SURPRISE SHOW THIS SATURDAY!!

We are joining our friends Huckleberry Groove @ Rick's American Cafe in the HEART of downtown East Lansing. If you are an MSU student and have had any curiosity intp seeing The Beasts of Burden and I, THIS is the show to see us. 9-10 pm for the show. More details soon!!!

Almost as cool as a polka

it's not really a tuesday party

First things first, some news...An Indiana man finally left prison after extending his stay accidentally by 17 months. Mentally Ill, the prisoner's lawyer, psychiatrist and judge all that he had been released! In Kentucky, teachers do more than teach; they buy drugs! Bringing back memories from my youth of Television specials on the shroud of turin, the 1993 ABC special on the final resting place of noah's ark, and the early 90s special on Elvis being alive hosted by Bill Bixby, a new special is out; James Cameron presents Jesus's Burial place. But lastly, I've thrown up my favorite shocking news clip of the day, a woman in Tacoma Washington coached her children to act as if retarded so that she could pick up money each month. The woman collected over 280,000 dollars since the late 80s with the stunt. I can't believe how cruel and greedy some people are.

--

Went home to Dearborn yesterday to pick up a vehicle liscense plate. Dad is almost retired from Ford just working a few more days. He brought home Country Kitchen, an Arab Restaurant in East Dearborn near City Hall. It was fantastic, but I hadn't had this much garlic in a few months, so I had some digestive problems last night. At one point, I was up walking around the apartment pacing and trying to numb the pain and concentrate on other things. In the end it was still worth it. 100%. The food was incredible.

--

I've decided today that I'm going to continue my habit of youtubes but these next few will be of classic videos from my youth. For many, this will clearly date me as a youngin' and that I am.

These first two, Stone Temple Pilots "Interstate Love Song" and Jayhawks "Blue" were integral to my development as a music lover. Both songs were musically simple on the surface with some odd complexity beneath, and both were REALLY catchy. Also both ended up being played on the radio at Farmer Jack years later.





Then there's Rocket by Smashing Pumpkins. That song/video still is totally FRICKIN AWESOME to me. Although, occaisionally I am shocked by Billy's hair.



And there was Lucas with the Lid Off. No Comment.



I always loved this 2pac Video too. Getting your psychadelic-post-apocalyptic on. That eye-patch is sweet.



And even though this video didn't come out when I was in 7th grade, I thought this would be a hilarious note to end on. Wierd Al does a goofy tribute song to the best songwriter in American history...and it's all PALINDROMES.

Paul Gilbert!

Judee Sill Videos on youtube

funny

200 years and welcome back, beaver.

But please don't dance you rat.

Sometimes those camera means "stay away," man.

BIG IDEAS.

On the next Beasts Record;

BIG IDEAS

Danceable Grooves.

If you're going to have a nice groove, it might as well be danceable. On the first record, my favorite song in this capacity was Cross the Border. I thought it had a nice groove, although in retrospect, not that groovy. And certainly not danceable. This means songs that have the ability to focus on groove need to REALLY focus on groove.

Modular Texture.

This is also known as "loop" based composition. This means that beats, grooves, riffs, are all basically uniform enough to be reassembled at any point and the song could still make total sense. Within the context of the band, this means rather than having two guitarists banging out chords, two guitarists may be playing skeletal passages that don't define the harmonic content too much. This could be applied so that emphasis remains on grooves (see previous point), or on harmonic structure and not rhythm. This would mean it is the RHYTHM that becomes undefined and harmonic content is more carefully considered. Certain textures, when combined, will define whatever is meant to be clarified. On a larger scale this was done with Brian Wilson's SMiLE, but it's most easily understood when paying attention to my favorite Talking Heads record "Speaking in Tongues."

Spacious Instrument Placement.

This can be considered at a few different angles. The first way would be to constantly consider the placement of instruments and apply the Mel Brooks comedy law to mixing; if it aint strong, it's cut. Another way to think of this is to consider silence and intense noise as the predominant instrumental tones on the record, rather than traditional instruments. A third way to ponder this idea is to create varied musical depth through "sonic fields of vision." This third way fits in oddly with point two, where the parts become "modular." Slagle had mentioned this to me...this idea of moving around inside a depth of field except the different sonic fields are actually different takes of the song. This one is interesting to me. It fits nicely with a lot of the things I've been thinking about with my bidule stuff.

Unpredictable loose and ragged joy.

This is something Slagle put best into words recently as we were discussing production styles. The feeling that a record is near a total breakdown, or truly unpredictable, is quite enjoyable to us and Slagle had suggested we make that commitment for the next record. I think it's a great idea. It also ties in with point one.

Avoid the obvious.

There are a lot of great records out there. I don't feel like saying the same stuff. I don't want to be totally dismissive of my connection to my inspiration, nor do I want to make a simple parrot record. So, the biggest goal for the next Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden is to truly make the effort to try songs in different ways while developing them, and not focus on the obvious.

"Honor Thy Error as Hidden Intention."

The Masterplan

My first favorite band=Oasis.

Things that make you go uh.

Yesterday night I watched a DVD movie called Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot. It was rented from the library. A French film, it starred Jacques Tati as Monsieur Hulot who is basically a goofball, youthful, blundering mime. The movie contains basically no dialogue but in its place is an ambient soundtrack of noise usually relegated to the background of films. The film is black and white and was the first film to introduce this bumbling main character. It was hilarious. The use of ambient noise track for the film also impressed and intrigued me.

In other things that make you go UH, a body of a 70-year old NY resident was found over a year after his death. Weird.Weirder still that the electricity had not turned off for over a year despite lapse of payments or activity in the house. Weirdest though is the fact that the TV was on full blast for over a year and nobody noticed. It looks like it WAS a big house.

Also in the news today, research suggests that anxiety towards the use of mathematics may actually occupy the short-term memory bank where humans compute math problems. This would mean that someone with math anxiety may actually make completing the problem far more difficult. Besides having some backing from real science, this research clearly suggests what anybody with test anxiety already knows...FEELING FREAKED OUT SURE DOESN'T MAKE YOU SCORE HIGHER! DUH! Here's the article.

And lastly on the "strange" front, good old-fashioned goose fighting is starting to flourish again in non-Communist occupied Russia. Not a long article, at least one great quote exists; "'We've had no serious protests from Green groups as there's nothing awful about it for the geese. They enjoy it. If the goose has had enough it simply leaves the ring,' she told AFP by telephone from Suzdal." Article here.

Finally, I leave you with my favorite blog-thickening device...YOUTUBE

Make it Funky (Japanese)

100th Post= My 25th Birthday

Show tonight in Grand Rapids. THE BREAKROOM. 1359 Plainfield Ave NE. Grand Rapids, MI 49505. Tonight with Pantones and Russel James. This is my 100th blog post, and it also happens to be my birthday. I was born on February 17th, 1982. This was the same day that Thelonious Monk died of a stroke at 64. Strangely enough, I am most drawn to his style of improvising, and today was the first time I noticed the connection between his death and my birth.Weird coincidence.

Here's the wiki on the date.

In 1982...

Ronald Reagan is president of the US

The space shuttle Columbia completes its first operational flight

Actor John Belushi is found dead of a drug overdose in a West Hollywood hotel

Automobile manufacturer John Delorean is arrested and charged with possession of 59 pounds of cocaine

The first artificial heart is implanted in American Barney Clark

The Cable News Network, or CNN, is launched

750,000 people rally against nuclear weapons in New York City's Central Park

Time Magazine's Man of the Year was for the first time given to a non-human, a computer

The first computer virus, written by Rich Skrenta, escapes into the wild

Kirsten Dunst and Elisha Cuthbert are born

St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series

San Francisco 49ers win Superbowl XVI

New York Islanders win the Stanley Cup

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is the top grossing film

Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off of a live bat thrown at him during a performance, later hospitalized with rabies

"I Love Rock 'N Roll" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts spends the most time at the top of the US charts

Cheers, Family Ties, Silver Spoons, and Fame premiere


BIRTHDAYS
February 17, 1982 Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor, Tommy Solomon-Third Rock From the Sun
February 17, 1981 Donielle Thompson, Wheatridge CO, gymnast, World-bronze-95, Oly-96
February 17, 1981 Lisa Skinner, Queensland Australia, gymnast 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1981 PARIS HILTON, American Celebrity
February 17, 1980 Shanyn MacEachern, Brampton Ontario, gymnist 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1980 Jason Ritter, American Actor
February 17, 1975 Sung-Hee Park, Pusan Korea, tennis star, 1993 Futures-Seoul
February 17, 1975 Todd Harvey, Hamilton, NHL center for the Dallas Stars
February 17, 1975 Vaclav Prospal, NHL forward, Team Czech Oly-Gold-1998, Philadelphia
February 17, 1974 Jerry O'Connell, New York City, actor, Scream 2, Andrew-My Secret Identity
February 17, 1974 Valeria Mazza, Rosario Argentina, model, Cosmo-July 1995
February 17, 1974 Bryan White, American Musician
February 17, 1973 Chris Robinson, NBA guard for the Vancouver Grizzlies
February 17, 1973 Drew Barry, NBA guard for the Atlanta Hawks
February 17, 1973 Frank Sanders, NFL wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals
February 17, 1973 Raymond Jackson, NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills
February 17, 1972 Billie Joe Armstrong, singer/musician, Green Day
February 17, 1972 Lloy Ball, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, volleyball setter 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1972 Richard MacQuire, Melbourne VIC Australia, canoeist 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1972 Stephen Robinson, Arlington, Virginia, rower 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1972 Tony Lawson, NSA Australia, diver 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1972 Vladimir Vujtek, NHL forward, Team Czech Oly-Gold-1998, Tampa Bay
February 17, 1972 William Floyd, full back for the San Francisco 49ers
February 17, 1972 Denise Richards, American Actress
February 17, 1970 Tommy Moe, Anchorage Alaska, nordic skiier, Olympic-gold/silver-1994
February 17, 1969 David Klingler, NFL quarterback, Oakland Raiders, Cin Bengals
February 17, 1969 Joel Steed, NFL nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers
February 17, 1969 Levon Kirkland, NFL linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
February 17, 1969 Traci Adell, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, playmate, July, 1994
February 17, 1968 Bryan Cox, NFL linebacker, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears
February 17, 1968 Celita Schutz, Riverdale, New Jersey, half-middleweight judoka 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1968 Patrick Uterwijk, pop guitarist, Pestilence, Consuming Impulse
February 17, 1967 Gary Shuchuk, Edmonton, NHL center for the Los Angeles Kings
February 17, 1967 Michelle Forbes, born in Austin, Texas, actress, Ensign Ro-Star Trek Next Gen
February 17, 1966 Luc Robitaille, Montreal, NHL left wing, New York Rangers, Pitts Penguins
February 17, 1966 Melissa Brooke-Belland, rocker, Voice of the Beehive-Let it Bee
February 17, 1965 Clayton Prince, Philadelphia, actor, Hairspray, Reuben-Another World
February 17, 1965 Jim Bowie, Japanese/US baseball infielder, Oakland Athletics
February 17, 1965 Michael Bay, American Director
February 17, 1964 Mike Campbell, born in Seattle, Washington, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
February 17, 1963 Dan Reed, rocker/actor, HOTS, Lake Consequence
February 17, 1963 Michael Jordan, NBA guard, Chicago Bulls
February 17, 1962 David McComb, Australia, vocalist/songwriter, Triffids
February 17, 1962 Hennie Meijer, soccer player, Cambuur L, FC Heerenveen
February 17, 1962 Lou Diamond Phillips, Philippines, actor, La Bamba, Stand and Deliver
February 17, 1962 Tony Blain, cricketer, NZ Test wicket-keeper
February 17, 1961 Deb[ra] Richardson, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, beach volleyballer 1996 Olympics
February 17, 1961 Guy McIntyre, NFL guard for the Philadelphia Eagles
February 17, 1961 MICHAEL JORDAN, born in Brooklyn, New York, NBA guard and forward, Chicago Bulls
February 17, 1959 Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines, U.S., 100m swimmer 1984 Olympics gold
February 17, 1959 Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge, basketball and football star
February 17, 1959 Richard Karn, born in Seattle, Washington, actor, Al-Home Improvement
February 17, 1959 Rowdy Gaines, U.S. swimmer, Olympics-3 gold-1984
February 17, 1958 Heidi Hagman, actress, Linda-Archie Bunker's Place
February 17, 1958 Karen Lende O'Connor, Concord, Massachusetts, equestrian 3-day, Oly-silver-96
February 17, 1954 Rene Russo, actress, Ransom
February 17, 1953 Janice Dickinson, born in Brooklyn, New York, model, Vogue
February 17, 1952 Guillermo Vilas, tennis player, 1977 U.S. Open
February 17, 1952 Insook Bhushan, Seoul Korea, U.S. U.S. table tennis player 1992 Olympics
February 17, 1952 Randy Forbes, American Politician
February 17, 1950 Rick Medlocke, rock guitarist and vocalist, Blackfoot
February 17, 1949 Fred Frith, English guitarist, violinist and bassist, Skeleton Crew
February 17, 1947 Ben Cramer, Dutch vocalist, Clown
February 17, 1947 Dallas Adams, British actor/painter/writer, Terror From Within
February 17, 1947 Dodie Stevens, actress, Mary Hartman!
February 17, 1946 Andre Dussollier, Annecy France, actor, 3 Men and a Cradle
February 17, 1946 Valdemar Bandolowski, Denmark, yachting, Olympics gold 1976, 80
February 17, 1946 Zina Bethune, New York City, actress, Nurses, Who's That Knocking at My Door
February 17, 1945 Brenda Fricker, Dublin Ireland, actress, My Left Foot
February 17, 1945 Patricia Morrow, actress, Rita-Peyton Place
February 17, 1945 Willie J L Swildens-Rozendal, Dutch MP, PvdA
February 17, 1944 Bernie Grant, British politician, Labour
February 17, 1942 Huey Newton, Black Panther leader
February 17, 1941 GENE PITNEY, Hartford, Connecticut, vocalist/songwriter, Town Without Pity
February 17, 1941 Heidi Biebi, German Fed Rep, downhill skier 1960 Olympics gold
February 17, 1940 Dennis Gamsy, cricketer, South African bat in 2 Tests vs. Australia 1970
February 17, 1939 Mary Ann Mobley, Biloxi Ms, Miss America-1959/actr, Diff'rent Strokes
February 17, 1938 Mary Frances Berry, educator/head, US Commission on Civil Rights
February 17, 1937 Mickey McGill, U.S. vocalist, Dells-Love is Blue
February 17, 1936 Barry Jarman, cricketer, Australian wicket-keeper in 60's
February 17, 1936 Jim Brown, Georgia, NFL full back for the Cleveland Browns/actor, Dirty Dozen
February 17, 1936 Peter Walker, cricket all-rounder, Glamorgan did little for Eng 1960
February 17, 1935 Johnny Bush, country singer
February 17, 1934 Alan Bates, born in Allestree, England, actor, Zorba the Greek, Unmarried Woman
February 17, 1934 Barry Humphries, Australia TV host, Dame Edna Everage
February 17, 1934 Buddy Ryan, NFL coach, Philadelphia Eagles, Phoenix Cardinals
February 17, 1933 Bobby Lewis, rocker, Tossin' and Turnin'
February 17, 1933 Craig Thomas, Rep-R-Wyoming
February 17, 1932 Buck Trent, Spartanburg, South Carolina, banjoist/singer, Hee Haw
February 17, 1930 Usko Merilainen, composer
February 17, 1930 Ruth Rendell, British Writer
February 17, 1929 Chaim Potok, New York City, novelist, Promise
February 17, 1929 Yasser Arafat, PLO-leader, Achille Lauro, Nobel 1994
February 17, 1926 Friedrich Cerha, composer
February 17, 1926 Lee Hoiby, Madison Wisconsin, composer, 1957 Arts and Letters
February 17, 1925 Fritz Behrendt, German/Dutch cartoon character, The Slogan
February 17, 1925 Hal Holbrook, born in Cleveland, actor, All the President's Men, Mark Twain
February 17, 1924 Margaret Truman, born in Missouri, President daughter/writer, Murder at FBI, /pianist
February 17, 1923 Alden Winship Clausen, Hamilton, Illinois, banker, President of World Bank
February 17, 1922 Tommy Edwards, rock vocalist, It's All in the Game
February 17, 1920 Colin Franklin, doctor
February 17, 1920 Paul Fetler, composer
February 17, 1920 Trevor Oswald Ling, religious studies professor
February 17, 1919 Jock Mahoney, Chicago, actor, Dallas, Yancy Derringer, Day of Fury
February 17, 1919 Joseph R Hunt, tennis champ, U.S. Open-1943
February 17, 1919 Kathleen Freeman, born in Chicago, Illinois, actress, Beverly Hillbillies
February 17, 1918 Charles A. Hayes, Rep-D-IL, 1983-
February 17, 1918 Olive Gibbs, peace campaigner
February 17, 1916 Don Tallon, cricketer, perhaps Australia's greatest wicket-keeper
February 17, 1916 Raf Vallone, Tropea Italy, actor, El Cid, 2 Women, Greek Tycoon
February 17, 1915 Homer Keller, composer
February 17, 1914 Albert Westerlinck, [Jose J M Aerts], Flemish literary
February 17, 1914 Arthur Kennedy, Worcester Massachusetts, actor, Fantastic Voyage, Peyton Place
February 17, 1914 Per-Jakez Helias, writer/teacher
February 17, 1914 [Bert de] Wayne Morris, born in Los Angeles, California, WW II-pilot/actor, Paths of Glory
February 17, 1913 Josephine F "Fietje" van Anrooy, Dutch actress/director
February 17, 1913 Oskar Danon, composer
February 17, 1913 Rene Leibowitz, composer
February 17, 1912 Andre Norton, American Writer
February 17, 1911 Arthur Hunnicutt, Gravelly AR, actor, Big Sky, Apache Uprising
February 17, 1910 Ai Qing, poet
February 17, 1910 Marc Lawrence, New York City, actor, Man With Golden Gun
February 17, 1909 Joseph "Poeske" Scherens, Belgian cyclist, champ sprinter 1932-37,
February 17, 1909 Marjorie Lawrence, Australia, soprano, Venus-Tannhauser
February 17, 1908 Staats Cotsworth, born in Oak Park, Illinois, actor, Peyton Place
February 17, 1908 Walter L "Red" Barber, Mississippi, sports announcer, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yanks
February 17, 1907 Alec Wilder, born in Rochester, New York, composer, 1973 ASCAP award
February 17, 1907 Charles B Timmer, Dutch translator/writer, Russia Black on White
February 17, 1906 Galo Plaza Lasso, President of Ecuador, 1948-52, head of OAS, 1968-75
February 17, 1906 Ramon Tapales, composer
February 17, 1904 Albert Kuyle, [Louis Kuitenbrouwer], Dutch writer, Jesus' Robe
February 17, 1903 Johannes Linthorst Homan, director of the queen in Groningen
February 17, 1902 Marian Anderson, born in Philadelphia, operatic contralto, banned by D.A.R.
February 17, 1898 Tom Lowry, cricketer, NZ batsman in seven Tests and their 1st Test capt
February 17, 1897 Johan[nes A] Kaart, Dutch actor/stage manager, My Fair Lady
February 17, 1897 Marian Anderson, opera singer, first African American opera singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House
February 17, 1895 Anita Stewart, New York, actress, South of Hell Mountain
February 17, 1895 Edna Park Edwards, PA
February 17, 1892 Theodor Plievier, German writer, Des Kaisers Kulis, Stalingrad
February 17, 1891 Georg Britting, writer
February 17, 1890 Ronald Fisher, English Mathematician
February 17, 1889 H. L. Hunt, American Businessman, Texas oil multi-millionaire
February 17, 1888 Henrietta P "Hetty" Beck, actress, Bouwmeester Award
February 17, 1888 Otto Stern, German/U.S. physicist, Stern-Gerlach-experiment, Nobel 1943
February 17, 1888 Ronald Aburthnott Knox, English priest/writer, Viaduct Murder
February 17, 1888 Ronald Knox, English Theologian
February 17, 1887 Leevi Antti Madetoja, composer
February 17, 1884 Arthur Vanderpoorten, Flemish minister of Internal affairs, 1940
February 17, 1882 Kurt Schindler, composer
February 17, 1882 Noah Beery, Smithville AR, actor, Story of Esther, Mark of Zorro
February 17, 1880 Alvaro Obregon, general/president Mexico, 1920-24
February 17, 1879 Dorothy Canfield Fisher, U.S., novelist, Book-of-Month-Club
February 17, 1877 Henri Vandeputte, Belgian author and poet, L'homme Jeune
February 17, 1874 Thomas J. Watson, American Scientist, IBM
February 17, 1870 Louis de Raet, Belgian economist/founder, Flemish People's Party
February 17, 1867 William Cadbury, England, chocolate manufacturer, Cadbury
February 17, 1864 Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, NSW Australia, poet, Waltzing Matilda
February 17, 1862 Edward German, Jones, Whitchurch Shropshire, British composer
February 17, 1862 Mori Ogai [Mori Rintaro, Japanese author, Maihime/Gan
February 17, 1858 Ernest Ford, composer
February 17, 1857 Samuel Sidney McClure, Irish-American newspaper editor/publisher
February 17, 1855 Otto Liman von Sanders, German general in Turkey, WW I
February 17, 1854 Friedrich A. Krupp, German arms manufacturer
February 17, 1853 Jaroslav Vrchlicky, [Emil Frida], Czech poet, 1 night on Karlstein
February 17, 1850 Anton Urspruch, composer
February 17, 1850 Ludwig Bonvin, composer
February 17, 1849 Selwyn Image, Bodiam Sussex, painter
February 17, 1844 A Montgomery Ward, found mail-order business, Montgomery Ward
February 17, 1837 Francis Jay Herron, Major General Union volunteers, died in 1902
February 17, 1837 Sam[uel] van Houten, Dutch, lib, minister, child labor laws
February 17, 1831 Francisco Salvador Daniel, composer
February 17, 1824 William Farrar "Baldy" Smith, Mjr Gen Union volunteers, died in 1903
February 17, 1820 Henri Vieuxtemps, Verviers Belgium, composer/teacher, Brussels Cons
February 17, 1816 Friedrich Wilhelm Markull, composer
February 17, 1804 Samuel Read Anderson, Brig General Confederate Army, died in 1883
February 17, 1796 Giovanni Pacini, composer
February 17, 1781 Rene-Theophile-Hyacinthe Lannec, France, inventor, stethoscope
February 17, 1774 Raphaelle Peale, U.S., painter, After the Rain-1823
February 17, 1758 John Pinkerton, Scottish historian
February 17, 1754 Jan Jachym Kopriva, composer
February 17, 1752 Friedrich M Klinger, German playwright, Wirrwarr
February 17, 1747 Narciso Casanovas, composer
February 17, 1740 Horace B de Saussure, Swiss physicist/geologist
February 17, 1723 Tobias Mayer, "method of lunars" for longitude determination
February 17, 1699 Hans Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, German architect, Sanssouci
February 17, 1697 Louis-Maurice de La Pierre, composer
February 17, 1696 Baron Ernst Gottlieb, composer
February 17, 1675 Johann Melchior Conradi, composer
February 17, 1667 Georg Bronner, composer
February 17, 1653 Arcangelo Corelli, Fusignano Italy, violinist and composer, Concerto Grossi
February 17, 1583 J Henry Alting, Dutch theologist
February 17, 1519 Francois de Guise, [Balafre], French general strategist, Calais
February 17, 1490 Charles de Bourbon, officer/governor, Lombardy
February 17, 1444 Rudolf Agricola, [Roelof Huysman], Dutch humanist/organist

On this day in history


1600:
Giordano Bruno, the Italian Renaissance philosopher and poet, is burned at the stake after being imprisoned for heresy during the Inquisition.

1801: Thomas Jefferson narrowly defeats Aaron Burr and is elected the third president of the United States.

1817: Baltimore, Maryland, becomes the first city in the United States to have city streets lit by gaslamps.

1864: The Union steam sloop USS Housatonic, anchored off Charleston, South Carolina, is sunk by the Confederate Huntley submarine.

1969: Golda Meir is sworn in as Israel's first female prime minister. Born Goldie Mobovitz, she immigrated to America with her family at age seven, then immigrated back to Palestine 16 years later.

In 1938, the first public experimental demonstration of Baird colour television was transmitted from Crystal Palace to the Dominion Theatre, London.

In 1996, world chess champion Gary Kasparov defeated Deep Blue, IBM's chess-playing computer, by winning a six-game match 4-2, in a regulation-style match held in Philadelphia, as part of theACM Computer Science Conference. Deep Blue is an improved version of the older Deep Thought, augmented by parallel special-purpose hardware. Deep Blue uses a selectively deepening search strategy, using improvements of the alpha-beta search strategy, with powerful evaluation functions. Transposition tables help avoid unnecessarily calculating the same position more than once. Two powerful databases further augment Deep Blue's play. Deep Blue would defeat Kasparov - the first time the grandmaster ever lost a six-game match in championship play.

n 1952, Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed its own atomic bomb. The test for the first British-made atomic bomb was planned at the MonteBello Islands off the northwest coast of Australia. The formal postwar decision to manufacture a British atomic bomb had been made by Prime Minister Clement Attlee's government early in Jan 1947 during a meeting of the Defence Subcommittee of the Cabinet. On 25 Feb 1952, atSellafield on the Irish Sea coast in Cumberland, the Windscale plutonium plant began operation. On 3 Oct 1952, the first British atomic weapons test, called Hurricane, was successfully conducted aboard the frigate HMSPlym. Britain was was the third nuclear power after the U.S. and Russia to include the atomic bomb in its armoury.

In 1911, the first self-starter, based on patented inventions created by General Motors engineers Clyde Coleman and Charles Kettering, was installed in a Cadillac. In the early years of fierce competition with Ford, the self-starter would play a key role in helping GM to keep pace. The Ford Model T’s crank starter caused its share of broken jaws and ribs. Charles Kettering, the founder ofDelco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company), devised countless improvements for the automobile, including lighting and ignition systems, lacquer finishes, antilock fuels, and leaded gasoline. Prior to his work with cars, Kettering also invented the electric cash register.

In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev cancelled a planned visit to a factory and stayed at home working on the problem of how to arrange the chemical elements in a systematic way. To begin, he wrote each element and its chief properties on a separate card and arranged these in various patterns. Eventually he achieved a layout that suited him and copied it down on paper. Later that same day he decided a better arrangement by properties was possible and made a copy of that, which had similar elements grouped in vertical columns, unlike his first table, which grouped them horizontally. These historic documents still exist, and mark the beginning of the form of the Periodic Table as commonly used today. (The date is given by the Julian calendar in use in Russia at the time.)

In 1818, Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun patented the "draisine", the forerunner of the bicycle.

Also, Geronimo died on Feb 17.

Generative System Stuff

jeff lynne youtubees!

Best Supergroup Ever: Tom Petty, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne


This one's sad. Roy had died around the time of the shooting of the video.

Odd News Attack!

Today when I headed over to CNN "cyberly," I was amazed at the number of strange stories on the front page. Some of them made me laugh, gasp, or just go "hmmm. "Here's a few...


Kenny Chesney: "I'm Not Gay"
This article had to do with the fact that people had interpreted Renee Zellweger 'fraud' claim towards reason for marriage annulment as being that Kenny was a hetro-fraud I guess.

This one got me because of this quote though. 'The Oscar-winning actress later issued a statement saying the term "fraud" was "simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character."' So being a fraud/liar isn't a character problem? Good.

This January Hottest on Record
Hopefully February statistics will be thrown off by the fact that our home state capital area has been having colder than average temperatures nonstop.

Homeless Sex Worker Set on Fire and Killed
This one needs little explanation or commentary from me. This is where a lot of people would say something to dehumanize her and emphasize that she was a crack and heroin addict. This is where some people I know would just think "hey one less homeless whore breathing." You know people who think this way too. Try to avoid people without compassion. Use this article as a litmus test.

People Mourn on Myspace
My myspace page will live on long after my death. Unless I post copyrighted material.

Chinese Man Sentenced to Death over Ants
I don't really have to explain this one.

Couple Who Caged Kids Gets 2 Years Sentence
Something seems off about this. Maybe the lack of punishment?

Happy Valentines Day

Charlie Brown Valentines Day 1 2 3

Poor Nancy Lyrics

Here's some new lyrics. The thing is called "Poor Nancy." I played it for the first time at Green River Cafe last week.


I don’t want any mercy from the top of the stairs
I don’t want any mercy from the top of the stairs
All the people got out while there was still time
Laughing, it grew into something benign
Till the neck was stood up on the back of the hairs
And I don’t want no mercy from the top of the stairs

Can’t the dead be left alone to die in peace?
Can’t the dead be left alone to die in peace?
Cars and trucks fill lungs with lead
If you wish upon on a star you’d be offer bled
Man made hope is as rewarding as elbow grease
Can’t the dead be left alone to die in peace?

Nancy, Nancy, your lover fought on that hill
Nancy, Nancy, your lover fought on that hill
History books keep the reign up above
As clear blood scatters from a plastic dove
Pavlovian response, we all know the drill
But Nancy, Nancy, your lover fought on that hill

Send all human correspondence to foreign affairs
Send all human correspondence to foreign affairs
Untapped fears evolve into whales
Unconcerned about cake and all these tiny details
They feed off of you and they feed off of me as we panic through all of our prayers
And I don’t want no mercy from the top of the stairs

Taking a Break Soon

Lager House was not open last night, or so I've been told today by a guy in This Car Up. So not only was our set cancelled, but the entire night was cancelled. Just as well, it was a nasty-ass storm...

---

This announcement is to pass on what I've already told a few people. After April 21st, the Beasts of Burden and I won't be doing anything until mid July. I will be getting married in May and will have a bunch of things that need my full attention, so I have decided to put the band on hold until July. Here's a list of the shows we have until then. We're looking to add at least two more before the April 21st cutoff.

February 17 ----- Breakroom (Grand Rapids)
March 10 -------- Jackson Music and Arts Collective (Jackson)
March 17 -------- Magdalena's Tea House (Lansing)
March 29 -------- The Bullfrog (Redford)
April 19 -------- Kraftbrau (Kalamazoo)
April 21 -------- Rubble's (Mt. Pleasant)

I'm trying to position a show in Lansing on April 20, and a show in Detroit area on April 13 or 14. I will get back to everybody soon as to when that will happen.

I will be working occaisionally on new material by myself during the break, and will continue blogging. The records I have slated for release will still come out, although for my ectro-acoustic record "Medicine" there will be no tour or live performances to promote the show, unless one presents itself.

***Also, the "Medicine" record will not come out until September of this year.***
This is not because the record is not finished, but because finances, time, and other resources have put me in a position where it is not logical to release the record until later in the year. I will promote the record and stream it soon, however.

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In July, I will commence with shows in the Detroit area along with all our favorite places throughout the State, possibly head out to Chicago and maybe do a few shows elsewhere if the band situation is such that it is worth us doing. These would be shows with the Beasts of Burden.

We will also begin working towards the release of LP "Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden II," although it will probably end up being called something else. This blog will be the place to be for information about that record as I like to share ideas and blabbering about the process. As you may know, the record already has about 35 songs/ideas that need to be developed and it will all start happening seriously in the mid-summer later this year.

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Lastly, I'd like to admit that recently I've become slightly disenchanted with some aspects of the music scene in the area and need to take this break not only because of the logistical things connected with getting married and finding a fulltime teaching job, but because I need to approach the whole music thing differently. It's becoming a routine and much of the "lifeforce" attached to it seems oddly vacant. Certain things have happened within the last few weeks that have been compounding and I am not feeling excited to move things forward.

Although I am VERY excited for the shows we have booked and are in the process of booking, so the next two months will be fun. For those who come out to see us at these shows, or faithfully follow us around and wish us warm welcomes, handshakes, pats on the back and buy us booze, I salute you. You make it worth all the shenanigans.

I may end up coming back in July and doing things exactly the same, but at least I'll have enough of a break from it to make it feel fresh. New material will help that a lot.

Lager House Show Cancelled

I wasn't able to make it down to the Lager House show tonight (Feb 13) due to the weather and the roads. I apologize to the venue, to the other bands and to our fans and friends who were coming out to support us.

Hopefully in the future we can return. Stay warm. Everybody have a happy V Day.

News from Lake Wobegon

Here's Part two...


And here's another one...


A Prairie Home Companion.

kitten cannon

this excited me.

get your judah on

Watched Crimes and Misdemeanors again tonight. Schubert's String Quartet #15 plays a significant role in a key scene. Fantastic.

Continually plagued by ghosts, I have chosen to continue writing new material for the next record. As with everything, it all floats past in different shapes and sizes...some being completed and some being so small I make sure I leave them on the desk lest they get sucked up by the vacuum.

We're playing at The Lager House this Tuesday with some bands from the Easty Coast. Pretty Hot. Come by and check it out.

That's about it for now.

video

Show this Friday! The Muse's Muse Review

Vasas solo show this Friday @ Green River Cafe in East Lansing!

also...

A sweet review from the Muse's Muse!

By Alex Jasperse - 01/31/07

"When you come across an album that speaks to you, it’s often hard to describe the emotional impact it inspires. Close your eyes, and your imagination has the ability to transform the music to something ethereal and impalpable. It builds and creates images, colours and textures. It provokes emotions that can shape the way you live and experience the everyday. It is this communications process – between the listener and the music – that can be so powerful.

Mike Vasas and the Beats of Burden is a phenomenal album that uses progressive elements as a backdrop to highly creative compositions that often transcend any single appellation. It’s beautiful, cinematic, uncompromising and truly refreshing. And it doesn’t back itself into a musical corner or turn aside from the highly coloured world of sounds it springs from.

The band communicates a sonic imagery that is infused with originality and emotions, one that wields the power of pleasing and attracting listeners with hints and hits from many genres. Evoking stylized mannerisms, vaguely similar of Hogarth-era prog rockers, Marillion and the Collin led Genesis era (mixed together with hints of Steely Dan and Paul McCartney), Mike Vasas and the Beasts of Burden weave together an ornamental tapestry in the theme of fusion.

Often defying traditional song structures in favour of a more picturesque approach to their compositions, their debut offers a combination of pop sensibilities with the epic proportions of many ‘70s era progressive rock masterpieces. Tracks such as Slavery are laced with beautiful, melodic reverb-drenched guitar work that just bleed emotion – soaring from one peak to the next.

As the music presents itself, the ability of the group to captivate the listener with powerful and intense landscapes – without going overboard into the depths of pretentiousness – is beautifully illustrated in dreamlike tracks like Early Departure and Shells. Vasas’s use of simplistic guitar lines, layered with hauntingly beautiful keyboard lines, demonstrates his mastery of colouring the thoughtful, and sometimes solemn lyrics, with his hushed and reassuring tones.

Time seems to float by effortlessly, as you’ll find yourself halfway through the album in what seems like minutes. Although each song is given a glossy and somewhat ‘pop’ sheen, there’s an organic honesty within that shines through (notably in Bread Beard Read). Combine this with the fact that these individuals are working together as an experienced band, clearly accentuates the precise technical skills and potential waiting to be revealed to a wider listener community.

Mike Vasas and the Beats of Burden’s self-titled debut is a powerful artistic statement that demonstrates their ability to sculpt sounds into new and exciting expressions. By synthesizing genres one after another, this work removes all preconceptions and judgments that might otherwise be evoked. This is music to hear, to think and to excite – and in turn, inspire further exploration.

For more information, please contact the group at mike@mikevasas.com


The Verdict:

Originality: 9/10
Creativity: 9.5/10
Production: 9.5/10

Overall: 9.3/10"

Taken from Muse's Muse

prince is awesome

The one thing though, when Amanda told me about it and how he had broke in to JBG, I had assumed he was sitting at a long table just like in a typical press conference. That he may or may not have had a guitar visible...and was just hanging out with others part of the press conference...and that when someone took him up on his offer to answer questions, he'd just whipped out the guitar and started playing JBG and then got up and walked off. Abruptly. So this wasn't quite what I had imagined it to be, but it is still awesome.

Feb 13 @ Lager House

Pull out those pens and mark up your calendars. We've got more shows!

2.10.07 Green River Cafe [East Lansing] (Vasas Solo)
2.13.07 The Lager House [Detroit]
2.17.07 The Breakroom [Grand Rapids]
3.08.07 The Intersection [Grand Rapids]
3.29.07 The Bullfrog [Redford]
4.12.07 The Intersection [Grand Rapids]
4.19.07 Kraftbrau [Kalamazoo]


So make sure you come out, y'all.

Intersection Show Cancelled

Not sure exactly what the deal is, but the show we were set up for at the Intersection in Grand Rapids has been cancelled. So unmark your calendars. No show on February 8. On behalf of whomever is involved, sorry to everybody.

Two fancy shows coming up soon

Mark your calendars for two fancy shows. The first is at THE INTERSECTION in Grand Rapids on Thursday February 8. Check out Beasts and I as we do another psudo-mellow event.

The second event is a special one. I will be playing a free show in East Lansing with my buddy Matt Carlson. The show is at Green River Cafe on Saturday February 10! I'll be playing solo for the first time in a good long while. Come and check it out!

1:30am

Drove for hours listening to T-bone Burnett's The True False Identity after a failed attempt at recording a marimba and african-drum-fueled version of "I'd Be Green" down at Vince's place. Been sick and grumpy all day.

The True False Indentity has odd guitar work by Marc Ribot, hushed lyrical rants from Burnett ("Cowboy with no cattle, warrior with no war/They don't make imposters like John Wayne anymore") and the percussion section is pretty spooky. Really, it's the percussion that I can't stop thinking about. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it. It's really up front in the mix, and it's thick with percussive sounds...what they are I'm not sure. There's a kit going through most songs too, but the sound of the drums in combination with Ribot's noisy leads has really hit me far more than I expected. Maybe tomorrow I can come to terms with what all this means.


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In other positive news, the EMQ record is mixed and I'll get the finished un-edited version of the recordings from Vince on Sunday. Then, I'll do all the edits (musice de concrete de crepes style), and then that'll be ready for the next step.

The electronic solo record, Medicine, is mastered now too. That record is totally finished ready to be manufactured and released.

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I can't get over that drum sound. There's something there I can't put my finger on. Incredible.