Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now

Hopper, Brando and Sheen in the creepy cave.

Facebook Caves In To Pakistan

Are you offended by this picture?

The Prophet Muhammed, in the picture above, looks like a man stoned on God. What's wrong with that? I don't mean what is wrong with that in someone else's book, I mean in yours. That's what has gotten me riled about this.

I feel it would have been better for Facebook to stick to their guns and not acquiesce to Islamist horror over the depiction of the Prophet Mohammed, even favorably. Or even Islamic horror. I have changed my opinion on this, for I formerly felt that non-Muslims should respect the sentiments of Muslims--that is, not provoke them. But when I reflect that someone in the privacy of their own home cannot post whatever they want because someone else finds it offensive, well, I find intimidation offensive. And I am really appalled that Facebook apologized to Pakistan, a country that has, in my opinion, plenty of apologizing of its own to do. Sorry if this offends anyone, but this is where I stand.

Read the article.

Something

Krishna Das - Kali Durge

Shakti De Ma

This is a very popular bhajan, or devotional song, to the Divine Mother. The Divine Mother has almost vanished from the Western World, but in India she is still very strong.

Jack vs. Locke Lost Climax, Jedi-Style

This would have been a cool way to do it.

Lost Re-Watch--The Opening of Season 3

This is one of my favorite sequences from Lost. The beginning of Season 3. The sequence here is quite staggering. We see that before Jack and the Oceanic castaways ever showed up, Ben, Juliette and The Others were on the island. Read between the lines a bit and you see that Desmond was there too--off screen--going through his fight with Kelvin that resulted in enough electromagnetic force being released when Desmond showed up late to push the button that Oceanic 815 was ripped open in midair.

She & Him--Change

Here's another clip from Elvis Costello's Spectacle show.

Jenny And Johnny

One picture is worth 1,000 words

That's right, folks, Jenny Lewis and boyfriend Jonathan Rice are cooking up an album together. Can't wait to hear it. And Rilo Kiley is putting together an album of B sides and rarities. Yummy!

Jenny Lewis--Carpetbaggers

With Elvis Costello on David Letterman. Jenny's next project is a collaboration with Jonathan Rice called "Jenny and Johnny", and sources say it will be out in August. Rice wrote this song, so perhaps this sound is the direction they're heading in.

Dennis Hopper, American Artist

Dennis Hopper has gone to the other side. He was 74.

Oaksterdam University

Oaksterdam University, with its main campus in Oakland, California, is the first education facility for the study of marijuana in the U.S. Here's some music you can listen to while perusing their website.

California Marijuana Workers Unionize

The labor movement in the United States is alive and healthy. Watch the video.

Regina Spektor--Fidelity

Head over to TwentyFourBit to watch Regina Spektor's performance at the White House, after you stay here to watch her do an awesome rendition of "Fidelity".

Jenny Lewis--Pretty Bird

From Elvis Costello's Spectacle program.

Donald Glover--Vampires Have Got to Go

As a full-fledged comedy nerd, I often get excited about some great new talent, dubbing them "America's next great comedian". Well, sometimes they are and usually they're not. This guy has got a shot. His resume already includes writing for 30 Rock, acting on one of the best new shows on TV; Community, and working with the sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy.

Mr. Donald Glover:

Jokes.com
Donald Glover - Talk About Penises
comedians.comedycentral.com
Futurama New Episodes Ugly Americans Funny TV Comedy Blog

Jenny Lewis on Spectacle

Elvis Costello interviews Jenny Lewis, M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel.

Beatles LP Countdown - Helter Skelter

Rilo Kiley - Silver Lining

I just went to post this, and saw that the Station Agent had already posted some Jenny Lewis. I guess great minds really do think alike.

Jenny Lewis--Happy

Real nice clip from a 2006 performance by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins from a festival held in Scotland called T in the Park.

In Another Life, Bruthah

In another life, ABC is all set to run this show starting in the Fall (via Calvin's Canadian Cave of Coolness).

Just not in this life, sadly.

Kimya Dawson--Check Your Snob at The Door

Yesterday Kimya posted a clip for a new song called "Check Your Snob at The Door," with this message:

I get a lot of messages from people who feel the need to emphasize that they liked me "before Juno". I get a lot of people insulting the fans who only heard of me from Juno. And I get a surprisingly large amount of people asking me if it annoys me that there are all these new "fake fans" because of Juno. I decided to respond to this issue, as I respond to most issues, in musical form. Here's the live debut of "Check Your Snob at The Door" by my soft-rap persona Rerun Rainbowmagnets Steinway...

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Today is the Appearance Day of Lord Narasingha, the Hindu deity.

Quicksilver - Don't Cry My Lady Love

More fine piano work by the late Nicky Hopkins. 1971.

Introduction to The Wheel of Time

This is the intro from the 1999 computer game version of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time saga. The announcer, who has a magnificent voice, lays out an overview of the sprawling back-story as it stands at the start of Jordan's saga.

Shiva And Manitou

In some ways, Hinduism and Native American religions have much in common.

I Don't Know How To Love Him

From the 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar, sung by Yvonne Elliman. Just beautiful.

Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart In San Francisco

I'm still on the San Francisco kick.

Scott McKenzie - San Francisco

When the Station Agent posts the song "Alameda" by Elliot Smith, I always feel inspired to post a picture of The City, as they call it in Northern California, from Alameda.

I long for The City.

Elliott Smith--Alameda

Nobody broke your heart;
you broke your own,
'cause you can't finish what you start

Gaurangi - Shyam

Profound.

Prayers To The Six Gosvamis

It's esoteric. Either you know what this is, or you don't. But try it, you might like it. You probably won't know why, if you do, but that hardly matters.

Thao Nguyen--Body

Thao Nguyen performs solo at 826LA's Chickens in Love Benefit Concert.

Quicksilver - Hope

Quicksilver was over the top with self-righteousness, but they did it so well! I love this song...

What do you think, Station Agent?

Balthrop, Alabama--You Used to Love Me So

NPR's song of the day comes from these guys. It's a track called "Subway Horns" and it's about suicidal musicians, particularly Elliott Smith.

This is another one of their songs, "You Used to Love Me So."

Rilo Kiley--With Arms Outstretched

This was the first Rilo Kiley song I ever heard, back in 2004, courtesy of Largehearted Boy.

And Now... The arthroPod

I found this image rummaging through my Photobucket account. It's an arthroPod. Get it? A bug that plays MP3. I thought this could be a big seller. Still do. This was an idea Stacy and I came up with a few years ago. She designed it. I still think it rules.

Tegan and Sara--I Know I Know I Know

Tell them this love hasn't changed me, hasn't changed me at all
Last night I was writing about you
I know my screaming and shouting won't keep you
I know I know I know, you're still my love

Rilo Kiley--I Love LA

Amazing the songs people will leave off of albums.

All You Need Is Love

This is a good way to start your day.

The Making of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's The Gathering Storm

Brandon Sanderson, Harriet McDougal and some of the people working behind the scenes to continue Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time Series discuss the process. Let this clip will continue for two more segments on WOT.

She Loves You

"She Loves You" was written by McCartney in a hotel room in 1963. But of course, it was attributed to Lennon/McCartney.

Rolling Stones - Gomper

The Stones butcher their Indian instruments throughout this album, but so what? They never claimed they knew what they were doing. Being innovative is messy, and I can live with that.

Tool--Schism

The most devastating band on the planet is rolling out in June. No word yet on their next album, but rumors abound.

Frightened Rabbit--Swim Until You Can't See Land

"She’s there on the shoreline...
Throwing stones at my back"

Creative Sreenwriting Magazine Podcast Goes Inside ABC's Lost's Creative Process

Ever wonder how they write Lost? It seems like an incredibly complex process that requires as much accounting as it does inspiration.

Creative Sceenwriting Magazine's Jeff Goldsmith interviews Lost writer-producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz about the show's writing process.

The podcast was recorded after the 4th season, so as long as your caught up through Season 4, this is spoiler free.

James McMurtry--We Can't Make It Here

One of the great anti-war songs of the last decade.

Beatles LP Countdown - Sexy Sadie

When the Beatles went to Hrishikesh, India, John Lennon believed a rumor that the guru Maharishi had made advances to a young woman at his ashrama. Whether or not this was true, Lennon--always looking for "the answer"--left India in disgust, and wrote this song. Sadie is Maharishi.

Doesn't seem very sexy to me.

Tim Tebow Is Now A Denver Bronco

Tim Tebow suits up for the Denver Broncos. Read the article.

The Tallest Man on Earth--Tunnel Vision

On tour now.

Writers on the Inside

In this edition (MP3) of C-SPAN's After Words, Piper Kerman, an upper-middle class Smith College alum who went to prison for a year over a decade after being involved in drug trafficking, spoke to author Ted Conover about her time in prison and her recent book about the experience, Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison.

Conover is an ideal match as interviewer because he too spent a year in the prison system as a writer who goes undercover as a CO at New York's Sing Sing prison, resulting in Conover's 2000 classic Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing.

Would The Republicans Oppose This Man For A SCOTUS Appointment?

I wonder how the party of no will play their hand in the impending SCOTUS appointment. Senator Leahy thinks they will make fools of themselves.

Read the article.

Sheryl Crow

The Police--Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

I'm watching their reunion performance in Hyde Park and four things come to mind:

1) These guys were just diabolically good.
2) This is one wicked pop song.
3) Lists are awesome.
4) Have these guys heard what NWA says about them?

Marijuana Mother's Day

Safer than alcohol? Moms For Marijuana say it is. That's their first point--the world would be a better place if people took more ganja and less alcohol. If you do not agree with this it must be because you have not studied the issue, or you have an unreasonable cultural prejudice that is blinding you to the truth. Would you really rather share the road with drunkards instead of stoners? I think not.

The Walrus Speaks never recommends the use of any mind altering substance, but we just have to speak out against the legal suppression of something that could help today's world.

Read the article.

Happy Mother's Day.

Amy MacDonald--Dancing In The Dark

Booming version of the Boss's standard.

Pearl Jam--Alive

What a song. From Jools Holland's program.

Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care

Tom Petty always reminds me of the Traveling Wilburys, and my favorite song of theirs is "Handle With Care."

Tom Petty - Runnin' Down A Dream

...going wherever it leads...

Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins --Acid Tongue (London 2006)

KTWS Talent Contest - Acid Tongue

My question for the Station Agent is, which one of these contestants should move on to the next round of the never ending Walrus Talent Contest?

That's KTWS Radio--www.thewalrusspeaks.blogspot.com on your cyber radio dial.

Would You Vote For Joe The Plumber?

Seriously, friends, is this the face of modern American conservatism? Joe the Plumber? The dude won some sort of minor election in Ohio. Here's an excerpt from AP.

TOLEDO, Ohio

He drew cheers at a tea party rally last month in Cincinnati when he told the crowd not to let "a bunch of liberal pansies" take away their rights.

"Illegal immigration?" he said. "Put a fence up and start shooting."

Wurzelbacher has never been shy about sharing his views even if they open him up to critics.

He told Christianity Today in an interview last year that he believes gays are "queer" and said he won't allow them near his children.

Read the article.

The Boondocks

Fuseman, I can't tell if The Boondocks is left, right, or just comedy. Have you seen this?

Beatles LP Countdown - Mother Nature's Son

It's from the Anthology.

George Will, Defender of Birds Everywhere

George Will actually makes the argument that offshore wind farms will kill more birds than the Gulf Oil Spill (h/t Monkey Muck). You know, even if that is true, fuck him for reducing the energy debate to birdstrike.

By the way something, George Will might be interested in the fact that in the wake of Sulley's heroic ditch in the Hudson, airports have developed technology to avert birdstrike and that technology seems like it would be adaptable to wind farms.

Speaking of birdstrike, here's Eddie Izzard's classic 1996 bit on the subject:

Serena Ryder - All For Love

She plays a half-size guitar, and stands about as tall as your average sixth grader. But she has a big voice and sings with heart. Ryder has also composed some fine melody.

Kent State 40 Years Ago Today

I remember the day like it was tomorrow. That's the scary part.

Incubus--Deep Inside

Incubus's 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. holds up well over ten years later.

Rulers That Prey On Journalists

Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China

PARIS (AFP) – Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders named Monday the world's 40 worst "predators of the press" including politicians, religious leaders and militias to mark World Press Freedom Day.

It's not just dictators of banana republics doing this, it's also happening in China. So watch out.

Read the article.

Gilmore Girls--The Deviled Egging

The series may have ran a bit too long, seven seasons, and there were too many frustrating turns along the way, but I love this show. Lauren Graham is one of the great actresses of all time. The rest of the cast ranges from strong to brilliant and the show maintained a very high level of writing until the series creator was unceremoniously yanked from the show.

In this scene, a convenient supply of deviled eggs comes in handy when a revolutionary act is called for.

Good Will Hunting--I'm Holding Out for Something Better

Will Hunting (Matt Damon) explains why he doesn't view the NSA as a viable option for employment.

Bob Dylan - Love Minus Zero/No Limit

Classic.