Next Time, Reaper, Next Time

This video was emailed to me a while back by my friend Russ. It's a pretty great compilation of people managing, mostly by pure luck, to avoid their doom.



And for the heck of it, here's Rilo Kiley with "Accidental Deth"

The Hindu Goddess Kali

Kali is the destructive goddess. She destroys everything in time, including our illusions and negative qualities. So merciful.

I Am A Hindu Now: A Former Muslim's Life Story

The following was sent to me by a friend. The author might assert that there

is no difference between Islamic and Islamist, and while we know that this is

not true, I could understand, based on her experience, why she might feel

that way. It is also possible that the story was fabricated, but my male

intuition tells me to trust it.

I would not be surprised to hear from the Station Agent about this post.

I was born into a very staunch Muslim family in the US. Learning to read
the Quran the moment I could read. I was under the misconception that if
I did not do as Allah told me to do, I would be punished severely. I was
also told that if I didn't wear modest clothes I was being immoral.
Right from a little girl I wore the head scarf. My friends would ask me
why, and I would tell them "because God said so'.

Around the age of 14, I realized how much of life I was missing out on.
How my father commanded that I do my prayers 5 times a day and never
play any sports because they would only lead me to the devil. One night
I was talking to my parents about college and my father said that I
would never go to college because he had chosen a boy for me and I was
about to get married to him as soon as I turned 18. I was shocked...my
mother ran out of the room crying. I began to plead with my father to
let me go to college. But he said no. When I asked him why, he told me
that Muslim women are not supposed to be educated or go to work. They
are supposed to be good wives, who never disagree with their husbands
and be good honorable women. I couldn't believe my ears. This man was
still living in the dark-ages.

The next day after school I went to the mosque to talk with our Maulvi
Sahab. When I told him about my father's irrational behavior, he agreed
with him. He told me that if all the Muslim men in our community thought
like your father, we would be in a really good place right now.

I was stuck and didn't know what to do. I kept thinking about it till
late that night. At around 2 am my mom came to check up on me and found
me crying. That night I came to know what a sick religion Islam was. She
told me that she had been a well educated doctor, a Hindu woman who had
fallen in love with my father in India. During their courtship my father
had told her that he was very broad-minded and did not want her to
convert when they got married. Against my grandparent' s wishes she
married him and did the Nikaah just so her mother-in-law would like her.
That's where her nightmare began. Her In-laws would not let her go out
of the house. No one could come and visit her. She was confined in a
home where everyone would spit on her for being a 'Kafir'. They made her
read the Quran and do Namaz. If she didn't they would beat her. My
father would come home and force himself on her. When she would ask him
not to, he would tell her that it was written in the Quran, and she was
nothing more than a slave to him. After about a year of their marriage,
they left for the US. My mom was already pregnant with me.

When I was born he was not too happy with my Mom. He said that if he had
married someone of his own faith he would have had a boy for sure.
Giving him a girl was the way Allah was punishing him for marrying a
Hindu.

When I heard all this I began to hate my father and Islam. I promised to
get my mom out of this situation and also never ever end up like her.
When I turned 18, along with the help of a lawyer, I managed to get my
mom and dad divorced. My mom actually went back to school and has a
flourishing practice now.

As for me, you might say that I reverted. I am a practising and loving
Hindu now. I have changed my name (new name is not given with the fear
of punishment of death for apostasy). I live a life full of love and
adoration for a God who does not preach hate, who encourages me to think
and gain knowledge, who shows me the way without fear and who loves
everyone no matter who they are.

I got married to a Hindu guy and have one beautiful daughter.

NAACP Backs California Pot Legalization

Really, it is about time. Read the article.

The Blow--Parenthesis

If something in the deli aisle makes you cry
you know I’ll put my arm around you
and I’ll walk you outside,
through the sliding doors,
why would I mind?

Florence and the Machine--Heavy in your arms/The Chain

Florence and company play a new song, then cover Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" at Glastonbury 2010.

Jimi Hendrix - Like A Rolling Stone

Covering Bob Dylan, of course.

Book Review--David Derrico's The Twiller

I'm proud to recommend my friend David Derrico's new novel, The Twiller. My Amazon review for the book is here. I love this book and have very high hopes that it will do well. If you would rather hear a review from someone who is not good friends with the author, check out I Love My Kindle blogger bufocalvin's extensive review.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The name of the theme song is "Frolic." It's ridiculous music for a ridiculous show. It's great.

Anna

Good morning, Beatles people. It is now 82 Beatle degrees outside our KTWS studio, located in America's Deep South, broadcasting 24/7/365. We should get up to about 95 Beatle degrees today, with a strong possibility of thundershowers.

"Anna" showcases Lennon's great voice particularly well.

1963.

Hello Goodbye

Possibly one of the greatest of the early music videos, which was, more or less, invented by the Beatles.

Beatles LP Countdown - Honey Pie

This is the sort of music from McCartney that Lennon despised. Or at least, that is what Lennon claimed.

Growing up in the 1940's, the Beatles were familiar with their parents' music from the 1920's, just as, growing up in the 1960's, I listened to my father's music of the 1940's. My children listen to and love the Beatles.

Thank God.

Yellow Submarine

"Once upon a time, or maybe twice..."

Just sit back and let the evening go. The entire film is posted for your viewing pleasure by The Walrus Speaks.

Ben Folds--Say Yes

Ben Folds played this great Elliott Smith song for the AV Club's cover series.


Ben Folds covers Elliott Smith

Let It Be In Nine Parts

Just let it roll--let it be--and all nine parts will play. You don't have to do anything but feel a bit sad to see the Beatles disintegrating. It kills me the way Paul is directing everything and the other three--even John--are more or less passive. Since they were passive it is hard for me to "blame" Paul, but many have.

I don't see the point in that.

Devo--Fresh

80's wierdo band Devo crawled out of a time machine and did a guest spot promoting their new album on the Colbert Report. They sound better than ever.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Devo - Fresh
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

Gaslight Anthem--State of Love and Trust

I liked Gaslight Anthem quite a bit when I heard their first album. Then I saw that one of their signature covers was Pearl Jam's "State of Love and Trust", which is one of the finest songs recorded in the early 1990s grunge-boom. The song was among the first the band recorded with drummer Dave Abbruzzese, who's stellar drumming elevated the band from great to insanely great.

Needless to say, I gasped and said, "You guys can't be serious." And while their version pales into insignificance compared to the original, it is a bold choice, and they managed to play the song quite well the other night at the recording of Jimmy Kimmel's program.

Johnny Cash - What Is Truth?

Totally classic.

A real classic.

Drug Test Congress First

Orrin Hatch wants to drug test the unemployed. To his credit he would not object to drug testing Congress. If this bullshit goes through, we have got to hold him to that at least, then watch as the dominoes fall. I have no doubt that at least as much of Congress that found their way to the DC Madam have found their way to the Beltway Connection.

Here's Marc Maron on the concept of drug testing in general:

Jokes.com
Marc Maron - Drug Testing
comedians.comedycentral.com
Futurama New Episodes Ugly Americans Funny TV Comedy Blog

Johnny Cash - Born To Lose

Jerry Lee Lewis' version is silly compared to this. When Johnny Cash sings "Born To Lose," it's serious business.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals--Tiny Light

Very excited to familiarize myself with the work of this fine band.

Tiny Light from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on Vimeo.

The Summer Solstice

Today is the first day of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. To celebrate the longest day of the year, we give you the Moody Blues.

Moody Blues - Melancholy Man

Rilo Kiley - Breaking Up

Live at the BBC, and acoustic. Station Agent, have you heard this?

Grace Potter--If I Was From Paris

This absolute gem of a song come courtesy of none other than Meghan McCain's twitter feed.

Rilo Kiley - Paint's Peeling

For Rilo Kiley people only.

Jenny Lewis--You Are What You Love

I believe this is the show at which Jenny debuted this song in 2004.

Karen Elson--The Ghost Who Walks

Model/Singer/songwriter Karen Elson recently released her debut album. This is the first song of hers I've heard and it's quite good. The dark, gothic tone and haunting organ parts give this song an acid seventies feel.

Brooklyn Vegan tells you where you can find Karen Elson tonight and the rest of the weekend.

The Dead Weather--Blue Blood Blues

Jack White and the kids in The Dead Weather played Bonaroo 2010 (via C&L). Like many others, NPR has the whole set.

Joan Baez - Blowing In The Wind

Now this is angel. 1963 or so.

Donovan - Atlantis

Moody Blues - Are You Sitting Comfortably

From their incredible 1969 album, On The Threshold Of A Dream.

John Lennon - Love

Jenny Lewis--Silver Lining

Jenny Lewis, who is now active on Twitter, covers her band Rilo Kiley at Coachella 2009.

John Lennon - Cold Turkey

This is the original video.

The Band - The Weight

From Wikipedia:

According to songwriter Robertson, "The Weight" was inspired by the films of Luis Buñuel, about which Robertson once said:

(Buñuel) did so many films on the impossibility of sainthood. People trying to be good in Viridiana and Nazarin, people trying to do their thing. In ‘The Weight’ it’s the same thing. People like Buñuel would make films that had these religious connotations to them but it wasn’t necessarily a religious meaning. In Buñuel there were these people trying to be good and it’s impossible to be good. In "The Weight" it was this very simple thing. Someone says, "Listen, would you do me this favour? When you get there will you say 'hello' to somebody or will you give somebody this or will you pick up one of these for me? Oh? You’re going to Nazareth, that’s where the Martin guitar factory is. Do me a favour when you’re there." This is what it’s all about. So the guy goes and one thing leads to another and it’s like "Holy Shit, what’s this turned into? I’ve only come here to say 'hello' for somebody and I’ve got myself in this incredible predicament." It was very Buñuelish to me at the time.

1968.

Regina Spektor--Machine

From Bonnaroo 2010. NPR has the entire set here.

Rilo Kiley - A Better Son/Daughter

Sometimes in the morning I am petrified, and can't move--awake, but cannot open my eyes...

John Lennon - Nobody Told Me

This was a posthumous hit for Lennon.

Norah Jones--Strangers

Jones performs this fine Kinks song at Bonnaroo 2010 (via You Ain't No Picasso).

NPR has audio of her entire set here.

Songs To Aging Children

Unfortunately I do not know the artist covering this great song. It's originally by Joni Mitchell on her 1969 album, Clouds. Below it is featured in the funeral scene in Alice's Restaurant, performed by Tigger Outlaw.

Rolling Stones - Paint It Black

1966.

Station Agent's June 2010 Mix

Trying out this site.

Joss Stone - Free Me

A white girl from England proves that soul has nothing to do with race. A voice like hers deserves new, fresh material to keep Motown alive, but unfortunately she is not likely to get it. Still, what a singer. Aretha Franklin can not sing better.

Beatles Countdown - Hey Jude

"Hey Jude" did not appear on the White Album, where everyone thought it should be. Instead, it came out on a miscellaneous LP, which was frustrating. Anyway, it was the Beatles' biggest single, and spent a long time in the #1 position.

I did not own it, because I did not buy singles. Buying albums was a much better deal. I listened to "Hey Jude"on the radio in my father's car, where I retreated every day after school. Just me and Wolfman Jack, broadcasting from somewhere in Mexico. That freak had such a strong signal you could hear it for thousands of miles.

Those were the great days of AM radio. For awhile FM defeated AM, but it went corporate and now it is complete garbage, of course.

Wolfman Jack and "Hey Jude". What a combination.

1968.

Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow

When Sarah Palin asks, "How's all that hopey changey stuff workin out for ya?" my reply is GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY, dim wit!

It is really embarrassing that our country has so many people who admire Palin and her ilk. It's mortifying, really. But they are being opposed, yes they are.

Goldfinger - Free Me

It is a beautiful melody and a beautiful message. But do not--I repeat, do not--look at the images.

Colors Of The Wind

I just saw the film Avatar. I was disappointed. The film had potential that was ignored. It went on far too long, and the theme--definitely a good one--has already been done. Technologically superior people oppress environmentally superior people. But the story was not very developed, and I care about special effects about as much as Eminem cares about a Grammy.

I was expecting to give Avatar an A+, but alas it only deserves a B-. It just was not deep enough. Pocahantas, on the other hand, gets a B+ because it did not promise much, had this pretty song and its good message, and I guess I was in a better space when I saw it.

The social significance of Avatar far surpasses its quality as a film, of course. The whole world is in love with a movie that would agree with Gandhi, who when asked what he thought of Western civilization, replied, "I think it would be a good idea."

Rilo Kiley Featured in Rock Band 3

Rilo Kiley's "Portions for Foxes" will be featured in Rock Band 3.

Here's the song, performed live on Conan:

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

You must watch this amazing performance by Cyndi Lauper.

Here's the album version.

And an acoustic version.

Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder

I don't care for this song very much, but it is powerful and the message is real. Why eat meat?

Hoodoo Gurus - Bittersweet

From Australia, 1985.

Ajad - Reiki Music Vol. 1

Beatles LP Countdown - Revolution

But when you talk about revolution, don't you know that you can count me out. Om, shooby-doowah. Om, shooby-doowah.

Om.

Pearl Jam--Dissident

One of the great lead guitar intros. From 2000 in Poland.

Cat Stevens - Peace Train

After all the crap I have seen in my life--a history of wars, race riots, Lennon's assassination, 911, for instance, and now the oil spill--I still believe that if we really want it to be, we can create peace. And I believe Lennon would agree.

Man Of Constant Sorrow

O Brother Where Art Thou was a good movie, but a great soundtrack. No, excellent!

Peaceful Japanese Music

I have discovered within me a great fondness for "relaxation music." You can find it in many traditions, from Hinduism to Native American to Reiki.

And it all helps us to feel balance, renewed energy, and renewed commitment to simpler living and higher thinking.

Mystic Zen - In The Morning Light

There is a genre of this stuff I was not quite aware of. Anyway, the music is uplifting and the pictures are fantastic.

Alpha Rev - China Sunrise

Rage Against the Machine--Township Rebellion/ Freedom

Word on the street is that Rage is planning a new album.

Fleetwood Mac--Sara

From the early days.

Everly Brothers - Let It Be Me

Beatles LP Countdown - Long, Long, Long

This song is way underrated.

Florence and the Machine--Dog Days Are Over

Well, for some of us, the dog days will be continuing for some time. Nevertheless, what a great song, what a great performance. Almost made me curse.

Joni Mitchell - Circle Game

Isn't this the way it really is?

Paul McCartney Presented With Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Here's some footage from the ceremony on Wednesday night.


Here's a look at some of the highlights from the performance. Looks like it was a very special night, that included stand up by Jerry Seinfeld and a duet with Stevie Wonder.

John Oliver Bids Farewell to Senators Craig, Bayh

Vintage Oliver.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Evan Bayh's Senate Retirement
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

As great as Oliver is on the Daily Show, I dare say he is as good or better on the weekly podcast he does with Andy Zaltsman for the TimesOnline called The Bugle.

Camera Obscura--I Love How You Love Me

This is a Paris Sisters' cover, or so I'm told.

Jenny Lewis--Just like Zeus

Here's another version of "Just Like Zeus" with slightly better audio.

Jenny Lewis--Just like Zeus

Speaking of the upcoming Jenny & Johnny record, this awesome tune is very likely to be on that record when it comes out later this year. My favorite line: "Outside Silver Lake/I am the biggest fake." The "There's nothing else I'd rather do" refrain is stickier than glue. All we have of this song so far are a few YouTube versions and a live in-studio appearance, but like all road tested material, this song has seen a few different arrangements, but I like this one the best. From last June in Houston, Texas:

Ani DiFranco--Untouchable Face

This is from a show in August 1997, when Ani opened for Mr. Bob Dylan.

Joni Mitchell - California