Casey Kasem

i have re-discovered casey kasem’s american top 40. i was driving home from my sister’s house recently, and the radio was playing a broadcast of american top 40 circa 1985. apparently my nostalgia for the 80s is shared by program directors who still play the old hits as if they were something new. casey kasem had a voice that was synonymous with my youth, and thanks to the internet i can hear it again. the most recent countdown was a re-broadcast from the weekend of december 8, 1981. the number one song from that weekend? olivia newton john’s physical.

First Fridays Year End Recap

it was a strange first fridays in the crossroads two nights ago. laura met carol and i at the usual spot between wyandotte and baltimore on 18th street. carol had some crocheted hats to sell, but the cold temps kept the hip hoppers and the jazz band away. a few art lovers were still wandering in the night. our noise attracted a stream of consciousness poet and a prank mugging.

Dr. Katz on DVD

i went to the library a couple of days ago, and checked out the dr. katz series on DVD. i used to watch this show when we had cable. lemme tell you, it’s just as good the second time around. here’s a joke from the show:

Q: what did the zen buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?

A: make me one with everything

First Fridays Almost Here

this friday is the first friday of december, which means i’ll be back out on the sidewalk doing the mondo beep thing with old friends and new friends, old weird sounding gadgets and NEW weird sounding gadgets, and maybe an umbrella. fyi: i will have CD’s and various trinkets in exchange for cash tips. AND we’re all going to the screenland crossroads arcade when we’re done making noise on the street.

Wailin’ Wall Returns to Homer’s

wailin’ wall returns to homer’s tonight at 7:30pm. tom cook will join dan, matt, griffin, and me as we play through songs like copperhead road, ramblin’ man, jolene, and let my people go go. where do we play when we’re not at homer’s? sunday mornings at overland park lutheran church.

Last Night at the Crossroads

when the screenland arcade opened in november with 40+ games from the 80s, i knew i would be a regular visitor… i had no idea that my younger friends would love it as much as i do. last night laura, hannah, kitch, and i stayed there til it was midnight, and then walked to YJ’s snack bar. as we consumed spuds and coffee on the sidewalk, the $5000 acid girl rode up on her bicycle and quoted poetry. i got home around 1:30 this morning and fell asleep watching white zombie.

Waits and the Moon

i was driving home from shawnee tonight when i saw a full red moon coming up behind the treeline. at the same time this was happening, i was repeating a line from tom waits’ gun street girl as it played over the car stereo:
he bought a second hand nova from a cuban chinese, dyed his hair in the bathroom of a texaco… with a pawn shop radio a quarter past 4, he left waukegan at the slammin’ of the door, left waukegan at the slammin’ of the door, i said john, john he’s long gone, gone to indiana aint never comin’ home…
thanks tom.

Screenland Crossroads Arcade

right before thanksgiving i discoverd the screenland crossroads arcade in kansas city, mo. in addition to joust, punch out, and gravitar (pictured above) there are quirky games like journey, root beer tapper, and paper boy also. it’s a place that i never thought would exist again in the age of online gaming systems. now that i have a few weeks before christmas, i plan on spending more time there.

AngryOctopus Part II

i recorded this peter gunn-ish thing using the webotribe (an online synthesizer pictured above) from angry octopus, and the casio VL-1. now i just need to save up and buy the real thing from korg.

AFP Revisited

it’s been almost a year since i discovered awkward family photos. this pic is from their countdown to thanksgiving that they started a couple of days ago. there is also a video series that will leave you wanting more.