Category Archives: Personal

JazzFest ’08 – Krauss, Plant, and Burnett

Last year I got a catalog from Rounder Records and saw the new Allison Krauss record with Robert Plant on the cover. I thought it was an odd pairing and threw the catalog away. I heard a single off the record – “Gone Baby Gone” and was interested. Then I heard “Fortune Teller’s Daughter,” and I bought a copy. I listened. And then I gave it away as a Christmas present to everyone I could think of!

Fast forward to Friday with Krauss and Plant on the stage at JazzFest. It was even better than I expected. They performed the songs from the album well, but it was the extras that blew me away:

  • From the record, I thought it was Krauss taming Plant, and making it all work. Seeing them on stage, I know realize the glue that binds this unlikely group together is T. Bone Burnett. He’s the mad scientist that puts this all together.
  • “When the Levee Breaks” is a totally different song in a post-Katrina New Orleans.
  • “The Battle of Evermore” was a totally unexpected gift. Sure we have Led Zeppelin’s version to listen to. And Ann and Nancy Wilson did a good version too, as heavily produced as it was for the “Singles” soundtrack. But to get it live? And so well done? It was musical bliss.

There was lots of good music this year, but this act was my favorite by far.

Krauss and Plant

People in Glass Houses (and Popemobiles) Should Not Throw Stones

The Pope says to American Bishop’s this afternoon: “Responding to this situation has not been easy and, . . . it was sometimes very badly handled.” The American Bishops’ own report says there are more than 11,000 victims of sexual abuse by priests, and all the Pope can muster is “badly handled?” I’d say it’s British understatement, but he’s German. This is not an acceptance of responsibility. This is not an apology.

He went on: “Benedict addressed clerical molesters in the wider context of secularism and the over-sexualization of America. ‘What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?’ he asked.”

Is this a flat-out “my priests are perverts because you guys watch porn at home?” Or is it even more brazen: “I know that 4% of my priests diddled your little boys and girls, but the fact that you guys watch porn is just as bad. If you stop watching porn, I’ll fire some priests. Do we have a deal?”

I know I’m oversimplifying the Pope’s statements, but the points remain.

  1. He has not apologized for the horrible pain that his organization inflicted upon the children of its members.
  2. He still has the gall to criticize people’s private and personal choices – choices that didn’t include diddling little boys or girls.

Let the one without sin cast the first stone. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. And people who ride around in plexiglass cages on the back of pickup trucks should say they’re sorry.

Worst Rain Delay Ever

I went to the Sox-Yankees game this afternoon. At first I thought the game would be rained out, then I thought it would be wet, then the sun came out. Shows what I know. It was very humid – dank, really. The temperature was in the 50s, but the air was hazy and you could see your breath. It was odd.img_0650.jpg

Then a few raindrops fell in the 8th inning. With 7 outs until the end of the game, they decided to run from a rainshower. The tarp came out, and the game stopped. We spent the next hour wondering why the game wasn’t already over, staring at a damp-but-totally-playable field. I stood there and shouted for them to start the game, but no one was listening to me. Shocking, I know.

I’ve been to a lot of games and waited out a number of rain delays. This one was the worst. It shouldn’t have happened – they should have played. I was so annoyed I gave up and went home. I listened to the Red Sox wrap it up on the radio, still swearing at the stupid rain delay.

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Say Uncle

nolan1.jpg

Congratulations to Tim and Christi who made me an uncle this morning. His name is Nolan Harris Dunn. He came a little early but is doing fine, as is Christi.

Arlington Party on YouTube

I was pointed to some really random Arlington content today.

The first commenter on YouTube sums it up pretty well: “Micah you’ve really outdone yourself on this one…you strange, strange man you.”

How did I come across this link? This German guy emailed another German guy who emailed this guy who lived in Arlington who emailed to this guy who works for Microsoft in Redmond who IMd it to me. Weird.

Garfield, not FinComm

Several friends have told me that as they read this blog, when they see Finance Committee, the press delete. I’m fine with that – I know it’s not for everyone. I also have people who tell me that they rely on my FinComm and Town Meeting notes. Many of them couldn’t care less (or just don’t want to know) about the other content I find interesting. I have adopted a plan to manage these divergent expectations. Every time I post a dry Arlington-specific article, I’ll also make sure I post a non-Arlington article.

It’s all about getting as many RSS readers as possible, right? Isn’t that what everyone wants? Please don’t answer that.

So, tonight’s non-Arlington content: “Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolor disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against lonliness in a quiet American suburb.” A brilliant comic. Check it out.

Barack-Paper-Scissors

I just got back from snowboarding at Mt. Wachussett. I bought a season pass this year, and I think I just passed the break-even point with 8 visits. It’s a nice break from a cardio machine in the gym. Conditions today weren’t the best, a bit too icy. But maybe the snow tomorrow will turn it all around?

Mike Doughty put out a new album today. But it. Buy his last one. I guarantee you will like it.

There was a FinComm meeting last night. Have you seen the notes yet? NO. Haven’t written them yet. I don’t have time right now because I have a FinComm meeting at 8AM with the Deputy Town Manager about insurance, and then the Assessor at 9:30. I need my beauty rest. Sleep now, post the notes this weekend!

I will complete tonight’s stream-of-consciousness post by closing the circle with the title. Have you seen the Encyclopedia Baracktannia? Keep clicking, there are a bunch of good ones.

Harder Bodies Faster Stronger

I’m way behind in my blog posting. I have two FinComm notes meetings to post, a Finneran bashing, the latest in junk mail technology, and volumes of politics. But I’ve been so busy! Campaign work, real work, fraternity stuff, etc. has kept me hopping.

What do I do with a spare 3.5 minutes? Marvel and rejoice at how weird the internet can be. Safe for work, speakers required.