial
950 sq. ft.
2 bedroom, 1 bath
Living room/dining room/kitchen
Detached garage
New kitchen with fridge, microwave and washer/dryer
Gas range and stove (yay!)
Hardwood floors, new tile in bathroom
Good size backyard

If anyone wants to lend a hand moving, I’ll need help this weekend, so let me know.

Area Satire Website Nails It Again

The “What Do You Think?” section of The Onion is always a dependable source for incisive commentary. Today’s best example comes from the middle-aged lady, this week known as Joy Mattingly, Designer. She had this to say about Condoleezza Rice’s confirmation as Secretary of State:

“Twenty years ago, I never would’ve believed that we’d have a black, female Secretary of State, much less one who was a conservative warmonger, too. We’ve come a long way.”

In other news, happy 50th birthday to Eddie Van Halen. Ed, I can’t say enough great things about your abilities as an innovative player and composer. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then you’re the most flattered guitarist in the world. I do wish you’d quit smoking and drinking, though; if you’re lucky you’ll live to look like Keith Richards, and who wants that?

Eddie Van

A Thousand Words Worth of Pictures

New sprawling, expansive plog today. I thought about dividing it in two, but that’s just more work than I need right now. I’ll likely have even more pics coming next week. I’m not going to tell you of what. But I will say that it’s something very big, both physically and financially.

Special note to Google: Nancy Nolan is an Arkansas photographer. She rules. Put her in your cache already. I’m tired of waiting.