Open Thread
By bluegal Wednesday Dec 03, 2008 8:30pmTomorrow is the anniversary of Frank Zappa's death, and not coincidentally the beginning of Zappadan, the third annual blogswarm honoring the memory, music, and life force of Frank Zappa. The blogswarm ends on or after Frank's birthday on December 21. (This video calls for ending it the 22nd. It's over when the dental floss runs out.) The blogswarm is headquartered at The Aristocrats.
One other item: if you want the behind the scenes story of this little blog's switch to drupal, this article by our own C&L web guru will be of interest.
Open thread below...
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...was a great summary of Detroit's woes by Michael Moore. He mentioned GM being worth 3 billion and asking for 18 billion.
Yea. Here's your money, keep making crap. He also mentioned if they actually get that money, they start making what the planet NEEDS and what we tell them to, less gas guzzling monstrosities
From anyone ever.
His was my first concert as a kid. My blog (LiveFrankly.wordpress.com) is named in his honor.
My fav Zappa quote: Politics is the entertainment arm of the military-industrial complex.
“The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced”
The US auto companies make some very fine vehicles.
I am writing a post of my observations now. It will be at TheZoo by tomorrow. Check it out.
I've worked in the auto business for close to 10 years and have sold all models.
on a weekly basis. My thoughts are based on my personal driving experiences.
Do you know how many different types of cars, SUVs, trucks and vans and how many models are out there?
Yes. I am a car freak from way back.
I exaggerated...I do not drive ALL models because many do not offer them on a fleet basis. So, I do not rent all cars. I do rent many different ones.
I also test drive cars as a hobby.
I love cars.
Observations from the Road.
if you let them fold, it still won't be fixed and there will still be millions that lose their jobs.
And I said as much.
My experiences have led me to believe that US Cars have quality problems that make them less desirable than Honda/Toyota/Nissan cars when it comes to comparing the cost of ownership, frequency and severity of repairs, and the number of times you can expect to be stuck somewhere when your car decides to break down. I have had ~10 vehicles since 1982 new, used, and very used cars of many makes and models - only the 2 Fords ('84 escort, and an '89 van) ever gave me true misery (although I had a Plymouth Voyager that sucked pretty bad too). My 2001 Saturn has yet to give me any grief beyond normal wear-n-tear replacement/maintenance for tires & brakes - so maybe Detroit got around to some quality improvements since the 80s. Quality improvements and reliability that the Japanese seemed to master by the mid '70s - resulting in every Japanese vehicle I have owned being an entirely satisfactory experience.
If they suddenly started making and selling brand new 1982 2nd generation Honda Civic - I'd want to buy one. It was a great, great car - better than most of what Detroit wants to sell you today.
Those perceptions of quality, reliability, and being a good value aren't just force fed to the public through a flashy advertising campaign, they come from real world experiences that buyers have over time. My American car owning experiences have run from happy to shaking my fists by the side of the road in a downpour and howling "DAMN YOU FORD!!!!!" My Japanese car owning experiences have been uniformly satisfying and fair, no screaming.
Ford does, the other two, not so much (with cars)
You work in the business, the American consumer buys more Hondas and Toyotas. Gee, I wonder why?
I admit I did sell mostly Fords.
Ford is the best of the Big 3 in quality. If you have been involved with mostly Ford's, I think your experience may be skewed a little bit. Not that I love them, but they are far better than most GM and almost all Mopar.
GM makes a great truck. Thats it. Chrysler, well, they dont make anything good with the exception of the Jeep Wrangler (former proud owner), however, Wrangler's are gas guzzlers from hell. Thats why I dont own one anymore
I had a Mercury Cougar that I wasn't real happy with. I bought a Toyota pickup that ended up costing a lot more in regular maintanence. I figured out that it cost me more for the Toyota than it did for the Mercury.
Late 70s was a time when Toyota's rusted out under you. That was also when the Big 3 started a serious slide into ugly assed, shit for wheels cars. The quality in the Am made cars slide continually while the Japanese quality started its incline.
Honda has been on the best quality list for more than a decade. Toyota, too, until last year or the year before. They seem to get that people do not think cars are disposable. You don't buy a car like you do a printer...then chuck it when it's not good any longer. A car is a major investment.
Check it out. Mfg could be spread throughout the land. No more dependency on oil etc.
http://environment.about.com/b/2008/02/14/new...
k=-=-
I got the Regalia for my Peaches, and reservations at 200 Motels.
Oh-oh.
Help I"m a Rock!!
... would have thought of Commander Bunnypants.
Miss him.
well ive been buying autos for 50 yrs and loved driveing them, i believe the new 57 chevy candy apple red two door convertable was the coolest but then i had so many i cant really pick out my favorite, my first one was a 49 ford coup metalic blue with an overdrive !
I dont think so
You must be dreaming
But popular in the 60s.
no american company has candies or mettalics as a choiche in the 40 ties or fifties
You're right, it wasn't an original color.
I was at the Chicago auto show a few years ago (few meaning maybe 10) and it was either Chrysler or Olds which offered one as a stock, albeit special order, option.
It was stunning.
NO MS JAON I KNOW YOUR ARE AN ICON ON THIS FORUM BUT YOU ARE WRONG METTALICS WERE NOT INTRODUCED UNTIL THE 1957 THE PAINTS THEY USED WERE LAQUERS THAT FADED SO BALY THAT SOME MANUFACUTERS PUT THE GAS REFILL UNDER THE LICENSE PLATE TO AVOID STAINING THE 55,56 AND 57 WAS THE LAST OF THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVYS WICH WERE REDESIGNED IN 58
I don't know shit about 50s cars. I know a car here and there but I can't talk intelligently about older cars at all. I was talking about 10 years ago...hardly the 50s.
I'm not exactly an icon, but thanks, I think :-)
He had a lowered chopped 49 or 50 Mercury painted candy apple red.
are a tad before my time. Although, the 54 (I think it is the 54) Corvette is one most outstanding cars I've ever drooled over.
I saw two of them outside of Sacramento a couple of weeks ago on a small car lot. $74,000 each.
A good one is a sight to behold. With a slight gold sheen that is so subtle you have to look really hard to see it, but adds an amazing richness to that beautiful bright, shiny red color.
A classic color for a hot, hot car.
with a mettalic finish but not a 49 or 54
It had a red and white choice tyree but not candy apple i THINK IT WAS RUST RED
Well, there is that possibility. :-D
Are you paying attention? It was an after market color that came out in the early 60s.
could be been a long time ago, probably the fore runner to the candy apple , red
tHE ONLY THING YOU ARE GUILTY OF IS POOR MEMORY THATS NOT BAD CANDIE LAQUERS AND CLEAR COATS CAME OUT IN THE 70;S UNTIL THEN THERE WERE ENAMELS AND ONE OR TWO COAT LAQUERS AND ANY BODY WHO OWNED ONE HAD BETTER BEEN WAXING IT ALL THE TIME
yOUWOULD BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE ANYTHING BUT BLACK OR DARK BLUE IN HE 49 AR COLORS
It's the little button above the "shift" button on the left of your keyboard. Punch that sucker. It'll make it easier for all of us to read your post.
I'm drunker than a monkey, so I understand. But all caps makes my eyeballs hurt.
YouTube: Frank Zappa - Trouble Coming Every Day
1966 Watts Riots
Read through your post on the conversion to drupal and I wanted to register a complaint. Since the conversion, I have been unable to browse C&L on my windows mobile device. The site opens, displaying top banners and many of the ads, but none of the content loads aside from an occaissional image file. I have an at&t tilt running Windows Mobile 6 Pro. Anyone else experiencing this issue?
And I can read and post...although it is very, very slow loading due to all of the Javascript.
Oh, and the iPod Touch works well, too. Nowhere near as slow.
Will the Brits' sadistic torture of Obama's grandfather threaten the UK's "special relationship" with the US?
From TimesOnLine UK:
Beatings and abuse made Barack Obama’s grandfather loathe the British
Tale of family torture may strengthen Barack Obama’s animosity
Today Laura Bush revealed that the Bushes will be moving to Dallas in January and buying a new house. My question is: will they ever return to the Crawford Ranch, and if not, isn't that proof that Bush's "ranch" was nothing more than a prop for his cardboard presidency?
Bush said some time ago that she was house hunting in Dallas. Crawford was a prop and nothing more. Especially since he is an east coast elite. Funny how that works.
It is also unlikely that Bush will ever leave TX. He has said he doesn't like to travel and I think many countries would welcome his arrival - and arrest.
We're stuck with him. I doubt Paraguay will be his final destination.
he won't be seeking public office again.
Sometimes, in my weaker moments, I actually feel sorry for the man. I mean, who in the world can go through life having every single thing that they touch turn to shite?
But then I remember that we have been living in the cesspool of his creation for the last 8 years and I just can't stand the smell anymore. It gives me no pleasure that I warned people that this man was not to be trusted with our democracy 8 long years ago.
But January will be sweet.
There is NO reason whatsoever to ever feel sorry for Bush. He reminds me much of Palin...way in over his head and not knowing that he is. Totally has no self awareness or understanding of his (and her) lack of ability.
If Obama manages to right the country in any meaningful way, eight years will be just the beginning of the end of the GOP.
He will be moving to Paraguay
Saving the Big 3 for You and Me
Russia tries to pull a Panama Missile Crisis. The "liberal" media once again tries to prop up the Drug War, by tying abusive substances to terrorism. The Darfur genocide continues. Episcopal and Anglican separatists form a no homos club. Is Jeb aiming for a Bush III presidency? For some reason, there appear to be problems with admitting Guantanamo was wrong.
The thought of another Bush in any office makes me physically ill.
And Jeb is an original PNACer, neoocon asshat. Much smarter than Georgie...which makes him that much more dangerous.
Talk about domestic terrorist. :-)
Remember though, they still have control of the MSM.
is already talking about setting up a "shadow government" during obama presidency. nice.
Jeesus, focus, people, focus.
Open Frank, uh Fred, oh thread.
Talk away! But this is an open thread.
Did we miss something you said about Frank?
Rice blames Pakistan for ignoring terrorism in the region. Insurers are mixed on Obama's health care plan.
I'll bet the insurers are. They want to know how they can still rip everyone off.
Got here thinking to say something geeky about the WP-Drupal conversion, but then the phoniness of the giant planetary political killer/rip-off artists (topics in the threads above) distracts...
and I remember that night in the sixties in Louisville,KY when we paid some pittance to gain admission to a 2nd-floor venue where Frank and the Mothers were playing to a near empty room (<100). The multiple pedestal-mounted sax synthesizers blew my geekness (never before had I seen this!), but mainly it was Frank and the Oblivions -- blowing hard and intensely improvisational musical no matter the turnout, filling the near empty room with spirit, new take-no-prisoners spirit, taking full advantage of electro-technologies but blowing way way beyond it.
was a packed Chicago Amphitheater, which has to have been the single worst place for concerts ever. The acoustics sucked (you could hear the concert two ways...one with the music coming at you from the amps, and the other way as the sound waves bounced off the cement walls and came back atcha.
It was packed. I don't know the capacity, but I would guess 35k people (a big venue back in the day).
My first contact high. It was the Overnite Sensation tour.
Since I knew that venue like the back of my hand, I snuck backstage and met Zappa, got his autograph and kissed him. My 16 year old heart was his forever. (Did the same at a Sabbath concert when Ozzie was blonde and hot!)
Zappa will always hold a very special place in my heart not just for the above, but for who he was.
linger in their effects many years later...
When I first heard Apostrophe about '74 I had already been through my dreary heavy metal phase and was deep into "progressive rock: ELP, Moody Blues, Yes,Pink Floyd.....etc. Suddenly here was Frank Zappa F^%$ yeah, I can do that too and have fun with the lyrics!
Frank was out there, he was unique and he told everyone who would listen: hey man, life is too short to not have fun with the everyday taboos.
The Illinois Enema Bandit, Dynamo Hum, Watch out where the huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow.....Spike Jones eat your heart out, Frank was brilliant and I wish that he was around today to give us his insight.
to not eat the yellow snow, you've been on too much shit.
One is a bloated and an unrepentant mainstay of the military industrial complex and the other......is not.
In 1966 Frank gave us "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" from the album Freak Out.
YouTube: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Hungry Freaks, Daddy
Hello, Open Thread:
Zappadan is a great idea. I still have my LP of Hot Rats. It's packed up somewhere, but I know it exists. It used to belong to my older brother. He gave me Hot Rats when I was still in elementary school. No wonder I colored outside the lines. Bless.
Also, I'd like to throw my two cents into the ring about Mumbai terrorists on coke. I couldn't wish a more expensive, unhealthy habit on a more murderous group of extremists.
My blog link is here.
There is not a shortage of oil. We have been played again. If you think there ever was a shortage of oil, Iv'e still got the same bridge to nowhere to sell you. If it sells, I've got another one to sell you. Wake up people.
power crisis in cali at the start of the century
will we hit peak oil??? absolutely....and we close now? probably not...that doesnt mean that obama should pull a reagan and just say eff it to forcing the development of not only fuel efficient, but electric cars
especially since i love to hear hannity rant and rave about goverment standards...
i wish i still had my dad's rambler...i would drive up to hannity's studio, and make him suck the pipe
hey sean...this is what was made when there were no standards...how about after you suck in some fumes, you bring over the wife and kids
and i miss frank...i miss him so very much
i know that god took him early, cuz he really dug his music and because frank was probably too good for this world...but it isnt fair
frank left a pretty good legacy
alfonse mouzon
jean-luc ponty
george duke
I'm sure there's many more.
frank was the miles davis of fusion.
miles was the frank zappa of jazz.
frank and rahsaan roland kirk explored beyond the edges of music.
I think the former...
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=1EQBrUp5zho
The Ensemble Ambrosius
Do we fast for Zappadan?
A record 31 million people are on food stamps.
Happy Death Day, dear old friend.
(sniff!)
Miles O'Brien Leaving CNN After 16 Years
NEW YORK — Miles O'Brien will soon be leaving CNN after 16 years.
O'Brien, who has been CNN's chief technology and environment correspondent since ending his stint as anchor of "American Morning" in April 2007, is departing as the network dismantles its science and technology unit. Six producers also will be leaving.
CNN's coverage of science, technology and the environment has been integrated into the general editorial structure, according to spokeswoman Christa Robinson.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Food stamps, the main U.S. antihunger program which helps the needy buy food, set a record in September as more than 31.5 million Americans used the program -- up 17 percent from a year ago, according to government data.
The number of people using food stamps in September surpassed the previous peak of 29.85 million seen in November 2005 when victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma received emergency benefits, said Jean Daniel of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.
September's tally -- the latest month available -- was also boosted by hurricane and flood aid, Daniel said on Wednesday.
But anti-hunger groups said the economic downturn is the main reason behind the higher figures.
"It's a disturbing trend," said Ellen Vollinger, legal director with the Food Research and Action Center. She said she expects more people will turn to food stamps as unemployment figures rise and the economy remains weak.
One in 10 Americans were participating in the food stamp program as of September, said Dottie Rosenbaum, analyst with Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.
Is Pakistan to Blame?
http://atheonews.blogspot.com/2008/12/is-paki...
Wow! That is really some absolutely awesome stuff!!! (yawn)
This story is gruesome. You may not want to read it.
Drug war in Mexico.
Pull out my Zappa stuff. It's that time again folks. Happy Zappadan.
A Very Happy Zappadan everyone!
And RIP Frank, we miss you!
Me love me some Zappa.
'
Bromadroses
On another, more serious note...our good friends at the Project for the Old American Century, are in dire straits and could use our help...
Please go to oldamericancentury.org and donate what you can to help keep that kickass website goin.
http://snipurl.com/7138x
Fuck Jeb Bush!
We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You're the other people too
Found a way to get to you . . .
Do you think that I'm crazy?
Out of my mind?
Do you think that I creep in the night
And sleep in a phone booth?
Lemme take a minute & tell you my plan
Lemme take a minute & tell who I am
If it doesn't show,
Think you better know
I'm another person
Do you think that my pants are too tight?
Do you think that I'm creepy?
Lemme take a minute & tell you my plan
Lemme take a minute & tell who I am
If it doesn't show
Think you better know
I'm another person
Better look around before you say you don't care
Shut your fuckin' mouth about the length of my hair
How would you survive
If you were alive
Shitty little person?
We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You're the other people too
Found a way to get to you
We are the other people
We are the other people
We are the other people
You're the other people too
Found a way to get to you
Do you think that I love you . . .
Stupid & blind?
Do you think that I dream through the night
Of holding you near me?
Lemme take a minute & tell you my plan
Lemme take a minute & tell who I am
If it doesn't show
Think you better know
I'm another person
---CEO,citizens,eyes,open.
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