For those of you that missed it last year, this rematch was a tad less exciting than the original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hnBp7x2QAE

Still had me rolling. =)

I’d threaten JJ with the claim that this was an actual product, but I’m sure he sees similar (if not worse) on a daily basis….

As a couple of you know, after a long stretch of working very weird hours I have developed a fairly solitary lifestyle and have developed an interest in movies that somewhat got out of hand. The damning evidence:

Kinda wish I’d gone the Netflix route, but then I wouldn’t physically *own* anything. So anyway, since I tend to grab a lot of foreign films, documentaries, and lesser-known movies, I thought I would share some of the better ones I find. Siskel & Ebert are gone, so welcome to Hignose’s movie review!

This documentary I was very skeptical about. I had never heard of Sexto Rodriguez, and I almost called MR (owner of too many orange crates of vinyl, so don’t judge me mister!) to see if he had ever seen this 1969 album:

Apparently this guy, whose music I thought was sometimes good, but nothing groundbreaking, was HUGE in South Africa ( and also known in Australia). Funny thing is, the South Africans didn’t know anything about him either. So in the late ’90s, two South Africans decided to try and track down details of his life, as there were wild stories about his death. (In one version, he thanked the audience in the midst of a bad performance, and blew his brains out on stage, in another he had self-immolated during a concert.) The filmers were shocked that no one from America they had talked to seemed to know anything about him. To them he was on the level of Dylan, so it would be like asking a brit about John Lennon and they answer “Who?”. After looking at some of his lyrics, they place him near Detroit, interview the owner of his defunct label, find his former manager, and eventually Rodriguez himself. He’s still working in the construction business, living in the same house he had 40 years ago, and had no idea anyone in South Africa held him in any regard. The most fascinating aspect of his story requires a look at the censorship and cultural isolation forced on apartheid-era South Africa. (He was wildly popular with the *white* South Africans who weren’t in the upper controlling class.) There’s also some attention paid to the money trail (or lack thereof), as apparently his music came to that country via someone’s american girlfriend and was then massively bootlegged, with a couple of SA record labels printing his album and claiming to pay royalties to a label that went defunct. (There’s a definite shift in attitude by the former american label owner when money is mentioned, but it’s not pressed and gets a bit murky. Possible libel issues? Not wanting to piss off the guy so he wouldn’t help the film? It’s not clear.) The interview with the manager is a bit odd as well, the guy just positively gushes over Rodriguez. Left out is the fact that Rodriguez did have some impact in Australia around 1980 and toured there, but it’s not relevant to the SA part of his story. The filmmakers arrange a few concerts in Capetown, and a guy who was clearing old drywall the week before finds himself halfway across the world getting red-carpet treatment, and playing for thousands of fans who give him a long standing ovation before he’s even done anything. Despite some unanswered questions and some nagging “Is this for real?” moments, this documentary does seem legit, and I’d recommend it as some slightly embellished, feel-good viewing of a little corner of rock ‘n roll’s history.

(Both of Rodriguez’s albums are easily found on YouTube,  just search “Cold Fact”.)

Been meaning to share this and finally found the media. December 16th, 1971 is the independence day for Bangladesh, when they finally broke away from Pakistan (until then, they had been East Pakistan, and their local language and customs had been gradually suppressed.)

It was a very ugly war in a very impoverished nation, as a friend I work with can attest. He was about 8 years old and lived in the capital city Dhaka. His dad owned a machine shop, so was a valuable asset (he made some spare parts) to whichever force was occupying his area which probably saved his family from some ugliness. My friend told a story of peeking out a window one night and watching tanks firing down the street. As I had never met anyone from Bangladesh, I always showed interest in what he could relate of his home country. So last December, he asked if I would like to attend the Bijoy Dibosh (Victory Day) celebration of  the local Bengali immigrants. It was held at the community center across the street from the mosque at 48th and Hamilton (my grandad would be spinning in his grave at the idea of a mosque in Oklahoma). I was really surprised, it was attended by close to 300 people, and I was the only white guy in the place. I had no idea OKC had that many Bengali people living here. Had some great (if spicy) food, saw some lovely women in traditional dress dancing and singing, and some great heartfelt speeches praising freedom by people that really appreciate it… kinda made me feel a little guilty that I take it for granted so often. They also had some surprisingly good music by a local Bengali musician that has enjoyed some success, I *think* his name is Shafait, but I haven’t found out much about him. Anyway, here’s a pic I snapped and a brief clip. Found the whole evening fascinating, and kinda laughed at seeing muslims in warm-climate clothing and sandals slipping out into the freezing wind and snow to sneak a smoke and grab a beer outside away from the wives.

A shame I didn’t grab more of the performance, but my phone was a bit short on memory.  Still kinda neat!

Saw this at the loading dock at work and got a chuckle out of it… I assume they are not the brightest people to do business with, but the sales staff is kinda cute….

How many words can you think of that are their own opposites.

Examples: Sanction, left, dust, off.

Can anyone name the very first double album of the rock era (without perusing the internet)? Also, what is your all time fave?

Here are a few I like:  White Album (Beatles) Tommy ((The Who), Electric Ladyland (Jimi Hendrix), Live At The Fillmore (Allman Brothers Band),  Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (Derek & The Dominoes),  Grateful Dead (Grateful Dead) 4 Way Street (CSNY),  Exile On Main Street (Rolling Stones).

I was turned onto Neil Young’s new Album “A Letter Home” As you all know in my opinion Neil has never made a bad album, And with this one he still has not. This is a very Ecclectic album Typical NY. Just when you think you know whats next from him. he does something like this. If you enjoy ’70s Country and Folk/Pop You will like this one. The sound, Sounding like a old reel to reel vocal letter from the battlefield is great. Good Job Shakey. ***** stars.

A good internet in-joke, for those that have never noticed: if you check the rating system on the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com), the entry for Spinal Tap goes to 11!

(Unfortunately, it is *not* the highest-rated movie on the site.)

I’m not too big on China, but 25 years ago today I saw something that helps restore faith in the common man. The stones this action took were impressive in the extreme:

May we all have half the won-tons this dude’s packin’  if we have to rein in the excesses of those who would abuse our nation. (It’s a shame there were only 4 tanks, with 6 you get eggroll!) Tippin’ my hat to the Tank Man, well done sir!

But thought I’d wish one of MR’s old girlfriends a happy birthday! (I’m pretty sure even he had forgotten this, until I brought it up……)

Born 6-4-71, if I’m not mistaken. Hope the old gal’s holding up better than I am, wherever she is!

Sorry, I’ve been lost in the ozone for a while, but, I’m back now…..  Let’s give a MR Community welcome to our newest member – HIGNOSE……  To you people in the Great Northwest, Hignose is just another new member, but, to us in Oklahoma, we’ve had to put up with him forever! (Ha!).…..  He’s one of Jek’s public School buddies from way back when, and, has now finally surfaced again and joined us in our little warped community……  So-o-o-o-o, give a hearty welcome to Hignose and don’t forget – We have someone new to pick on – Yeah!…..  

If anyone sees Booker, please ask him to come get his car out of my backyard. I did say he could park it there for a a week or so, but that was a quite a while ago, and it’s kind of in my way….

Yeah, either of these seem like a wise precaution….. well, until the monthly Pest Control guy drops in.

Here’s a fun little doo-dad for our old-timers that are confounded by the internets and miss their favorite BBS:

Dial-Up Google

It’s a fully-functional Google search page, ’80s style! Throw away your mouse, turn on Mtv, and start griping about what they’ve screwed up with the new-fangled 2400 baud!